Sports: Men’s soccer improves 4-2-1 after games against Marietta and Denison (pg. 11)
Observer The Case Western Reserve
Friday, September 27, 2024 Volume LVI, Issue 6
CWRU buildings, student spaces are renovated and reopened
Treseler News Editor
As students arrived on campus at the start of the semester, they were not only greeted by the familiar faces of friends, roommates and classmates but also by a new change: a sporadic array of recently completed construction projects. From the demolition of Yost Hall to a refreshed Carlton Commons, a lot has changed on Case Western Reserve University’s campus.
Yost
Yost was demolished beginning in May. In 2026, it is slated to become the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB).
Notably, Yost’s destruction was delayed several months. The Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Statistics was also relocated prior to the demolition. In addition, many student services, such as the Office of Student Employment, once resided there, which have since moved to the Sears Building.
Yost was originally constructed in 1951 as a residence hall for the Case
SPORTS
Institute of Technology, with a sister building across the quad called Pardee Hall. In 1963, discussions started regarding its conversion into spaces for classrooms and other academic facilities.
With the building now officially gone, many students have joked that “Yost is toast.” The CWRU Alumni Association even advertised a live stream of its destruction. Though for many who frequented the area before its destruction, seeing a wide gap on Case Quad felt uncomfortable. One third-year student said, “It looks like they pulled a tooth out of the quad.”
Dental Research Building
For students who are doing the introductory course sequence in the natural sciences, one of the newest changes is the recent renovation of the Dental Research Building’s first floor. Costing $16.4 million, it now serves as a space for the Department of Biology’s lab-based courses.
At the start of 2024, most of the space was under renovation, and University Health and Counseling services moved all of their operations to the other floors of the building. The renovations were finished just in
Located between the Wickenden Building and Tomlinson Hall, this area will house the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building. Clay Preusch/The Observer
time for the start of classes this academic year.
The space now includes five new biology teaching labs for both introductory courses and new courses that the department is planning. Dr. Susan Burden-Gulley, a senior instruc-
tor in the Department of Biology, noted that the new lab spaces are accessible for students with mobility devices.
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Women’s soccer team returns home for 5-0 shutout and 2-1 Senior Day win
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
After four successful on-the-road contests, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team returned to DiSanto Field for a pair of home games last week. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, the squad bested the University of Mount Union, achieving their second 5-0 shutout this season.
The first tally of the game came during the 10th minute after thirdyear midfielder Mackenzie Mueller collected the deflected ball from the Purple Raiders’ throw-in and fired it past the goalkeeper. The remainder of the half went scoreless, resulting in CWRU leading 1-0 into halftime.
Two minutes into the second half, the Spartans doubled their advantage when third-year midfielder and forward Ceci Dapino notched
goal of the
victory.
Second-year defender Kat Tsarouhas records 3 shots out of 20 in comparison to Mount Union’s total of 3 shots.
Phillip Kornberg/The Observer
their second goal of the night. After gaining possession of the ball from the sidelines 30 yards from goal, she dribbled the ball to the middle and evaded a defender before firing a shot above the Purple Raider goalkeeper’s head and into the net.
Third-year forward and midfielder Alexis Sassower added the third and fourth tallies to the Spar-
tan’s 5-0 win with her consecutives goals being within eight minutes of each other. Her first goal of the game came from a shot just outside the box after a short pass from Mueller, who achieved her second assist of the season.
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Zachary
Construction continues on Case Quad after Yost Hall’s demolition.
Fourth-year forward Carolyn Koutures makes the final
night against the Purple Raiders, securing the Spartans’
Phillip Kornberg/The Observer
Renovation from page 1
The teaching labs are in the center of the building. Connecting all of them together is a new large prep space, where all of the materials are kept and secured when they are not needed for labs. This leads to the office of Owen Lockhart, the teaching laboratory manager in the Department of Biology. He said that summer was mostly spent packing and unpacking the labs: “This whole fall is going to be evolving, definitely a set-up period. And I’m hoping for spring, it’ll be like full normal.”
In addition to the new teaching labs, there is a microscope room, microbiology lab, an aquatic lab and labs for the Department of Neurosciences. In addition, there is a computer modeling room that works with Microsoft HoloLens technology.
There is an extension to bio[box] for undergraduate research use and also an anatomy research room. Outside of the academic space, there are also several study spaces.
These new student-designed spaces are something many in the Department of Biology are taking pride in. Lockhart said, “It’s a much more engaging, interactive experience that we had before.”
Burden-Gulley said, “I think the
biggest thing is that the students are really responding. You know, they seem excited. They see what we put into this for them. It was for them, right? It’s not for us, it’s for them.”
The original building itself was erected in 1969 for the School of Dental Medicine and contained 250 patient chairs and room for 368 dental students. In 2019, the Health Education Campus opened, and along with it the new Dental Clinic Building, where the School of Dental Medicine moved. This made the buildings of the CWRU School of Medicine’s Health Sciences Campus, including the Dental Research Building, mostly unused. University Health and Counseling services moved into the space on the first floor, which became Clinic B in 2021.
In 2022, the Department of Biology petitioned CWRU to turn part of this unused space into more teaching labs. Burden-Gulley explained that the idea was presented in a College of Arts and Sciences
meeting, and it was quickly implemented as a way to supplement the increasing class sizes from the
Classes of 2021 and 2022.
Regarding the current spaces, Beatriz Ibañez, the associate dean of strategic initiatives, finance and administration, noted in a written statement that “The College of Arts and Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Biology, and Campus Planning and Design is in the planning stages for the future use of space occupied by the former Millis Biology Teaching labs. In the meantime, the Department has begun setting up temporary research laboratories in the space.”
Carlton Commons
For students who reside on the top of the hill in the South Residential Village, the newest change is the renovation of Carlton Commons. Originally constructed as a student union space in 1967, it served a variety of uses and purposes for the South Residential Village.
In the 2010s, the Rough Rider Room served late night food options in Carlton Commons, which the Jolly Scholar took over in 2019, creating Southside Scholar. In 2020, the space became a dining hall for
the limited students who were on campus. This closed at the start of the 2021-2022 academic year.
Perhaps the biggest change to this space is the restoration of the dining hall. The new dining hall is run by Bon Appétit catering. With furniture that looks similar to its counterpart in Fribley Commons, it boasts a similar set of meal options. Further, Melt University reopened in Carlton Commons; it was previously located in Tinkham Veale University Center.
Kristin Urig, the director of Student Centers, said, “The meeting room is now arranged in pods, with movable whiteboards, a rolling monitor for student use, and a foosball table has been added in the cove.” She also notes that in addition to the dining hall, the CWRU Community Pantry, previously known as the Physical Resource Center, is also in Carlton Commons.
Urig highlighted that the reopening gives students more recreational space: “The new setups really encourage students to sit and relax whether they’re getting some work done, watching Netflix, or just hanging out, much like the welcoming spaces we have at Thwing and Eldred.”
Olin
The front of the Olin Building, home of the Department of Computer and Data Sciences, has a recently refreshed exterior along with new classrooms, offices and other spaces. This renovation cost $6.6 million.
Michael Bruder, the university architect and assistant vice president for planning and design, states that when Olin was built, “there was a monumental stair connecting MLK Blvd to the Case Quad and the entry faced this stair. This stair was removed when Nord Hall was built in 1988 but the entry into Olin remained in its original location but then became somewhat hidden from the main quad.”
The new entrance seeks to recreate that grandeur while also providing a modern face to the building that is more in line with its counterparts on the quad.
“We are very pleased and excited with the new entry design,” he said. “It represents CWRU’s cutting-edge research and instruction and demonstrates our commitment to progress and innovation.”
Located in the South Residential Village, the newly rennovated Carlton Commons provides students with another dining option as well as a space to study and relax. Zachary Treseler/The Observer
The Carlton Commons dining services are managed by Bon Appétit catering like Leutner and Fribley Commons. Carlton Commons is open for dinner from 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday.
Zachary Treseler/The Observer
Rennovations in the Olin Building refurbished the third, fourth and eighth floors as well as the exterior. The rennovations include a new, more accessible entrance from Case Quad to the third floor. Clay Preusch/The Observer
“The Golden Bachelorette” premiere ushers in a breath of fresh air for the franchise
Zachary Treseler News Editor
Wednesday, Sept. 18 was a glorious day for the fans and followers of “The Bachelor” franchise. Calling themselves “Bachelor Nation,” many settled around their televisions for another season of the bizarre, melodramatic and sometimes rom-com-esque reality dating franchise. But this time, it was a new spinoff for viewers to enjoy!
For those unfamiliar with “The Bachelor” franchise, the premise is simple: one person will be dating a whole house full of individuals of the opposite gender with the hope of eventually falling in love, getting engaged to and marrying one of those contestants. The show started with “The Bachelor”—one man dating a house full of women—in 2002, with the first season of “The Bachelorette,” where the contestant’s gender is reversed, in 2003.
Though the series normally shows the experiences of a handful of young adults and early professionals, a new spin-off started in 2023 called “The Golden Bachelor,” where the main love interest and all of the contestants were in their golden years, which generally considers people aged 65 and older.
The first season of “The Golden Bachelor” was overall a success with old and young fans alike due to the wholesome characteristics of its older contestants, though still containing enough melodrama to make it work as reality TV. As a result, even if Golden Bachelor Gerry Turner’s love story didn’t pan out, the show still resonated with viewers—one of the many reasons why the franchise returned with its newest incarnation, “The Golden Bachelorette.” Its main star, or Bachelorette, is Joan Vassos, a school administrator who was previously a contestant on “The Golden Bachelor.”
The show started very normally, especially comparing it to the previous “The Bachelor” season, with a long period of silence and B-Roll, which thankfully only lasted for 16 painful seconds before a song started to play. In this first “scene” of the show came an overwhelmingly emotional sequence as Joan discusses her love story with her late husband, recounting their love story up until he tragically died from cancer.
This theme of coping with the loss of a significant other is an idea that permeated through the entire episode. Many of the contestants who received an extended introduction greatly de-
tailed both their partner’s death and the grieving processes. However, the show also touched on stories of coping with what many consider to be disenfranchised grief: Mourning that may go unacknowledged or validated by society. For example, contestants spoke about their grief when they lost a partner to addiction or even through the divorce process. The fact that the producers of the show took an extended amount of time to have the contestants speak about their grieving and recovery processes was an unexpected highlight of the show. While I applaud the producers for normalizing this aspect of aging, I do question the medium that this is done in: reality television. Very rarely, if ever, do consumers of media watch reality TV to see accurate depictions of real life. We come for the overdramatic fights and tear-filled
arguments. Depicting something so real, I worry, could be interpreted by many viewers as being disingenuous, further stigmatizing much of what the contestants speak openly about. Speaking of contestants, host Jesse Palmer noted they had assembled “The most qualified golden bachelors.” In this regard, they did not disappoint, with the contestants including a Navy Capital in full dress, a retired university vice president, a retired UN Agency Director and many individuals in the financial services industry. And even if all the contests are older than those in previous seasons, the same Bachelor antics were visible in the mansion. From someone entering on horseback to frankly awkward introduction stunts and making fun of another contestant’s French accent, the goofiness and pitiful nature of the franchise prevailed,
though with a much more civilized tone. One contestant, Jack Lencioni, even made Joan a meal during the first episode. Another showed her photos from his home garden.
As is customary with every first episode, the producers had to introduce some meaningless drama that makes absolutely no sense, in this case showing someone getting out of the limo who was a much younger woman before immediately going to a commercial break. Far from the first “Bi Bachelor” season, this woman was the winner of the previous Bachelor season and made a brief appearance to introduce her father as the last contestant. The way this was handled—by creating fake drama through aggravated cutting to a commercial break and the use of a shock factor I felt was beyond unnecessary—struck a nerve with me for just being unnecessary and stupid. Much like the previous seasons, the first episode was a quick 90 minutes, and most footage of the contestants came as they were stepping out of the limousine. This episode, like all others, featured both a first impression rose and a final rose ceremony. But as a new addition, there was a clip where everyone gathered around the TV to watch videos filmed by their loved ones back home, encouraging them as they were on the show. This illuminates the tough balance of “The Golden Bachelorette”: How can the show be both a drama-worthy sequel to an otherwise crazy franchise as well as paint the stories of these successful individuals with the dignity they deserve? Luckily, most of the time, the episode struck that balance well.
In all, my view of “The Golden Bachelorette” does not differ from that of any other “The Bachelor” franchise show. I love watching it in the company of friends or when I’m doing something tedious as background noise. I would not approach it for any sense of meaningful interaction, even if this season may be more wholesome than others. However, I would also encourage viewers to enjoy the wholesome nature of the show as a refreshing break from the rest of the franchise.
Students who live on campus can watch the Golden Bachelorette live through SpectrumU, on the ABC channel—Channel 5—on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. If students miss it, as do most Observer contributors, they can watch it on demand, either through the ABC website with the same SpectrumU login or the Hulu streaming service.
Crowd consensus at Charli XCX and Troye
Sivan’s
“Sweat”
tour: “I Love It”
Kate
Gordon Life Editor
Anyone who doesn’t know who Charli XCX is at this point must be living under a rock. Her latest album “Brat,” released on June 7, quickly skyrocketed to fame online, with “brat summer” becoming the buzzword of the season. The album’s background color, a pukey and formerly unappealing shade
of neon green, became known as “brat green” and was plastered on everything from t-shirts to bumper stickers to temporary lower back tattoos. Even presidential candidate Kamala Harris embraced the brat wave and temporarily changed her Twitter banner to a replica of the album’s cover—which is just the word “brat” in a modified Arial font on the formerly mentioned neon green backdrop—with “brat” switched out for “kamala hq,” of
course. As a fellow rider of the brat wave, when I saw that Charli XCX was playing at Nationwide Arena in Columbus with her good friend and collaborator Troye Sivan, I knew that I was going to have to make the two-and-a-half hour trek to go see the two of them perform. The concert I attended was just one stop on the two artists’ aptly titled “Sweat” tour across North America. Unsurprisingly, the Columbus show was the only date in
Ohio and one of three in the Midwest, the other two being Detroit and Chicago. In other words, I was likely not the only person driving a significant distance to see “Sweat.” And having seen the show, I can now say with full confidence that it was well worth said drive and the ticket cost, which I thought was quite steep even for my seat in the nosebleeds.
Continue reading on page 4
Starring 61-year-old Joan Vassos, “The Golden Bachelorette” is a new, more wholesome addition to the “The Bachelor” franchise. Courtesy of Hulu
“Sweat” tour from page 3
First and foremost, both artists are incredible performers. The concert was set up so that Sivan and Charli XCX took turns onstage, with each performing around three songs before switching spots. I was a little nervous when I learned about this arrangement before the concert, thinking that it might lead to a one-sided show if one artist was clearly out-performing the other. Luckily, this was far from the case—both singers have a ton of stage presence and infectious energy. Sivan, known for his often suggestive choreography, spent most of his time onstage in motion and surrounded by a team of
backup dancers. Charli XCX typically appeared alone and strutted around the stage—and under the stage, and on the scaffolding set up above the stage—but was no less captivating than her co-headliner. They’re each incredibly confident in who they are and the music they produce, meaning that the two of them can goof off and dance to their heart’s content without it ever reading as cringey or silly.
This brings me to my next point of praise: the concert’s overall vibe. Sivan and Charli XCX have spoken about their desire to turn their tour into a rave, and I think it’s safe to say that they accomplished that
goal. The thumping base, flashing strobe lights and packed-in crowd on the arena’s floor did make the concert feel pretty similar to being at the club. From my seat apart from the crowd I could see a sea of neon green in the stands from fan’s merch, and I noticed when certain numbers got every set of hands in the arena in the air. Some of the songs that whipped the audience into a frenzy were Sivan’s “Rush” as well as Charli XCX’s “Von Dutch,” “Vroom Vroom,” “I Love It” and surprisingly “Speed Drive,” which was written for the soundtrack of last summer’s “Barbie” movie.
My main criticism of the con-
cert unfortunately must fall on the performer who did not go quite as viral over the summer. While every song Charli XCX played was a bop, Sivan’s discography is simply not as complete as hers is. Apart from “Got Me Started,” “One Of Your Girls” and of course “Rush,” all of his songs were pretty forgettable to anyone other than Sivan superfans. I really tried to get into more of his music before the concert and I honestly could not do it; a lot of his stuff is mellow to the point of boring, in my opinion. He manages to compensate onstage with the previously mentioned dance routines, but the sad truth is that he simply does not put out as many hits as Charli XCX. All said and done, “Sweat” was a phenomenal concert with a unique atmosphere only these two artists could have created. For the many Case Western Reserve University students who are from out of state, if there’s a way for you to return home and see one of the tour’s remaining dates, I would highly encourage you to do so. And if you can swing a trip to Columbus, it’s worth keeping an eye on upcoming concerts there, as many great artists skip over Cleveland and perform in other Ohio cities instead. Otherwise, the next crumb of “Sweat” content will be Oct. 11’s brat remix album: “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.” Brat summer may be over, but I’m surely not the only person ready to embrace brat fall.
Season four of “Emily in Paris” is just as disappointing as the previous three
Maybe it’s time for Emily to go to Rome instead?
Esha
Bagora Social Media Editor
Mild spoilers ahead.
“Emily in Paris”? It’s time for the show to get renamed to Emily in Rome. After watching the newlyreleased second half of season four of “Emily in Paris,” I found myself with a renewed sense of hope that maybe this is the end of Emily’s run on Netflix. The (hopefully) last season of “Emily in Paris” was the worst of them all, from the character glow downs to the mixed story lines, and I truly can’t wait for it to be over.
With every season, everyone’s sense of style and personality seem to get worse and worse. Gabriel mysteriously gets a new haircut every season, and I do not know who his barber is but he needs to be fired. Looking at side-by-side comparison pictures of season one Gabriel and season four Gabriel next to each other, it looks like Gabriel got dragged through the cobblestoned Parisian streets during season two, and then spent season three on an abandoned and isolated island with no mirror or comb, and a pair of jagged and blunt scissors to look how he looks in season four.
Emily’s fashion choices used to be bold, creative and unique. In season four, Emily’s outfits were tacky and weird, and I genuinely dreaded seeing her onscreen whenever there was even the slightest opportunity for her to dress up. Her personality changed tremendously, going from lively and confident to insecure and vulnerable. Emily’s once shimmering excitement was replaced with uncertainty, which could have been
great character development if it was any show but “Emily in Paris.”
The series started off as, and should stay, a light and upbeat romantic comedy about a girl moving to Paris to bring them the wonders of American marketing while balancing her exhausting love life.
In Season 4: Part 2, the writers attempt to depict heavier topics in an otherwise lighthearted show, but it just comes across as disingenuous and ill-fitting. Watching an episode that simultaneously deals with Camille’s ghost pregnancy and Mindy’s struggle with singing topless
seemed like I was watching two different shows at once. As each character’s personality adapted to the diverse season-long problems they were experiencing, it just seemed odd. Emily was (yet again) struggling to choose between Gabriel and another man while also moving to Rome, Mindy had to fund Eurovision, Camille was trying to become a mother, Gabriel was depressed because he didn’t get a Michelin Star and Sylvie’s surprise step-daughter started living with her. Having each of the characters sink into shells of their former selves while dealing
with a multitude of varyingly complex problems just makes the show seem disconnected. Some of the storylines were the same as the previous seasons, like Emily in her never-ending love triangle, and others came out of absolutely nowhere— who is Sylvie’s stepdaughter, why does she matter and why is she trying to sabotage Emily for absolutely no reason?
“Emily in Paris” peaked in season one, and has been in constant decline ever since. But will I be hatewatching Season 5 of “Emily in Paris/Rome”? Absolutely.
The fourth season of “Emily in Paris” came out last month, evoking feelings of disappointment from viewers with its strange outfits and poor character development. Courtesy of Netflix
The “Sweat” tour features Charli XCX’s “Brat” album and Troye Sivan’s album “Something to Give Each Other.” The tour runs in North America from Sept. 14 to Oct. 23. Courtesy of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan
FKA twigs takes office siren to the next level in her new music video
Kennedy Wolf Contributing Writer
FKA twigs has a long-held reputation for producing music that sounds otherworldly. Her essence is that of a small bespeckled alien, who smashes whatever sounds together whenever she wants. This past month she returned to the music scene with her new single, “Eusexua.” She explains that this single is based on her experiences living in Prague over the past few years. This is the headlining track for her upcoming album titled, you guessed it, “Eusexua,” which is set to be released late next January. The track’s music video, which comes in at a whopping seven and a half minutes long, has already garnered over a million views on YouTube.
The first few minutes of the video show FKA twigs working a bland corporate office job. Everything on the set is the same color, and the workers bear the same slack-jawed expres-
sions. She’s dressed professionally but is a bit frazzled and late. As a superior complains to her, she picks up the phone which emits a strange beat and knocks everyone unconscious. This is followed by several minutes of choreography, which is genuinely so otherworldly that it is indescribable. She sits in a line of chairs while her body makes jerking puppet motions that correspond to the moves of her backup dancers. Then her outfit switches from something a gray corporate drone would wear to an ensemble that is fully FKA twigs. Her head is bald, except for a nest of hair circling the back of her head. She’s now wearing bold gray eyeshadow. She’s dressed in a tank top and underwear.
Next, the scene flashes to FKA twigs twirling in a conglomerate of flesh. I’m not kidding. She writhes against her now shirtless backup dancers. The scene reads like something from a 1970s pulp fiction novel. Is it weird? Maybe a little bit. Did it make me uncomfortable upon my first watch? Oh,
absolutely. But something about the beat and the quiet hum of her voice as she synchronizes her movements drew me back in. She ends the music video by making direct eye contact with the camera while singing, “People always told me that I take my love too far. Then refused to help me … ” This minute of unbroken eye contact feels shockingly personal and is fitting for such an artsy and graphic music video.
The power of FKA twigs affirms that no matter how uncomfortable or unsettling her art may be, it leaves you wanting more. I watched this music video for a second time, approximately 25 minutes after my first viewing. I didn’t even make it half an hour. Something about her work sticks a needle under your skin and then leaves it there. Maybe that needle was her insanely sharp collar bones that were on display for most of the video. FKA’s voice is angelic, and
when set against electronic computer synths, the combination feels unnatural. But what about this music video is natural? The paradoxical nature of her voice against the futuristic beats works well. Especially considering the song’s lyrics, which reinforces ideas of embracing the unordinary and unique: “Do you feel alone? You’re not alone.”
The entirety of FKA’s discography resembles this sentiment, but “Eusexua” specifically brings back an older version of FKA twigs’ tracks. The minimalist voices set against technocomputer beats remind me of her early work—but her new single is more refined and carries a stronger message at its heart. It’s more mature. The comparison of her early work and her most recent single shows immense growth and a sense of reflection on her past albums. “Eusexua” showcases FKA’s development as an artist over the past decade.
UPBeerless Oktoberfest … in September
Zachary Treseler News Editor
Whenever I can get a free dinner on someone else’s dime—especially when that food is not from the dining hall—I feel that it is my civic, moral and legal obligation to consume it. That is exactly how I ended up at UPBeerless Oktoberfest last Thursday, Sept. 19. While the food was delicious, I found the event to be a tad confusing at times but well worth the time it took to stop by.
My confusion started from the very first time I read about UPBeerless Oktoberfest in the University Program Board newsletter, with an event named “Oktoberfest” taking place in September. Now, that’s not to say all Oktoberfests have to be held in October. Cleveland’s Oktoberferst, for example, was held in late August and early September. Though to be fair, Cleveland’s version of the event did not even occur in Cleveland, but in Berea, OH.
Aesthetically, September was just not the best time to hold a fallthemed event. There was an odd juxtaposition between a very warm summer evening, which is what we got on Sept. 19, and also the ideal version of any fall event. Even if “Christian Girl Autumn” is a meme,
many people, including myself, associate fall events with pumpkin spice and wearing an abnormal amount of sweaters and cardigans. A toasty September day is not what I had in mind for this type of event.
This is notwithstanding the “Beerless” part of the name of the event, which was just funny. I reasonably doubt that anyone would have expected there to be freshly poured beer on tap at a UPB event. It produced a memorable and slightly humorous name, which oddly rallied some of my friends to attend the event. Consuming alcoholic beverages on East Bell Commons, however, does occur with some level of frequency—for the past few years, Springfest has had an over-21 section where they served restricted beverages. RHA’s Upperclass Community Council also held an Oktoberfest celebration last October, and to UPB’s detriment, it did have beer for those over the age of 21.
When push came to shove, a group of friends and I arrived with our 6-7:30 p.m. tickets promptly at 6 p.m. To UPB’s credit, the event did start within 10 minutes of the posted starting time. We were promptly swiped in using one of their new keycard readers.
From the onset, the main draw of the event was the ability to enjoy
an Oktoberfest-themed dinner, and this is something that UPB did not disappoint with. For example, each attendee received one large German pretzel topped with a healthy amount of cheese sauce. While the sauce was a tad watery, such a large pretzel with the right amount of salt was the perfect way to start the event.
Next, each student received a choice of either two different German sausages or pierogies. For the former, this included a choice between a weisswurst or a bratwurst. The bratwurst reminded me of a pork knackwurst and was excellent. It was flavourful but not at all overpowering for my American taste buds. It was served with a healthy side of sauerkraut, which added a variety of texture and flavor. The pierogies, on the other hand, which I did not have, had a bright yellowcolored filling.
In addition to the main meal, UPB also provided a dessert option: apple strudel. While it is native to Vienna, it was a delightful way to end the meal. Unlike a lot of other pastry desserts, the ratio between its flaky crust and apple filling was spot on without being too sweet or tart. There were also two types of drinks available: sparkling and still apple cider. I found the cider to be
pungently apple flavored, and I only had a few sips before several bees decided to circle around it.
While the main draw of the event was the food, there were other activities advertised as well. For example, there was cookie decorating and wreath making, which were popular and well received by those who did it. This observation leads to my primary criticism of the event—specifically, the lack of any Oktoberfest theming. For instance, a stereo blasted pop music, and I wouldn’t exactly associate Chappell Roan with Oktoberfest. In all, it created an atmosphere very similar to that of Thwing Tuesday, another UPB event, which is not a bad thing, but it did stray away from the Oktoberfest vibe.
Any time I can get new food from a different restaurant or caterer, it is an opportunity I can wholeheartedly endorse and recommend for all students. No matter how bizarre or mistimed an event is, the allure of getting a free dinner is frankly worth it, and UPB can put on a show with their choice of catering. Regardless, the event itself was mostly forgettable for its generic UPB corporate nature. Should the next event fill up before you can register, I would not stress about it too much and maybe just eat a pint of ice cream for dinner.
FKA twigs’ new music video for her song “Eusexua” is filled with her signature unconventional dancing and special effects. Courtesy of FKA twigs
The music video’s images contribute to her otherworldly aesthetic, with lyrics that reinforce ideas of embracing the unordinary and unique. Courtesy of FKA twigs
What Grey's Anatomy character are you?
Aquarius
Callie Torres
Pisces
Lexie Grey
Aries
Richard Webber
Taurus
Derek Shepherd
Gemini
Andrew Deluca
Cancer
Izzie Stevens
Leo
Mark Sloan
Virgo
April Kepner
Libra
Jackson Avery
Scorpio
Owen Hunt
Sagittarius
Alex Karev
Word search: The Observer edition
Capricorn
Cristina Yang
Photos of the week
What We've Been Listening To
Mad
Sahar
Overheard CWRU
Compilation of out-of-pocket things heard across campus
"Yea I'm team segregation as well."
"I love Lana Del Rey, when I grow up I wanna smoke cigarettes."
"You take care of your white boy, I'll take care of mine."
"On skib."
"I never did anyone ... I'm good at what I do."
"Everybody already knows my death plan."
"ACME like the company."
"He can shove his head into the blackboard."
"Peep the toes though."
"Once a year my kidneys take a two-week notice."
Eusexua
Kethan
How Soon is Now?
Sahar Kapasi/The Observer
Auden Koetters/The Observer
Clay Preusch/The Observer
Shivangi Nanda/The Observer
Tyler Vu/The Observer
Hannah Johnson/The Observer
Kethan Srinivasan/The Observer
Zachary Treseler/The Observer
Mulan Ma/The Observer
EDITORIAL
The importance of taking breaks
Editorial Board
As we end off the fifth week of classes, we’re finishing up the first exams of the semester. If you’re a new college student, you may be worried about how much harder your exams were compared to tests in high school or at a loss for how to study for the next one. Even if you’re not new to college, you may be stressed about all the other exams you need to take or finishing all your assignments on time. Striking a balance in your academic life can be difficult. One key thing to remember, though, is that you aren’t superhuman. We all need to give ourselves a break.
Oftentimes, the reason we are so stressed is because we aren’t great at scheduling in time to take care of ourselves. We pack our days with classes and school work and then by the time we come back home, all we want to do is sleep. Scheduling your day out in advance may be key to your stress level management. Just as you dedicate time in your agenda to complete an assignment or study, you should also factor in at least a few minutes for self-care every day. You can start with the most extreme option—time blocking your entire day.
Time blocking is a time management technique which allows you to clearly see what task you are doing at every waking moment. First identify the tasks you must get done for the day then slot them into open time windows on your calendar. For example, you would schedule how much time you’ll give yourself in the
morning to get ready and by what time you need to leave for class. You can carve out specific time to work on your assignments and, most importantly, a period of time in which you will do something nice for yourself. This could just be 20 minutes of journaling or a five-minute walk outside. While this method may seem over the top—and it’s likely you won’t follow this schedule exactly—just the practice of intentionality is very important to securing time to take care of yourself.
Putting it bluntly, many students at Case Western Reserve University are tryhards who default to pushing back self-care day after day in favor of getting a higher exam score. This mentality is compounded when we surround ourselves with people who are willing to work hard to accomplish their academic goals. But this goes the other way as well. We don’t want to constantly be around a group of people who only care about academics to their own detriment. This can just lead to more stress. If you find that just the idea of going to study with your friend group stresses you out, it may be time to take a step back and think about a new method.
Rather than living at the Kelvin Smith Library, you should make a point to get your head out of your books—at least for a couple minutes. Take breaks in between studying or set aside some dedicated time to visit Wade Lagoon and maybe even take your friends with you.
It’s likely that you’re sick of hearing this, but the average college student spends nearly nine hours a day on their phone, not even including
the work we do on our computers or iPads. Being on our devices for so long can increase our anxiety levels and isolation, making us feel trapped in a cycle of either avoiding work or being stuck in it. A more valuable use of our time, then, may be going outside while the weather is still nice or reading a book.
You’ll eventually need to accept that A’s are not everything. Grades should not determine your self-worth; rather, they should be something that you take the time to congratulate yourself for achieving. It is likely that you’re used to getting high grades, maybe even without trying that hard. College may come as a shock, then, when the first grade you get is lower than expected. This is normal. Most of us have been through this exact culture shock, and we know how crushing it can feel to realize you
may not have been as prepared as you thought you were. This is where accepting that grades do not decide your worth is integral. If you don’t do well on your first exam, there’s always the next one. If you don’t do well in the class, there’s always the next one. Truly, what is the worst that can come from getting a grade you don’t like on an exam? Figure this out to remind yourself that whatever the worst case scenario is, it’s not the end of the world because you will always have another chance.
Being in an often high-stress environment can be difficult for many reasons, but if we don’t take the time to adequately care for ourselves, then our anxieties can snowball into a bigger deal than they need to be. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself. That’s the best way to stay ready for incoming challenges.
The Case Western Reserve Observer
Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University
Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor & Publisher
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DESIGN
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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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The real consequences of Trump’s statement on Springfield, Ohio
Zachary Treseler News Editor
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
If you have been online this past week, you’ve probably seen a remixed song of former President Donald Trump’s statement of “they’re eating the dogs, they’re eating the cats” from the last presidential debate. This was in response to a question about immigration in the United States, originally posed to Vice President Kamala Harris. If somehow you missed it, Trump claimed, rather falsely, that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating household pets—a claim he doubled down on when the moderators of the debate noted its fake nature.
This quickly became an online joke. Many influencers took to making videos of them jokingly placing their beloved pet in a pot or pretending to eat them with a caption of something along the lines of “POV: you live in Springfield, OH.” This trend follows the memeification of the state of Ohio, as it became a term to describe something weird and abnormal as compared to the rest of the world.
While we can all joke about the absurdity of Trump’s statement, sometimes we forget that such claims made by people with authority, such as a presidential candidate, can have a real impact on people’s lives.
Wittenberg University, a private university in Springfield, not only had to switch to remote classes for a week but also canceled all athletic events. This actually affected our volleyball team, as they were supposed
to play against the Wittenberg Tigers this past weekend. Wittenberg’s decision came about after a shooting threat, which was then followed by a bomb threat. Both of the threats, according to Axios and the Springfield News-Sun, explicitly targeted Haitian students at the school. A similar situation occurred at Clark State College, a public community college, which also switched to remote learning. By the end of the week, Wittenberg University was back to in-person classes but with heavier security measures.
The words of our politicians, even if they later acknowledge that they are untrue, clearly have an impact on everyday life. For the city of Springfield, the consequences of the former president’s words ranged from harboring life-threatening potential to interfering with students’ education. Even though most of Case Western Reserve University’s students come from out
of state, these threats hit extremely close to home for us. It’s easy to imagine that Springfield is some remote, almost fictional place, when in reality it is only a three-hour drive away. The threats against Wittenberg and Clark State were not unique, as the city has seen over 30 bomb threats in the past few weeks. The Haitian community, in particular, has seen an increase in racial discrimination, becoming the target of these violent threats. Many members of the Haitian community have spoken out about their fears for their children whom Trump’s believers have not spared with their threats.
The juxtaposition of the humorous social media trend and the reality of the Haitian community grappling with threats of violence serve as a reminder to be cautious of the media we consume and share—that which may seem like a meaningless joke can have truly harmful effects.
Everyone is beautiful just the way they are
Catherine Choi Staff Writer
Although most people tell us not to judge a book by its cover, it is nearly impossible when we first see someone or something. Appearance is the first dataset handed to us, and it takes time to genuinely get to know someone. Until then, a person’s appearance serves as the sole source of information for others to base their opinion on. For this reason, many people pay a lot of attention to how they look. Society’s beauty standards have changed and keep changing over time, but the fact that people will do anything to attain beauty stays constant and often leads to detrimental results.
For example, putting too much emphasis on looks justifies unethical behavior. We often see good-looking people escaping trouble or being criticized less than others because of the double standards that work in their favor. Research has proven that goodlooking criminals in court tend to get a lower sentence than those that are less attractive, despite committing a crime of the same gravity. For example, despite confessing to murdering almost 30 women, many people were dazzled by Ted Bundy’s good looks. He even gained popularity as women who found him attractive defended his crimes. Although Bundy was eventually put to death, the fact that many people still championed him despite everything he did merely because of his appearance is very concerning. This case has shown that attractive people can get out of trouble more easily than others while their victims are left with no one to help them fight against their aggressor.
Putting too much emphasis on looks also strains social relationships. Because of the role that appearance has on forming an image of someone, we are often prone to assuming what other people are like instead of actually getting to know them. We utilize the physical attractiveness stereotype, assuming that good-looking people have other positive qualities, so we provide them unfair privileges. On the other hand, we apply a much more rigorous standard on those whom we do not consider good-looking when evaluating what kind of people they are. Therefore, they must work harder to prove their worth. This is especially
prevalent when we are young and immature because we may vocalize our negative opinions about how other people look and end up hurting their feelings, often leading to trauma on the victim’s end. Alongside these rash first impressions, we start to neglect the importance of other areas such as personality, mindset and morals, which can lead to making wrong judgments about others. Low self-esteem derived from insecurities can hinder others’ confidence, making it difficult to form relationships.
Putting too much emphasis on looks can also lead to dangerous situations. Our society imposes unrealis-
tic beauty standards, and in effort to pursue them, people resort to unsafe measures. For example, people go through risky surgical procedures, altering their genetically-gifted features to meet society’s expectations. Often, people participate in weight loss methods that significantly impair their health. Some go above and beyond their means, getting into financial trouble for beauty while wasting time that could be spent doing something more productive. This is especially concerning in regards to young children, who do not have the ability to filter what they absorb. The media they consume may convince them
that they must look a certain way, and they may believe it without knowing that what they see may not be real or attainable. As we get to know someone better, the impact that looks have on evaluating their character becomes smaller and smaller. Those that are very attractive can have terrible personalities and those who are not so attractive can be genuinely kind and selfless. Although it is crucial that one knows how to maintain basic personal hygiene and dress appropriately, we must not be too overwhelmed by the pressure to meet society’s standards of attractiveness.
Mulan Ma/The
A legacy of lead: How we can contribute to the prevention of lead exposure among Cleveland youth
Aleksandra Majewski Contributing Writer
one could cause lead poisoning. In middle school, I soon realized that wooden pencils were, in fact, not made of lead at all, but instead with graphite that, unlike lead, is minimally toxic when eaten or drawn on bare skin.
Lead is a metal that can be found in water, toys, jewelry and paint. However, people are most commonly exposed to lead through lead-based paint and dust in older buildings. In 1978, the usage of lead-based paint was banned nationally when its harmful effects were revealed. Yet more than 90% of Cleveland’s housing was built before 1978. Old paint cracks and peels more easily in comparison to newer types of paint, which is a shared characteristic among many Cleveland homes. When paint cracks, it emits microscopic particles of lead that appear as dust in the air. This may seem harmless from an outside perspective, but when inhaled or ingested, these particles can cause serious undetectable damage and prolonged health issues in children and adults alike.
Children—especially in Cuyahoga County—are at four times higher risk of lead poisoning than the national average, according to Cleveland Clinic statistics. Children are often asymptomatic, though symptoms of this health problem may include learning
issues, behavioral changes, headaches, vomiting, cramps, anemia and fatigue. Due to their developing minds and bodies, children are more vulnerable to the exposure of lead than adults, so they can also suffer from lowered IQ levels and growth delay. In adults, symptoms may include loss of sensation in legs and feet, anemia, infertility, headaches and abdominal pain.
The most effective way to combat lead poisoning is prevention. The Lead Hazard Control Grant Program aims to increase the amount of lead-safe housing on the market while simultaneously decreasing the likelihood of childhood lead poisoning in Cleveland. Eligible candidates can have their homes evaluated for lead risks and get grants to regulate lead-based paint threats for an improved quality of living. In a 2023 report, Cleveland Clinic financed $52.5 million to aid the identification and removal of threatening sources in lead exposure from Cleveland homes. In May 2024, Cleveland Clinic co-launched the Lead Safe Child Care Pilot Program, which grants 30 selected childcare providers in Cleveland with funding to eliminate lead traces at their locations.
Though these services are proactive and urgent, we are not. As college students, we should be proactive with our voices, too. Despite the current efforts, it is not enough to single-handedly uplift the community from a lead-traced environment. The magnitude of this
issue requires the helping hand of the whole community. We may not be able to physically impact and aid the situation ourselves, but our voices still have power.
Ignorance is not bliss. As Case
Western Reserve University students, it is our responsibility to understand the prevalence and severity of ongoing issues and take part in initiatives for improvement in the greater Cleveland community.
CWRU Film Society
Friday, September 27th, 2024
7:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m.
The Great Gatsby(2013)
Rated PG-13 (95 min.)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
With Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton
Jump back in time to the Roaring Twenties, and dive into the opulence and mystery surrounding Jay Gatsby, an enigmatic bachelor notorious for his glamorous parties. Enter a world of romance, ambition, and power, and discover the unspoken secrets behind the glittering world of the New York City aristocrats of the 1920’s.
Saturday, September 28th, 2024
7:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m. Clue (1985)
Rated PG (94 min.)
Director: Jonathan Lynn
With Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn
Six guests are invited to a strange house and must cooperate with the staff to solve a murder mystery. Was it Colonel Mustard in the study with a gun? Miss Scarlet in the billiard room with the rope? Or was it Wadsworth the butler? Meet all the notorious suspects and discover all their foul playthings. You’ll love their dastardly doings as the bodies and the laughs pile up before your eyes.
Mahika Krishnamoorthi/The Observer
Sports
Men’s soccer improves 4-2-1 after games against Marietta and Denison
Abhishek Nambiar Staff Writer
The Case Western Reserve University men’s soccer team played two games this past week: a home game against Marietta College on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and an away game against Denison University on Saturday, Sept. 21. CWRU beat Marietta 2-0 while tying Denison 1-1.
The Marietta game saw CWRU go for a strong start, breaking through the Pioneers’ defense before attempting a shot just before the two-minute mark courtesy of second-year defender Cameron Thayer—though that shot was saved by Marietta, keeping the score at 0-0. Following an unsuccessful shot by the Pioneers during the 21st minute, the Spartans achieved their first goal of the game during the 27th minute with a shot from second-year midfielder Adam Pluszczyk assisted by fourth-year forward Kysen Kroeger. The successful shot marked Pluszczyk’s first goal of the season and third of his career.
Less than three minutes later, Kroeger added onto the Spartans’ lead with a second goal, this one assisted by fourth-year midfielder Lukas Dalakis. The goal earned Dalakis his third assist of the year and the eighth of his career. However, it did mark the Spartans’ last goal of the entire match: The rest of the half proved to be relatively uneventful scorewise, with CWRU players making 3 shots within the last 10 minutes of the game that all proved unsuccessful.
Going into the second half, the Spartans were unable to make any goals, suffering from several shots that went out of the field. However, they were able to hold possession for the majority of the half, giving the Pioneers only 2 shots during the period. This left Marietta with no goals as CWRU achieved its third shutout of the season.
Third-year forward and goalkeeper
Stephen Vilardo, who achieved his first career shutout during the game against Marietta, noted how the Spartans’ biggest challenge during the match was breaking through the Pioneers’ press.
“Out of all the teams we’ve played so far this season, [Marietta] had the highest press. They were stepping up really high on the field, and sometimes that’s difficult to break through. I think we did a really good job; everyone really stayed calm in the back, and we were able to break through them with not too much difficulty,” Vilardo commented.
Following this victory, the Spartans
traveled to Granville, Ohio, to play against Denison on Saturday, eager to build on the momentum of the previous game. This didn’t entirely come to fruition during the first half, as neither the Spartans nor the Big Red were able to find the back of the net. CWRU attempted four goals during the first half compared to Denison’s one goal attempt, all of which were unsuccessful. At first, things weren’t faring much better in the second half, with the Spartans having difficulty breaking through the defense of the Big Red. CWRU was, however, able to block four goal attempts by Denison, though a fifth goal
attempt by Denison in the 74th minute proved successful; this goal gave the Big Red the first point of the match. However, within the very last minute of the match, first-year forward Amir Awais sent a one-time shot into the top right corner of the net, making it past Denison’s goalkeeper to give CWRU their first point of the game and ultimately conclude the game in a 1-1 tie. Members of the squad had their praises to sing to Awais for his goal, which also marked the very first of his career.
“Amir’s goal was fantastic. Everyone on the field was exhausted, and after he scored, we all just collapsed. It didn’t take away from the significance of the moment though,” second-year defender Cormac Apostolides said.
“When Amir scored that goal, all of us rushed into the corner to celebrate as a team,” Villardo commented. “Those are some of the best moments you can have in a college career, celebrating goals with your teammates. That was a big moment for us as a team.”
Vilardo and Apostolides both had other reflections to give about the games against Marietta and Denison, showing off what makes the squad such a strong bond of players.
“When you go down a goal, it’s really easy to put your head down and let things get away from you. But I’d say that, when we were faced with the goal against [us], our fight was really good. We didn’t put our head down, and that showed itself in the final score. Just that perseverance, that was our base challenge. We had to do it and we got it done,” Vilardo reflected.
“I think we did well to get four points out of the past two games,” Apostolides commented. “We had a great result against Marietta. Denison is a strong team and a draw isn’t necessarily a horrible result away from home.”
The squad’s next match will be a home game on Saturday, Sept. 28, against the University of Mount Union.
Women’s tennis prepares for ITA Regionals at the Big Red Invitational
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
This past weekend, the Case Western Reserve University women’s tennis team traveled to Granville, Ohio, to compete in the Big Red Invitational hosted by Denison University. During the two days of competition, the Spartans faced opponents from Ohio Northern University, Otterbein University, Centre College and host Dension.
The squad performed well against the four schools going 23-1 (.958) in singles play and 9-3 (.750) in doubles play. A total of seven Spartans went undefeated in both singles and doubles matches: fourth-year Lily McCloskey, third-years Elsa Syed and Katalina Wang, second-year Kareena Sivanesan and first-years Yasemin Bilgin, Maya Brink and Sara Fernandez.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the Spartans played singles matches against Denison, Otterbein and Centre, with CWRU sweeping their matches against both the Cardinals and the Colonels. CWRU also played five doubles matches against Ohio Northern. The pairs of
McCloskey and Wang as well as second-year Katie Wong and fourth-year Anna Kan both defeated their opponents with a 6-0 win. Graduate student Laurel Utterback paired with thirdyear Asha Shukla to record a 6-1 victory over ONU. Together, Sivanesan and Bilgin defeated Ohio Northern’s Taylor Allen and Molly McLane 7-5.
The following day, CWRU played 10 singles matches against the Polar Bears and once again dominated on the court, winning 10 of the 10 matches. The Spartans also played in doubles matches against Otterbein and Denison. Bilgin and third-year Ellior Rose defeated Otterbein’s Olivia Eckels and Daniela De Mata 6-3, while second-year Prachi Shah and Fernandez defeated Breanna Ball and Taryn Simmers 6-1. In the matches against Denison, the Spartan partnership McCloskey and Wang defeated Peyton Oda and Maia Nowicki 6-2, and CWRU players Brink and Syed defeated Elizabeth Hoo and Ariana Rodriguez 6-3. Fernandez led the team in singles wins with a total of three matches, with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Otterbein, a 6-0 win over Centre and a 6-4, 7-5 win
over Ohio Northern. Kan, Rose and Shah also went undefeated going 2-0, 2-0 and 1-0 in singles matches, respectively.
With the Spartans win from the Big Red Invitational, McCloskey gained sole possession of second place in the
CWRU career doubles win list as she improved 67-18. Bilgin and Fernandez both earned their first collegiate singles and doubles win.
The squad will be heading to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for the ITA Regional Championship this coming weekend.
Second-year midfielder Adam Pluszczyk makes the first goal of the winning game against Marietta College, his fist goal of the season and third overall. Phillip Kornberg/The Observer
Second-year Kareena Sivanesan remained undefeated in both singles and doubles matches at the Denison Big Red Invite.
Courtesy of Tim Phillis/CWRU Athletics
Women’s soccer continued from page 1
Darcy Chew Sports Editor
Sassower’s second goal was from a fired shot toward the top of the net, which hit the crossbar before landing beyond the endline. The ball had reached Sassower’s feet after the Mount Union goalkeeper saved fourth-year defender Montgomarie Essex’s shot. Essex recorded her first collegiate assist with the play. The final goal of the night was made by fourth-year forward Carolyn Koutures, who was assisted by third-year forward Molly Shamah.
CWRU recorded 20 shots in the contest with 9 on target, compared to Mount Union’s 3 shots in the contest with 2 on target. Sassower, Dapino and second-year defender Kat Tsarouhas recorded 3 shots.
On the backline, fourth-year defender Katie Rishel and first-year defender Kinzly Gootman played all 90 minutes, helping contribute to the Spartans’ clean sheet. In front of the net, graduate student
goalkeeper Maggie Storti recorded 1 save during her 69 minutes of play and first-year goalkeeper Ellie Palaian recorded 22 minutes of action and 1 save with her collegiate debut.
On Saturday, the Spartans celebrated their five fourth-years— Koutures, Rishel, Essex, midfielder Abigail Meneses and midfielder Sydney Schenk—with a 2-1 Senior Day win against Capital University.
First-year forward Taylor Brackett broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, placing the Spartans on the board 1-0. She received a pass from first-year midfielder Abby Welker in the middle of the box before sending the ball into the net. With the tally, Brackett recorded her first collegiate goal, and Welker had her second assist of the season.
“It felt great to score my first collegiate goal! I was excited to contribute to my team. My teammate, Abby Welker, had a great run down the right side of the field and played a good ball into the box, so I was glad I was able to put it away,” Brackett said.
Third-year midfielder and forward Ceci Dapino scores an astounding 5 shots this weekend, including a penalty kick, contributing to CWRU’s 21 total shots. Phillip Kornberg/The Observer
Beyond celebrating her past four-years with the team, Schenk’s biggest moment from Saturday’s game was watching Brackett score.
“My favorite moment from the Capital game was seeing Taylor Brackett score her first collegiate goal! She had a great finish to get us on the board in the first half, which gave us great momentum going into the second half,” she said.
The hosts followed the goal and were awarded a penalty kick, with Dapino converting from the spot and placing the Spartans up 2-0. The Comets cut their deficit with a goal during the 75th minute. However, the Spartans didn’t let any more balls into the net for the remainder of the game, solidifying their 2-1 win over Capital.
“It was awesome to get a win on our Senior Day! Our family support is amazing, and they definitely showed up for Senior Day. I always love having my parents in the stands, too. They come to as many games as they can from out of town, and it’s always nice to hear
them cheering me and the team on!” Schenk said.
Schenk also commented on the matches, citing the energy on the field being a major contributor to the team’s win.
“I think the key factors to both matches this past week were coming out strong with a high-press. We want to set the tone early and force mistakes from the other teams. Also, coming off of a scoreless tie, we wanted to focus on converting our chances.”
Offensively, CWRU had 21 shots, with Dapino leading the squad with 5, including 2 on target. Welker and Shamah contributed 4 and 3 shots, respectively. In front of the net, Storti recorded a season-high in saves with a total of 5.
This coming weekend, the squad will be on the road to Springfield, Ohio, where they will play Wittenberg University on Sept. 28. The following Monday, Sept. 30, the Spartans will host Ohio Wesleyan University for their final non-conference contest at 7:30 p.m.
Scores and Upcoming Games
Football
CWRU at Geneva (9/28)
Cross Country
All-Ohio Invitational
Men’s team: 1st of 14 DIII teams
Women’s team: 3rd of 13 DIII teams
Women’s Tennis
CWRU at Denison Big Red Invite (9/21-22) - No Team Scores
CWRU at ITA Fall Regional Championship (9/27-28)
Men’s Soccer
CWRU at Denison (9/21) - T 1-1
CWRU vs John Carroll (9/25) - W 2-0
CWRU vs Mount Union (9/28, 1:30 p.m., DiSanto Field)
Women’s Soccer
CWRU vs Capital (9/21) - W 2-1
CWRU at Penn St. Behrend (9/25) - W 2-1
CWRU at Wittenberg (9/28)
CWRU vs Ohio Wesleyan (9/30, 7:30 p.m., DiSanto Field)
Volleyball
CWRU at Marietta (9/21) - L 0-3
CWRU vs Heidelberg (9/24) - W 3-0
UAA Round Robin #1
CWRU vs Rochester (9/28)
CWRU vs WashU (9/28)
CWRU vs Emory (9/29)
CWRU at Oberlin (10/2)
Men’s Tennis
CWRU at ITA Fall Regional Championship (9/20-22) - No Team Scores
CWRU at Everybody vs. Cancer Invitational (9/20-22) - No Team Scores
Fourth-year midfielder Sydney Schenk celebrates the win and her fourth year on the soccer team surrounded by her family on Senior Day. Phillip Kornberg/The Observer