The Observer, Volume LIII, Issue 23, 3/25/22

Physical Resource Center moves to Carlton Commons

locations Committee. The PRC is also attempting to get a bus to stop at the top of the hill in order to help with the commute time, though this effort has yet to succeed. In addition the PRC is facing a shortage of volunteers to run the center, adding to difficulties.

“We are currently working on extending outreach to more service-based orgs on campus to recruit more volunteers. I think both the fewer volunteers and persons trafficking the store is due to a combination of transitioning to inperson classes and the move to Carlton [Commons],” said Hari.

As of now, the PRC’s new location seems to be a permanent one unless a more favorable option opens up in the future. With the possibility of new resident halls being built in the SRV, more students may be inclined to visit the store in the future.

CWRU students are encouraged to take advantage of the Physical Resource Center at its new location in Carlton Commons. Matthew Chang/The Observer

Matthew Chang Staff Writer

The Physical Resource Center (PRC), a student-run initiative that offers free resources for students, faculty and staff of Case Western Reserve University has recently moved from their previous location in Uptown, near Mitchell’s Ice Cream, to Carlton Commons in the South Residential Village (SRV).

Established in fall 2020, the PRC aims to create a culture of sustainability by providing the CWRU community with free resources such as clothing, kitchen appliances, school supplies and food.

In September 2021, the PRC was notified by CWRU that it had to relocate imminently. The property that the PRC previously resided on was owned by CWRU, and the university decided to relocate its Barnes and Noble location to the building that was occupied by the PRC and the former ABC the Tavern location. With only two weeks of notice prior to the relocation date, the board of the PRC decided that it would move to Carlton Commons in the SRV because it was the only space available on campus where they would not have to pay rent.

“This came as a shock for everyone

at the store,” said third-year biology student Ananya Hari, chair of the PRC. “Due to the late notice, the admin offered to pay for a moving company. The new location does come with challenges since it is a less-trafficked spot on campus and we have seen a decrease in the number of students using it.”

Despite the lower turnout and the less favorable location, the PRC has been working on strategies to improve their circumstances. So far, the Student Affairs office, headed by Vice President Lou Stark, has helped to pay for a washer and dryer installation in Carlton Commons, along with the SEC Al-

The PRC operates on Mondays and Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. To get involved with the PRC, you can donate items during their ResCycle drives, or by dropping off items during store hours. One can also use the store and its offerings; a major goal of the PRC is to remove the stigma that the store is only for those in need, as a major facet of the PRC’s mission is sustainability. As such, the PRC hopes that people pursue their collection and try to reuse supplies before buying new ones.

It is also possible to volunteer at the store. If you are interested in visiting the PRC, more information can be found on CampusGroups. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact one of the project managers, Grace Yepez-Connors (gxy91@case.edu) or James Xiang Long Dai (jxd601@case. edu).

All of Us Research Program arrives at CWRU

Luke Koski Staff Writer

Earlier this semester, a new research initiative arrived on campus: the All of Us Research Program. The incentive was created by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in coordination with the American College Health Association (ACHA) and is present at a number of other universities throughout the country. Case Western Reserve University’s public health manager, Clara Rivera, worked with student engagement ambassadors fourth-year Jamie Muth and second-year Luke Koski to bring the research program to CWRU in January. Since its arrival on campus, a number of students have expressed interest in participating in this exciting program.

All of Us boasts an ambitious goal of recruiting over one million participants, which now includes students and campus community members here at CWRU. Participants are invited to offer health data to create one of the largest databases of health information in history. Individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences are welcome to join and share as much or as little health data as they wish.

When the program was being developed, researchers found that one of the most underrepresented demographics in many health databases in the United States was college-age individuals. Thus, a major community of interest is

university students.

When asked about her experience bringing this exciting new opportunity to CWRU’s campus as a Student Engagement Ambassador, Muth explained, “[The whole process] has been

really fulfilling, since a lot of fellow students have mentioned their concern that the healthcare industry does not see them as a complete individual. This program considers a lot of important data that is not usually seen as neces-

sary to healthcare, like someone’s living conditions or socioeconomic status.”

The database will be used to further efforts to make healthcare a more individualized industry, especially for communities who have been previously underserved and marginalized by the medical field. Unlike research projects which focus on one disease or group of people, All of Us is building a diverse database that can inform thousands of studies on a variety of health conditions. This will help healthcare practitioners better understand how risk factors, preventative measures, treatments and wellness initiatives can better serve diverse communities. Data from participants will be kept completely confidential and stored in secure servers to avoid potential data leaks.

Any CWRU students or other members of the campus community are encouraged to join the program as participants by scanning the QR code included below, or by accessing https://www.joinallofus.org/students. The All of Us CWRU team hopes to work with as many participants as possible in order to ensure our vibrant campus community is well represented in the dataset. Participants will also receive a gift card and a free genomic dataset, similar to 23andme!

Students or other community members interested in contributing to the All of Us Research Program can visit their website at joinallofus.org to share their health information. Courtesy of NIH

A peek into Climate Action Week at CWRU

for Climate Change effort, CWRUCAN has created an outlet and platform for students who care about climate change mitigation. The purpose of CWRUCAN is to have a permanent body on campus that is actively programming and planning as a climate action group, making it distinct from temporary student clubs.

Thus, the First Annual Climate Action Week was born.

“[Climate Action Week] is an attempt to showcase all of the amazing things people are doing on campus when it comes to climate and sustainability, in order to mobilize those actions both on campus and in the broader community. We are presenting it as the first annual climate action week so we hope to have it go in the future. Basically to get people motivated about the climate,” said one organizer of the event, Matthew Hodgetts, a political science professor here at CWRU.

just that. Starting on Friday, March 18 with keynote speaker Sonia Aggarwal, Senior Advisor on Climate Policy and Innovation at the White House and ending on Friday, March 25 with volunteering opportunities with MedWish available and fun crafts in partnership with the LGBTQ Center having a sustainable theme. Each day within the week had a different topic of conversation relating to climate change mitigation.

With speakers, panels, tabling in Tinkham Veale University Center, fun crafts, volunteering opportunities and other activities, Climate Action Week was a phenomenal opportunity for those who weren’t quite sure about how to get involved in climate action on campus, with an upfront and comfortable setting.

Sustainability and climate change are incredibly important topics for students, faculty and staff here at Case Western Reserve University. With that combined interest, various student organizations, such as CWRU’s chapter of the Sunrise Movement and the Student Sustainability Council have come together to bring awareness to climate change and how

we, as students, can become involved in mitigating this threat.

The Climate Action Network, or CWRUCAN, is another program here at CWRU whose goal is to bring campus sustainability efforts forward through student-faculty-staff collaboration. Founded in 2020 as one Seed of the Office of the Provost’s funded Culture Change

He said further, “The goals [of Climate Action Week] are basically to start conversations, to highlight what people are doing, to show ways or emphasize ways to get students involved in these organizations, generating ideas, momentum. As an institution, we have so many people working on these things but we haven’t had a place to work on them together.”

And Climate Action Week has done

CWRU Film Society

Reflecting on this week of climate action and sustainability, Hodgetts stated, “The hope is that students come away from this inspired to go out there, join clubs, start initiatives, take classes, ask questions; this is a very real issue and we ought to be mobilizing around it as a campus community. This is a way to showcase how to get involved. Get informed, get involved, make some noise.”

For further information about how to get involved with student groups centered around climate change efforts at CWRU and its surrounding areas, visit the Climate Action Network website.

Friday, March 25, 2022

7:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:59 p.m.

Training Day (2001)

Rated R (122 min.)

Director: Antoine Fuqua

With Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn

A former Los Angeles security guard named Jake Hoyt has applied for an LAPD position as a Narcotics officer. However, in order to be accepted, he must go through 24 hours of training from a veteran Narcotics officer: Alonzo Harris, who has a nasty reputation for not treating victims very well, abusing suspects, mishandling evidence, and opening fire randomly. Jake must watch his own back with Alonzo on this “Training Day”.

Saturday, March 26, 2022 4:00 p.m.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Rated R (126 min.)

Director: Walter Salles

With Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mía Maestro Cosponsored by Amistad “Diarios de Motocicleta” is based on the journals of Che Guevara, leader of the Cuban Revolution. In his memoirs, Guevara recounts adventures he and best friend Alberto Granado had while crossing South America by motorcycle in the early 1950s.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

7:00 p.m. Part I, 9:00 p.m.Part II

How to Train Your Dragon 1 and 2 (2010-2014)

Rated PG (98, 102 min.)

Directors: Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders

With the voices of America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Jay Baruchel

“A hapless young Viking named Hiccup who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon named Toothless and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed. Then, when Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. Enjoy both features for just $6 ($3 for children)!”

General Admission $4.00

Strosacker Auditorium, CWRU Campus Quad Free Parking: Lot 44 at Adelbet Rd and Murray Hill

FILMS.CWRU.EDU

Sonia Aggarwal, the Senior Advisor on Climate Policy and Innovation at the White House, kicked off CWRU’s Climate Action Week last Friday. Courtesy of EnergyInnovation.org

Grace Johnson News Editor

Best study spots on campus

As we enter the second half of the spring semester, many of us are beginning to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of schoolwork being assigned to us. Even as the weather improves, our motivation for keeping up with our classes is quickly diminishing. But sometimes, it helps to change our old habits—as well as study spaces—and seek out new environments. From the peace and quiet of the Kelvin Smith Library (KSL) stacks to the comfortable din of Tinkham Veale University Center, Case Western Reserve University’s campus has plenty of great study spots—you just have to know where they are. So, to help in your journey to getting an A on that seemingly unfinishable essay or studying for the midterm that involves way too many flashcards, we have compiled a list of the best places for you to get in the zone.

Kelvin Smith Library

The main library on campus, KSL, contains various study spaces that can cater to every student’s optimal learning environment. On the second and third floors, you can find a quiet space to sit down and focus without having to worry about distractions; the first floor and Cramelot Café encourage light discussion and collaboration. For group work, students can use the tables on each floor or reserve a collaboration room. And those looking for a little more privacy may use the personal cubicles on the main floor, which provide a quiet and confined space to do work.

Allen Memorial Medical Library

Known to students as the location of many undergraduate courses in the sciences and engineering disciplines, the Allen Memorial Medical Library houses Ford Auditorium, the Dittrick Medical History Center, nine floors of books and numerous study spots in the upstairs library. The natural light provided by the large windows facing Euclid Ave., the spacious desks and the large chandeliers provide the library with a cozy yet studious ambiance that is perfect for studying. While you’re there, you can also feel free to check out some books on a variety of topics such as debates in bioethics and the history of plastic surgery.

Leutner and Fribley Commons

While the high foot-traffic may make these spots seem distracting, both Leutner and Fribley have potential to be great study spaces—provided you have headphones. In Leutner, the room surrounded by windows is frequently empty and the seating that faces the wall provides ample space for laying out study materials. And in Fribley, the renovated seating upstairs is close enough to the main dining area that you can fill up on snacks, but is a far enough distance from the noise that you can get some peace and quiet when you start working. Some rooms even have whiteboards, which is an added bonus.

The Coffee House at University Circle Coffee shops are a classic study space, and The Coffee House at University Circle on Northside is no exception. Offering a spread of delicious dessert and drink options, The Coffee House is a wonderful place to have a light, tasty snack and also be a space to focus and get work done. Unlike conventional coffee shops, The Coffee House offers designated study spaces on the second floor, in addition to seating on the main floor and outside.

These outside seats become even more appealing as the weather warms up, so make sure to think about snagging a spot, sipping a coffee and snacking on a pastry as you study.

Peter B. Lewis Building (PBL)

In addition to being the hub for CWRU business students, PBL is a well-frequented study area. However, many people don’t venture further than the lounge area at the entrance. While this area is a nice place to study—due to the lighting provided by the large windows and coffee shop located right next to it—it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to PBL’s potential as a study space. Specifically, located above the main floor is PBL’s student center. Rarely populated, the first floor of the area has comfy chairs, a TV and a central coffee table. Go up the stairs and you can find a quieter area, with cloistered desks and a secluded study space. This isn’t even mentioning the basement level and other places in PBL, where there’s always a chair, a table and quiet space waiting for you.

Thwing Center

A more casual study space, Thwing caters to students who enjoy a more lively work environment. Students are free to take advantage of the tables and couches in the atrium, including the slightly more isolated seating on the side that faces KSL, which serves as a great place to focus. Additionally, private seating on the second and third floors are ideal places for collaboration or studying alone. In between long

study sessions, students can even grab food from The Jolly Scholar or try their hand at some board games, provided at the front desk.

Nord Hall and the Sears Library Building

Home to the Einstein Bros. Bagels and many STEM classes, Nord holds various classrooms and open spaces that may be used to study. In the atrium, scattered tables make it great for group study sessions, while sitting on the upper levels or in classrooms are ideal for students wanting privacy. Similarly, the main lobby in Sears, located near Grab-It, is a comfortable spot to collaborate, and the second floor has even more couches and tables to get work done. Overall, both these spaces are especially great for if you have time between classes and would like to stay on the Case Quad.

Tinkham Veale University Center

Almost always a crowded center on campus, Tink features a variety of unique study spots. Large tables on the first floor are perfect for collaboration and the seating near the food booths is both great to study and to grab a bite. On the second floor, there are more secluded areas closer to the rear entrance of Tink, and on the opposite side, private armchairs that face the circle in front of KSL. In warmer weather, students often use the picnic benches facing Freiberger Field to catch up on schoolwork while also getting some much-appreciated sunlight.

The benches on the quad may seem like mediocre study spaces, but they are actually great for springtime studying. They allow you to remain connected to the bustling nature of the quad, while still being distanced enough that noise is not a huge distraction. Even better, they’re probably close enough to your classes that you can just leave your lecture, sit down, take in some fresh air and then get to work.

Located in the heart of the North Residential Village, the Pioneer Room inside Wade Commons is a favorite among NRV residents. Offering a large collaboration space with a table and couch seating, the Pioneer Room is both an easy-access and comfortable space for students. In addition, its proximity to Leutner means students can easily take breaks to eat before getting back to work.

We hope this guide will provide you with the motivation to seek out new study spots on campus that might make handling the chaos of classes a little less daunting. Consider taking advantage of the spring weather by alternating between indoor and outdoor spaces. Or, simply explore all of them at once like some study-spot charcuterie board until you find the one that sticks. Whatever you decide, hopefully finding that perfect location will help you get through the last few weeks of the semester.

Happy studying!

PBL offers comfortable study spots for students with a variety of different learning styles. Courtesy of Steven Litt/ The Plain Dealer

Benches on the Case Quad

Wade Pioneer Room

Shivangi Nanda Copy Editor Noah Henriques Contributing Writer

Rex Orange County’s new album “WHO CARES?” is simple but amazing

upbeat reminder to continue seeking what you want, despite the stress and exhaustion it may take. I will admit, the first time I listened to this song, the optimistic and supportive “keep it up!”s that leaked through the lyrics were difficult to listen to. But something about the constant reassurance throughout the song that “it’s enough,” along with the calm, simple way O’Connor recognizes our frustration with the world is comforting. Since so many moods of songs are either depressing or positive, O’Connor’s take is a refreshing way to create a compromise with our resentment towards the world’s failings and the encouragement to still pursue our passions.

each song are all too real and hit close to home. My personal favorite on the album, “ONE IN A MILLION,” describes how rare and kind O’Connor’s lover is, something to which he feels cannot compare to due to his past mistakes. Nevertheless, there is consolation in doing “whatever it takes to believe / That I’m enough and hope you agree.” O’Connor accepts that he may not be as perfect or good of a person as his lover, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to be enough, from taking a “who cares?” approach to overcoming an ugly past.

“WHO CARES?” attempts to answer its titular question, but becomes repetitive. Courtesy of Spotify

Shejuti Wahed Staff Writer

These days, it’s difficult to run into a Case Western Reserve University student who isn’t going through an existential crisis. It appears that having a cynical perspective on modern romance and questioning my “purpose” in the world is not that original of a dilemma, and is rather a part of the universal college experience. It’s basically a rite of passage here. For those of us who struggle with crumbling self-esteem and have a sense of hopelessness about the state of this world, Rex Orange County delivers a paradoxically jaded but cheerful answer to the world—who cares?

Alex O’Connor, better known as Rex Orange County, recently released the effortlessly relatable album “WHO CARES?”, which follows the inevitable highs and lows of life, self-worth and romance. Although O’Connor graciously commented that the title was open to interpretation, it seems like a direct response to the negativity, stress and self-doubt touched upon in the album. Rather than centering on the adversity without any resolution or adopting a falsely optimistic outlook, O’Connor offers a difficult balance— who cares about the haters and detractors when you can chase your dreams?

The first track, “KEEP IT UP,” is an

“OPEN A WINDOW” is the next track, a mix of pop and R&B featuring Tyler, The Creator. The song centers around the desperation of needing to leave a toxic situation that O’Connor feels trapped in. Despite this, he remains positive that there exists “a way to get out,” hopeful that someone might come around to open a metaphorical door or window to provide an escape. Tyler’s distinctive flow mixes effortlessly with the R&B sensibilities, making it one of my favorite songs on the album.

The following few songs deal with the struggles of moving forward and accepting oneself. In “WORTH IT,” O’Connor wonders if anything’s “worth it anymore” after grieving the end of an important relationship. “AMAZING” reveals O’Connor’s love for another accompanied by melodic strings, but the relationship is troubled by his shame and anxiety over not meeting his lover’s expectations. Ironically, most of these songs have upbeat instrumentals and even simple lyrics, but the worries and fears that Rex addresses in

The ultimate karaoke playlist

Christie Lanfear Life Editor

Let’s be real for a second: anyone who says they don’t love karaoke is lying. Who doesn’t enjoy singing their hearts out to their favorite songs? Whether you have the voice of an angel or can’t sing to save your life, it is such a fun thing to do with your friends on a night out.

But, there are some crucial elements that must come together in order to make the night a success. I am talking about the elephant in the room: the songs themselves. A successful performance requires songs that are classic, well known and easy to sing. That way, your friends can step up and join you. As I experienced, choosing good tunes is harder than you would think. Well, lucky for you, below is a list of songs that are sure to fill your night with debut performances and uncovering of superstars. It contains some fast-paced hype songs as well as some slower ones to allow everyone to take a quick rest.

“Party in the U.S.A.” - Miley Cyrus

It would be sad not to begin with this one. Everyone knows it and it is sure to start off your night of singing with a bang.

“Love Story” - Taylor Swift

Another classic. This is the perfect song to sing with your friends and imagine yourself running though the field of grass like Swift did in her music video.

“Stayin’ Alive” - Bee Gees

There is no worse crime than not putting this one on here. With its steady rhythm and famous lyrics, it guarantees a good time.

“Famous” - Kanye West

Any Kanye fan would demand this song to be included. With the background chorus and the mixture of rap and vocals,

it has something that everyone can have a go at. And with snippets from Rihanna, this song could not get any better. When my friends and I sang it, we had each of us doing a different part to create a rather impressive rendition. I think Kanye would be impressed.

“Firework” - Katy Perry

None of us can deny that this song featured in a bedroom mirror concert performance when you were younger. Even if a couple of your friends don’t have the lyrics memorized, the amazing buildup at the beginning and disco-like beat brings out everyone’s best dance moves.

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” - Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson

Alright, you’re probably out of breath by the time you’ve jammed out to the songs before this one. But don’t worry, this awesome duo is here to give you a slightly slower classic. Despite being released way before our time, this song still reigns supreme and is one of my personal favorites.

“Sweet Caroline” - Neil Diamond

I have a slight bias with this one. As well as being a ‘banger,’ going viral on TikTok and featuring at every school dance ever, this song has a special place in my heart as one of my best friend’s name is Caroline. Even if you don’t have a friend to serenade with this song, it’s so fun to get all your friends screaming the chorus of the famous “ba, ba, ba”.

“Dark Horse” - Katy Perry

The bass in Dark Horse is enough to get it on here. This is the time to shock your friends and unleash your freaky dance moves.

Unfortunately, the second half of the album was not particularly memorable to me. Each of the songs still touched upon the heavily relatable topics of questioning self-worth and feeling stuck, but none of them particularly stood out. Individually, each song was a nice listen, but the message seemed a bit repetitive overall, especially all in a row. “IF YOU WANT IT” recounts the obsessive worrying and needing to prove himself that damages a relationship, while “7AM” questions “what if I’m not cut out for this?”, which are both common themes throughout the album. Overall, the songs are each well-done, but their similarity causes them to lose depth and uniqueness.

So, my final thoughts on “WHO CARES?” I would consider the project amazing, but perhaps not terribly unique. Each song gives you just enough to feel motivated, but the message is not particularly profound or metaphorical. But maybe it doesn’t need to be. If you just need a bit of affirmation after a rough day or a happy little pop tune to help you forget your self-esteem’s dependence on academic validation, giving the album a listen would definitely be “worth it.”

Playlist of the week 3/25/22

“Take Me Home, Country Roads”John Denver, Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert

The chorus to this Denver classic is so nostalgic and always brings me back to those warm summer days driving with the windows rolled down on a wide open road. It will allow you and your friends to take a second, catch your breath and reflect on your happy memories.

“24K Magic” - Bruno Mars

I bet you were worried I had forgotten. Arguably the best song of the epic 2016 album, “24K Magic” is a masterpiece of ‘80s funk meets modern recording technology.

“She Will Be Loved” - Maroon 5

This playlist would not be complete without some Maroon 5. Despite peaking in the early 2010s, the songs this band left behind are not going anywhere. “She Will Be Loved” in particular is a beautiful concoction of perfectly written lyrics and flawless musical accompaniment.

“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”Kelly Clarkson

Whether you are getting over someone, going through a tough time or just love feeling the lyrics, this song is arguably the showpiece of Clarkson’s career. Covers and spin-offs have been made, but nothing compares to the 2012 original.

“Uptown Funk” - Mark Ronson (feat. Bruno Mars)

I was asking one of my friends what they thought of this playlist so far and I am ashamed to say I almost forgot to include “Uptown Funk”. Similarly to “Famous,” this song has the perfect number of parts and background sounds for all of your

friends to join in. Even if someone just does the “hot damn” part they are guaranteed a good time.

“Stronger” - Kanye West

I bet I would have a hard time finding someone who didn’t know the opening five seconds of this song. The vibe is just so good and it will definitely leave everyone in a cheerful mood.

“Payphone” - Maroon 5 (feat. Wiz Khalifa)

Showcasing and recognizing heartbreak and ache, this is an anthem for anyone who is done with love songs and is in desperate need of an outlet. As said in the song, “all those fairytales are full of…,” well you know what.

“Ocean Eyes” - Billie Eilish

You’re all exhausted. You’ve been dancing and singing your hearts out to all the amazing songs on this list. Now, you need a song to end the night on a high and get your heart rates back down to normal. Eilish has a special place in my heart as I have been a fan of hers since before she sprinted to fame. “Ocean Eyes” was her first song, and it is the perfect emotional song to end off an amazing night.

Alright. You’ve got the playlist, and you’re hyped. Now all you have to do is gather your friends and unleash your inner singer. Even if you have your doubts about karaoke, I promise you won’t be disappointed. Let the music bring you to life!

Word Search: Thwing Events

The signs as Iconic 90’s Films

Weekly Tarot

Page of Cups (Upright)

Good news will come your way, and a new friend will bring the message.

Page of Swords (Reversed)

You will find some of your spontaneous decisions may be fun to make but devastating in the grand scheme of things.

Queen of Coins (Reversed)

Right now is not a good time to go online shopping or splurging. Keep your money, a better investment will come in the future.

10 of Coins (Upright)

All your investments will reward you.

6 of Coins (Reversed)

Now is a good time to treat yourself. Obligations can wait.

9 of Coins (Reversed)

Although you might think the grind never stops, there’s always a chance you hit a wall. Take a break, you may be driving yourself crazy.

5 of Cups (Reversed)

There is a setback you weren’t expecting right now. Sometimes, things just happen. Accept it and move on.

Knight of Coins (Upright)

You will meet someone who will make you want to work harder and bring some friendly competition. Keep them around, they will change you for the better.

Judgement (Upright)

A legal matter or situation will be justly resolved. Whether or not it benefits you, just know the end result is of utmost fairness.

2 of Coins (Reversed)

You got too many things going on right now. Drop that class or club or obligation, it will be a burden off your shoulders.

Wheel of Fortune (Reversed)

Bad luck is going to come your way by accident. It be like this sometimes.

The Lovers (Upright)

Communication is open and vulnerable right now with someone important to you. Take this opportunity to tell them how you feel.

Crossword by Kurtus Mastandrea

ACROSS

1 Truck with no railings

5 Pennies, nickels and dimes

8 Wee boy

9 Bird who wants a cracker

10 “_ and Sciences”

12 Behind closed doors

14 Pleasant smell

15 Prizes of Olympic champs

17 Small peninsula

18 Luxury car brand, with Romeo

20 Wright who built

23 Tobe

24 South American bread; can be corn or wheat

27 _ of Rights

28 Follower of one of the world’s oldest religions

29 Frizzy Black hairstyle: slang

30 Making sense

31 To administer

DOWN

1 Most famous work of 20-Across

2 To sum

3 First of many Christian rites

4 After Gamma in the Greek alphabet

5 Deceivingly shy

6 Hebrew prophet; foretold the coming of Je

7 People who write books

11 Toy that reflects an array of shapes and co

13 Blonde who hosts a first-name talk show

16 “Limp Bizkit” frontman

19 Not doing alright in achievement

21 Relaxation, comfort

22 Cursive type font

25 “The Beatles” drummer

26 Not rights, but _

28 Rogue AI in “2001: A Space Odyssey”

EDITORIAL

Editorial: Dear CWRU Class of 2026

Editorial Board

Last week, on March 19, Case Western Reserve University admitted its Class of 2026. Prospective students have yet to make a decision on whether or not they will accept their spot, and it is quite a decision to make. Since all of us on the Editorial Board are students at CWRU, let this editorial serve as an insight into what life is like at this university to the Class of 2026— the good and the bad.

First, because this is a STEMfocused university, it is likely that many of you will be STEM majors. This means that you will have access to an in-depth curriculum and expansive resources for those programs. Nursing students can actively practice their skills alongside nurses in their first year, while prehealth students can find opportunities for volunteering and research through the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals—both of which are within walking distance from most places on campus. Research and hands-on experience are easily accessible for all STEM majors—from computer science to astronomy. Additionally, engineering students may take advantage of equipment at the Sears think[box], a seven-story building that provides access to a wood shop, metal shop and 3D printers. On top of this, STEM classes have in-depth supplemental instruction programs and many options for tutoring. Such copious resources are, unfortunately, not as available for those not in STEM programs.

If you are a humanities or social science major, hearing this might dissuade you from choosing CWRU. However, there are some

advantages to being a non-STEM major here, namely the classes and the professors. Class sizes are incredibly small, meaning that most professors will know your name and it’s easier to get to know and form relationships with professors. Most humanities and social science professors truly love what they teach, and they truly care about their students as well. Often, non-STEM majors have dedicated advisors that form relationships with all of their students. They make considerable efforts to reach out to students for events and opportunities throughout the semesters. On the other hand, these departments don’t receive enough support from CWRU and therefore don’t have the same amount of resources available to students in STEM. In general, the humanities are ignored by the university and not as well respected by many of the students who go here. Humanities and social science majors are often looked down upon by STEM majors at several institutions, and it’s no different at CWRU—there is no denying that we are a STEM-focused institution.

While there are definite advantages and disadvantages to different majors and departments at CWRU, the university’s administration makes being a student here difficult at times. The sheer number of editorials detailing the faults and shortcomings of our administration should be enough to demonstrate that CWRU seems not to care about its students as people, but rather as vehicles for innovation and publicity—especially with the recent change in leadership. Yes, we have several opportunities for research, projects and more, but CWRU doesn’t support these en -

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deavors because they are passionate about it; they support them because it brings in more money and fame to the university.

Although a majority of students are STEM majors, they don’t all act or sound the same. We have a diverse student body with diverse backgrounds and interests, showcased by a variety of organizations on campus. It can be said with any university that you can find “your people” and that your mindset is what matters the most when it comes to making the most out of college. While that is true to some extent, it can be different for minorities, particularly people of color (POC) and LGBTQ+ students. For POC and LGBTQ+ students it may be harder to find your community and a safe space on campus. Encouragingly, however, the current administration seems dedicated to diversifying the student body and building more spaces for minorities to gather, thanks to the efforts of groups like the Undergraduate Diversity Collaborative (UDC) and the For a Better CWRU taskforce. While there are issues, our student body creates a generally accepting and supportive environment—even if it is slightly competitive, especially within academics. However, as cliché as it may sound, there really is a club or community for everyone. You will find your people here.

But while there are a variety of activities and organizations at CWRU, it is easy to be too caught up in your own bubble. There isn’t much collective community spirit or general pride for CWRU—as a whole, campus engagement is low. It is rare to be a “proud Spartan,” and there doesn’t

seem to be a collective campus culture to be a part of While there are organizations and groups that work to remedy this, such as Student Activities and Leadership, you won’t find typical college culture here—and the corporate, vocational vibe of the university doesn’t help. The fact that most places close at 9 p.m. makes for a lackluster nightlife. However, CWRU is in one of the nation’s best arts districts, with the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Cleveland Orchestra all within a mile of each other. While the city of Cleveland gets a bad rap, there is plenty to fall in love with here if you give it a chance, with diverse neighborhoods and lively attractions. You just have to look for the hidden gems.

All universities, including CWRU, have their pros and cons, and we hope we’ve explained some of the merits and the drawbacks of being an undergraduate here for our future class. While this editorial isn’t necessarily to persuade or discourage you to enroll here, it should be noted that most of us have found our place and community here at CWRU, with none of us regretting the decision to come here. We criticize CWRU because we all care for it and are passionate about making this place the best it can be. So grab an issue of our paper if you visit our campus and maybe even consider joining us in the fall if you do decide to come here. The Observer is always here as your guide to the university and as a platform for student voices.

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 NATHAN LESCH, RITIKA DEVARAKONDA, JULIA FENG-BAHNS & SHIVANGI NANDA layout designer TARUN SEPURI business managers NIKKI D’COSTA, PHUONG NGUYEN

the observer

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

Kuntzman: We need a better Safe Ride system

Caroline Kuntzman Staff Writer

Over the course of this semester, I’ve started using Safe Ride far more than I have previously. On paper, it is a very good service. They are very easily identifiable, meaning it’s virtually impossible for a Safe Ride to be mistaken for another vehicle or vice versa. The app model makes it easy and efficient to use while requiring a Case Western Reserve University login to access the Safe Ride system helps ensure that only students use it. Safe Ride offers students an alternative to walking across campus—or to non-university locations near campus—after dark. This makes it a more holistic service, especially in light of growing safety concerns about areas near campus such as Little Italy.

However, while the purpose of Safe Ride is necessary, the current execution and efficiency has some issues. An immediately noticeable aspect of those issues is the unpredictability of the safe ride routes. During a ride, where the Safe Ride picked me up at Northside and my destination was near South-

side, my Safe Ride stopped to pick up another student in Little Italy. The vehicle then drove back past Northside— which I will note was farther than I was originally was picked up from—to drop them off before going towards my drop-off location. It’s completely reasonable for Safe Rides to pick up additional students between stops; I also consider there to be no inherent problem with dropping students out of the order in which they were picked up, as long as it is efficient from a time and travel logistics standpoint. However, I take issue with the fact that the vehicle I was in went in the wrong direction for my destination to drop off somebody picked up after me. While it is possible that Safe Ride factored in wait time considerations that I did not have access to, I would have preferred for the Safe Ride to pick me up later instead of having me spend unnecessary time in the vehicle.

A second issue I’ve noticed is that arrival times can be very unpredictable. I acknowledge that Safe Ride is

a very busy system, especially over the weekend. Drivers’ routes can and should recalculate as students submit ride requests to ensure that the system is working efficiently. With that being said, I do wish that the system better communicated adjusted ETAs for both initial pickup and drop-off with students. This past week, I had a situation where I was concerned that my Safe Ride had arrived and left without notifying me. Based on the original ETA I was given, I expected it would have arrived by that time; yet, when I checked the GPS tracking, I saw what appeared to be the Safe Ride driving away from my address that it was previously approaching. I became very concerned and frustrated, since I received no notification that my Safe Ride arrived, so I considered it unreasonable for the Safe Ride to leave or drive past my pickup spot without notifying me. I ultimately did get picked up, which I appreciated; however, because I didn’t know what was happening with my Safe Ride, I was concerned about whether I would

be able to get to my destination. CWRU should evaluate how Safe Ride can better inform students whether their driver’s arrival is delayed or about other route peculiarities that could concern students.

Safe Rides are a very important student service that should continue to be used by the community. With that being said, the lack of transparency about passengers’ ETAs and illogical routes can make for an unsatisfying user experience. CWRU should work to have the Safe Ride system better communicate with students what they can expect from their route. This should include time components, as this will help students adjust their plans as needed, as well as ensuring the current route calculating system is working appropriately. Creating a better Safe Ride system might encourage more students to use Safe Ride and help better accomplish its purpose of keeping students safe at night.

Agarwal: The case for permanent daylight saving time

Aambar Agarwal Staff Writer

A few weeks ago, on March 15, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which aims to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent in 2023. While many Americans, myself included, rejoiced at the news, some were unhappy—namely scientists and parents. However, the benefits of DST considerably outweigh the temporary drawbacks.

Our whole lives revolve around the sun. When the sun comes up, we go about our daily activities, and once the sun goes down, we prepare for sleep. Our bodies physically respond to changes in sunlight, with the light regulating neurotransmitters such as melatonin and serotonin, along with other processes as day turns to night and night becomes day.

We have evolved to spend most of our waking hours in sunlight, and thus people naturally prefer to have more light during the day and darkness only when they sleep. Hence, DST appeals to this preference by allowing for less daylight in the mornings—when many of us are still sleeping—and more in

the afternoons and evenings—when we are still going about our day.

However, every November, we switch our clocks back to standard time, adding an hour of sunlight to our mornings. And since it’s winter, sunlight is especially rare; our evenings are awfully short, with the sun setting around 5 p.m. in Cleveland for much of the season. Coupled with Cleveland’s staple gloomy weather, it is quite easy to fall victim to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

As its name applies, SAD is a form of depression that recurs seasonally and plagues approximately 5% of U.S. adults. The most common form is winter-onset SAD, which typically begins in late fall and goes away during the sunnier days of spring—after we spring forward. Its cause, while disrupting the circadian rhythm, is directly tied to the decreased sunlight that we experience in the winter. This disruption can lead to drops in serotonin, which affects our mood, and variable levels of melatonin, which regulates our sleep patterns and mood.

Thus, implementing DST year-

round could be critical for those with SAD or even just the winter blues; the increased sunlight during normal waking hours could help adjust their levels of serotonin and melatonin, lifting everyone’s moods.

On the other hand, some scientists are proponents of permanent standard time. Solely based on data collected in the first two weeks after springing forward, some scientists assert that DST is bad for our health and throws off our circadian rhythms. But no prominent studies have focused on the prolonged effect of DST on the human body; additionally, none have studied health trends in the middle or end of DST after our bodies might have adjusted to the new time. In short, these scientists do not have any long-standing evidence backing their argument; they only have evidence against switching between standard time and DST every year. We can only conclude the health risks after researching the long-term effects of DST; right now all we know is that the switch back and forth is terrible for us all.

Likewise, parents do not want to

switch over to permanent DST due to early school start times. With the sun rising as late as 9 a.m. on DST during winter in Cleveland and schools starting as early as 7:30 a.m. in many places, children and adolescents’ circadian rhythms would undoubtedly be thrown off. However, there is an easy fix to this situation: pushing back school start times. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long emphasized the need to push them back to at least 8:30 a.m. to give kids the sleep they require for development, so instating later start times should be a no-brainer for school boards, especially if the Sunshine Protection Act becomes law.

Once the House of Representatives and President Biden approve the Sunshine Protection Act, we can finally say farewell to switching our clocks backand-forth and dreary winter evenings. Until then, there are still over 200 days of DST to enjoy before we switch back to standard time—hopefully, for the last time.

Horwitz: Sonia Aggarwal’s empty words

Avi Horwitz Staff Writer

Last Friday, Case Western Reserve University welcomed Sonia Aggarwal, President Biden’s Senior Adviser on Climate Policy and Innovation, as the keynote speaker for Climate Action Week. I’m not going to lie—I did not go in with high hopes, as Aggarwal was representing an administration that has failed to deliver on the climate mandate it promised, which Aggarwal has even acknowledged.

Aggarwal tried to portray the administration as one that has gained back its legitimacy as a leader on climate action on the world stage due to re-entering the Paris Climate Accords and passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Paris Climate Accords are the same non-binding global agreements that exempt militaries from emission limits—the United States Military is one, if not the single biggest polluter globally. Despite some positive provisions, the infrastructure bill will barely lower emissions and does not even come

close to making any meaningful progress towards decarbonization.

The Build Back Better Act could have been the beginning of making meaningful climate investments. That effort is all but dead, killed by conservative Democrats in Congress who were aided and abetted by Biden’s priority of cutting deals with Republicans over fighting the climate crisis. Biden does not seem to have much interest in restarting negotiations either.

Still, President Biden could act without Congress simply by picking up a pen any day now. The Build Back Fossil Free Coalition has laid out a sweeping set of executive actions the president could make immediately. The president could declare a “climate emergency” and use the Defense Production Act to scale up the use of renewable energy rapidly. He could instruct the Army Corp of Engineers to cancel Line 3 and the Mountain Valley Pipeline permits. These are just a

couple of the many options still at his disposal that the coalition has outlined.

Instead, the Biden administration has overseen the sale of 80 million acres of land in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling leases, marking the single largest auction of its kind in U.S. history. Initially, the administration had attempted to quell outrage over the announced sale by claiming it was legally obligated to hold it. However, a memo written by the Justice Department in August made clear that this claim was false. Fortunately, a federal judge canceled the sale, citing that the administration had not considered the climate impacts of such a sale. Additionally, during his first year in office, Biden’s Department of the Interior approved more drilling permits than Trump did in his.

In short, the remarks made by Aggarwal at CWRU were essentially a glorified live reading of the White House website—which was unsurpris-

ing and avoidable. Last week’s keynote could have been an opportunity to hear from an Indigenous water protector on the front lines of the struggle to stop the Line 3 Tar Sands pipeline, or any of the other folks who’ve been on the front lines fighting for climate action as well as climate justice. Organizers in Chicago successfully pressured the Chicago Department of Public Health into canceling the permit for a scrap recycling plant that would have further polluted affected impoverished communities. Rise St. James, a grassroots organization that works for environmental justice, has been opposing the construction of a new Formosa Plastics Plan in St. James Parish, Louisiana. For next year, the good news is that there remains no shortage of those fighting for environmental justice. They are the ones who can truly provide valuable perspectives on actual climate action.

Eettickal: If you win, you still lose: The gamification of stress

Enya Eettickal Staff Writer

The gamification of suffering and stress dominated my high school years. I was so proud of sleeping for only three hours or eating only one meal a day. Why? I can’t even remember anymore. But what I do remember is that everyone around me was just as invested as me in the competition that pervaded our culture. We were all in so deep that we never realized how destructive and pointless the competition was.

But hindsight is 20/20, and I now understand that was a terrible decision. Over the years, I did my best to change my mindset and to stop myself from making my struggles a competition. But coming to Case Western Reserve University and seeing some of my peers compete to have the most stress at an even greater level led me to reflect on why we gamify suffering and how we can reframe our mindsets so we can stop.

It may be difficult for those of you who have never competed in this subconscious stress competition to understand why anyone would willingly participate. So to understand why, it’s important to understand what gamification is and how it works. Gamification takes day-to-day activities and adds game elements to them, such as score-keeping and competition, to encourage participation. It’s often used as a business strategy and is also applied in educational settings. While gamification in business and classroom settings is not inherently problematic, issues arise when individuals in said settings start to gamify their own personal lives.

The biggest thing that stands out to me about games is that they are not meant to be serious. Even when they have high stakes, true games

are partially divorced from reality, and the outcome generally does not have irreversible consequences on the individual’s well-being. If you were devastated by the outcome of the Super Bowl, you could still go to class the next day. Even some of the players could wake up the next morning and continue being rich and famous—regardless of how they played the day before. Their whole careers are dedicated to playing a game, but there is still a level of separation between their personal lives and their careers as athletes.

At least, that’s how I believe games should be. When activities with no monetary reward are gamified and become all-consuming of a person’s life, they cross into dangerous territory. You shouldn’t make your personal life into a game. When that boundary is blurred, the weight of an individual’s health, time, worth and identity risk becoming trivialized. The blurring of said boundary is exactly what drives people to gamify stress. People compete in academics and extracurricular activities that are often inherently tied to stress, which allows for that stress to be pulled into the game of competition.

I propose three main reasons that people gamify their stress. The first one is for validation. Specifically, in environments like CWRU, where many students take full course loads and participate in many activities at once, the feeling of inadequacy is difficult to avoid (speaking from personal experience). There are just so many accomplished people here that it becomes painful to compare and try to compete. So in highly competitive or rigorous environments,

making a game out of stress levels may allow a student to feel like they are as worthy as their classmates in their search for validity. The issue with this outlook is that it correlates stress with success. People inadvertently glorify stress and willingly seek it out. When multiple people start to seek out stressors and boast about the pressure they’re going through, competition may proliferate among their peers to the point that the collective stress of the group outweighs the success that is supposed to result from it. The energy put in is no longer proportional to the outcome, rendering the stress fruitless. While the feeling of validation is comforting, validation through stress levels can ultimately be damaging.

People may also gamify stress as a coping mechanism. Stress is an inevitable part of daily work life, and gamifying it may make it more digestible. The issue here lies in normalizing high stress levels rather than trying to proactively manage and prevent stress in more healthy manners.

But the last reason people may make stress a competition is attention. Some people may use self-destructive behaviors to put the spotlight on themselves, and I find this to be the most dangerous reason to gamify stress. What makes this more dangerous is that individuals who make stress a game for attention are often aware of how destructive their behaviors are to their own well-being and how concerning it may be to those around them. Yet they elect to continue pursuing and vocalizing their struggles in performative ways. When the people around them remind them to sleep, eat or take care

of themselves after pointing out that they’ve been failing to do so, their resistance to help and lack of desire to change their behavior can be alarming. High stress can have severe consequences, so using it to gain attention minimizes its weight. Gamifying stress for attention can distort the importance ascribed to stress, making it harder for people who don’t have a choice but to undergo stress.

The only way to remedy the gamification of stress is to distinguish between participating in stressful games and making stress the game. Instead of praising or reacting intensely to our peers’ stress when they may be provoking us to compete, we should try to reframe our minds to focus on resolving stress. That being said, stress can only be made a game when many people are trying to play, so trying to stop when the pressure of your peers goads you hard can be hard. But even acknowledging that you are engaging in competitive stress can help you leave the game.

If I could go back and talk to high-school Enya, I would tell her that it’s not a flex to not take care of your diet and sleep schedule. Understandably, the gamification of stress is a reflection of the community I grew up in. But getting out of that mindset and space was important for me. I knew that there was no way I’d ever be the one to get the least amount of sleep or go the longest without eating— I’d lose in that regard very quickly. But even if I were to win? That’d still be a loss for me as a person. The only way to win is to end the game entirely.

Jacqueline Castillo

Radwan: Amid this inflation, consider saving your own budget

The financial burdens for low and middle-income families have been amplified by blows from the pandemic and the ensuing increasing inflation. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices increased by 7% and energy prices rose 27% compared to last year. Today, students here at Case Western Reserve University are being affected by the current situation, especially those who drive to campus, buy groceries or buy school supplies.

Furthermore, the current inflation impacts college tuition fees. Some institutions are raising tuition fees in response to higher living costs as well as their staff’s demand for higher wages and benefits. According to NBC News, several institutions have announced tuition fee increases as high as 4.7% for the next academic year. CWRU itself is raising tuition by 5%, citing the recent surge in inflation as the main factor behind the decision.

While some college business officers are expecting inevitable tuition increases, some college officials are trying to prevent this from happening. For example, David Jewell, the Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Financial Officer at Cleveland State University, expressed his concerns about tuition increases. This is because postsecondary enrollment across the nation has

declined by nearly half a million since the pandemic began, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Thus, increasing tuition fees will likely worsen college enrollment decline over the next few years.

Even if tuition fees don’t increase exorbitantly, the rising costs of food and energy will lead to more expensive student meal plans and accommodation fees, for instance. This is expected for any college administration since they will have to cover increased operating costs.

As a student, you have no control over the rising tuition fees, making your pursuit of a degree even more difficult. College students are already stressed out with their coursework; additional financial worries add fuel to the fire. However, making a few plans and changing some habits can make your budget look better amid this bout of inflation.

Track your Expenses

While it may seem difficult to frequently track your expenses, it is an important first step in financial management. You should list all your monthly costs: rent, utilities, gasoline, groceries, entertainment and other personal expenses. Categorizing your spending will help you see your spending patterns, allowing you to separate essential and non-

essential items in your list. Doing so will let you decide where you can cut back.

Prepare Meals at Home

You can save money by preparing meals at home. For example, I have seen some of my peers cooking all of their meals for the week on Sundays. Another way to cut outside costs is by making your coffee or your smoothies at home. If you track your past expenses and add up the money you’ve spent on purchasing fast food or lattes, you’d probably be shocked at the monthly total.

Use Coupons Regularly

Over the long term, using coupons regularly can save you a great deal of money, especially since most grocery stores offer discounted or onsale items if you look out for them. Before shopping, visit Groupon or Rakuten for any coupons, rebates or deals. If you continue to use coupons and play your cards (or coupons) right, you will find that you could save up to 50% of your grocery’s monthly budget.

Shop Off-Season

Around popular holidays or events, people become tempted to shop and buy gifts for their families and friends. However shopping during seasonal holidays can cost more

money than planned—especially when the item is highly in-demand and thus more expensive. Hence, it would be a good idea to take advantage of bargains if you want to purchase something during off-season times. For instance, you can buy summer clothes during the winter or vice versa.

Exercise Outdoors

If you were a frequent gym-goer during the winter months, and all you did was some cardio workouts, then perhaps you don’t need to continue with your monthly gym membership during the spring and summer months. If you live in a walkable community such as CWRU, you may want to walk, run or ride a bike outdoors—this costs you nothing. Not only will you save some money, but you will also get fresh air, improve your mood and get some vitamin D from the sun.

The current increase in inflation is definitely beginning to put a strain on our budgets, and it will probably get worse before it gets better. Coping with this requires us to track our spending habits, to look for cheaper alternatives and to figure out ways to make savings a routine. This should help us worry less about potential financial burdens and stay focused on our academic and personal goals.

Aziz Radwan Staff Writer

Inflation is on the rise, impacting students at CWRU. Proper budgeting and thrifty shopping may be key to getting out of this quagmire. Courtesy of Kelly Sikkema

Three Spartans shine at NCAA DIII Swimming & Diving Championships

Chuang concluded his events with the 200-yard breaststroke, wherein he placed 18th among 35 athletes after finishing the distance in 2:01.91. The time was the third-fastest in program history and Chuang’s season best. James Hamilton of Emory University won the event with a finals time of 1:55.83.

Halsdorfer rounded out the Spartans’ competitions in the 1650-yard freestyle. She completed the distance in 17:27.53, placing 24th out of 32 athletes. She had qualified for the event at the Magnus Cup with a 17:14.97 time and was seeded 21st then. Kristin Cornish of Johns Hopkins University won the championship with a time of 16:33.24.

“It’s a really cool opportunity and I’m … happy I … have the chance to say that I was able to go [to the DIII meet] at some point in my college career,” reflected Halsdorfer. “That’s kind of like, the top of the top level that you can get to.”

The CWRU women’s team earned 12 points, finishing 31st overall for the best CWRU finish since 2014. The men’s team did not score.

Puneet Bansal Sports Editor

From March 16-19, three Spartans on the swimming and diving teams represented Case Western Reserve University at the 2022 NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. First-year Abigail Wilkov competed in the diving events while thirdyear Abby Halsdorfer and second-year Ethan Chuang competed in the swimming events.

In an interview with the CWRU Athletic Department, Wilkov said, “I’m really excited. This is definitely a unique experience, and it’s really cool to be able to dive at the national level for D3, and I’m excited to just show what I’ve got.”

Chuang talked about the changes from the last season due to the pandemic and how they affected the team’s approach: “I really didn’t know what to expect coming into the season… [It had] been a while since I’d gotten the chance to race, but I think I really surprised myself to say the least. I’m really excited with how the team did … and it wouldn’t have been possible to be where I am without the guys around me, girls around me to push me to where I am … I’m just happy to be here and be able to have gotten this far.”

Head Coach Doug Milliken discussed how successful this season has been: “Having three athletes qualify for the NCAA championships is spectacular … Having … a male swimmer, a female swimmer [and] a female diver [and] having both swimming and diving represented there is not easy to do … Only 17 programs in the country are represented by both male and female swimmers and then diving as well … It’s nice to see for our program that we’re able to kind of bring a full package … so I’m really excited about it. “

On the first day of the tournament, Halsdorfer and Chuang got right to work at the Indiana University Natatorium. In the 500-yard freestyle, Halsdorfer notched a time of 5:03.76 to take 37th place in a field of 54 athletes. Originally, Halsdorfer had qualified for the event with a 5:01.45 time at the 2022 UAA Championships and was thus seeded 33rd. Taryn Wisner of Denison University won the championship with a finals time of 4:48.55.

Chuang, meanwhile, competed in the 200-yard individual medley. He finished with a time of 1:53.02, coming in 47th in a field of 50 swimmers. Chuang qualified for the event at the Magnus Cup earlier this year where he tallied a 1:52.72 finish. Garrett Clasen of the University of Chicago took first place with a finals time of 1:46.19.

Halsdorfer opened the second day of competition in the 200-yard freestyle. She finished 47th among 59 athletes after completing the distance in 1:54.75. She had originally qualified for the event with the 44th seed after swimming 1:54.49 at the Magnus Cup.

Claire Brennan of Tufts University took the championship with a finals time of 1:48.46.

Wilkov made her NCAA debut on day two for the one-meter dive. She earned a score of 347.60, placing 24th out of 29 athletes. Wilkov had qualified for the event at the NCAA Diving Zone Regional meet with a score of 405.40, coming in fourth place then. Elizabeth Cron of UChicago was named the winner with a finals score of 487.40.

Only Chuang competed on the competition’s third day. He battled in a pool of 34 athletes in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 22nd place after swimming a time of 55.40. At the Midwest Invitational, Chuang qualified for the NCAA meet with a time of 54.74, setting the school record then.

Luke Rodarte of California Lutheran University came away with the championship after marking a finals time of 52.71.

All three Spartans competed on the final day of the tournament. Wilkov led the way with a seventh-place finish and a finals score of 434.75 in the three-meter dive. She had originally posted 440.65 for sixth place in the preliminary round among 29 athletes.

Ava Lowell of Ithaca College earned first place with a finals score of 486.45.

With this stellar finish, Wilkov earned First Team All-America honors, becoming the first CWRU women’s diver to earn All-America honors and the first ever CWRU diver to earn the First Team honors. This is the first time since Maggie Dillione in 2014 that a CWRU athlete on the women’s swimming and diving team has earned First

The Emory University’s men’s team (427.5) and the Kenyon College’s women’s team (446) won their respective swimming and diving national titles.

First-year diver Abigail Wilkov becomes the first CWRU diver ever to earn First Team All-American honors after finishing seventh in the NCAA Division III Championships last Saturday. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

Team All-American Honors. Wilkov was also named a Spartan Club Athlete of the Week.

Track & field takes on NCAA championships, kicks off outdoor season

The Case Western Reserve University track and field team was well-represented at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. Four athletes were named to the competition field on March 7: third-year distance runner Jack Begley, third-year mid-distance Joe Jaster, fourth-year mid-distance runner Logan Singer and third-year distance runner Cecelia Zielke. The quartet traveled to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for their first ever championship competition on March 11-12.

“Every one of them is a first timer and until you’ve been and get that first experience,” said Head Coach Eric Schmuhl in an interview with the CWRU Athletic Department, “there’s a lot of elements to it that are a little foreign, particularly the adrenaline of being on that stage.”

Days before the competition, the four runners also earned All-Great Lakes Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association. Begley was named for the 5,000-meter run, Jaster for the 3,000-meter run, Zielke for the 5,000-meter run and Singer for the mile run. The top five individuals for each event—and top three relay teams— from each region earn the award.

Singer opened the competition for the Spartans on the first day. He finished

17th out of 20 athletes in the preliminary one-mile run with a time of 4:14.20. Singer had set the school record for the event with a time of 4:11.59 earlier in the season. Aidan Ryan of Williams College took the championship with a time of 4:05.60.

Zielke ran the 5,000-meter run next and placed 16th in a field of 20 runners, completing the distance in 17:41.51. She had qualified for the national meet with a 17:27.46 run, which was the best time by any CWRU athlete this season. Kassie Parker of Loras College won with a 16:15.06 performance.

Begley rounded out the day with a 15th place in 14:48.55 for the 5,000-meter event. Begley had set the school record with a time of 14:25.06 in a previous meet this season. Alex Phillip of John Carroll came in first in 14:10.02.

Jaster finished off the events for CWRU on the second day. In the 3,000-meter run, Jaster finished 13th with a time of 8:27.79. He qualified for the meet with a program record run of 8:16.52. Phillip was crowned for his second victory with this event after completing the distance in 8:16.62.

“I couldn’t be prouder of everybody,” reflected Coach Schmuhl. “It’s not often that you get that big of a group to a

national meet and so it was fun to get to know each other better… Given the things that we’ve had to go through, whether it be pandemic-related or teamrelated, it’s been a good indoor season.”

Coach Schmuhl also talked about the outdoor season, saying that “There’s a lot of growth that comes out of [the indoor season]. People start to recognize their potential and the team’s potential, so [with] moving it outdoors, I’ve got a lot of excitement to see where people take it from here.”

The Spartans kicked off their outdoor season last Saturday at the Washington and Lee Track & Field Carnival in Lexington, Virginia.

First-year Sarah Ozeki won the triple jump after putting in an 11.09-meter performance. Second-year Emily Hopkins came in fourth with a 10.88-meter showing. Both athletes also competed in the 100-meter hurdles, with Ozeki coming in sixth (15.85 seconds) and Hopkins finishing eighth (15.68 seconds).

Meanwhile, third-year Victoria Zhao tied for first in the pole vault at 3.07 meters. Two more athletes had top-four positions, with third-year Shelby Cooper coming in third with 2.92 meters and first-year Amelia DeiBiase came in fourth with the same mark.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, thirdyear Liam O’Reilly took the victory with a 9:56.65 win. Fourth-year Christopher Heermann came in seventh with 10:39.79.

Third-year Mia Vargo took second place in the high jump, going 1.57 meters in the pit. Second-year Jessica Kwasny also came in second in the 800-meter run in 2:20.77. She also competed in the 1,500-meter run, finishing in 4:49.12 and taking third place.

Second-year Elise Moore took two fourth-place finishes in the 400-meter dash (1:00.35) and as a part of the 4x100meter relay alongside Hopkins, Ozeki and second-year Anna Zinsser (51.16).

Third-year Peculiar Nzegbuna came in second at the 110-meter hurdles (15.64). Third-year Keith Cartwright, first-year Noah Coyne, second-year Michael Smoluk and fourth-year Juan Perez placed third in the 4x100-meter relay (43.10). The 4x400-meter relay team of Smoluk, Perez, first-year William DeYoung and third-year Will Dehmler earned fourth-place (3:25.06).

This weekend, CWRU will travel to Pittsburgh to compete in the CMU Invitational.

Puneet Bansal Sports Editor

At the Washington and Lee Track and Field Carnival, second-year Elise Moore (pictured) takes home one of her two fourth-place finishes in the 400-meter dash. Chris Heermann/The Observer