The Observer, Volume LI, Issue 1, 8/23/19

the welcome (back) issue the

Observer

volume LI, issue 1

friday, august 23, 2019

IN NEWS

IN A&E

IN OPINION

IN SPORTS

Fraternity brother travels across US to raise awarness for disabilities

Review of all of the University Circle coffee houses

What need-aware admissions mean for CWRU

The best places to watch sports games on campus

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Illustration by Jimmie Carroll

news Across the American South in 59 days Pi Kappa Phi brother travels across the US to raise awareness for disabilities

Third-year student Trey Starshak and the Journey of Hope South team ice skating during a friendship trip in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Courtesy of The Ability Experience Ryan Yoo Director of Design Trey Starshak had just returned from the buffet table that had been put out for him and the Journey of Hope team in Roswell, New Mexico. He had talked to a few of the participants before he decided to get desserts for the table.

As Starshak headed back to his table, the “Cupid Shuffle” came on. Before he could put down his plate of brownies, he felt someone tugging on his arm and dragging him to the dance floor. He turned around and saw a participant at the event, Kevin, urging him to dance.

Without missing a beat, Starshak proceeded to the dance floor with desserts in hand.

“I think the absurdity of the moment makes it my favorite,” recalled Starshak.

Starshak, a third-year computer science major, spent his summer with 25 other Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers riding across the country on the Journey of Hope cross country bike trip.

He was inspired to embark on this trip after hearing about the experiences of another brother who had previously gone on a similar trip.

“One of my chapter brothers, Roston Shore, did a different summer event called Build America. He talked enough about how great and life-changing that summer was. I decided to take the chance and go on the trip,” said Starshak.

Journey of Hope is a summer program offered by Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropic initiative, The Ability Experience. The program aims to develop its members into service leaders and empower those living with disabilities to FUNDRAISING | 3

Starshak and the Journey of Hope South team spent a day kayaking in Mississippi. Courtesy of The Ability Experience

$600,000

estimated to be raised by the Journey of Hope nationally

3,670

miles traveled by members of the Journey of Hope’s South Route team

115

most miles traveled per day

Jolly Scholar to take over the Rough Rider Room Matt Hooke Executive Editor The Rough Rider Room (RRR) in Carlton Commons, the main late-night dining spot on South Side, will reopen under new management on Aug. 26.

Campus bar Jolly Scholar will be taking over the space, turning it into a restaurant focusing on American comfort food staples, barrel-aged beer and events that wouldn’t fit inside the original Jolly Scholar location.

Case Western Reserve University asked Jolly Scholar owner Matt Vann to take over RRR from Bon Appetit.

“We want to make simple world-class food in this quirky little space, in a building no one ever goes to,” said Vann.

The restaurant and bar will still operate under the original name, a tribute to the Case Institute of Technology’s sports teams, the Rough Riders. Because of the smaller kitchen, the menu will focus on a small number of dishes instead of a wide variety of food, according to Vann.

The main food items will include hot dogs, chicken fingers and burgers, which are all ground in-house. The hot dogs will be a mix of smoked slab bacon and pork shoulder. The chicken fingers will be dipped and fried to order. The six-to-seven ounce smash burgers will be made up of a custom blend to make a ground beef mixture of between 75-80 percent fat. The burgers will be low in condiments, with only cheese, sauce and pickles so the flavor of the beef shines through. Jolly Scholar currently uses a beef blend from a third-party vendor, but they will start using a blend made at RRR once the facility is up and running.

Vann said the only items that will be frozen at RRR are the french fries, a mix of seasoned straight fries, curly fries and waffle fries. Vegetarian substitutes will be available for each meat option.

“The menu is going to be smaller, but we want the food to be exceptional.

We want you to get a burger, fries and a drink for $9.99 and whatever you get from us will truly be the best in Cleveland,” said Vann. “I know no one is rolling chicken fingers cause it’s laborintensive and it’s a pain in the butt and it’s messy. I know people aren’t grinding their burgers in-house cause it’s messy and I know no one is grinding their own hot dogs.”

The shakes will be a step up as well according to Vann. Chocolate shakes will have real chocolate shavings, the strawberry shake will have fresh strawberries and vanilla shakes will have Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean paste.

RRR will also feature partial employee ownership. Student-workers at RRR will benefit from profit sharing and will have a say in the hiring process. If the profit-sharing system works, Vann said he will consider using it at the Jolly Scholar as well. to ROUGH RIDER | 3

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Cleveland to roll out electric scooters around the city Ryan Yoo Director of Design The City of Cleveland has recently announced that it approved a measure to roll out electric scooters across the city.

In early June, the Cleveland City Council unanimously approved a measure that would allow electric scooter vendors—such as Bird and Lime—to set up scooter stands in target areas including University Circle as part of a six-month pilot project to test new policies regulating the use of these scooters.

The measure contains regulations that aim to ensure that the scooters are used in a safe manner. Proposed regulations include requiring that the rider be at least 18 years old to rent a scooter and that scooters and bikes must not be parked on sidewalks in a way that interferes with pedestrian flow.

The city announced in early August that four companies are approved to start renting out electric scooters and bicycles. The companies are estimated to be able to be able to start renting as early as Aug. 20.

This initiative comes after Bird dropped off 100 scooters in Cleveland in August 2018. However, the company paused its operations in Cleveland two weeks later after officials ordered

the company to remove their scooters from the streets.

Electric scooter use on university campuses has skyrocketed around the country. Because of this, many universities have scrambled to enact policies restricting the use of such vehicles on campus grounds, often citing safety concerns.

Cleveland State University (CSU) banned the use of motorized scooters on campus property back in August when the initiative was first introduced.

CSU also formally requested that all Bird scooters be immediately removed from campus.

In an email to students, faculty and staff, Chief Financial Officer Stephanie McHenry wrote: “Given the safety issues with these rentals, numerous cities across the country, including Cleveland, have banned their use and cautioned individuals not to utilize them on sidewalks and city streets. Our number one concern is your safety.

Please use your best judgement to decide whether to ride these scooters.”

Other universities have embraced the new electric scooter movement. In 2018, the University of Minnesota started an initiative in collaboration with Bird and Lime that would allow for the

companies to drop 50 scooters at various locations determined by the University of Minnesota’s transportation officials. The university would also charge a fee to deploy the scooters on campus.

The move came after Bird and Lime began operations in the nearby city of Minneapolis, and the university acknowledged that the scooters would likely end up on campus. The aim was not to keep scooters away from campus, but rather to develop policies for scooter use before they showed up.

Likewise, Case Western Reserve University is also preparing for the arrival of electric scooters on campus. If scooters are introduced in University Circle, they will inevitably end up on campus grounds.

The Division of Public Safety, which oversees the police and security services on campus, has not decided whether to allow or ban scooters on campus.

The campus administration plans on working further with the community in order to decide the best course of action and the appropriate policies to implement.

“We’re evaluating the benefits and risks, and [are] in the process of talking with the relevant stakeholders about what policies should be govern-

ing their use on campus, ” said Frank Demes, executive director for the Division of Public Safety. “We are working with the committee and stakeholders to review established best practices at other institutions and municipalities,” continued Demes.

Despite many schools regulating the use of scooters, many riders often choose to ignore policies that are made to protect not only themselves, but other pedestrians and drivers. For instance, scooterists often leave their scooters strewn across campus, causing a safety hazard for pedestrians and bikers.

The Division of Public Safety plans on curbing misuse by educating students and by programming the scooters in a manner that forces students to follow the implemented policies.

“We believe strong community policing initiatives, coupled with outreach and educational initiatives, are the most effective way to improve personal safety. Use of scooters may be regulated through system programming and built-in restrictions,” added Demes.

The legislation still needs to be approved by Mayor Frank Jackson. If approved, the legislation can immediately go into effect.

from ROUGH RIDER | 2

“I think the personal pride someone would have from a. I’m getting a paycheck for working here and b. if the company does well I’m going to get a bonus,” said Vann. “It’s kind of unheard for companies, especially restaurants to profit share.”

The facility will be used to expand Jolly Scholar’s brewery along with its food operations. Vann said the brewery will make unfermented beer and send it to RRR to age in wine, tequila and bourbon barrels.

Vann’s original plan was for RRR to focus solely on food and to create a second Jolly Scholar—focusing on barbecue and barrel-aging—in Richfield, Ohio.

Vann’s application for a zoning permit in Richfield was denied, so he moved the barrel-aging facility to CWRU’s campus.

Beer fermentation and service will start in Jan. 2020, once Vann gets a beer manufacturing license. RRR will be a quick-service restaurant, unlike Jolly Scholar, which features full table service.

The restaurant will be open from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.—later than most bars—making it a place where students can get food after a late-night study session, or hard night of partying. The space will host smaller events for around 70 people, such as a Sunday brunch with blackedfrom FUNDRAISING | 2

The Ability Experience fulfills this through fundraising efforts—such as the King of the Wing event run by the Case Western Reserve University chapter each spring—as well as through its summer programs that give its members the chance to make a direct impact on the lives of those with disabilities.

Over the span of 59 days, Starshak and his team traveled across the south more than 3,650 miles from Santa Bar-

The new Rough Rider Room will keep its name but feature barrel-aged beers along with a slimmed-down menu.

The Observer Archives. out windows, drink and food specials and a classic hip-hop soundtrack.

“I think events that don’t fit the Jolly as far as space, size, or convenience,” said Vann. “We want the space to be used as the extended living room for everybody on that side of campus.”

Vann said students can use one meal swipe per week, separate from the spe-

cial meal swipes that can be used at Bon Appetit-run eateries like Naan, for Jolly Scholar or RRR. For one meal swipe, you can get an entree (burger, tenders or hot dog) with fries and a drink, or a milkshake with fries.

“This is in no way shape or form a dig at Bon Appetit, but it is a tough space to get people to go to in general. The luxury

they had was unlimited meal swipes,” said Vann. “So if somebody was stuck and had to use a meal swipe or they were hungry and had a meal swipe it was an easy option to go there. So that [not having unlimited meal swipes] will be a challenge for us. We think the way to get past that is to put some energy into the space and make the food exceptional.”

bara, California to Washington D.C. Throughout the journey, the team spent time meeting with local groups that supported people with disabilities.

“Every visit we’ve had we’ve met some amazing people,” said Starshak.

“From the sponsors who give us more than we need, to the people with disabilities who have such a strong love of others and of life.”

Starshak raised over $6,000 during his journey to cover the cost of running the program. The funds allowed the Journey of Hope team to be able

to travel across the U.S. to directly interact with the participants of the local programs.

The remaining funds will be donated to The Ability Experience, which will distribute the money to various organizations benefiting disabled individuals. Nationally, this year’s Journey of Hope team is estimated to raise over $600,000.

“The only disability is a bad attitude,” said Starshak. “Disability does not mean inability … If you told me a year ago that I was going to be bal-

ancing food while dancing with a man that I had met only an hour ago at the UFO capital of the world while on an almost 12 week trip across the country, I would not have believed you at all,” he noted. “But now, I would not trade anything to have a different summer than this.”

To learn more, visit the philanthropy’s website and check out CWRU Pi Kappa Phi on Facebook and Instagram.

Editor’s Note: The author, Ryan Yoo, was a member of Pi Kappa Phi.

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Pisces University Welcome

arts & entertainment Little Italy celebrates 121st Feast of the Assumption Ryan Yoo Director of Design Sarah Parr Director of Business As the clock struck 11:15 a.m. on a breezy Thursday afternoon, church bells began ringing. All around, people looked with anticipation—the annual summer festival that graces Little Italies all over the country was about to begin.

Everywhere, people greeted each other like old friends, asking about their sisters, their grandparents, other extended relatives and neighbors.

The Feast of the Assumption (locally known as the Feast) is a fourday celebration of religious and cultural significance to the Little Italy community and is one of the district’s biggest festivals.

The Feast is centered around the Catholic holy day of the Virgin Mary’s Assumption. Catholics believe that the Virgin Mary was brought up to heaven by the power of God after her death.

So, it naturally follows that the festival began with a solemn Mass at the Holy Rosary Church on Mayfield Road, presided by Bishop Nelson Perez.

The festivities continued with a procession honoring the Virgin Mary. It aimed to demonstrate the parishioner’s faith in God’s miracles on Earth and their commitment to the Catholic faith.

The Feast featured a multitude of points of interest for Catholics and non-Catholics alike including homemade food from local restaurants and bakeries, both hard and non-alcoholic beverages, live musical performances, carnival games and rides and fireworks to help the festival go out with a bang.

On both sides of Mayfield Road,

The Feast of the Assumption, a religious and cultural festival, began on Thursday, Aug. 15. Jackson Rudoff/The Observer restaurants and vendors set up shop with bright, loud banners advertising everything from fresh cannolis and tiramisu to homemade meatballs and banana peppers stuffed with cheese.

Games and rides stood beside the cathedral, and the enthusiastic attendees rushed to board the Ferris wheel, climb into the haunted house and pound on plastic frogs to get them onto the fabricated lily pads for prizes of stuffed animals and other items.

The festival also aimed to celebrate the community’s Italian heri-

tage. Little Italy was established in 1885, mostly built by Italian immigrants working as skilled stonemasons in the nearby Lakeview Marble Works. By 1911, it was estimated that 96 percent of the inhabitants were born in Italy and two percent were of Italian parents.

These new Clevelanders brought traditions from the countries they emigrated from, in hopes of a better life.

Since its commission in 1891, the Holy Rosary parish has become a staple in the community.

After 121 years, the Holy Rosary Church still celebrates its ancestry and cultural heritage. People from all over Cleveland flock to Little Italy to get a taste of its legendary food and appreciate the area’s traditional yet exciting ambiance yearround.

Little Italy isn’t just a collection of houses on the side of the Case Western Reserve University campus.

It’s a community held together by a shared ethnic background, as well as religious and familial values.

Indie rock heroes raise money for a good cause at WonderBus festival Ryan Yoo Director of Design Yvonne Pan A&E Editor Last Saturday marked the first annual WonderBus festival held at The Lawn at CAS, a 30-minute walk from The Ohio State University.

WonderBus was organized by The Elevation Group, the same group that organizes the annual LaureLive festival at Laurel School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. LaureLive celebrated its fourth year earlier this year with indie rock favorites Hozier, AJR, Coin, Moon Taxi, and MisterWives.

Although WonderBus featured notable groups, including X Ambassadors, WALK THE MOON, and Young the Giant, the festival was also packed with many lesser-known artists, including Andrew McMahon, Trombone Shorty and Ashe.

Headliner WALK THE MOON, a band originating from Cincinnati, revitalized the crowd after a long Saturday packed with a dozen artists and bands,

with Columbus-native and lead singer Nicholas Petricca repeatedly saying O-H. Without missing a beat, the crowd roared back I-O. WALK THE MOON played many crowd favorites, including their awardwinning song “Shut Up and Dance” and their newest single, “Timebomb.”

The highlight of the festival, however, was the performance by X Ambassadors, an alternative rock band best known for its 2015 songs “Renegades,” “Jungle” and “Unsteady.”

The group started out their set with a literal boom with their song “Boom.”

X Ambassadors pumped up the crowd over and over during their on-hour set with songs from their new album “Orion,” including “Quicksand,” “Wasteland” and “Hey Child,” as well as hits from their previous albums, including “Renegades” and “Unsteady.”

The group will return to Ohio in No-

vember to play at the Cleveland House of Blues as part of their The Orion Tour.

Not only did WonderBus bring people of all ages together to celebrate indie rock, but part of the profits from the festival went to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Profits will fund research to better understand depression and suicide and to fund suicide prevention programs.

“I think we have the opportunity with the music festival to stimulate conversation, reduce the stigma that often goes around mental illness, to raise awareness in our community,” said Denny Young, president of the Elevation Group, in an interview with WBNS. WonderBus proved to be a space of positivity. A blackboard titled “ALL I NEED IS…” encouraged attendees to fill in things that were important to them. A tree on another corner of the lawn pro-

vided a space for concertgoers to write positive messages to hang on its branches.

The festival featured many stalls selling an assortment of goods, from anklets to printed shirts to ergonomically slim wallets. Merchandise celebrating the festival’s first year was also a popular purchase, with dozens of people parading around in the iconic logo.

Perhaps most remarkable was the festival’s seemingly effortless way of providing entertainment to all ages.

For younger adults, bands like WALK THE MOON and X Ambassadors are a staple in Spotify playlists. For an older generation however, headliner Ben Harper’s prolific career and versatile voice lured them to the festival.

Whatever the cause, WonderBus ensured that its debut would set the bar high for the future.

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University Circle coffee houses reviewed Henry Bendon Staff Reporter Dear incoming first-years, Whether it be for recreational, romantic or educational adventures, there’s no discounting the importance of a coffee shop. With a number of java joints available nearby, picking the right place can be hard. So, we present you with our definitive guide to the Case Western Reserve University coffee community (ranked worst to best).

Cool Beanz Cool Beanz, located conveniently on the first floor of the Tinkham Veale University Center (Tink), is one of the most universally agreed upon university food options. Sadly, the general agreement is that Cool Beanz is terrible. It’s got some pros. It takes CaseCash, is centrally located and its employees are incredibly nice, but by most accounts the coffee is average at best. The breakfast sandwiches are okay if your other option is not eating, but only barely. Also, in accordance with the universal law of being in Tink, you will end up in line next to the exact person you were hoping to avoid.

Rating:

Euclid Starbucks There are two reasons you go to the Euclid Starbucks - you’re on your way to class and you’re stopping to get coffee, or you’re already late to class but you don’t care and you’re stopping to get coffee. It’s a Starbucks in a bank building. It’s totally fine.

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Village Starbucks The Village Starbucks may serve the same drinks as its Euclid Avenue counterpart, but its purpose is entirely different. The proximity of the store to most of the North Side dorms makes it a critical juncture for two of the most important activities on campus - resupplying on caffeine while studying and meeting up with people you matched with on Tinder. Notably, it’s also open until midnight and offers $1 coffee refills in most mugs.

Rating: or (depending on the outcome of your test/date.)

Dunkin Donuts Dunkin Donuts is a Dunkin Donuts. It always tastes like you want it to, it takes meal swipes and it’s a little cheaper than Starbucks. The donuts are average, the breakfast sandwiches are better and closer than McDonalds, and the espresso drinks are remarkably consistent, if not special. Pro-tip for those with 8 a.m. finals: Dunkin opens at 6 a.m.—before the dining halls—so if you need to fill up before you test it’s pretty much the place to go. Unfortunately, they do not accept meal swipes until 8 a.m. They will also let you bring in nearly any cup for a $1 coffee refill, so be sure to head in after you’ve finished your Starbucks to truly flex on big donut.

Rating:

There are various coffee houses on or near the CWRU campus, each with its own unique characteristics. Jackson Rudoff and Matthew Hooke/The Observer

Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) The CMA’s main draw is obviously its fantastic collection of art, but the cafe in the atrium shouldn’t be discounted. The massive glass ceiling lets natural light in all-year-round, and in the winter it can be especially nice to be in such an open and well-lit place without having to be outside. The coffee itself is average tasting and relatively expensive, but as long as you tell the museum employees you’re only going to the restaurant, you’ll be allowed to bring a backpack into the museum, which makes the cafe portion of the atrium an incredibly attractive place to do homework in the winter.

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Algebra Tea House Fluffy Duck has everything going for it except proximity. The coffee is delicious, the store is well-lit and full of pastries, and the entire staff is friendly and welcoming. The store is a little bit of a hike, requiring one to traverse the entire Nord Family Greenway and venturing down Chester Avenue until you reach the new medical campus, but it’s worth it—especially if you pair your latte with one of their Kouign-Aman, a layered pastry you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Cleveland.

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Fluffy Duck Cafe Fluffy Duck has everything going for it except proximity. The coffee is delicious, the store is well-lit and full of pastries, and the entire staff is friendly and welcoming. The store is a little bit of a hike, requiring one to traverse the entire Nord Family Greenway and venturing down Chester Avenue until you reach the new medical campus, but it’s worth it— especially if you pair your latte with one of their Kouign-Aman, a layered pastry you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else in Cleveland.

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Rising Star Coffee Roasters The undisputed ruler of the University Circle hipster coffee community, Rising Star Coffee Roasters is an absolute must-visit for coffee fanatics and people looking to post cute photos with their new roommates in front of their incredibly Instagrammable exterior wall. The store is exactly what you’d expect from a coffee company that prides itself on roasting its own beans and producing things locally: lots of exposed wood and mildly uncomfortable chairs but delicious coffee and cookies and incredibly friendly staff. They’re also located over on Murray Hill Road, which makes them

close enough for a walk on a nice day but far enough to feel like you’ve left campus for a second. An excellent spot for pretty much anything other than extended studying.

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Luna Bakery and Cafe For most, the trip up the hill to Cleveland Heights ends with margaritas and tacos at Barrio—but it really shouldn’t. The true gem of the neighborhood is the neighboring Luna Cafe, whose coffees, crepes and other assorted confections are sufficiently delicious that they make climbing the elephant stairs just for brunch an acceptable, if still not enjoyable activity. Luna’s options are creative and delicious and they have enough space that there’s nearly always a place to sit down and contemplate the overall greatness of the culinary experience. It’s also quiet enough on weekday afternoons that you can get some work done if you’re inclined to bring a computer or textbook up the hill, which, coincidentally, can also be conquered via a Greenie ride to South Side.

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Midsommar succeeds in unsettling audiences Aura Rossy Copy Editor With horror enthusiasts on the edge of their seats in anticipation, director Ari Aster satiates fans of his popular feature film debut “Hereditary.” His new film, “Midsommar,” follows a group of students who venture to Sweden to experience a ritualistic midsummer festival that occurs every 90 years.

As the days unfold, the visitors are launched into a horrific, psychedelicfueled nightmare.

Similar to “Hereditary,” “Midsommar” delves into tragedy and grief. The female protagonist, Dani (Florence Pugh), grapples with multiple forms of loss throughout the trip. The trauma Dani experiences at the beginning of the film

is reawoken in her as the festival begins to unravel, unsettling her as much as those who traveled there with her.

As Dani and her boyfriend Christian (Jack Reynor) embark on the journey, their fragile relationship is tested. Aster uses this film as a vessel to portray the deterioration of a romantic relationship, drawing inspiration from a bad break-up he experienced while writing the film. Determined, he aimed to create a film that produces as much emotion as this event caused him.

One of the successes of the film is its audio and visual effects; multiple scenes are edited to emulate being on a “bad trip” after consuming mush-

rooms. These effects are carried seamlessly throughout the film, alerting the audience to the severity of intoxication the characters are experiencing.

Another visual tactic made use of in the film is its ability to shock and unsettle viewers, despite most of the film taking place in daylight. Using a cohesive pastel-infused color palette, the visual beauty of the shots are enhanced and the contrast between the expectations of the festival versus the realities of it are amplified.

With audio techniques, the film makes use of sound to hypnotize viewers and pull them into the world. Although the film is a slow burn, watch-

ing it makes you feel as though you’ve lost track of time, just as the characters do. The sound used in the film also helps to focus viewers’ attention during particular moments of tension.

Aster comprehensively inserts his signature style by evoking horror and suspense that is fueled by humans rather than ominous forces. Although the film succeeds in stirring and disturbing audiences, it lacks trademark horror elements, which may leave fans of classic horror itching for more. If you are able to leave behind your expectations of a classic horror or refrain from comparing the film to Aster’s previous work, “Midsommar” is unlikely to disappoint.

Bon Iver makes a solid return, but gets stuck in the middle Aura Rossy Copy Editor Justin Vernon, or Bon Iver as he’s known when leading his main band of the same name, is a tough artist to pin down. Since releasing his first album in 2008, his style has metamorphosed considerably along with his portfolio. He is no longer just an indie-folk singer, having worked with everyone from James Blake to Kanye West.

This pattern of growth was reflected in the difference between his acclaimed 2011 self-titled album and his 2016 album “22, A Million.” While the former relied much more on layered instrumentation and folk-ish melodies, “22, A Million” explored a sound that was more electronic and filled with saxophone accompaniments. Both were ambitious and overall incredible projects, which made the buildup to this year’s release perhaps the largest he had yet encountered.

Where would he go next with his sound? What big changes would he make this time around?

With “i,i”, Bon Iver doesn’t really go anywhere. Instead, he kind of just gets stuck between his last two albums. It makes for a much less engrossing album, and while the album is not a grand disappointment, it certainly leaves

something to be desired.

There are aspects of “i,i” that stand out compared to past projects. The way Vernon uses his voice has never been consistent, and at times this can be alienating. On “22, A Million,” the reliance on electronic modulation was interesting, but it also required an adjustment period.

Here though, Vernon just lets himself shine and work with his stellar instrumentation. “Faith” is a great example of his development, as he shifts in and out of his natural register and his smooth falsetto on a whim. In the past, it often felt like you would get one or the other, so this is a welcome development.

And of course, the production is still spot-on. Vernon’s ability to construct layers and immense depth to his songs is considered his calling card. Despite its instrumental density, “i,i” is crisp and clear thanks to a high attention to detail and Vernon’s careful tuning and panning. It’s absolutely gorgeous to listen to, with “Naeem” shining especially in this regard. The breakdown has Vernon’s vocals, the standard band instruments, electronic drums and a backing chorus, yet somehow makes space for all of this and doesn’t become muddy.

So again, this album was not a disappointment. But there was perhaps no risk of that in how it turned out, which is exactly why it’s still relatively underwhelming.

While there isn’t necessarily too much going on, the overall sound that Bon Iver constructed for this project is a bit of a Frankenstein’s monster. There are elements from self-titled and “22, A Million” that were mixed and combined, which didn’t make for a bad listening experience, but at times a boring or uninteresting one.

The problem with this stuck-in-themiddle sound is that the tracks begin to feel like something we’ve heard before. “iMi,” the opener after a 40-second introductory soundbite, begins with vocoded, electronic-y vocals that then make way for Vernon’s trademark self-chorusing that combines all of his registers. It’s a fusion of two vocal styles that have dominated his best work, but they aren’t nearly as strong when used this way.

Some tracks almost feel like continuations of past songs. “Holyfields,” from “i,i” and “Hinnom, TX” from Bon Iver’s self-titled may as well be consecutive tracks on an EP. They go in different directions, but their openings and back-

ing production were similar enough that I genuinely thought it was a remastered version of a single.

I will admit that it is a bit unfair to expect a drastic, imaginative change in sound with every album from an artist.

But I think that in this case, we have an odd example of an attempt to take a leap forward by taking a step back. If you are going to use what has worked in the past, you must also be careful to avoid too many redundancies. What made Bon Iver a great project was that you could always expect them to meet that benchmark.

There is a chance that my appreciation of this album just hasn’t had enough time to flourish yet. In my experience with Bon Iver’s work, it takes a bunch of listens to really understand and get into what they were going for. “22, A Million,” for example, took me over two years to warm up to. Then again, this is a much more straightforward project, and the sounds employed on “i,i” are ones I’ve already adjusted to and taken time to enjoy. There really isn’t much new musical territory to become familiar with.

So for now, I’ll take it for what it is: a solid overall project, albeit one with fewer memorable moments and less staying power than I’ve come to expect.

Summer restaurant round-up arrivals and departures Matt Hooke Executive Editor Since the spring semester ended, University Circle has experienced a large amount of change. With rents rapidly rising—increasing by over 44 percent in the last year alone—and several new modern apartment buildings, the restaurant scene has seen changes as well with three new restaurants opening and with one more on the way.

BurgerIM, an Isreali fast-casual burger chain, opened its third northeast Ohio location in University Circle in late May. BurgerIM, means many burgers in Hebrew, and the chain specializes in building your own burger combinations. Custom burgers come in packs of one, two or three, with 10 types of proteins, two kinds of buns, four kinds of cheese, 11 toppings and eight sauces. Diners can choose from a variety of meats: from dry-aged beef to lamb, to grilled and fried chicken. These meats are coupled with vegetable and fish options, like falafel and salmon.

Tacologist is a new arrival courtesy of

the same management group that owns the Tres Potrillos brand of restaurants in northeast Ohio. Tacologist, judging by the periodic table on the wall, is an attempt to lure in the science-focused students and professional crowd. The restaurant has taken over much of Corner Alley’s old space on Ford Drive and Euclid Avenue, with Chase Bank, BurgerIM and a Verizon store filling out the building.

Along with margaritas, housemade sangrias, beer and wine, the restaurant offers several classic Mexican dishes like the popular street food elote, corn on the cob topped with butter, mayo and cotija cheese. As the name suggests, Tacologist offers a wide array of tacos, from traditional fair like el pastor, marinated beef with pineapple, to fusion offerings like teriyaki tacos, that feature lettuce wraps instead of tortillas.

Cosmic Dave’s Rock Club opened in the location of the former Barking Spider Tavern this spring. The offshoot of the

popular chain Dave’s Cosmic Subs carries on the Spider’s tradition for a live music haunt in the area, with Cosmic Dave’s being the only location to see music in a bar setting in University Circle since Happy Dog closed last November. The venue has a late ‘60s vibe with posters commemorating Jimi Hendrix and other classic rock legends, to go along with their selection of draft beer and hard liquor. Dave’s serves 34 different subs along with salads, including the zucchini-based Garden Burger and the Crazy Dave with prosciutto, capicola, vegetables and herbs.

Hell’s Fried Chicken is the mystery of the new restaurants. The location, at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Ford Drive in the former location of Falafel Cafe, is marked only by a “Coming Soon” sign.

The Observer could not find a website or press release talking about the location.

There is a restaurant called Hell’s Chicken in New York, but their website is under construction and there is no proof that it is

the same company.

Popular eatery Simply Greek—known for classic standbys like gyros with a succulent mix of beef and lamb meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, baklava and rice pudding—closed on July 27. In a Facebook post, the company said that Case Western Reserve University decided not to renew their lease. The eatery is going to be opening a new location in Solon, Ohio and is in the final negotiations to relocate the University Circle location.

“For nearly four years, we’ve gotten to know many customers by name, seen many students bring their visiting families and many stopping in just to say goodbye after graduating,” said Simply Greek on Facebook.

“It is unfortunate that Simply Greek was unable to meet the terms of its lease,” said CWRU in a statement. “Despite the university’s multiple deadline extensions and other efforts to enable the restaurant to continue to be part of the community.”

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opinion

4/19/19

opinion

EDITORAL

What need-aware admissions mean for CWRU Editorial Board Recent college admissions scandals have swept universities and prompted many to open conversations about how selective colleges choose the students that they are admitting. While many colleges boast need-blind admissions, in which a student’s ability to pay for higher education is not taken into account in the school’s decision, Case Western Reserve University remains a needaware institution. Although the decision to remain need-aware was likely made in consideration of the size of the university’s endowment, which was $1.89 billion in 2018, the university should take the time to consider its stance on need-based admission of students, especially as each incoming freshman class grows in size.

Currently in the United States, over 44 million Americans have stu-

dent loan debt, with an average of around $32,000 per student loan.

Students are encouraged now, more than ever, to take out loans they have trouble repaying. Over 11 percent of people with student loan debt reported that they were late or delinquent on payments for their loan. In all, student loans seem to contribute greatly to the warning signs of an economic recession on the horizon, as the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to cut interest rates seems to indicate.

In the face of a student debt crisis, institutions like CWRU continue to raise tuition and prompt students to take out more loans, whether private or federal. These actions only serve to contribute to the steadily increasing mass of student debt in the United States, which currently stands

at around $1.44 trillion. Increasing the size of the freshman class only serves to put pressure on the campus to find housing for these new students, which already spilled over into Stephanie Tubbs Jones Hall and the Triangle Apartments in 2018, and pressure on students and their families to find the money necessary to pay higher tuition rates.

While it can be argued that needaware admissions are effective at mitigating the effect of increasing freshman class sizes and raising tuition, CWRU should stay wary of being too need-aware in its admissions, as it remains an educational institution and should keep students’ wellbeing in mind in considering who should be granted the opportunity for higher education at a highly rated university like CWRU.

Although CWRU’s status as a need-aware university raises questions about its admission rates and diversity among socioeconomic strata and between ethnic groups, the diversity at CWRU has largely remained stable and has even increased in recent years. Giving credit where it is due, at least need-aware admissions have not affected CWRU’s dedication to diversity.

Ultimately, although CWRU’s need-aware admission policy has not resulted in severe ramifications, it could present issues in the future if class sizes continue to expand and students continue to take out loans to afford tuition. We must remain critical of our current school infrastructure and ensure that students are not negatively affected by any of CWRU’s admission policies.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Ch-ch-changes: Orientation and 50 years of The Observer Matt Hooke Executive Editor

Orientation is simultaneously exciting and terrifying. For many incoming students, you’re living away from home for the first time, surrounded by a bunch of people you’ve never met, in a city you may barely know.

Don’t be a jerk to your roommate and take advantage of the opportunity to explore Cleveland, with its stellar restaurants, arts and culture. Even though classes can be a struggle, remember to take care of yourself. College is not only an opportunity to earn a degree; it’s an opportunity to stretch yourself away from the watchful eyes of parents to discover new talents and dreams that you may not have thought of in your high-school years. There are many fantastic clubs at Case Western Reserve University. From performing arts groups like CWRU Footlighters, Mather Dance Collective and Dhamakapella, to science groups like Case Rocket Team, to our 17 club sports, there is something for everyone.

Be willing to do things that you may have thought of as weird. In the words of the late David Bowie, “turn and face the strange.”

The best advice I can give, as a fourth year student set to graduate in the spring, is to be open to these changes and discoveries. When I first came to CWRU, I intended to study psychology, inspired by the writings of Oliver Sacks, coupled with my own interests in the brain and listening to people. After my first psychology class, I realized I lacked the patience and single-minded focus necessary to complete a doctorate and moved to journalism instead, a field where I can still get paid to listen to people’s problems and stories.

2019 is an important year for journalism at CWRU as it marks the 50th anniversary of The Observer’s first

issue. The Observer was created two years after the merging of Western Reserve University (WRU) and the Case Institute of Technology (CIT). Each institution had its own newspaper: The Case Tech for CIT and the Reserve Tribune for WRU. The Reserve Tribune folded in May of 1969, while the Case Tech continued publication until 1980.

To honor this history, we will be publishing an article from the archives each week. The Observer archives are a great resource to learn about what students cared about in years past and what it was like to live in University Circle. Many of the paper’s early years are focused on the student activism that occurred during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s around the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement. CWRU students blocked Euclid Avenue in a sit-in, broke into the provost’s office and occupied Yost Hall, demanding the ROTC be removed from campus.

We’ll highlight these stories as well as the people who reported them, like Susie Gharib, an award-winning correspondent for Fortune magazine and former co-anchor of CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report.”

We’ll feature articles about The Observer writers who wrote notable stories, seeing where they went after graduation and how The Observer affected their lives. For this first issue, we are featuring an editorial published on Sept. 4 1970, written by university president Robert W. Morse who oversaw the merging of CIT and WRU. Along with bringing articles from the past back to life on our printed page, we will be hosting journalism workshops and panel discussions with notable professionals in the field to talk about how the journalism world works and how it has changed over the years.

Though it’s 2019, our paper can sometimes feel stuck in 1969. This year we hope to make the transition to a modern news organization by expanding our video and audio storytelling through mini-documentaries and in-

vestigative podcasts. Our website will no longer be just our print edition online, but an expansion of it, exploring new ways of telling the stories of the people who live and work at CWRU and the community around it.

opinion 9

observer.case.edu

Safety for us and future generations Christian Reyna Staff Columnist I was leaving from a public auction when I heard about the shooting in El Paso, Texas. I didn’t know how to react. When I later learned that the gunman was targeting Mexicans, I was petrified.

Both of my parents are Mexican immigrants; they moved to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas almost 30 years ago. Though my older sister was not, both my older brother and I were born in the United States. I was taught how to speak Spanish before learning English. I feel a sense of gratitude being born into and being able to experience such a beautiful blend of cultures.

The shooting, however, made me feel like a target because of my background. I felt that even the act of speaking Spanish in public could put my life in danger.

Even before the shooting in El Paso, Texas, fear and anxiety of being in public places and attending events had been in my mind. I didn’t feel safe going out for fear of someone gunning people down.

I am not alone. According to a survey done by the American Psychological Association and the Harris Poll, one out of every three adult Americans avoids certain places or events because of mass shootings.

This is extremely troubling. Every time I go out, I subconsciously take note of all the visible exits, places to hide and if someone is acting suspiciously. In the back of my mind, I wonder if I made a mistake coming to the area. Whenever I see someone act agitated in public, my heart starts to beat faster.

I am scared that every day I step

outside could be my last. I am scared for my family who live by the border.

I am scared that my parents will be targeted because they primarily speak Spanish.

In a country built upon the rights of individuals, no one should feel this way. No one should feel targeted for their race or be afraid to go to public places. To some individuals, the right to bear arms seems to hold more importance than the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Though our constitution does protect your right to own a firearm, safety must come first in our society.

We need change in our country.

We need to value human life more than the stockpiling of weapons. We need better background checks on individuals attempting to buy firearms and ammunition. We need to look out

for each other and remind our neighbors and friends that they are loved, because any day could be their last in this country. We need to embrace our identity as a country where immigrants come to create better lives for their families, not tear them down or disadvantage others.

Washington should take note of our growing crisis and take it seriously.

I truly hope that change does come soon. I don’t want future generations to suffer the way we have.

Christian Reyna is a second-year biomedical engineering major who is planning on obtaining a Spanish minor. When he’s not writing, he is usually thinking about his two Pomeranians back home in Texas and procrastinating on his homework.

Our individualism complex is as toxic as breathing polluted air Jordan Reif Staff Columnist The powerful #MeToo movement, beyond its success in holding influential men accountable, has brought to light the issue of toxic masculinity.

That is, the idea that real men are not emotional, rely on violence to solve problems or cannot stay at home to care for children among many other limitations. However, a similar deeply-rooted issue that has yet to be fully discussed and addressed is that of “toxic individualism,” which refers to the responsibility individuals have for themselves taken to the extreme. This is best exemplified in the now commonplace saying, “pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” which masks how complicated and difficult the road to find opportunities and success is today.

Initially, the term was used pejoratively in 19th century France, associated with laissez-faire economics and the selfish interests of aristocrats.

Alexis de Tocqueville’s understanding of the principle is noted in his 1856 book, “L’Ancien Régime et la Révolution,” in which Tocqueville writes how individualism was “not a word used by our ancestors, for no one could rely solely on themselves to survive and prosper.”

Later on, German sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies wrote on the dichotomy of life, split between personal goals, or gesellschaft, and those of society, or gemeinschaft. When the latter di-

minishes, the sentiment of providing for the community is lost, corrupt behaviour runs rampant and individuals suffer from the loss of emotional connections and relationships.

In a modern context, individualism, as a social, political and economic philosophy, accentuates the worth and freedom of an individual, purporting strict self-reliance. In a low dose, individualism is good and healthy, it teaches decision-making and stimulates personal development.

It suggests that, as Americans, we can do anything or get anywhere as long as we work hard enough. Thus, failures are entirely our own fault. This pushes failures of society onto the individual as well, blaming citizens for larger systemic injustices like poverty or prejudice. Behold, toxic individualism.

This is not to belittle the accomplishments of some individuals who are able to succeed through hard work despite facing challenging circumstances. There are many hurdles on the path to success and we must recognize that some obstacles—predominantly those related to race, gender and socioeconomic status—are more difficult to overcome than others. We must not be blinded by the consequences of individualism, especially toxic individualism, when it comes at such a cost. In some sense, it is failing to reach our true potential as a nation,

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.

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but for some, it costs them their life.

Historian Barry Strauss suggests that individualism, even “rampant” individualism, is a good thing because it is a psychological force that has allowed the United States to become an “economic powerhouse.” Yet, much as we need to ask how one measures success, we must also ask what data suggests the U.S. is an economic superstar. While we are one of the richest and most developed nations in the world, we have over $1.5 trillion in student debt, 45 million Americans with no health insurance and roughly 20 million more underinsured. All of these issues are emblematic of our disastrous toxic individualism complex.

What is perhaps worse about these three examples is that they represent issues that are considered internationally to be fundamental human rights: Education, healthcare and clean air.

If we are to promote the American Dream, why do we assert this goal must be achieved alone?

Toxic individualism encourages a greedy capitalist society where everyone for themselves is the norm. It creates unjust and unresponsive structures in healthcare in which we would rather allow people to die than modify the system and restricts the ability to access the higher educational system in an attempt to keep control of the population.

The 20th century “pulling up by

the bootstraps” rhetoric seems to be the senseless anthem to which toxic individualism marches. It sustains a particular lifestyle for a few, including multimillion dollar homes, concierge physicians and personal firefighters.

While many strive for this type of society, we must remember that we are no different than those described by de Tocqueville: We all need help in different ways, and providing such help or promoting a society that eases the burden of living with health conditions or pursuing higher education is not something we ought to consider shameful.

Reorganization of our society and rethinking this powerful ideology might promote opportunities, not for the few who draw the right cards or meet the right people, but for the many. Optimistic and plausible alternatives exist and are displayed in systems across other parts of the world, especially in social democratic Europe: Free public education, free public healthcare and functionally operating rapid transit systems. All of these things are possible, and may even be in sight with the right Democratic presidential candidate, but we must first recognize the powerful hold toxic individualism has on us.

Jordan Reif is a second-year student studying political science on the pre-med track.

the observer

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 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

development editor EMILY YOUNG news editor GRACE HOWARD a&e editor YVONNE PAN opinion editor CAROLINE ZHU sports editor CLAIRE NORDT copy editor AURA ROSSY

10

sports

8/23/19

Tips for incoming CWRU sports fans Emily Young Development Editor Whether you are just starting at Case Western Reserve University or a returning student, taking in a game is one of the best ways to unwind and show your school spirit. Cheering on your favorite Spartan sports teams means finding the ideal place to get comfortable and watch our athletes bring home another win.

To start the year, it’s always nice to go with the quintessential football experience: cheering on the team from the stands. Even when it rains, you can always grab an umbrella or take shelter under the press box so you can enjoy the game in comfort.

Watching from the stands is a classic choice, but CWRU likes to take things to the next level. Literally. Whether you’re looking to watch a track meet, a football game, or a soccer match, you can’t beat the view from the top of the parking garage. You will often find alumni tailgating on the roof of the Village parking garage or hanging over the edge to catch the perfect birds eye view of the game’s winning shot. If you’re not a fan of heights, you can still enjoy a CWRU tailgate in one of the courtyards adjoining the football field. The courtyards include everything you need to host your own tailgate: grills, seating and easy ac-

cess to a kitchen in the Village if you live in upperclassmen housing.

While DiSanto Field may be perfect for watching a game and tailgating, the Cleveland weather is not. Once the temperature begins to drop, the natural instinct is to stay inside curled up with a blanket and just read about the results of the game later. Luckily, there is a way for you to stay warm and still cheer on the Spartans. Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center is situated at the end of DiSanto Field with a comfy second floor lounge complete with huge windows and a balcony for those brave enough to face the cold. The lounge is the perfect place to watch the game in the kind of temperature-controlled environment that we all love.

DiSanto Field may be one of the biggest fields at CWRU, but it is hardly the only place to watch our award-winning athletes score big. Right next door to DiSanto Field you will find both the baseball and softball fields. Both are fully equipped with surprisingly comfortable stadium seating, but that isn’t your only option. If you’re just stopping by, you can pause by one of the fences and catch a great view of first or third base. Or, if you simply don’t feel like

State of the Blue Jackets offseason

LOCAL SPORTS UPDATE

Niko Kamlet Staff Reporter

at Rochester September 7 at 7 PM Grove City College September 21 at 7 PM at Thiel September 21 at 7 PM

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The Columbus Blue Jackets have truly had a tale of two stories the past four months. They went from a shocking sweep of the historic Tampa Bay Lightning and giving the Boston Bruins a run for their money to losing four key free agents, seemingly floundering in the offseason. Not only did Artemi Panarin, arguably the best skater to ever don a Blue Jackets jersey, leave, but the heart and soul of the franchise, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, did as well. So where do they turn now?

Many analysts, fans and teams are simply writing the Blue Jackets off next season, but the future is still young and filled with talent. Yes, Bobrovsky is a huge loss, but the changing of the guards to Elvis Merzlikins represents a youthful goaltending prospect that fans can get excited about. Even here, the Cleveland Monsters, the minor league affiliate to the Blue Jackets, have been grooming players like speed demon Liam Foudy and all around player Alexandre Texier. It is the hope that these youngsters can start taking steps into the NHL, bolstered by the Blue Jackets veterans.

It is worthwhile to note that while the free agency losses were significant, the Blue Jackets had their best regular season in 2016-17, a year before Panarin even arrived. The rest of the squad from that year is largely still on the team. Perhaps the Blue Jackets get surprising results from their young goaltenders in a Jordan-Binnington type of way. Maybe one of their late-round picks from recent years will turn out to be a gem. Regardless, you cannot write the Blue Jackets off this year, especially considering their recent success.

Catch the football team playing on DiSanto Field most Saturdays throughout the fall. The Observer Archives leaving your room, you can watch a live stream on the CWRU athletics website.

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about the indoor sports! Inside the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center on the Main Quad, you can watch a basketball or volleyball game from Horsburgh Gymnasium or from the cardio room while you squeeze in a quick workout. Veale is also home to the indoor track, swimming pools and many

club sports. Club sports teams will often take advantage of the field house, or the field right outside of Veale to compete against other universities.

Whether you’re watching varsity or club sports, staying inside or going out, there is a sports viewing experience for you. CWRU may be a DIII school, but what we lack in size we make up for in competitive energy. See you at the game!

Ohio sports updates CWRU FOOTBALL

CWRU MEN’S SOCCER Heidelburg August 30 at 7:30 PM Mount Union September 2 at 1 PM at Captial September 6 at 7 PM Wooster September 8 at 6 PM at Geneva September 11 at 7:30 PM

at Ohio Wesleyan September 11 at 7:30 PM

CLEVELAND BROWNS

CWRU WOMEN’S SOCCER at Oberlin August 30 at 5 PM Fredonia September 1 at 1:30 PM Hiram September 4 at 7:30 PM at Penn State - Behrend September 8 at 1 PM Albion September 11 at 7:30 PM

30 Cleveland Browns 10 Washington Redskins 21 Cleveland Browns 18 Indiannapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers August 23 at 7:30 PM Detroit Lions August 29 at 7:30 PM Tennessee Titans September 8 at 1 PM

at Adrian September 15 at 5 PM

at New York Jets September 16 at 8:15 PM

CLEVELAND INDIANS

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

Cleveland Indians New York Mets at New York Mets August 22 at 7:10 PM Kansas City Royals August 23 at 7:10 PM

3 4

Florida Atlantic August 31 at 12 PM Cincinatti Bearcats September 7 at 12 PM at Indiana Hoosiers September 14 at 12 PM

Join our team!

We’re looking for copy editors, designers and public relations committee members.

Apply online at observer.case.edu

sports

observer.case.edu

11

ATHLETE HIGHLIGHT

Second-year tennis player cherishes the great times Niko Kamlet Staff Reporter Eliza Georgiades is a second-year tennis player on the Case Western Reserve University women’s tennis team. Georgiades gained valuable experience as a first-year player, even while going 4-9 in single matches, and she looks to improve on those totals next season. She loves the feeling of being committed to her play which remains a big reason that her future on the team is bright. She is currently exploring her academic interests before selecting a major. Outside of classes, she is a member of Pi Beta Phi and likes to spend time with friends.

What is your favorite part of being on the tennis team? Why? I love being on the team because the girls are so supportive of each other whether we win or lose. Throughout this year, I have become more confident on- and off-court thanks to the team. We push each other to work harder, and I know I can always count on my teammates if I need help.

Where did you get your passion for tennis? Any good stories?

Like most kids, my parents forced me to play a sport when I was younger, and for me it was tennis. The reason I stuck with it for so long is because I love sticking a volley or winning a match with the odds stacked against me. The feeling of working harder than you thought you could is rewarding and makes you wonder what else you can accomplish if you keep working at it.

Do you have any matches that you remember being particularly special? Why?

both so nervous, but we managed to strategize better after learning from our mistakes and eventually won the match.

She gave me a big bear hug after we won, and I was so proud of us for fighting for the match.

Aside from tennis, what else are you involved in on campus? Can you explain what you do in them?

This year, I joined Pi Beta Phi because I wanted to be a part of a group of supportive women trying to better the community and each other. We have two big philanthropy events each year in support of literacy for young kids.

What are your favorite free time activities? Why?

The first doubles match I won at CWRU with my partner Kristin Jones was particularly special for me because Eating chocolate while watching Star we were having a tough time figuring out how to work as a team at first. We Wars with my friends. It’s nice to relax had already lost two matches and were and just hang out with people you care about.

Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

What is your favorite quote or what inspires you?

“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they recover when they fall.” -Serena Williams

Cinderella story graces Browns David Chang Staff Reporter We’ve all seen a feel-good story on social media, filling us with joy and triumph. The sports world is full of these stories, and recently, the story of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi has graced media outlets with another emotional tale of persistence and dedication. Sheehy-Guiseppi gained traction when he scored a touchdown off a punt against the Washington Redskins to cap the score off 30-10. The Brown’s new famed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. even gave his pair of cleats to Sheehy-Guiseppi. But where did this wild story begin?

Sheehy-Guiseppi’s journey started with hoop dreams as he tried out for the basketball team at Mesa Community College. Unfortunately, he did not make the cut. He pivoted to running track, but a car accident ended his season prematurely. After two strikes, Sheehy did not call it quits and decided to try out for the football team at Phoenix College while working as a door-to-door home alarm salesman.

The staff did not give him a callback to inform him whether he had made the team, but regardless, Sheehy-Guiseppi decided to show up to the team’s practices, eventually performing well enough to earn a spot on the team. After being named an all-American, SheehyGuiseppi did not receive athletic scholarship from Phoenix College and so dropped out. He maxed out his credit card traveling to schools in Phoenix and Florida in search of a team without any luck. Refusing to give up, Sheehy-Guiseppi spent

Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi persevered through rejection and financial difficulty before being offered a contract by the Cleveland Browns. Courtesy of ClevelandBrowns.com two years training and building NFL connections through different training facilities.

Sheehy-Guiseppi finally broke through when he learned the location of the Browns’ spring training and went to a tryout where Vice President of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith would be watching. He managed to convince security that he was supposed to be at the tryout, and that Highsmith personally knew him. His 4.38 second 40-yard dash earned him both Highsmith’s attention and another work-

out at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio.

Sheehy-Guiseppi’s story is one of determination and perseverance.

On where he draws his motivation, Sheehy-Guiseppi comments about his mom in an interview for the Cleveland Browns: “Growing up, I didn’t know it at the time, but as I got older I realized how hard she worked for everything she did. That was just a blessing. She didn’t have anybody come help her out. She did it all by herself. We didn’t have no stepdad growing up, nothing like

that. It was all her by herself.”

Sheehy-Guiseppi eventually earned a 3-year $1.8 million contract, and will be buried in the depth chart behind fellow wide receivers, Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, among others. He will likely be placed on the special team. As students, putting your life and financial security on the line for something you love outside of academics seems admirable, as most of us are on a seemingly linear track to our future pursuits. Sheehy-Guiseppi’s relentlessness is one for the books.

sports Ford’s Five Fantasy Football Tips Andrew Ford Staff Reporter If you’re a Cincinnati Bengals fan like myself or a Cleveland Browns fan, you have not experienced a lot of postseason success when it comes to real football.

No matter how much I yell at the screen, the lack of control I have over the team is maddening as I watch year after losing year pass by.

Fantasy football, however, is where I go to dominate the virtual gridiron with players of my choosing. I can build a fantasy football roster that will at least finish near the top of the standings and likely win at least one playoff game, if not the entire championship, unlike my Bengals or your Browns. My three small, meaningless trophies rest proudly next to my bed reminding me of the success I regularly find when fall rolls around. And so, I shall impress upon you five tricks that I use every year to build a competitive team; if you read nothing else in this article, read the last tip. In the end, fantasy football advice is about as reliable as a professor’s syllabus: appears solid at the beginning of the year, but by the end only about half of it was correct.

for players who are relatively unknown or may be boom or bust. I try to stay away from drafting too many players who have high floors but low ceilings. I know what Jarvis Landry is going to give me: five to seven catches a game, probably not more than seventy yards, and he’ll do that every week. I would prefer to draft Will Fuller from the Houston Texans, someone who may score two touchdowns and a hundred yards on a given week, or who may not catch a pass. These kind of players can give you huge numbers and you’ll blow teams out. I try to draft at least three players with star potential in my drafts. Additionally, do your research to find diamonds in the rough. Tony Pollard is a running back for the Dallas Cowboys who appears to be in line to start this year if Elliot continues his holdout. Someone like Pollard could easily win you your league if he produces like some analysts are predicting.

#1: Play it safe with your first pick

Here is another reason you should definitely draft Pollard. He will get to run behind one of the best offensive lines in the league. I am a firm believer that running back talent is not a huge difference maker. Instead, draft running backs who have the luxury of being great maulers up front. The Cowboys are a prime example. So are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Rams. Get yourself a running back from one of those teams and you’ll be happy with the results. Now, don’t completely disregard teams with subpar linemen.

The Bengals have one of the worst lines in the league, but Joe Mixon led the AFC in rushing last year. This advice more so applies to later rounds when all the star running backs are gone. It is also true for quarterbacks. Offensive lines are so crucial to successful offensive football that I always focus my late rounds picks on them.

The key to building the foundation of your team is a consistent point getter who is almost guaranteed to post high numbers week in and week out. Taking a risk on a player early, especially in the first round, will always backfire. Obviously, you cannot always know who will get hurt, but be as confident as possible that your first pick will be around for most of the season. This year, players like Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara are the easy top three choices, but further down the board DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner and Davante Adams are other options who should produce on a regular basis. Be wary of Ezekiel Elliot, who is threatening to hold out for multiple games to build leverage for a new contract. He’d be a great gamble in the second round, but I would be hesitant of using my first round pick on him. Also, Le’Veon Bell hasn’t played professional football in two years because of his holdout last season, and who knows how good he will be after that long of a break. Finally, beware Todd Gurley who has been battling serious knee injuries at the end of last season and the beginning of this year. The Los Angeles Rams drafted a capable backup who will see a lot of playing time this year in Darrell Henderson, so I would think twice about picking up Gurley.

#2: Take risks later in the draft While consistency is important early on, start taking risks once you get past round seven or eight. Once you have built most of your starting lineup, look

#3: Offensive lines are more important than you think

#4: Check your league’s scoring settings This tip is especially important if you are entering a league for the first time. Some league commissioners like to tinker with the scoring, or in some places, completely make it their own. I used to play in a league where quarterbacks would get a point for every completion and wide receivers would get ten extra points for a forty yard touchdown, but every catch was worth nothing. This scoring system was a mess, but I won that league twice because I knew how to target players that fit that league’s scoring. Now as a commissioner myself,

Reporter Andrew Ford offers five fantasy football tips. Courtesy of Incirlik Air Base I make sacks and interceptions cost more points and I am using a half point per reception. And your league will be different, I guarantee it. Try to build a strategy that maximizes your potential within your league’s scoring. It will give you a huge advantage in your pursuit of a championship.

#5: The waiver wire = championships If you listen to nothing else, this is what you should take away from this article. The team you draft will not be the

team that takes you all the way to the championship. Actively follow the league and find players who are coming on the scene before anyone else finds them. Put in waiver requests on Monday. I assure you, the most successful teams find players during the year that play an integral role later in the season. There will always be four to seven running backs or wide receivers that no one expected to contribute significantly that then finish as top 20 fantasy players at their positions. And if you have a bad draft, you can easily make a late season comeback by always scanning the waiver wire. Trust me, it will make or break your season.

OPEN AUDITIONS for the 2019 fall semester drama productions in Eldred Theater

Bethany

by Laura Marks Directed by Kevin Inouye October 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m.

October 6 and 13 at 3 p.m.

King Stag

by Carlo Gozzi Directed by Jeffrey Ullom November 15, 16, 21, 22 at 7:30 p.m.

November 17, 24 at 3 p.m.

Wednesday August 28th 6-8:30PM 2nd floor theater in Eldred Hall - 2070 Adelbert Rd.(on Case quad behind Millis Science Center)

• Open to all members of the CWRU community.

• Sign-up sheets are posted in Eldred's 1st floor Gallery.

Please sign-up in advance for audition time.

• Theater majors: prepare monologue of your choice, not to exceed 2 minutes.

• Non-majors will be provided sides at the audition.

Questions?

Have thoughts about sports?

Write for The Observer.

Call 216-368-6140 or email jerrold.scott@case.edu

theater.case.edu

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES