The Observer, Volume LIV, Issue 21, 3/3/23

MEN’S TENNIS

BACK-TO-BACK ITA CHAMPIONS

Zachary Treseler Staff Writer

On Feb. 21, two groups, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Rights—a collection of Planned Parenthood for Greater Ohio, American Civil Liberties Union, Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, New Voices and other organizations—submitted text to the State Attorney General for an amendment to the state constitution which would guarantee access to abortion for Ohioans.

Men’s tennis fends off WashU 5-1 to clinch indoor national championship

Puneet Bansal Sports Editor

The Case Western Reserve University men’s tennis team came back from St. Peter, Minnesota with some hardware. After three days and three matches at the Swanson Tennis Center against the best teams in the country, the Spartans were crowned ITA Indoor National Champions for the second year in a row.

“[It’s] very surreal,” said fourth-year James Hopper in an interview. “The group of guys we have this year is a different group to the guys that won this tournament last year, so being able to solidify the hard work we have put in as a whole team this year and see it pay off is a very special feeling.”

Hopper was flawless during the tournament, going 3-0 in both the first singles and first doubles. He was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player on Sunday following the championship match against Washington University in St. Louis. He also earned UAA Athlete of the Week and Spartan Athlete of the Week Honors.

The No. 2 Spartans defeated No. 10 Emory University, No. 5 ClaremontMudd-Scripps and No. 7 WashU 5-1, 6-3 and 5-1, respectively. Though the scores may not show it, it was not an easy road.

“After winning it last year, we knew there was a target on our backs, and every team would want nothing more than to beat the defending champions,” said third-year Vishwa Aduru. “Being able to do it for a second year in a row says a lot about this team and how strong we are mentally.”

Coming into the tournament, CWRU expected the intensity to be high and concentrated only on what

they could control.

“We knew it would be a war,” said Aduru. “At the airport before the tournament, we talked about how our sights were set on beating Emory and nothing else. Just taking it match by match, point by point, is what we kept emphasizing… That was critical in helping us come out on top again this year.

“We were hoping to go all the way in this tournament,” added third-year Sahil Dayal, “but we were really emphasizing taking each match one at a time. We did not want to get ahead of ourselves.

CWRU opened their tournament play against Emory in the quarterfinals on Feb. 24 with the duo of Hopper and Aduru notching a win in first doubles 8-1. Fourth-years Diego Maza and Michael Sutanto defeated the Eagles’ third doubles duo 8-5, but Emory staved off a doubles sweep after defeating Dayal and fourth-year Chris Provenzano 8-6 in second doubles.

Hopper took first singles 6-0, 6-2, second-year Casey Hishinuma won sixth singles 6-0, 6-1 and second-year Ajay Mahenthiran clinched the match 6-3, 6-2 in fifth singles.

The second day of the tournament proved to be the most challenging as the Spartans faced CMS in the semifinals. Similar to the match against Emory, Hopper and Aduru won first doubles 8-5. However, CWRU gave up two points in second and third doubles. The team was staring down a deficit for the first time in weeks. Hopper quickly put a stop to the bleeding with a 6-1, 6-0 win in first singles. Second-year Ansh Shah gave the Spartans their first lead of the match after a 6-3, 6-2 victory in fourth singles. Hishinuma fell in sixth singles but Mahenthiran’s 6-4, 6-2

win in fifth singles gave CWRU a 4-3 lead, just one shy of clinching a championship match berth.

The match came down to the second singles match with Aduru and the third singles with Sutanto. Aduru dropped the first set 6-2 but won the second 7-5 while Sutanto won the first set 6-2 but lost the second one 7-6. With both matches going to the third set, Aduru ultimately pulled off the comeback and the match-clinching win after defeating his opponent 6-3 in the final set. Sutanto added the cherry on top with a 7-6 win in his third set.

“After doubles… we knew that we were going to have to fight hard if we wanted to win the match,” reflected Hopper. “Once we were 4-3 up in the match, things got very tight in the last two matches… Seeing both of those matches come out on top in third sets really showed how resilient we are as a team and was definitely one of the most memorable moments of the weekend for me.”

On Sunday morning, the Spartans met the WashU Bears on the court for the championship. The stakes and the pressure were at their highest, but CWRU stuck to their gameplan.

“We [trusted] our training and knew that if we executed at a high enough level, we had confidence that we as a team would put ourselves in a position to win,” said Hopper.

Hopper and Aduru started off strong with an 8-4 win in first singles. The Bears struck back with a 8-5 win in second doubles over Provenzano and Dayal. Maza and Sutanto fought to the end and ran away with an 8-6 win in third doubles to give the Spartans the 2-1 lead heading into singles.

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For Dr. Karen Beckwith, political science professor at Case Western Reserve University, it is “not surprising that Ohio citizens have organized to reinstate abortion rights through the mechanism of a constitutional amendment.”

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The 2023 Giortaste Awards celebrates the best of Greek Life

Alivia Cook Staff Writer

Every year in February the Greek Life Office presents the Giortaste Awards, a ceremony that recognizes members of the Greek community for their outstanding contributions as well as chapters for their achievements throughout the year. The word ‘Giortaste’ comes from a Greek word meaning celebration, and this year’s ceremony was nothing short of that.

Hosted on Feb. 21 in the Thwing Ballroom, the 2023 celebration featured dinner, dessert and a remarkable keynote speaker, Vice President of Student Affairs Lou Stark.

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Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

ABORTION from page 1

Dr. Beckwith points out that, “Ohio has a range of mechanisms through which citizens can assert themselves in legislative and constitutional matters: statewide referenda, statewide legislative initiative, and constitutional amendments,” and since the Dobbs v. Jackson (2022) decision overturning the right to abortion federally, “California, Michigan, and Vermont had statewide constitutional amendments on the November 2022 ballot that would protect and constitutionally enshrine abortion rights, and all passed,” while anti-abortion ballot issues, like those in Kansas, Kentucky and Montana were rejected by voters.

“There is support in Ohio for access to legal abortion, from citizens, women’s rights groups, and healthcare providers. The current law in Ohio, hastily written and enacted, has already posed serious challenges to healthcare providers in responding to cases of miscarriage, particularly problematic as maternity units in hospitals in northeast Ohio have closed,” Beckwith notes. She also discussed popular support for this ballot initiative in Ohio; “a Suffolk University poll found in June 2022 that a majority (53%) of Ohioans supported legal access to abortion. Self-identified Democrats and Independents (nonpartisans) reported super-majority support for abortion rights; only 21% of Republican Party identifiers reported support.”

Malik Swisher, the Regional Field Manager for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio’s Greater Cleveland Office, and the advisor to Planned Parenthood Generation @ CWRU (PPGEN@CWRU) noted

that his organization “believe[s] that every Ohioan deserves access to reproductive healthcare without question.” He states that the ballot initiative is to ensure that the legislators “cannot, or has very little avenue to make any further restrictions to reproductive health in our state.”

Taking a different perspective, Ethan Hansen, president of Case for Life, argues that this ballot measure isn’t just about abortion, as he stated, “[I] agree with most of it as I think most of it isn’t actually about abortion,” citing provisions for contraception and fertility treatment. Hansen notes that, “there are crazy people in the pro-life camp who want to ban condoms and stuff like that. But that’s not what we want.” Though he and his student group are “generally opposed to [the ballot initiative] specifically because of the language of protecting access of abortion,” he reiterates that he “and others on the pro-choice side believe preborn humans are full human beings with a right for life.”

Dr. Beckwith says that there is a second issue at play in addition to access to abortion, “the right of Ohioans to participate in democracy and democracy-building through the mechanisms of statewide voter participation in legislative and constitutional issues. State Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Asheville, introduced the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment, which is more accurately an Ohio protection from abortion rights amendment.” Beckwith notes that the current legislation in Columbus, Ohio is designed to make amending the constitution more difficult; to stop a ballot initiative like

this one from not passing, “the failure of states to amend state constitutions to prohibit abortion rights has moved Republican legislators in multiple states to propose supermajority requirements for constitutional amendments.”

Should the amendment language get approved by the Attorney General’s office, it will be voted on in November 2023, which Dr. Beckwith notes is “not during midterm elections or a presidential election. This will heighten attention to the issue and make mobilization around the proposed amendment, and election

turnout, crucial to the outcome.”

When the time comes to vote on it, both Hansen and Swisher highlight the need for students to be informed. Hansen advises students to, “get info from both sides, as I think oftentimes we are in our own echo chamber.” He recommends students check out “Planned Parenthood’s website, and also check out [what] Ohio Right to Life is about.” Swisher encourages students to join PPGEN@CWRU as “they are going to be instrumental and organizing voters on campus… just get in contact with them and we will take care of you!”

New resources introduced for students to find off-campus housing

Cameron Ward Staff Writer

Students living both on and off campus at Case Western Reserve University have seen recent shifts around housing policies as President Kaler’s plan to expand the campus population continues. New construction projects are attempting to fill the shortfall in available housing, but they can’t be finished overnight. The location of the campus poses its own challenges because it is surrounded by historic buildings, various communities and neighborhoods that students may not want to live in. Students are left asking themselves: “Where are we supposed to live?”

In an effort to incentivize students to move off campus and free up more space in residence halls, CWRU has created the position of Off Campus Housing Coordinator to the Office of University Housing as a point of contact for students. Nikki Vallot, who has taken on this role, is here to answer any questions students may have about finding safe, affordable and comfortable accommodations as they transition from University Housing into the Cleveland area.

Vallot started this position in December 2022 to help meet the student body’s need for off-campus resources. She has previous experience in property management and is in the process of becoming a licensed real estate agent in Ohio. When she

was a student herself, she was very engaged in residence life, serving as a resident assistant, the vice president of National Residence Hall Honorary, a student chairperson for student conduct hearings and a graduate residence director.

Vallot hopes students will contact her for resources, experience and general help. Her expertise and role within the university will hopefully come in handy for current and future students planning to move out of University Housing in the coming years.

Vallot suggests that students moving off campus act soon so as to not be left without an apartment. She also reminds students to thoroughly check any agreements before signing them, as these are legal binding documents. Understanding your new lease is important to finding a home that suits your needs. Vallot also reiterated the importance of affordability when choosing a new place to live. In addition to contacting her for information and resources, students can consult the CWRU Housing website.

If students would like to schedule a meeting with Vallot, they can do that on the university’s housing website or send her email at nxv169@ case.edu. Students in need should reach out as soon as possible, so she can help guarantee that all successfully find the next place they call home. For more resources, check out https://offcampus.case.edu.

An ammendment passed to the Ohio State Attorney General calling for the reinstatement of abortion rights has once again stirred pro-choice versus pro-life sentiment as ballot day approaches. Courtesy of Mario Tama/Getty Images

In an effort to support students who are looking to live off campus, CWRU has created the position of Off Campus Housing Coordinator to help alleviate some of the stress of looking for an apartment. Courtesy of Roger Mastroianni/CWRU

The Cleveland Auto Show is a thing of dreams

Shreyas Banerjee Executive Editor

I know next to nothing about cars. Scratch that. I know absolutely nothing about cars. I couldn’t tell you what horsepower means. I can’t identify most car brands by their logo. I wouldn’t be able to identify the make and model of my own car. I don’t know the difference between a coupe and a sedan. I didn’t even know that hatchbacks existed at all as a distinct car category. All this is to say that I am in complete blissful automotive ignorance.

I’ve always justified my lack of knowledge about cars because of their very obvious negative effects on our society. Cars are, for better or worse, an essential part of American culture. While they epitomize our fixation with the idea of freedom, our obsession with them has had its consequences. Our entire infrastructure is built around our car culture, including cities like Cleveland. The fact that we have a highway running through our downtown, dividing us from the lakefront, is the consequence of decades of urban planning that has prioritized the almighty car above all other modes of transportation. Meanwhile, the public transportation systems in Cleveland and cities across the United States have continued to slowly decline due to perpetual underfunding and lack of maintenance. Bike lanes and other forms of infrastructure that prioritize non-car transport always face constant procedural hurdles while new highways are built through neighborhoods without second thought. Additionally, our continual dependence on cars also contributes to the ongoing climate crisis with their constant emissions.

Despite all my misgivings, I went to the Cleveland Auto Show earlier this week at the urging of some of my car-enthusiast friends. Held at the I-X Center near the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, with over 500 vehicles spread out over 1.2 million square feet of floor space, the event features the latest and greatest models from most of the major global car manufacturers, along with a selection of retro automobiles to gawk at. To be honest, my motivation to go to the show was not about the cars but rather because two former Cleveland Indians players, Carlos Baerga and Omar Vizquel, were signing autographs at the event. That may seem like a shallow reason to visit an auto show, but they were core anchors of our 1995 World Series lineup. A chance to get their autographs was hard to pass up.

However, coming out of the show I left without any signatures and images of cars playing in my head instead. I had been converted. My mind had been bewitched by the plethora of hot rods that entered my eyes. American capitalism had sunk its teeth into me and after leaving, I only had one thought: Cars are pretty freaking cool.

Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t understand a single thing about them. I also do not plan on becoming a gearhead who tunes into “Car Talk” regularly on NPR, watches Formula One racing and specs out my own dream models. But after seeing the sheer range of automobiles and how much care and attention goes into the design and manufacturing of each one, I have to say that I understand how people become enamored with cars.

The show itself was a sight to see, with row after row of cars lined up next to each other throughout the massive space. Though the event is not as big as it once was, it was still impressive. The sheer variety of models was something that I did not know was possible—but that speaks again more to my ignorance than anything else. However, I now understand why there are so many terms used to describe different types of cars. Walking around the convention center with some of my enthusiast friends, I could see they were rather excited about quite a number of new car innovations that were starting to show up in commercial models. There seemed to

be a huge push for electric vehicles especially, with each automaker showing off their latest Tesla-killer. Notably, Tesla was not present at the event, but that wasn’t a surprise. These new EVs, being freed from a front-placed engine, seemed to have a newer and sleeker design language that captures today’s popular digital aesthetic. While some car traditionalists did not seem happy about it, I thought they all looked cool.

Beyond the latest cars being produced, the show also featured a number of classic and luxury cars, including Ferraris, Rolls Royces, Aston Martins and the like. They all looked nice and I appreciated the amount of detail put into every component of the vehicle—they certainly seemed more comfortable than my own vehicle, but they also cost millions of dollars, so I guess that makes sense. I don’t have the vocabulary or knowledge to expand further on why some of the cars were special and others were lacking, but needless to say there was much to explore and it all seemed pretty neat. Beyond that they also had some novelty cars, such as a reproduction of the Mystery Machine from “Scooby Doo” and a Volkswagen Beetle tricked out to resemble Bumblebee from the “Transformers” franchise. This was one part of the show I was able to more fully appreciate due to its pop culture appeal, but apparently they were also well-made vehicles.

Along with the vehicles, there were

a number of attractions including simulated racetracks, green screen photo booths for posing with cars, a puppy show and an area for trucks to drive around in and show off their ruggedness. In years past there was apparently also a Ferris wheel, but that was missing this year—much to my disappointment. And of course there were the baseball player autographs, with various other Cleveland sports icons making appearances in the future. However, by the time I made my way towards the signing area, the line was trailing through an entire room of the massive complex. Looking at the mob of baseball fans I am usually a part of, I realized that I was okay with not joining them today. I was more than content just looking at pretty cars—a fact that would have shocked me just an hour previously.

While walking out, one of my friends asked me if I had a dream car. I still didn’t know enough about cars to identify a single model, but for the first time in my life, an image popped into my head. Despite being perhaps the most ignorant man alive regarding cars, the Cleveland Auto Show managed to make me fantasize for just a second about a perfect gear shift, a beautiful trim, comfortable leather seats and smooth handling. Now that says something.

The Cleveland Auto show is running until Sunday, March 5 at the I-X Center, with tickets costing $15. Check it out for car dreams of your own.

“Cocaine Bear” Review: The one killer you should never run from

Joey Gonzalez Life Editor

This review contains spoilers for “Cocaine Bear”

Five stars. That’s it.

Just from the title alone, you get everything you need to know about this horror-comedy. “Cocaine Bear” is exactly that: a bear that goes on a hilarious, gorey rampage as it tries to find more of its favorite controlled substance, mauling anyone that gets in its

way. The kills are brutal and the killer is high. Using its slasher aesthetics along with the quintessential ’80s detective/ drug dealer storyline, “Cocaine Bear” sets the stage for a gruesome comedy film that will have you simultaneously cracking up and wincing. Body parts are flying, people are dying and you’re having a grand ‘ole time.

Directed by Elizabeth Banks, the film itself takes place in 1985 across several locations, all tied together by their connection to a missing cocaine shipment. The dealer, who dropped the packages from a plane before it

crashed, was found dead in Tennessee after failing to deploy his parachute. His connections lead the police to known kingpin Syd White (Ray Liotta) in St. Louis. He sends his son, Eddie, and his right hand man—no pun intended—to recover the shipment that was dropped over Chattahoochee National Forest. Detective Bob pursues the two and heads to the park himself. Already in Georgia, a middle schooler Dee Dee decides to skip school with her best friend Henry because she hopes to paint on the waterfall in the park. Her mom Sari re-

turns from work and has to go find her daughter at the falls. All of them are blissfully unaware of the murderous bear amped up on cocaine that awaited them in the woods. Even the eccentrically inept park ranger Liz (Margo Martindale) has no idea exactly what is lurking in the forest.

The characters all converge on the forest, but Dee Dee and Henry are the first to encounter the cocaine shipment, hilariously trying to eat some because of course they do.

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Over 500 cars, including both modern and retro models, were displayed for car aficianados and amateurs alike at the Cleveland Auto Show. Shreyas Banerjee/The Observer

“Outer Banks” is back

Alivia Cook Staff Writer

This article contains spoilers for “Outer Banks”

Quarantine was a hard time for many, made slightly easier by the release of new and addicting shows. One unique series that became an instant hit was “Outer Banks,” which follows a group of teenagers in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Social life in the Outer Banks is complicated, as there is a split amongst the population. The Pogues are a group of people living in “The Cut,” or the south side of the island, whereas the Kooks are the elites of the Outer Banks, whose parents have an excessive amount of money.

The Cut is home to the island’s working class, citizens who make their living bussing tables, washing yachts and running charters versus the Kooks who live on country club land and take advantage of the lower class residents.

The first two seasons feature a group of friends made up of John B. (Chase Stokes), Kiara (Madison Bailey), J.J. (Rudy Pankow) and Pope (Jonathan Daviss). John B.’s dad was a treasurer hunter who is presumed dead after never returning from a trip, leaving 16-year-old John B. to fend for himself. J.J. also has a troubled past and was forced to grow up quickly, as his dad used to abuse him before he ran away. Pope’s father runs a restaurant and his cooking is known all across the island. Kiara has an interesting background because she is half Pogue and half Kook. She lives a good life in a fancy house, but her parents don’t want her to keep hanging around the Pogues.

Since John B.’s dad was a treasure hunter, he grew up knowing about the treasure of the Royal Merchant,

a Spanish ship that crashed near Outer Banks and with it, sank its treasures. The group comes together to uncover the secret of the Royal Merchant and claim its rewards. Each member of the group finds their own clues and then works together in order to solve the mystery. John B. starts the group off with the pieces that his dad left for him, and Pope joins in with the ones that he found. But they aren’t the only ones hunting for this treasure, and things take a turn when they start getting close to the truth. People begin to come after the teens—people who are looking for John B.’s dad—and they start to shake things up for the town. Throughout seasons one and two, the teens need to stay together in order to fight against those chasing them. The Kingfish—their main attacker—and others are not afraid to use any tactics they can to get that

treasure, including murder. The group travels across South Carolina trying to find as many clues as they possibly can while also avoiding the dangerous groups attempting to do the same.

As season two closes, the group ends up on Ward Cameron’s (Charles Esten) freight boat crossing the Caribbean. The group knows Sarah (Madelyn Cline) was taken against her will and is being held hostage by her brother Rafe (Drew Starkey) and stepmother Rose (Caroline Arapoglou). John B. and Ward end up in a fight over saving Sarah and John B. knocks out Ward the same way Ward “killed” John B.’s father. Rafe and Ward eventually get away with some treasure that was on the boat, while the rest of the gang escapes. They steal a small boat from the side of the freight ship and take off to an island they proclaim as

“Poguelandia.”

Season three picks up right where season two ends, opening with some new players in the game and revealing that maybe some people are not dead ... yet. The season certainly doesn’t start slowly. The gang is on a stranded island all by themselves with no way off. A plane flies above them and they spark a fire to get its attention. The plane sees them and lands, offering to get them to another island. J.J. is the first of the group to sense something off about the pilot, causing tensions in the plane to grow. The pilot is actually being paid for their capture and the plane then crashes into the ocean. Kiara is captured before the group can make it to the island. The group must then fight to discover the secrets of their new island and find a way to recover Kiara.

The third season also reveals many new secrets and tension amongst the characters. The suspense of the show grows between episodes and it is hard to stop after just one, especially this new season. The audience is captivated by the show and even after the ending, more questions rise up.

Some of the cast of Outer Banks is notable: Charles Esten played the dad on the show “Jessie,” and Sarah Cameron had a role in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” Besides those two, “Outer Banks” was the first big role for most of the main cast. Although this is their first big role, these actors have a great chemistry together that is tangible whenever they’re on screen.

The teens of “Outer Banks” struggle to escape from a deserted island at the start of season three. Pictured from left to right are Cleo (Carlacia Grant), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), J.J. (Rudy Pankow), Kiara (Madison Bailey), John B. (Chase Stokes) and Sarah (Madelyn Cline).

Courtesy of Netflix

Season three adds even more binge-worthy drama and suspense to the show. If you’re looking for a new hit to watch, that will get your heart rate up and has all of the quintessential elements of a teen drama, “Outer Banks” is definitely the show for you. All three seasons are now available on Netflix.

“Abbott Elementary” is bringing the sitcom back

After an influx of network sitcoms in the early 2000s to mid-2010s, including hits such as “The Office,” “Modern Family” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” the genre has all but died out in recent years. Though comedy shows remain popular on most streaming platforms—think “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV+ and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” on Amazon Prime Video—those airing on network TV face low ratings and a lack of viewership. The number of Americans who have a cable and/or satellite subscription have dropped from 76% in 2015 to 56% in 2021. This means that it’s harder than ever for a traditionally-aired show to become a hit. Even if a new network sitcom was funny and well-written, would there be enough people who cared to watch it?

Thankfully, “Abbott Elementary” has managed to have this kind of breakthrough. Airing its first episode on ABC in December 2021, the sitcom, created by and starring Quinta Brunson, has since won three Emmys and earned the network’s highest comedy ratings since the finale of “Modern Family.” It also has an overall viewership of 10 million, compared to other ABC comedies such as “The Conners” which had 4.76 million viewers in its latest season and “Home Eco-

nomics” whose viewership topped out at 1.92 million. Part of “Abbott Elementary’s” high numbers may be owed to its simultaneous availability on Hulu and HBO Max, but its popularity can really only be the result of one thing: it’s simply a good TV show.

“Abbott Elementary” sticks to the tried-and-true elements of past sitcoms with its workplace setting and mockumentary format, while also updating the context of the show for modern audiences. It takes place in a majority-Black Philadelphia elementary school and focuses on five of its teachers, including Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) and their inept but loveable principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James). Each episode has its own self-contained plot and subplot, but several storylines—including a slowburn relationship between Janine Teagues (Brunson) and Gregory— develop over the course of the show. This comforting setup serves as the framework for jokes and character quirks that are genuinely funny and resonate with viewers regardless of how familiar they are with teaching.

Another reason “Abbott Elementary” hits home for a lot of people is because of its representation. It was vital to Brunson that she accurately portrayed the setting of a Philadelphia public school. This meant that most of the teachers, students and the principal would be Black,

not for the sake of diversity, but for authenticity. “I feel that ... the key to more diversity in television is not just sticking characters into a white world, but actually greenlighting the stories that naturally bring those people to the forefront,” says Brunson. “We weren’t worried about diversity at all while we were making the show. We were worried about being funny.”

Brunson’s methods clearly worked. “Abbott Elementary” is the most-tweeted about TV comedy of the year, and has celebrity fans in-

cluding Kerry Washington, Jada Pinkett Smith and Gabrielle Union, to name a few. Brunson herself has also shot to fame, this month sitting front row at several New York Fashion Week shows. The success of “Abbott Elementary” not only proves that sitcoms and network TV are here to stay (for now), but it is also a testament to the value of authentic storytelling and representation.

“Abbott Elementary” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. EST and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.

Kate Gordon Copy Editor

“Abbott Elementary” has resurged the popularity of network sitcoms, which have been struggling with viewership for the past several years. Courtesy of ABC

GREEK LIFE from page 1

Stark began his speech by congratulating everyone for their accomplishments throughout the year and began to speak about his college Greek Life experiences. He discussed how his participation in Greek Life influenced his future and career. His son graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2018 and was also a part of the Greek community here. Stark went on to talk more about his career and the different schools he had an impact on throughout his life. He ended his speech by reminiscing on his past, while also expressing his excitement for his upcoming retirement and the chance to be closer to family. Stark is set to retire in June of this year.

Following the keynote speech, the next part of the evening was the awards ceremony.

Below are the awards that were presented this year:

SMARRTie of the Year - Sasicha Gartenbush of Alpha Chi Omega

Safety and Wellness Award - Delta Gamma

Outstanding Risk Manager Award

- Nicholas Harms (Sigma Chi) and Caroline Kuntzman (Sigma Sigma Sigma)

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Award - Elias Tew (Beta Theta Pi) and Kintan Silvany (Alpha Chi Omega)

Outstanding Service and Philanthropy Chair - Jay Smith (Sigma Chi) and Haley Aharoni (Delta Gamma)

Anvil Award - Noyonikaa Gupta (Phi Mu)

Connection to Cause Award - Phi

Delta Theta

Robert Niebaum Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award - Holly Sirk (Sigma Sigma Sigma)

Outstanding Campus Partner

Award - The Flora Stone Mather Center for Women

Outstanding Scholarship Chair

Award - Evan Stuart (Sigma Chi) and Laine Hooper (Alpha Chi Omega)

Outstanding New Member Award

- Cale Ours (Beta Theta Pi) and Kelly Mallon (Phi Mu)

Christina Camardo Award - Cam-

The bear smells the powdery substance and attacks the children, separating them in the process. Park ranger Liz, Peter (Jesse Tyler Furgusson) and Sari find Henry in the aftermath, with none of them taking his warnings seriously until the cocaine bear returns. Peter and Henry hide in trees while an injured Dee Dee attempts to go find help, taking the only gun with her. Peter, the wildlife expert covered in cocaine, meets a gruesome end before Sari and Henry flee, still trying to find Dee Dee.

Eddie and Daveed arrive at the park and get attacked by a local gang who are quickly dispatched. The two then use one of the boys to find the remaining cocaine, but discover that Detective Bob has beat them to it. The showdown is temporarily interrupted by the cocaine bear, whose insane sense of smell gave her incredible timing. The other two boys in the “gang” flee to the ranger station and where they encounter a wounded Liz. The group is quickly attacked by the bear and one of them meets a violently gorey accidental end, the other left for the cocaine bear. Paramedics arrive on the scene and only find Liz, who is barely able to warn them before they too are attacked by the bear. They flee in the ambulance in an insane bear chase sequence that had me on the edge of my seat.

eron Goodwin-Schoen (Beta Theta Pi) and Annabelle Nitz (Kappa Alpha Theta)

Agnar Pytte Cup Commitment to Citizenship Award - Sigma Chi

Agnar Pytte Cup Commitment to Leadership Award - Delta Gamma

Agnar Pytte Cup Commitment to Scholarship Award - Pi Beta Phi

Agnar Pytte Cup Commitment to Ritual Award - Sigma Sigma Sigma

Outstanding Chapter President

Award - Ram Nallappan (Delta Tau Delta) and Emma Hampson (Alpha Gamma Delta)

Glenn Nicholls Character of Distinction Award - Carter Flayhart (Zeta Beta Tau), Vinayak Sharma (Phi Kappa Psi), Irene Yi (Kappa Alpha Theta) and Kate Caforio (Sigma Sigma Sigma)

Fraternal Legacy Award - Prashanth Ragunanthan (Sigma Chi) and Kaitlyn Reyes (Pi Beta Phi)

Howard Shelley Fraternal Leadership Award - Gianluca Baglioni (Sigma Chi) and Paola Giammattei (Alpha Phi)

In addition to these awards, four more awards were presented: the Order of Omega for Leadership, Citizenship, Scholarship and Ritual. The Order of Omega is the premier Greek leadership honorary on CWRU’s campus. They are in charge of many programs within Greek Life such as the upcoming Emergency Dues Fund, the upcoming rebranded Pytte Cup program, Lunch and Learns and chapter consulting. The Pytte Cup allows chapters to self-evaluate themselves and present to other chapters about how they foster core Greek values.

Prashanth Ragunanthan of Sigma Chi describes these awards: “The purpose of the Pytte Cup program was to assist chapters in their goals to grow

and develop a lasting and positive impact on their members, the Greek community and even the greater community as a whole. The Pytte Cup process gave chapters the tools and resources they needed in order to create meaningful relationships and impactful change within their own fraternities and sororities at the individual, officer and chapter levels.”

The award winners in all categories demonstrated a dedication to Greek Life and found ways to positively impact the community. Nominations for awards open in December, so if you were not nominated this year, keep doing the good work and look out for next year’s awards ceremony.

Disclaimer: Alivia Cook is the VPC of Service and Philanthropy for the Panhellenic Council and was involved in the decision making process for granting the awards.

The final showdown of the film takes place on the edge of the Chattahoochee Falls, where Dee Dee, Sari and Henry have found themselves cornered by the drug dealers. Syd has joined Eddie and Daveed in the park, worried about the amount of

lost product. Despite the warnings about the bear, Syd is determined to recover as much cocaine as possible, not understanding the kill count that the bear had already racked up. Mama bear soon returns to her cave and continues her rampage on the remaining

characters, but I won’t spoil the ending for you.

“Cocaine Bear” is frankly a comedic and horror masterpiece, combining witty humor with some of the most gruesome violence I’ve seen to date. Every death is so memorable and somehow outdoes the one before it, building itself up to the final showdown and leaving a trail of cocaine and body parts in its wake. The soundtrack perfectly taps into the ’80s aesthetic and builds the suspense of the film. The emergence of the bear is even perfectly queued with recognizable and chilling sound bites that let everyone in the theater know that death and cocaine are coming. The characters are hilariously oblivious to their fates, making the violence almost seem more excessive. But it is a wild animal after all so there are no stops to how far she will go for her next fix.

If you’re not a fan of gore or brutally violent deaths, “Cocaine Bear” might not be your movie pick of the year. But I must say, it was really entertaining. The cast is honestly insane, with each cast member entertaining in their own right. The plot can be a bit confusing to follow, but frankly who’s watching “Cocaine Bear” for a flawless storyline. It really is a masterpiece of comedy and graphic violence, creating this year’s iconic killer in such a memorable fashion.

The 2023 Giortaste Greek Life Awards showcased the best of CWRU Greek Life, as numerous students were recognized for the outstanding work that they accomplished in their fraternities and sororities. Alivia Cook/The Observer

“Cocaine Bear” is a masterpiece of wit and gore that leaves audience members at the edge of their seat as the titular bear tears through unsuspecting victims. Courtesy of Universal Studios

“COCAINE BEAR” from page 3

Tarun’s* LOLs

Horoscope

The signs as NCAA Basketball Teams

Cincinnati Bearcats

Michigan Wolverines

Weekly Tarot

Two of Cups (Reversed)

Someone may be pouring themselves more than for you. Bear this in mind as you clink your glass with them.

The Devil (Upright)

In your shadow, demons lie waiting to strike. Shine a light upon parts of yourself you prefer not to see.

*My

Rock

What we’ve been listening

Shreyas Banerjee

Ol' Dude

Shreea Kaul

Karuna Lakhiani

Self

Auburn Tigers

Virginia Cavaliers

The Hierophant (Reversed)

Someone will try to keep you from your truth. Fight the lies.

Queen of Swords (Reversed)

Though your heart is in pain, do not lash out at others in this trying time.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Star (Reversed)

The cards are not in your favor, yet sometimes all you need is to just walk into a situation knowing that.

Virginia Cavaliers

North Carolina Tar Heels

Villanova

Michigan State Spartans

Shejuti Wahed Angel

Jimi Hendrix

Sophia Popkin

Waltz #2 (XO) Elliot Smith

Clay Preusch

Mulan Ma

Don't Trust 'Em

Shifra

Duke Blue Devils Arizona

Kansas

Five of Cups (Upright)

Don’t cry over spilt milk, remember the good times as you clean it up.

Ten of Cups (Upright)

A happy long-term commitment is headed your way.

Death (Reversed)

You need to let go of what is gone as it is holding you back.

Queen of Coins (Upright)

A female figure in your life has her own flaws and you must remember that when she does things to you not in your favor.

King of Swords (Reversed)

Build yourself up in silence and slay your enemies with your quietness and success behind closed doors.

Six of Coins (Upright)

Be happy with your current income as it reflects the amount of work you have done. Work harder and ask for more as you deserve.

Eight of Coins (Upright)

Keep up your current pace as it will elevate you slowly but surely.

Crossword

ACROSS

1 Like some plants that don't need watering

5 "G'day, ___!"

9 French destination that's one of UNESCO's "Great Spa Towns of Europe"

14 October birthstone

15 Bun holder, so to speak

16 Allergic reaction

17 Hark! And hear of the vengeful ruler who took great pleasure in expelling disloyal subjects, for he was the ...

20 Apt recourse for a deal gone sour?

21 Lead-in to an alias for he was the ...

62 Worrier's words

63 Element of the Vegas strip?

64 French girlfriend

65 Like many attics

66 Zesty flavor

67 Holler

DOWN

1 Dandy

2 Donkey Kong, e.g.

3 German engineer who designed an

built the first practical automobile (1885)

4 Otherwise

5 Cher or Madonna

e.g.

6 Experimental-but- accessible music genre

7 What a poker player wears shades to hide

8 With all judges present

9 Mobile dwelling for modern nomads

10 "So gross!"

11 Award-winning

science fiction writer Ted

12 Din from a gaggle

13 Class with mats

18 ___ Little, "The Wire" antihero

19 Came to

22 Sch. whose newspaper is the Daily Bruin

23 Knee/ankle connector

26 Parts of glasses

27 Remove from a bulletin board, say

29 What "Why?" tries

22 Kind of computer port

24 Tiny tunneler

25 What a pitcher allows in a baseball shutout

28 Listen now! And I shall relate the story of the curious sovereign who adorned his castle with images of red fruit, for he was the ...

31 Common theme park sight

32 "Au contraire, ___ frère"

33 CPR provider

34 ___ Day (Down

Under holiday)

36 Young seal

38 Longtime "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat

to uncover

30 Occupied

35 Gunk

37 French for "butterfly"

39 Certain legal consequence

40 Actress Hathaway

41 Beer holders

43 With Springsteen, co-host of the podcast "Renegades: Born in the USA"

45 "Over There," for one

CWRU Film Society

42 Sellout sign

44 Glimpsed

46 Walker's aid

47 Lend me your ear!

And I will speak of the clumsy monarch who needed twice as many golf strokes as his opponents, for he was the ...

50 Ice cream order

51 Fury

52 Guitarist Paul

53 Quaint lodging

54 Letter opening

57 Give heed! And listen to my tale of the mad tyrant who decreed that all toilets in his realm be installed the wrong way,

47 Chowderheads

48 Discovered, British-style

49 Move, in real estate jargon

50 Screw-up

53 Footnote abbr.

55 It's just a thought

56 Verbal thumbs-up

58 Dennings of "2 Broke Girls"

59 Ironically humorous

60 Zilch

61 Come together, as plans

Friday, March 3, 2023

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

The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018)

Rated R (117 min.)

Director: Susanna Fogel

With Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux

Audrey and Morgan, two 30-year-old best friends in LA, are thrust into an international conspiracy when Audrey’s ex-boyfriend shows up at their apartment with deadly assassins on his trail. The duo jump into action throughout Europe, on the run from killers and a suspicious-yet-charming British agent. But don’t underestimate the power of female friendship in this action-filled comedy. See both movies in our Spy Who Blanked Me weekend for just $6!

Saturday, March 4, 2023

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

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Rated PG (125 min.)

Director: Lewis Gilbert

With Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curt Jürgens

It’s the biggest! It’s the best! It’s Bond—and beyond! Round out $6 Spy weekend with a solid entry in the 007 canon. James Bond must join forces with rival Soviet agent Anya Amasova, a.k.a. Triple X, when a megalomaniac with dreams of an undersea paradise tries to defeat the major world powers. And nobody does it better! The spies face many obstacles in their globetrotting quest, including a hulking metal-mouthed assassin known only as Jaws.

GENERAL ADMISSION $4 OR $6 FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND Strosacker Auditorium, CWRU Campus Quad Free Parking: Lot 44 at Adelbert Rd and Murray Hill FILMS.CWRU.EDU

Students didn’t sign up to live in fear of gun violence

Editorial Board

All around the United States, students hear gunshots ring in dorms, classrooms, school bathrooms and all around their campuses. No one deserves to feel that fear, especially in a space that is supposed to be a safe learning environment. Even if one isn’t hurt or has no loved ones affected, it doesn’t erase the trauma of such an event. Gun violence has been a deadly, yet preventable plague on our society and especially on our youth. Gun control has never been more necessary.

On Feb. 13, a lone gunman, 43-yearold Anthony Dwayne McRae, shot and injured five students at Michigan State University (MSU) and killed three. It’s also unfortunately not surprising that there are students at MSU who had also survived the 2021 Oxford High School shooting, making it their second school shooting they had directly experienced. Society is not fulfilling its function when students are not protected. It’s clear something has to be done. But, people have been saying this for years, and have advocated for better gun control laws every time a tragedy occurs. Nothing changes. We should not be worried that experiencing a mass public shooting is a very real possibility. Our government is, as such, directly responsible for the fact that we are raising entire generations of people that have been traumatized by unchecked gun sales and nonexistent mental health screenings for potential threats.

It is clear that gun ownership is the real issue: Why do peace loving people need assault weapons?

Yet, the “right to bear arms” is what people consider a fundamental right, instead of the right to live in general. Anti-gun control people blatantly refuse to accept that the Second Amendment was created at a time when assault rifles did not exist and that those who wrote it probably did not imagine the right to bear arms would lead to mass killings of children. So, how many more people have to pay for political agendas?

This is an issue that is so prevalent, that on the day of the MSU shooting,

The Case Western Reserve Observer

Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University

Shreyas Banerjee Executive Editor & Publisher

PRINT

our very own Case Western Reserve University was locked down due to a man armed with a gun. Tensions were already high on our campus the same day MSU was devastated by the shooting. It’s blatantly awful for us to continue living in fear and worry, especially when our peers are being slaughtered.

We need to make a change in our society to stop allowing this to happen, and laws and policies put in place that make a real difference. But the death of our children does not seem to be enough to sway the Republican House majority to vote on legislation that would prevent these unnecessary deaths. While the previous Democratcontrolled Congress did pass minor gun control legislation last year with the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, it was very bare-bones and only slightly increased background check requirements. It also, in an act of cowardice, only incentivized states to implement red flag laws rather than forcing them to actively protect their citizens. And it’s not just our federal legislature. The U.S. Supreme Court is actively interfering with states that put in their own gun control laws, such as when they struck down the state of New York’s laws limiting guns in public. This, of course, is not a problem for our own state of Ohio, as we only seem to be making gun control laws even looser. Gov. Mike DeWine signed a law last year that allowed all Ohio residents to carry guns around them in public without a permit. Additionally, DeWine signed a bill—theoretically to stop school shootings—by allowing teachers to be armed in schools. This not only is a slap in the face to school shooting survivors, but increases the dangers of school shootings happening in schools.

According to the Pew Research Center, “around half of Americans (48%) see gun violence as a very big problem in the country today.” However, to combat this problem, we seem to have representatives who truly do not represent or care about the American people.

For now, we can only continue to use our voice and vote to elect representatives that can stop the tragic and preventable school shootings that afflict our nation.

Consumers R Us

Hannah Johnson Contributing Writer

If you’re chronically online like me, you’ve probably heard a thing or two about self-care.

Maybe you’ve heard that self-care is reading, applying a face mask, shopping, pilates, ice rollers, gua shas, flower bouquets, green juice, cafe dates, getting your nails done, etc.—trust me, I could go on.

We are constantly told that the banishment of stress only takes a handful of items and a small fortune. Why do we end up falling for

this idea so many times?

The answer lies in the media we consume.

Science says that our brains aren’t fully developed until around the age of 25—which, lucky for companies worldwide, means young adults are fair game for easy manipulation.

In addition, shopping is easier than ever before. We live in a predominantly online society that makes purchasing incredibly simple. We can buy things through social media and pay monthly subscription fees without even noticing.

Many companies even save your card information so that you can order things with just one click. I

Sara Khorshidi Director of Print

Grace Johnson News Editor

Joey Gonzalez Life Editor

Karuna Lakhiani Opinion Editor

Puneet Bansal Sports Editor

Beau Bilinovich Development Editor

Mulan Ma Engagement Editor

Shivangi Nanda Copy Editor

Lexy Jensen Copy Editor

Rachel Alexander Copy Editor

Elie Aoun Copy Editor

Kate Gordon Copy Editor

DIGITAL MEDIA

Joce Ortiz Director of Digital Media

Sophia Popkin Social Media Editor

Clay Preusch Photo Editor

Shejuti Wahed Video Editor

Collin Wong Web Editor

DESIGN

Tarun Sepuri Director of Design

Shifra Narasimhan Layout Designer

Auden Koetters Layout Designer

Catherine Choi Layout Designer

Tyler Vu Graphic Designer

BUSINESS

Khushali Desai Director of Business Operations

Matthew Chang Business Manager

Mohit Kosuru Business Manager

Ryan Chang Business Manager

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

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

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

should know—I accidentally rented a Chevrolet Tahoe the other day.

That being said, sometimes shopping in the United States is almost too accessible for most of us—and with social media advertisements, it’s not just impressionable kids or naive older adults that are victims of technology.

Newspapers and TVs don’t give us all the same ads like they used to. Ads have become so much more subtle and individualized.

They’re slipped onto our TikTok for you pages as regular videos, sponsorships in YouTube segments, Instagram posts or even in cinema as a branded facial oil in a new movie that stars far too many influenc-

ers to be critically acclaimed.

Advertisements have become so much more enmeshed in the personal lives of people we come to trust, the people we look to for entertainment and comfort—which inevitably causes confusion.

Social media creators, at their core, are just people. It’s the reason why so many of them are so relatable. They aren’t just presented as the face of a product—they’re also branded as users and are, therefore, our equals. After all, they’re humans that sit in their rooms, talk to a camera and then upload videos onto the internet. An internet personality could be any one of us.

Why the consumerismtechnological of self-care is so effective

CONSUMERS from page 8

It’s understandable then that we may start to trust the recommendations of a person we have never met, but it also opens up a host of other issues—issues that start to crop up when the delineations between what’s genuine and what’s passionless become blurred.

According to clinical psychologist Scott Bea from Cleveland Clinic, retail therapy can “actually [have] a lot of psychological and therapeutic value.” He says that even window shopping can “bring brain-fueled happiness.” The main idea is that shopping brings a sense of control. By making a purchase, you’re able to get exactly what you want when things may feel largely out of your

power. Shopping also stimulates our senses, serving as a way to distract us from our issues. We get to take ourselves out of the reality where our problems haunt us and insert ourselves into the shopping world— whether that be online or in-store.

It’s also worth noting that the entire idea of capitalism itself promotes productivity and efficiency. Americans have to work. We have our nine-to-fives, rigorous academics, and if you don’t get your work done in the time expected or beforehand, you’re supposedly a lazy bum that is destroying the American Dream. This hustle culture practically fuels the self-care industry

Watch and learn

Enya Eettickal Staff Writer

People always are a little skeptical when I tell them I find peoplewatching to be a valuable use of my time. But as a writer, I stand by that. Watching how people interact, how they speak and how they hold themselves has always been the best way for me to learn how to write realistic characters and dialogue. For this article, when I refer to watching, I’m not referring to just lectures or staring at diagrams. When talking about watching and learning, I’m referring to observing other people execute certain skills and abilities and trying to analyze and understand what they’re doing, why they’re doing it and how to emulate it. This applies to almost any skill, from building pots in an art studio, cutting onions in a kitchen, gesturing for public presentations or cutting and styling your hair. Watching others do any of these things can greatly aid in the process of achieving said skill on your own. You may think this is pretty selfexplanatory, and I did as well. But recently, I’ve seen many people openly and actively reject watching as a form of learning. They’d rather just try and build a pot themselves,

or take the knife and figure out how to chop vegetables along the way. Some seem to find watching others practice public speaking boring and have deemed it unhelpful. So the question then becomes: why? Why are some people so averse to visual learning?

I’ve found it to stem from one of two things. Either they’re impatient, prideful or both. Some people get too antsy waiting to execute a skill they want, whether it be because they’re restless or overly excited. But regardless, they can’t dedicate the mental capacity necessary to watching before they get into it. The other option is that they find watching others to be an admission of inability. To watch someone else perform a specific skill as a form of learning requires the acknowledgment of two things—the person you are watching is proficient at a particular skill, and they are more skilled or knowledgeable than you are on this subject. Some people can’t find it in themselves to admit that they’d benefit from someone else’s help or have things they can learn from people other than themselves.

The consequences of not being open to learning by watching are unfortunate. The biggest problem you risk running into is making

because there’s nothing more rewarding than treating yourself to something nice after a tough week. Self-care shopping, many times, is a feeble effort to hold onto some sense of humanity in a culture that constantly tells us we need to go, go, go. These shopping-filled fantasies, mixed with social media creators’ influence, generate the perfect concoction for capitalism to tamper with our wants and needs. I don’t need to drink green juice, but if I’m told it will increase my overall physical and mental health by someone I trust, then why wouldn’t I want it? I don’t need to ice roll my face in the morning, but if I’m told it will reduce the puffiness and make me feel more alert, why wouldn’t I try it? I don’t need to buy a year’s worth of

books at the bookstore, but if reading is supposed to foster my development and intellect, then, I mean, sure, take all my money.

We desire anything we think could bring us a sense of fulfillment, and we love the aesthetics of doing something that’s said to have an outright effect on our happiness. In this way, self-care often becomes less about doing things that genuinely benefit us and more about doing things to make it seem like we are trying to better our lives.

This is not to say that all of the advertised products are scams that we should actively avoid and protest. However, we, as individuals, should be more honest with ourselves about why we may desire a certain product before we accidentally click that buy button.

foreseeable and unnecessary mistakes. Now, there’s no issue with making mistakes. However, rookie mistakes are obnoxious, especially when they’re easily avoidable. By closing yourself to learning exclusively from instructions and firsthand experience, you make many preliminary mistakes already preestablished and foreseen by people who are better versed in a skill. And while those preliminary mistakes may be trivial, there are also instances where they aren’t. If you mess up cutting a vegetable, you can grab another one to chop. But mishandling clay can cause cracks or explosions, and messing up an experimental haircut can leave you wearing hats for a full month till it grows back to a manageable state. Additionally, you risk building bad habits. With public speaking, for example, watching others before trying to develop as a speaker can create a solid foundation of skills. Forcing yourself to learn from experimenting may mean that small ticks—improper eye contact, stiff gestures or odd speaking patterns— may develop and integrate into your habits. And while they can be course-corrected down the line, bad habits die hard.

Now you may be saying, ‘Enya, what if it’s just a difference in learn-

ing style?’ And I think that’s a valid counterargument. But anecdotally, I have a hard time believing it. If that were the case, then in theory, people who reject visual learning would develop their skills at the same rate as those who participate and prefer visual learning. But often, that’s not the case. People commit to a path of trial and error instead of finally agreeing to learn visually. And I’ve seen people admit that visual learning may be a better path, expediting a success rate of learning better. Often, the path toward visual learning is a mental shift. Whether it’s dedicating time to slowing down and being more patient or acknowledging a little help never hurts anyone, try and get to a space where you feel like you can designate time to watch in an engaged and active manner. From there, find a teacher, instructor, friend or classmate you consider proficient and patient. If you can’t find anyone who fits your criteria for a mentor, YouTube should be a great resource. And after that, just watch. Take time to observe and analyze before trying to imitate. If visual learning is really not your speed, then more power to you. But if it’s something you’re willing to give a try, I hope that you find watching and learning to be a powerful skill in itself.

Sarah Karkoff Staff Writer

People over the internet may say, “I am in my flop era” or “villain era” or “‘Reputation’ era” or “Mitski era” and so on. Whatever you are going through can be condensed into easy-to-consume terms for the average viewer. In the vastness of social media, people crave originality and nonconformity to put themselves ahead of the rest. This liberation is often created through the commodification of cultural trends. People have used these traits to display certain traits, disorders and hobbies to market how relatable they are. A person’s personality is often constructed based on the social media they consume and the way they consume it.

Canadian writer Rayne FisherQuann explains this phenomena of marketing yourself through cultural consumption to make yourself stand out. Fisher-Quann says, “it’s become very common for women online to express their identities through an artfully curated list of things they consume, or aspire to consume” Fisher-Quann gives several examples of various identities that people construct. Girls who have depression might self-label as a “Fleabag” girl and associate themselves with Joan Didion, Eve Babitz and straight-cut Levis. Instead of describing themselves as people who consume things such as fashion, music or novels, their personhood is created by those things as Fisher-Quann describes.

In order to free ourselves from ridicule, we package our personality

traits and neuroses into aspects from the TV shows we watch and the books we read. The term “era” exemplifies this phenomenon, and there doesn’t need to be a nuance in the personality you are “selling”. While this curated personality creates a common ground between users, their understanding of each other is superficial because it is based on consumerism.

However, when someone does choose to create nuance, it’s to set their own personal experiences ahead of other people who are “selling” the same brand. The need to sell yourself but still appear relatable establishes itself in a sliding paradigm. You can fulfill a popular archetype, but not too much. Having intrusive thoughts makes you exciting and unpredictable, but having too many means that you’re problematic and

believe everything that you think. You can smoke cigarettes and be chic and Lana-Del-Ray-esque but not in the way that makes you seem poor and addicted.

Another way this phenomenon presents itself is through idiosyncrasies or common actions indicative of something more interesting. Imagine this: a video appears on your feed and it says, “here are five signs you have [insert disorder here]. First, [an incredibly common thing everyone does].”

When you scroll through comments there are tons of people saying, “OMG I do this too I didnt realize this was why,” or “My entire for you page is telling me I have this” or “LMAO this is so relatable.”

Continue reading on page 10

You are what you eat: The curated social media personality based off of consumerism

WHAT YOU EAT from page 9

To come out above the rest of the content creators, people pathologize things that are common occurrences. Because as everyone knows, having a mental disorder gains you more social currency.

These types of carefully organized personalities proliferate outside of online spaces. The VSCO girl aesthetic of

2019 is one of the most iconic and early examples of this. The VSCO girl had large scrunchies, big t-shirts, trendy birkenstocks, hydroflasks with boho stickers and Fjällräven backpacks. The personality type was not specifically characterized by personality traits or hobbies, but rather by products they used or had. Their VSCO girl person-

ality was solidified when the wider public created this archetype. While it was niche for a while, too many girls fell into the trend and it became cliche, basic and corny.

If you fail to perform this marketing to yourself, you get caught in another internet trap: the non-player character (NPC). If you are not publicly doing something exciting or entertaining for others, you are considered an NPC. The act of being sellable and relatable

creates personhood. Without this individual uniqueness, you are not viewed as a full being.

In other words, you are what you eat. As Fisher-Quann writes, “We consume so much … that perhaps we don’t know what it means to exist as something unsellable.” Peoples’ outward presentation nowadays is heavily dependent upon the ever-changing trends of consumerism on social media platforms.

The importance of communication in recycling

Salsabeel Salem Contributing Writer

Reduce, reuse, recycle—we’ve all chanted this phrase in elementary school or during a sporadic environmentalist push for sustainability. But to embody this three-word saying everytime we approach the green, black and blue bins in Tinkham Veale University Center is much easier said than done. In a world infested with infinite types of polymers and ever-changing regulations, detangling what can and can’t be recycled is becoming increasingly important to establishing greener habits.

One of the largest barriers preventing people from accurately disposing of their waste is poorly-designed recycling signs. With too many icons and flashy colors, poor signage confuses the populace, overwhelming them with excess information that can’t be processed in a succinct timespan. To correct this error, the sustainability industry has been creating simpler signage with minimal words and few images.

I met with Case Western Reserve University’s Office of Sustainability to discuss CWRU’s recycling habits, and Director of Energy, Sustainability and the University Farm Stephanie Corbett confirmed this trend. Corbett relayed that processing the recycled materials is easy; however, informing people on what can and can’t be recycled is hard. With over 100 buildings across campus, there is no adequate strategy to ensure all bins are adequately labeled and damaged signs get replaced. Without effective and creative advertising, it becomes increasingly common for people to make mistakes. Though it’s easy to blame the average person for not reading recycling signs closely enough, it’s hard to stay up-to-date when the industry keeps changing its rules, especially concerning plastics. Different types of plastics used to be marked with a number corresponding to a recycling method. People used these numbers for years, until suddenly they couldn’t. The industry changed its mind, moving from sorting plastics by composition to the shape of the container. However, many people still relied on the

numbers, even though some numbers were deemed unrecyclable. This shift, though well-intentioned, muddied the way people decided what could and couldn’t be recycled.

In part, changing rules and regulations reflects the industry’s attempt at getting better at recycling. At the meeting with the Office of Sustainability, Corbett talked about how recycling focuses on the recyclables’ quality rather than quantity. Smaller items—such as plastic cutlery and Ziploc bags—are considered too small to justify going through the effort of recycling, so they are thus regarded as non-recyclable. However, larger containers—such as plastic bottles and shampoo containers—are recyclable. Because the rules are built to maximize how much we can recycle given our current resources, what may have been recyclable last year might not be anymore.

These ever-changing regulations can distort our views of what can be recycled. Because communication is a two-way street, it’s partially the individual’s responsibility to seek out upto-date information about what they can or can’t recycle. In fact, students

are the primary source of waste on campus—each student produces an average of 640 pounds of solid waste every year. To combat this on campus, organizations such as the Student Sustainability Council work to inform the student body on ways to recycle effectively. The Office of Sustainability’s website also breaks down what goods are accepted by category. However, these resources will go to waste if we don’t actively seek the information needed to make informed decisions as a student body.

In a busy world with tight schedules and deadlines, streamlining communication is essential to ensure that waste is being properly sorted. People don’t spend more than 30 seconds deliberating which bin their container goes in, so it’s important that they get clear instructions in that time. Trends such as simple signage attempt to do this, compensating for once-confusing attempts to sort materials. Bridging the communication gap is much easier said than done. However, working towards closing it can help increase the amount of recycled goods on campus, creating a greener CWRU.

MEN’S

TENNIS from page 1

Hopper and Shah clinched their singles matches in two sets, putting CWRU just one point away from their second straight national championship. Hishinuma’s sixth singles proved to be the tournament clincher, as he won 7-5, 6-3.

“When [Hishinuma] clinched the title… it was an unreal feeling knowing it was over and the team had done it,” said Dayal.

“Running over to all my teammates and holding up the trophy, I could not have been happier in that moment,” added Aduru.

accomplishment, there is so much more tennis left to be played,” said Dayal about the team’s goals for the rest of spring. “We have a very tough schedule this spring break, as well as the UAA tournament and NCAA tournament. Our sights are currently set on performing our best in those events.”

CWRU will resume competition on March 11 when they travel to Florida for 11 matches in five days. The Spartans will then have eight more matches to fine tune their skills and strategies before challenging for the UAA Championship from April 21-23.

After phenomenal performances by several of the men’s tennis players, the team was named ITA Indoor National Champions. Courtesy of CWRU

The Spartans are on a ten-match winning streak, improving to 10-2 on the season. They’ve also gone 4-0 against nationally ranked NCAA DIII teams. However, the season is not over.

“While we do feel great about this

The 2023 NCAA DIII championship tournament is set for May 13-21. CWRU will find out about their selection in early May for the opportunity to avenge last year’s loss in the championship round.

Women’s basketball ends season 15-10 following 7969 loss to CMU

Mills breaks single season 3-pointer record with 75

Paola Van der Linden Costello Staff Writer

The Case Western Reserve University women’s basketball team fell 79-69 to Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh to conclude their 2022-2023 season. Their season record stands at 15-10 and 6-8 in conference play, earning 6th place in the University Athletics Association standings. This is a strong improvement from last season where the Spartans finished last with a 3-11 UAA record.

The team shot 22-66 overall and 9-30 from 3-point range. They recorded 33 rebounds, 11 assists and 8 steals during the game. CMU almost doubled the Spartans in rebounds in 60 to go with a game-high 15 assists. Fourthyear guard/forward Isabella Mills led all players with 28 points and 11 rebounds—her fifth double-double this season and the 12th of her career. Mills cemented her place in program history after hitting her 74th 3-pointer—the most 3-pointers made in a single season. Mills also crossed 1,000 career

points, giving her another incredible achievement for her last game. Thirdyear guard Sarah Mitchell notched the first double-double of her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Secondyear guard/forward Emily Plachta added 11 points as well.

Mitchell opened up scoring with two

free-throws. A subsequent 3-pointer from Plachta gave the Spartans a 5-0 lead. CMU responded with a 7-2 run, finally taking the lead with a layup. The Spartans trailed for the rest of the quarter, which ended with Mills beating the buzzer with a layup to cut the deficit to four. The Spartans’ offensive struggles

Kevin Love’s legacy in Cleveland

Jack Martin Staff Writer

On Feb. 18, power forward Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers reached a buyout agreement that sent the 34-year-old veteran into the free agency market. Love’s nine-year tenure in Cleveland was not only defined by his on-the-court heroics, but also his philanthropic and personable nature.

In August 2014, the Cavaliers acquired Love in a blockbuster trade that paired him with elite point guard Kyrie Irving and all-time great LeBron James, who had announced his return to Cleveland just the month before. Love’s impact on the Cavaliers was felt immediately. As one of the league’s premier rebounders and 3-point threats, Love strengthened the team on both sides of the ball. The Cavaliers would make the NBA Finals in each of Love’s first four years in Cleveland, ultimately winning the historic 2016 championship.

In the 2016 run, Love’s exquisite performance is one that Cleveland fans will never forget. In the final minutes of Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors, Love put on an amazing defensive display against back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry. For ten seconds, Love danced in front of Curry, contesting his last second 3-point attempt to seal the Cavs.

Another career moment for Love came the following season. On Nov. 23, 2016 against the Portland Trail Blazers, Love dropped 34 points in the first quarter. This ridiculous offensive display was just three shy of Klay Thompson’s record 37-point quarter from 2015. In 12 minutes of play, Love shot 11-14 from the floor, highlighted by his 8-10 clip from deep.

In his nine seasons with the Cavaliers, Love averaged 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. More impressively, the All-Star power forward shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc during his tenure.

Off the court, Love was a fan favorite for his charismatic and relatable persona. In a 2018 article published in The Players’ Tribune, Love revealed his battle with anxiety and depression, becoming one of the most recognizable professional athlete advocates for mental health. This display

continued in the second quarter, down 10 with 7:07 left in the half. A 3-pointer from Mills pulled CWRU within 8 with 1:40 left in the half. With 4 seconds left, Mills hit yet another 3-pointer to finish the half down only 39-34.

In the third quarter, the Spartans tied the game after Mills made a layup with 29 seconds to go, taking the lead 56-54 by the end of the quarter. CWRU pushed the lead to 4 after third-year Kayla Characklis hit a jumper but CMU retook the lead with 7:13 left in the game. The Spartans never recovered and lost 79-69. Despite the loss, the game was still a memorable one for the Spartans as Mills broke a school record and achieved a career milestone. The team concludes this season with a 37.9% shooting accuracy from the field goal range and 33.5% from beyond the arc. The team averaged 39.6 rebounds, 69.4 points and 14.2 assists per game. Mills, Characklis, Mitchell and third-year forward/center Preet Gill were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, based on their achievements in the classroom and the court.

of vulnerability touched many young athletes and fans, who empathized with and shared in his struggles.

When Love’s jersey is inevitably raised to the rafters in Cleveland, fans will remember moments like “The Stop” just as much as his benevolent, down-to-earth character.

Athletics

In CWRU’s most recent game against CMU, fourth-year guard/forward Isabella Mills broke 1,000 career points and the program record for most 3-point shots made in a season. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

Now entering the free agency after nine years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kevin Love has left his mark both on the court and on the city. Courtesy of the Associated Press

Men’s basketball secures NCAA tournament berth with 95-91 win over CMU

Paola Van der Linden Costello Sports Editor

Case Western Reserve University’s men’s basketball team defeated Carnegie Mellon University 95-91 to finish the regular season 21-3 overall and 11-3 against University Athletic Association teams. With this win, the team ensured sole possession of its first-ever UAA Championship. CWRU also improved to No. 8 in the NCAA DIII rankings.

The Spartans had an uncharacteristic start against the Tartans. CWRU turned it over on their first possession, leading to a 6-0 CMU run less than two minutes into the first half. Fortunately, the Spartans course-corrected after second-year forward Umar Rashid made two 3-pointers. Second-year guard Diego Echavarria made a layup on the next possession to give CWRU the lead once again.

The lead grew to 22-13 with 11:05 remaining after a jumper from Rashid. When CWRU fans thought a double digit lead was imminent, the Tartans went on a 13-0 run to put the Spartans down 29-25 with 5:41 remaining. Fourth-year forward Cole Frilling and graduate student guard Mitch Prendergast both responded with 3-point jump shots to put the Spartans up by three points with less than two minutes in the first half. However, CMU had a ferocious 8-2 run and took a 45-42 lead over the Spartans to close the first half.

Third-year guard Luke Thorburn started the second half with a layup that shrunk the deficit to one, but three 3-pointers from CMU left the Spartans trailing by nine with 16:04 left. This marked the Tartans’ highest lead of the night.

A layup by Frilling with 9:40 left to

Women’s Tennis

go gave the Spartans a one point lead. This shot energized CWRU as they took the 73-69 lead following multiple 3-pointers from across the board. The team found their offensive groove and after another successful 3-pointer by second-year guard Sam Trunley and a jumper by Fraunehim, the Spartans

respectively. CWRU also had more rebounds and assists. Frilling led the team with a season high of 30 points, shooting 75% from 3-point range and 69% overall. Trunley and Rashid each added 19 points while Frauenheim recorded his fourth double-double of the season and third in conference play,

record for the highest rebounds per game, achieving around 8 rebounds consistently. Prendergast placed third and Frilling fifth for points per game, averaging 17.2 and 16 respectively. Elam led the conference with the highest field goal percentage, averaging 66.7% from the field. Rashid led the conference with the most blocks, notching 44 total blocks this season and 28 within conference play. It is clear that this team is full of talented individuals, but all will tell you that the ability to work as a team is what has gotten them this far into the game.

Men’s Basketball

Because they won their conference, the CWRU men’s basketball team secured a spot at the NCAA DIII Championship where they will face Arcadia University in the first round. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics

had their highest lead of the night of 10 points and 5:46 remaining in the game. Despite the double digit lead, CMU continued to fight their way through the game, managing to get as close as 3 points before the end of the game. However, CWRU’s defense held strong, and the Spartans finished the game 9591 to improve to a nine-game winning streak in conference play—the longest in program history.

Despite the close score, the Spartans shot 16-33 (48.5%) from the 3-point line and 31-56 (55.4%) overall, significantly better than the Tartans who shot 11-28 (39.3%) and 34-70 (48.6%)

with 17 points and 11 assists. With the UAA championship secured, the Spartans clinched a berth in the NCAA tournament.

As the season starts to come to an end, it is incredible to look back and look at everything that this team has accomplished. The Spartans have continuously demonstrated their ability to bring great plays and break school records. They finished their non-conference play undefeated, and maintained their energy all throughout their conference season. The team shot 37.5% from the 3-point line and 30.3% from the field goal range. Frilling tied the

Scores and Upcoming Games

Men’s Tennis

WashU (2/26) - W 5-1

CWRU vs Hardin-Simmons & Florida Palms (3/11)

CWRU at Lynn vs Florida National (3/12)

Baseball

Indoor Track & Field

CWRU vs UAA Indoor Championships (2/25-26) -

Men’s team: 5/7 (81 pts)

Women’s team: 5/7 (33.33 pts)

CWRU vs Tufts National Qualifying Meet (3/4)

CWRU vs Polar Bear Qualifier (3/4)

We also saw Frilling and Prendergast surpass 1,000 career points. Frilling completed his 1,000 points in 63 games—the second fastest in program history. Rashid also broke the program record in the team’s first game against Washington University in St. Louis with 9 blocks. The team achieved their second highest 3-point accuracy in the game against Brandeis University and scored over 100 points in two of their games. The last time that was achieved was in 1997 and it’s only been accomplished five times in all of program history. We have loved watching this team play, and, like Frauenheim tells us, we have loved watching the team win. Elam, Thorburn, Trunley and Rashid were also named to the 2022-23 CSC Academic All-District Team for the academic and academic achievement.

It is clear that this team is full of surprises and exciting achievements, and we hope to continue seeing them succeed in the NCAA championship tournament.

The team will be hosting their first game of the tournament in the Horsburgh Gymnasium on Friday, March 3 at 6:20 p.m. where they will be facing Arcadia University.

Women’s Basketball

Wrestling

CWRU vs NCAA Central Regional (2/25-26)11th place (36.5 pts)

Softball

vs Grand Slam

vs

vs

vs

CWRU at Barry & Keiser (3/13)

(7-0)

CWRU vs Kenyon (2/26) - W 6-3

CWRU vs ITA National Indoor Championship vs CMS (3/3)