The Observer, Volume LIII, Issue 19, 2/11/22

Brown - Dominic Hutchinson - Anthony Ashford -

Alonzo Smith - Tyree Crawford - India Kager - Lavante Biggs - Michael Lee Marshall - Jamar Clark - Richard Perkins - Nathaniel Harris Pickett - Benni Lee

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Scott - Wendell Celestine - David Joseph - Calin Roquemore - Dyzhawn Perkins - Christopher Davis - Marco Loud - Peter Gaines - Darius Robinson - Kevin

Hicks - Mary

CWRU will no longer guarantee housing for upperclass students

On Feb. 7, students received an email announcing changes to housing for rising third and fourth-years for the fall semester, saying that many students who had expected to live in on-campus housing would no longer be able to do so. These changes were prompted by a 23% rise in admissions with the Class of 2025 compared to the preceding class. There is also an expectation for another sizable incoming class this fall semester.

Very few specifics were given in this first email—and all following emails as well. More information is also expected in the coming weeks.

For now, it is clear that the changes will primarily impact rising upperclassmen students. Fewer on-campus housing options will be offered to these students, and they have been encouraged to investigate off-campus options ahead of the opening of the housing application process.

Further, a waiting list will be offered to students, opening on April 5 at the conclusion of the room selection process. This will let students who are not offered on-campus living spaces an opportunity

to fill spaces left by students who happen to change their plans during the spring and summer.

However, it is unlikely a large portion of students will change their housing plans prior to fall semester of 2022, so it is unclear as to how CWRU leadership plans on ensuring students still have a place to live. They are heavily pushing an off-campus housing agenda, going so far as to include a link in their initial email to off-campus housing options for students to explore.

Students from low-income households are reliant on financial aid offered for on-campus housing. Financial aid does not always cover off-campus housing, so students are expected to come up with that money on their own if they choose to live off-campus.

In this instance, though, living offcampus is not necessarily a choice. This has left many students concerned about where they are expected to live in the fall given the level of uncertainty from campus leadership. According to their first email, a projected 17% of students that would normally live on campus will be forced to live off-campus during their third and fourth years, but that is merely a projection. Even if that

figure rings true, that still leaves 6% of students without a place to live.

According to a follow-up email after many students and parents expressed their dissatisfaction on this CWRU housing decision, the university is “exploring options” for increasing off-campus housing but have yet to explain what that means. They also will be “developing a hardship exception process for students unable to secure on-campus space at the conclusion of the housing lottery process,” but again did not provide details about what that will entail and who will be eligible. This email did not ease concerns for many students and has resulted in various advocacy projects.

One response to this decision has been a student-created petition, asking campus leadership to reconsider their decision, stating that CWRU is “...breaking [their] policy of guaranteed four year housing… effectively letting down all its current students.” Many feel that these changes in admissions threaten the livelihood of students in favor of higher numbers of incoming students, that “The university, in sharing the most recent update on guaranteed housing, has demonstrated its priority as accepting new students rather than maintaining the quality of under-

Where to order out from this winter

Snow-filled streets and sidewalks make for cumbersome walks to classes and even worse trips to dining halls and other food locations on campus. For this reason, students feel more inclined than ever to ditch campus food for the chance to explore local restaurants through food delivery apps like Grubhub and DoorDash. In support of this ordering-in epidemic, I have compiled a list of restaurants in the Cleveland area that are sure to satisfy cravings for a variety of types of cuisine.

Piada Italian Street Food

If you are looking for some well-priced Italian eats, turn to Piada—a street-foodbased restaurant popular for its createyour-own pasta bowls and piadas. Offering classics like carbonara and pomodoro, Piada is also recognized for its tasty diavolo sauce that can spice up any pasta dish. So if you’re looking for some simple yet flavorful Italian food, be sure to check this place out.

Pho and Rice Coventry

For all my Vietnamese and Thai food lovers, Pho and Rice, located in Coventry, is serving up delicious pho, crispy rolls and classic thai dishes. Along with offering an expansive menu of items, Pho and

Rice perfectly caters to us frugal college students, with most dishes ranging from just $4 to $13.

Cilantro Taqueria

If you’re looking for some good Mexican food to take your tastebuds on a vacation, visit Cilantro Taqueria. Whether you’re craving a burrito, a torta, a quesadilla or a bowl, Cilantro Taqueria is sure to satisfy with its wide range of protein and vegetable options. As an added bonus, enjoy some specialty Mexican desserts like Chocoflan and tres leches cake.

Aladdin’s Eatery

Aladdin’s brings Lebanese American flavor to the Cleveland area with its wide range of pita pizzas, rolled pitas and salads. With over 30 locations in the United States, Aladdin’s is the perfect spot to enjoy fresh Lebanese food, much of which is vegan and gluten-free.

Paradise Biryani Pointe

For fans of Indian Flame, Paradise Biryani Pointe is another great place to enjoy South Asian cuisine from the comfort of your dorm. Though it offers classic vegetarian dishes like malai kofta and kadai paneer, Paradise Biryani Pointe is primarily known for its wide variety of biryani: shrimp, chicken, egg, vegetable and more. So, if you’re looking for Indian food that packs a punch, make sure to check this place out.

Corbo Pasta and Pizza House

Corbo Pasta and Pizza House in Mayfield offers traditional thick-crust pizza, along with other Italian classics such as cavatelli, gnocchi and chicken parmesan. Unique to most restaurants in the area, they also offer various Italian desserts like cannoli and lemon biscotti—a perfect end to a hearty meal.

graduate experience that its current students came to CWRU expecting.”

The petition lists a number of reasons why this is unfair to upperclassmen students beyond the financial aid and mental health aspects, by mentioning issues such as “increased distance from classes and other university resources, lack of the presence of a student community in their accommodations, increased cost of travel to campus as well as bearing the cost of furnishing off-campus housing,” among others.

The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) endorsed this petition in their most recent email to subscribers, suggesting students sign and share it, which is atypical for the organization, showing the true gravity of the situation. Students hope that CWRU administration will think more critically about admission numbers and how this will affect current and upcoming upperclass students.

As of Feb. 10, there are over 2,000 signatures but the number is still growing at a rapid pace. Hopefully in the next few weeks’ administration will offer more information on this issue and will be receptive to student concerns.

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Pacific East Japanese Restaurant

Another location in Coventry is Pacific East Japanese Restaurant, which boasts a menu with almost any kind of sushi you can imagine. Along with its Japanese cuisine, the restaurant offers various traditional Malaysian dishes such as laksa and mee goreng. Even better, meals can be made complete with sweet bubble tea or crunchy tempura ice cream.

Ipoke

Enjoy Hawaiian cuisine at Ipoke, Cleveland’s premier destination for all things fresh poke. With the ability to create your own poke bowl or pick from a fixed menu, Ipoke offers something for all seafood lovers. Be sure to pair your poke bowl with one of their green tea selections; my personal favorite is the jasmine green tea.

That’s all the food stops I have for now, but be sure to stay on the lookout for an updated list in the spring. I hope these food recommendations will come in handy next time you are looking to take a break from campus food and experience the taste of Cleveland.

Grace Johnson News Editor

CWRU students face an unforseen housing crisis as admitted class numbers reach all-time highs. Courtesy of CWRU Housing

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Birria Tacos from Cilantro Taqueria are always a good option on a cold winters day. Courtesy of Cilantro Taqueria

Shivangi Nanda Copy Editor

CWRU students launch healthy food startup Redheart

Shreyas Banerjee Executive Editor

Healthy food is a relative rarity on the Case Western Reserve University campus, especially for those on the meal plan. For years, students have expressed concern about the access to healthy foods as well as foods that fit dietary restrictions and conditions such as vegetarianism, veganism, gluten sensitivity and allergies. The offerings provided by the Bon Appétit Management Company, the food provider for CWRU’s various dining facilities, have received substantial criticism for lacking nutritious content.

CWRU students may finally have an alternative, thanks to two enterprising third-years. On Jan. 31, a student startup dubbed “Redheart” launched service at The Jolly Scholar Brewing Company (Jolly), offering food options that aim to be as nutritious as possible without breaking the bank. Sporting options for meat eaters and vegetarians alike, Redheart bowls at Jolly are designed to be high in protein, low in calories and dense in nutrients and are available for students on and off the CWRU meal plan. The company was founded by third-year nutritional biochemistry student Danny Lee and third-year economics student Michael Zhou. Together the two want their health and wellness company to work toward “reinventing fast food” by integrating a focus on health and well-being into everything the company makes and into their efforts to increase accessibility to wellness.

“When I was a freshman, I brought a food scale to the dining halls,” Lee said. “I was very, very interested in bodybuilding and powerlifting. And, you know, that really requires a very strict diet regimen. Going to [CWRU’s] dining halls, it was very difficult to stick to my diet plan.”

Lee went on to say that even with nutrition guides provided at dining halls, he discovered a number of inconsistencies in food preparation that made it harder to stay healthy. Beyond lacking taste, he noticed that serving sizes differed day to day, and the varying ways that meals were prepared and ingredients used just led to increased frustration.

“When I would bring back home, let’s say, Leutner … I would put my vegetables in a bowl of water, and there’s oil floating up from it. Then online, it (the nutrition label) says that … it has zero grams of fat—[that] kind of throws people off,” Lee said. “Thinking about other people who are brand new [to meal-prepping] and want to pursue a healthy diet [and] don’t know … how to read a nutrition label and things like that, I could see where it’d be frustrating and misleading … I really wanted higher-quality, healthy food on campus.”

Lee’s qualms with the meal plan motivated him to reach out to Zhou, a long-time friend he had met at an admitted students event before coming to CWRU. The two decided to

found Redheart to combat unhealthy eating practices common in the United States and to provide students with healthier alternatives and higher-quality food.

“I truly believe what we mean by our mission, reinventing fast food, is that we’re trying to provide people with full transparency in our food items,” Zhou said. “We make our prices competitive against other fast casual or fast food restaurants, [so that people] can then choose a healthier option without having to compromise taste or cost.” Zhou also noted that in order to effectively commit to eating healthy, the food has to be tasty. “No one wants to eat just salads every day, [with just] chicken, broccoli, black pepper and hopefully not too much table salt.”

Utilizing Lee’s experience working as a chef and his knowledge of nutrition, as well as Zhou’s entrepreneurial spirit, the duo designed meals that purposefully did not include added fats or sugar. They prioritized a good nutrient profile with proper balances of vitamins and minerals, especially potassium and sodium. Redheart states that their highest-calorie option on the meal plan is under 340 calories while still providing over a pound of food.

Bowls are available starting at $8.99, with their Korean smoky chicken rice bowl and sweet and

sour tofu rice bowl to start. Lee and Zhou have spent the last week standardizing operations at Jolly, as well as training Jolly staff to make the meals by themselves.

The student response seems to be enthusiastic so far. Since its launch on Jan. 31, Redheart has sold out of their bowls every single night. The first night, the bowls sold out within 40 minutes, despite the pair only expecting a few orders to come through—demand has been high ever since. Now a week in, Lee and Zhou hope to extend services for the entirety of Jolly’s operating hours.

Picture of the week @Shreyas Banerjee

Matt Vann, the owner of Jolly, for both kitchen space and guidance, but there are plans to expand further in the future. These ideas are still developing, but they noted that they are “working on some big projects right now.” They aim to provide healthy food across CWRU campus, around the city of Cleveland and eventually throughout the rest of the country. Part of this is an initiative to provide meals for local children in need.

“Right now, with COVID … it’s so uncertain,” Zhou said. “Supply chains are so disrupted, [with] so many shortages on different types of vegetables, or even [just] bowls in general … There are struggles, but we just have to figure out ways to solve them. It’s always a team effort.”

Lee also noted that Redheart would commit to always having the highest-quality ingredients: “We really want to make sure that people have access to our healthy food. The one thing we will not compromise, though, is even if there is a supply shortage, and there are less healthy options, we won’t go for it even if it’s cheaper. That’s something that we really stress.”

The company has partnered with

A percentage of their proceeds will be donated to this philanthropic endeavor, with the amount raised matched by Vann to fund free Redheart meals for those who are foodinsecure in the local community. The exact percentage of proceeds that will be donated, along with the exact method of distribution, has yet to be announced, but Redheart aims to start donations by the end of the spring semester.

“We really are grateful for the entire campus community’s support,” Lee said. “The turnout has honestly been more than we expected. We didn’t go in with high expectations at all, but the support has been so amazing that there are bigger projects we’re very thankful to be working on.” Whatever they bring to CWRU next, it’s sure to contribute even more to students’ ever-changing well-being and quality of life.

Third-year students Michael Zhou (left) and Danny Lee (right) launch their new initiative, Redheart, which offers healthy, affordable and high-quality food at The Jolly Scholar. Courtesy of Redheart

friday, february 11, 2022 volume LIII, issue 19 estd. 1969

Is going to

the gym worth sacrificing homework time?

Christie Lanfear Life Editor

The cold winter months have officially set in at Case Western Reserve University and taking advantage of the two primary fitness facilities on campus—Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center and Veale Center—is more important than ever.

In addition to the crowded and intimidating nature of the gym, the allure of a warm and wind-free dorm room makes putting physical fitness on the back burner all too easy. In this article, I hope to provide you with the extra push of encouragement that you need to get from your dorm room to the gym.

I know that you’ve most likely heard this from every physical education teacher in high school, but the benefits of maintaining physical health truly are limitless, I promise. My plan is to prove to you that going to the gym is worth sacrificing a little chunk of your homework or free time in return for the numerous benefits it has on your overall well being and success.

Current and future physical health

In addition to making you feel good, physical exercise in college can improve your health years down the line. Starting early and staying healthy in your young adult years can prevent diseases later on, including diabetes and stroke. Even moderate exercise a few days a week can monumentally improve your health. Staying active also improves blood flow to

the brain, which is crucial for optimal brain function.

Mental health

This is a big one. Large percentages of college students around the country struggle with mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Improved physical health can greatly boost selfconfidence and release endorphins known to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. Many students also turn to the gym as a way to relieve feelings of stress that are so detrimental to overall health and well-being.

Promote academic success

Physical activity improving the health of your heart and the rest of your body is a widely accepted statement, but what about its effects on the strength of the brain? Well, it comes as no surprise that exercising is also positively correlated to increased brain function. In fact, studies have connected consistent physical activity to higher a GPA in college students. Exercise has been connected to better focus, improved concentration, increased energy and better memory.

So, it’s clear that exercise can not only improve your physical health, but your mental dexterity as well. The elephant in the room needs to be addressed though: how on earth can busy college students be expected to make time for the gym on a regular basis? It is hard enough just to find time to do essential tasks such as laundry. Due to

our already jam-packed schedules it’s easy to make excuses for skipping a day, then two and before you know it you’ve fallen out of your gym routine. But don’t fret, there are a few simple tricks that can help you to combat any distractions.

Bring your workout clothes with you

While seemingly obvious, having this reminder whenever you open your bag is super helpful in encouraging you to go.

Go directly after class

Whichever on-campus gym you prefer, going before you start your mountain of homework for the afternoon gets it out of the way and decreases the likelihood of skipping.

Go in the morning

Even better than going after class is going before your day gets hectic. It is understandably not super achievable if you have an 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. class, but for those of us who have a slightly later start it isn’t a bad idea to try and squeeze in a workout before heading to class. Then you can tackle your day feeling refreshed!

Find a workout buddy

This is the best tip of all. Having someone else to motivate you to go to the gym and keep you company makes the whole experience shockingly fun and good for your body and mind.

Now that you are more aware of the amazing health benefits that come with getting yourself to the gym and have found the time to go, which location should you choose on campus? That depends on multiple factors, including your experience level and the type of gym setup you prefer. If you are primarily interested in cardio, either Wyant Center or Veale Center are great options. Both have numerous treadmills and other cardio equipment that are separate from the weight rooms. If you are interested in weight lifting, however, there are a few differences between the two. Wyant Center has a considerably smaller weight room than Veale Center, which has three rooms solely dedicated to free weights, squat racks and weight machines. The time that you plan to exercise also dictates which gym is more suitable. Wyant Center tends to be very crowded in the couple hours after classes end, whereas Veale Center is large enough that it doesn’t ever feel quite as busy.

Whichever form of exercise or location you choose, it is so important to stay active in these winter months. I hope this article provides you with some useful information on the benefits of going to the gym and ways to plan your schedule efficiently. I want all of you to share my love for the gym, and I encourage you to at least try it and take advantage of its many benefits.

Take advantage of the two fitness centers on CWRU’s campus this winter Courtesy of the Daily

The bright side of love

Playlist of the week 2/11/22

TJ Disabato Staff Writer

The middle of February is rapidly approaching, and with it come the swirling emotions of desire, romance and rejection. This is all because of the onset of Valentine’s Day, the perfect day to admit your feelings to a special someone and hope it doesn’t tarnish your existing friendship. I know I won’t be doing that this holiday season, but I give my respect to anyone who can muster up the courage to take their relationship to the next level. This is the second week in a row with a Valentine’s Day playlist, but after the more melancholic approach taken last week, I am trying to lift Case Western Reserve University’s collective spirits. I urge you to all get out there and make yourselves available.

College is the perfect time for romance, one-night stands and anything in between. But, before you try to make your move with that special person who you’ve been Zoom crushing on for the past two years, listen to these songs and imagine a happy future with them. I tried to limit myself to twenty songs, and then I went crazy—think of this playlist as an extended dance remix.

“Babies” – Pulp

Telling the story of falling for a friend’s sister, Jarvis Cocker—the founder and previous frontman of Pulp—spies on an older girl along with the boy she brings back with her from college. There is no more direct romantic lyric than “I want to give you children.” Okay, maybe a little too direct.

“Books About UFOs” – Hüsker Dü

If you want to impress your astrology-loving significant other, play them this one. If they love staring at the night sky, naming a new planet after them will be sure to win some brownie points for you.

“Rhinestone Eyes” – Gorillaz

The lyrics of this song are of a materialistic love, so I won’t go into it too much. Gorillaz features a great catalogue of music, and the band’s animated characters look like NFTs, the epitome of modern wastefulness, so there’s that.

“Babooshka” – Kate Bush

Between this and “Hounds of Love,” I had to pick this one because the lyrics tell such a great story. The song features an aging woman writing letters to her husband under the false pretense of being a younger woman named “Babooshka.” I am just hoping Bush gets to perform at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame here in Cleveland one day.

“Rip It Up” – Orange Juice

This one might have fit better on last week’s more somber playlist, but it is too good to pass up. We have all stared longingly at someone we wanted while we were unable to make a move, and this song perfectly matches that situation.

“You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” – Leo Sayer

Disco king Leo Sayer breaks out his falsetto in the best possible way, creating a classic hit that is sure to make any awkward couple bust out some unforgettable dance moves.

“Top Of The World” – The Carpenters

My celebrity Valentine will always be Karen Carpenter. Although many of the duo’s songs come from a sorrowful, more poignant side of romance, this one is just a bubbly, feel-good piece of perfection.

“You Got It” – Roy Orbison

A resurgence late in life saw the iconic lonely lover of the ’60’s return to form the supergroup, the Traveling Wilburys. Again relevant and leaving at a new height of popularity, this solo song perfectly capped off an unforgettable career, spanning from “Oh, Pretty Woman,” to “In Dreams.”

“Rockin’ Back Inside My Heart” – Julee Cruise

Although better known for singing “Falling”—the theme to “Twin Peaks”—Cruise’s debut studio album Floating into the Night also features this dream pop magnum opus. The only thing better than the sense of floating that the lullaby-like lyrics provide is the nastiest saxophone solo you will ever hear found within.

“I Love a Man in Uniform” –Gang of Four

This song provides a satirical view on joining the army to gain credentials with women on the return home. What better way to impress a woman than by joining the British Army during the two-month-long Falklands War?

“Pearl Of The Quarter” – Steely Dan

A band not known to sing about romance, this song focuses on a man’s lusty relationship with a prostitute in New Orleans. Although I could have given this spot on the playlist to their “Josie,” this felt better. The entire “Countdown to Ecstasy” album is a journey, so definitely be sure to check it out in its entirety, as well as every other Steely Dan album.

“Love Rollercoaster” – Ohio Players

Dripping in funk, this song will be sure to kickstart any dance competition this Valentine’s Day. Also, any band representing the greatest state in America deserves a spot on this playlist.

“Get Down Tonight” – KC & the Sunshine Band

A continuation of the dance theme from the last song, this song continues the grooviness provided by Ohio Players. A terribly awkward memory is listening to my Dad sing this song around the house when I was a child.

“Love Shack” – The B-52’s

Despite being far from my favorite song in their catalog, it is definitely the most recognizable. More love-inspired B-52’s songs to check out are “Give Me Back My Man,” and “Song for a Future Generation.”

“Love Will Keep Us Together” –Captain & Tennille

A janky instrumental, we have this classic by the original power couple themselves. My vinyl copy of “Love Will Keep Us Together” may or may not be my favorite record in my small collection.

“Groove Is in the Heart” – DeeeLite

When the romance of the evening is done and you head to the clubs, be sure to request this and watch everyone line up to thank you.

“Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” – Sophie B. Hawkins

One of the first and best love songs about LGBTQIA+ relationships, this one might be my favorite in the entire playlist. Perhaps CWRU could take a piece of advice from the show “Community” and book Hawkins for our next dance a la Greendale.

“There’s Too Much Love” – Belle and Sebastian

Although you might recognize this song from an earlier playlist article I wrote, I feel that it deserves to be praised more than once—you might even see it again.

“This Guy’s In Love With You” –Herb Alpert Isn’t a torchy song proclaiming love sung by a guy named “Herb,” along with his brass band all we want for Valentine’s Day? I know that I sure do.

“Somewhere Only We Know” –Keane

Possibly the most iconic moment in the nearly fifty-year history of “Saturday Night Live” is the appear-

ance of Keane as the musical guest in a 2005 episode hosted by Paris Hilton. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Hilton as the ninth worst host ever, even beating out New York City hero-turned-American laughingstock Rudy Giuliani. Fortunately, the musical guest was the highlight of the night.

“Raspberry Beret” – Prince

Even if this playlist was solely Prince songs, it would still be just as romantic. This is one of my favorite songs in his discography, and it has gotten me through several infatuations in my life.

“Be My Baby” – The Ronettes

Sadly, the Ronettes lead singer Ronnie Spector passed away last month, but her torchy love ballad will always stand the test of time. What she saw in Phil Spector, though, I have no idea.

“God Only Knows” – The Beach Boys

Lastly, we have the greatest love song ever, written by the most celebrated American songwriter of all time, Brian Wilson. You know it’s worth a listen if Paul McCartney himself declared it as “the greatest song ever written.”

Happy Valentine’s Day, CWRU!

So you forgot about Valentine’s Day

Miss Bea Haven’s guide to the holiday of love

Miss Bea Haven Staff Writer

Look, I get it. You’ve got four assignments, three interviews, two rehearsals and an email that you just can’t seem to respond to. Compared to the ever-growing list of things that students have to do on a weekly basis, something like Valentine’s Day can probably seem a little low on the priorities list. Unfortunately for you, our society has created a multi-million dollar industry based solely on commercializing romance. Therefore, once a year, you are on the hunt for all of the roses, chocolates and stuffed bears that your significant other could desire.

But as your residential relationship guru, holidays built on love have a special place in my heart. So this week, I am going to let you in on how you can crush Valentine’s Day and take the ick out of this year’s romantic holiday.

Now, if you are a student, there’s a good chance you prefer an organized list, and I aim to please. I did this by separating Valentine’s Day into three separate categories: gifts, sentimentality and experiences. If this guide were a triangle with all three options up for grabs, I’d say pick two and you should be good to go.

Gifts

As much as we hate to admit it, gifts are the backbone of Valentine’s Day. Not only are presents a great excuse to treat someone you love to something nice, they are also a succinct reminder of exactly how well you know your significant other.

Here lies my first piece of advice for gift-giving––stick to what you know.

I am one of those individuals who would absolutely love a singing telegram from the Case Men’s Glee Club (now available for $5 in the Tinkham Veale University Center). However, I know a ton of people who would be mortified to have someone come and sing to them in class. Your partner’s little quirks are what make the relationship enjoyable, but they are also the key to getting a good present.

If you had more time, I would tell you to take notes about the things that your significant other comments on over the months approaching the holiday. But since you don’t have much time, I would recommend you take a moment and think of all of the things that make up your partner. Do they have a specific ritual that they like to do? Do they have an individual they admire? Do they have a particular style that you can work with?

With a little effort and some thought, these questions can lead you to find the perfect gift. If your partner is a “gym rat”, maybe the latest workout gear or protein recipes are in order. If you know that your partner admires strong women or loves hilarious comics, perhaps you could check out Michelle Obama’s awardwinning book, “Becoming,” or the effortlessly funny autobiography by Trevor Noah, “Born a Crime.” Thinking about the ins and outs of your special person will make you feel closer to them, but will also ensure that your gift is far more than just a monetary representation of your love.

Now, if you’re looking for a mindless present to avoid some of the stress of the holiday, I understand. Sometimes you just can’t think of anything, it happens to the best of gift-givers. For a last-minute resort, there are gifts that are applicable

to just about anyone because they are simply pleasant surprises. For instance, fuzzy blankets, self-care items, snack baskets and hobby supplies are all great presents that will, at the very least, satisfy the basic tenets of the holiday.

Sentimentality

Unfortunately, sentimentality just isn’t something that can be faked. I could tell you all of the details of how to write the perfectly crafted love poem or give you the perfect message for your homemade card, but if your partner knows you at all, you’d be outed as an imposter immediately. Luckily, since I am a sucker for sappy love, I feel no guilt about giving you some ideas on how to make sentimental gifts all your own.

One of my favorite sentimental items is a message jar. It’s cheap, easy and the only requirement is that you can think of a lot of things you love about your partner. Which, if you’re reading this article, you can hopefully do. Basically, you find or decorate a nice container, and fill it with 20 or 30 things that make your partner special. The container is not incredibly important and can be found at thrift stores or the dollar tree for pretty cheap. The true gift is the message. Maybe their smile lights up your day or their butt is the most sculpted thing since Michelangelo made David. Whatever it is that you find so enamoring about your partner, write it down.

Another sappy thing guaranteed to warm even the coldest heart is compilations. Music, photos, videos––we are nostalgic creatures at heart. We love it when people remind us of our most cherished memories. Maybe you make a photo album of all of the pictures you’ve

ever taken together. Or maybe you create a whole set of special songs that make you think of your loved one. Do you know why ’90s mixtapes never truly went out of style and instead transformed into Spotify playlists? Because they are a cute way of chronicling the best of our relationship and showcasing that you are consistently thinking about your partner, even when it might not be apparent. So break out the glue and glitter and get to crafting, writing, mixing and making. I believe in you.

Experiences

Valentine’s Day experiences are probably one of the most difficult things to organize at the last minute, but definitely the most rewarding. Now, your thoughts are probably going straight to dinner reservations––and that’s okay. A romantic dinner is a classic for a reason. But if you truly waited to think of something for the holiday, there is a good chance that most of the reservation places are already booked. You have two options after that––call around for a couple of hours and hope that someone can squeeze in another couple on the most coupled day of the year, or come up with something new.

If your heart is still set on dinner, make a day of it! Go to the market or shopping with a partner and pick out the perfect meal. Maybe the thought of Italian pasta gets you going, or you can’t wait to add a bit of spice with Thai food. Either way, it’s a collaborative project that brings you closer together and fills your tummy. Here, I cannot emphasize enough that you should remember the ambiance! Sometimes it’s not what you make, it’s where you make it. On my freshman year Valentine’s Day, I had a friend come over and borrow every

bit of low-lighting I owned––along with all of my fresh flowers––just so he could impress his new girlfriend. As I straightened his newly pressed tie, I couldn’t help but gush about a man who was truly making the most of what he had available to him, even if what he had available to him was me. If there was ever a time to break out the candles and the Marvin Gaye, it’s now.

Should your interests lie outside of the realm of cuisine, there are plenty of options for cool and unique experiences. If you are a more artinclined couple, I highly recommend either nude drawing or a boudoir photography session. Besides being excellent foreplay for the eventual spicy part of every Valentine’s Day, these fun experiences will remind your partner how beautiful or handsome you find them. If you’re not an art-inclined person, I am a huge fan of day trips for romance. Find an affordable small town Airbnb and find something cute to do together. It doesn’t have to be big. Maybe you both like hiking or antiquing or you just want to explore somewhere new. Remember, sometimes grand gestures can come from the little things.

As a final note, there is a chance that your significant other claims they don’t want to celebrate Valentine’s Day––this is a trap. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend you go all out against your partner’s explicit wishes, but even on a normal day people like feeling appreciated and loved. Offer a sensual back rub or spend a couple extra minutes doting on your significant other. Giving just a little bit more love will ensure that your partner feels special on a day when everyone deserves to feel a bit of love.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day by sharing gifts and memorable experiences with your special someone Courtesy of Wikimedia

Adella: the streaming service for symphonies

Scout Carter Staff Writer

At the beginning of the pandemic many different live performance venues were forced to shut their doors—ensembles largely sank into dormancy, many under threat of collapse. The Cleveland Orchestra was certainly affected by the restrictions put in place by the original social distancing guidelines, forced to keep an eager audience safe. However, rather than sit idly by and wait for crowds to be admitted back into Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra unveiled its new performance streaming app, Adella, in October 2020.

Adella features many different concerts that were filmed in high definition right next to campus at the Cleveland Orchestra’s home, Severance Hall, and a few are even filmed in various locations around the world. The app has a wide range of selections, spanning the many years that the orchestra has been in practice. The first season of their “In Focus” series is available on Adella and is filled with concerts that showcase genres of music. It includes “Magical Musicians,” “Dance and Drama” and “Sonata and Serenade,” which features Grammywinning pianist Mitsuko Uchida. Uchida recorded the recital specifically for Adella in London. The first episode of the second season of “In Focus,” “Aftersilence,” was released on Feb. 4—just in time to be enjoyed by Case Western Reserve University students on our snow day. This concert was arranged to explore the use of stillness and the effect of muted moments in music. “Aftersilence’’ includes the world premiere of “Vers le silence,” a piece written by acclaimed composer Hans Abrahamsen. At the height of the pandemic, it beautifully reflects on the moments of quiet that per-

vaded our lives during lockdown.

Unfortunately, though, the “In Focus” content comes at a price. Some features of Adella require a subscription of either $15 a month or $120 a year—not exactly an accessible price point, especially for college students. However, there are a slew of other shows and movies that are offered for free, including the 38th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert, “Remembrance and Reflection.” It includes selections from Mozart and Weinberg—even a 1977 concert performed by the orchestra in Mexico City for the Beethoven Festival. There is also a large collection of podcasts produced by the Cleveland Or-

chestra titled “On a Personal Note,” in which different members of the ensemble discuss their relationship to music and their story of becoming a musician. Though the price for Adella Premium may not be justifiable, the free shows are an option that is not typically available on other streaming platforms. There are other options for students to use this platform as well. Last semester, the orchestra gifted 500 students with Frequent Fan Cards, a subscription guaranteeing a free ticket each week to qualifying shows from the orchestra, reduced pricing for extra tickets and premium usage of Adella. Although this card can be purchased, the Cleveland Orches-

CWRU Film Society

tra greatly appreciates the patronage of CWRU students and is likely to give out these cards for free again sometime this semester—or at least sell the passes for a reduced price like they have in the past.

Adella is the perfect streaming service for those who want to support the Cleveland Orchestra and its community without braving the low temperatures and big crowds. Although it may not be perfect—a great deal of the concerts are behind a paywall—there is plenty of free content that the CWRU community can enjoy. The orchestra is critically acclaimed, so the selections provided within the service are guaranteed to delight those who choose to listen to them.

Friday, February 11, 2022

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

Rated PG-13 (194 min.)

Cosponsored by Case Amateur Radio Club W8EDU

Saturday, February 12, 2022

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

Rated PG (94 min.)

General Admission $4.00

Strosacker Auditorium, CWRU Campus Quad Free Parking: Lot 44 at Adelbert Rd and Murray Hill FILMS.CWRU.EDU

The Cleveland Orchestra is word class, and now more accessible than ever before, thanks to Adella. Courtesy of Cleveland Orchestra

Tarun’s LOLs

The signs as popular social media accounts

Weekly

Read by Mulan Ma

Four of Swords (Reversed)

Believe it or not, you may be the problem. Look inward to see where you could have done better.

Seven of Cups (Upright)

Be more realistic about your goals for the future. What may be too good to be true will simply not happen in the way you want.

King of Swords (Upright)

You have a strong head on your shoulders. Believe in your authority when facing conflict and you will reign victorious.

Five of Swords (Reversed)

Although you might be hurting, looking from other perspectives about the problem will allow you to find closure faster.

The Hanged Man (Reversed)

Your recents acts of “sacrifice” are stemmed from harmful self-sabatoge. Focus on healing yourself this week. It’ll be worth it in the long run.

Word Search: CWRU Housing Options

Death (Upright)

Although it can be a hard truth to swallow, some things need to be left in the past to make room for whatever is in your present and future.

Ace of Coins (Upright)

Now is a good time for new business ventures. Investments are in your favor.

Three of Wands (Upright)

Keep digging into your creative energies, you will reap fruitful results. Your ideas have a strong foundation to take flight.

The Hermit (Upright)

Sometimes, spending time on the path less traveled reveals a brighter end of the tunnel.

Six of Wands (Upright)

Good news is coming your way. Whether it be a job or a resolved situation, every thing is in your favor.

Two of Cups (Reversed)

Most of your problems could be solved by just communicating how you really feel. Try to see eye-to-eye with those who wronged you.

Knight of Wands (Reversed)

Although you might be avidly chasing a goal or objective, don’t throw everything else in your life away to pursue it.

Sudoku

Very Hard Easy

Crossword

ACROSS

1 Director Almodóvar

6 “Excuse me”

10 Dallas basketball squad, informally

14 French farewell

15 Word sung

twice after “Que”

16 Somewhat

17 Good accessory for the owner of a shedding dog

19 “Raw” facts

20 Blend, as batter

21 Big beer order

22 Popular pie nut

23 Nothing to write home about

27 “r u serious?!”

29 Short snooze

30 What a horseshoe is attached to

31 One who might smoke ganja as a sacrament, informally

33 Director Ander-

son

34 Ibiza, e.g., to a Spaniard

38 Emulated Dr. Frankenstein ... or what you did after you filled in the shaded parts of 17-, 23-, 50- and 61-Across?

42 Sparkling Italian wine

43 Bagel and ___

44 Starting squad

45 Exam with a logical reasoning section: Abbr.

47 Motor oil brand

49 Ask intimate questions, say

50 Move reluctantly

55 Race with a baton

56 Consume

57 Needing directions, say

60 Leave out

61 June celebration

Editorial: CWRU’s upperclassmen housing changes again prove our administration’s indifference

Editorial Board

On Feb. 7, Vice President for Campus Services Richard Jamieson and Vice President for Student Affairs Lou Stark emailed undergraduates about housing changes for upperclassmen in the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year. There they said they “expect that about 17% of interested upperclass students will not be able to live on campus.” This is unacceptable. Case Western Reserve University administration should be committed to providing for and supporting its current student body, yet the university proves again that they do not care for the well-being of its current students. These housing changes are due to the larger incoming Class of 2026. The administration even admits that despite the recent classes being larger than expected, the trend will continue since they wanted to expand enrollment anyway. But what about the current student body? Even though CWRU wants to expand its size, it fails to take into consideration—or rather blatantly ignores—the effect the expansion of the university will have on the lives of its current students. The housing changes illustrate exactly how far the university will go in order to receive more funding for its own benefits. All of this is a clear attempt to burnish its own reputation at the expense of their own students. The line of reasoning being made seems to be clear: an increase in students leads to more professors, more professors lead to conducting more research projects, which ultimately leads to securing more grants. One of President Eric Kaler’s main stated goals has been to build a better apparatus to “extract money from the federal government”

through research funding. This move is just another step towards transitioning us from an educational institution to just being a purely financial endeavor.

Can CWRU truly say they care about their students with their current actions? They are well aware that they don’t have the infrastructure to support admitting more students, yet they continue down this path anyways, making life more difficult for the current classes, as many will be forced to look for off-campus housing unexpectedly.

These upper-class housing changes obviously affect the student body as a whole. However, it is important that we recognize the students who are the most negatively affected: low-income students who heavily or entirely rely on financial aid to pay for their housing. The university increases or decreases financial aid based on students’ housing situation, with financial aid being reduced for commuter and off-campus students.

CWRU recognizes what they are doing is problematic, yet they “cannot alleviate all of [our] concerns.” The follow-up email they sent on Feb. 8 to address the concerns about the upperclassmen housing changes was a weak attempt to address concerns that ended up being even more insulting.

In this email, Stark and Jamieson state that “Each year, our staff members examine rental costs of apartments around campus—excluding those marketed as “luxury” level or beyond walking distance. These prices—based on a two-bedroom with two roommates— are significantly less than on-campus housing; compared to university board charges, dining expenses are still lower. The university’s policy is to meet the

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

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

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

full amount of demonstrated financial need of its students. The smaller financial aid award reflects the decrease in costs for housing and food.” While everyone is affected by this reduction in financial aid if they are forced to live off-campus, low-income students are much less likely to have additional financial resources to support themselves if they were forced to live off-campus due to the impending housing crisis. Not only would these students have to pay additional money to the university in order to cover the reduction in financial aid, but they would also have to pay for rent, food and their usual personal expenses. If a student is already receiving enough aid to mostly or completely cover their on-campus university housing cost, this change in upper-classman housing would create a significant and unprecedented financial burden.

Furthermore, while most off-campus housing is currently cheaper than oncampus options, this will change when more people pursue off-campus housing. Rent prices will go up, making off-campus housing options even more inaccessible for low-income students. Having more students living off-campus will not only increase rent, it will also increase gentrification. CWRU is contained within its own little bubble, and the more that bubble expands into the surrounding communities, the more we displace neighboring populations— which are primarily low-income and BIPOC. These housing changes don’t just affect students, but it affects local communities, creating conditions that will eventually force them out.

In the same email, Jamieson and Stark also mention plans to create a “hardship exception process” for stu-

dents who do not obtain a room by the end of the housing lottery, although they do not explain this concept any further. Will this process actually address the issues that will arise, particularly for low-income students? We can only hope that this plan will effectively provide assistance to them, but based on the university’s obvious indifference, it’s very unlikely that there will be an actual solution. The incredibly vague terminology used in the email leaves us wondering what will be the criteria for hardship, and how much effort they will put into following through with—and publicly updating—this plan; we are not holding our breath.

Students are angry about these recent developments—rightfully so— and the outrage has quickly led to the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) sharing a petition to the student body that calls “for the University to reconsider their plans for housing moving forward.” While well-intentioned, even if the petition gets a large number of signatures, again, it feels unlikely that CWRU will change its mind. After all, they only appear to really care about publicity, money and their reputation.

They “regret that space constraints require that [they] take this step,” as if they don’t have the ability to simply cap the number of admitted students. By focusing on expanding the university and failing to maintain its policy of guaranteed four years of housing, CWRU is not only publicly declaring that they are apathetic towards their students’ welfare, but also that they have no respect towards its local communities.

established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of case western reserve university

executive editor & publisher SHREYAS BANERJEE director of print SARA KHORSHIDI director of digital media HANNAH ALLEN

director of design VINAYAK MATHUR

development editor BEAU BILINOVICH

engagement editor MULAN MA

news editor GRACE JOHNSON

life editor CHRISTIE LANFEAR

opinion editor KARUNA LAKHIANI

sports editor PUNEET BANSAL

social media editor SOPHIA POPKIN

photo editor CHRIS HEERMANN

web editor COLLIN WONG

copy editors JOEY GONZALEZ, RITIKA DEVARAKONDA, JULIA FENG-BAHNS & SHIVANGI NANDA

layout designer TARUN SEPURI business managers NIKKI D’COSTA, PHUONG

Kinstler: Not everyone bakes cake: an explanation of unconscious bias

Ethan Kinstler Staff Writer

Let’s start with a riddle: a father and son get into a car accident, and the dad dies. When the boy is about to have surgery, the surgeon says “I can’t do the surgery because this is my son.” How is this possible?

If you guessed that the boys parents are gay and the surgeon is his other dad, props to you for inclusivity, but the answer is that the mother is the surgeon. However, if you didn’t guess that it was the mother, you’re not alone. Researchers at Boston University found that 78% of participants also failed to say that the surgeon was the boy’s mother; meaning 78% of participants expressed a gender bias.

The experiment above illustrates something that everyone possesses: unconscious bias. We are all products of the media we consume, messages we hear and communities and cultures in which we grew up. Racism is a double-edged sword with both obvious and non-obvious effects. The apparent consequences are suppression and oppression of marginalized groups and outcomes on which I—as a white person—do not have the experience to comment on fully. However, there is also the other side of reinforcing prejudices in society until they become “unconscious biases.”

First, let’s acknowledge that everyone has an evolutionary preference for the familiar; it’s advantageous to stick to what you know

since there is safety and comfort in familiarity. Although, sometimes that familiarity can lead to damaging rhetoric based on centuries of oppression infected throughout all facets of society. We might not even realize this, hence why biases can be implicit, or below our level of conscious awareness.

“But, Ethan, I couldn’t be racist. Some of my best friends are–,” shush. I’m not saying everyone is racist. An unconscious bias is not the same as discrimination and explicit racism. Unconscious biases are internal–immediate thoughts and feelings we have about particular subjects. An implicit bias turns into discrimination when you decide to act on them. For example, if your internal dialogue tells you that all Black people are dangerous—even though you’ve never had a violent interaction with a Black person—and you cross the street whenever you see a group of Black people walking towards you, you have turned your bias from implicit to explicit. Racism is an external affliction, but you can certainly still have racist biases without acting on them.

These harmful stereotypes already exist in society; we consume tainted media, and if our communities are devoid of diversity, we may never see different perspectives, and therefore it’s difficult to challenge harmful narratives. Thus, it is generally impossible to escape the influence of

the environments in which we grew up and live, making it not plausible to live without unconscious bias. However, you can certainly take steps to reduce your unconscious biases’ influence on your behavior.

Imagine it like this: you grow up in a community where everyone bakes cakes; everyone you see on TV bakes cakes, and all you know is baking cake. Then, you move to a different city and suddenly, you’re surrounded by people who bake pies, bread or even don’t even bake at all and instead, choose to grill vegetables and meat. Now, you have two options: you can either continue to only bake cakes and associate with people who bake cakes, or you can try to bake other things—thus broadening your horizons. This is how unconscious biases work and you can make the choice to work towards getting rid of them. You can challenge your implicit biases in a few ways.

First, interact with people who are different from you as much as possible. For example, when YouTube launched the video upload feature for their mobile app, 5%-10% of videos were uploaded upside-down, baffling Google developers. They questioned if its users were simply just shooting their videos upsidedown, but that was not the case. In reality, Google engineers had inadvertently designed the app for righthanded users. They never consid -

ered the fact that phones are usually rotated 180 degrees when held in a user’s left hand, and thus left-handed users were shooting videos “upsidedown.” I’m assuming very few developers at Google at the time were left-handed, but if more developers had been left-handed, this likely would not have been an issue.

Second, heighten your awareness. Once Google developers realized they had designed a feature that only worked for right-handed people, I doubt they forgot this fact. They were probably hyper-aware, checking and double-checking development plans to ensure a feature would work for both right- and left-handed people, not wanting to repeat their mistake. Once you realize that an unconscious bias exists, try to become aware of every situation in which this bias manifests itself. If you are aware of the biases at play, it is far easier to challenge them.

Acknowledging your biases can be a troubling endeavor for some, especially when your biases do not align with your declared beliefs. However, unconscious biases are not set in stone, and it is possible to adopt new attitudes, even subconsciously. This process is not necessarily quick or easy, as challenging implicit biases requires a conscious, constant effort. However, acknowledging that these biases exist is a good place to start making a change.

Jain: Using subtitles will expand your world

Priyanka Jain Staff Writer

While I hope this doesn’t apply to you, many people have this inexplicable aversion to subtitles. Although it might simply be a sliver of dialogue at the bottom of a screen, people build it up to be a large obstruction like the grandiose doors of a palace. At one point, I also had a pessimistic attitude towards subtitles; I thought it would impede my enjoyment of a movie or show. Why read a movie when you can read a book?

While these apprehensions are understandable, they are unnecessary. Once you decide to walk through the ostensibly daunting barrier of subtitles, you will be awestruck by the treasure trove of foreign entertainment that surpasses its American counterpart.

My endeavor to overcome the fear of subtitles began when I started watching Japanese anime. I only gravitated to English-dubbed shows because I believed reading subtitles would be mentally taxing. Through this line of thinking, I was robbing myself of many of the worthwhile anime and captivating plotlines that Japanese entertainment offered. Thus, once I steeled myself to

watch subtitled shows and movies, I gained a new appreciation for this new genre. Rather than watching Hollywood shows and movies, I found myself gravitating towards entertainment from other parts of the world: Japanese anime, Korean dramas and Chinese dramas. While it initially took some adjusting to adapt to the pace of subtitles, after some exposure, reading subtitles became second nature. One moment I would read the flitting dialogue and next, the words would vanish before my eyes leaving me utterly immersed in the plots and characters. From then on, new paths unfolded, and I found myself walking an exciting and unfamiliar journey. Every time I discovered a new form of entertainment from a different part of the world, it felt as if I had stumbled upon a shiny gold coin—marveling at the new insights it offered. I had the opportunity to watch many fascinating Japanese anime like the romantic comedy, “Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku,” or the heartrending coming-of-age movie “A Silent Voice.” Following that, I discovered Korean entertainment and became hooked by the re -

freshing storylines, the stylish and emotive characters and the stellar soundtracks. Along with the insanely popular “Squid Game,” I was enamored with K-Dramas, like the poignant romantic comedy “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” or the comic medical drama “Hospital Playlist.”

From using subtitles, I not only had the opportunity to experiment with foreign entertainment, but I also learned to admire other languages and even picked up new phrases and words. Up until this point, I have watched countless Korean dramas, and I am not exaggerating when I say I can understand much of the dialogue and certainly speak many words and phrases. You begin to appreciate the cadence of different languages, and the tonality that foreign dialogue adds to the characters and their story—an aspect you certainly miss when viewing English dubs. Watching subtitled entertainment is a strategic way of learning a new language in a captivating format; it is a great tool for anyone who wants to extend their knowledge and visit other countries.

Most importantly, from utilizing subtitles, I found myself becoming

more of a worldly person. Watching numerous foreign shows and movies, I learned more about cultures apart from my own Indian heritage and grew to respect their distinct practices. For example, from the Korean dramas I watched, I retained much knowledge about their normative customs: how they conduct funerals, the traditional food they eat and how they address elders. Additionally, once you begin watching foreign entertainment, you won’t want to stop there: you will find excitement in listening to foreign music, whether it be catchy K-pop songs or cheerful anime soundtracks, and even crave their cultural cuisine.

As such, I cannot urge you enough to cross over to the other side, the side beyond the fear of subtitles— the side that is more vivid, more hopeful and new. From embracing the use of subtitles, I found a deeper, unforgettable appreciation for the world, the different backgrounds of the people on our planet and the unique perspectives that each one has. Using subtitles certainly expanded my world, and I know it will do the same for you.

Jain: How to gain and retain motivation

Nikhita Jain Staff Writer

We are humans, not robots. We cannot always perform flawlessly and tirelessly for days on end (well at least most of us). We are prone to ups and downs. One day we may feel super productive and inspired, while another day, we may feel unmotivated and burnt out. Maintaining consistent motivation and dedication every day requires constant willpower, which can be difficult, especially amidst the challenging academics and competitive environment we as college students continually face. It is natural to encounter times when you are just not feeling it. However, it can interfere with our productivity and ability to accomplish our objectives. So how can we regain our motivation and preserve it? I have compiled a list of techniques to demonstrate how.

Personal Reflection

Firstly, you can take some time for personal reflection to remind yourself of the reasons you are pursuing this particular path. Oftentimes, our goal is so far into the future that we forget about it or lose sight of it. Thus it is important to periodically jog our memory of our goals by asking ourselves questions like “why

am I doing this?”, “what do I want to achieve?” or “will this bring me closer to my goals?”. Doing this will help to reset your mind and reverse feelings of low incentive.

External Rewards

If intrinsic motivation is not enough, you can also create some external motivators over the short or medium term, such as little rewards or gifts to yourself for completing a specific task or daily goal. For example, if you complete all your tasks for a certain day you can perhaps relax with a movie or give yourself the next day off.

Be around people who can inspire and influence you

Another simple way to manifest motivation is by surrounding yourself with go-getters. For instance, you can sit next to that person in class and befriend them, or find a mentor who can help you and keep you motivated. When we see other people taking action and living to their full potential, we are often encouraged to do the same. Additionally, you can read books or watch documentaries about someone you look up to and whose goals align with yours.

Get rid of the negative selftalk

A lack of motivation can also stem from self-doubt and a lack of belief in oneself. Hence, you can adopt practices aimed to help you better believe in yourself and your capabilities. One such practice is letting go of any doubtful and negative thoughts and cultivating positive and uplifting thoughts instead. This can be connected to the Law of Attraction, which is essentially the philosophy that whatever you think is what you will attract. Therefore, in thinking positive thoughts, you will attract positive outcomes and experiences. Inversely, you can remove feelings and thoughts doubts through actions. In other words, if you have doubts about doing something, just do it. This will disprove the doubtful thoughts and thus eliminate them.

Follow the Five-Minute Rule

Less motivation usually gives way to less productivity and procrastination. To counteract that and reignite your work drive, you can follow the “five-minute rule.” This method essentially urges you to work on your task for only five minutes, with the intention to stop working on the task after the five minutes ends. How -

ever, what ends up happening is you become capable of finishing the task since you overcome the activation energy needed to start the assignment, making you work beyond the five-minute increment. This strategy will help keep you on track despite how you may be feeling on a certain day.

Create SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)

Most likely, you already learned this technique from your navigator during your first year. Nonetheless, I wanted to still include it for those who perhaps forgot about it. Normally when we have large goals, we instinctively become intimidated and overwhelmed, which crushes our motivation. Thus, you can break it down into smaller and manageable goals. This will aid in making your larger goal seem less daunting, allowing you to reestablish hope and determination.

These aren’t the only techniques or methods to improve your motivation and productivity, but hopefully, they inspire you to pursue regaining motivation within your life.

Vetter: Gandalf is right about the death penalty

Milo Vetter Staff Writer

Although the death penalty is gradually becoming less prevalent in the United States, it remains legal in 27 states, where some will defend it fiercely. And even in states where capital punishment has been abolished for decades, there persists the sentiment that maybe it should be brought back. However, the conversation about the death penalty is misguided, and I’d like to explain why and outline my position with the help of an unusual source.

Now, people who support the death penalty offer several pragmatic arguments in favor of it. Among the most pervasive are: it deters crime, it is cheaper than life imprisonment, it provides closure to families of victims and finally, executions of innocent people are rare. Unfortunately for death penalty advocates, the evidence is not in their favor. To address some of these points briefly, the deterrent effect is essentially non-existent, and a death sentence is much more expensive than life imprisonment. Moreover, families rarely feel the kind of clo -

sure you’d expect, and executions of innocent people happen more often than people might think.

While I could have spent much longer on these arguments (and that conversation is certainly worth having), I believe that they mask the real debate over the death penalty. Discussions about the death penalty quickly hit a wall of emotion. Stories about those who commit heinous crimes and are ultimately sentenced to death are harrowing and horrifying; they cause an immediate and visceral desire to banish the cause of the horrors permanently. Most people believe that some people deserve to die, and a mechanism to facilitate that can be genuinely comforting.

However, I disagree with this argument. Why? Well, for all of you

“Lord of the Rings” fans out there, here’s an exchange between Frodo and Gandalf in “The Fellowship of the Ring” that I found particularly insightful when I was reading it earlier:

“‘Do you mean to say that you, and the Elves, have let him [Gol -

lum] live on after all those horrible deeds? Now at any rate he is as bad as an Orc, and just an enemy. He deserves death.’

‘Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.’”

Gandalf’s assertion is true in two ways—firstly, in the factual sense: even something as wise as a wellfunded justice system cannot see all ends. Even if the results of a case seem indisputable, mistakes can still be made (for a particularly famous example, look up the case of Carlos DeLuna). Even though there is a rigorous checking process in each capital punishment case—which is part of the reason why the process is costly—it can still go wrong.

But more importantly, the phrase “cannot see all ends” has a second meaning—namely, that real good can come from sparing the life of someone thought to be beyond help (even

if they actually are beyond help). I’m sorry to spoil the ending of the “Lord of the Rings” for those who haven’t experienced it yet (you’re missing out), but in the end, Gollum inadvertently helps destroy the ring despite remaining a wretched creature. Imagine what would have happened if Gandalf had decided to kill Gollum!

To apply this to the real world, Gandalf’s counsel aligns closely with a policy of rehabilitation. Instead of viewing the law as a means of punishment, we can use it as a tool to improve the worst people in our society. I won’t pretend that everyone can be rehabilitated. Some, like Gollum, are beyond help. But I find it cowardly that we would collectively give up on them. Remember that life imprisonment costs the state less than the application of the death penalty. Isn’t “we should try to help everyone” much more comforting than “some people deserve to die”? Well, I certainly think that Gandalf would like that quite a bit more.

Men’s basketball splits road games against familiar faces from previous weekend

Gaurav Hardikar Staff Writer

The Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team entered last weekend ready for a road trip, with games against the University of Chicago Maroons and the Washington University in St. Louis Bears. These two teams were on a quest for vengeance, as they had both fallen victim to the Spartans in Cleveland the weekend before. The Maroons were blown out 84-66 and the Bears lost a nail-biter 75-70, but while the Maroons came up short yet again this past Friday, the Bears snapped the Spartans’ four-game win streak in the Sunday game.

Fresh off a home victory over the Bears, the Spartans made their way to Chicago to hand the Maroons a season sweep with a 93-77 beatdown. While CWRU found success earlier in the season by spreading the scoring efforts around, this win featured a trio of heavy lifters combining for 71 points. Thirdyear forward Cole Frilling scored 27, graduate guard Mitch Prendergast scored 26 and fourth-year guard Robert Faller scored 18 while the remaining Spartans each finished in the single digits.

The first half was neck and neck, with each team scoring 43 points. While UChicago capitalized off an early turnover to knock down the first bucket of the game, Frilling scored twice to put the Spartans up 4-3. The Maroons answered with a layup, but CWRU quickly went on an 8-0 run to go up 12-5. A Maroon 3-pointer momentarily stopped the bleeding, but Prendergast answered with a 3-pointer of his own. UChicago nailed another 3-point shot before calling a timeout, but the Spartans took advantage of the quick breather and immediately scored 5 points.

The Maroons played a bit of catch-up, but it seemed as though the game was slipping out of their fingers. Every time they closed the gap to within 4 points, the Spartans would come right back to open

the gap right back up. Frilling nailed a 3-pointer with less than 6 minutes remaining in the first half to put CWRU up by 10, but the Maroons suddenly went into overdrive and outscored their opponents 16-6 to close out the half with a tie.

Unfortunately for the home team, these scoring spurts were ultimately unsustainable against the dominating Spartans. UChicago opened the half with a layup, but CWRU quickly poured in 7 straight points to go up 50-45. The two teams traded shots for a while, and with just under 10 minutes to go, the Spartans were fiercely clinging onto a 3-point lead. Frilling and Faller swiftly gave their team plenty of breathing room, as both sank 3-point shots and Frilling knocked down a pair of free throws.

Now down 73-62 with just over 8 minutes to play, desperation crept in for the Maroons. They were able to trim their deficit by 6 before Prendergast made a layup and CWRU called a timeout. The Spartans held unwavering command over UChicago to close out the game, outscoring the home team 14-5. Fourthyear forward Ryan Newton made a pair of free throws, Faller scored 4 straight and Prendergast scored 8 straight to seal the 93-77 victory.

CWRU outperformed the Maroons in every category except for bench points, offensive rebounds and turnovers. Most notably, the Spartans dominated in points off turnovers (24-5), points in the paint (44-24) and fastbreak points (17-2). On top of his game-high 27 points, Frilling impressed with 10 rebounds while graduate guard Griffin Kornaker did a bit of everything, recording 8 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists and a remarkable 6 steals.

The Spartans traveled to St. Louis, looking to extend their win streak in a Sunday rematch with the Bears. Unfortunately, it seemed they had emptied the tank against UChicago, as CWRU was

ultimately handed a 76-68 defeat.

WashU quickly got out in front, as a 5-2 lead ballooned into a 14-6 lead. The teams traded free throws, but a powerful Bears dunk plunged the Spartans into an early 10-point hole. In hopes that a quick timeout would give them a chance to gather themselves, the Spartans got back out there to prove they weren’t going down so easily.

At first their efforts seemed to be to no avail, as the Bears answered them shot for shot. However, free throws made by Prendergast were followed by a muchneeded 3-pointer from Newton, and the WashU lead was quickly halved. The Bears scored 4 straight, but the Spartans doubled down and tied the game up with a 9-0 run, capped off by a Kornaker 3-point shot.

WashU went up by 3, and again Kornaker nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game 30-30. Second-year guard Luke Thorburn made a 3-pointer of his own, and CWRU suddenly found themselves in front. The Bears managed to close the gap a bit as the half wound down, but the Spartans impressively fought their way out of a bind to lead 37-36 going into the second.

Undoubtedly annoyed about throwing away an early lead, WashU scored 6 unanswered points to take a 5-point lead early in the second half. Newton gave the Spartans some life with a layup, but a WashU 3-pointer began to bury the visitors even deeper. A few baskets later, Prendergast made a jump shot and Newton drilled a 3-pointer to put CWRU within 1. Unfortunately, the Bears had an answer and then some for each Spartan bucket. After they worked their lead back up to 6, Newton continued to be a thorn in their side from 3-point range.

The game ebbed and flowed, with the Bears’ lead hovering around 6-7 points through most of the second half. However, as yet another WashU brought their

NFL Pro Bowl disappoints yet again

This year’s Pro Bowl, like every other Pro Bowl, was quite mediocre. Despite having the league’s brightest stars playing, minimal interest or passion could be found. For the NFL, holding this year’s Pro Bowl in Las Vegas was the “saving grace” of an otherwise unexciting affair, according to Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. If the NFL continues to host these annual games players don’t take seriously, then there is no reason that the Pro Bowl should continue to be played. Having the best players across the NFL play each other, divided between their two conferences, the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC), should make for one of the most exciting games of football in the season. Unfortunately this is not the case. There must be other ways for the NFL to properly honor and recognize the talents of the season’s best players while simultaneously making an impact on the com-

munity and raising money for charity.

As a part of the entire Pro Bowl week and celebrations, the NFL also hosts other events such as the fun skills competition that, while almost laughable, is also more oriented towards television viewers. Some of these events are made to generate more general interest for American football for casual fans. Over the years, the Pro Bowl quality has deteriorated, due in part to the fact that the players do not wish to run the risk of getting injured in such a lowstakes game that does not count towards any team records. As such, there is no reason for the fans to pay so much money to see them in person or invest three hours of their lives into such an effortless game.

There’s not much to talk about when it comes to the actual gameplay of the Pro Bowl. There were a lot of interceptions in the first half of the game, with both teams scoring a relatively high number of points. The AFC team

took the lead in the first half and hung on until the end. As far as awards go, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was named the offensive MVP, while the Las Vegas Raiders’ pass rusher Maxx Crosby won the defensive MVP award.

It becomes evident that the Pro Bowl isn’t very important or memorable when there isn’t much to say about the entire game. The NFL keeps trying to advertise the game like it is on par with the Super Bowl, when in reality it is the most irrelevant football weekend of the year. Even former NFL legend Deion Sanders was incredibly dissatisfied on Twitter with the competitiveness of the Pro Bowl. He referred to his own playing days when the athletes used the game to prove that they were truly worthy of the distinction and the title of being a Pro Bowler.

The best solution for the NFL is to either greatly incentivize the Pro Bowl game, be it with extra money for char-

lead back up to 10 with 6:35 remaining, the Spartans continued to search for an answer. After nearly a minute and a half without scoring, Frilling made a layup. Time was not on the Spartans’ side, and after nearly another two minutes of no scoring, the Bears nullified Frilling’s layup with a pair of free throws.

Less than 3 minutes were left, and the Spartans finally found some momentum. Kornaker drained two free throws, Newton made a layup and Prendergast hit a clutch 3-point shot to put CWRU within three. Unfortunately, they had to resort to the foul game to prevent the Bears from running out the clock, gifting the home team plenty of free throws en route to the win. The Bears’ victory saw CWRU fall to 16-3 on the season while WashU improved to 15-3.

Newton shouldered the load with a team-high 15 points off the bench on 6-of-11 shooting. Prendergast scored 13 while Kornaker and graduate forward Brian Hines each scored 10, but these combined efforts were simply not enough to outlast WashU. The Bears’ found their key to success mainly through scoring efficiency, as they made just 1 more field goal on 10 fewer attempts and 1 less 3-pointer on 13 fewer attempts.

With 5 conference games left to close out the Spartans’ schedule, the race to the top of the UAA conference standings is in a dead heat. Emory currently sits atop the conference with an 8-1 conference record and 15-4 overall record, while CWRU and WashU are tied for second. Both teams have a 16-3 overall record but fall behind Emory due to their 6-2 conference records.

Fortunately for the Spartans, the Bears host the Emory Eagles this Friday in a high-stakes battle for the top spot while CWRU will host New York University (8th in the UAA) on Feb. 11 and Brandeis University (6th in the UAA) on Feb. 13.

ity or an extra bonus to get the players antsy to be competitive on the field. Or maybe they should scrap the entire concept of the Pro Bowl and come up with better ideas to display the league’s talent while increasing philanthropic efforts. Looking from a viewership standpoint, the NFL Pro Bowl peaked in 2011 with 13.4 million viewers, only to drop 6 years later in 2017 to a mere 7.4 million viewers. The incentives for the winners currently sit at an extra $80,000, but with large-multi milliondollar contracts for most players, the prize money wouldn’t mean much. Therefore, increasing the incentive to an attractive number could make players more competitive.

The NFL is only getting more and more popular as new, young stars make it to the league, but the Pro Bowl is holding the NFL back from keeping each weekend of the season more interesting than the last.

Akhil Medarametla Staff Writer