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friday, september 6, 2019 volume LI, issue 3
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CWRU researchers find 3.8 million-yearold skull Anna Giubileo Staff Reporter “There was a moment when I couldn’t control my emotions. Apparently, I was jumping up and down, a behavior that I don’t usually show when I find hominin fossils, and the locals who were standing next to me thought that I was going crazy!” That was the reaction of Yohannes Haile-Selassie, curator of physical anthropology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, when he found the 3.8 million-year-old cranial fossil of an early human ancestor. HaileSelassie is the lead of the WoransoMille Project, which has been working at the same site in Ethiopia for 15 years. “[The cranium] is the most complete and undistorted cranium ever found in the hominin fossil record older than 3 million years,” explained Haile-Selassie. This allows for an increased understanding of our early human ancestors. Due to the fossil’s uniquely preserved features, researchers were able to observe facial features not previously seen in the species. The team has been traveling to the site for approximately six weeks every year, and it is not the first time they have discovered notable fossils. One such fossil was a partial foot, which signified the existence of mul-
tiple potential human ancestor species alive during the time of Lucy. Beverly Saylor, the Armington Professor in the department of earth, environmental and planetary sciences at CWRU, has been working with Haile-Selassie since the beginning. She was the lead on the team tasked with dating the cranium, a complex task. The team travels to the site every February for approximately 10 days to both complete field observations and collect samples for further lab analysis. “It’s best to directly date the fossil site,” Saylor said when asked about carbon dating the cranial fossil. “But, as in this case, that often is not possible.” Rather, the team had to resort to material found several kilometers away from the fossil site, which posed the task of needing to correlate the dates from the material to that of the fossil site. With that, they found the fossil to be between 3.804 (±0.013) to 3.77 (±0.014) million years old. “In addition to determining the age of the cranium,” said Saylor, “we were also able to reconstruct the landscape across which its owner roamed and the broader environment in which that landscape formed.” This provides the teams much
Yohannes Haile-Selassie, curator of physical anthropology, happily holds up the 3.8 million-year-old cranial fossil of an early human ancestor he found. Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Natural History more information on the variables influencing the development, growth and life of the early human ancestor. Saylor explained that the team’s next steps are to write a proposal to the National Science Foundation so that they might be able to work with the researchers at Hadar to compare the sites and fossils of both the cra-
nial fossil and Lucy. Haile-Selassie’s team will go back to the site and begin a larger excavation in hopes that the rest of the skeleton is there. Additionally, there is still a lot more analysis to do on the cranium to learn the full implications of what it means for the scientific community.
Summary and impacts of Brexit on the US and Cleveland Nathan Lesch Director of Print Over three years have passed since the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, a move commonly called Brexit, and still no terms with the EU have been agreed upon. “If Theresa May didn’t take any actions to stop Brexit, I find it unlikely that Boris Johnson will. That doesn’t mean stranger things can’t happen, but movements to override the Brexit vote and the preferences of the Prime Minister (PM) would have to overcome a lot,” noted Justin Buchler, an associate professor at Case Western Reserve University who specializes in elections and democracy. Although there has long been tension between the U.K. and the EU, the road to Brexit began in 2013 when the thenPM David Cameron proposed a statewide referendum on EU participation. Though the actual referendum didn’t occur until June 2016, Cameron believed U.K. citizens would overwhelmingly vote to remain in the EU. Both the outcome and the process of the referendum were contentious. Citizens had to choose between voting to leave or voting to stay. These limited options have been highly criticized due to their lack of complexity. 52 percent of voters supported leaving the EU. No country has ever left the EU, which makes the process of leaving dif-
ficult for the U.K. It is currently less than two months away from the U.K.’s deadline to leave, and as of print, there has been no plan agreed upon by both the U.K. and the EU. Immediately following the vote to leave the EU, Prime Minister Cameron resigned. Theresa May, another member of the Conservative Party, was chosen to take his place. May worked extensively on a deal that would keep current trade regulations between the U.K. and the EU in the short-term, but remove most of them over time. Her plan was considered a hard Brexit, meaning that the U.K. would not remain closely linked with the EU. May presented her plan to Parliament three times, and it was defeated handily each time. Eventually, May began working with the Labour Party to create a softer Brexit where the U.K. would remain linked to the EU. These talks ended before a suitable plan could be drafted. Originally, the U.K. was slated to leave the EU on Mar. 29, 2019, two years after May triggered Article 50, the protocol for leaving the EU. However, no deal was able to be made by that time. EU leaders have allowed several extensions to the U.K.’s leaving date. Boris Johnson, who succeeded May
as prime minister after May stepped down this past June, promised the public that Brexit would be achieved by the Oct. 31 deadline. As time runs out and no deal is made, uncertainties surrounding Brexit mount. The U.K. and the EU are no closer to determining the terms of the U.K. leaving. Because the U.K. has been unable to create a hard or soft Brexit plan, a no-deal Brexit becomes increasingly possible. According to Buchler, “A no-deal Brexit can’t be ruled out, since Johnson would accept it and no specific deal proposed by May got through, but making predictions on this is a mug’s game.” A no-deal Brexit would involve the U.K. leaving the EU without agreeing to any terms. The U.K. would simply drop out of all EU policies and programs. Without knowing how the U.K. will leave the EU, it’s impossible to determine the exact effect leaving will have on the United States. Buchler identifies the potential economic impacts as being consequential to the U.S. “Any economic impact on the U.K. or EU countries therefore affects [the U.S.] based on the way in which they wind up trading with us,” said Buchler. “However, I wouldn’t expect the effect to be large, since as a proportion of
GDP, our trade with either the U.K. or the EU isn’t that large.” Fortunately, because of the lack of a large-scale economic impact, Buchler does not believe Brexit will significantly impact U.S. politics. Globally, Buchler also believes it is impossible to determine the amount of economic damage Brexit will cause until the terms—or lack thereof—of leaving are determined. Regarding Cleveland specifically, Buchler believes that because Cleveland is not significantly influenced by trade between the U.K. and the EU, Cleveland will not be dramatically affected. However, Buchler does warn that Cleveland could be affected if the consequences of Brexit are much larger than they appear now. Buchler used the 2008 financial collapse to explain how this effect could occur. “The global economy was tanked in 2007 and 2008 by the collapse of a housing bubble, but that was connected to far more than just housing, including the derivatives market and speculation,” said Buchler. “So, the effect of the housing bubble collapse turned out bigger than one might have expected, and it is worth keeping that in mind, but Cleveland is not especially dependent on the U.K.-EU trade connection.”
news SEXPOpalooza aims to open candid conversation about sex Ryan Yoo Director of Design SEXPOpalooza, the annual event hosted by Sexual Assault and Violence Educators (SAVE) and Case Western Reserve University Greek Life, aims to provide students with a safe space to learn, discuss and participate in sex education related activities and discussions. “The aim of the event is to encourage students to have conversations with their friends/peers about the different topics the event covers long after SEXPOpalooza is over,” noted Shivalika Keni, the president of SAVE. SAVE ultimately hopes to bring awareness to and educate the community about sexual assault and domestic violence on campus and
help students to better combat these issues in a healthy and supportive manner. “SAVE’s main goal is to create a more sex-positive community, and SEXPOpalooza does just that,” said Keni. Like in previous years, SEXPOpalooza will have booths where students can interact with all aspects of sex and sexuality. In previous years, the event hosted campus organizations including the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women and SMARRT (Students Meeting About Risk and Responsibility Training), which help students identify and learn about safe and consensual relationships.
The event will be hosted in Thwing Center to better accommodate the students who attend this event. “One piece of feedback we’ve received in past years is that the Tink Ballrooms tend to get crowded during peak hours, given the way the booths are usually set up,” said Keni. “My hope is that people leave the event feeling comfortable with being uncomfortable,” said Keni. “Not everyone is privileged to receive sex education at home or at school, and the aim of the event is to encourage students to have conversations with their friends or peers about the different topics the event covers long after SEXPOpalooza is over.”
The fight continues for LGBT representation at John Carroll University Emily Young Development Editor Few students remember that just a short five miles away from Case Western Reserve University lies another college: John Carroll University. John Carroll was founded in 1886 as a Jesuit university intent on educating students in both morals and traditional academic disciplines. As a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, John Carroll has always had strong religious ties in both its faculty and student body. Today those religious morals are being tested as Michael D. Johnson, president of John Carroll University, announced that the annual drag show was canceled this semester. The show has been a fixture in the community since 2013, where it gave local performers a chance to showcase their talent, although it has been contentious since its inception. The issue came to a head in October 2018 when Declan Leary, a second-year student at the time, published an opinion piece in the campus newspaper lambasting the show and the culture it represented. Leary claims the show is evidence of the “decay” of the Catholic faith, condemning all those involved in the endeavor. Most notably, Leary called out Johnson, who had become president of the university a year prior. He insisted that Johnson must decide either to prohibit such events on campus and preserve the Catholic faith, or succumb to the supposed “evils”
John Carroll University, founded to teach students morals and academic disciplines, recently canceled its annual drag show. Courtesy of Wikimedia of the LGBT culture. The backlash caused by the article was so extreme that the editors of The Carroll News, where it was published, made a statement defending the publication of the article citing free speech. The editors conceded that the language was “a bit extreme” but as it was used to illustrate the author’s point, the editors felt it was justified. In the face of such opposition, Johnson felt compelled to suspend the drag show. Johnson has stated that he hopes suspending the show will help him maintain neutrality on the debate, which has implications
far beyond a simple college event. There are plans on John Carroll’s campus to protest this decision and include drag queens elsewhere in university programming, but it does not negate the fact that a blow has been struck to LGBT representation on John Carroll’s campus. For those who feel negatively affected by the events that transpired at our neighboring instituion, the CWRU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center is an excellent resource to reach out to for support. There are also a number of mental health resources available, including University Health & Counseling Services.
Politics you should care about Jackson Rudoff Director of Web and Multimedia
GOP congressmen continue to exit Yet another Republican House Representative announced they would not seek re-election this past Wednesday. Bill Flores, who has served Texas’ 17th congressional district since 2011, is part of a growing trend in the GOP. President Trump’s behavior has polarized his party over the past few years, but many members of the GOP have gradually gravitated toward his ideals. Others, however, have sought ways to rebel. Justin Amash, a representative from Michigan, became famous on Twitter for his long rants in support of Trump’s impeachment. Other defectors have been less vocal, relying more on symbolic gestures rather than explicit denouncement of the president. In August, Rep. Will Hurd released a statement that he would not be seeking re-election. Along with Bill Flores, that makes five GOP congressmen in Texas alone who have decided to step away from politics. For those who wondered what the ramifications of Trump’s raucous behavior would be, it appears that a loss of political stalwarts is the answer. As more and more lawmakers struggle to operate under the Trump presidency, they’ve chosen to simply exit rather than unequivocally denounce their party. For the time being, it appears that this is the most they can offer in the form of resistance. There are two interesting threads that could come of this. For starters, how many more will we see make their exit before midterm elections next year? The GOP has been struggling with appearing unified for the past year or so, and this will only be made more difficult by the loss of established names. There is also the question of what seats they might lose. While Texas is a GOP stronghold, some seats have proven vulnerable in recent elections. Beto O’Rourke, now running for the Democratic nomination for president, ran a well-covered campaign to try to unseat Senator Ted Cruz, whose position had been considered rock-solid. The seat that Will Hurd retained in 2018 was only won with 48.7 percent of the vote, which means a good Democratic candidate could quite easily defeat whoever replaces him on the ballot. The Trump presidency has introduced all sorts of unexpected elements to American politics. A significant GOP exodus was certainly not something expected to occur with a Republican in the Oval Office. It appears, however, that patience is finally wearing thin among the less vocal within the party.
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Barnhouse Journal offers poetry for everyone Matt Hooke Executive Editor In the spring of 2018, Kevin Latimer sat at a writing workshop, frustrated. Few people at the table looked like him, and few shared his background from one of the poorest parts of Cleveland. That same year, Latimer and his friend Jason Harris founded a literary space of their own in response: Barnhouse Journal. The Cleveland-based literary publication has published two print issues and receives submissions from across the globe, including Pakistan, Australia and Algeria. “We just want to be something that brings more voices to the table,” said Latimer. “The publishing world tends to be very male and whitedominated. We’re two black men, and we have staff who are trans and a lot of women. We’re trying to be that alternative.” The duo encourages writers to experiment with the form of poetry itself and its presentation. Latimer and Harris have launched a new series of videos, “People Reading Poetry in Strange Places,” where poets perform their works in trash cans and other unorthodox locations. “One of the issues that led us to Barnhouse is this idea of class and who has access to literature,” said Harris, co-editor of Barnhouse. “Po-
etry in strange places undercuts that obstacle, so you no longer have to sit in a four-year university to hear poetry you enjoy.” The duo’s attempt to reach people who may otherwise not read poetry extends to their choice of venues along with their multimedia projects. Barnhouse has more public readings in bars than book stores. “Our mission is Barnhouse for everyone,” said Harris. “We want to be the literary journal that creates and holds space for different types of voices.” Along with poetry, Barnhouse publishes works of fiction and nonfiction. “Most of all, we’re looking for good writing,” said Latimer, “something that tells us something about humanity that we haven’t heard before, or if we have heard it before, tells us about it in a different way.” Harris said one thing that shocked him about going through drafts is how certain themes seem to appear constantly in people’s submissions. When going over submissions for Cleveland Drafts, a literary bar crawl where bookstores, bars and performing arts venues team up to showcase the talent of local authors, he noticed that blood and death
popped up again and again. “In this collection, I read for drafts. A lot of them had to due with illnesses in the blood and what happens after death,” said Harris. “It was interesting to see so many types of writing from different writers from different stages of life find a way to be on the same path.” Harris is currently working on a collection of poems about climate change and living in the Anthropocene, the geological era where humans have become the dominant force on the planet. One poem from that upcoming collection, “Blue,” uses a memory of hitting a bird while driving back from a literary workshop as a metaphor for causing harm to the environment. “Cruise control made it easy, my feet had nothing to do with it,” Harris read from his collection, “The sky was blue. The sky was blue. You couldn’t see it, but we were crashing.” Latimer is working on a manuscript called “Dispatches from the Near End of the World,” which also deals with climate change. The poems start by using normal language, but the prose gets more fragmented as language is abandoned, morphing
FROM THE ARCHIVES: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF STUDENT JOURNALISM
into choppy sentences, whiteouts and strikeouts. Latimer’s poem “Originally a Space Opera,” combines the ideas of space as a utopia, violence, the murder of Tamir Rice and other incidents of police shootings. “Those shots, those shots, those shots those shots,” writes Latimer. The phrase appears 137 times in the work, a reference to 137 shots fired by Cleveland police at a car in a school parking lot occupied by two unarmed black men at the end of a car chase. Submissions to Barnhouse are free and open to anyone. The second issue of Barnhouse is available at local independent bookstores like Appletree in Cleveland Heights, and Mac’s Backs Books in Coventry. “Cleveland is a very interesting place after the fall of industry,” said Latimer. “People talk down on Cleveland a lot and we try to be like, no Cleveland is cool and literature is cool. It’s not just fifty old white men in a room.” This interview was originally broadcast on WRUW FM 91.1 Cleveland on Voices and Choices, a public affairs show airing every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m.
arts & entertainment Current issues left to marinate after going through Coddett’s chopping block Aura Rossy Copy Editor Comedian Kerry Coddett (HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, E! and truTV) recently launched new comedy podcast “On the Chopping Block,” addressing pop culture, political, social and racial issues in the company of friends such as Jordan Carlos (Comedy Central), Matthew Broussard (“The Tonight Show” and Comedy Central) and E. Tammy Kim (“NY Times” and “The New Yorker”). The podcast seeks to bring relevant issues in our culture to light through critical analysis and discussion and find common ground despite conflicting opinions. The debut episode, which aired Aug. 27 and featured comedians Phil Hunt, Josh Carter and Carolyn Bergier, addresses the sexual abuse controversy surrounding Michael Jackson with the recent release of the documentary “Leaving Neverland” (Dan Reed). The speakers discuss the balance of good and bad in the world and whether one can or should separate the art from the artist. In Jackson’s case, Coddett questions her guests on whether they can continue appreciating and listening to the superstar’s music as they once did and whether they even believe the facts presented about the artist. Despite the spark Coddett ignites by encouraging constructive dialogue and varying opinions, the podcast misses the mark on a few aspects. The episode ends as Coddett presents facts that all of her guests can agree on. Unfortunately, few takeaways are gained other than
Kerry Coddett’s new comedy podcast intends to tackle political, social and racial issues. Courtesy of the Case Western Reserve University Facebook understanding where each of the speakers stand on the topic. The episode is also sprinkled with moments where it is difficult to distinguish the speaker or what is being said, as they sometimes talk over one another. Additionally, the topic of the first episode makes one question the audience Coddett is hoping to attract, as Michael Jackson’s controversy is not at the top of the list when college students think of pressing issues af-
fecting our society, nor does it feel relevant to our generation. Despite these shortcomings, the podcast succeeds in bringing up the topic of child abuse, also brought up by other documentaries such as “Abducted in Plain Sight.” More importantly, the speakers discuss how issues such as this shapes both the way we will raise children in the future and the expectations we hold for one another. Coddett clearly presents her
goal of building bridges, regardless of the topic at hand and who we are in conversation with. New episodes will be released on Wednesdays every other week. If you’re looking to tune in, the podcast is available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, SoundCloud and YouTube. You can also follow the podcast on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook by searching @ ontcbpodcast.
An underwhelming release from Lana Del Rey Emily Young Development Editor Lana Del Rey released her sixth album last Friday, Aug. 30 titled “Norman Fucking Rockwell!” All six albums have been released over a nine-year period, starting with her first album “Lana Del Rey” in 2010, with another planned release for next year. Despite having such a wide library, Del Rey has always kept her distinctive style and this latest release is no exception. With fourteen songs, the album perfectly captures the type of heightened acoustic style layered with Del Rey’s airy voice that made her famous. What this album lacks, however, is a standout song. Every album should have a high point, some song or lyrical peak that truly delights listeners, which this album never reaches. Each song has the same tempo, same stripped instrumentation relying heavily on strings
and piano and the same subject. With so much of the same, it could be said that Del Rey is losing her touch. But fans needn’t fear. The lyrics of the songs keep listeners intrigued as they wait to hear more about Del Rey’s melancholic romantic musings. The title track, “Norman Fucking Rockwell,” illustrates this point perfectly. The piece is almost entirely accompanied by piano with occasional moments where a small string ensemble peeks through. The lyrics truly paint the picture: images of a “man-child” who colors the singer “blue” saturate the piece. Nostalgic and ethereal, “Norman Fucking Rockwell” is the picture of a long-gone youthful romance that sets the tone for the rest of the album. “Venice Bitch” is the third song of the album. While the gentle guitar accompaniment and washed out percus-
sion are reminiscent of the titular track, the lyrics once again set it apart. The occasional interjections of “bang, bang, kiss, kiss” and “fear fun, fear love” contribute to the story becoming far more tempestuous and combative. Coming in at nine minutes and 41 seconds, the song luxuriates in such an explosive relationship that you can’t help but watch it burn. Del Rey’s performance is not just limited to moody songs about old relationships. She also sings moody songs about breakups and the trials of single life. “Bartender” is one such song. Del Rey gets creative with her voice here, playing with the syllables of ‘bartender’ to reinforce the idea that the bartender is tender and cares for her. At times she uses onomatopoeia to laugh at the ridiculous situation: holding on to a past relationship by using the bartender as a replacement. The creative use of the lyrics and
slightly faster tempo in “Bartender” make it perhaps the most interesting song on an album that otherwise blends together in a melancholic blur. This album is a return to the classic Del Rey sound: a cohesive block of music best listened to while laying on your bed contemplating ex-lovers, ex-friends and that time you dropped your ice cream and it melted all over your leg. As interesting as the lyrics of this album may be, the orchestration and composition disappoint, earning it only 3.5 stars.
NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL! by Lana Del Ray Interscope/Polydor Records Friday, August 30 Rating:
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Swift emerges from the dark in new album “Lover” Aura Rossy Copy Editor With a shift of tone—from dark imagery and a rebellious voice to butterflies, rainbows and kittens—Taylor Swift released her newest album, “Lover.” The album was first anticipated after the release of her hit-single, “ME!” featuring Brendon Urie from Panic! At The Disco. It is immediately clear after listening to the first seconds of the single that Swift was making a transition from her previous album, “Reputation.” In the “ME!” music video, Swift dropped hints of her past self, beginning the video with a snake slithering along the pavement that quickly morphs into butterflies. “I Forgot That You Existed” opens the album with a cheerful beat, evoking a liberating feeling as Swift announces that she has forgotten a past lover she could not erase from her mind. At the beginning, the lyrics reminisce over all the times Swift’s lover wronged her and left her drained of happiness. The song also points to a sense of ease and relief as it emphasizes that it was simply forgetting; no grudges or sadness were withheld. Classic of Swift’s style, the subject matter is universally relatable as she details how it felt like she was dying, but the suffering came to an end. As the album unfolds, the single “Lover” slows down the beat, reminding the audience of similar slow treasures from her older albums. The
nostalgic single’s music video features dancer Christian Owens, who, together with Swift, depicts the loving evolution of a life-long romance. “I Think He Knows” picks up the energy of the album as Swift describes her overwhelming obsession with a lover who remains unnamed. Swift nails the exhilaration of experiencing this love-fueled high with the lyrics: “It’s like I’m seventeen, nobody understands … he got my heartbeat skipping down 16th Avenue.” With the beat of the song, you can imagine her skipping down the city sidewalk. With wounds as imagery, Swift paints the end of a relationship in “Death By A Thousand Cuts.” She compares her failed relationship to a house that was emptied out and boarded up, carrying through the theme of “home” from the single “Lover” when she opens the video with a doll house. The album’s uplifting tone is amplified by “You Need To Calm Down.” This song celebrates diversity, as seen through the music video in which she addresses haters of all types, encouraging them to quit obsessing and fussing over others. Again, Swift inserts the theme of home as she creates an inclusive community featuring icons such as Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry and the cast of “Queer Eye.” After the transition period Swift went through in “Reputation,” she is back with the classic pop that has become her signature style, infused
Taylor Swift’s “Lover” was released on Aug. 31, 2019. Courtesy of Amazon. com with relatable life experiences that draw fans in. Swift makes an impressive case for her fans’ faithfulness, as this is her sixth number one album, racking in 867,000 sales in the United
States in its first week. Although below a million sales, unlike her previous albums, the numbers are still impressive in a time where streaming is rapidly changing the music landscape.
“GINGER” indicates new era of BROCKHAMPTON Chris Heermann Photo Editor
BROCKHAMPTON’s album “GINGER” cements the group’s change in sound. Courtesy of Genius The musical ensemble BROCKHAMPTON released its latest album “GINGER” on Aug. 23, 11 months
after its last album, “iridescence.” “Iridescence” came directly after the “SATURATION” trilogy, a highly-re-
viewed series of albums that brought in many fans. The “SATURATION” trilogy was full of high-energy bangers and did not stray far in theme from the first album to the third. “Iridescence” had several good songs, much like those that came before, but it also included some more reflective songs that while also good, showed that BROCKHAMPTON was facing a turning point in their career following the exit of Ameer Vann, who was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. This caused “iridescence” to be a mess stylistically, which divided the devoted BROCKHAMPTON fans into two groups: those that liked the new direction the band was headed, and those that did not. “GINGER” is a continuation of the themes in “iridescence.” This album, however, is much more cohesive and flows well from one song to another. The theme is obvious from the very cover, a picture of singer JOBA and creative assistant Weston Freas hugging. In an interview with Genius, bandleader Kevin Abstract said “We were fighting with each other, crying, and at the end of the night ... It ended with us hugging each other, and it was JOBA and [Freas], just hugging.” This album is very emotional, and the lyrics deal with the depression members feel
after the situation with Vann, and how faith helped some of them through it. This album is not entirely without bangers, however. “IF YOU PRAY RIGHT” brings an intense bass-heavy beat together with some energetic vocal performances and a unique piano and horn melody to really stand out from the rest of the album. The refrain is reminiscent of BROCKHAMPTON’s “SATURATION” era and shows that they have not entirely abandoned their original sound. Another standout song is “I BEEN BORN AGAIN.” The song starts with a hoarse whisper over a simple piano that builds into the first verse when the bass begins to thump and records begin to scratch. It is a very fun beat, one that encourages you to nod along. It is followed by the titular song “GINGER,” a moody song that features a slow beat that gradually increases in tempo and integrates hi-hats until reaching a heavily autotuned finish. “GINGER” fades out into the next song “BIG BOY,” a more emotional song with animated vocals that bring the mood back to a more somber tone. Overall, this album is very good. The mood is wildly different from their debut trilogy, but they transitioned very well following “iridescence,” successfully retaining the BROCKHAMPTON sound while still creating an entirely unique album.
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Mosh pits and madness Yvonne Pan A&E Editor University Program Board (UPB)’s announcement last week that Desiigner would perform at the Tinkham Veale University Center on Saturday, Aug. 31 surprised most. However, more surprising was the artist’s performance. The Brooklyn-born rapper, most known for his 2015 song “Panda” and 2016 song “Tiimmy Turner,” energized the crowd, occasionally splashing water onto squealing front row spectators and encouraging the mosh pits. At one point, Desiigner even invited members of the audience onstage with him, carrying a female student on his shoulders. Toyin and A.N.I with guests Ezio and 4upz opened for Desiigner. Some may recognize A.N.I and 4upz from previous appearances at Battle of the Bands and Springfest, two concerts also hosted by UPB. Third-year student Allan Willmon also joined the stage, hyping the crowd and rapping along. Like most artists at concerts, Desiigner came on later than the promised, 10 p.m., and many students were visibly frustrated. When approached in the middle of the concert, student Thomas Rhodes said, “I was promised a Desiigner concert and it’s been 25 minutes, and it hasn’t even happened yet.” Desiigner’s performance was highly anticipated, drawing an enormous crowd. This ultimately led to many people tripping and falling, especially because of the excessive mosh pits. Security interrupted the concert at one point because of the out of control crowd. With the prime view from the third row came the consequences of perpetual pushing, and I lost my balance multiple times and fell twice, almost getting swallowed by the masses. At one point, I was
pinned down for minutes as the concertgoers on top of me scrambled to get up. However, the unpleasant conditions did not deter most students from staying at the concert. Third-year student Bridget Croniger asserted that concerts like this one is “the best way for the [Case Western Reserve University] community to get together as one.” Toward the middle of his set, Desiigner performed his hit songs “Panda” and “Tiimmy Turner” and immediately jumped into the mosh pit that had already formed. As some concert goers stood bewildered, trying to figure out where he went, about half the crowd, including myself, sought refuge outside the ballrooms, overwhelmed by the heat and satisfied with the two songs we came to hear. This move was unconventional, as most artists usually save their hit songs for the end of the concert, but it proved to be a good move for fans and bandwagoners alike. For fans, they had a better experience because there were less people and for students who came out with the lure of the free concert featuring a vaguely familiar artist, they could leave the humid ballrooms early. The Saturday concert comes almost two months after a weeklong venture in Europe where Desiigner performed at the Balaton Sound festival in Hungry, EXIT Festival in Serbia and a third show in Poland. Although Desiigner has not publicly announced any shows coming up, UPB has many events planned, including weekly Thwing Tuesdays from 12-1 p.m. and the reveal of the location for the Fall Break trip on Sept. 6, with tickets going on sale on Sept. 13.
A night at the theater: the Sundance short film experience Katelyn Park Contributing Reporter There truly is nothing like going to the cinema. The excitement that builds from strolling down a corridor with hanging art, taking a spin on dreidel-like chairs, to sitting in front of the big screen and awaiting 100 minutes of seven different films is simply its own treat. Well, perhaps you do not know this joy if you have yet to attend the annual Cleveland premiere of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival short film tour hosted by the Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). The film tour kicked off during the Labor Day weekend and showcased a series of seven international short films including documentaries, animation and fiction. For decades, the Sundance Film Festival Short Film Program has made it its trademark to showcase independent short films and support emerging artists, many of whom in the past have skyrocketed in fame, like Wes Anderson, Taika Waititi and Spike Jonze. Here are titles and synopses of this year’s program according to the independent film production company, IFC Films: “sometimes, i think about dying” by Stefanie Abel Horowitz. USA, 12 min. Fran lives a bland and lonely life, constantly thinking about dying. However, her personality shifts as she flirts with a co-worker. As their relationship develops, Fran is faced with the choice of either becoming vulnerable with this man and di-
vulging her thoughts on dying, or remaining distant and safe. “FAST HORSE” by Alexandra Lazarowich. Canada, 14 min. This documentary traces the journey of Allison Red Crow, an aspiring bareback horse racer from the Siksika Nation in Alberta, Canada. The film captures Crow’s first moments as a rookie, his performance at the dangerous Blackfoot bareback horse-race Indian Relay and what this race means to him. Special Jury Award for Directing. “Suicide by Sunlight” by Nikyatu Jusu. USA, 17 min. Valentina is a black vampire who is protected from the sun by her melanin. She works as a nurse and blends in, but her life at home remains broken as she fights her vampire urges to regain custody of her two young daughters. The challenges of feeding and controlling rage against her ex-husband leads to trouble. “Muteum” by A¨ggie Pak Yee Lee. Estonia, Hong Kong, 4 min. In this cute and hilarious animation, uniform and obedient children follow their teacher as they tour some of the greatest works of art. It isn’t until the teacher takes a bathroom/smoke break that her orderly students break into mischievous chaos and tamper with the art in
creative and cheeky ways. “Crude Oil” by Christopher Good. USA, 15 min. A toxic friendship finally comes to an end once two best friends fully utilize their own respective, useless superpowers. “The MINORS” by Robert Machoian. USA, 10 min. A glimpse of a grandpa and his three grandsons on a summer’s day. It depicts buzzing childhood, savored age and reminiscence of the past. “Brotherhood” by Meryam Joobeur. Canada, Tunisia, Qatar, Sweden, 25 min. A Tunisian family is suddenly reunited with their eldest son who had left for Syria to fight. The son returns home unexpectedly with his new wife. His father disapproves, which inevitably causes tension. While the eldest son and his two younger brothers take a fun trip to the beach, a bitter father makes a snap decision—a mistake that could jeopardize his family. Independent films are greatly appreciated in Cleveland. With a quick Google search, you can find and join the “Cleveland Independent Movie Goers” meetup page with 3,470 members and links to every independent film screening around the area.
Some also prefer the short film program over the full-length program. “The succinct and compact nature of a short film keeps you engaged because you’re introduced to characters and the issue almost immediately,” said fourth-year student Nsisong Udosen. “I noticed a couple of the short films ended abruptly or at least on a cliffhanger,” said a frequent moviegoer and longtime Cleveland native. “For the most part, I appreciated these because, after a quick and intense series of events, they drop you and leave the next chapter up to your imagination and also discussion.” The tour drew in a diverse crowd. The theater was mostly packed with adults and older adults, and only a few students and millennials were scattered in the mix. However, despite the generational and perhaps cultural gaps among attendees, the films had captivated and connected us all with the characters on-screen and especially with one another. With each film, the audience shared roars of laughter, a moment of empathy or the silence of reflection. Within this unique art form and shared experience, this year’s film tour reminded us of our collective humanity, as was hoped for by the Sundance Institute’s founder Robert Redford who created the program to “reassert the importance of craft, story, and the human being in the art and business of making movies.”
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fun page | 7
Ken Ken Easy
Horoscopes Hard
Horoscopes as kinks Aries Furry
Medium
Taurus Bondage Gemini Role play
Sudoku Easy
Medium
Cancer Pony play Leo Foot play Virgo Daddy kink Libra Ice play Scorpio Group sex
Hard
Very Hard
Sagittarius Orgasm control Capricorn Voyeurism Aquarius Water play Pisces Breath play
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This week’s horoscope was chosen in anticipation of SEXPOpalooza
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9/6/19
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opinion observer.case.edu
opinion 4/19/19 9
opinion
EDITORAL
Safe Ride vehicles’ behavior threatens student safety Editorial Board For countless students on campus and across the nation, going to university is not only a time for learning and personal growth, but also a time for seeking new experiences and having fun. Thus, the university’s role is not only to facilitate learning and collaboration, but also to ensure that the students at the university are safe and feel like they can have fun without fear for their safety. This sense of safety while on campus will be irrevocably changed if Safe Ride vehicles no longer allow intoxicated students onboard, and this action may cause much more harm than good. From the shuttle system to police escorts, Case Western Reserve University has established many resources for students to feel safe, but the one resource that stands out above all is the Safe Ride system. Established in 2009, Safe Ride vehicles run from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. and allow students to request rides across campus within specific boundaries. These vehicles ensure that students can return to their dorms or place of residence safely and without incident late at night. After the shooting of a student last year, one of the major actions taken by
the CWRU administration was to extend the Safe Ride hours, recognizing that this would help many students feel safer while on campus. However, if students who are under the influence are not allowed into the vehicles, it leaves many students no recourse but to walk home, often very late at night. According to fifth-year student Rohan Krishna, when he tried to help an intoxicated student into a Safe Ride, the student was refused by the driver because the student was visibly drunk. The driver told them that unless they cancelled the ride, the driver would call the police and emergency services. Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, said they called the police to confirm this policy and were also told by CWRU dispatch that drivers would call campus police and emergency responders if an intoxicated student attempted to board a Safe Ride vehicle. This information implies that intoxicated students are no longer allowed onto Safe Ride vehicles, but according to a statement from CWRU, this may not necessarily be true. “No policy has changed,” the uni-
versity statement said. “The primary responsibility of our drivers is to transport passengers in the safest manner possible. On occasion, potential passengers have been so intoxicated that they pose a risk to others in the vehicle and/or the driver’s ability to concentrate fully on operating the vehicle. In those instances, the driver is expected to contact a supervisor or dispatch for guidance.” This is a reasonable expectation, but if drivers reject all intoxicated students, it will almost certainly result in unsafe behavior. Without the option of a Safe Ride to take students home, students are not discouraged from drinking, but instead forced to walk home late at night or seek other forms of transportation. This also seems to imply that drunk students do not deserve the same safety that sober students do, even though they are much more vulnerable to theft and assault when walking at night. Not only does this force intoxicated students to walk around late at night, it also raises questions regarding how students will be able to get home if they feel unsafe in other situations. Many other Safe Ride systems on other campuses focus on the high rate of sex-
ual assaults on university campuses, with current statistics stating that one in five women at university experience sexual assault. Not all intoxication is voluntary, and in the event that a student is drugged or drunk against their will, will Safe Ride drivers still turn them away? Students should never disrespect the drivers who help them home, but drivers are still paid employees of the university tasked with transporting students across campus at night. This is a system built on mutual respect, and while drivers should still have the prerogative to call the police if students pose a risk to them, if there is not a significant risk, then drivers should still be able to fulfill their responsibility to send students home. All of the above are questions that we must answer if drivers turn away intoxicated students. Where does CWRU draw the line? Extensions of this potential policy could threaten the medical amnesty granted to students who are severely intoxicated and call
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4/19/19
Editor’s Note: CWRU professor Michael Clune on a pixelated childhood Matt Hooke Executive Editor Everyone can remember the first video game they loved. For me, it was “Spyro the Dragon” for the PS1 when I was around ten-years-old. The three-dimensional graphics and mythology captured my ten-year-old brain. Though I only occasionally play video games now, I still remember how much I enjoyed them when I was younger. In his 2015 memoir “Gamelife,” Case Western Reserve University professor and Guggenheim Fellow Michael Clune writes about growing up in a computerized boyhood. The book is Clune’s second memoir after “White Out: The Secret Life of Heroin.” The games that obsessed Clune were massively different than the games that capture our attention today, without fancy graphics or DLCs. With memes that scream “Gamers rise up!” proliferating the internet on the eve of the release of the new Joker movie, there is no better time to talk about the relatively new medium. Among all artistic forms, from film, writing, visual art to theater, games are unique in how they center the audience, or the player, in the work. This is why they can create such a reverent following. When you play a game, you are not watching someone else, but rather observing yourself. Gaming is, essentially, an out-of-body experience. There are games that take inspiration
from other mediums. Hideo Kojima’s 1998 PS1 game, “Metal Gear Solid,” uses cutscenes and dialogue to build a detailed world around a stealth game shell. There are post-modern games like “The Stanley Parable” by Davey Wreden that turn the video game mechanics that mocks the very mechanics of story-driven games, with a narrator that grows increasingly more frustrated if you disobey his commands. The aspect of games that excites me, as someone is more of a casual player than anything else, is how players often construct their own narratives and backstories around a character because they are the ones control the actions. Though games are often considered, often for justified reasons, little more than time-wasters, they also remove the distinction of audience vs. participant. The medium is meant to be experienced directly not watched passively. Clune ties large social themes into the small scale stories of video games and the drama of his youth. Clune writes that “Sid Meier’s Pirates!” with its focus on trading gave him a taste for the modern business world. Clune is a master of going from big story discussions of economic systems to a small story discussion of his daily life with his family and his school days. As an
eighth-grader inspired by “Pirates!” Clune tries to create a scheme selling stolen candy to other children. Clune sees this as a revolution where kids can create their own economy away from the prying eyes of school administrators. The scheme falls apart when his compatriots decide to eat the candy instead of selling it. Clune uses this incident to talk about the fall of the Soviet Union and unfettered capitalist domination in the 1990s. “And all over the world as 1988 turned into 1989 the pirates ate their candy,” writes Clune. The first game Clune writes about, “Suspended,” is an entirely text-based adventure, and “Pirates!” the last game Clune describes, is still at an “Oregon Trail” level of graphics complexity. However, the games’ mechanics and stories are what put an impression on Clune. More importantly, these games offered a way of growing and maturing in a way that did not require other people. Clune describes games as a godsend for him as a shy child, as it was a way for him to make an inner story, without relying on interpersonal relationships. “There’s a warm red heart for people, true,” writes Clune. “But there’s also another heart. A heart that moves through time. A heart made of the enduring stuff of mountains or stars. Or pixels. Or sky.”
Video games are not made to discount the importance of our relationships with others. However, having something else that we can have our life “climb,” as Clune puts it, can offer a sense of security and growth that can enable one to go out and face the world on its own merits. “It gave me a new direction to grow,” said Clune on playing ”Suspended” at the age of seven. “While my parents and teachers were helping me grow toward the people, another part of me had begun to grow out away from them.” As someone who was shy as a child can identify with parts of Clune’s narrative. Though I never became as big of a fan of games as Clune, his narrative offered a relatable story on a boyhood spent alone pursuing solitary interests as much as being outside with friends. Video games, as an art-form born of the technological revolution, might be best equipped to tell the stories and ideas that spring from this time dominated by transistors and silicon. The ability to tell a straightforward story or comment on the mechanics that make the game function in the first place gives developers the ability to express a multitude of ideas beyond the simple fun of “Pac-Man” or “Fortnite.” “If an insight can’t be made into a computer game, it can’t reach us,” writes Clune. “It’s not for us. It’s not real.”
Advice for first-year students Christian Reyna Staff Columnist This year, there are 1,360 first-year students representing the Case Western Reserve University Class of 2023. Each new student brings unique experiences, skills, cultures and personalities that help make our university vibrant and welcoming. By the time this column is published, students will have spent the last two weeks of school adapting to their new environment, learning and making new friends. First-years, to help ease your transition and learn the do’s and don’ts of your first year, here are some tips that I’ve learned through my personal experience at CWRU. College is a new adventure. You’re living by yourself, away from family and ready to make your own mark on the world. Being by yourself is fun, but don’t forget about your family. Call home every once in a while. Send a postcard to surprise your loved ones. It may not look like it, but your family does miss you. After all, you were a presence in their household for about 18 years. When times are tough, it doesn’t hurt to call and
FROM SAFE RIDE | 9 emergency services, and lead to further restrictions on what students can and cannot do on campus. This information was not made public, and with the contradicting information that the university is pro-
let them know how you feel or to just catch up on what you have missed. After calling, I guarantee you that you’ll feel refreshed and much better than before. For those of you who come from hotter climates like me (I’m from Texas), please invest in good snow boots, a good coat and winter accessories. Cleveland winters can be not fun, as the campus becomes covered in ice and snow. Wearing normal sneakers is not going to cut it. Speaking from experience, you may easily slip and hurt yourself. As for the coat, invest in one that retains your body heat fairly well and will last all four years if possible. A water-resistant coat is also pretty nice for snowy days. Having a nice coat can make a big difference in keeping warm, but it won’t protect your face from the cold. Instead of a scarf, I prefer to use a neck gaiter for chilly days. I find them more reliable in terms of retaining heat. A warm beanie is a must to keep your head warm, and you can advertise one of your favorite sports teams to let everyone know where you are from.
Some of you are used to your high school’s workload, but CWRU could be different. Professors do assign a lot of work at times, so it is important that you establish good time management habits. Find time in your schedule to do your homework and take breaks so you won’t overwork yourself. Don’t study for hours and hours without any breaks. Your brain needs to rest from all the numbers and terms. As a way to rest, explore Cleveland and the community around us. It may not look like it, but we are lucky to live in such a vibrant city. University Circle has so many museums where students receive free access. When I wanted to take a break or was feeling stressed, I would go to the Cleveland Museum of Art by myself. I would lose track of time while admiring everything that the museum had to offer. All of my worries would go away, and when I returned to my dorm, I had a recharged mental battery ready to do my work. Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors. Most of them actively want
you to succeed in their class. Ask questions during class, or if you don’t want to speak up in front of the class, go to their office hours. If they don’t have office hours, go to the teaching assistant’s office hours. There is no shame in asking for more help on homework or on a subject you don’t fully understand. Taking the initiative to get help will help you learn the material more and leave you better prepared for tests. Go out with friends. Don’t be by yourself all the time. Release your stress, do your homework or simply just talk with your friends. You never know what you’ll learn about them. CWRU is a very friendly community where everyone has the space they need to have fun while achieving their goals. I really hope all of you will enjoy your time at CWRU. This is a great university that provides everything possible to help you become the best you can be. I’m sure that you will learn much more than what’s included in this piece, which is the fun of college.
viding to students, this new behavior seems to imply that the safety of students ranks beneath the efficiency of Safe Ride services. It should not be unreasonable to ask that students be notified of changes in services structured around and for students. We as a campus must remain vigi-
lant about student safety, especially after one student was shot and another was hit by a Safe Ride vehicle in the past year. Ultimately, this campus is built for and around students, and student safety should remain a major priority. This is greatly threatened by
a potential Safe Ride policy change. Without the Safe Ride system, students are only pushed into making more dangerous decisions. Until then, tie up your sneakers and get ready to walk up the Elephant Stairs next Friday night.
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 at (216) 302-4442 or e-mail observer-ads@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 and Instagram @cwruobserver.
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established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of case western reserve university executive editor & publisher MATT HOOKE directors of print WON HEE KIM & NATHAN LESCH directors of design RYAN YOO director of web & multimedia JACKSON RUDOFF director of business operations SARAH PARR layout designer LESLIE SERN development editor EMILY YOUNG social media editor DALLAN GOLDBLATT web editor PRESTON WILLIS photo editor CHRIS HEERMANN adviertising manager JUSTIN HU accounts manager SHIVANI GOVANI marketing manager BRADLEY SCHNEIDER
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sports
9/6/2019
ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT
Third-year defensemen looks to build on a strong 2018-19 campaign Nicholas Kamlet Staff Reporter Nathan Ekberg is a third-year defenseman on the Case Western Reserve University’s men’s soccer team. Since his first year at CWRU, he has started in 38 of the 40 games he played in, netted five goals and played a cornerstone piece on the team. The special bond and moments shared with his teammates are what keeps him coming back each year. Outside of the classroom, he studies chemical engineering and takes part in engineering extracurriculars.
What is your favorite part of being on the soccer team? Why? My favorite part of being on the soccer team is the family culture that our program has established. Everybody on the team is a brother and my teammates and coaches have my back both on and off the field, which is special.
Why are you majoring in chemical engineering? What interests you about it? I chose to major in chemical engineering because I have always been curious about the different ways we use science to transform and improve the world. Many of the pressing issues in the world today are also inside the realm of chemical engineering and whether I end up working to combat these issues or not, I hope to have a job in the future where I can work on something interesting but also innovative and meaningful, which is exactly what chemical engineering offers.
What is your favorite quote or what inspires you?
Men’s soccer starts strong
Aside from soccer, what else are you involved in on campus? What do those activities entail? I am a member of Theta Tau, a professional engineering fraternity that promotes professional development for its members. I am also a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)
Do you have any games that you remember being particularly special? Why?
Courtesy of CWRU Athletics I will never forget beating Kenyon in penalty kicks during the Sweet 16 last year. Running down the field after Charlie Fink saved the last penalty kick while friends and alumni rushed the field was one of the most exciting moments of my life.
The time is now for CWRU volleyball Andrew Ford Staff Reporter
David Chang Staff Reporter The Case Western Reserve University men’s soccer team spent their Labor Day weekend picking up wins. They accumulated a 1-0 victory against Heidelberg University. They also played a close 1-1 double-overtime game against the University of Mount Union. The Spartans hope to repeat last year’s success. They reached the quarterfinals in the National Collegiate Academic Association Division III championships. The team currently holds the seventh overall spot on the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Top-25 Preseason poll, the highest-ranking the program has ever seen. The team is led by fourthyear All-UAA First Team selections forward Zachary Senft, midfielder Garrett Winter and defender Nathan Ekberg. Second-year goalie Charlie Fink, who had a .758 save percentage in his rookie campaign, will anchor the Spartan’s defense this season with another year under his belt. CWRU started the season in their unique blitzing and scrappy fashion, maintaining ball control on the opponent’s side of the field. Third-year midfielder Conner Weber took two corner kicks, but Eckberg’s headers were either too wide or too short. The Spartans took a barrage of five shots in a four-minute span, with the opposing goalie saving all but one. The goal was scored when third-year Seldon Magruder rushed down the right side of the field before stopping at the 10yard line and sinking it to the top left corner of the goal. The first goal of the season was the sole goal in the opening half. After the goal, coach Brandon Bianco substituted the bench in to close out the first half. The Spartans returned to their attacking form in the second half, but the opposing goalie brought
“You have to be able to accept failure to get better.”—LeBron James
his A-game as well, saving three shots in the first three minutes. Because the Spartans spent a majority of the time on the offensive side, Heidelberg had fewer opportunities to score, and rushed shots. The Spartans took an insane 27 shots and 16 corner kicks during the game. Against Mount Union, the pace of the game was more back and forth, with a lot of chippy defense played by both sides. The Spartans still managed to set up corner kicks that were taken by Weber. However, Mount Union’s defense was able to deflect the passes. The opposing goalie was also able to save two shots by Senft and Magruder in the first ten minutes of the game. At the thirty-minute mark, Mount Union managed to chip in a long shot from thirty yards that just tipped off Fink’s hands. Play remained scrappy heading into the second half, with both sides not allowing the other to have total possession over the ball. The Spartans continued to be aggressive, which climaxed in the 61st minute when firstyear Rafael Perez headed the ball through the goalie’s hands. The goal was a team effort. Eckberg’s large frame drew the attention of the defense, allowing Perez to get in front of his man and receive Weber’s pass. The team celebrated Perez’s first career goal by embracing him. In overtime and double overtime, the Spartans had a good look with a Magruder and Eckberg header, but fell short. Both teams accumulated a total of 31 fouls, and Mount Union received four yellow cards. Fourth-year Brian Woo led the defense, which was able to fend off the Purple Raiders, allowing only nine shots the whole game. The Spartans will play their first away game against Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
“This is probably the most talented team we’ve ever had… [The pressure to achieve] with this roster is innate,” said Karen Farrell, the head coach of the Case Western Reserve’s volleyball team. Farrell, entering her 18th season at the helm, believes this group of women has the opportunity to succeed at the highest level this year. The Spartans boast an experienced, deadly offensive attack, headlined by fourth-year outside hitter Karley King. A year ago, King earned All-University Athletic Association (UAA) First Team honors. At the net are two dominant middle hitters, fourth-year player Haley Sims, All-UAA Second Team in 2017, and third-year teammate Katie Kaminski, who earned All-UAA Honorable Mention in 2018. Rounding out the attack is fourth-year outside hitter Brianna Lemon. Lemon was named to the All-UAA First Team in 2017. She has developed into a solid all-around player for Farrell by developing her back row defense in recent years. Two talented starting setters, fourth-year Faith Ellis and third-year Jordyn Harberts, return back to Case Western Reserve University’s volleyball team. The Spartans will rely primarily on these two to provide quality passes to the powerful hitters up front. Likewise, third-year libero Anna Jaskoviak returns to anchor the defense for another season. Farrell knows her team’s strength lies in their offense. She believes that if they can consistently serve and receive well, they have the chance to win and compete in most of their tournaments. Unfortunately, in their first game of the season, the Spartans’ serve-receive struggled. As a team, CWRU totaled 12 receiving errors on serves in this match against Kenyon College on Aug. 30. That statistic doesn’t include the passes that messed up the system offensively. CWRU just couldn’t gain any momentum and lost in straight sets. However, the team came back Saturday with two dominant performances against
Denison University and Bethany College (W.V.), sweeping each match. Against Denison, CWRU barely won the first set with a score of 27-25. However, Farrell noticed that once the team won that set, morale was boosted, which helped the team overcome an early-season hump. Soon after, the Spartans easily took home the next two sets with scores of 25-18 and 25-10. Again, serve-receive proved to be a crucial factor in this match-up. CWRU limited their receiving errors to only four total. The defense played well in every aspect of the match as well, limiting Denison to a mere .152 hitting percentage. The Spartans also served well, with nine aces. First-year right side hitter Gianna Lambert, as well as Kaminsky and King, each had eight kills. Ellis provided 20 assists, while Harberts assisted on 10 kills. The Spartans continued their dominance against Bethany College in their last game of the weekend. CWRU only had 3 servereceive errors en route to a 3-0 victory. Bethany College, a top contender in their conference according to head coach Farrell, only managed a .114 kill percentage. Lemon had an outstanding game, collecting 10 kills and 12 digs. Kaminski, King and Sims added 20 more kills, and Jaskoviak led the team with 14 digs. CWRU faces a tough test on Friday, Sept. 6 at home against John Carroll University. John Carroll traditionally attracts a lot of fans due to their close proximity to CWRU’s campus. Farrell added that every match is extremely important and her team cannot overlook any team on the schedule, especially if the Spartans want a chance to qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament. Now, it is all about turning potential into victories. The Spartans’ boast a team featuring four of the best players, Ellis, King, Lemon and Sims, to come through the program in it’s history. “We’re still figuring out how good we can be,” Farrell noted.
sports Spartans show strong start in Sudeck Invitational Medha Nayak Sports Editor Chris Heermann Photo Editor
Men’s cross country For the first time in many years, the Case Western Reserve University’s men’s cross country team has earned a preseason NCAA ranking. The preseason ranking comes from a national poll, where teams are ranked based on number of returners and past performances, among other things. The men’s team was placed 19th in the country and third in the Great Lakes Region. The men’s cross country team competed last Saturday, Aug. 31 in Huntington Valley, Ohio at Squire Valleevue Farm. At the 2019 Sudeck Classic Stampede, the Spartans claimed first out of three teams with a score of 25. The second place finisher, John Carroll University, finished with a score of 36 points. In third place was Allegheny College with a score of 85 points. The men’s cross country team is coached by Kathy Lanese. The 2019-2020 season marks the 18th year that Lanese has led the team. In 2018, Lanese coached the men’s team to their best finish in about 15 years at the NCAA championships. The team placed 21st overall. She also led the team to a fourth-place finish at the Great Lakes Region Championship. Three of the runners she coached, Trey Razanauskas, David Hall and Zach Roshon, received All-Region honors. Throughout her career, coach Lanese has won a myriad of awards, including the Ohio Track and Cross Country Coaches
Women’s cross country
Association Coach of the Year a total of seven times, head of the UAA Women’s Cross Country Coaching Staff of the Year twice and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year. The men’s cross country team’s top five finishers placed between third and seventh place during the meet. There were 52 total competitors. Secondyear Spencer Weigand was the first Spartan to finish. Weigand was selected as one of the Spartan Club Athletes of the Week along with women’s soccer player Anika Washburn. This race marked the first time in Weigand’s cross country career that he finished first out of all CWRU runners. He finished the six kilometer race in 19:34.0. Robert St. Clair, a first-year student, finished right after Weigand with a time of 19.35.2. St. Claire was closely followed by third-year Eric Rachita who finished in 19:36.2. In sixth place, first-year Jack Begley finished with a time of 19:36.8. Fourth-year David Hall rounded out the top seven with a time of 19:38.3. John Carroll University’s Ian Pierson placed first overall. Having such a tight pack is invaluable to a successful cross country team. Not only does running as a team improve morale while racing, it also is a strategic move that improves score. A team finishing 3-45-6-7 beats a team that finishes 1-28-9-10 by five points. This bodes well for the rest of the season, as the Spartan men move on to larger and
tougher competitions where a tight pack is crucial to finishing among the top teams in the country. Next Saturday, Sept. 7, the men’s
As of now, the Case Western Reserve University’s women’s cross country team is unranked nation-
ally, but is ranked ninth in the Great Lakes Region. They won the Sudeck Classic Stampede at Squire Valleevue Farm in Huntington Valley, Ohio on Aug. 31, beating Allegheny College and John Carroll University. CWRU scored 31 points. In second place came John Carroll University with a score of 39 points. Trailing was Allegheny College with a score of 66 points. Every year, the Sudeck Sunset Classic Stampede is competed in honor of Case Western Reserve University’s legendary former head coach Bill Sudeck’s 46 year career. Coach Sudeck led the Spartans to a total of 12 conference titles. The women’s cross country team is now coached by Kathy Lanese. It is Lanese’s 18th year with the women’s team. Lanese is currently the longest female coach with tenure at CWRU. Coach Lanese has also racked up accomplishments regarding the women’s team. She is wellknown for helping Madeline Lindemann earn an all-region honors and qualify as an individual for the NCAA Championships. The newest members of the women’s cross country team were the best finishers at the Sudeck Classic. Jana Fisher, a second-year, finished with
The women’s cross country team leads the way at the 2019 Sudeck Classic Stampede on Saturday, August 31st. Chris Heermann/The Observer
cross country team will be competing at the Knight Invite hosted by Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Second-year Raul Mikkilineni runs the 6K at the 2019 Sudeck Classic Stampede on Saturday, August 31st. Chris Heermann/The Observer
a time of 15:19.6 for the four kilometer race. Fisher placed third overall and first amongst the Spartans. In her first-year, Fisher ran track and field but not cross country. Firstyear Melissa Phung placed fifth with a time of 15:27.3. The third finisher for the Spartans was another firstyear. Stephanie Wroblewski took the sixth place overall with a time of 15:30.8. Cameron Bujaucius of John Carroll University took home first place and set a course record with a time of 14:57.6. Next Saturday, the women’s cross country team will be competing at the Knight Invite in Grand Rapids, Michigan along with the men’s cross country team. This is also the location of the 2019 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Meet, so this race will act as an early preview for the course. Regionals is important because the top three teams from each region secure a spot at the national meet in Louisville, Kentucky. The next rankings come out on Sept. 18. The women’s team may rise in the rankings based on their performance this past weekend. The men may move up or down a few spots depending on their placement at the Knight Invite, but they should still remain in the national rankings.