The Observer, Volume LIV, Issue 16, 1/27/23

Deputy Secretary of State meets with CWRU students

Grace Johnson News Editor

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Case Western Reserve University welcomed Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman to our campus, where she gave a brief talk, and answered a barrage of questions from students and professionals alike on her work and perspectives on all things international relations.

In her opening remarks, she started

with a small joke about the recent Ticketmaster hearing in the U.S. Senate saying, “And I thought what I really should talk about is the Senate committee hearing today on Ticketmaster.” She added, “You all know what I’m talking about when I… [say that] Ticketmaster really messed up.” She was, of course, referring to

Ticketmaster’s mishandling of ticket sales for pop superstar Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour and the ensuing governmental investigation into whether the corporation was a monopoly or not.

Following this, she quickly returned to her business for being there, which was to predominantly discuss foreign relations, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict,

which she called an “unconscionable war” and an “act of barbarism on the part of Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.” Afterwards, many students raised questions specifically inquiring about the United States’ involvement in this conflict.

Continued on pg. 2

New Dream Fund allows students to more easily pursue experiential learning

There’s no question that the academics at Case Western Reserve University are challenging and timeconsuming. However, if you ask any student at CWRU what activities they do, chances are they participate in extracurricular activities on top of their classes, like clubs, sports or, most importantly, experiential education.

Experiential education is an umbrella term for real-world opportunities that allow you to learn beyond the classroom and distinguish yourself from other students. This includes studying abroad, doing internships or co-ops and conducting/presenting research. These sorts of opportunities at CWRU are endless, and it’s up to every student to make the most of them.

However, many deserving students lack the financial resources to access and pursue these meaningful opportunities outside the classroom. Sometimes, departments who sponsor experiential education may be limited in funding their pursuits. Fortunately, these students no longer have to fret about being at a disadvantage in this regard due to the Dream Fund.

Established on Jan. 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the aptly named Dream Fund equalizes the playing field by expanding experiential learning access to underresourced students, ensuring that they can make the most of what’s offered at CWRU. This fund is for undergraduate students only. Students who apply could earn a $2,500 financial award to fund all sorts of experiential education opportunities, including but not limited to traveling and living expenses for practicums and internships, conducting and presenting research, studying abroad, conferences, leadership/ professional development and other

Tyler Vu / The Observer forms of experiential education.

The application for the award can be accessed through the “Dream Fund” webpage, found under the Division of Student Affairs (DOSA). Within the application, students have to provide documents demonstrating the costs of their experiential opportunity. They must also write an essay, up to 500 words, about how the Dream Fund award would help them pursue their specific passion within experien-

tial education. Winners are expected to attend a one-on-one professional development coaching session to help turn their dreams into a reality.

Once they put their funds to good use, recipients must provide receipts of costs funded by the award and submit a written or video testimony of how the Dream Fund has benefited them. Students should take care to submit an application at least 4 weeks before they need funds disbursed for

their experiential opportunity because, as the application notes, “awards are processed on a four-week rolling basis.”

The Dream Fund has the potential to make a massive difference. However, CWRU would’ve never established such a fund without the generosity of Candace and Vince Gaudiani. Vince (MED ‘73) has been a thoracic and cardiac surgeon in California for over 30 years, having completed thousands of cardiac operations. Incredibly esteemed in his field, he also currently serves on CWRU’s Board of Trustees.

Vince recently told The Daily his compelling rationale for creating the Dream Fund: “We want everyone to succeed, no matter what their resources are. Every student was carefully chosen to be part of the Case Western Reserve community, and [my wife] Candace and I want every student to be able to experience anything they dream about.” Since then, they’ve put forth $50,000 to further expand the program and make even more students’ dreams come true.

The Gaudianis were also pivotal in establishing the Student Emergency Fund, meant to help students who experience a sudden financial emergency or event that could disrupt their ability to pursue an education at CWRU.

Anyone interested in perpetuating the Gaudianis’ legacy can contribute to the Dream Fund to match the $50,000 they recently donated.

Overall, the Dream Fund appears promising and has the potential to benefit many deserving students with ambition but were held back due to a lack of financial resources. It’ll be interesting to read testimonies of how the Dream Fund has impacted its recipients someday.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke at CWRU and answered questions ranging from the Russo-Ukrainian War to her main source of inspiration. Courtesy of the U.S. State Department

Snehal Choudhury Contributing Writer

The OMA: A place that feels like home

Cameron Ward Staff Writer

The Case Western Reserve University campus is home to a lot of special places and hidden gems, but one shines brighter than most—the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). Tucked away on the fourth floor of Sears Hall, this office may seem of minimal importance, but that perception is changed as soon as you walk through the door. On my first visit, a staff member noticed my new face and offered me a welcome tour, where I was informed about all that OMA strives to offer to CWRU’s student community. I have returned several times since, coming back to warm faces and a cozy atmosphere.

So, what exactly does the OMA offer the community? There is a surprising amount that the office is involved in, from collaborating on big events with other offices on campus, to advising the Undergraduate Diversity Collaborative (UDC) and all their adjacent departments.

On your welcome tour, you are told all the wonderful amenities that can be found on Sears’ fourth floor, including free coffee, friendly faces and the “comfiest couches that can be found on campus.” More importantly, though, OMA has many resources for

students who need them, including a no-questions-asked food pantry, a resource library—full of books about culture, lived experiences in various communities, and post-grad academic resources— and a mini computer lab. The office also has two different conference spaces, which are available for reservation at no cost. Even with all of this on hand, the best part of the OMA is the people there. There are three full-time staff members and many student workers who are ready and willing to help you out.

However, the OMA is more than just a room. Their blanket role in the university involves diversity education, mediation in ethnic and cultural conflicts and community outreach with local nonprofits and corporations. As stated before, they are also the advisor of UDC and all its underlying departments. Information about these organizations, their leaders and their events can be found posted around the office. Facilitating Diversity 360 in collaboration with the Office for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity is another role the office has on campus. They work on curriculum development and outreach to not just undergraduate and graduate students,

but the surrounding community and potential partners as well. Aside from these roles, though, the office itself hosts a few major events to watch out for over the semester.

One of these is the 33rd Annual Unity Banquet, which is happening in April. It is an event that celebrates undergraduate students, graduating seniors, community partners and staff for both their accomplishments and who they are as people. The office awards up to $10,000 in scholarships as well, which are not tuition- or GPA-based. It’s also just an opportunity for students to get dressed up, have good food and celebrate their accomplishments with other people. The OMA also hosts Black Graduation and Latinx Graduation, which happen during commencement week, and work to honor the accomplishments of graduating students across those communities.

The office holds additional regular events, such as Wellness Wednesdays (in collaboration with University Health and Counseling Services) and postgraduate workshops. On the list of upcoming events is OMA’s Kickback, happening next Friday, Feb. 3 from 12:30-2 p.m. Kickbacks are

DEPUTY continued from pg. 1

The first question surrounded the topic of foreign aid: “How do we decide which countries we help and when?” Deputy Secretary Sherman responded quickly, explaining how our involvement in the conflicts of other nations begins with economic and humanitarian interests, and how, because of the unprovoked and unprecedented nature of this attack, it garnered US interests. While Ukraine is one part of our world, they are a major grain exporter and is, as Deputy Secretary Sherman put it, the “breadbasket of the world.” The current crisis in Ukraine is not something we can ignore, she argued, as “it was creating terrible food insecurity everywhere in the world.”

The interests of one country are the interests of others, as globalization continues to connect the entire world. She continued on to explain this point, saying, “So whatever we

do, we try to think about what it’s gonna mean, first and foremost, for Americans … and then what does it mean for the rest of the world … [since] we’re all interconnected. So what happens in one place … has an impact all over the world.”

Deputy Secretary Sherman was also asked about her role as a woman, especially in a predominantly male role and in dealing with other nations who do not allow women the opportunity to hold such high offices. She is the first woman to hold this position and has held a number of other positions, including as a professor at the Kennedy School at Harvard. She also boasts the title of the leader of the Fannie Mae Foundation, a partner at the prestigious Doak, Shrum, Harris and Sherman political and media consulting firm, the leader of the ‘88 Campaign for the Democratic National Committee as well as

the director of Emily’s List, which is the largest political and financial resource for pro-choice women. In her response, she cited former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as her main source of inspiration: “And [Albright] said to me a long time ago, when you’re sitting at a diplomatic table, you are not so much Wendy Sherman, or a woman, or a grandma, you are the United States of America.”

She went on to explain that when you are in that role, you are more than just a woman—you are the representative of a huge, successful country and the face of an entire nation, and that comes with an enormous responsibility. The responsibility of the power you possess must be understood by you first in order to be taken seriously by others.

Finally, she explained how having a support group of other individuals

beneficial because they are an opportunity for student outreach and are a platform to highlight a minority group. This event is also the OMA’s lead off to Black History Month, and will feature food from many minority-owned restaurants across the Cleveland area. If interested, make sure to register with CampusGroups, so a plate is saved for you.

In writing this article, I spoke to Director Janée Kelly, who was more than happy to indulge all my questions and commentary about the space. When I asked what was the one thing students should know about the OMA, she stated that it is a place where students come to be seen on campus, so that when you leave CWRU, you are more whole than when you arrived. If there is one thing you take away from this article, let it be that alongside the people and the space, the OMA is a place to feel at home.

For more information about the OMA, what they do and who they are, check out their website at https:// case.edu/studentlife/multicultural/, or stop in and talk to one of the wonderful staff members, no appointment is needed.

like yourself is pivotal in the success of not only your job, but also as a human being: “One of the ways I’ve met those challenges along the way is to always have a support group of other women who can tell me when I’m being a jerk, but also can tell me when I’m doing well.” She did not undermine the struggles that come with being a woman, however, as she called it “a constant challenge.”

She also made a point to try to reach out to CWRU students directly so that they may “take the reins from folks like me, and take on the responsibilities of leadership.” She added, “We need you at the table” because we young people “understand innately how to communicate across borders and cultures, how to build relationships, how to collaborate with counterparts and meet them where they are.”

The Office of Multicultural Affairs, located on the fourth floor of Sears, is a comforting place for CWRU students of all identities to celebrate their diversity and success. Courtesy of CWRU

CCEL announces new volunteer opportunities

Zachary Treseler Staff Writer

Recently, the Center for Civic Engagement and Learning (CCEL) has introduced new community service trips that members of the Case Western Reserve University community can partake in. Starting last semester, these fall under two unique categories, CCEL Serves and CCEL pop-ups.

Danielle Hickman, an assistant director with CCEL, recently mentioned how the office is “thrilled to host three new semester commitment sites.”

With the first of these events starting this coming Saturday, many of the CCEL semester commitment sites focus on tutoring across northeast Ohio. New semester commitment sites include a Lunch Buddies program at Bolton Elementary School and ACT Tutoring with Minds Matter Cleveland, which will join the already existing semester commitment sites at the Lee Branch of the Cleveland Heights Library, Seeds of Literacy and AdvantageCLE.

The Cleveland Heights Library and AdvantageCLE are geared more towards working with younger children (kindergarten through eighth grade and kindergarten through fourth grade, respectively) in subjects including literacy, skill building and STEM-related topics. Minds Matter Cleveland focuses on high school students, mostly from low-income backgrounds, who are preparing for the ACT. Bolton Elementary’s Lunch Buddies program allows volunteers to work with students in the third through fifth grades during their lunch break, playing games and providing support and mentorship for them.

These opportunities are branded

as Semester Serves programs, which Hickman explains are “sites that require a weekly commitment of one semester.” There are also flexible commitment sites, “where volunteers can sign up to serve once or as often as their schedules allow.” These sights are known as flex and pop-up opportunities, the latter of which becomes available when local CCEL partners have a special event or project that requires assistance.

“CCEL offers students the opportunity to assist, but it may be a one-time opportunity that is not available regu-

CWRU Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity releases survey to assist in Diversity Strategic Action Plan

Sarah Karkoff Staff Writer

The Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity (OIDEO) has launched a campus-wide survey at Case Western Reserve University in order to further the goals of their Diversity Strategic Action Plan (DSAP), created in 2012. Moving forward, the questionnaire will be administered every three years in an attempt to regularly monitor the campus climate in regards to inclusion and diversity.

According to the OIDEO website, the DSAP was created in order to create “increased visibility, accountability and collaboration as the university strives to fulfill its inclusion, diversity and equity goals.” The top three actionable goals of the DSAP are to improve the “campus climate,” increase “retention and recruitment of faculty, students and staff from underrepresented groups” and enhance “leveraging of university resources to advance diversity and inclusion.” In order to continue achieving these goals, the campus climate survey was released.

The survey is estimated to take just 5-10 minutes to complete, and questions will range from simple multiple

choice to short answer. The survey inquires as to whether individuals feel that CWRU has an inclusive climate. Furthermore, participants have the ability to give their own thoughts and suggestions as to how CWRU can better serve its students.

To compensate people for their time, the OIDEO is offering participants the chance to register in a raffle to win one of 50 available Bon Appétit vouchers. These $20 vouchers will be valid at many campus dining locations.

The questionnaire will help the OIDEO understand the current climate within CWRU. The information collected by this survey will aid the OIDEO in creating a more comprehensive and informed DSAP in the future. If you want your concerns to contribute to the mission of the DSAP, consider participating in the survey and sharing your apprehensions.

For any additional inquiries about the new climate survey, the OIDEO recommends that you reach out to the Office of Institutional Research at cwrufacts@case.edu.

larly,” Hickman explains. “Pop-ups allow students to learn about a new organization and get to know the Cleveland area in a one-time opportunity.”

Hickman explains that CCEL has scheduled opportunities for the spring semester at “the Hunger Network’s food pantry in midtown Cleveland, sorting and organizing books for the Kid’s Book Bank and serving a community meal at A Place at the Table.”

In addition, there are flex opportunities scheduled at Medwish International and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Many of these opportunities

involve helping with internal operations, such as sorting items for MedWish International, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Kids Book Bank. In addition, volunteers at sites such as The Hunger Network will be actively engaging and working with local Clevelanders.

For all of these programs, Hickman reminds students that CCEL Serves provides both “daily service opportunities and transportation to undergraduate and graduate students interested in volunteering at area nonprofits alongside a small group of peers.”

In addition to the regularly scheduled semesterly excursions, Hickman also notes that CCEL is bringing back CWRUinCLE, which will “allow students to get out and explore the Cleveland community.” One such program she mentioned is the Rid-All Green Partnership, which provides the local community with fresh produce through urban farming and teaches about their practices. Of course, CCEL would provide transportation, cover the cost of the activity and provide leaders to take students to the sites, making it rather accessible.

A big push for CCEL is its annual Saturday of Service, which will occur on Mar. 25, where students are encouraged to sign up with friends and work with a local community partner. Hickman expects opportunities in “spring cleanup projects, painting projects, sorting and organizing activities, serving a community meal and with whatever else a community partner might need assistance.” Registration for all the aforementioned events will begin in March.

think: study abroad

FRANCE

Immigration & the Paris Experience (FRCH/WLIT/WSGST/ETHS 308/408)

Dr Charlotte Sanpere

ITALY

The Italian Experience (ITAL 308)

Prof Denise Caterinacci

TAIWAN

The Chinese Experience: Study Abroad in Taiwan (CHIN/ASIA 308)

Prof Xin Zhang

JAPAN

Kyoto: Language, Culture, and Exchange (JAPN 235)

Dr Yukiko Nishida

GREECE

Archaeological & Epigraphic Field School (CLSC 318/418)

Dr Paul Iversen

SPAIN

Advanced Spanish: Language & Culture (SPAN 308)

Dr Damaris Punales-Alpizar

The CCEL office provides plenty of opportunities to get civically engaged, including new community service trips. Courtesy of Janice Gerda

Spoiler alert for the first episode of “The Last of Us”

The zombie apocalypse trope has, frankly, been overdone within media. From survival video games to television shows and movies, it’s hard to find something refreshing that “revives” the genre enough to really invigorate fans. In 2013, Sony and Naughty Dog’s survival horror video game “The Last of Us” managed to do just that, leaving a lasting impression on fans and the video game industry as a whole. The sequel, “The Last of Us Part II,” was also widely praised by critics for its groundbreaking work, continuing the beloved storyline by spotlighting human characters in an apocalyptic setting. After years of waiting, HBO Max has finally released the first two episodes of the show “The Last of Us,” which closely follows the storyline of the original beloved game. The release has smashed records for the streaming service with new and old fans swarming the site.

Both the show and the game break away from the zombie apocalypse tradition, specifically by excluding traditional zombies altogether. In both versions of “The Last of Us,” people become infected rather than dying and are reanimated when a fungus takes control of their brains and bodies. Their only purpose once infected is to spread the fungi as much

as possible. Entire areas can become infested with tendrils and—only in the game—airborne spores, which work to spread the virus to the healthy survivors. In the show, rather than spreading through spores, the show’s infected are part of a hive mind, with touching a tendril able to awaken infected over a mile away. The characters are driven away from safety by the hordes of zombies, while in the game it is the military that is forcing them to run. There has been some controversy about the change, but I appreciate any excuse to see more of the incredible special effects on the infected. And what’s the point of an apocalypse if they’re just running from guys with guns?

With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the long-awaited premiere. The show opens with a talk show taking place in 1968, where a scientist warns about the potential dangers of fungi. Compared to bacteria and viruses, fungi have no cure or vaccine to help combat them, leaving the human race vulnerable to an outbreak. The talk show ends on a serious note, with the scientist suggesting that if such a thing happens, “we lose.” While this scene does not occur in the game, it provides new fans with just the right amount of information to drop them straight into the apocalyptic world. They are quite literally thrust into the reality that fungi could and will

evolve in the show, and the transition between that information and the actual story is almost seamless.

Following the credits, we are introduced to Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter Sarah (Nico Parker) in Texas in 2003. The show opens on Joel’s birthday, but unfortunately, he has to work. After school, Sarah sneaks downtown to get her dad a birthday present but she sees a ton of emergency response vehicles and is rushed out of the store by the owner. She returns briefly to an empty house before the neighbor’s dog brings her face-to-face with an infected. Joel and his brother Tommy show up to rescue her but cannot get around the military blockade in the street. They flee downtown as the infected begin to ravage the population. A soldier comes across Joel, carrying an injured Sarah, and apologizes before firing at the two, killing Sarah in the process before Tommy saves Joel.

The show then jumps 20 years into the future to a quarantine zone, QZ, established by FEDRA (the Federal Disaster Response Agency), which in essence is a military dictatorship in Boston. Joel continues to search for his brother while picking up odd jobs around the QZ. He and his friend, Tess (Anna Torv), have become smugglers and often sell their goods to the guards. They stumble across the remnants of a shootout involving the Fireflies, a revolutionary

group working to dismantle military control over the QZ. Marlene (Merle Dandridge), the leader of the Fireflies, asks Joel to take a young girl, Ellie, out of the QZ to a Firefly safehouse. Although viewers aren’t told exactly why, we know that the girl is extremely important to humanity’s survival. It is only later that we find out that Ellie is immune to the fungus, as she had previously been bitten and not turned. The trio manages to escape the QZ, but not before killing a guard who threatened to hang them for leaving. The premiere ends as Joel, Ellie and Tess manage to escape the QZ towards downtown Boston, with a thunderstorm providing them cover.

Although the show has only released two episodes so far, the premiere has been more than promising. Since I played the video game, I was excited to see the show’s release. The premiere genuinely had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, even though I already knew everything that was going to happen. The show has managed to reinvigorate a story that I previously knew, and dragged me into that world again, just as the game had. The story in “The Last of Us” continues on HBO Max every Sunday at 6 p.m. If you’re a returning fan or just looking for something new, I guarantee this show will have you engaged and praying that fungi can’t mutate.

“The Last of Us” turns the PlayStation exclusive into a record-breaking TV hit

Joey Gonzalez Life Editor

In this adaptation of the horror video game “The Last of Us,” Bella Ramsey’s Ellie (left) and Pedro Pascal’s Joel (right) rely on each over to survive an apocalypse. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Studios

Mindy Kaling’s “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is a refreshing take on the college experience

Shivangi Nanda Copy Editor

Powerhouse screenwriter, producer and actress Mindy Kaling has quickly become an entertainment icon. She recently tapped into the realm of teen dramas, first launching the TV series “Never Have I Ever” (2020) on Netflix and now “The Sex Lives of College Girls” (2022) on HBOMax. Both coming-of-age comedies depict the chaos of adolescence through a diverse cast, but “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is special in its creation of unapologetically real characters and dialogue that make it relevant to a modern audience.

The show follows four first-year roommates at the fictional Essex College as they navigate their way through the complexities of sex, dating and friendship. The female-driven cast consists of Bela (Amrit Kaur), an aspiring comedian, Leighton (Reneé Rapp), a stereotypical upper-class legacy student, Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott), a recruited soccer player and daughter of a U.S. senator and Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet), a smalltown girl attending university on a scholarship. United as roommates, the girls use their differing personalities and perspectives to discover who they are and who they want to be in this next chapter of their lives.

Moreover, the diversity of characters and backgrounds allows the show to tackle issues related to consent, socioeconomic class and the pressure to conform to social expectations, all while still being just as entertaining and easy to watch. Protagonists Bela and Whitney are marginalized in their professional and academic endeavors, testing their confidence and the strength of their character to pave their own future. For Bela specifically, she feels silenced by the patriarchy associated with the comedy industry and her college humor magazine, The Catullan. The show uses Bela’s experience with The Catullan not only to demonstrate the power of drive and passion, but also to critique institutions where comedy is still predominantly controlled by white males—such as Harvard University’s “Harvard Lampoon.”

As the title suggests, sex and relationships are also a major part of the typical college experience, and in turn the experiences of this cast. Through sexual exploration, the show reveals the realities of modern dating, such as the use of dating apps, hook-up culture and the pressure to conform to certain

gender stereotypes. Kaling uses a nuanced and realistic approach, showing that there is no one right way to navigate the dating scene, especially on a college campus.

In handling these complex ideas, the show still manages to create relatable characters with whom many college-aged students can resonate. For instance, Kimberly’s character arc fits perfectly with that of many college students. She attends school on a scholarship and helps pay her tuition by working at the local cafe, “Sips.” Not only does she deal with the isolation of her socioeconomic class, she also struggles with growing into her sexuality and finding confidence in herself. However, with time, we see

Kimberly learn to experiment with different partners and become more comfortable with her desires. In her personal life, she learns to rise from failures and find the balance between school, work and her personal life.

Although the show succeeds in purposefully using its diverse cast, it still holds on to archaic aspects of other college shows. “Teen Vogue” was one of the first to point out the romanticization of Greek life in this show, and I couldn’t agree more. The first season hinges almost entirely on Greek life being the singular means of social satisfaction, social movement and status. Every character is somehow involved in the culture, whether through desire to be in a sorority or just as an enjoyer

of Greek life events and parties. This includes the depiction of frat parties as an escape from real life and sororities an exclusive symbol of class, both of which fuel the fantasy media has created about Greek life.

Overall, “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is a relatable comedy series that is refreshingly diverse and clever in the way it discusses social issues. Strong cast performances, a comedic script and characters that embody the ups and downs of early adulthood are exactly what we look for in these shows. Despite some shortcomings, Kaling once again proves her worth as a creator and producer of great TV shows, and we are excited to see what comes next.

Featuring a diverse cast of young women, “The Sex Lives of College Girls” reminds audiences of the chaos and beauty of navigating college. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Television Studios

fun

Tarun’s LOLs

Aquarius Pisces Aries

Horoscope

The signs as types of tea

Lavender Earl Grey Chai

Green tea

Ceylon

Weekly Tarot

Read by Mulan Ma

The Empress (Upright)

A leadership position will be bestowed upon you.

The World (Reversed)

Look out, a chapter in your life will unravel just when you thought it was closed.

Strength (Upright)

Have some patience this week and spare your energy when others try to dull your sparkle.

The Lovers (Reversed)

It’s a good time to ask the people around you what they want with the relationship they have with you.

White peach

Hibiscus

Cinnamon

Yerba Mate

Oolong

Chamomile

The High Priestess (Upright)

Trust your intuition with a difficult circumstance.

The Sun (Upright)

If things weren’t lining up before, they will be now!

The Moon (Reversed)

Sometimes people lie to themselves and lose the opportunity to change for the best; don’t be that person.

Death (Upright)

Although someone may have left when you needed them, it was the right time for them to exit and for you to let go.

Temperance (Reversed)

Don’t skip your classes, you may miss an opportunity you won’t get again.

The Hanged Man (Upright)

You are going to enter a time of complacency in sacrificing most of your energy for one goal.

Sencha

The Fool (Reversed)

Keeping your head in the clouds and feeling ignorance is bliss will only lead to further devastation.

Yunnan

The Hierophant (Reversed)

You will fight the status quo this week.

Word Search: Oscar Nominations 2023

What we’ve been listening to Helplessly Hoping Crosby, Stills & Nash

Crossword

info

62 Future therapist’s major, for short DOWN

1 “HELLO ... Hello ... hello ...” effect

2 “Well, ___ you clever?!”

3 Alessandro who invented the electric battery

4 High-level cover-up?

5 Country between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea

6 Shade of color

7 Prediction of a flight tracker app, for short

ACROSS 1 House overhang

9 Look at rudely

13 Holey shoe

14 Camera setting for novice photographers

15 Cartoon brother of Dewey and Louie

18 Be philanthropic

Brazil

Surefire

8 African mammal that’s resistant to snake venom

9 “What a terrible, awful idea!”

10 Tour leader

11 Bar used on a fulcrum

12 “Blinkers” or “peepers”

20 Passable, at best

22 Make a mistake

24 Jellied fish in some British pies

25 Enjoy, as gum

27 Marketing spiel

28 Largest city in Nebraska

29 Neighborhood spot for cheap booze

32 So-called “master gland” of the endocrine system

33 Revises, as an essay

34 Nine-person combo

36 Sports org. for Nadal and Djokovic

37 Official with a whistle

40 “Sounds good to me” 42 Capital of Africa’s largest country

44 Pretentious

45 Gift of ___

46 Zero, in a soccer result

47 Cain’s eldest son

52 Tiny faults

53 Beat decisively, informally

54 Aged

55 “Catch my drift?”

57 Tic-___-toe

58 [Excuse me, this is a library ...!]

Editorial: Prime

Minister Ardern’s courageous stepping down holds a message for us all

Editorial Board

Last week, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced that she will not be seeking reelection and will step down by Feb. 7. The announcement came as a shock to New Zealand and the entire world. While there are some mixed feelings regarding her tenure and resignation, we can all take note of the courage required to step away from something when you recognize you don’t have the capacity to continue, especially when that “something” is leading an entire country.

Ardern has been a prominent figure on the world stage for years, often admired and known for her “kindness” approach to politics. Notably, Ardern is the second prime minister to give birth while in office. While juggling being pregnant and a mother to a newborn, Ardern has responded to momentous events and initiated new policies. This includes her wellknown response to Christchurch’s 2019 mosque shootings, where Ardern not only showed empathy to the Muslim community by reaching out to community members and wearing a head-scarf, but also took a swift response to the tragedy by restricting access to firearms. Furthermore, she has worked to support marginalized and underserved communities—implementing policies to help children

and families in poverty, declaring the Māori New Year (Matariki) a public holiday, confronting gender-pay inequity and period product accessibility, participating in the Pride parade and much more.

Ardern is also known for her swift COVID-19 response and her work in leading the fight against climate change. While no politician is perfect or should be glorified, it is clear that Ardern has been a significant prime minister since her 2017 election.

Moreover, while Ardern may be renowned around the world, it is New Zealanders who are affected the most by her initiatives and, ultimately, are the most impacted by her resignation. More recently, though, Ardern and her party has decreased in popularity as the nation deals with the aftershocks of the pandemic (i.e., 2023 is expected to be a recession year). While Ardern has made immense progress for her country, there is still much to be done and to fight for.

Now there are many questions revolving around Ardern’s resignation and New Zealand’s future. While the country may be in shock, it is important to acknowledge that Jacinda Ardern is a human being. She is a mother raising a young child, and while doing so she has been navigating major events and crises for over the past five

years. Therefore, Ardern stating that she “no longer has enough in the tank to do [the job] justice” is a more than an understandable measure to take. She also addressed that there will be speculation behind the “real reason” for this step, but in fact, this is the only reason since she is “human.”

Ardern publicly announcing and recognizing that she does not have the capacity to be a leader of her country anymore is an incredibly courageous move to take. Knowing that she will get criticized, but prioritizing herself and the best interests of New Zealand after six years of service is something that we should all admire. In fact, more politicians worldwide should know when their own time is up and they don’t have

the adequacy to give their all to the job. Furthermore, even we, as college students, should acknowledge when we don’t have the ability to continue something—whether it be dropping an extracurricular or even changing majors. Even though it is not to the same scale as being president or prime minister of a country, we also need to recognize our own limitations and humanness.

Ardern saying that with her “privileged role comes responsibility—the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also, when you are not” is a wise recognition. Whether you are a world leader or a college student, there is something to be learned from Jacinda Ardern’s actions.

the observer

established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of case western reserve university executive editor & publisher SHREYAS BANERJEE

PRINT

director of print SARA KHORSHIDI

news editor GRACE JOHNSON

life editor JOEY GONZALEZ

opinion editor KARUNA LAKHIANI

sports editor PUNEET BANSAL

development editor BEAU BILINOVICH

engagement editor MULAN MA

copy editor SHIVANGI NANDA

copy editor LEXY JENSEN

copy editor RACHEL ALEXANDER

copy editor ELIE AOUN

copy editor KATE GORDON

DIGITAL MEDIA

director of digital media JOCELYN ORTIZ

social media editor SOPHIA POPKIN

photo editor CLAY PREUSCH

web editor COLLIN WONG

DESIGN

director of design TARUN SEPURI

layout designer SHIFRA NARASIMHAN

graphic designer TYLER VU

BUSINESS

director of business operations KHUSHALI DESAI business manager MATTHEW CHANG busines manager MOHIT KOSURU business manager RYAN CHOU

The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer reports news affecting students and provides an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are typically wri tten by the opinion editor but reflect the majority opinion of the se nior editorial staff. Opinion columns are the views of their writers and not necessarily of The Observer staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer at (216) 302-4442 or e-mail observer-ads@case.edu.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be e-mailed to observer@case.edu or submitted on our website at observer.case.edu. Letters can be mailed to Thwing Center 11111 Euclid Avenue, Suite 01, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter.

The Observer is a proud member of CWRU’s University Media Board. Follow The Observer on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @cwruobserver.

Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern recently announced her upcoming resignation, having been an inspiration for many during her over five-year tenure. Courtesy of Getty Images

The absurdist philosophy behind #corecore

Cailee Zeraat Staff Writer

If you were one of the many people who returned to using TikTok for hours a day over winter break, you may have noticed a niche trend gaining traction on the app: corecore. Corecore videos often consist of a rapid succession of clips backed by sad music, meant to highlight some depressing emotion or realization about life. According to Urban Dictionary, corecore is “[k]ind of a deconstructed art. Basically invoking emotion out of a series of (visual) clips that you develop your own meaning to. Corecore content is introspective.”

While there are a variety of corecore videos based around different themes, the general trend I have noticed is the goal of corecore creators to expose the absurdity of consumption that the social media generation is facing today. Our generation is constantly subjected to waves of information at an alarming rate. Scrolling through TikTok, you could interact with hundreds of videos in a single day, all from different people and about different things. This level of consumption is not at all normal; we are constantly overstimulated.

As an example, here is a list of the first seven videos that showed up on my “For You” page when I opened the app today: Beabadoobee lip-syncing to her own song, a parody video of a therapist’s “day in the life,” a bad review of a bar in California, a Starry lemon-lime soda advertisement, a makeup review, a Social Bees UK marketing tip and a meme-dump slideshow.

These videos are not related to each other at all, yet they still appeared on my page. And had I not just been scrolling to collect data for this article, I probably would’ve watched most of them. These clips have no real

meaning, only existing for mere seconds of entertainment, and forgotten in a few minutes when I inevitably scroll to the next videos and repeat the cycle.

While corecore itself is a bombardment of clips and short videos, it is also a purposeful exaggeration of the speed and volume at which we normally view online media. It is meant to point out the obvious, yet unregulated, addiction of our generation to consumption. TikTok, Instagram and Twitter are supposedly escapes from the boredom of everyday life. The problem, though, is that everyday life is not boring. Our dopamine baselines have risen in recent years because of the constant interaction with shortform videos and posts, and now it’s becoming harder and harder to reach this threshold. Any experience outside of what we receive on social media seems boring, even when that is simply not the case.

This pervasive issue is what corecore aims to uncover. However, as corecore is still a TikTok trend, it is subject to the same destruction as other once niche and meaningful trends. While the niche once meaningfully impacted me, every new video I see under the hashtag is a washed-out, lazy version of the original trend that fails to have the same profound effects. Corecore used to be an antitrend. Corecore, at its core, was chaos pointing out chaos with an underlying philosophical meaning to make viewers stop and consider the implications of being alive in the modern world. Now, creators and editors are hopping on the bandwagon for views, giving in to the exact issue corecore is trying to deconstruct.

The rise and fall of this trend is a bleak reminder that any attempts to

Senior season is upon us— for better and for worse

Enya Eettickal Staff Writer

If I had a dime for every time this week someone asked me how I felt about knowing I’m graduating this semester, I’d probably make, actually, about three bucks. It may not be very much money, but it is still an absurd amount of dimes.

Stupid sayings aside, the question always gets a strong reaction out of me, mainly because I don’t know how I particularly feel. And I’m certain that there are at least a few other seniors who can resonate with me.

While I can’t pinpoint an exact feeling about graduating, there are quite a few emotions I am experiencing right now.

Excitement is the first one. Ask anyone who knows me, and they’ll tell you I’m a major Cleveland hater—I’m incredibly excited to get out of this place. The other half of my excitement stems from the hope of what’s to come. The whole (or at least, significant) point of college is to prepare to go out into the real world— and lucky for me, I’m ready for that next step. Living on my own, traveling, working, making money and experiencing the full freedom of the “adult experience“ is what I’ve been looking forward to for so long. Soon the life I’ve been envisioning for eight years will finally be within reach.

However, that excitement pairs closely with apprehension. While I know some of my classmates have already locked down jobs and graduate school plans, I have not. What exactly I’m going to be doing is yet to be determined. And while that’s scary in its own way, there’s fear even in certainty. What if I don’t like what I’m doing? Where do I actually go from there? Am I really all that prepared

to be an adult? There are many questions that only time can answer. That security and structure that come with undergraduate education are going to be undeniably lost, and until I get readjusted, a little bit of that anxiety is going to linger.

Disappointment has also been a major emotion I’ve been processing as a senior. This may not be unique to the class of 2023, but I know for a fact that it’s definitely exacerbated for us. COVID-19 stole our second year, which ended up impacting me more than I had anticipated. Coming back to campus as a third-year left me starting over, essentially as a first-year in some ways. I wasn’t familiar with campus anymore, I didn’t have the connections I’d initially forged and a whole year of potential experiences was completely gone. While I’m excited to graduate, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed and almost as if my undergraduate experience was unfulfilled. The four-year experience I was promised didn’t happen, and while I’m grateful I’m at least alive and came out on the other side okay, I still think about what could have been.

In the end, though, I’m honestly quite sad. Despite all the lost experiences, I was eventually able to find my footing and space on campus that felt like it was truly meant for me. It took a bit longer than I expected, but I’ve finally found friends I really enjoy spending time with. I know where I’m going on a personal level, and I’ve grown a lot as a person. But now, I’m just sad that it’s all going to come to an end so soon.

Continued on pg. 10

break the cycle of scrolling are futile, and we will all eventually return to the harmful patterns of overstimulation and oversaturation. Perhaps my attempts to explain a trend meant to defy explanation is a personal failure to understand corecore. The trend’s defiance of categorization is potentially what makes us realize how absurd our patterns of consumption are. These videos are not meant to have any intrinsic meaning; viewers are expected to find their own meaning. However, life in the social media era

has made us believe that we are supposed to be searching for a common way to relate to other people. After all, isn’t that why we post and interact on social media—to find relatable content that can fill the void of uncertainty that is existence?

It is quite impossible to relate to every single video that shows up on your “For You” page. We can’t be makeup gurus, music theory nerds and corporate millennials all at once. Therefore, corecore gives us something to relate to: the inability to relate at all.

The small steps matter, too

Beau Bilinovich Development Editor

We’re about a month into the new year. Classes have started, and we’re all preparing to find a routine again after the break. A new year and a new semester means a fresh start—and for many, a fresh start is much needed. Life does not always work out exactly the way we hope; sometimes, events are entirely out of our control and we lose our direction. That is why fresh starts can feel so enticing—we have an opportunity to at least pick ourselves up and reevaluate our bearings. That can mean setting goals, focusing on our health, practicing communication strategies and forming stronger connections with the people we care about.

But achievement does not always come easily.

Figuring out how to accomplish goals is always a roadblock on the path to improvement. There is a reason New Year’s resolutions are infamous for failing almost as soon as they are pledged. Known as the intention-behavior gap, there is a divide between the goals we set for ourselves—our intentions—and the actions we take towards meeting those goals—our behavior. Bridging this gap is the key to successful goal setting.

First, let’s start by thinking smaller.

While we might have lofty, ambitious goals planned for the future, there is a real possibility that such goals might seem unattainable or out of reach. Improving oneself requires commitment and effort, but when improvement feels too out of reach, we end up feeling stuck. Thus, we aren’t happy with ourselves when we inevitably don’t reach the finish line.

Instead, splitting a larger goal into smaller, more manageable ones facili-

tates this process. These small goals (or sub-goals) should be easily and consistently achievable. Eventually, each new action builds onto the previous one, and you gain momentum. Now, the path forward looks more clear and certain.

As behavioral scientist Ayelet Fishbach suggests, we should make sure to focus on the intermediate actions we take. The steps we take in between matter just as much as our intentions at the start and the (hopeful) outcome in the end. Work on building momentum with each tiny step. Progress will seem slow, and you might have to rethink some of your plans, but you will avoid overwhelming yourself.

Moreover, small goals can be a great source of motivation. Cooking a new meal for yourself or finally hanging a picture that you neglected for a couple of months is rewarding. Such accomplishments might seem insignificant; however, they are proof that progress is possible, even in basic forms. We should take pride in these small successes so we can let them push us forward.

Of course, we all encounter setbacks at some point in our lives. Whether a family tragedy or a personal health complication, making progress may seem more overwhelming. In those moments, small actions are even more important. If you can only move forward just a little bit, that’s okay. You still moved. Any progress, no matter how seemingly trivial, is still progress. Most importantly though, is to not overextend yourself. Everyone has a limited amount of energy. Remember: resting is as worthy of a goal as any.

Continued on pg. 10

Tyler Vu / The Observer

SEASON

continued from pg. 9

So the big question is, now what? Is there anything I can do about all these feelings? As graduating seniors, is there a solution of sorts for this set of jumbled emotions? On one hand, it’s all kind of inevitable. “It is what it is” is really the answer here. However, to a degree, I’d also say that there are parts of these emotions that are within our control. For fear and apprehension, I fully intend to set myself up for a smooth transition out of college and into the workforce; getting ahead of planning and applications is big. Some have already started, so hats off to those of you who are a part of that group. But for anyone else with similar anxieties about being on top of your future— just rip off the Band-Aid, it’ll be worth it. As for the sadness and disappointment, I’ve resolved to enjoy every day as much as I can. By spending time with all the lovely humans I’ve met, making the most of every event I attend and every activity I’m a part of, I’ll do everything I can to make this the best semester possible. At least when it’s all over, I’ll be able to appreciate the whole experience as much as possible.

And who knows, maybe even as Cleveland’s number one hater, I’ll come back and visit the campus that’s come to grow on me.

STEPS

continued from pg. 9

When setting goals, imagine yourself as a kid building a Lego set: the final end result seems daunting to you. How can you possibly build what’s on the box with those tiny pieces? You then open up the instruction booklet, see that the set is divided into smaller chunks, and those chunks are then divided into even smaller chunks. You slowly work your way up—piece by piece, brick by brick. The process will take time. You might forget a piece here or there, but again, that’s okay; you can go back and work your way up again, paying careful attention to each brick you lay down. Every piece, no matter how small, matters. Eventually, you’ll complete the model of NASA’s Saturn V rocket or the Titanic. You’ll feel accomplished.

That’s the attitude we should all take going forward into the new year. There are oftentimes societal pressures to “think big” or to “shoot for the moon” or even ”think beyond the possible.” But sometimes, it’s better to slow down, take a breath and focus on the small steps. Go forward one day at a time. With enough steps, you’ll end up in a new place. No matter where you are in your improvement journey, allow yourself that patience. Your future self will be thankful.

CWRU Film Society

Friday, January 27, 2023

7:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 11:00 p.m.

D.E.B.S. (2004)

Rated PG (120 mins.)

Directed by: Angela Robinson With Sarah Foster, Jordana Brewster, Devon Aoki Plaid-skirted schoolgirls recruited for their unique ability to lie, cheat, and fight, Amy, Max, Janet, and Dominique join an underground academy of secret agents known as D.E.B.S. They must combine their skills for their most important mission: to capture Lucy Diamond, the deadliest criminal the world has ever known. When star player Amy falls for Lucy, chaos erupts and the D.E.B.S. loyalty is put to the test.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

7:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m.

White Chicks (2004)

Rated (94 mins.)

Cosponsored by The American Marketing Association

Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans With Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Busy Philipps

Two disgraced FBI agents, Kevin and Marcus Copeland, are assigned the duty of protecting cruise-line heiresses Brittany and Tiffany Wilson from a kidnapping plot. When the heiresses suffer facial scars from a car accident, they refuse to leave their hotel. To bait the kidnappers and save their jobs, the Copelands must disguise themselves as the Wilson sisters.

General Admission $4.00

Strosacker Auditorium, CWRU Campus Quad

Free Parking: Lot 44 at Adelbert Rd and Murray Hill FILMS.CWRU.EDU

Men’s basketball defeats WashU, falls to UChicago

WashU struggled and failed to tie the score for the rest of the game.

The Spartans took their largest lead of the night of 29 points with 12:56 left in the game, when third-year forward Ian Elam made a jumper. Although the Spartans started the second half with a 21-point lead, their performance was nothing short of exhilarating. Amazing plays and shots kept the audience at the edge of their seats, cheering loudly for the Spartans. The support by CWRU students in this game was also incredible, and something the team greatly appreciated.

Thorburn commented, “The energy in the gym last night lifted us. It was awesome to see so many students come out. It’s fun hearing how loud it can get in there. We really appreciate the support and need y’all to keep coming out throughout the rest of conference play.”

previous two losses.

UChicago

The Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team hoped to make a comeback after losing their first two games of the season against conference opponents the University of Rochester and Emory University. CWRU Head Coach Todd McGuinness stressed that despite Rochester’s historical winning streak against CWRU, CWRU didn’t play well and missed crucial shots. In the loss against Emory, he said that, “It was nice to see us battle back but not the results we wanted.” He also acknowledged that “every game in this season is going to be a battle, but you got to win at home, that is what is going to come down to. You have to take care of your home court,” emphasizing how important the upcoming games against Washington University in St. Louis and the Univer-

sity of Chicago would be for this team.

WashU

On Jan. 20 the energy at the Horsburgh Gymnasium was thrilling. With over 800 spectators, this was one of the highest turnouts for the men’s team this season. CWRU Cheer also made an appearance, and even Spartie watched from the sidelines.

The pressure to win against the Bears was on and the Spartans did not disappoint. WashU could not keep up with CWRU’s energy, dynamic plays and defensive strategies. The Spartans took the lead with their first made shot by thirdyear guard, Luke Thorburn, and never looked back. The Bears tied the game 4-4, but graduate student guard Danny Frauhnheim made a layup in response.

In the 90-75 CWRU win, second-year forward Umar Rashid shattered the program record with nine blocked shots in the game, including six in the first half. Daving Thompson held the previous record at seven blocks in 2013. Rashid finished the game with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.

“It was a great way for our team to get back on track,” said Rashid. “Being able to set a school record in front of an amazing crowd was a great experience.”

Graduate student guard Mitch Prendergast led the game with 26 points on 70.6% shooting from the field, while Frauhnheim followed with 17 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds on 70% shooting. CWRU shot 37-63 (58.7%) on field goals and 7-23 (30.4%) on 3-point shots, significantly above their averages in the

After an exciting win against WashU, the Spartans struggled to keep their momentum against UChicago on Sunday Jan. 22. Prendergast once again led the team with 25 points, but shot only 9-24 (37.5%) overall and 3-11 (27%) from beyond the arc. As a team, the Spartans shot 36.8% from the field, compared to the Maroons’ 47.5%, and made only 26.7% of their 3-pointers compared to UChicago’s 42.1%. Thorburn and Elam both led the team with 6 assists. The Spartans had a close first half, but ultimately faced an 8-point deficit by halftime. Despite team efforts, CWRU was unable to close the gap in the second half. UChicago took the 85-77 victory, their first conference win of the season, while leaving the Spartans with a 2-3 conference record and an overall 12-3.

The men’s basketball team will hit the road and play Brandeis University (3-2 UAA) on Friday Jan. 27 and New York University (1-4 UAA) on Sunday Jan 29. We can expect this team to continue delivering exciting games and setting school records, as they did against Rochester. However, as Head Coach McGuiness stated, this is a tight conference and they will need to stand their ground against the upcoming teams if they want a chance at the NCAA championship like last season.

Make sure to show your support by watching their games through CWRU’s athletics.case.edu which will take you to the corresponding streaming link for each game.

Swimming and diving teams split 2023 openers

Puneet Bansal Sports Editor

After a two-month hiatus, the Case Western Reserve University swimming and diving teams have been back in action since Jan. 14. In a home event against the State University of New York College at Geneseo (SUNY-Geneseo), the men’s and women’s teams came away victorious at 162-138 and 178-122, respectively. This past weekend, however, both teams fell to Kenyon College, with the men’s team losing 178-122 and the women’s team losing 190-110. Both Spartan teams now stand at 3-2 overall.

Against SUNY-Geneseo, the teams combined for 16 wins in 32 events. Second-year Gabriella Chambers swept the freestyle events: 53.10 seconds in the 100 meter event and 1:57.51 in the 200 meter event. Alongside first-year Eliza Dixon and second-years Simone Vale and Adriana Kamor, Chambers picked up her third win in the 200 meter relays with a time of 1:38.70. Kamor also won the 50 meter freestyle by 0.01 seconds, finishing in 24.63 seconds.

Second-year Amelia Myhrvold swept the backstroke events, winning the 200 meter in 2:08.24 and the 100-meter in 59.88. She was named the Spartan Club Athlete of the Week for her dominant performance.

First-year Julia Cho came in second just 0.03 seconds after Myhrvold. Fourth-year Maria Pritchett finished the swimming victories, taking the 200 individual medley in 2:11.58. Second-year Abigail Wilkov won the 1-meter dive (279.83) while third-year Rei Miyauchi

claimed the 3-meter dive (275.62).

First-year John Drumm swept the butterfly events, taking the 100-meter (51.03) and the 200-meter (1:55.11). First-year Emil LaSida also won two events, claiming the 100-meter backstroke (51.70) and the 200-meter medley relay alongside third-year Ethan Chuang, second-year Ben Zuo and fourth-year Campbell Patterson (1:33.21). Third-year Sean Yetter won the 1000-meter freestyle (9:58.02), first-year William Froass claimed the 200-meter backstroke (1:54.82) and second-year Griffin Gushman rounded out the wins in the 500-meter freestyle (4:49.08).

“Geneseo always comes ready to play,” said Head Coach Doug Milliken following the meet. “Our [men’s] team showed up and they came ready to play. On the women’s side… I don’t want to say it was dominant but I think we handled our business effectively. We had some people that put up really great swims in really good times.”

Before the meet against Kenyon, the Spartans celebrated 10 fourth-year athletes: Patrick Cavanaugh, Connor Chignell, Justin Christensen, Abby Halsdorfer, Julie Mason, Elizabeth McDyer, Campbell Patterson, Johanna Pearson, Andrew Smith and Erica Yang.

Chambers led again for the women’s team, taking first in the 100-meter freestyle (52.56), second in the 50-meter freestyle (23.98) and second in the 200-meter freestyle relay alongside Dixon, first-year Claire Kozma and

Kamor (1:38.66). Wilkov again won the 1-meter dive (257.65), with secondyear Jocelyn Schechter came in second (255.70). Miyauchi won the 3-meter dive (270.20) and Wilkov placed second (266.65).

Second-year Jackson Pollard won the 100-meter fly (51.62), with Zuo coming in second 0.16 seconds after. Pollard, Zuo, LaSida and Chuang placed second in the 200-meter medley relay (1:32.91). Pollard and Zuo also joined Drumm and first-year Ben Borvendeg to take second-place in the 200-meter freestyle relay (1:25.76). Froass won the 100-meter backstroke (51.68) and second in the

200-meter (1:54.35). Second-year Kevin Hu won the 200-meter fly (1:56.40) while first-year Mason Bencurik won the 100-meter freestyle (47.03).

CWRU will compete against Oberlin College on Jan. 27 on the road before heading to Atlanta, Georgia for the UAA Championships from Feb. 8-11, which will be hosted by Emory University. The teams will also travel to Chicago for the Midwest Invitational on Feb. 17-18. Qualifying athletes will compete in the NCAA Diving Zone Regionals in Chicago on Feb. 24-25 and the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 15-18.

Paola Van Der Linden Costello Staff Writer

In CWRU’s victory against WashU, second-year forward Umar Rashid (pictured) breaks the program record with nine blocks. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

Although both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams lost to Kenyon College, the Spartans spent time honoring the graduating seniors. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

Cavs tested against top teams in absence of Donovan Mitchell

Ishan Kulkarni Staff Writer

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a source of excitement this season, fueled by a strong core along with the offseason addition of All-Star shooting guard Donovan Mitchell. The team has hovered around the middle of the playoff seeds over the past few weeks, and are attempting to secure a top seed in the competitive Eastern Conference.

Mitchell has been playing some of his best basketball with this Cavaliers team, highlighted by a team record-high 71 points in a close win against the Chicago Bulls in early January. Unfortunately, Mitchell suffered a groin injury in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans and missed three games against top playoff teams, challenging the rest of the team to step up in their All-Star’s absence.

In their first game of this three-game span, the team hit the road against the Memphis Grizzlies in a close game. The game came down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter where the Grizzlies ultimately prevailed off a rough Cavaliers sequence. The Cavaliers were charged with a 5-second violation off a sideline inbound with 27.1 seconds left in the game. In the next possession, the Cavs gave up an offensive tip-in by Memphis center Steven Adams. Cavs point guard Darius Garland had a final opportunity to answer but his 3-point attempt was blocked by Grizzlies’ forward Dillon Brooks to seal a 115-114 Grizzlies win.

The team hoped to turn things around

in a back-to-back home stand against the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, and one of the top-seeded teams in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks. Cleveland was looking to capitalize on a Warriors team that chose to rest four starters–Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green–after a grueling

overtime loss against the Boston Celtics the night before.

It should have been an easy Cavs win but they struggled to keep up with the Warriors, trailing by 15 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. They chipped away to a four point game, but Warriors guard Ty Jerome hit a clutch 3-pointer with a minute and a half to go

which put the Warriors up seven, killing Cleveland’s momentum. Garland and guard Caris LeVert had 31 and 22 points, respectively, but it was not enough to overcome Warriors’ guard Jordan Poole’s 32 points and Ty Jerome’s 22 points. Ultimately, the Cavaliers lost 120-114.

The Cavs were highly motivated to get a win and eyed the Bucks, who were missing All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The intensity of the team was clearly higher all night, and even Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fired up out of his seat for most of the game. Cavs forward Evan Mobley came to play and was a problem for the Bucks defense all night as he attacked the basket with his tremendous length and athleticism. The Cavaliers also played much better defensively, getting six more steals than the Bucks and finishing the game with seven less turnovers. Mobley’s 38 points, Garland’s 21 points and a solid all-around team performance propelled the Cavs to a 114-102 win.

Looking ahead, the Cavs have another series of home games to take advantage of, with match-ups against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Miami Heat and a rematch against the Memphis Grizzlies. As the season approaches its midpoint, the Cavs are hoping to make a strong push before the All-Star break to solidify their spot in the upper half of the Eastern Conference.

Scores and Upcoming Games

Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

CWRU vs WashU (1/20) - W 90-75

CWRU vs UChicago (1/22) - L 85-77

CWRU at Brandeis (1/27)

CWRU at NYU (1/29)

CWRU vs Brandeis (2/3)

CWRU vs NYU (2/5)

Wrestling

Dr. Si Ostrach Duals (1/21): 3-1

CWRU vs Waynesburg - W 38-16

CWRU vs Defiance - W47-7

CWRU vs Albion - L 29-12

CWRU vs St. John Fisher - W 22-21

CWRU vs Pete Willson Invite (1/27-28)

CWRU at Hiram (2/4)

CWRU vs Heidelberg (2/4)

CWRU vs Cornerstone (2/4)

CWRU vs UAA Championships (2/11)

CWRU at NYU (1/29)

CWRU vs Brandeis (2/3)

CWRU vs NYU (2/5)

Swimming & Diving

men’s and women’s: 3-2

CWRU vs SUNY-Geneseo (1/14) -

Men’s team: W 162-138

Women’s team: W 178-122

CWRU vs SUNY-Geneseo (1/14) -

Men’s team: W 178-122

Women’s team: W 190-110

CWRU at Oberlin (1/27)

CWRU vs UAA Championships (2/8-11)

CWRU vs Midwest Invitational (2/17-18)

Milwaukee Bucks centers Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis attempt to block Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley Courtesy of Ron Schwane/Associated Press