the
volume xlv, issue 7 friday, 10/4/2013
Observer
PASSION PIT UPB concert wows campus pg. 9
Mary Kate Macedonia/Observer
Cleveland Clinic IMPROVment alumni cuts budget multiply humor Student positions not affected
Talia Gragg Staff Reporter Recently, Cleveland Clinic, a research partner of Case Western Reserve University, announced it will be starting a multi-year $300 million reduction in its annual budget. The five percent slash will be accompanied by the layoff of an undisclosed number of employees and
was partially spurred by the hospital’s preparation for the Affordable Care Act, better known as ObamaCare. The clinic has announced that 3,000 eligible employees will be offered early retirement. Officials emphasize that the cuts are not only due to the new healthcare law, but are also a result of overall cost
to Clinic | 4
Anne Nickoloff Staff Reporter Improvment filled Harkness Chapel this past Saturday with performers and audience members alike for its explosive 10th anniversary alumni show. During introductions, the entire Harkness stage was so overfilled with the line of Improvment’s cast that the unlucky last
couple of members had to squeeze themselves in between other performers. The majority of the line consisted of alumni who returned to the Case Western Reserve University campus for this reunion. Some of these Improvment alumni have kept up their skills since graduating. The first performance consisted of a group
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News
A&E
Opinion
Sports
pg. 3 SkyLift not off to a soaring start
pg. 11 CMA shows film about Mona Lisa
pg. 6 Smoking at CWRU
pg. 20 Men’s soccer bounces back
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Spotlight on Research
Second-year student looks to make drinking water safer Kushagra Gupta Staff Reporter Drinking water is supposedly healthy and safe, but one student researcher would differ in opinion. Hana Litwin, a second-year civil engineering major, has been working on a project that hopes to eliminate perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from drinking water by using zerovalent iron nanoparticles. A small amount of PFOS is present in the drinking water of any developed nation because it’s used in many products, such as firefighting foam or even the stuffing in a waterproof jacket. The chemical is sought after due to the fact that it repels water and oil. In humans, large quantities of PFOS can cause a person’s liver to enlarge, a condition that is known to occur to those who live by manufacturing plants that use the chemical. “They’ve done experiments on lab rats where they inject them with high doses of PFOS and with increasing concentrations of PFOS, their liver enlarges to the point where it fills up their entire body cavity,” she explained. The malady isn’t a cancer, however, since PFOS accumulates in bodily fluids such as blood, but doesn’t enter cells.
“They’ve done experiments onlab rats where they inject them with high doses of PFOS and with increasing concentrations of PFOS, their liver enlarges to the point where it fills up their entire body cavity.” -Hana Litwin
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The zerovalence iron nanoparticles give up an electron, giving it to fluorine atoms bonded to the PFOS molecules.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) isn’t biodegradable and harms living organisms, including humans.
THE SOLUTION:
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Iron
Flourine atoms that receive an electron can no long bind to the PFOS molecule. Some or all fluorine atoms are eliminated from each compound.
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Zerovalence iron nanoparticles are mixed with drinking water, which contains perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).
This new compound is biodegradable and doesn’t harm humans.
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Any fluorine molecule that leaves the compound is replaced with a hydrogen.
^^ Kyle Patterson/Observer
“It’s the fluorine that makes it bad for you because it doesn’t naturally biodegrade in the water cycle,” Litwin explained. Humans are exposed to large quantities of the chemical, not only from drinking water, but also from any meat they eat, due to bioaccumulation— a process where an organism absorbs more toxin than it can excrete. She explained, “The point of using zerovalent iron nanoparticles is… because iron really likes to give up electrons and become iron oxide, and…fluorines, being the most electronegative element, like to accept electrons.” Over the summer, Litwin would spend about eight hours every weekday in the lab. Keeping the nanoparticles isolated was an extremely arduous process. Zerovalent iron tends to oxidize extremely quickly, so the chemical couldn’t come in contact with air. She even had to take an online class to learn how to use the different machines in her lab.
“I spent a lot of time reading research papers and figuring out an exact method to use the nanoparticles, ” she said. She managed to find a company that manufactures the nanoparticles so they don’t react with the air. However, the chemical was in a solid state, so she had to create an aqueous solution with the nanoparticles to be able to use them. While researching, she started a related project that would work to determine whether or not the nanoparticles could harm living organisms. This is especially important because the particles would also end up in drinking water. “The effect on algae will be an interesting result either way. If this water gets released and it doesn’t kill them, then it’s safe. If it does kill them, it’s interesting because maybe instead of using it to get rid of pollutants, you could use it to kill harmful algae,” she explained. Working with algae was a completely
new experience for Litwin, since her last biology course was in high school. She ended up having to learn a majority of the processes on the fly. She’s going to continue both projects during the year, completing the one that involves growing algae first. This is to see if the nanoparticles could actually be a viable solution to remove PFOS from drinking water. The project will be starting up soon, with her working in the afternoons whenever there’s an opportunity. The second-year will also be busy with her sorority (Sigma Psi), cheerleading and mentoring for WISER. Not to mention her coursework, which includes a circuits lab and a civil engineering lab. Additionally, she’s also one of the founding members of a new club called Spartan Winterfest, which promotes a different cause each year by holding an event around early December. The year ahead is busy for Litwin, but she thinks she’s ready for it.
Weatherhead professor shows how business and social consciousness can go hand-in-hand at TEDx convention Arielle Soffer Contributing Reporter In a global economy where movements like Occupy Wall Street vilify big businesses, Weatherhead professor David Cooperrider is trying to give a new meaning to corporations by making entrepreneurship synonymous with social action. He was asked to speak on Sept. 16 at the TEDxUNPlaza, an event hosted by the nonprofit organization TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design), at the United Nations in New York City, on the topics of Appreciative Inquiry and Business as an Agent of World Benefit. “I wanted to share the conviction that business has the opportunity to be the most creative and positive force building a better world, along with compelling data and inspiring stories,” he noted. Cooperrider continued: “Great entrepreneurs know this: That every single social and global issue in our day is a business opportunity in disguise. For example, when you think of conflict in the Middle East, you wonder where the peace is going to come from. It’s likely not to come from the military, or our
lawyers, or from our paralyzed governments. I think the most important force for peace might be business. And in our research we have hundreds of examples— for example, Stef Wertheimer’s miracle in Tefen where Arab and Jewish leaders, youth and 300 new businesses all work in co-existence.” Cooperrider asserts that the entrepreneurs who will bring about this social change are the ones that think that every issue of our age is a business opportunity. Instead of seeing global issues as something negative and a problem to be solved, they see strengths everywhere. In an effort to bring out this sort of leadership in large businesses and corporations, Cooperrider has had the opportunity to consult with many groups using the method of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). In 2004, Kofi Annan asked Cooperrider to produce the birth of the United Nations Global Impact, a partnership of over 800 corporations that seek to do good. The idea of AI aims to bringing system thinking into reality. “What’s exciting is that it represents a breakthrough. We are moving from micromanagement to macromanagement. We live in a universe of strengths, and we can bring complex strengths from all the stakeholders. It used to be that the most effective sized
group was six to eight people. But most effective for what? Maybe it’s better to have 1,000 people for three days planning the future,” explained Cooperrider. Cooperrider’s philosophy is that the companies that are going to be the most successful are the ones who create a workplace that highly engages its employees and customers, so that they think and act like owners of the business. The idea is such that an employee in an entry-level position feels empowered to be as much a part of the decision-making process of the company as the administrators. As a listener, Cooperrider said he connected most with the last session of the event at the TEDxUNPlaza. The speaker was the writer of the musical score for The Lion King. He sang “The Circle of Life”, which Cooperrider felt was a lesson for us all, that it is time for a radical reorientation from our preoccupation of the self to a concern for the other. “Now we are even seeing the new horizons. Our Fowler Center Fellows are writing a book arguing that sustainability is not the North Star. Just to survive is not the same as aiming to thrive. There’s a next chapter coming in the sustainability story. And we plan to shine a light on it at our next Global Forum for Business as an Agent of World Benefit in
October 2014 here at CWRU. We’ve titled it: Getting To Prosperity And Flourishing. People should mark their calendars,” explained Cooperrider about his future plans. Additionally, along with IDEO, one of the top design firms in the world, he is developing an even more than noble-like prize for “Business as an Agent for World Benefit”. The goal is to engage students to work with companies that are catalysts for world benefit, have them write case studies and ultimately do doctoral research. The urgency for this sort of initiative and innovation could not be more important, according to Cooperrider. “We are living in an era where the next 30 years can be so positive for all of humanity. I think we are facing once-in-a-civilization opportunity,” he said. He believes that this could be the first generation to eliminate poverty and transfer to renewable energy. Cooperrider is optimistic about the future. “Imagine a bright, green economy where we can turn all waste into wealth. We are learning what it means to design and create positive, strength-based institutions. Institutions that can be vehicles to amplify courage, love, and wisdom, and our studies show it.”
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Editor’s choice
Reach for the sky: software company pitches Cleveland SkyLift cable car plan Mark Patteson Staff Reporter Students, family and alumni who attended the Blue Block Party during Homecoming may have noticed a trailer holding an unusual capsule: A demonstration cable car for SkyLift, a proposed system of 11 cable car stations connecting attractions along Lake Erie and Cleveland’s waterways. Case Western Reserve University was just one of many stops in the cable car’s lofty campaign across the city to generate buzz for the project. Proposed and developed by local software company LeanDog, the SkyLift hopes to provide a practical and innovative solution to the problem of expanding transportation infrastructure on the waterfront. Most cable car systems appear in the mountains, where they can operate yearround despite harsh winds and winter conditions, and in densely populated areas, where
they avoid interference with existing infrastructure by simply gliding overhead. With its offices floating on a boat on the waterfront, LeanDog recognized the great demand for lakeside attractions, but was also intimately connected with the problems of accessing them. Looking at cable cars around the world, including the New York Aerial Tramway over the East River and the London 2012 Olympics cable car system over the Thames river, LeanDog saw that a similar system could efficiently bypass Cleveland’s waterways, highways and railroads. While it may seem unusual for a software company to lead the way in a cable car venture, John Stahl, president of LeanDog, believes it was a natural fit. Speaking of the company’s culture, Stahl said, “We are analytical people, we are software people and we thought ‘how can we solve this problem?’” Beyond improving transportation and access, SkyLift also hopes to provide passengers with digital entertainment and information, a concept LeanDog calls “Transportainment.” Stahl hopes to tailor each trip to the users. “We really want to customize who you are and why you are in Cleveland and deliver that experience,” Stahl said. Stahl also believes that the cars could be an educational tool for students and visitors to learn about Cleveland. As the car passes a popular attraction, prominent business or cultural landmark, it could tell a story to passengers or teach them about the history, science and arts aspects of an area. Despite the grand ambitions for the proposal, it is still just that. It still has many obstacles before construction can begin. Le-
All pictures courtesy John Stahl
Pictured above and left is a digital rendering of the cable car transportation system local software copany LeanDog has proposed for the city of Cleveland. anDog is currently working on a feasibility study to determine the cost, economic impact and engineering requirements of the system. LeanDog launched a nonprofit campaign on Indiegogo in August to fund the feasibility studies but has only raised $5,000 of the $500,000 goal. Despite the flashy demonstrations across the city and significant buzz from social media, Stahl called the Indiegogo campaign a “complete failure.” “Everybody loves the idea but they wouldn’t put five dollars to it,” he said. “It is a frustrating trend.” The same attitude was apparent at the Blue Block Party. Freshman Daniel Truax, who visited the demonstration cable car with his family, said, “It’s a really cool idea and any investment in Cleveland’s infrastructure
is great.” But when asked if he would donate the minimum five dollars for the Indiegogo campaign, he joked, “I don’t have that kind of money. I’m in college.” Despite the lackluster Indiegogo performance, Stahl still has high hopes for the project. LeanDog has built a broad coalition of civic and business supporters including the Greater Cleveland Partnership and RTA. Stahl has also personally invested $150,000 into Skylift, which he plans to fund entirely with private money. Despite the challenges ahead, LeanDog will work on SkyLift one leg at a time to prove that the idea works. “We still haven’t found a reason to think it’s a bad idea,” Stahl said. “It’s going to take collaboration from everybody.”
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Collaborative student leadership conference to be held Saturday Tanvi Parmar Staff Reporter On Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Case Western Reserve University will be holding the What’s Your Superpower: Fall Leadership Conference in Nord Hall and Sears Building for both undergraduate and graduate students. The conference is sponsored by the University Program Board (UPB), Undergraduate Student Government (USG), the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Congress, Class Officer Collective (COC), Residence Hall Association (RHA), Graduate Student Senate and Student Activities and Leadership. Students will be able to chose three breakout sessions from a list of 30 that will all promote conversation about organizational management. “I really like that they divided up into different sessions and you can pick and choose. It just makes it more individualized instead of just a general leadership conference. Because there are so many
Mary Kate Macedonia/Observer Cleveland Clinic, pictured above, announced that it will be cutting its budget by five percent in the coming years. Layoff totals have not been yet announced.
Cleveland clinic layoffs to wait until January
Hospital officials say that reductions should not impact relationship with CWRU from CLINIC | 1 reduction. In an interview with The Akron Beacon Journal, Eileen Sheil, the Clinic’s director of corporate communication, noted that layoffs won’t be considered until after next January. Undergraduate and graduate students have long been partnered with researchers at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute, often applying their work-study grants to positions there. That isn’t even to mention those students who attend the Lerner College of Medicine, the Case medical school formed in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic. Are these jobs in danger? According to Sheil, the answer, actually, is probably not. Her general impression of the effect that cuts will have on CWRU students is that it will be slim to none. Of course, the clinic will be “looking at everything” when assessing the new budget and where cuts are to be made, but student positions are expected to be relatively safe. In regards to the new $80 million facility collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and CWRU, Sheil isn’t worried. “That project is pretty well-funded… it looks good.” Students on the whole can breathe a sigh of relief - a lucky one. Budget cuts are leading to more layoffs every day. The Cleveland Clinic, ranked fourth on the hospital honor roll by the U.S. News & World Report, is not the only hospital in this situation making cuts, which includes laying off workers. Sheil recently received a report of Vanderbilt Univer-
In regards to the new $80 million facility collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and CWRU, Cleveland Clinic director of corporate communication Eileen Sheil isn’t worried. “That project is pretty well-funded… it looks good.” sity’s hospital laying off 1,000 workers. This is just the start; Sheil said that these budget cuts are nationwide. The government has cut almost 10 billion dollars to Medicare in its sequester, as well as creating new laws in regard to Medicare reimbursement, leading hospitals to an inevitable reform in care given to Medicare patients. Despite the massive controversy over the Affordable Care Act, and some very real effects that it is currently experiencing and will be having on U.S. hospitals, it is not the only or even the biggest reason for medical reform. Sheil said that there are many, many factors going into hospital budgets and reforms, not the least of which is that the system itself is outdated. According to Sheil, hospitals are growing and expanding their realm of care, not just cutting budgets. Big causes of change in the medical world include rising levels of obesity, constantly advancing technology and an aging population that is living longer and costing hospitals more. Much of the current reform involves shift in the care given to patients, including the wide changes from outpatient to inpatient to home care in the public health sector.
different qualities and skills needed to be a good leader, and I know for myself, there are some areas where I’m stronger and others where I need work, so this will be helpful for that,” said COC President of Class of 2016, Rachel Sosnowchik. The objective is to expose leaders and aspiring leaders to knowledge, skills and resources necessary to lead. In addition, there will be organizational focused sessions for student leaders to continue to improve their communication and skills. The networking lunch at the conference is also intended to be an opportunity for students to meet and interact with other student leaders, CWRU staff, alumni, community members and other passionate presenters. “I had a great experience at Fall Leadership Conference last year, and I learned a lot about my own leadership style,” noted USG’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, Xiaoyu Li. “It was wonderful seeing so many student leaders at CWRU come together as a community.”
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Outside the Circle
A look at news outside of Case Western Reserve Tara Tran & Mark Patteson Staff Reporters
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National
International
1. Megan Young, Miss Philippines, crowned Miss World 2013 United States born Megan Young won Miss World, which was hosted on the Indonesian island of Bali. Young, 23, beat 126 other contestants. Runnerups in the event included Miss France, who took second, and Miss Ghana, who
took third. Young moved to the Philippines at the age of 10. She has appeared in many Filipino films and is a television host. Wenxia Yu of China, Miss World 2012, crowned Young.
2. New evidence rises in Amanda Knox case Amanda Knox was convicted in 2009 for the murder of Meredith Kercher in Italy. In 2011, she was released after serving four years in prison of her 26-yearsentence due to the overturning of the murder conviction. Her release, however, in March 2013, was overturned by the Italian Supreme Court. Knox first moved to Italy to study at the University for Foreigners for one year, where she shared an apartment with Meredith Kercher, who was from Eng-
land, along with two Italian women. The new piece of evidence that has not been used in court is a trace of material on the blade of the knife that prosecutors claim was used to kill Kercher. The knife was found in Raffaele Sollecito’s, Knox’s former Italian boyfriend, kitchen drawer. If the results show that Kercher’s DNA is on the knife, this could mean that Knox is once again found guilty. However, if there are no traces of such, then Knox will be acquitted once and for all.
3. Man-made sinkhole belching natural gas in Louisiana bayou Over a year ago, residents of Bayou Corne, Louisiana discovered mysterious methane bubbles rising from a local stream. The bubbles marked the opening of a huge sinkhole which has since grown into a 24 acre maw swallowing trees whole and belching out natural gas and oily liquids. The sinkhole opened over a salt cavern carved out by local chemical companies to store hydrocarbons and brine. When the halfmile deep cavern collapsed, the overlying rock
4. Elderly couple charged for murder Gerald Uden, 71, and Alice Uden, 74, are currently being convicted for murders that occurred over 30 years ago. Both are being held for murder charges of their exspouses and children. Alice Uden is being convicted for the murder of her ex-husband, Ronald Holtz, who vanished in early 1974. Back in August, Holtz’s remains were found in Laramie County, Wyoming. The autopsy showed that a small caliber
On the Beat
Security Alerts: What are they good for? So we have gotten through the month of September— Homecoming 2013 was a big success, the Indians might be in the playoffs— and we here at Case Western Reserve University Police Department have had to issue our first security alerts of the new academic year. So perhaps a brief explanation of what security alerts are is in order. Security alerts are issued through the mass email system any time a serious crime is reported to CWRU PD that occurred on or next to campus. Serious crimes are defined as crimes against persons— robberies or assaults, generally. We issue alerts both to keep the campus community informed of possible threats and because we, like all American universities, are required to by the Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) of 1990. In this aspect, college campuses are unique— your hometown
police department does not have the same requirement to issue alerts, although many may have systems like reverse 911 in place for major emergencies. CWRU PD strives to get alerts out quickly, but to some extent we are prisoners of the information we receive. We can only report what we hear about, so incidents that are not formally reported to the police department, or incidents that are reported hours after the fact impact our ability to get information out. We do our best to put out accurate descriptions of suspects that may be at large based on the information given to us by victims and/or witnesses. If a victim states they were robbed by a talking bear, we will put that out to give a timely warning to the community, even though we may suspect later investigation will find something different than what was first reported.
began to slip down, taking anything on the surface with it. Natural gas stored in the well and small amounts of crude oil naturally trapped in the salt escaped as the rock squeezed it out. Local authorities evacuated Bayou Corne’s several hundred residents because of the risks posed by the unpredictable natural gas. They will not likely return anytime soon: geologists predict that the still widening sinkhole could double in size in the next few years.
We can also be the prisoners of false information, which happened with one of our recent alerts that was later retracted. So be aware when you report an incident like a robbery to the police; you are triggering a system that is going to lead to a number of police officers, often from multiple agencies, devoting their time to searching for a suspect and a mass email that goes out to tens of thousands of campus community members. So if it really happened, call us right away— if it didn’t, don’t call— you are causing a lot of unnecessary activity and alarm to a lot of people, as well as breaking the law. Enough said. On the Beat is a weekly safety column written by Sergeant Jeffrey Daberko & Officer Mark (The Crossing Guard) Chavis of CWRU PD. Send feedback to this or other columns at policecolumn@case.edu.
gunshot to the back of the head was the reason for death due to a bullet found inside the skull. Gerald Uden is accused for the murders of his ex-wife and her two children. They were all last seen in September 1980 in Fremont County. Uden has confessed to the killings, stating the weapon he used was the gun his wife had brought so that they could go bird hunting.
police blotter 9/23/13 to 9/30/13 9/26 — Felony theft — Purse taken, Leutner Commons 9/26 — Disorderly conduct — Intoxicated male refusing to leave private property arrested, Mayfield Road. 9/28 — Petty theft — Unattended cell phone taken, Rascal House. 9/29 — Bicycle theft — Bike taken off porch, Bellflower Road. On the Beat can be contacted at policecolumn@case.edu.
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Editorial
Towards a tobaccofree policy: The do’s and don’ts It is no secret that Case Western Reserve University is heading, or at least considering heading, towards a tobacco-free future. Last year, the issue came up more than a few times during the general assemblies of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). So far, the policy has not been implemented or even written, but it will most likely be realized. Other universities, such as Cleveland State University (CSU), and institutions, such as University Hospitals (UH), have already gone tobacco-free. We would be not surprised if that became a reality for us, as well. Whether it is a good reality or not is a different issue. Based on the tobacco-free policy FAQ on CSU’s website, there are a few issues with the policy that CWRU should consider in its own version of it— assuming that CWRU’s own tobacco-free policy will be similar to that of other institutions. Encouraging quitting an unhealthy habit is fine. But a zero-tolerance policy will not work. The truth is, after all, that there will always be smokers, whether they care for their lungs or not. This can be seen on the UH campus, which is technically tobacco-free, yet smokers constantly loiter outside hospital buildings inhaling cigarette smoke, whether directly or second-hand. The first obstacle to the policy is enforcement, which could prove immediately problematic. Were CWRU to implement a similar policy to that of CSU, the enforcement would mostly be based on voluntary compliance, and in the worst case scenario, “disciplinary actions.” However, a university policy is not a law and therefore there is no reason for students, staff or employees to actually comply with guidelines, university sanctioned or not. Counting on voluntary obedience just won’t work, especially when it comes to addictive behavior that simply cannot be turned off with only good intentions. The enforcement of the policy would also run into problems due to CWRU’s illdefined campus boundaries. The quads are obviously on CWRU campus— but how about the sidewalks on Euclid Avenue and Adelbert Road? How can students, staff or faculty be sure they are violating the policy? Would CWRU even have the right to include nearby sidewalks in the policy? What CWRU should do instead is not go completely tobacco-free, at least not yet. There are a few policies and rules that could work equally well. The first step of any proposed plan should be to prohibit smoking near residence halls and on the quads— already a component of CWRU’s current policy. Any policy should include designated smoking areas that are secluded from non-smoking areas, but close enough to campus buildings to be safe and convenient to walk to, unlike the current ones, which are far enough away from civilization that they drive smokers toward crowded areas. The designated smoking areas should also be kept up, with ashtrays and clear demarcation lines. No wonder smokers at CWRU never use them, and are instead lighting up in the middle of common walkways. A zero tolerance tobacco policy would look good on paper, and would certainly be a recruitment advantage, but uselessly stern policies can lead to deliberate defiance. Rather than unintentionally encouraging smokers to wander into common areas, why not try a more positive method to incentivize a smoke-free lifestyle? CWRU should be pushing quitting rather than persecution. Placards and fliers about resources would be infinitely more helpful than an iron fist. Perhaps University Health Services could have some nicotine patches handy. There can always be more advertising about counseling services’ substance addiction programs. Maybe a university-specific nicotine addiction hotline is in order? CWRU shouldn’t be a community that, intentionally or otherwise, encourages maintaining an unhealthy habit— but there should be a softer and more effective way of getting that message across. Truthfully, it is more likely that the administration will enact a zero-tolerance option. Given that eventuality, the university has to make sure that the policy will be properly enforced or else it will be useless. If it comes down to fining violators, then so be it. Meanwhile, when we are still waiting for the zero-tolerance policy to go through, the university can vastly improve its current policy with actual, effective enforcement. We all wish we could walk our campus without involuntarily inhaling a cloud of carcinogens. The university should make sure that whichever path the smoking policies take, that wish is fulfilled.
The editorial opinion takes a stand on a select campus issue that The Observer’s board of directors, the executive committee of the editorial board, considers relevant and consequently should be brought to the attention of the Case Western Reserve University community. The board consists of the executive editor and publisher, director of design, director of web and multimedia, director of print, director of business and marketing, and opinion editor. A member of the board meets with students, staff, faculty or any other persons who the board considers to be a subject matter expert. The board will then decide what stance to take on the issue, or if there are disagreements among the members, communicate them in the editorial. The meetings with interviewees occur off the record; no person will be directly quoted or referred to by their name. The editorial opinion does not in any way influence the work of the editors, reporters and staff of The Observer, nor does it represent the opinions of those interviewed for it.
opinion Editor’s Note My last stand This week’s editorial is all about clearing the air, so I’m going to allow myself to be moved by the spirit and divulge a secret not many people know: I never desired to be the executive editor of The Observer. I never thought about joining the college newspaper staff when I first came to Case Western Reserve University. My right to pen an Editor’s Note at this very moment—in my mind—represents a gigantic mistake that I’m shocked nobody has noticed. And yet I here I sit; my career with The Observer is a happy accident that started almost four years ago. I succumbed to peer pressure and kept a friend company during an interest meeting for aspiring reporters. I knew my ability to say no to things was a problem, and I’ve been enduring the effects of my decision to write one article—about a traffic accident—for the entirety of my college career. It’s funny how things change. The Observer has altered me to my core, and I don’t say that lightly. When I look at people, I see stories in their faces. When I look at leaders, I envision the organizational hierarchy that connects them to their colleagues. When I look at organizations, I think of politics and monetary funding. This newspaper has offered me an education more valuable than the five-figure tuition necessitated to attend Case Western Reserve. And it boils down to one key lesson: change occurs when passionate people speak up and—more importantly—when they take the time to write it down. When you flip through the pages of The Observer, it may seem as though we are critics; and, to some extent, we are. But for all of the right reasons. From oversized rollovers to inadequate funding and unjust policies to unjustifiable violations, The Observer vocalizes those who are voiceless and enlightens that which is dark. At the end of the day, we yearn to see Case Western Reserve succeed and for the potential of this institution to be fully realized. This publication—and the 50-plus people it employs—works each week to ensure the members of the Case Western Reserve community have a visible forum to express their viewpoints and understand their peers. After all, knowledge is important, but the understanding of policies, purpose and one another is insurmountable.
Tyler E. Hoffman –EXECUTIVE EDITOR
the observer
established in 1969 by the undergradute students of case western reserve university executive editor & publisher TYLER HOFFMAN director of design MEREDITH DYKEHOUSE director of web & multimedia KYLE PATTERSON director of print SHEEHAN HANNAN director of business & marketing PETER CHOI assistant director of business & marketing COLE MORRIS account manager ERIC HAUFLER ad manager CELIA TORRES news layout MEILYN SYLVESTRE a&e layout AMBER ALBERGOTTIE sports layout HEATHER HARGROW opinion layout EDWIN LO distributors SAGE SCHAFF DANIEL DOHERTY
news editor MIKE MCKENNA a&e editor KATY WITKOWSKI opinion editor NOORA SOMERSALO sports editor KATHLEEN WIESER multimedia editor ARIANNA WAGE copy editors ANNE NICKOLOFF, JENIECE MONTELLANO advisor BERNIE JIM
The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer exists to report news affecting and/or involving students and to provide an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer at (216) 368-2914 or e-mail observerads@case.edu. The Observer is a proud member of the CWRU Media Board. 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 10900 Euclid Avenue, Suite A09, Cleveland, OH 44106. Letters need to include the writer’s full name, address, and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters from organizations must contain the name of an individual for contact purposes. Writings may be edited for clarity and brevity, and while The Observer makes an attempt to print all correspondence; space and date of publication are not guaranteed. Letters over 600 words may be returned to the sender. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.
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Lonely intellectuals and the American Dream The elephant in the room Andrew Breland When someone mentions the word ‘diversity’ among any group of individuals, the image that comes to mind is inevitably one of people with different colored skin, language or nationality. This is a belief we are all raised with and one that remains ascendant in American culture. However, beneath that definition there are other forms of diversity that remain either underappreciated or unrecognized among the vast majority of Americans. Diversity of thought, intellect, ideology and belief are as, if not more, important as any of the issues raised before. Without diversity in thought, there would be no advancement, no invention and no exceptionalism. The traits that make our nation the greatest on Earth, and human society accomplished in science, business, the arts and government, are inspired and caused by a diverse society in thought and practice. It is curious then, that a university whose sole mission is to train students for the realities of life in “the real world” so blatantly and egregiously ignores these core ideals. This week the Case Western Reserve University Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity publically announced their Power of Diversity Lecture series headlined by John Quinones, an Emmy awardwinning ABC news anchor. While the talks highlight the benefits of racial and ethnic diversity, the possibility of intellectual and ideological diversity remains a fleeting ideal, forgotten by the organizers. This reality is that this ignorance of deeper, more pressing diversity issues permeates through the entire campus of CWRU. Two weeks ago another colum-
nist in this paper exclaimed that students at CWRU rarely enter into dialogue. The idea that education breeds egotism was the rationale behind this revelation. However, I challenge that assertion. It is not egotism that prevents dialogue on this campus, but instead a lack of exposure to dissident beliefs. Ask any student at CWRU and you will find that the number that have read Aristotle and Plato, Machiavelli and Rousseau, Voltaire, Hayek, Keynes and Beauvoir is dismally low. Even fewer, I assert, could name a single work by the following list of authors— Faulkner, Nabokov, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Camus, Woolf, Melville and Joyce— a list that constitutes more than 10 percent of the “Best Books of All Time,” as ranked by 100 writers from 54 countries in 2002. Perhaps most telling (and potentially stereotypical) is the number of college students who consider themselves liberal, socialist or communist, and have not read the works of Marx, from whom the most modern theory devotes its origin. I propose these lists not to applaud myself for having read the texts, but to question what education, beyond the ability to solve an equation, the university provides for its students. No longer do students learn great books. No longer do we discuss as peers the themes and symbolism inside history’s greatest literature. And perhaps even worse, no longer do we celebrate the successes and learn from the mistakes made by those who came before. A popular saying, seemingly appropriate here, is that fiction shows reality better than nonfiction. But how can this generation realize that when there is no instruction in the art? A typical CWRU student will complain when asked to read texts that aren’t explicitly related to their area of study. No matter
the significance of the work, Shakespeare will still elicit a moan from a vast majority of the student body. But there are some who would not have that reaction. They would be more optimistic, more agreeable and, I allege, more knowledgeable about the ways of the world. Though literature is not the sole way to promote ideological diversity, a dearth of it, as seen here, represents a larger issue with the free expression of ideas and beliefs. How can one be critical about other issues if the most basic underpinnings of society are of no note to those in the community? You cannot move the conversation forward to discuss ideological issues or even something as simple as political beliefs without first grounding the argument in the theories and works from which it arises. And this first step is the most glaring hole in our education. Our university seems to disagree that this is a problem. We seem to disregard the ideals of intellectual diversity in favor of hammering home the false ideals of diversity of ignorance. The more we ignore and overlook diversity in thought, the more we condemn ourselves to fighting the same battles perpetually. Likewise, the more we emphasize and recall diversity in physical and cultural being, the more the issue remains ascendant. But where does that leave us? We lack diversity in thought in education. We lack a program that exposes students to diverse ideologies and beliefs outside the classroom. And now we lack a method of learning about and exploring the great thinkers inside the classroom. Diversity has become a word that connotes ignorance. We are taught to ignore the racial, cultural or religious differences we face. We are taught to not challenge the beliefs of others for fear of offense. In reality though, should not the
A call for campus-wide attitude makeover The meaning of spartan life Jacob Martin Have you ever been walking down the narrow path between Adelbert Hall and the Michelson-Morley fountain walkway and gotten stuck behind that one student moving perilously slow? Or how about while heading west on Euclid Avenue approaching the intersection at Adelbert Road right as a wave of students have crossed and are making their way toward Thwing, leaving only a lane big enough for one person between the mob and the Severance Hall retaining wall? Well, I’m one of those sluggish students. I walk through campus pretty slowly, taking in the colors of campus before they get obscured by the white blanket of Cleveland snow. In fact, you could say I saunter along the footpaths that adorn our campus. Published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862, Henry David Thoreau’s essay, “Walking,” speaks about the art of sauntering. He says, “We are but faint-hearted crusaders, nowadays, who undertake no persevering, never-ending enterprises… We should go forth on the shortest walk in the spirit of undying adventure, never to return,— prepared to send back our embalmed hearts only as relics to our desolate kingdoms.” So why bring this up? Because community starts at the bottom— that is, with us students. If you are one of those students that walks through campus like you’re competing in a speed-walking race, slipping further into an abyss of unawareness with every step you take and note of music blaring through your headphones, turn off your iPod, pick your head up, look around and stop numbing yourself to the
world through which you are walking. Pay attention to the immeasurable number of things going on and dare to interact with them. Dare to let Thoreau’s words free you from the fetters of self and help create a better campus community. Officer Mark Chavis, the humbly jovial crossing guard for whom everyone I personally know has great affinity for, greets us every morning with a smile, high five and a “How we doing, baby,” or “My brother, my brother” or “Hey sweetheart.” He truly cares about every single individual that crosses the Euclid-Adelbert intersection. I’ve even seen him push a wheelchair-bound student across Euclid, yell at drivers blocking crosswalks and attempt to cheer up those having bad days. His positive attitude about Case Western Reserve University and supportive demeanor embody the sentiment of community that has been hibernating in CWRU’s doldrums for too long. When my uncle passed away some years ago, I cleaned out his attic. The smell exclusive to places one hasn’t entered in years, cobwebs running from floor to ceiling and an amalgamation of belongings accumulated over the years all seemed overwhelming at first. Then I found his early-1950s Kyowa microscope and standard issue Army rucksack from his time as a medic in Korea. Suddenly, I was happy to be in that desecrated attic and found my motivation to clean it. Community at CWRU is like an obscure item found in an uncle’s attic; one moment you’re ignorant to its existence, the next you find it and it transforms your perspective. Do I have to personally know you to smile at you and say hello in passing? Must it be assumed that I have ulterior
motives for commenting on your pretty dress? The gross reality at CWRU is that I’ve smiled at people on campus after making eye contact only to receive a lowered head and a scowl. I’ve told a girl I liked the way she did her hair that day and was told, “Sorry, I have a boyfriend.” As if the assumption that I was trying to pick her up wasn’t enough, the word “boyfriend” was said with a ridiculous upward inflection as if she was asking a question or unsure of her conceited assertion. The environment which I have just described is not ideal for learning, but it is what CWRU can be. I’m tired of pretentiousness prevailing over common courtesy on campus, and I don’t think kindness is too much to ask for. I’m tired of following someone into a building like Nord only to have the door slam back in my face. If you think you’re too good to hold that door, crack a smile or say please and thank you, let me assure you that you are delusional and need to re-evaluate your priorities. Canadian theologian Jean Vanier has said, “Community is a sign that love is possible in a materialistic world where people so often either ignore or fight each other.” As long as we remain in the fetters of senselessness and apathy we will continue to ignore each other. As long as we leave the attic of CWRU untouched and locked, the notion of community will remain an artifact covered in cobwebs and will be reduced to mere illusion. Jacob Martin is an English and political science double major. He thinks the Guilford porch should have more than two chairs.
university teach the opposite? Should we not be told to challenge the beliefs of others? If one is confident in their ideology, should they not be able to stand up and provide reasoning for their beliefs? While these questions do not have clear answers and potentially delve into issues much deeper than those I can address here, no one can assert there is not a problem in our university. If you are content with the mediocrity, pleased by the ignorant and mundane conversations that plague our university, I will be blunt. I do not want you here. However, if you are curious and want to investigate, if education is about more than learning numbers or letters on a page, if preparation for the world is about more than learning a skill, then you can remain. But if you choose to do so, fight for freedom and diversity of thought. Fight for ideological conflict. Ask the questions that will get you criticized. And most importantly, challenge the beliefs that you cannot understand. Through it we will make better, more informed and intelligent members of society. Malcolm Forbes perhaps said it best when he noted that diversity is “the art of thinking independently together.” We cannot limit ourselves to such a narrow-minded and improper image of diversity. We need the knowledge to think better. We need the background to evaluate critically. Perhaps more importantly, we need the ability to create together. Andrew Breland is a double major in political science and English, planning on getting a master’s degree in political science before attending law school. He is the vice president of the Phi Alpha Delta prelaw fraternity and the treasurer of CWRU’s undergraduate mock trial team.
Letter to the Editor This letter is in response to an editorial in the Sept. 27 edition entitled “Student Participation: Can we improve?” As long serving members of the Undergraduate Student Government, we would like address some of the opinions the article expressed about USG, and do our best to convey our most important message: As members of USG, we are your servants. Every member of USG takes an oath in which we “pledge to serve the students of CWRU,” and that mentality of service is constantly at the forefront of our discussions and actions. To that end, we are always trying to find better ways to fulfill that oath. We look at statistics such as a 68 percent approval rating of last year’s seniors, 3,000 votes on our moderator or a voter turnout that is, according to a University of Iowa study, 15.2 percent greater than the national average. We see those results, and we take no time to begin assessing how we can increase those numbers. We’ve tried flyers on campus and briefs in The Observer, we currently have open meetings, the moderator online and a regular newsletter that is sent to every undergraduate student. We work with the University’s office of Institutional Research to develop campuswide surveys on major issues, such as the tobacco-free policy. And we’re starting to invite more administrators to our meetings to join our discussions and have more communication between students and the administration. USG has an awesome tool in our ability to connect to and work with administrators to bring student input to administrative decisions. Lend us your voice, and help us take full advantage of that tool. Matt McKee and Connor Toomey are members of the Undergraduate Student Government. Get in touch with USG via the Moderator at usg.case.edu/moderator or by emailing “cwru-usg@case.edu”
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opinion
10/4/13
College: Ish just got real A fresh perspective Stephen Kolison In my article from Sept. 20, I mentioned that college for the freshman class had been like a fun summer camp where we all had the time to chill and joke around with one another. Well, the girls are now packing their bags, crying and saying to their friends “Oh my god, I’m so going to miss you! Follow me on Twitter!” while the boys are waiting outside for a ride home. This is because the general consensus among the Class of 2017 is that summer has officially ended and winter is coming. And here at Case Western Reserve, House Freshman was obliterated in the red testing. Yes, I am talking about that dreaded CHEM 105 test and the surprising results from many other tests for the freshmen. As I took the chemistry test and was warned that only ten minutes were left, I glanced over to my right and noticed a girl calmly writing down her answers. Her serene test-taking was offset by the two tears that fell as she erased some of her work. Here is this girl who looked so friendly and had a bow in her hair, silently crying. I couldn’t blame her. I felt like doing the same thing. More than half of us in the room felt like doing the same. As we left Ford auditorium, the mix of reactions and facial expressions were so varied that describing them all would be impossible. I had the giggles because I knew that test was awful. A majority of us looked like deer in headlights, others laughed the pain away, and some cried by themselves as they uttered, “I am never going to medical school now!” This is a sharp contrast to how we were acting a week before. My studying consisted of sitting in Wade Commons either giggling and joking with a friend or trying to cram for the test. Towards the end of the studying, the number of things I learned paled in comparison to the amount of times I just sat there and freaked out about the upcoming test. Let’s be real, we have all done some variation of that before. And when we got back to our dorms, we’d just ask ourselves, “Seriously. What did I even do an hour ago?” I would look outside the window and see another group of people heading out of the north residential village to a party. Really? It seems like the majority of the freshman class is either BME or pre-med. How are you finding the time to visit Mi
Pueblo on a Wednesday night? When they get back late, I can only quote my loving father, “Where the heck have you been?” Then there is the arrogance that came from some students who would say things like, “This is my first time ever studying for a test,” “I don’t have to study, I took this all in high school” or “I’m not studying that much. I got all A’s in high school.” The best thing about this first round of tests is that it knocked us all down a few pegs. There is a unifying feeling in knowing that we are all as average as each other. There is nothing wrong with being average, however. Being average opens up the opportunity to become extraordinary. Wanting to break down out of stress but making ourselves carry on is a common feeling whether you’re a freshman or a senior. Studying for our first round of exams was so overwhelming that college became a race to catch up with all we’ve learned the month before. After the exams, many of us held onto our naïve hope that maybe the test will be curved or extra credit will be given. This hope only gets you so far. If you are one of the people who did badly, the first step is actually accepting the disappointment. I know that’s a harsh word to use, but knowing that you did poorly on something could be motivation to change yourself for the next time. If your results were not so hot because you didn’t study the right way, it is easy to feel like you just cheated yourself out of a good grade. Do not feel stupid when you see yourself not living up to as much as you thought. It is hard to come to the realization that you cannot handle as much as you thought. The beauty of this school is the amount of resources available to help you get through the academic challenges. Maybe some of us, myself included, need to leave our high school arrogance at the door and admit when we need help. It is really cliche to say that there is nothing wrong with getting a tutor or going to more than one SI session. But it is cliche because it makes sense. It is cliche because it is true.This was a wakeup call for a lot of people. But when we learn from it by changing ourselves, study habits and basically adapting, we all have something, or our “Hodor,” to carry us to graduation. Stephen Kolison is a first-year biology student. While confining himself to his dorm, he enjoys knitting while watching Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey.
Letter to the Editor Dear Observer staff, This is a thank you letter for the little masterpiece you created on pages 16-17 of The Observer of Sept. 20— a collage of thoughtful, literate observations of campus life made with razor-sharp observations and wrenching candor. Salient questions about the divisiveness of glorifying stupid, offensive attempts at humor preceded a cry for intellectual community through a “pilot-light of wonder grow(ing) into the flames of change” hoping for something beyond a “momentary abandonment of apathy” as a by-product of “overloaded 21-credit semester(s)” and over-extension into job hours and student organizations. We learn that commuters actually suffer “homesickness” trying to simultaneously juggle home and college without the support afforded by informal student interaction (presumably the residence-life programs), and that the affliction is hardly confined to freshman, “introverts” or the depressed. The brave truths in the piece about freshmen— “We spent four years building up a reputation. . .and some. . .are left to wonder what defines us now. . .” “You cannot ‘get by’ any more. You see people who have their lives together. . .while you have no idea what you are doing tomorrow.” “Some days I feel like I am more than a hot mess— I am a burnt mess”— may be too real for some to accept, but they are the stuff of raw, courageous observation, made by one who will surely find his way beyond them, and sooner than he thinks. There may be subservient responses to all of this, declaring that all presented to us is ever-clean, well-intentioned and good. But I hope not. Because admitting to the pain of one’s journey has been for eons the stuff of growth, becoming and great literature. And I cannot think of anything more delightful than to find Andrew, Maia, Jacob, Daniel and Stephen, or even some of them, in the same room at the same time. And I would be quite willing to pay for dinner, anywhere. Eileen F. Vizcaino Director, Student-Community Ministries
State Your Case How can CWRU improve student participation in university policymaking?
25.00%
31.25%
43.75%
Student organizations should educate the community more about how to take part in decision making Students should be less passive about participation than they are now The administration should ask for students’ opinions more
Women in Leadership Week What CWRU is really teaching Janet Lanman Despite tremendous growth over the past 50 years, women still face numerous challenges in leadership and the workforce overall. Women are still not paid equivalently, with only 77 cents to every man’s $1 . Gender stereotypes in the workplace still exist, especially in regards to femininity and motherhood, and these often inhibit the promotion of women. At Case Western Reserve University, males represent 56 percent of the student population. Many of us are unaware of the ramifications of these gender stereotypes and pressures within our generation, and Women in Leadership Week (WILW) was designed to help us bridge our gaps in knowledge about these issues and strengthen our skills within our respective fields. This year, WILW will be held from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11. Women in Leadership Week begins with a fall leadership conference, open to all students to identify and develop leadership styles and skills. Saturday and Sunday afternoon highlight women in sports, a place where many of our women leaders are underappreciated. Although CWRU lacks support for all athletics in general, women’s events are even less attended than men’s sporting events. In 2010, ESPN Sportscenter nationally spent only 1.4 percent of cov-
erage on women’s sports, an approximate 5 percent drop in coverage compared to 20 years ago. Instead of ignoring women’s athletics, sports fans should support these fantastic soccer and volleyball players. Continuing with the agenda of WILW’s events, Monday features a women’s shelter donation drive. On Tuesday, a personal finance and small business start-up seminar with free Jimmy John’s will be the event of the evening. “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke will be discussed on Wednesday, delving into the literal blurred lines between the empowerment and objectification of women. An invitation-only Women in Leadership networking event will be held in the Thwing Ballroom on Thursday evening, complete with a networking workshop and hors-d’oeuvres. Women in Leadership Week concludes with the celebration of the Mather Spotlight Prize winners, featuring top scholars from around the university. Everyone is invited to attend, but you must register for this event to secure a spot at this Women in Achievement luncheon. More details about WILW are available through CWRU’s website: http://students.case.edu/ groups/mistletoe/womenleader.html. Sources: CONSAD Gender Wage Gap Report US News Rankings and Reviews Women’s Sports gets 1.6% of Local TV News Sports Coverage, fair.org July 13, 2010
arts & entertainment
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Higher & higher & higher Passion Pit brings CWRU music scene to a new level
from pg. 1 Mary Kate Macedonia/Observer Passion Pit’s lead singer, Michael Angelakos, sang to an audience of students, alumni and family on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Anne Nickoloff Staff Reporter A bobbing crowd of students roared after Passion Pit exited the stage. The chant crescendoed: “Encore! Encore! Encore!” Veale athletic center was stuffy, hot and filled with perspiration, yet the ending notes of the band’s final song reverberated in everyone’s ears. It was just a taste, a shadow of the performance. Even after just over an hour of blasting music, the audience wanted just a little bit more. Realistically, it was only a few minutes until the band finally hopped back onto the stage to play “Little Secrets.” Students’ arms flew up into the air, creating a crop of outstretched hands and fists silhouetted against
the sporadic lightshow. Passion Pit could have returned on stage with the Jeopardy theme song and the crowd still would have gone nuts. Now, the night’s purpose centered on sharing the mood and experience of the show. Then, singer Michael Angelakos punctuated the night with a simple warning to students: “Be safe everybody,” and the band walked off the stage for the last time. The crowd erupted with applause; the night was a success. Passion Pit was the first concert of the school year to fully grab the campus’ attention. “I applaud UPB for thinking of, and bringing Passion Pit,” said Case Western student Ettore Fantin, who stood in the front row during the performance. “I know they have struggled with setting up a concert that would be super hype and also not rap or hiphop for those who don’t like that genre.”
Even opening band ASTR broke away from more typical UPB genre choices with its heavy but soothing electronic style. However, the indie duo looked like two people standing there playing “Rock Band,” with Adam Pallin hitting the small drum pads on an electric drum set below his synth, and singer Zoe Silverman belting out impressive, yet not very intricate, vocals. The only song ASTR played that got the crowd even close to moving was “Razor,” but even its sexy beat and catchy vocals couldn’t get anyone to dance. ASTR wasn’t a bad band, but everyone wanted to fast forward to Passion Pit. Considering this, Fantin didn’t have a hard time reaching the front of the audience during ASTR’s set. “Our strategy is usually to dance and shake our way to the front while the opener is playing, but this crowd wasn’t really feeling the opener, and every-
one was standing still,” he said. The entire ambiance of the gym changed when Passion Pit took the stage, however. The crowd tightened, everyone inching forward to condense as close to the stage as possible. Fantin’s front and center spot was relished by rows behind him, as they all struggled to move closer and closer to the stage. Each member of Passion Pit stood out in stark contrast, backlit from stage lights and several large lit-up balloons lining the space behind them. They were about to put on one of the biggest concerts CWRU had ever seen. Rewind to four years ago, on Jan. 28, 2009: Passion Pit plays at Spot Night. The band is greeted by the signature tiny Spot stage, minimal light show and a crowd that’s
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10/4/13 from Higher | 9
there for free music, the potential to unwind from classes and $1 mystery beers. In just the few years that have passed between this low-key show and the Homecoming concert, Passion Pit’s popularity steadily grew to the point of hearing their top hit, “Take a Walk,” on popular radio stations. At the Homecoming concert, UPB went all-out to accommodate them and to captivate students. The CWRU standpoint shows how much can change in a matter of a few years, and also what a little bit of hardearned fame can do for a band. The band itself was chill; when the lucky group of students got to attend the meet-andgreet session shortly before the concert began, they shook band members’ hands and
chatted for a few minutes. Bassist Jeff Apruzzese extended his left hand, holding his bandaged right hand against his belly, saying “I don’t want to get blood on anyone.” Though his accident was never explained, it wasn’t a problem. Passion Pit wasn’t making a big deal out of anything, they were just getting ready to perform. The meet and greet group lined up for a picture and Apruzzese joked, “Every picture with us is a funny picture.” When they performed though, their laidback attitude transformed into an intense, high-energy act. “I thought it was definitely the most energetic Case crowd of any concert I’ve been to here, which was really good,” said CWRU student and Spot Night frequenter Ethan Rice. Rice stood towards the back end of the
audience, some ways away from the dancing that centered in the front half. “The music also was good, but I’m actually not super familiar with the band so I was hearing most of those songs for the first time. But I enjoyed the general atmosphere of the concert for sure,” continued Rice. Passion Pit singer Michael Angelakos pulled the microphone in and away from his face, his eyes squinted shut as he belted out especially high notes. He looked like he was about to swallow the mic at times, but it explained some of the DIY effects in live performances of songs like “Sleepyhead.” It was difficult to see the rest of the band above the rows of students ahead, but their music resounded through Veale… and a little too loudly. Fantin was so close to the stage that the only sounds he heard were being bounced off the back walls since the
speakers were above him. In the back of Veale, some of the songs were a little fuzzy and not as distinct as they could have been. However, it seems that the middle of the crowd had the best audio quality. “The sound was flawless, the band had a great energy and people were responding positively,” said CWRU student Bahja Sofien, who saw Passion Pit from this vantage point. “All in all, I thought it was great.” The sound quality wasn’t the most important thing. After all, what could you expect from a huge concert held in a gymnasium? The echoes of Passion Pit’s music mixed with echoes of student excitement. At the end of the night, the mob of students slowly bobbed down, streaming out of Veale with a comment repeated among almost all groups: “Damn, that was a good show.”
Alumni & Homecoming weekend
Students, alumni and families gathered around North Side of campus on Saturday, Sept. 28 for the culmination of Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. Before the homecoming football game, student groups decorated Homecoming Parade floats to show what they believe one can “Only [Find] At Case.” During halftime, Dan Gallo and Linh Tran became Homecoming King and Queen. The week long commemoration, Blue Block 2.0, also included many informational events for visitors.
Harsha Chanduputla & Freda Li/Observer
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observer.case.edu
Woody Sez… Not much actually Woody Guthrie musical biopic at Cleveland Playhouse technically impressive, emotionally challenged
Joseph Verbovszky Staff Reporter
This is the third time this season that I am going to write about something put on by the Cleveland Playhouse that was not a play. The first was “Devil’s Music,” a oneman musical piece about the life of Bessie Smith; the second was “Maestro,” which chronicled the story of Leonard Bernstein. Now, for the third piece, I am reviewing “Woody Sez,” a one-man musical biopic about Woody Guthrie. In terms of all technical aspects, “Woody” is quite impressive. All the instruments are accurate to the period, right down to the banjo and mandolin. Guthrie’s guitar even has a small chip on the front and the famous “This machine kills fascists” label adorns the lower corner. The music is equally authentic and just as heartwarming. It’s wonderful to hear his jaunty folk-melodies, some of which almost any American can remember singing as a child i.e. “This Land is Your Land,
This Land is My Land.” You can even sing along. On top of being consummate musicians, the actors incorporate no small amount of showmanship into their performance. Actor David M. Lutken locks his arms with one of his fellow actors and holds a chord while his partner plucks the notes and strums. David Finch even plays the silverware before juggling it for a finish. All of the actors are extremely comfortable switching from one instrument to the next, going through harmonicas, guitars, banjos, mandolins, a bass fiddle and a violin, sometimes in the same song. Sadly, while the music a feast for the ears, it is the only aspect of the show that is noteworthy. This show has no plot, no conflict and no character development. There is only a paper-thin narrative structure that roughly corresponds to the chronology of Guthrie’s life. Even so, his life events are glossed over and have little impact on the overarching story, except to move us from one musical number to the next. In one 30 second scene, Woody recounts the death of his daughter. Ever so briefly his eyes tear up and I begin
to wonder if maybe, just maybe, there might be something meaningful going on here. His head droops and suddenly, up pops his head, tears gone, back to regaling us with more travel stories. And this was one of the experiences that shook the real Guthrie so badly; he never recovered. To say nothing about the death of his mother, his abandonment of his first wife (events treated with such callousness), you would think he was strolling by a TV in a shop window. The lack of an emotionally engaging or interesting plot is no fault of the performers, who do an excellent job with what few lines they have (only Lutken, who plays Guthrie flawlessly down to the Okie accent, has a consistent character throughout). Rather, the fault lies with the limitations imposed by the genre of musical biopics. This was the same with “Maestro” and “Devil’s Music.” With music the main focus of the production, we miss out on traditional aspects which define theater, i.e. plot, narrative, conflict and relationships between characters. As a result, we really are watching a theatrical tribute concert, rather than a play. I’ll admit that
there was some novelty the first time, when I watched “Devil’s Music.” However, by this point, the style has grown stale and formulaic. All of the biopics tell a chronological tale of the character’s life and end with their death. Another problem with biopics is forced perspective. The character engages the audience in a sort of one-sided conversation where he tells his story. However, without other substantial characters or points of perspective, the audience is unable to see the unreliability of the narrator. As a result, these biopics become almost demagogic in the sense that the audience must either agree with the character or not enjoy the rest of the show. So, as much as I enjoyed “Woody Sez” on a superficial level, I can’t say anything about it as a play because, alas, it wasn’t a play. It’s a tribute to Woody Guthrie, a classic American hero and, in that sense, it’s highly polished. However, it, along with the previous musical biopics, does little for CPH’s reputation as an innovative regional theater.
Editor’s Choice
Cleveland Museum of Art features film about Mona Lisa Maria Fazal Staff Reporter
The Mona Lisa: It is quite possibly the most famous painting in the world. Most could recognize that subtle smile and green dress anywhere. Art lovers and normals alike are also familiar with its famous creator, Leonardo da Vinci. However, most of us have never stopped to wonder just why the Mona Lisa is so well known. While da Vinci’s skill must be taken into account, the real reason behind the Mona Lisa’s fame is much more scandalous. Picture it: Louvre, 1911. A local Parisian artist strolls through the Salon
Carré and notices something is amiss. A startling gap among the collection of fine paintings catches his eye. Instead of Leonardo’s painting, there are four metal pegs projecting from the wall. Paris soon is in an uproar. The Louvre closes down for a week as a manhunt begins. Fingers are pointed and famous names like Apollinaire and Picasso are under suspicion. Yet, despite the uproar, no one is found guilty. The case goes cold. Then, two years later, something remarkable happens. A former Louvre employee by the name of Vincenzo Peruggia is caught attempting to sell the now world-known painting to an Italian art gallery. He is promptly captured and thrown in jail.
And how did he manage to steal the Mona Lisa in the first place? It turns out Peruggia hid in the museum overnight and emerged the next day wearing a museum employee’s uniform. He then simply snatched the painting from the wall. Peruggia removed the painting’s frame and glass cover, hid the painting underneath his clothes and sauntered out of the museum. After Peruggia was captured, he was sentenced to prison for a short period and was later released to serve in the Italian army during World War I. However, the biggest question still remains: Why did he do it? Jump forward to 1976. A young filmmaker, Joe Medeiros, finds himself captivated by the mystery surrounding the
Mona Lisa’s theft. He goes on a journey that lasts over 30 years and culminates with a carefully-crafted documentary, “The Missing Piece: The Truth About the Man Who Stole the Mona Lisa.” Medeiros’ documentary investigates the reason behind Peruggia’s actions and shows Medeiros’ relentless dedication to find answers. A particular moment of interest is Medeiros’ interview with Constantina, Peruggia’s 84-year-old daughter. In this sense, Medeiros doesn’t just solve a mystery, but also provides some closure to the Peruggia family. The Cleveland Museum of Art will show Medeiros’ documentary on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1:30 p.m. The film is 85 minutes, and student tickets are available.
The Observer’s Playlist of the Week Jason Walsh Staff Reporter
Alfred Hitchcock, but I don’t know if that helps.
Phantogram - “Celebrating Nothing” Darkside - “Paper Trails”
Darkside is one of Nicolas Jaar’s many projects, which include solo music, running his label Clown & Sunset and being a comparative literature student at Brown. Both his solo music and his band, Darkside, are variously described as “minimal techno” or “deep house.” Personally, I think “Paper Trails” sounds like it should be on the soundtrack of a sci-fi-spaghetti-western directed by a reincarnated
Phantogram consists of a synth/electropop duo from New York with a new self-titled EP due out soon. “Black Out Days” was the first single, and now they’ve released “Celebrating Nothing.” It’s a laid back, down-tempo pop tune that doesn’t really go anywhere over its four minutes, but it seems happy not going anywhere.
Schoolboy Q - “Banger (MOSHPIT)”
This song’s definitely not about mosh
pits, but it’s got Schoolboy Q doing some of his fiercest rapping and making all of his signature noises. His debut studio album “Oxymoron,” one of the most anticipated hip-hop releases of the year, is due out this fall.
guest verses with his trademark voice all over the place. With “Old” poised to be a critical success, prepare yourselves for the self-proclaimed Adderall Admiral to be around for a while.
White Denim - “At Night In Dreams” Danny Brown - “Side A (Old)”
But if there is a single most anticipated hip-hop album for the rest of the year (now that “Yeezus,” “Magna Carta Holy Grail” and “Nothing Was The Same” are all out), it’s Danny Brown’s debut “Old.” Since his breakout 2011 mixtape “XXX,” Danny Brown has been seemingly everywhere, dropping
White Denim are a fuzz rock group from Austin, Texas. Their brand of distorted-guitar-rock-revival is indebted to Thin Lizzy and the bluesier leanings of Led Zeppelin, featuring guitar riffs all over the place and high-pitched male vocals. If that’s your cup of tea, White Denim’s new album “Corsicana Lemonade” is out Oct. 29.
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IMPROVment inventions from IMPROVment | 1 of past CWRU students who formed a sketch comedy group called “Pretty/ Windy” in Chicago. Four members of this troupe acted out different scenes, including a cowboy death-fight over a laundry machine, an all-grown-up version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a rock anthem about a guy that just wants to get high. Though this wasn’t true improvisation, it was greeted with whooping excitement from the crowd. Then, the event moved into games that would, through rotating sets, involve every improviser and even the audience members. The first game was the “Question Game,” where performers could only respond to each other with questions, and once they said something that wasn’t a question, they would lose the game. With an audience-based starting topic of “cage,” the game bounced back and forth between different improvisers until the ending set of questions: “Are you as turned on as I am right now?” and “Do you want to find out?” At this moment, other members of Improvment cut off the game to keep it from getting too lewd. Another odd game was the “Secret Game,” where one improviser was kept from hearing the topic of a situation another improviser had to act out. Eventually the themes were picked out: “Taxidermy Wedding,” “Hairstylist Inspired by Bugs Bunny” and “Antelope Balloons…” or something to that extent. Surprisingly, they were all guessed correctly.
However, the standout moment and ending game of the first act of the show was the “Scenes from a Hat” game, made popular by the show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Here, actors were told to act out scenes like “Deleted scenes from ‘Sesame Street’” and “Things Case had in the good old days.” The actors came up with hilarious ideas right on the spot, and left the crowd laughing and cheering wildly before intermission. The second act, which was much shorter than the first, included games like “Split Scene,” “Irish Drinking Song” and “Dating Game.” It’s pretty easy to figure out what would come of games like these with such a quirky (and at times raunchy) group. Despite some of the more creative games that arose in the second act, the one that stood out the most was the “Show Me” game, which had improvisers doing scenes that the host wanted to see. To make things more complex, the host could stop the scenes and ask the actors to sing a song about what they were doing, at any time. The end of this game turned into a group musical number about teaching people how to shimmy. All the actors were dancing on the stage, and even actors that were not on stage at the time ran up to sing “This is how you shimmy” with their fellow improvisers. It was a huge surprise to see that the ending to Improvment’s event was not planned, yet still encompassed such an ideal way to include everyone who had performed that day. Improvment member Eliana Fabiyi said, “It was a nice way of ending the show with everyone in the scene, and of course, it was completely improvised!”
Throughout the performance, IMPROVment members and alumni collaborated in creating a unique and hilarious experience for all in Harkness Chapel on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Courtesy Dan Segal
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observer.case.edu
“Rape joke” English Department’s Colloquium Series explores local writers’ top picks in poetry Maureen O’Reilly Staff Reporter The poem appeared on The Awl on July 25 of this year. Just over two months later, it has close to thirty thousand likes on Facebook, plus numerous re-postings, comments and Tweets. Just as poetry seemed to die with Shakespeare in high schools, the Internet blew up for Patricia Lockwood’s piece, shy of 1,300 words. All of this for a poem? A Regional Poets on Poetry event, hosted last Friday in Clark Hall, brought together three local poets. Each proffered a poem written by someone else that focused on current themes in poetry. Frank Giampietro, the interim director at the Cleveland State University Poetry Center, read Lockwood’s poem. Joy Katz read Brenda Hillman’s “Moaning Action at the Gas Poem,” and David Young selected “Salome’s Dance,” penned by Lee Upton.
To a larger audience, poetry can seem… mystifying. Especially when three poems like these— one concerning the impending environmental doom, another portraying a historical figure using modern colloquialism and Lockwood’s— are paired together. As Kate Dunning, a Ph.D. candidate in the English Department, later pointed out, reading the three poems together teases common themes out. The intellectual commentary buffered reader comments on Lockwood’s poem, “Rape Joke,” on The Awl. Online, comments ranged from biting declarations that Lockwood’s poem was overrated, to others regarding the piece as a beacon of truth amidst murky cultural boundaries towards rape. Within the lecture hall, talk touched on perspective. Playing with construction, Lockwood slides focus to how violence and victimization fit within social discourse and slips focus away again. The back-and-forth adds metaphorical weight to the poem. The online outburst over “Rape Joke” sharply
brought one of the day’s strongest themes into light: What are the social functions of poetry? Brenda Hillman’s “Moaning Action at the Gas Pump” emphasized subtleties of poetic function on society. Presented by Katz, “Moaning” plays with the notion of humanity’s demise from pending environmental doom. Interestingly, Hillman’s poem lacks an immediate call to arms. Instead, the poem uses daily tasks, like filling the gas tank, and pairs them with oddities, such as moaning while pumping. The moaning throws the offending chore into the spotlight, as the implicit sadness and sexiness contrast with the unglamorous gas pump. This juxtaposition nudges the reader to think about daily ecological impact. During discussion, professor Chris Flint of the English Department called attention to the differences between activist poetry and what he suggested should be called “activatist” poetry. The former bursts with blatant propaganda; the latter, like Hillman’s poem, achieves similar
awareness as activist poetry, albeit through more subtle and unique ways. Over the cheese spread at the reception, Gianpietro said that the reason he chose “Rape Joke” was its accessibility. Using simple language, the poem is “so emotive,” evoking such powerful internal reactions. Accessibility remained a key aspect for discussion; the tangible ideas from “Moaning Action at the Gas Pump” lead to wide discussion, rivalling that of “Rape Joke”. Poetry is far from being obsolete. Although it rests on the margins of life’s routine activities, the twisting and turning of words still demands social thought and a place in cultural discussion. The well-attended event sprouted from the collaboration of Poetics Working Group and CWRU’s English Department’s Colloquium Series, and was co-sponsored by the Baker Nord Center for the Humanities. The Colloquium Series features events open to the public weekly. More information can be found at the Department of English’s website.
connect with us online! @CWRUObserver observer.case.edu cwruobserver
the
Observer
14 | fun page 14
fun
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Crossword Puzzle Across 1. Biblical kingdom 5. Vamoose 10. Conspiracy 14. Not false 15. Small African antelope 16. Prospector’s find 17. Belonging to the past 19. Auspices 20. Night before 21. Primp 22. Corrupt 23. Connected by kinship 25. Twosomes 27. Zero 28. Threshold 31. Mayhem 34. Lists of dishes available 35. Frozen water 36. Dogfish 37. Not drunk 38. Dull pain 39. Clothe 40. Not silently 41. Eyeshade 42. Circumventing 44. Precious stone
45. Eyelets 46. University 50. Fastener 52. Makes well 54. Born as 55. Fluff 56. Instigator 58. Initial wager 59. Unwarranted 60. Arm or leg 61. Stag or doe 62. Untidy 63. Plateau Down 1. Aromatic solvent 2. Go by car 3. European blackbird 4. Got together 5. Reddish brown 6. Wept 7. Type of cereal grass 8. Forfeited 9. .001 inch 10. Beseeches 11. Provision 12. Norse god 13. Exam
Clock Tower
18. Sight-related 22. Sailors 24. Dwarf buffalo 26. Not mine 28. Remove errors from 29. Reflected sound 30. Equal 31. Derbies or berets 32. Out of control 33. He takes the law into his own hands 34. Corn liquor 37. Faux pas 38. Goals 40. At the peak of 41. Line of a poem 43. A list of names 44. Kitchen 46. Tenth cranial nerve 47. An independent film company 48. Abounds 49. A tea-like beverage 50. Attired 51. Connects two points 53. Terminates 56. A type of liquor 57. A high alpine meadow
by Kevin Yong
COM ICS
‘Look to my coming on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.’ ‘And look to the west to see our shadows!’
observer.case.edu
Philosofish
fun page | 15
Horoscopes
Kate Hart Ray Krajci
Aries
The sun will shine brightly throughout your Sunday morning hangover, and you will welcome the coming week just like the warm rays hitting your face.
Taurus
You will no longer have to worry about having no air conditioner. Thank the heavens for the changing colors and dig out your jackets from the depths of your closet.
Gemini
Although you’ve always loved being as curious as a cat, you’ll learn to only enjoy it every once in a while this week. Keep your nose in your own business.
Cancer
Baking a cake for no occasion will not only calm your nerves, but will also show you that you can create edible food.
Leo
PhilosofishComics@gmail.com
It’s too soon to tell, but you may inadvertently have contracted something from that kid who shows up to class with a tissue box.
xkcd
Virgo
Your lack of proper sustenance is probably directly related to your affinity to bite hands when they get too close to your face.
Libra
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but sadly can’t give you enough caffeine. Or any caffeine, for that matter. You may be the first to create a genetically enhanced, caffeinated apple.
Scorpio
And it says a lot about you that when your friends jump off a bridge en mass, your first thought is apparently ‘my friends are all foolish and I won’t be like them’ and not ‘are my friends ok?’
player points relish rough rugby sauce scrums select short slants soap split start style substance take team tear theme utilize
Wordsearch
atmosphere best bevy block blood build cell chalet clear cleat clock cross drives games grass great hidden history option pass
This week is your buffer week before the going really gets rough. Use it to go out and do all of the college things you envy your non-CWRU friends for doing.
Sagittarius
Alright, alright, alright. We all know what you thought about Breaking Bad. You can stop talking about alternate endings now.
Capricorn
They say without the last minute, nothing would get done. For you, nothing would get done without ice cream, your lucky underwear and the encouraging “FOCUS” Post-It note on your computer.
Aquarius
Borrowing your roommate’s earbuds for the first time will result in an angry tirade and a special treat on Friday night.
Pisces
Disconnecting from the Internet for five consecutive hours is a challenge you should be willing to accept in the coming week.
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IN A CLASS OF 78 STUDENTS 41 ARE TAKING FRENCH, 22 ARE TAKING GERMAN. OF THE STUDENTS TAKING FRENCH OR GERMAN, 9 ARE TAKING BOTH COURSES. HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE NOT ENROLLED IN EITHER COURSE? A
6
B
15
C
24
D
33
E
54
If you have an answer for this, we may have a scholarship for you. The MSM Finance program is offering substantial scholarships to CWRU undergraduates. In less than one year, you can prepare yourself for rewarding careers in banking, private equity, corporation finance, risk management, investment management, and consulting. In many cases, financial firms are hiring top-performing STEM graduates at much higher salaries than those offered by STEM employers.* Starting salaries range from $60,000 to $90,000. No work experience is required. The Master of Science in Management-Finance (MSM-Finance) program is led by the same world-class faculty who teach in our undergraduate finance program, which was ranked #1 by Businessweek 2 out of 4 years. To find out more, contact Karla Crucke at 216.368.3254 or KLC70@case.edu. Or visit: weatherhead.case.edu/finance *Kauffman Foundation Research Series
observer.case.edu
sports | 17
Men’s Tennis ends fall season with strong showing at regional competition Wesley Maddox wins collegiate championship Katie Wieser Sports Editor The Case Western men’s tennis team finished their fall season last weekend with a trip to Kalamazoo College for the United States Tennis Association/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Regional championship tournament. Many Spartans found success during the two-day event including freshman Wesley Maddox, who ended the weekend as champion of the collegiate championship, and also four additional players ending the day in the round of 16 for the main singles draw. Maddox played well during the entire tournament, beating out players from North Central University, Augustana College, Washington University and Allegheny College without dropping a single set before meeting in the finals with fellow Spartan Louis Stuerke. The match was well-fought on each side of the net with both players scoring points, but Maddox ended on top with set scores of 6-4, 7-6. Freshman Joshua Dughi also played well in this division, advancing to
the semifinal round before being eliminated from the competition by Maddox with set scores of 6-2, 6-0. Freshman Kevin Dong was eliminated in the quarterfinal round by Eric Zishka from Washington University. Case Western athletes also showed well in the main singles draw. The top men of the team went up against the premier regional players in a difficult competition to vie for a spot in the National Small College competition later this month. CWRU came into the competition with four seeded players. Sophomore Christopher Krimbill led the team ranked fourth heading into the tournament. He was followed by Will Drougas, Eric Klawitter and James Fojtasek ranked seventh, twenty-fifth and twenty-ninth, respectively. Coach Todd Wojtkowski knew that there were high expectations leading into the competition. “This is where we find out where we stack up,” Wojtkowski said. “We need to try to be the best.” Klawitter and Drougas both made it to the quarterfinal round. Klawitter was eliminated by Sam Geier of Kenyon College, who went on to win the competition. Drougas fell
to Sven Kranz of the University of Chicago. Krimbill and Fojtasek were both eliminated in the round of 16. In doubles play, the team of Klawitter/ Krimbill advanced to the quarterfinal round of the main draw and partners Viswajit Simhadri/Bas Van Lent made it to the semifinal round of the collegiate bracket. The team will have some time to recover before the second portion of the season begins in January. They will look to improve before taking on divisional and NCAA-level play.
from Women’s Soccer | 20 Smith hasn’t been scored on in the past 292:12 minutes of play and has only given up one goal in the past two weeks. She is third in the UAA for saves with 27 and for a goals against average of 0.83. Smith, a junior, is a new addition to the Spartans team. She played two years at the University of Miami (Fla.). Case Western is preparing for the opening of the UAA season starting on Saturday, Oct. 5 at home against Brandeis.
from Men’s Soccer | 20 Case took control in the second half when Dean Balabanov scored his first goal of the season off an assist by Ryan Finstad in the 59th minute. Matt Zembas added the capping goal for the Spartans in the 86th minute to put the game well out of reach. The cycle of scorers for the Spartans simply highlighted the team effort put forward in each game. “Having different scorers makes you a dangerous team, so I’m happy we’re scoring by committee,” Bianco said. The defense stepped up from the previous game against Wilmington. Frank Candau played goal for the Spartans against Hiram and led the defense. Candau stepped in for Lewis, the typical starter, but Candau didn’t miss a beat working a shutout. This was Candau’s first start and first win of the season. “We’re blessed to have great depth at the goalkeeper position and (Tuesday) night we wanted to give Frank a look,” Bianco said. “Frank has been training well and has earned time. I was incredibly proud of how Ari, and our other goalkeepers, support one another and are great teammates.” Case Western will hope to continue with their strong play this season when they open their UAA season on Saturday, Oct. 5 against Brandeis at Case Field.
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Cleveland sports teams mix it up as baseball season ends in a loss Indians fall in a do-or-die playoff game while Browns offer a glimpse of hope JP O’Hagan Staff Reporter Cleveland sports fans enjoyed an eventful week with the Cleveland Indians playing in a playoff game and the Browns winning their second straight game after the week three restructuring. The Indians got hot and won 10 straight games to finish the season. This streak was just enough to overcome the two teams that stood in the way of them and a playoff berth, the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Indians finished with a 92-70 record and narrowly avoided a threeway-tie between the Rangers and Rays who both finished with a 91-71 record. This forced a loser goes home game that was played on Monday night between the Rays and Rangers. The Rays beat the Rangers 5-2 on Monday night in the
“163rd game of the season,” a long used one game playoff system used by baseball to break ties. With the win, the Rays came to Cleveland on Wednesday night to compete in the Wild Card game. The Wild Card game was a new addition to the Major League Baseball playoffs just last year. The game is a one game series between the top two teams in each league to not win their divisions. The Indians, however, dropped the game, losing 4-0 to the Rays. The Indians 10-0 run to finish the regular season was a huge achievement. This is the fifth longest streak to finish a season in history. Had the Indians lost just one of those last 10 games they would have had a three game tie for the American League Wild Card spot. If they had dropped two of those games and had gone 8-2, which is still
a fantastic 10 game record, the Indians would have not had a playoff berth. This was the first playoff berth for the Indians since 2007. It has been a long time waiting for Indians fans as the team has not won a World Series since 1948. While the Indians will have to watch a different team win it all this October, the strong finish is a great outlook looking toward next season. Indians fans will now start counting down the days to Spring Training when the team will start another run towards a World Series. The Browns are just starting their season. After a surprising victory last week following some wild off-field events, many were skeptical that the win over the Vikings was just a f luke, and everyone outside of Cleveland had written off the Browns in week four. However the Browns greatly surpassed
expectations last week. The offensive issues that were thought to plague the Browns in week three still presented questions, but the Browns proved with a second straight win that these were non-issues. New quarterback Brian Hoyer won his first home game for the Browns as they advance to 2-2. Hoyer led the offense with 269 yards and two touchdowns and became the first Browns quarterback to win his first two starts since Mark Rypien in 1994. Hoyer has become a hometown hero to Browns fans and earned the starting spot in Thursday’s game versus the Buffalo Bills over healed started Brandon Wheedon. Thursday’s game will occur after press time. For updates on CWRU and Cleveland sports, visit observer.case. edu.
observer.case.edu
sports | 19
Spartans fall in spirited homecoming game
Last Saturday, the Case Western Spartans fell to Linfield in a shutout, 45-0. The Homecoming loss marks the first time they have fallen to 1-3 since head coach Greg Debeljak took over the squad in 2004. The Spartans have two weeks off, offering the ability to heal from multiple injuries, before heading to Puget Sound on Oct. 19. Below pictures are from the game. For more coverage of the homecoming game, visit observer.case.edu
Harsha Chandupatla/Observer (L-R) Running back Manny Sicre braces for a hit; Quarterback Billy Beecher gets mobile as guard Seamus McDonald looks for a block.
Harsha Chandupatla/Observer (L-R) Beecher drops back for a pass; Wide receiver John Mangelluzzi goes up to attempt a catch; Beecher targets running back Ricky Hanzlik.
(L-R) Wide receiver Sean Lapcevic rushes into heavy traffic; Mangelluzzi gets vertical against tough coverage.
Harsha Chandupatla/Observer
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10/4/13
sports
Editor’s Choice
Men’s Soccer rebounds from season’s first loss with decisive win JP O’Hagan Staff Reporter The first loss of the season on Saturday for the Spartan men’s soccer team was only a bump in the road as they bounced back in a strong game on Tuesday night with a 4-0 win over Hiram College. The team suffered their first loss of the season, losing 2-1 last Saturday, Sept. 28, against Wilmington College. The Quakers went ahead in the 22nd minute when Daniel Wicks beat Spartan keeper Ari Lewis. Just five minutes later, Chris Cvecko sent the equalizer into the back of the net, scoring his third goal of the season. However, the tie wouldn’t last— Wilmington overcame the Spartan defense 10 minutes into the second half and Wicks found the back of the net a second time. Case Western refused to go down quietly as they continued to push back, forcing the Quaker goal to make strong saves with just a few minutes left to play. The first loss for the Spartans was still a strong showing. The team continued to demonstrate the aggressive play that has been successful all season, but it wasn’t enough for a victory in this competitive
game. Head coach Brandon Bianco actually places the blame on himself for the loss. “Playing the way we did was a direct result of me not having the guys ready,” Bianco said. “We weren’t ready for Wilmington’s direct play.” The Spartans would learn from their mistakes as they prepared for the Tuesday night game against Hiram College. The team refocused on their approach and upped their work and level of play. The dedication paid off as they beat Hiram 4-0 on Tuesday night. “We want to be a balanced program by playing good soccer and working our tails off. We got back to that Tuesday night,” Bianco said. The Spartans controlled the entire game with consistent play, scoring two goals in each half to handily beat the Terriers. The Spartans capitalized early when Cvecko put the ball between the posts unassisted at the 7:01 mark. In the 32nd minute, Alex Masciopinto gave Cvecko a hand, assisting on Cvecko’s second goal of the game which put the Spartans up 2-0 for the half. Hiram kept up a strong defensive presence in the half, limiting the Spartan’s shots.
to Men’s Soccer | 17
Charlotte Palmer/Observer Senior Marco Patrie eludes an opponent during a match versus Franklin University.
Women’s Soccer continues to dominate in three-game streak JP O’Hagan Staff Reporter
Christina Tam/Observer Senior Rachel Bourque breaks away in a match versus John Carroll as Christine Breindel rushes in to assist.
The Case Western women’s soccer team is back on track after winning three straight. The Spartans advance to 6-4 on the season after beating John Carroll at home last Sunday winning 4-0 and squeaking out a 1-0 win in a very close game on Tuesday night against Ohio Wesleyan. Jessie Sabers led the Spartans’ offense on Saturday, scoring two goals in the dominant win over John Carroll. Sabers scored the Spartans’ first goal of the game when Leah Levey fired in a pass that split two defenders and found Sabers, who beat the Blue Streaks’ keeper for the only goal of the half. Despite having a nice lead, the Spartans came rushing out of the gate in the second half to take control of the game. Just one minute into the second half, Sabers scored again, poking a ball in during a scrub in front of the net. The 2-0 lead wasn’t enough for the Spartans as they added to their lead. Makenzie Best fired a shot into the left upper 90 and scored her first goal of the season in the 72nd minute. Freshman Jennifer Zajic chipped the Blue Streaks’ keeper from 25 yards out to make the score 4-0. The strong play continued on Tuesday night against the Ohio Wesleyan Battling
Bishops. The offense continued to pressure the opposing defense, and started early with five shots in the first 10 minutes. The two teams traded 35 shots back in forth in the first 80 minutes with neither of them able to find the back of the net. The Spartans continued to press Ohio Wesleyan and around the 80th minute the Spartans seemed to break through, when Kiley Armstrong sent in a strong shot that the Wesleyan keeper was not going to be able to reach. Then, at the last second, the ball bounced off the right post and a scramble sent the ball out of bounds. At the 80:15 mark, Sabers sent a shot into the box after collecting the corner kick from Levey. The shot deflected off of a Battling Bishop defender and bounced into the net. Since the goal came off a deflection, it is an own goal. Despite being an own goal, it was all the Spartans needed as they held on for the win. The defense worked two shutouts over the past week with dominate, commanding play. Abbey Smith has been a foundation for the Spartan defense in goal. Not only has Smith worked two shutouts the past week, but she has been named University Athletic Association Women’s Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
to Women’s Soccer | 17