Friday, August 25 , 2023 Volume LV, Issue 1 Est. 1969
CWRU, US Department of Justice to announce Title IX reforms
Ongoing sex discrimination investigation comes to conclusion Téa Tamburo News Editor On Tuesday, Aug. 22, the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ)—in an agreement with Case Western Reserve University—announced the resolution of the federal Title IX investigation into CWRU’s student-on-student and employee-on-student sexual harassment, according to an announcement from the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs. Conducted with the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the investigation centralized students’ complaints and “hundreds of social media reports” alleging sexual harassment on campus and a “hostile” Greek life environment. Furthermore, CWRU employees neglected to report sexual harassment claims to the Office of Equity, according to the announcement. This investigation began in Feb-
ruary 2021 in response to reports of assault between the academic years of 2017-2018 and 2020-2021. During the span of the investigation, 214 incident files and over 40,000 pages of documents were reviewed. Additionally, the university spoke with administrators, current students and alumni, conducting more than 40 interviews, according to a DOJ letter addressed to CWRU President Eric Kaler. “When sex discrimination rears its head, universities must respond appropriately to stop the misconduct and provide support so that the student can safely participate in school activities and complete their educational pursuits. This agreement would not have been possible without the many current and former student survivors who came forward and courageously shared their stories,” said Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, in the announcement. “We hope this agreement sends a message
to the higher education community about the actions that must be taken to ensure that campuses are safe for all students.” According to the resolution, CWRU has “made efforts to promote a culture of respect on campus” by joining the Culture of Respect Collective and bringing on staff and a faculty advisor to a #MeToo CWRU student group. Going forward, under this agreement, CWRU will undertake extensive reforms for students to engage in campus life free from sex discrimination— including assault—and retaliation for filing reports of sex discrimination. Specifically, CWRU will be removing the Office of Equity from the purview of the Office of the General Counsel and will be allocating funding to Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, the Greek Life Office and the University Health and Counseling Services to provide resources for supporting survivors of sex discrimination. More transparency to community
members about the reporting of sexual harassment and sex discrimination will be communicated in the form of informational materials and forthcoming policies and announcements. CWRU will also be implementing increased training and revised policies and procedures to address the claims made and to help ensure Title IX is consistently met across university divisions. Within 15 days of finalizing new policies, procedures and protocols, CWRU will publish a notice of the revisions on the university and Title IX website, as well as notify students and employees via email. In addition to the reforms, the university will conduct a campus-wide survey of students to gauge whether CWRU is effectively protecting its students from sex discrimination. The survey will take place in the spring semester for the duration of the agreement and will be overseen by Rachel Lutner, CWRU’s Title IX coordinator.
NATIONAL TEAM AND DOUBLES CHAMPIONS! Puneet Bansal Sports Editor To bring this perfect season to an end, the Case Western Reserve University men’s tennis team won their first ever NCAA DIII Championship, and the star pairing of fourth-year James Hopper and third-year Vishwa Aduru defended their doubles championship. The top-ranked Spartans hosted the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament, receiving a bye for the first round. On May 6, CWRU swept Kalamazoo College in the second round 5-0 to advance. The third round was just as smooth, with the Spartans defeating Denison University 5-1 to
punch their ticket to Orlando, Florida for the quarterfinals. On May 13, CWRU faced off against Gustavus Adolphus College at the USTA National Campus, showing their prowess once again for the 5-1 win. The semifinals match against Middlebury College proved to be the greatest roadblock on the Spartans’ path to the finals. With the score tied 4-4, everything rested on Aduru’s second singles. He dropped the first set 4-6 but came back in the second 7-5. After another exchange, the match was sent into a tiebreaker. Four hours had elapsed, and yet Aduru emerged in this battle of attrition. He fell behind 2-0 in the tiebreak but made a huge push and won the tiebreak 7-4,
catapulting the Spartans into the championship match against Tufts University. CWRU blazed through the doubles, taking a 3-0 lead. Second-year Ajay Mahenthiran earned a win in fifth singles, but Tufts responded with two wins in third and sixth singles. Hopper, one of the best tennis players in DIII history, clinched the championship point in first singles to secure the first ever national team championship for CWRU. The victory capped the team’s record-setting season with a 33-4 overall record, the most wins in program history. CWRU went 28-0 against DIII teams and finished the season with a 19-match win streak. The championship trophy capped a perfect season
after the Spartans won the University Athletic Association Championship and the ITA Indoor National Championship. For the doubles competition, the dynamic duos of Hopper/Aduru and fourth-years Diego Maza/Chris Provenzano each won their first matches to advance to the quarterfinals. Hopper/Aduru defeated a Bowdoin University pairing 6-4, 7-5, and Maza/Provenzano defeated a Washington College duo 7-5, 7-5. Both pairs also advanced to the semifinals, with Hopper/Aduru winning 6-3, 7-6 and Maza/Provenzano winning 7-5, 6-1. Continue reading on page 12
CWRU’s men’s tennis team celebrates a historic 2023 NCAA DIII Championship win. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
News
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, August 25, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 1
Search committee outlines qualifications for next provost, aims to finish end of 2023 Téa Tamburo News Editor The Provost and Executive Vice President Search Committee advanced their search process this summer, with the goal of announcing a hire by the end of the calendar year. The search committee is chaired by Stanton L. Gerson, dean of the School of Medicine and senior vice president for medical affairs, and is composed of faculty, staff and undergraduate and graduate student government presidents. This follows President Eric Kaler’s May 2 announcement that Ben Vinson III, provost and executive vice president, would be leaving CWRU June 30 to become president of Howard Uni-
versity. Gerson said the July 25, July 31 and Aug. 4 listening sessions for faculty, staff and students, respectively, are influencing the position’s job description with emphasis placed on CWRU’s mission and communication across community stakeholders. “We are finishing up, based on those listening sessions, a job description for the provost and recognize that we want an accomplished individual with broad expertise at the level of the university and leadership, appreciation of the missions of the university and an understanding of the importance of education, diversity, inclusiveness, support for a wide range of backgrounds and career objectives at every level: student, staff, faculty,” he said. “So
it’s someone who’s comfortably positioned in that all-essential, intermediate role.” An outside search firm, Education Executives, LLC is assisting the committee in the process of developing a candidate profile, interviewing candidates and presenting finalists to President Eric Kaler and the Board of Trustees. “The process has been engagement with a search firm who’s very experienced in the upper echelons of university recruitments, especially private universities, and the two leads have both been provosts, so they understand the job very well,” Gerson said. “The committee has done a series of motions to understand the needs and objectives and the personality [and]
background of the individual we’d be looking for.” The search process will be kept confidential to maintain the privacy of candidates. “We do it confidentially only to protect [the candidates] and the process, but we’re hoping that our committee will be as inclusive as it needs to be so that the right candidate pool can be selected, and, of course, it goes up to the board and the president for final approval,” Gerson said. Continuing to gauge which qualities community members prioritize in a provost and executive vice president, the committee has a feedback form to anonymously provide input into the search. According to Gerson, another listening session will be forthcoming.
CWRU unveils new logo, community left divided Zachary Treseler News Editor On June 2, Case Western Reserve University students awoke to news in The Daily that the university was unveiling a new “visual identity.” Being described as “bolder and brighter,” this includes a new logo, a brighter color scheme and different fonts. This is the university’s third change of logo since 2000. Most noticeably, the previous logo of the “rising above the earth” has been replaced with a new modern and simplified version of the original design, with a new font and color palette to go with it. Another change to the CWRU’s logo is a new color scheme, where the main color is a lighter blue, which replaced a dark navy blue. University Marketing and Communications, the department responsible for rolling out the rebranding and media reactions noted that “it had become increasingly clear that the 2007 logos did not serve the university well--particularly when it was of smaller sizes and/or among other institutions’ logos. The university today has advanced in many ways: As just one example, in 2007 the university received just under 7,300 undergraduate applications; this year, CWRU the figure exceeded 39,000. At the same time, the university has a history dating back nearly 200 years, and its logos have included largely consistent themes--including versions of a rising sun. We wanted to honor that history, and at the same time ensure that this leading national university had a visual identity that represented its prominence.” Dr. Somali Ghosh, associate professor in the department of design and innovation, said the new sun motif “is both time appropriate and theoretically sound in being able to connect the past to the future – by keeping the element of the sun from the past logo – while conveying the right brand attributes that define the future such as openness of thought and scholarship that ignites the light of change across
broader horizons.” “The newer [logo] is cleaner, more modern looking, and has a sun that acts as a metaphor for scholarly brilliance without being confined within the bounds of a box-like structure, thus showing boundless capabilities and aspirations,” she said. “CWRU, [like] most brands that have changed logos in recent years, have all chosen to favor simplicity.” Simplicity has the benefit of increasing brand affinity, mentioned Dr. Ghosh: “a phenomenon where brands try to ensure that there is a steady stream of younger batches of brand enthusiasts who will one day recall the brand in the right purchase/usage context and can recall the logo more easily since it is simple. Consider for example the belo for Airbnb, or the U of Uber. Even Pepsi recently rebranded their logo and made it look cleaner and more modern too.” Dr. Gosh notes how the new wordmark logo de-emphasizes the words “university” and the founding date of Western Reserve College, which grew to become Western Reserve University in 1826. “While the date of establishment for the university is not visible, I think that CWRU can afford to do that since CWRU has been around long enough for people to appreciate the stature and esteem of this institution, which is now well established,” Dr. Ghosh said, regarding this branding change. Students have mixed reactions to the new branding. “Not the biggest fan of “university” only being delegated to the bottom left instead of spread out,” Jared Zullig, a fourth year political science and marketing student, said. Though Zulig notes that the new abbreviated version of the logo, which features the action CWRU underneath the rising sun, is an area “where they absolutely knocked it out of the park,” it reminds him of “a return to form sort of similar to the abbreviated version of the late 80s early 90s The font in the abbreviated logo has a sort of punch and distinct CWRU feel that the extended logo lacks.”
Tabitha Raithel, a fourth year marketing student, mentioned that while the new rising sun is a “subtle-butimpactful” change, the most impactful part of the redesign was in the new font and color scheme. He said that the new font “maintains the professionalism that the original font conveyed, but is more modern and appealing in the 21st century.” This is at odds with other UAA universities, who use more “classic and dainty” fonts, according to him. Raithel notes that the family of fonts chosen, serif fonts, “tend to convey history, authority, tradition, class, and respect, and I think that the updating the serif font of the university to more of a slab serif gives the university’s branding more character and quirkiness.” Dr. Ghosh notes how this lighter color “conveys professionalism—since colors have a psychological impact on people—and the new fonts are obviously for a more modern look.” In creating the new color scheme, University Marketing and Communications further included specific tertiary colors—green, orange and purple—which are used to highlight important information. Raithel notes how they “are exciting additions that give CWRU more depth as an institution” by invoking “a sense of creativity and expression, something that I at least did not get from the previous branding at the school”. He champions this as a way to be more inclusive to those in majors other than what he sees as the university’s STEM focus. “As somebody who has personally made the switch from STEM to business, and who dabbles in the arts at Case, it’s cool to see how something as ‘miniscule’ as the color scheme can tell a story and open up new possibilities for where the future of the school is going,” Raithel said about his own personal connection to the redesign. On the other hand, not all community members are convinced. Zuilig notes while he, “sees the reasoning behind the new shade of blue, the darker shade has been around for so long it’s sort of a let down. Don’t know how to
describe it other than feeling sort of cheap.” Zulig also mentioned “that changing the logo as frequently as we do does some damage to brand equity. This argument has some merit—the ‘big league’ peer institutions do not redesign their logos every 10 years. It can cheapen our overall reputation and risks more ‘fat man with a surfboard’ incidents if done poorly.” The “fat man with a surfboard” harks back to the logo used from 2003 to 2007, when then President Edward M. Hundert signed off on a logo that de-emphasized the “Western Reserve” part of CWRU’s name by having it appear in smaller font, highlighting the “Case” name. This included a visual element that community members joked looked like a “fat man with a surfboard,” which was actually representing an eclipse. In all, the changes greatly alienated the alumni community, leading to a decline in donations to the university. “UMC would be wise to stick to this for as long as possible,” Zuillg said, regarding brand consistency. “The kicker now will be seeing how long it takes the university to update everything —going to be lots of relics in need of updating all over the place, and if the past is any indicator, effort on that can be subpar at best. Consistency is key, and if they can land that it will grow on people quickly.” Responding to worries about consistency, UMC notes that “university officials are exploring options for developing approaches and schedules for ensuring the new logo appears consistently.” Regarding why brands rebrand, Dr. Ghosh notes that “rebranding is a healthy part of the evolution of every brand and a sign of the dynamism inherent in the brand itself to grow and change in meaning and scope, to be able to embrace newer and younger generations and markets by staying relevant to them over time. The true success of any rebranding lies in its ability to bring in change without alienating past members of the brand community.”
CWRU’s new logo features various design changes that more accurately reflect modern design trends as well as the school’s values and aspirations for future years. Courtesy of CWRU
Life
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, August 25, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 1
Pinked to perfection: “Barbie” showcases fierce, funny feminism Téa Tamburo News Editor Since her creation by Ruth Handler in 1959, Barbie has been celebrated as a quintessential toy for young girls and simultaneously rebuked as an object that enforces unrealistic beauty expectations and consumerism. In an engaging blend of humor and nostalgia that captures both of these convictions, “Barbie,” which premiered in July and was directed by Greta Gerwig, highlights modern-day gender inequity and the power of collective feminism. Following the “2001: A Space Odyssey” parody opening, Barbieland appears—a pastel pink fantasy world where “thanks to Barbie, all problems of feminism have been solved.” Everyone in Barbieland is Barbie, except the men, who are just Ken—or the oneand-only Allan (Michael Cera)—and the land is run by the Barbies. There, “Stereotypical Barbie” (Margot Robbie) floats out of her dream house as if lifted by an invisible hand. In just this first glance at Barbieland, Gerwig incorporates several details that bear resemblance to the iconic toy: a wall-less dream house with a slide, a pool with no real water and exceedingly large
On their way to the real world, Ken and Barbie (left to right) sing along to “Closer to Fine” by Indigo Girls in the iconic pink Corvette. Courtesy of Warner Bros fashion accessories. Though she appears to be enjoying her life in a perfect pink world, it comes as a surprise when Barbie becomes haunted by feelings of sadness, anxiety and death. Even more shocking, is when her feet flatten out—a nod to how Barbie dolls usually have feet molded to fit high heels—and she develops cellulite. A visit to “Weird Barbie” (Kate McKinnon) reveals that a link exists between Barbieland and the real world, and that the reason why Barbie is feeling upset is because the girl playing with her is upset, too.
Joined by Ken (Ryan Gosling), Barbie enters the real world to help the owner of her doll and restore herself to perfection. Unfortunately, once there Ken discovers the patriarchy and becomes determined to implement it back in Barbieland. Meanwhile, Barbie meets a teenager named Sasha (Ariana Greenblatt), who promptly informs Barbie that she’s “been making women feel bad about themselves since [she was] invented,” highlighting to Barbie that, instead of saving the world, her doll created one full of female objectifica-
tion. Sasha and her mother, Gloria (America Ferrera) accompany Barbie back to Barbieland, where they discover Ken’s implementation of his version of the patriarchy. To my disappointment, the movie doesn’t spend much time delving into how the matriarchy led to the Kens’ revolution. Rather, in true feminist fashion, Gloria and Sasha decide to help the Barbies regain their autonomy and self-worth in a you-gogirl type of mission that cleverly mirrors the real-world struggles of being a woman. This sense of community was even reflected by moviegoers, many of whom intentionally wore pink to the theater to mimic the Barbies and Kens of Barbieland. Barbie has become a pop-culture phenomenon, with only some of the credit due to the popularity of the multi-generational toy. Accented with glitter, pink and all-things perceived as girly, “Barbie”’s heartfelt themes of feminism and belonging, alongside the humor of the Ken’s Patriarchy, signify much more than just the laughs we shared at the Mojo Dojo Casa Houses—Kens’ dream houses— or the men on horses running everything. “Barbie” managed to be not just funny and heartwarming, but also deeply meaningful.
What to do this week(end)
Back to school edition Kate Gordon Life Editor After a long summer away from friends and classmates, the last way you want to spend your first weekend back on campus is stuck in your dorm room. Instead, get out in the sun, meet new people and see some amazing sights with these six great events going on this week/weekend. Some are happening right here on campus, and the others are easily accessible via public transportation—with one notable exception—so you have no excuse for not enjoying yourself. So what are you waiting for? Go outand have some fun
Spartigras When: Saturday, Aug. 26 from 6-8 p.m. Where: Thwing Center This event put on by the University Media Board (UMB) is a great way to get to know all of Case Western Reserve University’s many media-based organizations, including yours truly, The Observer. Whether you’re interested in film, radio, satire or undergraduate research, there’s truly something here for everyone. If that’s not enticing enough on its own, there will also be games, prizes and of course, free food.
Outdoor Film and Improv Night When: Saturday, Aug. 26 from 8:30-11 p.m. Where: East Bell Commons In UMB’s second event of the night, CWRU’s improv troupe, IMPROVment, will give a late night performance followed by an even later screening of “Monsters University” hosted by the CWRU Film Society. Show up for laughs, entertainment and complimentary popcorn, candy and drinks. Asian Lantern Festival When: Aug. 25-27 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Where: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo This evenings-only festival showcases 183 acres worth of indoor and outdoor lit exhibits including an almost 40-foot tall lantern, tunnels you can walk through and an Enchanted Garden Experience full of giant flowers and butterflies clocking in at about 150 feet in length. The event draws in nearly 150,000 guests each year and features live performances, an Asian craft market and “culturally inspired cuisine” in addition to its lights. Each year the event changes slightly, with new additions making the event even more exciting—check out last year’s review here. Admission is $25 for members.
The Asian Lantern Festival welcomes attendees to experience the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo like never before, with lantern displays, light exhibits, live performances and much more. Courtesy of Fox 8 News
Frostville Flea and Summer Farmers Market When: Saturday, Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Where: Frostville Museum in North
Olmsted Though you’re going to have to drive into the suburbs for this one, the thrifting finds at this flea/farmer’s market will definitely be worth it. While the Trash and Treasures sale is only happening this Saturday, the seasonal produce, pastries, maple syrup, artisan breads, coffee, plants and more will be available Saturday mornings yearround. Music, cooking demonstrations and guest speakers will also make surprise appearances. Blow When: Aug. 25 to Oct. 7 from noon to 9 p.m. Where: Transformer Station in Ohio City This contemporary art exhibition by the artist Tabaimo combines modern animation with traditional Japanese art styles to show the flowing, everchanging nature of time. Tabaimo uses both visuals—of bubbles, plants and body parts—and audio mimicking the sounds of water to create a singular immersive, fantastical scene. After spending an afternoon at “Blow,” you can stop by one of Ohio City’s many coffee shops or West Side Market. Admission is free! Soulja Boy When: Sunday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. Where: House of Blues While tickets are limited, snag one of the few remaining ones and go party like it’s 2007 the night before classes begin. I can’t think of a better way to kick off a new school year.
4 Life
Friday, August 25, 2023
In a fifth wave of new tracks, Nintendo adds three iconic characters to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe”
The update also includes numerous balance changes Elie Aoun Director of Print On July 12, Nintendo released the fifth wave of new tracks to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” as part of the “Booster Course Pass DLC.” Continuing two trends that began in the previous wave, this update included new characters and major balance changes to encourage more character and vehicle diversity. The three new characters are Petey Piranha, Wiggler and Kamek. Petey Piranha and Wiggler are both heavyweights who first appeared in Mario Kart games in “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” for the GameCube in 2003. Wiggler is a notable character in many later games in the series, including “Mario Kart DS,” “Mario Kart Wii” and “Mario Kart 7” for the 3DS. Kamek, on the other hand, while visible in the background of many “Mario Kart Games,” was first introduced as a playable character in “Mario Kart Tour” in 2019. In “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” he is a middleweight. Though some fans have been clamoring for the return of other beloved characters such as Funky Kong, Diddy Kong, Pauline, Honey Queen, King Bob-omb and R.O.B., the inclusion of the aforementioned three has already been a great addition. With one last wave coming at the end of 2023, players will have to wait and see if Nintendo will bring back two more fan favorites—likely, since there are now two character slots on the character selection screen denoted with question marks. With this update, Nintendo continued to make character balance changes similar to those the company had done in the previous wave. Many underused characters and vehicles received increases to their statistics, such as Mini-Turbo, Ground Speed and Invincibility. Although these two waves of balance changes have a good goal in mind, in reality it is hard to achieve character and vehicle diversity in competitive play. Those who play for casual fun will usually pick their favorite
character and a nice-looking vehicle, but those who seek to eke out every possible competitive edge will invariably settle on the same optimal character/vehicle combination. While the old meta was dominated by Waluigi on the Wiggler Kart, it is now dominated by Yoshi on the Teddy Buggy or the Inkstriker. It is certainly possible that Nintendo will add more balance changes in the sixth wave, but it seems unlikely that the game will ever see a plethora of character/vehicle combinations used competitively. Like the previous four waves, this DLC includes two Grand Prix with four tracks each, bringing the total number of DLC tracks to 40. The Feather Cup This Grand Prix begins with Athens Dash, a city track from “Mario Kart Tour.” Like other city tracks, this one has a different layout on every lap. Athens Dash, however, limits most of the course to one landmark—the Acropolis—and that fact sets this track apart from the other city tracks which take racers through long city streets. After beginning under the Parthenon, players must drive through other famous sites on the Acropolis, including the Theatre of Dionysus, the Arch of Hadrian and the now tragically lost Athena Parthenos statue. Athens Dash contains numerous minor shortcuts, Goombas and boulders that fall on the last lap. It requires some skill to maneuver around this track’s various obstacles, but it can still be enjoyable for newer players. The music and visuals are pleasant but not exceptional. The uniqueness of Athens Dash makes it a refreshing start to this wave. 8/10 Next comes Daisy Cruiser, a popular track from “Mario Kart: Double Dash!!” for the GameCube and later “Mario Kart 7” for the 3DS. The entire course takes place on a ship, and Nintendo made few changes to this old track. There are still the iconic sliding tables and Item Boxes in the cruiser’s dining hall. Three
Innertube Goombas were added to the pool on the main deck. Overall, the track is relatively simple, with no shortcuts and sliding tables as the only serious obstacles. The visuals are bright and lively, and the music is calm and nostalgic. Daisy Cruiser makes for a nice racing experience, and its inclusion in this wave is certainly welcome. 7/10 This cup continues with Moonview Highway, an iconic track from “Mario Kart Wii.” This nighttime race is almost completely unchanged. At the start of the lap, there is a scalable cliff on both sides of the road, and the track is full of Dash Panels to speed up players. Regular cars and trucks roam around as obstacles alongside Bob-omb Cars that explode if hit. While Moonview Highway has no shortcuts, it does have a tight hairpin turn near the start of the lap. The experience of weaving around the vehicles that occupy the track is challenging yet exhilarating. The visuals are simply stunning, and the music quick and thrilling. Moonview Highway is certainly one of the best tracks to be included in the Booster Course Pass. 9/10 This Grand Prix ends with Squeaky Clean Sprint, a track first released with the Booster Course Pass but soon added to “Mario Kart Tour.” Since this track takes place in a giant bathroom, toiletries such as shampoo, soap, scissors and a toothbrush are found everywhere. Racers on Squeaky Clean Sprint must drive through a sink, bathtub and drains. A giant fan pushes players away from a shortcut through a patch of soap. On the second and third lap, a Water Geyser shoots out of a toilet, allowing racers to access an alternate route over a shelf. In fact, Squeaky Clean Sprint has several shortcuts and alternative paths, and it takes some practice to maneuver through the track efficiently. The visuals are bright, and its music is soothing. Overall, Squeaky Clean Sprint is a wonderful new track that
Along with Squeaky Clean Sprint, a bathroom-themed track first created for this game, the fifth wave of the Booster Course Pass introduces three popular characters. From left to right: Petey Piranha, Kamek and Wiggler. Courtesy of Nintendo
is sure to challenge and charm most players. 8/10 The Cherry Cup The second Grand Prix starts with Los Angeles Laps, a returner from “Mario Kart Tour.” Like most city tracks, this one has a different layout for each lap. This long race involves driving through many landmarks, including Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach and Dodger Stadium. While there are some minor shortcuts, the track is almost completely unobstructed; there are a few crabs at the start, and active oil wells on the Inglewood Oil Field serve as occasional obstacles. The visuals are bright and sunny, but the music is rather mediocre. Los Angeles Laps can be fun to race, but its length can sometimes make it feel uneventful given its simplicity. 6/10 The next track is Sunset Wilds from “Mario Kart: Super Circuit” for the Game Boy Advance. In the track’s original form, the time of day changed every lap, ending with the sun setting over the final lap. However, the time of day is static in the version of Sunset Wilds added to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.” The track has numerous off-road shortcuts, and skillful players can even execute some without a mushroom. Three Exploring Shy Guys dance on the track as obstacles alongside their tents. The music and visuals are fine but unremarkable. Since the sun no longer sets on Sunset Wilds—and the track was already plain to begin with—it is hard to justify anything higher than an average rating. 5/10 The third track in this Grand Prix is Koopa Cape from “Mario Kart Wii.” The updated version of this track is almost identical to its original form; Nintendo only added a half-pipe to the tunnel section and removed the Koopa Zappers that shrunk players if hit. There are several shortcuts through patches of grass or running water, and a few Goombas serve as obstacles. The music is upbeat and nostalgic, and the visuals are vibrant. Koopa Cape is a challenging track—taking racers over a cliff, through a river and across a waterfall—and its inclusion in this Grand Prix is a great boon to this new wave of tracks. 9/10 The last track in this wave is Vancouver Velocity from “Mario Kart Tour.” With a different layout each lap, this track takes racers through the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Rogers Arena and the 2010 Winter Olympics cauldron. Like Los Angeles Laps, this track mostly consists of long, open roads with few obstacles. Nevertheless, there are some bats in one tunnel, and several Skating Shy Guys threaten to hit racers in Rogers Arena. There are also several minor off-road shortcuts. The dark city visuals are beautiful, but the music is nothing special. Vancouver Velocity has its fair share of challenging moments, and as one of the better city tracks, it serves as a solid end to the fifth wave of DLC tracks. 7/10
Life 5
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Shejuti’s guide to making the most of your first year Shejuti Wahed Social Media Content Creator This past week, a quick glance around Northside might have felt overwhelming. You might have noticed many teary-eyed parents prolonging their goodbyes, flocks of eager first-years trying to mask their enthusiasm with nonchalance and the overjoyed reunions of upperclassmen returning to campus. Intense emotions always permeate Case Western Reserve University’s campus during orientation, and the excitement at the start of the semester is often inescapable. The anxiety might also feel just as inescapable for a first-year. After all, it can be difficult to adjust to such a completely different stage of life. This might be many students’ first time away from home, and with that comes the burdens of independent living—planning meals, balancing alone time with social time and even doing laundry. With all there is to adapt to, it’s vital to narrow things down and focus on what is most important to you. To make that easier, I’ve compiled “Shejuti’s guide to making the most of your first year.” Of course, everyone’s CWRU experience will be different, and what a first-year political science major wants to get out of their four years may be entirely different from that of a biomedical engineering student.
However, these pieces of advice are hopefully universal to a great college experience, and they can serve as gentle reminders to do what is best for you. Join meaningful clubs Most students understand the usefulness of clubs for finding friends and gaining leadership experience, which are essential. What I have found to be more important, however, is the fact that clubs are a way of avoiding burnout and finding things to love beyond academics. This is your chance to break out of the toxic high school mindset of doing what could have been impactful work just to put it on your resume. I have found that the activities you couldn’t imagine not being involved with—like The Observer—despite a busy schedule, are the ones that occupy your time in the most fulfilling way. Find something you care about, whether it’s journalism, henna or letterboxing, and your time here will instantly become more enjoyable. Be open to making friends with everyone You don’t want to be stuck with the first group you see just because you’re afraid no one else will want to be friends with you. There are so many incredible people to meet at this school, all from different backgrounds and walks of life. It’s okay to branch out, it’s okay to meet
people from a new group and it’s okay to hang out with two separate groups that might be at odds with each other. The beauty of college is in being able to hang out with whom you want—you have a choice. Make your choices based on whomever you genuinely enjoy being around. The friend group dynamics and circles will fall into place afterward. Schedule your alone time Maybe it’s because I’m an introvert, but sometimes college life can get tiring. It’s easy to get caught up in the chaos of Discovery Week, immediately followed by classes and constantly figuring out how to balance a social life with academics. But even a meal alone at Leutner Commons can be enough time to reflect and regroup yourself. The more you schedule your alone time based on your own needs and level of extraversion, the less likely you are to become overwhelmed and overburdened as the year progresses. Seek out mentors They’re not just your professors, and they’re everywhere. From your Orientation Leaders and the peer tutor you always end up with, to the random upperclassman you befriend who happens to be in your major, there is always someone at CWRU who has experienced whatever big, scary situation you’re facing. And if they don’t understand
your exact situation, they might know someone who does. Don’t be afraid to seek advice, and the more comfortable you become with interacting with these mentors, the more opportunities you’ll find offered to you. Find your balance I know it’s an incredibly vague last piece of advice, but I think it’s the secret to everything in college and a great recap of everything in this guide. Everyone says college is about finding yourself. With that comes finding what your mind and body need to enjoy your time here and to achieve your goals. Do you need a lot of friends, or do you prefer a close few? Which clubs are right for you? Will getting involved in a lot motivate you, or will it stretch you too thin? How much alone time will allow you to refresh but avoid entering an existential crisis? Is studying for hours sustainable for you, or do you need social breaks in between? These are questions you will definitely not be able to answer in your first few weeks, and I’ll be honest, I still haven’t answered a lot for myself. But even just reflecting on them brings you closer to that perfect balance, and each day you’ll “find yourself” a little more. Good luck Class of 2027, and welcome to CWRU.
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Fun
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, August 25, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 1
Sudoku
Horoscope
The signs as reactions to the new logo
Aquarius
Easy
At least they didn’t use Comic Sans.
Pisces
something you’d find in
Aries
It gets worse with each
Taurus
The new logo feels like
Still better than the fat
a Jesus-y school "HE IS RISEN."
update.
man with a surfboard.
Gemini
Looks like a breakfast
enough to provide me a scholarship.
sandwich manufacturer logo.
Leo
ugly logo showed up on
Virgo
Did they pay someone
Libra
I would cry so hard if that
Please go back to the old
Capricorn Saggittarius Scorpio
Medium
to buy a crap logo but not
Cancer
CWRU has enough money
I should have tried to
my diploma.
money for that?
one.
graduate earlier.
Looks like the logo for a diploma mill or a fictional community college in a TV show. This looks like something a retired 70-something made in ten minutes for her church.
observer.case.edu
Auden's LOLs
Fun 7
8 Fun
Friday, August 25, 2023
Crossword
Weekly Tarot Read by ChatGPT
The Star (Upright) You value your independence and are driven by your unique vision for the future. This is a time to trust in the universe and allow your inner light to shine. The Moon (Reversed) You may be struggling with uncertainty or confusion. You need to trust in your intuition and find clarity in the midst of chaos. The Emperor (Upright) You are stuck in a mindset that is preventing you from making progress. Try stepping out of your own mindset this week The Hierophant (Reversed) You may be feeling lost or disconnected from your spiritual beliefs. You need to find a path that resonates with you. The Lovers (Upright) You are facing a choice that will have a significant impact on your life. This is a time to trust your intuition and communicate openly with your loved ones. The Chariot (Upright) You are in control of your life and moving forward with confidence. You have the willpower to overcome any obstacles that come your way.
Across
Down
1 Annual music celebration held at the Fair Grounds Race Course 9 Units that might be "put on," briefly 12 Temporary structure for a temporary stay 13 Part of 2-Down 14 Mythical witch who flies around the forest riding a mortar and carrying a pestle 15 Hogwarts student whose family lives in "the Burrow" 16 Man ___ 17 U-shaped river bends 19 Car that was modified into the Monkeemobile 22 "Just watch me!" 23 Kiwi 27 "Spam" and "Starred" 28 2013 Grammy winner for Record of the Year 29 Suit material? 30 Site of a historic 1971 event in the carceral-rights movement 32 Early innovator of ATMs and UPCs 35 Up to, briefly 36 Paradisiacal and rural 40 Eleventh hour 41 Some plant sights? 42 Le Seigneur ____ Anneaux (classic fantasy series, as released en France) 43 Island-based fantasy setting for many Ursula K. Le Guin stories
1 It might be fixed to the bow 2 Anti-police acronym often represented as "1312" 3 Cattle successfully cloned at Texas A&M in 1999 4 Memoirs of a Geisha Golden Globe nominee 5 She played Boleyn in Wolf Hall 6H 7 Utahan lily 8 Mexican state named for a pre-Columbian enemy of the Aztecs 9 1950 Ophüls film structured as a daisy chain of sexual encounters 10 Surfer's aid? 11 Chips in digital cameras 18 Available energy 20 Remote medical supervision 21 Bumbler 23 Undermined entirely 24 Showing feeling 25 Caruncles used in avian courtship 26 [kinda amusing tbh] 31 Spot 33 Profile sketches, briefly 34 Participant in the Zenyatta Stakes 37 19-Across, e.g. 38 Do the work of 4-Down 39 SIGINT specialists
What Auden's been listening to Cathy Come Home Flyte Auden Koetters
Chateau Lobby #4 (in C with Two Virgins) Father John Misty Auden Koetters
Crazy for you Best Coast
Auden Koetters
Strength (Reversed) You may be feeling powerless or struggling to control your emotions. You need to find the inner strength to overcome your challenges. The Hermit (Upright) You are seeking solitude and introspection. This is a time to trust your inner wisdom and focus on your personal growth. Justice (Upright) You are seeking balance and fairness in your life. This is a time to stay true to your principles and trust in the justice of the universe. Death (Reversed) You may be resisting change or holding onto something that no longer serves you. You need to let go and trust in the natural cycle of life. Temperance (Upright) You are seeking harmony and balance in your life. You value moderation and self-control and are guided by your higher purpose. This is a time to trust in the divine plan and find inner peace. The Devil (Reversed) People may be only seeing your party side, try showing off your more introspective side. You may be shocked at the results it brings
Opinion
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, August 25, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 1
EDITORIAL
CWRU’s bland new logo fails to embody our unique community Editorial Board In early June, Case Western Reserve University changed its official logo. The updated design is still recognizable since it is a modernized version of the logo that was in use from 2007 until the middle of this year. The new logo features simpler and thicker letters, a redesigned sunburst and a brighter shade of blue now called “CWRU Blue.” Reactions to the design change have been mixed at best, with some praising the new logo’s simplicity while many others have openly voiced their displeasure with its generic and modernized style. The Observer maintains that criticism of the new logo is entirely warranted as its dull design fails to represent our dynamic and innovative community. In a video uploaded on June 5 titled “CWRU Goes Bolder, Brighter with Brand Update,” the university justified its decision to change its 16-year-old logo. Despite CWRU’s record for achievement and innovations, “we still can get lost in a crowd,” the narrator says, as CWRU’s old logo appears alongside 21 other university logos (not counting the two that were repeated). “So we decided to simplify, modernize and demand to stand out. We brightened our colors and emboldened our seal. We’re still all CWRU, just much harder to miss.” The university’s rationale for the logo change is understandable and even laudable, but the new logo’s execution fails to live up to CWRU’s lofty ambitions. Despite the university’s assertion that the redesigned logo is “bolder” and “brighter,” almost every aspect of the new logo is a visual downgrade from the old one. The new
color of CWRU Blue is the only defensible change. While the dark color of the old logo was aesthetically fine, CWRU Blue is not so bright that it appears comical and unserious. If the university had kept the layout of the old logo but only added CWRU Blue, most in the community probably would have been welcoming or ambivalent about the change. Instead, CWRU decided to make the rest of the logo undeniably worse. The new sunburst that features prominently on the left side of the logo is less appealing than the old version, having lost its distinctive half-finished white box. The old sunburst was asymmetrical and appeared at an angle, rising from the east and bursting out of the box’s thin outline. This was intended to physically represent the university motto “Think Beyond the Possible,” embodying the bright future we are destined to face through the educational and research efforts of CWRU. The new one is symmetrical and sits horizontally. The new sunburst also attempts to include the detail of the sun rising over a horizon, but it fails in getting this message across. Instead of having the clear appearance of a curved horizon at the bottom, the logo’s extremely simplistic design makes the curved horizon look like the outermost rays of the sun. One could be forgiven for mistaking this new sunburst for a palm leaf. The old logo had a unique phrase that appears nowhere on the redesigned version: “Est. 1826.” While many universities put their founding year in their official seals, exceedingly few include them on their horizontal logos. CWRU wants its new logo to “stand out” and be “harder to miss,” but it does not accomplish this goal by removing one
of the most unique aspects of its old logo. The university should proudly display its nearly two centuries of history in its marketing, not cut out that achievement for the sake of simplicity. By making the letters simpler and thicker, the new logo appears generic and lacks any distinct personality. The old logo’s serif font was thin and dynamic. The first letters of the words “Case Western Reserve” stood above the rest of the text, and the first “R” in “Reserve” had a hook that broke through the bottom line of the text, giving the logo some character. In contrast, the letters of the new logo—written in a font that could be described as sans serif—appear chunky and lifeless, with no indication of any unique stylizations. The word “University” also sits alone in the bottom left corner of the new logo; a large chunk of dull white space replaces the horizontal line underscoring “University” and the characteristic “Est. 1826.” The net result of the logo’s textual changes is a bland and unappealing design that, despite CWRU’s claims, can easily “get lost in a crowd.” CWRU has a recent habit of redesigning its logo. In 2003, the university introduced a logo meant to emphasize the “Case” part of CWRU’s name. Not only did that poorly designed logo repeat the word “Case” twice, but the image to the left of the text was widely ridiculed because many in the community agreed that it resembled a “fat man carrying [a] surfboard.” In 2007, the logo was changed to the one that we were all familiar with until the June 2023 redesign. Given the obvious distaste that many in the community have for the new logo, it is certainly possible that it will be replaced in the near future, but
this kind of constant rebranding is a poor look for CWRU. For a university to change its logo three times in 20 years is bizarre and exasperating; frankly, it’s embarrassing. There is a benefit to having a great logo that lasts for decades since it displays an organization’s continuity and establishes itself as a respected and recognizable institution. We should not want our university to unintentionally cultivate a community of students, faculty and alumni who favor old designs and are dissatisfied with branding changes that they believe denigrate the image of their beloved institution. In addition, all personal merchandise featuring the old logo becomes outdated, and those who prefer the old logo can no longer buy goods that feature it at the University Bookstore. It is especially frustrating to purchase new hoodies, shirts, bags, folders and mugs when the new logo on them is uglier than the old one. Though it can signal a new direction for an organization, rebranding has its downsides. At its worst, it creates a division between the generations of alumni that have attended this long-standing institution. CWRU’s new logo is an embarrassment and stains the reputation of success that built our historic institution. Nevertheless, despite the new logo’s mediocrity, our community is nothing but exceptional. Everyday at CWRU, thousands of students and faculty members of wildly differing backgrounds tackle difficult subjects in the classroom, break barriers in their fields, conduct groundbreaking research, push the limits of innovation and think beyond the possible. They deserve an inspiring logo that reflects their incredible achievements.
CWRU is receiving well-deserved pushback from the community for abandoning its 16-year old logo (bottom) and adopting a new, modernized one (top). Courtesy of CWRU
observer.case.edu
Editor’s Note: The Observer’s latest chapter Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor As always, summer has ended far too early, and the familiar chill of fall creeps back into the Case Western Reserve University campus. With the change in season comes the rush of wide-eyed first-years pouring into the North Residential Village with anticipation and curiosity for college life. Watching the first-years move in, I felt a pang of nostalgia for those good times— finding my college best friends, trying out countless new clubs and discovering what I truly wanted to study. Yet, as I enter the latter half of my college career, fairly certain of my career goals and interests, there is still so much unknown left to explore. From navigating new commitments to handling harder coursework, the potential for new knowledge, opportunities and friendships makes every year at CWRU exciting. This year, I look forward to leading The Observer to even greater heights, working alongside writers, the Editorial Board and my fellow students to make this paper an accurate representation of CWRU’s diverse student body. In The Observer’s newest chapter, we seek to reflect upon the changing landscape of student media and communication and introduce initiatives to improve campus engagement and overall accessibility to our platform. In light of the digital boom produced by COVID-19, The Observer recognizes the need to adapt and expand its digital presence. Social media specifically has become a vital tool for sharing information and
connecting with wider audiences, and The Observer wants to embrace this shift. With an increased focus on social media through our Instagram and TikTok, we aim to create meaningful dialogues within and beyond the campus community. In addition, as our website viewership continues to grow, we have plans to improve its overall appeal and functionality. We feel these changes will not only enhance the accessibility of The Observer’s content but also create alternate avenues for students to share ideas and viewpoints—a necessary feature of any good student newspaper. Alongside digital revitalization, we would like to introduce a series of writer workshops: a chance to learn from fellow writers, editors and Observer enthusiasts who all share the same passion for student expression. As a college newspaper, we are in the unique position of being a part of the audience we serve, and we know better than anyone that our content should reflect our diverse audience. To do so, we seek to train writers from every corner of CWRU and equip them with the tools to produce quality pieces. These workshops further that goal by not only honing writing skills but also fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among writers—an aspect we feel has faltered in recent years. We believe that in sharing their work, students will develop a greater appreciation for each other and a more nuanced understanding of CWRU’s student culture. Both the writer workshops and emphasis on social media tie into our overarching goal of increasing engagement within our organiza-
Start with a fresh mind this semester Beau Bilinovich Opinion Editor Earlier this summer I took a philosophy course called “The Science of Happiness”—very fitting after a semester that seemed to truly test my patience. The course, taught by Dr. Anthony Jack, dives into the roots of happiness in our lives. What makes us happy? What even is happiness? My class, which was an amalgamation of students from various backgrounds and upbringings, spent three weeks answering those questions. The time we spent discussing our insightful and often deeply personal ideas about happiness were some of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had in a classroom setting. I highly recommend taking this course if you have room in your schedule. For our backto-school issue, I wanted to bring those answers regarding happiness to you, because we all deserve to start this semester with a fresh, healthy mind. First, humans are astoundingly resilient. In psychology, the term hedonic adaptation refers to the process by which positive and negative effects on one’s happiness fade over time, gradually returning to a “set point” of happiness. There are times in
our lives when we are happier than usual, say you get accepted into your dream school, or you get that job offer you’ve always wanted. Eventually, you will become accustomed to that change and you won’t think much of it anymore. That might sound demoralizing, but consider that the same principle applies to negative experiences. Even after the most dreadful tragedies, scarring losses, overwhelming setbacks—experiences that might tell you to give up—you will adapt. You will get back on your feet and keep marching forward. That single realization is one of the most useful keys to unlocking the mystery of human happiness. We all have an extraordinary ability to adapt to the best and the worst. No matter what, we will keep moving forward. As another school year begins and we resort back to our daily routines of going to class, turning in homework and studying for exams, let’s keep in mind that no matter the trials and tribulations we go through, we will come out the other end alright. Second, mindfulness and breathing exercises are beneficial in cultivating both good physical and mental health. Continue reading on page 11
tion and with our campus community. Any form of media can be a powerful channel for self-expression. Encouraging students to use our platform to create their narratives and share their voice is vital to enriching our publications and ensuring we reflect the vast experiences and perspectives of the CWRU community. In increasing engagement, we also want to increase participation in our non-print sectors— digital media, design and business operations—which all play a part in the success of our newspaper and the strength of our reach. If you share in our mission and would like to make your voice heard, email us at observer@case. edu and tell us about your interests. Together, we can find a place in The Observer that aligns with your goals and skill set. Even if joining The Observer does not fit with your college experience, your role as a student is
Opinion 10
still essential to helping us become a collective voice for the community. We are always looking for feedback and content coverage suggestions via our website and email, and you can respond to our content through letters to the editor. I am honored to lead The Observer into this new era and improve upon the work we already do. I truly believe making slow yet necessary changes in this period of post-COVID stability will draw us closer to each other and the community we serve. Through increased digital presence, writer workshops and a commitment to engagement, The Observer is not only evolving to meet the needs of students but is also maintaining its long-standing vision of community, inclusivity and diversity. We hope you will stick with us for this journey!
The Case Western Reserve Observer Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University
Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor & Publisher PRINT Elie Aoun Director of Print Téa Tamburo News Editor Zachary Treseler News Editor Kate Gordon Life Editor Beau Bilinovich Opinion Editor Puneet Bansal Sports Editor Lexy Jensen Development Editor Rebecca Warber Copy Editor Darcy Chew Copy Editor Sara Khorshidi Copy Editor Sarah Karkoff Copy Editor DIGITAL MEDIA Joce Ortiz Director of Digital Media Nandana Vinod Social Media Manager Aambar Agarwal Social Media Editor Shejuti Wahed Social Media Content Creator & Video Editor Clay Preusch Photo Editor Noah Henriques Web Editor DESIGN Auden Koetters Director of Design Anjali Bhuthpur Layout Designer Phuong Nguyen Layout Designer Lucas Yang Graphic Designer Tyler Vu Graphic Designer BUSINESS Khushali Desai Director of Business Operations Matthew Chang Business Manager The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer reports news affecting students and provides an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are typically written by the opinion editor but reflect the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. Opinion columns are the views of their writers and not necessarily of The Observer staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer via e-mail at observer@ case.edu. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be e-mailed to observer@case.edu or submitted on our website at observer.case.edu. Letters can be mailed to Thwing Center 11111 Euclid Avenue, Suite 01, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter. The Observer is a proud member of CWRU’s University Media Board. Follow The Observer on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @cwruobserver.
11 Opinion
Friday, August 25, 2023
Starting fresh from page 10 Simply slowing down and consciously focusing on your breathing can reduce stress and help you sleep better. Every single one of us would benefit immensely from slowly breathing in, holding our breath and breathing out a few times when we feel overwhelmed. That constant deluge of responsibilities that creeps up on you can be put to rest by simply slowing down. Conscious, deep breathing is especially vital in combatting anxiety symptoms, which present as shallow breaths coming from the chest. Instead, try to breathe from your stomach. You’ll notice yourself feeling more relaxed and in tune with the present moment.
Meditation also has its benefits. Mindfulness meditation in particular helps clear up the mind, allowing you to be more at peace with the difficulties you encounter on a daily basis. Every morning we would spend about 30 minutes of class practicing mindfulness, and I found that it helped me a lot with my anxiety. If you’re not used to just sitting down and accepting the world around you, meditation might be difficult at first. It was for me. But, like with anything else, the more time you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. There are countless apps and tutorials online to get you in the rhythm. Headspace is one that Dr. Jack uses frequently.
Lastly, gratitude journaling— writing down anything and everything you are grateful for—leads to positive outcomes, such as stress reduction, improved sleep and stronger relationships. Every single day for two weeks each of us practiced gratitude journaling. I found many similarities in the people, movies, shows, music and pets that I was grateful for. Friends, family, my favorite music artists, such as Porter Robinson, even my cat—all frequently appeared in each journal entry. It helped me appreciate the positive influences I have in my life and dispel the bad memories. There wasn’t much work or thought that went
into it. I just sat down with a pencil in hand and wrote down whatever came to mind. It’s a simple exercise that has great benefits. You, too, should try counting your blessings. The semester has just begun. Soon we’ll be taking long treks to get to class, writing down notes, submitting assignments, attending club activities and enjoying the time we have with the people we care about. Instead of succumbing to the stress, let’s stand tall and firm and carry these practices with us as we navigate the peaks and valleys of college life. When we finally make it to the end goal miles down the road we’ll be proud of all the work we made along the way.
Dear first-year students: Don’t succumb to “grindset” culture Milo Vetter Staff Writer In the weeks before you move in and experience orientation week, you’ve probably received lots and lots of advice from your teachers, parents and orientation leaders to seize all the opportunities you can and to experience everything that college has to offer. But here’s the problem: College is huge. Every time you check your email, there’s a reminder or flier for a new event you’ve never heard of, an invitation to join a club or an experience that advertises itself as vital for college students. You’re constantly being pulled in different directions, and you have no idea if those directions are right for you. These people are all well-meaning; they want you to have the best possible time here at Case Western Reserve University. But if you try to experience it all, you’ll burn out quickly. To help you navigate this problem, here are a few pieces of advice. Firstly, if you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance that you aren’t even 100 percent sure if you want to stick with your major. There’s a lot of implicit pressure to figure out exactly where you’re going in college early on. If you’re a first-year student, you’ve felt that pressure when you introduced yourself to your orientation group. If you said you were undecided, you might have felt self-conscious. If you firmly said what you’ll be majoring in, chances are that you sounded a lot more confident than you actually are. Don’t worry, most other students feel exactly the same way. People in a stable career will often tell others that they’ve always known what they wanted to do, or they’ll play down how unsure they used to be, because it makes their life story sound more compelling. It takes time to figure out what you want to do, and once you do make a decision, you’ll wake up every morning doubting yourself only slightly less than the last. Secondly, don’t be in too many clubs. Pick one, maybe two, that you
like the most and stick with those. Why, you may ask? Aren’t more clubs better? Well, when it comes to job searching, more is definitely not better. The main goal of participating in a club is not to put your membership on your resume like a badge, but it is to gather stories you can tell during interviews about times you demonstrated leadership or overcame a struggle. Becoming a central figure of a single club and being there for its biggest struggles are much more valuable than being on the fringe of multiple clubs and never really benefiting from them. So by all means, sign up for lots of clubs at the Student Activities Fair, and show up to the first meeting or two; but if you end up not liking them as much as you expected, don’t be afraid to unsubscribe from their mailing lists. My last major piece of advice is to meet as many people as you can in your first few weeks. Try not to be self-conscious about approaching new people out of the blue.
When I did it, I usually found that the person in question was happy that they didn’t have to do the work themselves. Making that effort can be exhausting—trust me, I’m an introvert—but the more often you introduce yourself, the faster you’ll find your people. Furthermore, if you receive an invitation from someone you met recently, you should do your best to accept. This will give you a reputation in their minds as someone likely to accept invitations, so they’ll be more likely to invite you to other social events. You can always say no to the next one! Your future social connections will be everything. Whenever you’re in a rough spot in the future, or whenever you need just a little bit of extra help to finish a homework assignment, the time spent making a friend in the same class will have been worth it. CWRU is somewhat infamous for its rigor. Depending on the field you’re in, this reputation may end up being accurate, especially if your
job market is competitive. You may feel like you have to gain as much work and club experience as possible. Sure, both are important, but the concept of work-life balance applies to college just as much as a career, especially since club activities blur the line between work and life. Being a STEM major can be especially bad in a culture of constant productivity and self-improvement, so you have to be conscious about how much you’re putting on your plate. College is like a backpacking trip. Each individual item you carry may seem important—and most of the time they actually are that important—but as a whole the most important objective is the ability to keep hiking with what you’re carrying. If you’re finding it difficult to put one foot in front of the other, you have to look at your load critically and reassess what burdens you really need to carry. And it’s much safer and more fun if you’re moving along with friends.
Courtesy of The State Press
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Sports
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, August 25, 2023 observer.case.edu Volume LV, Issue 1
Kassaie makes program history at 2023 NCAA tournament
Women’s Tennis – Postseason Recap Puneet Bansal Sports Editor The Case Western Reserve University women’s tennis team built on last year’s historic season, reaching the NCAA tournament in April. The Spartans finished the regular season with an overall 15-6 record, including nine sweeps. Seeded fourth at the UAA Championships, the Spartans kicked off the tournament against New York University in the quarterfinals but fell 5-3 after dropping four matches in singles play. CWRU bounced back against the University of Rochester 5-0 to set up a 5th place match against Carnegie Mellon University. Unfortunately, the Spartans were overpowered 5-1, their only win coming in first doubles from second-years Hannah Kassaie and Lily McCloskey. 13th-ranked CWRU earned a berth in the NCAA tournament for the second time ever with hopes of surpassing last year’s run in the Round of 16. “This opportunity to compete at [the] NCAA is really special, to have another historic season means a lot,” said Head Coach Kirsten Gambrell McMahon. “It’s a long season
in college tennis, you really go the entire school year and it really is a long grind, so to be able to have consistent results throughout the year and make this tournament definitely is very special to us.” The Spartans traveled to Lexington, VA and sailed through their opening match against Transylvania University 5-0. In the second round, CWRU faced 12th-ranked Sewanee University, a matchup that proved to be as evenly matched as the schools’ respective rankings. After a thrilling back-and-forth, the Spartans eventually lost 5-4 to bring the team competition to a close. CWRU’s prime doubles duo Kassaie/McCloskey was seeded second for the doubles championship but was upset 4-6, 4-6 by Sewanee’s top unseeded tandem. Kassaie/McCloskey finished the season with a 21-6 doubles record. In individual play, Kassaie rewrote CWRU’s history books, defeating Katherine Orgielewicz of Williams College 6-1, 6-1 to become the first women’s tennis player to reach the singles quarterfinals. Her singles run ended in the quarterfinals after losing in three sets to Babson University’s Olivia Soffer. Kassaie recorded a singles record of 21-3, the second-most single season
wins in program history. The Spartans earned numerous honors in the final weeks of the postseason, which are listed below: College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team – Pallavi Goculdas, Hannah Kassaie, Lily McCloskey and Radha Patel All-UAA Honors – Hannah Kassaie (First Team singles and doubles), Lily McCloskey (First Team doubles and Second Team singles), Radha Patel (Second Team doubles) and Katalina Wang (Second Team doubles) NCAA DIII Elite 90 Award – Hannah Kassaie ITA Division III Central Region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award – Pallavi Goculdas College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Team – Lily McCloskey (First Team) and Hannah Kassaie (First Team) College Sports Communicators Division III Academic All-America Team Member of the Year – Hannah Kassaie ITA All-Academic Team – Nina Hoog, Shreya Ramani, Pallavi Goculdas, Caitlyn Hsu, Chloe Ku, Katherine Wang, Hannah Kassaie, Lily McCloskey, Radha Patel, Ellior Rose, Asha Shukla, Elsa Syed and Katalina Wang
The team will begin their fall 2023 season in Gambier, Ohio at the Kenyon Invitational on Sept. 9-10. A week later, the Spartans will participate in the Denison Invitational in Granville, Ohio. From Sept. 22-24, the team will compete in the ITA Regional Championships in St. Louis.
Second-year Hannah Kassaie fights valiantly during her quarterfinal match, but falls short to Babson University’s Olivia Soffer. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
Men’s tennis – postseason recap from page 1 Hopper/Aduru’s success continued, besting a duo from Johns Hopkins University 6-1, 6-0 to reach the doubles NCAA Championships. Unfortunately, Maza/Provenzano fell in the semifinals to a duo from Swarthmore College. As the defending champions, targets were painted on Hopper/Aduru’s backs, and they were challenged by Michael Melnikov/Utham Koduri from Swarthmore. CWRU took the first set with ease, winning 6-1. Swarthmore fired back in the second set to tie the match 5-7. In the tie-
breaking set, Hopper/Aduru climbed out of a 2-4 hole to win the championship with the 7-6 victory in the third set. This was the second year in a row that the CWRU men’s tennis team won the NCAA doubles championship and the third national doubles championship in program history. The win officially brought the Hopper/Aduru pairing to a close, who went 31-2 this season while also winning the ITA Cup III Doubles trophy last fall. Hopper, who is the most accom-
plished player in CWRU men’s tennis and potentially one of the most decorated athletes in CWRU athletics, ended his career 82-19 in singles and 128-13 in doubles to go with two NCAA Doubles Championships and three straight NCAA team championship appearances, ending with the title this year. The Spartans earned the following honors during the postseason: UAA Player of the Year – James Hopper UAA Coaching Staff of the Year – Head Coach Todd Wojtkowski, as-
CWRU’s men’s tennis team celebrates victory in a heartfelt team huddle. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
sistants Saumil Jhaveri, CJ Krimbill and Wade Heerboth All-UAA Honors – James Hopper (First Team), Vishwa Aduru (First Team), Michael Sutanto (First Team), Ajay Mahenthiran (Second Team), Diego Maza (Second Team) and Chris Provenzano (Second Team) College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team – James Hopper, Michael Sutanto, Vishwa Aduru and Ansh Shah NCAA DIII Elite 90 Award – Sahil Dayal College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Honors – Vishwa Aduru (First Team), Ansh Shah (Second Team) and James Hopper (Third Team) ITA National Senior Player of the Year – James Hopper ITA National Assistant Coach of the Year – Wade Heerboth ITA All-Academic Team – Vishwa Aduru, Rohan Bhat, Sahil Dayal, Anmay Devaraj, Daniel French, Casey Hishinuma, James Hopper, Pranav Ikkurthy, John Kasner, Ajay Mahenthiran, Ben Martin, Diego Maza, Yuvraj Narang, Matthew Plunkett, Justin Prochnow, Chris Provenzano, Jackson Schueltze, Ansh Shah and Michael Sutanto The fall 2023 season begins at the Kenyon Invitational on Sept. 16-17 in Gambier, Ohio, followed by the Toledo Rocket Invitational from Sept. 2224. The team will travel to Kalamazoo, MI for the ITA DIII Men’s Central Regional Championships from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
