Case Western Reserve University volume xlvi, issue 11 friday, 11/7/2014
the
Observer
Club Case
Harsha Chandupatla & Mary Kate Macedonia/Observer
Fall concert brings lackluster audience, but Juicy J show still entertains “I wish that I could be like the Case kids. ‘Cause all the Case kids they seem to get it…” Students of Case Western Reserve University and guests screamed these slightly-changed lyrics to indie pop band Echosmith’s most well known song “Cool Kids” this Saturday at the Fall Concert. One member of the crowd asked during the set, “Have they played Cool Kids yet? That’s the only song I know…” These CWRU attendees were a different sort of breed than you might see in the labs or on the third floor of KSL. By the time Juicy J came out—around 9:10 p.m.—the packed crowd in front of the Veale stage was like a club, bumping and grinding and all. After Echosmith, a member of University Program Board, the organization which plans the fall concert, asked for the crowd to stop pushing, which at one
point had gotten bad. It was a little rowdy; anyone who wasn’t a fan of crowds stayed further back. Echosmith, who said they are influenced by Coldplay and the Smiths, played for a little less than an hour. Their sound had a good rhythm, but some people complained about not understanding all the words. At times the lead singer, the bass guitar player and the lead guitarist sang all at once, layering their airy voices in the huge gym. Echosmith, led by the small but confident Sydney Sierota, used props: a parasail, drums and a tambourine. Sierota spun the parasail throughout an entire song. I was not sure of its purpose, but it was cool to look at. As far as alternative performances go, it was okay. The music itself wasn’t poor quality but the energy of the set stayed calm, maybe because the members did not connect with the audience. Echosmith also made the fatal mistake of calling CWRU “Case College,” which the crowd chanted back, at one point.
Sometimes the Case kids aren’t very forgiving. The crowd filled up hardly any of the allotted space in Veale, which was the entire indoor track—but, to be honest, I would have been absolutely astounded if that happened. Maybe 250 people attended, but it was hard to tell because people were so crowded together by the stage. In the middle of the crowd it felt like the place was packed. Most of the people who showed up were into Juicy J’s music or rap in general and their energy made the crowd seem bigger. Even during Echosmith’s set people were yelling for Juicy J or wondering out loud, “Could Juicy J do Dark Horse by himself? That would be amazing.” The energy picked up at least threefold when Juicy J came on. He came out sporting a Russian fur hat, and immediately got close to the crowd, reaching his hand out to touch people. I saw two attempts at student crowd surfing, both of which failed miserably. Thankfully, no one got hurt.
He even invited up four members of the audience to dance on stage, and actually played “Dark Horse” with the recorded Katy Perry. Juicy J rapped for about a minute at a time, which was a little jarring when I got into a song and then it stopped. That aspect was disappointing, but still interesting because he talked to the crowd in between every section of rapping. It really felt like Juicy J was partying with us. He asked us questions about smoking weed, relationship status and sex. The crowd shouted in return, sounding like widespread approval of all these things. Which was good, because all of those things are incorporated into much of Juicy J’s lyrics. The artists seemed to emanate that they enjoyed what they were doing, and even though the crowd wasn’t huge, they still seemed to enjoy the experience. Even the members of “Case College” (oops) still had a good time dancing to live party music.
News
A&E
Opinion
Sports
pg. 2 Spotlight on start-ups
pg. 12 Good eats at Crop Kitchen
pg. 7 Acknowledging veterans
pg. 19 Dion Waiters bench star
Alex Clarke Staff Reporter
news Editor’s choice
Company founded by CWRU alumnus launches Kickstarter campaign Everykey raises $25,000 in only two days
Spotlight on start-ups CWRU student wins award for healthcare business John Brogan Staff Reporter
Ki Oh/Observer Everykey is a bracelet that automatically unlocks users’ password protected devices when they are in range. agement taught by entrepreneurship and Mark Patteson marketing professor Walt Sokira. Staff Reporter “We just started with the software, the Everykey, a startup company founded by programming, the very basics of it,” said Case Western Reserve University engineer- Hope Ho, Vice President of Marketing. “Then ing and computer science alumnus Chris we started thinking about what we wanted the Wentz, recently raised over $25,000 in just product to look like, and from that we kept two days of its Kickstarter campaign. The on designing. We started looking at the specs, campaign, launched on Oct. 29, aims to raise the functionality, really making the product $100,000 by its deadline of Nov. 29. something that we would want to use.” Everykey is a Bluetooth enabled wristband Working with other CWRU entreprethat allows the wearer access to “everything neurship resources, including the Blackthat requires a physical key or password,” stone Launchpad, Everkey grew from that automatically unlocking electronically con- idea into a business that now employs more trolled locks or digital devices like phones and than 25 people. Everkey has seen significant computers. With more and more websites re- success at various entrepreneurship competiquiring login information and passwords, Ev- tions, coming in second place at an ideaLabs erykey also doubles as a password keychain, business competition and winning a $25,000 automatically logging wearers into their grant from the Great Lakes Innovation and online accounts when in range of a device. Development Enterprise. Most recently, EverThe company promises exceptional personal key reached the final six pitches at the Nationsecurity, with military-grade encryption for al Blackstone Launchpad Demo Day event. protection against possible hackers. “Chris has been a client of the CWRU “Our product removes the stress of for- Blackstone LaunchPad almost from the ingetting your keys and losing your passwords, ception of [the program],” said Eugene Sasso, while providing even better security than program manager. “We are proud of Chris’ what you have now,” said Wentz on the Kick- spirit, his perseverance, and his success.” starter website. Wentz is the company’s CEO It took almost two years of developas well as its founder. ment to get Everykey to the point where the Everykey also emphasizes style with team felt ready to start a Kickstarter. Using its device, which must share arms with Kickstarter, a website which allows people fashionable watches and other wrist- to crowdfund creative projects, Everykey bands. The company claims “fashion as hopes to expand and start mass producing our north star” in its attempts to merge their product. Everykey’s campaign had aesthetic form with function. earned $40,109 as of press time. Everykey originated in an entrepreneur“People are very drawn to innovative ship class at Weatherhead School of Man- things like this,” said Ho.
Case Western Reserve University student Khalid Al-Dhubaib recently won first place at the Regional Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) for his company Triple Analytics, which helps health care workers form plans for patients that need long term care. “We’re the only company that does decision support for chronic care in real time,” said Al-Dhubaib, who founded Triple Analytics last May. “We integrate population health care analytics with patient engagement.” Triple Analytics has five people on staff, with three more, recruited at the CWRU University Career Fair (which attracted 164 employers and 1459 CWRU job seekers), starting in January. Over 50 resumes were submitted for the positions. “We see [Triple Analytics] becoming the leader in chronic care decision-support solutions for hospitals around the country,” said Al-Dhubaib. The company is starting by focusing on long-term care solutions for patients with diabetes. The Entrepreneurial Organization awarded the GSEAs and presented Al-Dhubaib with the award in Florida on Oct. 23. They also gave him the opportunity to network with other student entrepreneurs from across the country. Al-Dhubaib said that meeting other student entrepreneurs gave him the dedication necessary to make his company thrive. He will now compete in the U.S. Nationals for a chance to go to the +Global Finals in April. Al-Dhubaib used CWRU’s Blackstone LaunchPad and Career Center to help with the company’s formation. He said that they were especially helpful when it came to seeking out and managing potential investors. He is also working with BioEnterprise, as well as other entrepreneurial networks in Ohio. Before founding Triple Analytics, Al-Dhubaib spent three summers working as a health care researcher for a
Stephanie Kim/Observer Cal Al-Dhubaib’s business, Triple Analytics, helps health care workers develop plans for patients who need long-term care. hospital in his home country of Saudi Arabia. He also spent a year working in a wellness program at the hospital, and he continued to do hands-on research for them while in the BS/MS systems engineering program at CWRU. As the only researcher at the hospital with an engineering background, Al-Dhubaib brought a unique perspective to health care. As he started to work on bigger projects, he was able to help improve the hospital’s data management systems and help contribute in a bigger capacity. Al-Dhubaib decided to leave behind that set career path to risk creating Triple Analytics. He feels that his experiences at the hospital have helped him a lot with creating the company. “I’m often in a position where I feel what it’s like to walk in other people’s shoes, coming from Saudi Arabia and coming to Cleveland,” says Al-Dhubaib. “It’s helping me learn to adapt, and you have to be able to do that as an entrepreneur.”
Social media app aims to revolutionize apartment hunting Miriam Ridge Staff Reporter A new website called Quo is aiming to end the frustration of finding a place to live. The website helps people find an apartment using a user-friendly, social media-like interface. In Sept. 2013, Amit Patel and Todd Goldstein founded Quo, which allows users to search for people and places that are relevant to them: colleges, restaurants, bars, employers and more. Users can connect with people
who have similar interests to find the ideal community for them, while still maintaining privacy through customizable settings. “We want you to love the neighborhood you live in,” said Patel, who serves as the Real Estate Owner and Entrepreneur. Goldstein serves as the CEO, Entrepreneur, Investor and Start-up Advocate. Quo also allows tenants to refer other users and friends to their building or area, providing more value than just a random search. The referral system makes it easier and cheaper for landlords to advertise their
real estate. Each referral also earns residents a cash bonus, awarded by their landlord. The website also provides discounts at popular local attractions through their Neighborhood Partners system. “Quo can take you from your first college apartment to moving for your first job,” said Patel. “We’ll take you through the beginning of your life.” The website is currently focused on the Shaker Heights and Case Western Reserve University area of Cleveland, but Patel and Quo’s core team plan to expand to other
parts of the city, and eventually to other major cities and college towns. “Quo tries to create a community or neighborhood feel to apartment buildings,” said Patel. The company is holding a launch party at the Jolly Scholar on Nov. 10. “The Jolly Scholar is at the center of the CWRU community, and is the ideal place for a launch,” said Patel. Students and non-students alike can come to the Jolly Scholar for coupons, deals, and a raffle featuring Cleveland Cavaliers tickets.
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Veteran’s Day
From Virginia to Okinawa, CWRU student served his country Garretson Oester Staff Reporter
Courtesy Williams Nelson Undergraduate student Kyle Nelson played the bassoon in the Marine Corps band.
Now Nelson is studying civil engineering at CWRU.
Freda Li/Observer
Kyle Nelson’s path did not originally lead him to Case Western Reserve University. It first wound through Parris Island, NC, Virginia Beach, the Mojave Desert and Okinawa, Japan. Nelson joined the Marine Corps in 2003, but even then, his path was not typical. As a bassoon player, he filled his senior year of high school with music classes and when he joined the military he became only the second bassoonist to return to the Corps’ band. After completing basic training, Nelson spent nine months in Virginia Beach learning the specifics of his new position, before being stationed in the Mojave Desert. “I loved the job and loved the people,” he said. Yet, when he was transferred to Okinawa, Japan, a major pacific installation for all branches of the U.S. military, his love turned to frustration, despite the “beautiful tropical paradise” that surrounded the base. The main problem Nelson had with Okinawa was that the base wasn’t close to any major towns. He says that the nearest “city” was an hour away and two and a half hours from “any place you’d actually want to be.” “While I was [stationed in the Mojave Desert], I was surrounded by people I enjoyed being with—peers, bosses, and others sharing in the struggle--and many are still my best friends to this day,” Nelson said. “In Okinawa I made strong friendships with people, but my surroundings at work were so dismal that the 3 years I spent there seemed like an eternity.” However, he tried to make the best of his situation, and turned to developing skills he could use later in life. “I got my 60-passenger bus license
there, and learned to scuba dive,” he said. After eight years, Nelson decided he was ready to continue his education with help from the G.I. bill, and he chose CWRU for its rigour and reputation. “My work ethic now compared to then, its totally different,” he said. Civil engineering appealed to him because so much of what the military does is destructive, and he wanted to build things. “After having been a part of an organization that is renowned for destroying things, I felt the need to find a way to have a positive effect,” Nelson said. His experience in the military also directly impacted his focus, which is on wastewater treatment. Having travelled through many poor areas of Asia, Nelson became interested in wastewater, specifically the idea of using algae to break down micro-pollutants. Currently, Nelson is pursuing a variety of post-graduation options, including a job with the Cleveland water treatment system or with a consulting firm working in underprivileged countries. He says that he’s thankful for his military experiences, and that his time in the service left him with a new outlook. “One of the most important things I learned in the military was the life lesson that you really shouldn’t be unhappy with your life, which seems simple enough,” Nelson said. “There are only a few things that can keep you in your current unpleasant situation, but if you can get away from said unpleasant situation you should.” “I could go on and on debunking sayings that take you down a different path, or have you look to greener pastures, but what they all really break down to is trying to live life to the fullest of your own ability and ensuring that your environment doesn’t hinder this,” Nelson added. “Don’t stay in a toxic environment and if a change is needed, take it if you can.”
Camp Kesem cares Service organization hopes to increase student involvement Sruthi Meka Staff Reporter Students who are looking for more service opportunities are in luck. Camp Kesem, a nationwide organization that supports children whose parents have cancer, is looking for more volunteers to run a week-long summer camp for these children, to let them engage and have fun with their peers. According to Tia Mullins, the co-director of Case Western Reserve University’s Camp Kesem, there are nearly three million children in the United States who are affected by their parents’ battles with cancer. “Because they don’t appear sick, their needs are often overlooked and they suffer quietly, leading to academic, social, emotional and developmental problems,” notes the Camp Kesem website. Camp Kesem came to CWRU last summer, and the camp was a success. Now, the organization is looking for help running it again this summer. “Students can get involved in Camp Kesem by being a part of the executive board, becoming a camp counselor, or becoming a
member of our general body,” said Mullins. Students affiliated with Camp Kesem can sit on committees and assist the camp coordinators with fundraising and marketing. Interested students can apply to become counselors until Dec. 2. After a thorough review and an interview process, the chosen counselors will have the opportunity to work at the camp next August at Camp Asbury in Hiram, OH. The organization is also holding the Krazy Kesem Week from Nov. 17 to 21 to celebrate the club and bring more awareness to its mission. Mullins, who has volunteered as a camp counselor in the past, said that her experience with Camp Kesem was life changing. “I was awed and inspired by those kids’ intelligence, charisma, and compassion,” she said. “Not only do you gain useful leadership and communication skills, but you also become a part of one of the largest and supportive communities in the nation.” “Camp Kesem is an organization that I will continue to be passionate about,” she added. “I hope that our organization will grow within the CWRU community.”
Ki Oh/Observer Camp Kesem is looking for applications for counselors for their Aug. 2015 program.
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CWRU School of Law sees increase in applications, despite downward national trend Anastazia Vanisko Staff Reporter Good news for law schools: despite a rapid decrease in application rates in recent years, projections show that they may go back up in the near future. For the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, they already have. Last year, the CWRU School of Law saw a 60 percent increase in applicants and a 50 percent increase in enrollment. This is contrary to the national trend, which has shown that, in 2014, 47 percent of law schools had smaller incoming classes than the previous year. So why has there been a national decrease, and what makes CWRU different? In 2008, people weren’t excited to join the job market, which had high unemployment rates, especially for recent graduates. By going to law school, qualified applicants were able to postpone the scary prospect for a few more years. The recession eventually caught up with the legal market, though, when these students oversaturated the market, leading to a 17 percent increase in the field’s unemployment. Seeing this, many potential law students chose not to pursue the profession, resulting in a 40 percent national decrease in applicants. “It was an overcorrection in the market,” said Michael Scharf, interim co-dean of the CWRU School of Law. Now, the number of applicants is decreasing at its lowest rate in years. Scharf and his Interim Co-Dean Jessica
Berg believe that the School of Law’s increase in applications, despite the national trend, is due to the program’s unique experiential curriculum, small classes and involved faculty. According to Scharf, the school’s curriculum “meets the needs of lawyers in the twenty-first century.” After the resignation of the CWRU School of Law’s former dean Lawrence Mitchell and the court cases surrounding it, a ruined reputation was not unlikely. To ensure otherwise, Berg and Scharf made an effort to reach out to applicants and show them the kind of people they can work with at the CWRU School of Law. They even called accepted applicants within 48 hours to give them the good news personally. Although there has been a declining number of applicants to law schools nationally, the criteria for admission have not been getting any less strict. Many law schools would prefer to admit smaller incoming classes, rather than larger classes with less qualified students. When looking at applicants, the CWRU School of Law examines a number of different factors to make decisions among the growing number of applicants. Scharf says that a high grade point average indicates to the school which students are highly motivated, hardworking and smart, all essential qualities in lawyers. The law school admission test score is another, more objective, indicator of this. The most important component at
the CWRU School of Law, one that is more unique to the school, is leadership. Scharf says that leadership is part of the “persona” of the law school, and they want to see that reflected in each of their applicants. Senior pre-law students Eva Cuollo and Stephanie Farah also recognize the importance of leadership. In order to prepare for law school, and to remain competitive among an increasingly qualified applicant pool, they both worked to enhance their resumes with leadership roles in extracurricular activities. However, both believe that the personal statement is the most important part of the application. “[In the personal statement], tell a story that says, this is me, this is why I’m special, and I’m not going to tell you a story that everyone else has,” said Cuollo, who believes that the personal statement is a way to sell herself to the law school. Farah describes it as a place to explain why she is pursuing law. Neither Farah or Cuollo were surprised when they heard that applications were getting more competitive. Farah has been talking with Terri Mester, CWRU’s prelaw advisor, and is aware of the competition she’s up against. She set early deadlines to stay ahead of schedule. Cuollo, however, is still worried about the rising competition. She feels that law school applicants are getting fewer and fewer chance to prove themselves, with the focus mainly on their GPA, LSAT score, and personal state-
Rohan Ramkhumar/Observer Bucking the national trend, the CWRU School of Law saw an increase in applications this past year. ment. She worries that there are no interviews, and that the focus is just how they appear on paper. “Preparing for law school and applying for it is a really hard process because you’re trying to show who you are,” said Cuollo.
Ninja City owner apologizes for racist online statements Katie Wieser Executive Editor Faced with recent allegations of consumer intimidation, Bac Nguyen, the owner of Ninja City restaurant and a Case Western Reserve University alumnus, has issued a public apology, posted on the restaurant’s website on Oct. 30. Nguyen’s apology is in reference to the remarks allegedly made in response to a one-star Yelp review by another CWRU alumnus, Ruchu Tan. According to Tan, Nguyen replied to this review with a Facebook message which contained personal attacks against Tan and his fellow diner, Divya Aggarwal. Following the coverage of this issue by The Observer and other news websites, Nguyen made a public apology to Tan and any others who were offended by his remarks. Nguyen has been the recipient of a great deal of media scrutiny following the sequence of events in September. Due to the sensitive and personal nature of the messages, he wanted to make sure he took time to carefully consider his response before saying anything publicly. “I have the tendency to respond without thinking, so I wanted to take my time to formulate a sincere apology that could be directed especially to those affected,” he said. The published statement makes clear that Nguyen holds himself responsible for the incident. “A lot of things have been said about me lately, and I deserve much of it,” reads the statement. “I did act crazy, irrational, and said some horrible things. I can’t deny that what I did was wrong.”
He attributes his overreaction to the pride and passion he has for his work, but he realizes that his reaction was out of line. “I’ve received plenty of feedback over the years,” he said. “You hope that people like what you put out there but that’s not always the case. I need to not assume someone’s trying to bash me when they’re just sharing their opinion. I really lost my cool.” Nguyen apologized to those he had offended, but also made efforts to express regret towards those who know and support him personally. “People know me as a friendly person so I think people were shocked,” he said. “I really just wanted to touch base with those who know me and with the public and those who’ve supported me.” “The people I’m most apologetic to, besides Ruchu of course, are my staff who know me and respect me,” he added. Nguyen said that, since the incident occurred, he has been working on learning how to curb his temper. “The last thing I want to do is make Case look bad or make University Circle look bad, I have a lot of pride in Case Western,” he said. “I opened my restaurant here with Case students in mind. I hope that people can give us another chance.” Nguyen wants people to feel welcome to voice their opinions on Ninja City. “We depend on feedback, there’s only so much we can do without feedback from our customers,” he said. “I need to not overreact and be better about my choice of words if I lose my temper.” He, along with his family and staff, are
Courtesy Ninja City’s Facebook Page Ninja City owner Bac Nguyen recently issued an official apology for comments that he made in response to a negative Yelp review of his restaurant. doing their best to move past the incident and have extended an open invitation for any of the people who were members of the Facebook group “Stop Consumer Intimidation: Boycott Ninja City and Bac Bistro Now” as of Oct. 30 to stop by Ninja City to enjoy a meal on the house any time before the end of the year.
The full apology is available on the Ninja City website, along with a statement issued by Nguyen’s business partner. The “Stop Consumer Intimidation Group,” which is over 500 members strong, expressed some concerns with Nguyen’s response, but ultimately accepted the apology.
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The tree that time forgot Julia Bianco News Editor Deep in the heart of the Main Quad, between Adelbert Hall and the Rockefeller Building, stands a small, willowy tree with bright green leaves. It’s unassuming, not nearly as impressive as some of the larger, more intimidating trees around campus. But this tree is different. This tree has a story. This tree has history. The tree, planted in 2005, is a seventh generation descendant of the tree that inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity. As legend has it, Newton was sitting under an apple tree in his mother’s orchard when he was hit on the head by a falling apple. The tree has since become famous for helping him to formulate one of the most fundamental theories of science. Eventually, the original tree died, but before that, graft wood and cuttings were taken, eventually travelling all over the globe. One graft, planted at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), would provide the branch that was eventually brought to CWRU. Arden Bement, former director of the National Science Foundation, donated the tree to CWRU. He had previously
served as a part-time faculty member at the university. He received the graft as a parting gift when he left his position as the Director at NIST in 2004 to take the job at NSF. Bement approached his friend, Arthur Heuer, Director of the Swagelok Center for Surface Analysis of Materials, at an Oct. 2005 meeting of the National Academy of Engineering, telling him that he wanted to plant the graft at CWRU. Heuer wasn’t entirely sure why Bement chose CWRU, but he was happy to accept the gift. The tree became the only “Newton tree” descendant in Ohio. At the time of planting, there were approximately three-dozen descendants of the tree in America. The tree was planted in the fall, but it wasn’t dedicated until April 28, 2006. At the dedication, where John Anderson, CWRU’s provost and university vice president at the time, and Bement spoke, attendees were served Fig Newtons and apple cider. “This is no ordinary tree,” Anderson told The Daily when the tree was dedicated. “As the Newton tree grows, it is our hope that it provides a point of interest for science at Case and a landmark for students and visitors alike who will seek out the tree as a must-see.”
Ki Oh/Observer The apple tree located near the binary walkway, pictured above, is thought to be a descendant of the tree which dropped the famed apple on Sir Isaac Newton’s head. Unfortunately, though, that has not been the case. Since the tree was planted, it has slowly faded into oblivion. “I have no idea why its receded into memory,” said Heuer. “This was the first time I believe I’ve been asked about it since many years ago.” Heuer is one of the few on campus who is even aware of the tree’s exis-
tence. Despite the fact that the tree is listed under the traditions tab on the Office of Student Activities and Leadership’s website, no one from that office had known about the tree. Even several CWRU tour guides, who are trained in campus landmarks, said that they were unaware of the tree, and that it wasn’t a stop on their tours.
Clery Act amended to further improve crime reporting policies on college campuses Gabrielle Buffington Staff Reporter
Look online for an exclusive article about Model UN Find it at observer.case.edu
The Clery Act, a federal statute requiring colleges and universities to keep and disclose information about crime around campus, was recently amended with the passage of 2013’s Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA) to include requirements about reports on sexual violence cases. This news meant change for our campus police department. Sgt. Jeffrey Daberko, who has been with the department since 2006, has witnessed how federal policies change the ways the department must handle campus issues. He says that VAWA’s biggest changes come in the Annual Campus Safety and Fire Safety Report. “The function of the report is twofold,” said Daberko. “It’s to inform students, prospective students, and parents about what’s going on on campus. It’s also to met the federal requirements that the Department of Education puts through.” The report includes alcohol, weapons and drug offenses, burglary and robbery reports, and auto theft. It was also modified in 2008 to include reports of fires and missing persons. With the VAWA’s new requirements, the report will also include incidents of stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, and sexual assault. It also says that universities must carefully outline their disciplinary proceedings for these issues.
The act also adds gender identity and national origin to the list of biases that can serve as the determination of a hate crime. The VAWA also brought large format changes to the report, including adding pages to an already lengthy document. Still, Daberko stressed that it is important for the campus community to read. “When you start publishing something that’s 30-something pages, then the odds that people are actually going to read it probably go down,” he said. He said that it is important to pay attention to the report, because it outlines procedures for students to follow if they are in trouble or need to make a police report themselves. The act will officially be effective on July 1, 2015, but since it was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 20, the U.S. Department of Education stressed that the changes are effective immediately. Since our annual report was released on Oct. 1, the police department was advised to include as much information as possible. The next report will include all of the new requirements. “By next year in the 2015 report, it’s all going to be spelled out,” Daberko said. “If you choose not to be involved in the police process but you want to file some sort of complaint, you have to go through the student judicial process. [The procedure] has to be spelled out. You’ll know exactly what you’ll have to do.” CWRU’s 2014 report is currently available on the police department’s website.
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News in brief
On the beat
Stop, thief
Courtesy Aditya Rengaswamy Theta Chi hosted Mental Health Awareness Week from Nov. 3 to Nov. 8. The fraternity ran numerous events, including hosting a guest speaker, an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament, and a charity dinner. Students also decorated the Spitball (above) with their thoughts on mental health.
There is a saying that there are lies, darn lies and statistics. While that may be true in election season, crime statistics are hopefully a bit more accurate, and they tell us that theft is the most common type of crime at Case Western Reserve University. So what can be done to prevent it? Under Ohio law, there are several categories of theft, depending on the value of the items taken. Petty theft is the theft of anything under $1000 in value—although the theft might not seem petty to the owner. Anything between $1000 and $7500 is considered a felony theft, and anything over $7500 is grand theft—yes, as in grand theft auto. The penalties also go up with the value of the items taken. Petty theft is a misdemeanor; everything up from there is a felony. At CWRU, the most common theft is the theft of unattended items. Electronic devices such as tablets, cell phones and backpacks that may contain electronics are the most common targets. They are usually left unattended in classrooms, lounges, study rooms or eating areas.
Items left around tracks, basketball courts or other athletic areas where the owner is likely to be distracted from keeping an eye on his or her stuff are also common targets. We have even had cases in the past where students resting in public areas have awoken to find the backpack they put down next to them before naptime has disappeared. CWRU police officers have heard, “I only left it for a minute…” one too many times. This is not to say that the campus is like a shark tank, where a tablet left unattended may be swarmed in seconds. However, just like you can go swimming in shark infested waters and come out fine, every time you do, you are taking a risk, just like when you leave your valuables unattended. So keep an eye on your stuff, and let’s look out for each other. On the Beat is a weekly safety column written by Sergeant Jeffrey Daberko and Officer Mark (The Crossing Guard) Chavis of CWRU PD. We welcome questions, suggestions and gripes/groans/moans/complaints about campus life at policecolumn@case.edu.
CWRU Police Blotter Oct. 28 to Nov. 4
Courtesy Lilith Freed Members of the #webelonghere movement hosted a trick or treat booth on Oct. 31 on the corner of 115th Street and Wade Park. “We want to debunk the idea of our community members being dangerous,” said Destinee Henton, president of the CWRU African American Society and a key member of the movement.
Jolly Scholar expands meal swipe options
Andrew Hodowanec/Observer The Jolly Scholar has expanded their meal swipe options to include a cheese pizza, cheese quesadilla and chicken fingers, in addition to grilled cheese.
Adithi Iyengar Staff Reporter The Jolly Scholar recently added three new meal swipe options, despite the fact that the restaurant loses about a dollar per swipe. Originally, the only meal swipe option available was grilled cheese. Now, students have the option of exchanging a meal swipe for chicken strips, a cheese pizza or a cheese quesadilla. They can also swipe for an appetizer and a drink. “A lot of people would come for the meal swipe option, and that would put a lot of stress on the grill by only having grilled cheese,” said Matt Vann, owner of
the Jolly Scholar. The restaurant’s contract with the university’s food management company, Bon Appétit, has made it difficult for them to expand meal swipe options. However, Vann wanted to give students more choices and a greater variety of foods to choose from. Bon Appétit reimburses The Jolly Scholar a percentage of the cost of every meal swipe. “People always want more options,” he said. “We’d love to be a bigger part of that, but currently it’s not possible.” “Students want us to be a bigger part of the meal plan, and we definitely would love to be a bigger player in the future of meal swipes and meal plan options,” he added.
Oct. 29: Bicycle theft—bike taken from rack, Leutner Commons. Oct. 30: Petty theft/shoplifting—items taken from store, Barnes and Noble. Oct. 31: Bicycle theft—bike taken from rack, Storrs House. Oct. 31: Simple assault—physical altercation between two ELS students, Stone Commons. Nov. 2: Criminal mischief—fire extinguisher discharged in residence hall, North Residential Village #7. Nov. 2: Attempted robbery—two male suspects demanded contents of victim’s pockets, and fled when they were advised they were on camera. Security alert issued, no injury to victim, no weapons seen, Hazel Road.
opinion Editor’s note
In honor of service
A little more than ten years ago, I stood in a room with a small crowd of people as all raised our right hand and recited our Oath of Enlistment for the first time. We were all there for different reasons. Some wanted to defend their country, some wanted to see the world, some were just there out of desperation. I always used to say that I ended up in the Army because I stood in the wrong line at the mall. But from that moment on, we swore to put the welfare of the United States before our own and we became a part of something together. What I’ve discovered over the past couple of years that I’ve attended Case Western Reserve University and other schools is that the people I stood in that room with on that Saturday and those I share classrooms with now are really pretty similar. Young. Loyal to their friends and organizations, focused on the future. Both groups even deal with similar struggles every day, like watching Netflix until 2 in the morning and then trying to struggle through eight hours of PowerPoint training, or faking your way through a lecture only to realize that the lab portion actually requires that you know what you’re doing. Except in the military, no one’s allowed to sleep through class, and the application of theory can be life or death. Military veterans of the latest conflicts are volunteers. They signed up for the chance to serve their country, in whatever capacity they were asked to do so. In the course of my eight years of service, I met some amazing people. I saw first-hand the incredible bravery and courage of those around me and was continually humbled by those who chose to serve and who became my brothers and sisters. I also saw those who had first joined for the free college tuition, grow to become individuals with a passion for the country and a deeper understanding of the sacrifices necessary to maintain the American way of life. The military forces you to value the members of your team above yourself. For many of us, it was the first time we were able to be a part of something that mattered. It was an amazing experience, but also an experience which makes it difficult to adjust to normal life. Two of those I met in my first iteration of training didn’t come home after their first deployment, and two more came home with mental scars which resulted in suicide. Although I see lots of similarities between those four soldiers and the hundreds of students I’ve met here at CWRU, it’s hard to imagine that, given just a slight tweak in circumstances or preferences, the girl sitting next to me in SAGES could just as easily have been
one of 2,467 service members between the ages of 18 and 22 who were killed in conflict in the past 13 years. Or one of the 22 veterans who commit suicide every day.We joke about all of our majors just being “pre-unemployment,” but the unemployment rate for ‘Gulf-War II’ veterans is 9 percent, compared with the 6 percent experienced by non-veterans. The unemployment rate for veterans between the ages 25 and 34 was 9.1 percent. Military veterans face significant challenges that many traditional students will never have to face. And whether they signed the dotted line out of courage, patriotism or desperation, these individuals served their countries with full knowledge of these challenges. Most of us know someone who has made this choice. Maybe it’s a family member or that Facebook friend who is always spamming your news feed with pictures of themselves decked out in camouflage or crisp dress uniforms. Take the time to reach out to them in honor of Veteran’s Day next Tuesday. It may not seem like much to you, but for those who feel left behind by their peers or by institutions that expect them to ignore any selfish impulse, the appreciation goes a long way. Not everyone who served had to rise against spectacular odds or struggle to live through another day, but we’ve all chosen to put our destiny in the hands of the American people and serve in whatever way was determined to be necessary. I’m glad that I chose to stand in that room ten years ago. I have few regrets about my time in service and am grateful for the opportunities I received. But the aspect of service that I’ve come to value most was the community. I will never forget those I served with or stop mourning the loss of my brothers. Please join me in remembering these individuals and all of our veterans this week.
Katie Wieser Executive Editor and Publisher
A call for campus-wide culture change The meaning of Spartan life Jacob Martin Her eyes were hidden behind dark, round aviators. She had on a blue-gray varsity athlete track jacket, and her hair was flowing freely in the wind. Despite her shades and the impossibility of assured eye-contact, she smiled at me as we passed one another Tuesday on Euclid Avenue. I smiled back. I had no way of knowing whether she was laughing at me, mildly intrigued or just plain friendly. For all I know I had a stain on my sweater or my fly was undone; all I know is that she smiled, and I smiled back. Sometimes life’s most seemingly insignificant moments have the power to elevate and inspire, prompting you to think about something only thinly related in a new way. That girl’s smile made me think about our campus community and society in general. Last week, Vice President for Student Affairs Lou Stark wrote as a guest opinion columnist in this paper. He talked about how our campus came together at the death of four undergraduates in the first week of classes and fell apart with the posting of anonymous racial Yik Yak comments two months later. He talked about President Barbara Snyder’s subsequent condemnation email of the latter and the merits and shortcomings of social media. He
talked about how students can build a better community through dialogue and learning and how it is up to us to either change or accept the community we have. His column was titled “Make it the community you want.” So what community do we want? Should we change anything? What would we keep, and what would we change? What should our community look like? Case Western Reserve University is in need of a major culture change. Something needs to happen at the student and administrative levels because blatant racism and rampant ignorance aren’t the hallmarks of education. They’re the antithesis of education, the stains of idiocy. We claim to have a strong set of communal values, but where can I find out about them? Unless a student was industrious enough to scour the CWRU website for these statements of purpose and core values he would have no way of knowing what they were. Enter ignorance. We also claim to be a diverse, integrated, globalized and inclusive campus, yet we have students posting anonymous comments condemning these very points and an obvious divide between whites and blacks, U.S.-born and international students. Enter racism. Furthermore, the university is doing little to properly prepare for such a diverse climate.
The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer exists to report news affecting and/or involving students and to provide an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer at (216) 302-4442 or e-mail observerads@case.edu. The Observer is a proud member of the CWRU Media Board. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be e-mailed to observer@case.edu or submitted on our website at observer.case.edu. Letters can be mailed to 10900 Euclid Avenue, Suite A09, Cleveland, OH 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter.
If an 18-year-old from America has never met an 18-year-old from China, what do you think is going to happen when they come face to face? Nothing. Just because you have a little of X and a little of Y and you put them in the same vicinity doesn’t mean you’ll end up with a new product Z. Enter idiocy. If CWRU wants to be the place its website and literature and tour guides propagandize it to be, it needs to start instilling these core values, beliefs and visions into students before they get to campus. In the accepted student welcome packet these things need to be major highlights. Admitted students should know these are the things we stand for, these are the things we believe in here, and this is who we are. During orientation there needs to be a move away from treating college freshmen like high school freshmen. Actually, I don’t remember having my hand held as much during my high school orientation. We treat new students like twelve-year-olds, sheltering them further from the realities of CWRU and college life until they are apathetic, jaded upperclassmen ready to take their piece of paper in its overpriced frame and leave. These are just some ways to indoctrinate students into a culture of acceptance and true diversity. But the work isn’t done there. I can’t say how many times I’ve walked down the bi-
nary walkway or through Mather Quad, made eye contact with a student or even an adult, smiled and had them look away. I can’t say how many times the other person wouldn’t make eye contact in the first place. The merciless clock ticks faster than the patter of feet, and headphones block out everything else. A simple smile is no longer important. I hope the measly smile I managed to flash to the young athlete made her feel the same way hers made me feel. The entire exchange happened in about two seconds, so even if she happened to read this she probably wouldn’t know I was talking about her, but that’s okay because recognition isn’t the point; the gesture itself is. The smallest effort of turning one’s mouth up is the point. Unfortunately, common courtesy gestures on campus are endangered and on the road to extinction. We don’t hold doors, say hi to people we meet or smile when we see them pass right by. We need a campus marked by love and compassion. We need administrators to help actualize this and students who believe it. Until then, try to smile. Jacob Martin is a weekly Opinion columnist. He absolutely loves the revamped case. edu website. Marketing at its finest: statistics, rankings and money everywhere! Nothing like showing our values to the world.
the observer
established in 1969 by the undergradute students of case western reserve university executive editor & publisher KATHLEEN WIESER director of design MEREDITH DYKEHOUSE director of web & multimedia MARY KATE MACEDONIA director of print MIKE MCKENNA director of business operations TAYLOR MORAN advertising & marketing manager COLE MORRIS account manager JAMES VELETTE digital publicity & communications manager JESSICA YANG news editor JULIA BIANCO a&e editor ANNE NICKOLOFF opinion editor AQUENE KIMMEL sports editor JP O’HAGAN advisor BERNIE JIM multimedia editor HARSHA CHANDUPATLA web editor JOE SATTERFIELD news layout CHRISTINA CHENG a&e layout VICTOR LOPEZ copy editors JENIECE MONTELLANO, ELLIE RAMBO sports layout ROBERT BROWN ADITHI IYENGAR
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What precedes community The elephant in the room Andrew Breland Last week, Nov. 4 specifically, the U.S. held the midterm general elections. By 11 p.m. it was obvious that the Republican Party would regain control of the U.S. Senate and expand their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here in Ohio, all of the statewide elections also went to the Republicans—margins ranged from 45 percent to 13 percent. By all accounts, nationally and here in Ohio, it was a hallmark victory for the GOP. This should, however, be taken with a sort of caveat. In Ohio, turnout for the elections sat somewhere around 38 percent. Here in Cuyahoga County, predictions were marginally better—40 percent. Nationwide, it looks like this election will match previous elections at around 41 percent. In other developed democracies around the world, turnout rates are better on average. Germany sits at about 85 percent. France averages 76 percent. India, even with a massive population, reports 66 percent turnout. Brazil, another large country, has 83 percent. Of course just comparing these numbers is a large simplification. Some countries make voting compulsory, others only hold elections once a year. But in general, the United States suffers from one of the worst voter turnout percentages in the world.
This points not just to apathy in regard to politics, which many people argue is true. Instead, it indicates a lack of community and a sense of involvement with the rest of the world. For many, university students especially, the world of politics, conflict and anything other than daily work, food and sleep is a foreign concept. When our world clashes with that one, it’s abrupt and conflicting. One prescient example of the two worlds colliding occurred two weeks ago. By now, most everyone should know about the racist comments made against protesters on campus. For those still unaware, during a demonstration as part of a “National Day of Protest,” students from a number of minority rights groups walked throughout campus at night chanting, arguing against police brutality. The protests were triggered by the allegedly improper shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer. Whatever your views on the subject (and many, including me, have strong and competing views on the veracity of parts of the movement), all must admit that the protest signified an uncommon instance where a part of the campus engaged with the outside world. However, the responses that followed illustrate the discomfort. While many students sat silently in their rooms, others took to social media to support or attack the demonstrators. Some now-famous messages compared them to animals and used other offensive language. The visceral
responses illustrate just how hard it can be when our idyllic world clashes with that outside our ivory tower. Students on college campuses exemplify the kind of apathy that causes discomfort. In the past few weeks, students were annoyed or offended by the protest, by Young Americans for Liberty’s free speech wall, by voter outreach efforts and more. Although these were simply attempts to bring students back into the real world. Unfortunately, this might be our own fault. Students tend to dissociate from the outside world. We stop listening to the news and start to care about the latest hashtag or viral article on Facebook. This sometimes results in the delivery of information, but often blinds us to what’s really going on. How many students know what is going on in Ukraine right now? I could imagine most know that Russia invaded the country a couple months ago? But would most realize that two other provinces are voting to secede, and that Ukraine is using their own military to keep the country together? How about here at home? While the internet is abuzz with Ebola, what about other diseases that kill millions? What happened to net neutrality? Where did the outrage over the NSA go? The country as a whole is driven toward these short bursts of interest in small issues. This is only exacerbated with students. Too often, students have their heads in a book or computer, oblivious to the outside world
around them. Oblivious to the struggles that other people are facing. Unfortunately, this outlook creates conflict. Not just between us and the outside, but after graduation, students who have been immune to news for the last four years are once again inundated with it. Presently, our immunity raises generations of people comfortable with being apathetic. We shouldn’t exist in an environment where the response to “Who are you voting for” is “Who’s running?” There shouldn’t be an option to say “What is that?” when asked about the ongoing conflict in Syria. “I don’t care” shouldn’t be in our vocabulary. Apathy is a dangerous thing. We can complain about the lack of community or tradition at Case Western Reserve University, but that ignores the larger issue. Students are apathetic. Apathetic students become apathetic adults. That has to change. So, although some might have been startled by the protest, although some might have been offended by statements on the free speech wall, the efforts are for the better. They should continue and become more common. If people will not learn themselves, those of us determined to better our community and world should speak louder. Andrew Breland, senior, is a weekly Opinion columnist. Contact him at awb69@case.edu.
Reading into the situation Guest column Enio Chinca I have a question. How many people reading this article still read books for fun? Be honest. Probably not many of you. I am sure there are still lots of people who love reading, and I by no means want to discredit you. However, how many of you who don’t read anymore recall loving reading as a kid? Does anyone remember being trapped in a story for hours on end? I certainly do. What has changed that we no longer love the stories we read, that took us on journeys around the world and beyond? I asked many people about what they think caused this phenomenon, and the feedback I got was mixed. Some people said the English program in schools was to blame. They cited deep textual analysis as the beginning of the
end for their career as readers. When asked about his opinion on reading, Alex Beisner said, “When you’re young and you are learning you read, you can choose what you read. But as you get older and get told what to read, it just becomes more of a hassle.” This idea makes perfect sense at first glance. School turned the pleasure of reading into work, and students found reading fiction books wildly less entertaining after dissecting an act of Macbeth for an hour. However, the flaw with this theory is obvious just by what people here at Case Western Reserve University study and love. I am sure students here had dreams of being doctors as kids and are still studying to become doctors. Why did studying science in school not dissuade kids from enjoying biology and chemistry now? I don’t mean studying for exams,
because no one enjoys that. I am referring to the interest people still have in actually learning more about science and medicine. All the people I interviewed echoed the same idea that they still find new knowledge about science very interesting. Thus, I think people’s opinions toward reading are due a cultural shift to instant entertainment. Books require patience and focus, something our generation is not known for. Long entertainment like books were replaced with instant entertainment like Netflix and Instagram. According to psychologists, our brains work similarly to the social media we use, storing memories as keywords that are easily recalled when mentioned by another person or source, rather than hardwiring entire memories all together. TV shows can call on our memories, using visual cues and common plot tropes, and
social media uses keywords and pictures to help us link our old memories with the information we receive. Sophomore Paige Hughes agreed: “Technology taught us to rely on immediate gratification, whereas books are a gradual process that we have lost the patience for.” This is not meant to be an attack on anyone, since I am one of the many who have stopped reading. I think it’s important, however, that we as a generation at least take note of what is happening, before famous and exciting books like “Sherlock Holmes” or “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” turn from mystery to history. Enio Chinca, freshman, is a staff reporter for The Observer’s Arts & Entertainment section.
School spirit (emphasis on school) Guest column Kevin Qosja What do you picture when you think of school spirit: painted faces, pep rallies, pom-poms, screaming students and a large crowd doing the wave when their home town makes that winning touchdown? Those all sound like fair (and rather exciting) descriptors for school spirit, but those are not the only ways to show your admiration for your favorite place of learning. Notice that the items above would not really be used to describe Case Western Reserve University students’ behavior as a whole. A recent editorial cited CWRU students’ lack of attendance at football games and other campus-wide events as evidence of CWRU’s lack of spirit. However, it was also noted that students do have pride; they just do not express it enthusiastically. This is true, but I argue that it is less a problem than it is a manifestation of the school’s personality.
As the article says, we are a “proudly self-admitted ‘nerd school.’” When we talk about our university, we praise it for its academic renown. Sporting events may not be crowded, but when Steve Wozniak visited, tickets sold out almost immediately. Is anyone going to say that CWRU held back on spirit in the massive crowd, the outrageously long line to meet said genius and the great influx of pictures onto social media? Admittedly, there are many more events on site that would easily excite many students, but when time becomes an issue and people are not instantly excited about it, motivations start to become more extrinsic (food and extra credit). Those four hours that it would take to go to a football game may be useful to do homework, work on research, or attend meetings for our extracurriculars. While that may sound like it is not very spirited, I argue that that is the best way nerds express their pride in their school: their academic enthusiasm. It is a show of spirit when seniors
try their absolute hardest to get into the best graduate school or when members of a club go to a nationwide convention to represent their school and bring back awards—sounds an awful lot like a sporting event, does it not? Even the quiet freshmen studying into the very depths of the night are showing their pride for their place of learning. After all, what better way to show respect to a school than to master its schoolwork? Granted, some may argue these are actions that students do to help themselves; nevertheless, the school is improved as a whole. Surely, if we appreciate more conventional “spirited” events where people enjoy themselves for the benefit of the school, we could accommodate those who push themselves academically for the benefit of the school. The purpose of spirit is to get people excited about their alma mater. Someone who is full of energy may look more excited about CWRU, but I see no reason why that means that they are any more
proud than a quieter student. The volume at which one expresses their gratification does not correlate to how grateful they are. There are many ways that people show their spirit at CWRU, and that is the reason our school is worthy of the appreciation we give it. To everyone on our sport teams, to everyone who plans the brilliant events on campus and to everyone who attends the events and yells and does everything I mentioned at the top, thank you. You bring a vibrancy and energy that make the campus feel alive. For those who usually avoid most of these events, you will be surprised by how much you would enjoy them and how much you would want to come back for more. As a whole though, it is everyone who goes here and everything they do to show their appreciation that gives our great university its particular brand of nerd spirit. Kevin Qosja is a freshman at Case Western Reserve University and has school spirit.
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arts & entertainment
Illustration Annie Nickoloff/Observer
University Circle Happy Dog serves up food, music and memories Nardine Taleb Contributing Reporter It looks like the place to make college memories. This is the new Happy Dog, added to the local and well-known Euclid Tavern, right down the street in University Circle. Its owners, Eric Williams and Sean Watterson, have combined Happy Dog’s deliciousness with Euclid Tavern’s bar and stage, although parts of the venue are new. It’s seen in the floorboards—the old beige flooring that meets the darker brown—that the place is set up to preserve the history of the location. Yet, it still embraces the new events, people and memories to come. The new stage is up front, having been moved from a spot perpendicular to Euclid Avenue. The stage is high-tech, managed by the “sound guy” from The Black Keys, a rock duo based in Akron, Ohio. The bar is to the side, right in front of the door. There’s a back room with some pinball
machines and the words “Happy Dog” spelled on the wall in bubbly, colorful letters. The designer of the wall work is called Superelectric, a creative group that owns a pinball parlor on West 78th street, where guests can play pinball and listen to music. Just from walking into this hot dog and music paradise, it can easily be understood that Williams, Watterson, their sound engineer and Superelectric, have brought together high quality food and entertainment in a unique, quaint space. Already, the place is a hit. The new floorboards have welcomed artists like Uno Lady, Oozing Wound, Electric Citizen and countless other bands and local musicians. Happy Dog and Euclid Tavern have also hosted talks by the Institute for the Science of Origins, and a Halloween Dance party. The televisions are always playing acelebrating Case Western Reserve University football. There are still many more events to come in collaboration with Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland
Institute of Art and Cleveland Institute of Music students, and other bands. This is not just a place to chill and make memories. The most unique aspect of it is that, like Watterson puts it, “It’s open.” And that’s exactly what it is: open. When asked what Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern is meant to do, Watterson said, “There’ll be music, there’ll be talks. They’ll all be original. We’re really excited to engage everyone, students, museums.” He noted that there is so much interesting work and interesting people. “This is our way of introducing those folks to the broader community,” he said. Now, on to the mouth-watering food. Here’s a quick run-down on one of the riches of the place. The menu is distinguished from the West Side and other Happy Dogs location. The Hilly’s chili, the mozzarella, the refried beans, the banh mi picked vegetables and the chix-fil-a coleslaw are all hot dog toppings that are either completely new or tweaked from existing
Hot dogs, alcohol and live events are endless at the recently combined Happy Dog and Euclid Tavern.
Upcoming Happy Dog Concerts: Friday, Nov. 7, 9 p.m.: Sexypigdivas/Listen Little Man/ Thorla ($5) Tuesday, Nov. 18, 9 p.m.: Heavenly Creatures/ShiSho/Elizabeth Kelly (Price TBA) Friday, Nov. 21, 9 p.m.: Heart Attack Man/Dead Leaves/My Mouth is the Speaker ($5) recipes. The famous Happy Dog tater tots can accompany hot dog orders. The stage may have changed its placed, but the memories stayed the same. Whether visitors remember past karaoke nights or performances from their favorite bands, the building has been more than just a bar for Clevelanders. Here’s to Happy Dog being more than just a hot dog place, too.
Stephanie Kim/Observer
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Taking a bite out of Cleveland… at Crop Kitchen
CWRU THOUGHTS
Stephanie Kim/Observer The recently-opened Crop Kitchen keeps a modern flare in the University Circle restaurant scene.
Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter Crop Kitchen, the newest member of the University Circle restaurant family, now occupies the space vacated by the Asian-fusion restaurant Accent. Chef Steve Schimoler and CROP Restaurant Group have succeeded in making the otherwise cold Uptown aesthetic feel warm and inviting using the building’s gorgeous, windowed dining room to create an open and organic space. Featuring a menu adapted from Schimoler’s first Cleveland restaurant, Crop Bistro & Bar, this Crop specializes in global comfort food stemming from the farm to table tradition. In addition to keeping the original ceiling, Crop Kitchen incorporates some familiar elements from Accent, the building’s original tenant, like a sushi bar. From the start, Crop’s “snack” appetizers make it clear that the emphasis of each dish is on the medley of fresh ingredients. The truffle popcorn is a gourmet rendition of the classic movie theater treat that is fragrant, flavorful and deliciously buttered. Basil and balsamic vinegar decorate the top of the popped kernels, playing nicely with the earthiness of the snack’s truffle oil. With such powerful flavors, this course is almost certainly too much for one person to finish, so sharing is recommended. Also under the snack portion of the menu,
Crop Kitchen Rating: Location: University Circle, 11460 Uptown Ave. Prices: $5 - $19 the goat cheese dumplings are a highlight, offering up a recognizable blend of Asian flavors and vegetables like water chestnuts and bok choy. The tart goat cheese is an excellent choice to balance the slightly overwhelming taste of miso vinaigrette soy sauce. Most Crop Kitchen snacks cost under $10. For the main course, Crop provides lots of variety with a menu that features everything from chicken curry to burgers to beef udon noodles. Of all these options, the chicken cassoulet is easily the largest and most filling portion. The dish is presented as a huge, piping-hot pan of white beans and meat that includes savory grilled chicken, tender pork belly that and a hearty sausage. Both the sausage and chicken are particularly good, but as a whole, the dish is unmemorable. From personal experience, this dish also makes for satisfying leftovers. Crop Kitchen offers a solid dinner experience that splits the difference between the casual atmosphere of Ninja City and fine dining of L’Albatros. Soon to be open for lunch, Crop Kitchen’s menu seems best suited for a midday meal in Uptown.
Maria Fazal Staff Reporter
Stephanie Kim/Observer
The Case Western Reserve University community is known for thinking beyond the possible. Each week, this column aims to capture a slice of camous life. Q: What would you like people to know about Mental Health Awareness Week? A: It’s really about showing support for everyone. The thing about mental illness is that we don’t talk about it
enough, and it’s very easy for people to internalize it and feel like they’re alone in their struggles. I think the biggest part is to make sure everyone is aware that people everywhere are struggling with this and that people everywhere also want to help.
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A comedian roundup Vote for UPB’s spring 2015 performer Tiffany Cheung Contributing Reporter Voting for the University Program Board 2015 Spring Comedian event is currently underway. Students can choose from six comedians and are able to vote for multiple individuals. The choices are: Demetri Martin, Bo Burnham, Wanda Sykes, Gabriel Iglesias, Bill Cosby and Nick Offerman. Martin, an American comedian, is best known for his standup comedy. He has been seen on “The Daily Show” and his own Comedy Central Show, “Important Things with Demetri Martin.” The next candidate, Burnham is not only an American comedian but a singer-songwriter. He is known for his comedic and satirical songs, becoming famous through his YouTube channel; now he has his comedic tracks and albums. The next choice, Sykes, is an American actress and comedian. She is known for her work on various television shows such as “The Chris Rock Show,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and her own show, “The Wanda Sykes Show.” The next comedian, Iglesias, is an
American comedian that is commonly known as Fluffy. His work is portrayed through his shows such as “I’m Not Fat... I’m Fluffy” and “Hot & Fluffy,” his movies and his standup acts. Cosby is a controversial choice, given his recent involvement with several sexual harassment cases. However, his time as an American comedian, actor and musician makes him one of the most famous comedians on this list, with involvement in award-winning shows, movies and albums. Finally, Offerman is an American actor that is best known for his role as Ron Swanson on the show “Parks and Recreation.” Fans of the show know of his comedic skills and humor. The results of the poll will help UPB determine which comedian they should bring to campus. Kya Sherman, the director of public relationships for UPB, encourages everyone to vote for the comedian. “UPB really values students’ input into planning our events so we try to reach out to the student body as much as possible for feedback, opinions, and ideas,” she said. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Nov. 9. Visit the UPB orgsync page to give your input.
Profoundly cynical, devilishly ambiguous “Gone Girl” a wild adventure Winston Eng Staff Reporter One of the more brilliant releases of 2014, David Fincher’s “Gone Girl” is more than just a piece seeking to entertain its audience. Often dependent on unexpected reveals and altered perspectives, the film seeks to thrill and confuse its viewers with its consistent shifting vantage points and visibly eerie tale. To start, “Gone Girl” focuses on Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) who is under suspicion for the disappearance of his wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), after an initial missing person’s case transfigures into a homicide investigation following some surfacing reveals. While all seems to be going well for the couple, deeper analysis via Amy’s personal journal and physical clues leftover from Amy’s annual anniversary scavenger hunt for her husband Nick reveal flashbacks which hint at a more realistic and skewed view of their relationship. Consistently, the film strings together a series of events where each could be its own separate story, and it does so with seamless finesse. Did they really have a perfect marriage? Should we trust Amy’s diary? What about Nick’s testimony to the two detectives leading the investigation? Suffice to say, the movie answers all of these questions in due time and always quite clearly. By no means is this film meant to be subtle in its approach to solving the many inquiries it produces. It is also worth noting that all performances are spot-on. Pike no doubt radiates in the spotlight through her crafty manipulation
“Gone Girl” Rating: Release Date: Oct. 3,2014 and undaunted composure. Notable mentions include Tyler Perry, whose performance is a nice breath of fresh air from his romantic comedies, and Kim Dickens, who undertakes a pinnacle role as a homicide detective and produces an exceptionally written and acted performance in this ensemble cast. With immaculate wide shots, a desaturated color palette and a present, ominous score from composer Atticus Ross, “Gone Girl” is insanely confusing in how cleverly it manages to present itself, despite being filled with droll situations left and right. To consider the plot pure madness would be fair, especially if your cup of tea involves a sickly sadistic flavor. While every twist and turn is justifiable, some are just plain over-the-top, and retrospectively, they may not make as much sense as they did when compared to the initial live viewing. In this sense, “Gone Girl” reminisces of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” compounding overwhelming madness into an awkwardly comical situation. Despite scenes sprouting seeds of disbelief consistently, you will be drawn to accepting these scenarios with somehow assumed plausibility. Those familiar with Fincher’s other films especially “Se7en,” “Zodiac” and “The Social Network” will be entranced with “Gone Girl;” fans of Denis Villeneuve’s “Prisoners” or “Enemy” are encouraged to attach themselves to this film as well.
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Playlist of the Week Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter
“Paradise Girls” —Deerhoof For the last 20 years, Deerhoof have been one of the many artists pushing the indie-rock envelope, incorporating a dizzing array of avant-garde flourishes and various genres into their music. “Paradise Girls” is no exception, injecting a surprisingly funky groove into a fracture electro-pop song. Deerhoof’s new album, “La Ilsa Bonita,” is available on Polyvinyl Records starting Nov. 4.
“Dragonfly” — Magic Castle The tones conjured by Magic Castle on their new album “Sky Sounds” are much like an oversaturated Polaroid photo; they take a seemingly long time to develop, and they have a colorful filter that evokes nostalgia for the past. In the case of this Minneapolis quintet, that past is most definitely the psychedelic ‘60s, as the expansive deluge of reverb, crystalline guitar and spaced-out jam “Dragonfly” will attest. Released on Nov. 4, this signature blend of psychrock sounds is sure to please any fan of the genre.
“Allons-y (1)” — Pink Floyd Pink Floyd has returned in 2014 to reintroduce us to the classic rock sounds they pioneered in the ‘70s. “Allons-y (1)” sounds suspiciously like the track “Run Like Hell” from the group’s 1979 album “The Wall,” but at this stage in their career, Pink Floyd does not have to reinvent the wheel to give fans what they want. This single is surely the sign of good things to come on the band’s forthcoming album, “The Endless River,” due out on Nov. 11.
“Make You Better” — The Decemberists Indie rock has changed a lot in The Decemberists four-year absence, in some cases for the worse – here’s looking at you, Mumford & Sons – but the reaffirming thing about music is that it will always have room for genius. Due out sometime next year, The Decemberist’s new album, “What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World,” promises to sport the literary flair and musical daring of past releases in the group’s catalog; the Avett Brothers-esque “Make You Better” is more than proof of that.
“Clearing” — Grouper In many ways, “Ruins” is the perfect album title for the songs on Grouper’s latest offering, implying tracks that are spacious, haunting, delicate and worth revering. “Clearing” is an utterly hypnotizing song. The way that singer Liz Harris’ voice is nearly indistinguishable from the pitterpatter of piano keys is a sonic cue to the listener to pause and really listen to what is going on, not just in this one song, but also in the surrounding world. “Ruins” was released on Kranky Records on Nov. 4.
Retro Pick of the Week: “Modern Kicks” — The Exploding Hearts 1977 was a golden year for the world of punk rock, a year that saw the emergence of both The Clash and the Sex Pistols. The Exploding Hearts were perhaps the best punk rock band to emerge since that original wave, transforming revivalism and hero worship into amazingly raw and melodic songs. Tragically, a van crash killed three of the group’s members in 2003, cutting their career much too short. Punk ensembles as talented as The Exploding Hearts don’t come along often, and “Modern Kicks” proves it.
Find all these tracks online with our weekly Spotify playlist at observer.case.edu Teddy Eisenberg is a third year programmer at WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland. He hosts The ’59 Sound, an exploration of rock music, every Thursday morning from 8-10 a.m.. and co-hosts the variety talk show Max and Teddy in the Morning at Night (Sometimes) on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. The crackle of vinyl warms him on cold Cleveland nights. All photos courtesy pitchfork.com, thefourohfive.com, zumic.com, self-titledmag.com
“People’s Art Show” opens to commendation and condemnation Maria Fazal Staff Reporter One of Cleveland’s most controversial art exhibitions has returned for another round. This marks the 21st Cleveland State University’s “People’s Art Show.” The show always leaves an impression, regardless of whether it’s a good or bad one. The main catalyst for the controversial works is the lack of rules or requirements. As long as the works are not illegal or dangerous to viewers, the show will exhibit them. Understandably, this has resulted in some artists using little to no discretion when making their works. The show was created in 1983 as a populist experiment, which allowed normal people rather than judges and curators to decide what they want to exhibit. As Art Gallery Director Robert Thurmer clarified, “The show was conceived to serve ordinary people free from snobbery, elitism and pretension—no curators, no professionals and no taste police.” The Galleries at CSU’s website also promises that the show is a “non-juried, free and open celebration of creativity, diversity and imagination” and that “all people are invited to exhibit; no entries will be refused.” The only other requirement is that you have to deliver your piece in person, which is something those who are uncomfortable presenting a particularly scandalous piece should keep in mind. Additionally, each person is permitted to submit a maximum of two pieces. Initially the art show was a yearly event, but it became a biennial event to reduce the “shock inflation.” This is unsurprising, as a show with such few restrictions is bound to raise cause a stir. In fact, in the past, some works have generated enough debate to be featured na-
“People’s Art Show” Price: Free Location: The Galleries at CSU, 1307 Euclid Ave. Open Oct. 30 - Dec. 4 tionally in places like the New York Times, and Thurmer was once contacted by Howard Stern to discuss some of the issues on a live radio show. Despite the controversy, the art show has remained an incredibly popular local event, allowing viewers to delve into the hearts and minds of their friends, neighbors, colleagues and strangers. This year’s show will feature 350 artists with over 500 artworks. The local artists’ works promote the idea that artistic ability is a fundamental aspect we all share and that being a famous, professional artist is not a requirement for creating profound works. The mediums range from anything to everything. Many artists prefer to use the conventional tools and mediums, like acrylic, oil, pencil and sculpture. Others are a little more liberal in their methods, using nontraditional tools like shrinky dink and scratchboard. Even though an “amateur’s” piece may not be successful in traditional ways, each artist manages to capture something that no one else can, something that is unique and not replicable. There can be great beauty in these diamonds in the rough. This wide variety of works is representative of Cleveland residents and even of the city itself, a successful hodgepodge of strengths which lie in the diversity of backgrounds, ideas and fundamental beliefs. The show itself manages to capture something other art shows overlook. There’s a good chance those who attend this eclectic show will find something to fall in love with and something to fall in hate with.
Kevin Hart stars in impeccable new comedy, “The Wedding Ringer” Temi Omilabu Staff Reporter I had the pleasure of viewing “The Wedding Ringer” two months before its premiere, and, let me tell you—you absolutely need to head to the theatres in January. Directed by Jeremy Garelick and starring Kevin Hart and Josh Gad, “The Wedding Ringer” centers on a socially awkward groom, Doug Harris, (Josh Gad) whose wedding to Paige, the girl of his dreams (“The Big Bang Theory’s” Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting), is fast approaching. However, there’s only one issue: Doug has no friends, and therefore, no groomsmen. Most importantly, he has lied to Paige, and made her believe that his made-up best friend and best man, Bic Mitchum, will be attending the wedding. In order to please his soon-to-be wife, he seeks help from a company run by a man named Jimmy (Hart) that allows loser grooms like himself to rent a best man for the wedding, with the condition that once the ceremony is over, the two will no longer remain friends.
Doug happily pays Jimmy to play the part of “Bic Mitchum”, a fabricated best man, and Jimmy takes him on the wildest ride of his life, a few days that alter his life forever. “The Wedding Ringer” is director Garelick’s debut, and I am quite impressed with it. Not only does the film appeal to a multitude of people with its numerous elements—comedy, action, romance and adventure—it kept me engaged the whole time. When I wasn’t laughing hysterically at Hart’s impeccable comedic role, I was sympathizing with Gad’s relatable performance, swooning at the romantic moments or holding onto my seat during the actionpacked scenes. Regarding the script, even though I went into the theater expecting corny, cheesy, clichéd dialogue just from reading the plot summary of the movie, I was pleasantly surprised by the amusing characterization, witty dialogue and inventive plot. Also, I appreciated that the plot f lowed smoothly and kept my attention. Honestly, I wanted to watch it again as soon as it ended.
fun
14 | fun page
Ivory Tower
COMICS
by Kevin Yong
You can identify them ahead-oftime — they lead with their left foot when the music starts. By xkcd
Crossword Puzzle Across 1. Sharp intake of breath 5. Ceased 10. Offended 14. Govern 15. Light wispy precipitation 16. Two-toed sloth 17. Alteration 19. Shower 20. Pen part 21. Highly skilled 22. A very proper person 23. File 25. Homeric epic 27. A late time of life 28. Clairvoyants 31. Bunches of hair or grass 34. Rituals 35. Letter after sigma 36. Makes a mistake 37. Cabs 38. Small slender gull 39. Spy agency 40. Data stream manipulator 41. High, low and neap 42. Bannister
11/7/14
44. Enemy 45. Doctrine 46. Incessantly 50. “Hogwash!” 52. Gain knowledge 54. In the past 55. Sweeping story 56. Pronounced 58. “Gee!” 59. American aloe 60. Troubles 61. Flower stalk 62. Units of computer data 63. Prying Down 1. Opulent 2. Sound 3. Thick slices of something 4. Liveliness 5. Avoided 6. Fertilizer ingredient 7. Trickle 8. Vain 9. One of the tribes of Israel 10. Yay! 11. Not financially examined 12. Police action
13. Melody 18. Most dogs have them 22. Photos 24. Collections 26. Caustics 28. Picture element 29. Concern 30. Stars 31. Engineering school 32. Murres 33. Suffrage 34. The medical use of X-rays 37. Tailless amphibian 38. Fastens 40. Team 41. 1000 kilograms 43. One eighth of a fluid ounce 44. Coerces 46. Unsophisticated 47. Forbidden 48. Leers 49. Verse 50. Pins 51. Smudge 53. French for “State” 56. Apprehend 57. Barley bristle
Three headstones down, I got a call from my mom and it went from bad to worse. By xkcd
observer.case.edu
fun page | 15
Horoscopes Aries
(March 21 – April 19) We’re getting close to Christmas, so make sure to start picking out the presents you want.
Taurus
(April 20 – May 20) Who cares if you’re the only one still wearing shorts? Keep summer alive in your heart!
Gemini
(May 21 – June 20) Poor decisions will be made this weekend.
Cancer
(June 21 – July 22) Do not be a chicken! List all the things you were too afraid to do and reread the first sentence.
Leo
(July 23 – August 22) Beware of autocorrect this week. And maybe double check that the text you just sent.
xkcd
Far Away
Virgo
(August 23 – September 22) Blessings in disguise are coming; roll with the punches.
Libra
(September 23 – October 22) Try the Hazelnut frappuccino and macchiato at Starbucks. It’ll change your life.
Scorpio
(October 23 – November 21) Beware of cheese this week.
Sometimes an impulsive 2:00 AM cross-country trip is the only solution.
Sagittarius
(November 22 – December 21) Make sure to wish Anne Hathaway a happy birthday this week!
active audio breach costly crack dense divination drunks emotion essence flower gilt grin gross heart lags magical medium
Wordsearch
Capricorn
middling minesweeper mouse people plump poise portage potato puree quiet ration resonance seen sneak thee voice
(December 22 – January 19) Jump around in some leaves and enjoy your last snow-free week.
Aquarius
(January 20 – February 18) Those new pants you bought are so fetch.
Pisces
(February 19 – March 20) Sleep a lot this weekend or else bad things will happen.
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The Jolly Scholar jolly.scholar @JollyScholar 216.368.0090 mpv3@case.edu MTW RF Sat. Sun.
11a – 12a 11a – 2a 12p – 2a 12p – 12a
Chucklefck.com’s Jolly Holler Comedy & Bingo Night Who: Hosted by stand up comedian Ramon Rivas II When: Wednesday, November 12, 9p to 12a Where: The Jolly Scholar The Jolly Scholar has teamed up with Chucklefck to bring a regular comedy series to the Case Western area. www. chucklefck.com has been responsible for some of the best shows that have taken place the past several years and it’s exciting to bring some of that to a new part of Cleveland. Jolly Holler will be hosted by stand up comedian & eminent latino Ramon Rivas II, the shows will feature a mixture of grizzled veterans, upcoming locals and talent from all over the country conveniently located on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. Shows should be approached with the same mindset as attending a Rated R movie.You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll marvel at the realistic CGI.
Quo Neighborhood Launch Party: Monday, November 10 at 6p Quo is throwing its very first Neighborhood Launch Party and you’re invited! We’ll be providing the munchies, giving away free drinks, and raffling off a pair of Cavaliers’ tickets.
sports
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Sports Standings Conference
Men’s Soccer
All
Swimming and Diving out swims John Carroll
Wins
Losses
Ties
Percent
Wins
Losses
Ties
Percent
Chicago
4
0
2
0.667
15
1
0
0.938
Brandeis
4
2
0
0.667
8
5
2
0.533
Emory
3
3
0
0.500
8
4
1
0.615
Carnegie Mellon
2
2
2
0.333
8
4
3
0.533
Case Western Reserve
2
2
2
0.333
11
3
0
0.786
Rochester
2
3
1
0.333
7
4
3
0.500
New York U.
2
4
0
0.333
11
3
1
0.733
Washington
1
4
1
0.167
7
5
2
0.500
Women’s Soccer
JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor
Wins
Losses
Ties
Percent
Wins
Losses
Ties
Percent
Carnegie Mellon
5
1
0
0.833
14
1
0
0.933
Chicago
4
1
1
0.667
13
3
1
0.765
New York U.
3
2
1
0.500
11
5
1
0.647
Emory
1
1
4
0.167
10
1
6
0.588
Washington
2
3
1
0.333
12
3
2
0.706
Brandeis
2
3
1
0.333
12
4
1
0.706
Case Western Reserve
1
4
1
0.167
8
6
3
0.471
Rochester
1
4
1
0.167
5
8
4
0.294
Following a loss to rival Carnegie Mellon the Case Western swimming squads returned to the pools of the Veale Natatorium against crosstown rival John Carroll last Saturday. Both the men’s and women’s squad swam their ways to victory against the visiting Blue Streaks. The men’s squad captured the first place finish in an impressive 11 of 13 events on their way to a 144-77 win. The women followed close behind with a 140-97 final over John Carroll. The victories improve both teams to 1-1 on the early season in dual meets. On the men’s side juniors Aaron Tam and Connor Farrell led the Spartans with four victories between the two of them. Tam who swam excellently against Carnegie Mellon left the pool with two individual event wins, beating out his competition in the 100-yard freestyle finishing in a mere 47.40 seconds and with a time of 16:37.96 in the 1650 free. For the second straight week Farrell swept the diving events with regional qualifier scores. He slipped slightly from last week in the 1-meter event where he
Conference
All
Conference
Volleyball
All
Wins
Losses
Percent
Wins
Losses
Percent
Washington
6
1
0.857
31
4
0.886
Emory
6
1
0.857
31
3
0.912
Carnegie Mellon
5
2
0.714
21
9
0.700
Case Western Reserve
4
3
0.571
16
11
0.593
Chicago
4
3
0.571
24
11
0.686
New York U.
2
5
0.286
19
16
0.543
Rochester
1
6
0.143
16
17
0.485
Brandeis
0
7
0.000
7
21
0.250
Football (UAA)
Conference
All
Wins
Losses
Percent
Wins
Losses
Percent
Chicago
1
0
1.000
6
1
0.857
Case Western Reserve
1
1
0.500
3
4
0.429
Washington
1
1
0.500
3
4
0.429
Carnegie Mellon
0
1
0.000
3
5
0.375
Football (PAC)
Conference
All
Wins
Losses
Percent
Wins
Losses
Percent
Washington & Jefferson
6
0
1.000
8
0
1.000
Thomas More
6
1
0.857
7
2
0.778
Waynesburg
5
2
0.714
7
2
0.778
Bethany
4
2
0.667
6
3
0.667
St. Vincent
3
2
0.600
3
5
0.375
Case Western Reserve
3
4
0.429
3
5
0.375
Carnegie Mellon
3
5
0.375
3
5
0.375
Thiel
2
4
0.333
3
5
0.375
Westminster
2
4
0.333
2
6
0.250
Geneva
1
5
0.167
2
6
0.250
Grove City
0
6
0.000
0
8
0.000
Weekly Calendar Varsity Sport
Friday
Saturday
Football Volleyball
(UAA Championship) vs. Chicago @ Pittsburgh, Pa. 2:00 PM
(UAA Championship) vs. TBD @ Pittsburgh
Men's Soccer Women's Soccer Swimming
Home vs. Wooster 6:30 PM
Wrestling
Varsity Sport Wrestling
Sunday
@ Thomas More 1:00 PM
@ Rochester 4:30 PM
@ Emory 11:00 AM
@ Rochester 7:00 PM
@ Emory 1:30 PM
Home vs. John Carroll 1:00 PM CWRU Wrestling Festival 10:00 AM
Monday
Tuesday Home vs. John Carroll 7:00 PM
CIT vs. WRU Throwback Intersquad Scrimmage 12:00 PM
Wednesday
Thursday
17
Men’s and women’s squads capture first win of season was awarded a 283.70 but improved in his 3-meter event score with an outstanding 297.05. In addition to Tam and Farrell, Spartans men team won the 400-yard medley, the 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, and the 500-yard freestyle. In the women’s events, the Spartans were led by junior Rebecca Pakradooni who captured wins in the 100-yard butterfly finishing just under the one minute mark with a time of 59.49 and in the 200 freestyle with a finish of 1:59.76. In addition to Pakradooni, junior Abby Glenn and freshman Mary Katherine Miller swam impressive meets. Glenn won her only individual event, finishing the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 18:56.93 and Miller won the 400 individual medley and came in second in the 500-yard freestyle event. The Spartan women also captured victories in the 200-yard free, the 100-yard breaststroke, the 500-meter free and both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. The Spartans will stay at home in Veale Natatorium and look to improve to 2-1 this Friday with competition kicking off at 6 p.m. against the College of Wooster.
One for the Ages World Series victory over Kansas City cements San Francisco dynasty David Hoffman Staff Reporter There’s an old saying that baseball is a game of inches. The San Francisco Giants secured a dramatic World Series victory by 90 feet, edging out the Kansas City Royals in the decisive game seven by a final score of 3-2. Although a few of the games were routs the series proved exciting, with neither team maintaining an extended momentum swing. Madison Bumgarner took home series MVP honors with a performance for the ages, winning two games in the series and saving the finale. Over his three appearances, Bumgarner limited the Royals to one run in 21 innings for a microscopic 0.43 earned run average. Along the way, he became the first pitcher to toss a complete game shutout in World Series play since 2003 when he blanked Kansas City for all nine frames in game five. The Royals just missed pulling off a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning of game seven. With two outs, Alex Gordon lined a base hit to left center field that was subsequently misplayed by Giants center fielder Gregor Blanco. The error allowed Gordon to advance all the way to third base on the play, and Royals suddenly had the tying run standing just 90 feet away. The play was not without controversy; fans and media alike wondered aloud after the game why Kansas City’s third base coach had not waived Gordon around in an attempt to score. Such a maneuver would have been the ultimate gamble: had it paid off the Royals would have tied the game in dramatic fashion to keep their dream season alive.
However, if it had failed, the game would have ended, and the Royals and their fans would have spent the entire offseason contemplating the decision. Ultimately, the next batter, Salvador Pérez, popped out in foul ground to end the series and the fans were left to contemplate the coach’s decision. The turning point of the series appeared to occur in game four, which featured a momentum swing for each side. The Royals took advantage of a series of favorable bounces and miscues to score four runs in the third inning, going up 4-1 and appearing well on their way to taking a commanding three games to one lead in the series. However, the Giants gradually chipped away at the deficit, proceeding to score nine runs in a three inning span to ultimately prevail in the contest 11-4. Suddenly, the Royals found themselves in a tied series with Bumgarner slated to pitch for San Francisco the next night. The series proved to be a battle of the bullpens for the most part, with the starting pitchers for both teams often getting pulled in the sixth inning or earlier, save for Bumgarner. In fact, only once in the entire series did a Royals starter make it to the seventh, when Yordano Ventura pitched seven effective innings in game six. The strategy burned the Royals more than it helped, as the bullpen failed to escape a couple of jams that keyed some vital rallies for the Giants. It proved to be too much for Kansas City to overcome. Ultimately, the Giants were able to eke out the series victory with Bumgarner proving to be the difference. San Francisco cemented its status as a dynasty, winning their third World Series in the last five seasons and making a case already as the team of this decade.
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Derailed
Tough UAA doubleheader dashes women’s soccer postseasons plans Taylor Fletcher Staff Reporter The Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team dropped two tough losses this weekend against top 25 competition. The Spartans started off the weekend with a heartbreaking 1-0 loss at the dearth to No. 4 Carnegie Mellon and ended the UAA doubleheader weekend with a 3-0 loss to No. 21 Emory. The results drops the Spartans record to 8-6-3 on the season and 1-4-1 in conference which effectively ends the Spartans chance for a postseason tournament bid. In Friday’s match, the Spartans hung with the talented Tartans squad the entire game, spearheaded by a tough defense and phenomenal game from senior goalkeeper Abbey Smith. The Tartans outshot the Spartans 20-5 on the day but Smith had a career high 10 saves on the match, turning CMU’s chances again and again. A particular spectacular play was in the 70th minute when Smith saved a shot on a breakaway from a CMU forward. However, the Tartans were finally able to break through with eight seconds remaining in the game. The Tartans were able to cross the ball across the box and Savina Reid was able to head the ball into the back of the net. With the last second score, the Spartans’ hope
for a postseason berth were dashed for the season. However dismayed the Spartans were with the result, they had to turn their attention to a game Sunday against No. 24 ranked Emory Eagles. This match was the Spartans fourth top-25 ranked opponent in five matches. The Spartans were exhausted mentally and physically from the emotional night against Tartans but were able to muster the energy to battle against the Eagles. The Eagles would score partly through the first half. In the 15th minute, Emory forward Emily Feldman was able to break the deadlock when she a received a pass and rocketed a shot, which ricocheted off the post and into the back of the net for the first goal of the game. After the first goal, the Spartans were able to settle down for a bit and try to play the out of the pressure. Whenever the ball was cleared out of pressure from the backline, the Spartans were often outnumbered in the attack. Without any outlet, the Spartans often loss the ball which allowed the opposition to regroup and resume attacking the belabored CWRU defense. In the 45th minute, Feldman would play the provider, feeding Cristina Ramirez in for the second goal of the match. The Spartans went into halftime down by two goals for the first time this
Courtesy Case Sports Information Goalkeeper Abbey Smith punts away ball during game last season. season. However, the Spartans would also play a much better second half and had a chance to cut the lead in half after senior Jessie Sabers earned a penalty kick in the 72nd minute. Emory goalie guessed correctly and blocked the attempt from Sabers. Unfortunately, the Spartans never seriously threatened again for the remainder of the game. The
Spartans gave up another tough goal in the 90th minute after Ramirez snuck behind the backline on a long ball and flicked it over the onrushing Smith. The Spartans look to finish off their season strong and build off this year’s momentum. They finish off their season this Saturday Nov. 8 at Rochester. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Men’s soccer falls just short Evan Rose Contributing Reporter The Case men’s soccer team led themselves into a tight situation last weekend, after two away games against Carnegie Mellon University and Emory University. The Spartans faced off against the Carnegie Mellon University Tartans, playing them to a 1-1 tie, before losing 0-1 to the Emory University Eagles, ranked 21st in Division III. This brings them to a 8-5-2 record overall and 2-22 in the University Athletic Association, and leaves them on the border of an NCAA championship appearance. Against the Tartans, freshman forward Michael Balog was the standout scorer, with a goal off of a deflection in the 61st minute. This goal tied him with junior midfielder Chris Cvecko for goals scored this season; both have marked seven so far. Despite missing several of their starting lineup, Carnegie Mellon fought back, closing in for the tie with an 81st minute goal by Ben Alderoty. Alderoty snapped freshman goalkeeper Calvin Boyle’s streak of 311 minutes without allowing a goal. Neither the Spartans nor the Tartans scored again until the end of the match,
with Case ending regulation leading in shots 13-11. Two days later, the Spartan men lost 0-1 in a crucial match against the South Atlantic Region-leading Emory Eagles, snapping a five-match streak without a loss. After an offside call negated an early Case goal, Emory took control of the match, scoring in the 29th minute with a low shot by Nick Schook inside the sixyard box. The Eagles maintained their lead throughout the rest of the game, using an athletic, kick-and-run playing style to limit the Spartans to only six shots compared their 19. Boyle recorded seven saves, compared to only two on the opposite end of the pitch, but was unable to stop the solitary goal that decided the outcome of the match. In order to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans must defeat the University of Rochester in their final game of the regular season. Although Rochester won the UAA conference championship last year, they are ranked sixth this year, below Case Western. The Spartans play next at Rochester on Saturday, Nov. 8, with kickoff at 4:30 p.m.
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Dion Waiters: bench star Cavs need Dion’s talent in second unit
Harsha Chandupatla/Observer Top left: A Cavaliers cap sits atop one of the thousands of fans waiting to enter the stadium before the Cavaliers home opener. Top right: Lebron James drives the lane against the New York Knicks in the highly anticipated return of the king. Bottom far left: Even Cleveland’s Key Bank building was decked out in Cavaliers colors. Bottom left: James is guarded near the baseline. Bottom right: James takes free throws in the opening day loss to the Knicks. Bottom far right: One of millions of Cavaliers fans excited for the new season.
Joey Arko Staff Reporter Three games into the season, and Cleveland’s greatest hope for a championship in professional sports stands at a paltry 1-2. After the latest defeat at the hands of the Portland Trailblazers (a blowout at that—101-82), the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers have kicked off the 2014/2015 season looking as if they aren’t even remotely close to being on the same page as a unit. LeBron James has said it himself: The team is going through a “process” and it could take a few months for them to get where they need to be. Simply put, there is no quick fix to a team that hasn’t tasted success in four years. Not even an injection of supreme talent like James and Kevin Love merits an instant cure for the losing culture that has been established over the years here in Cleveland. Like James said, it’s a process. Meaning there are certain tweaks and adjustments that may be made down the line in order to achieve the desired results. One such tweak should be remov-
ing shooting guard Dion Waiters from the starting lineup and placing him in a bench role. After having a strong and promising pre-season, the polarizing guard has thus far struggled to find his form—shooting a meager 30 percent from the field with averages of 8.3 ppg, 1.0 apg and 1.3 rpg. For as talented a player as his is, putting up numbers like these doesn’t reflect how effective Waiters can truly be. Last year, Waiters came off the bench 46 games as opposed to starting just 24. When he came off the bench and didn’t play alongside Kyrie Irving, his stats had a noticeable uptick across the board. Roughly, he averaged about 4 more ppg, 0.5 more rpg and 1 more apg with a more efficient shooting percentage to match. Waiters is a strong isolation-type player, armed with a lethal first step and an array of moves capable of shaking nearly any defender in his path. As such, he becomes more effective when he is surrounded with a weaker supporting cast—one that defers to him
on the offensive end and allows him to be more of a primary scorer. Waiters refers to himself as an alpha dog, and that’s exactly what he would be for the second unit. Not to mention the Cavaliers need a scoring punch off the bench, which is undoubtedly Waiters’ greatest talent as a basketball player. The starting lineup for the Cavaliers have a few guys that can create their own shot and take over on the offensive end at any given time. James, Irving and Love each have this capability. The bench, however, lacks such players. And the Cavs have struggled to find offense when their starters come out to rest. Matthew Dellavedova, Mike Miller and Shawn Marion aren’t guys that can be counted on to produce offense consistently on their own. They work better as complimentary pieces surrounding an offensive alpha dog. And championship level teams understand the value of an exceptionally talented sixth man that bolsters the second unit. Look no further than last year’s NBA
champion: The San Antonio Spurs. Manu Ginobli, a well established star in the NBA, comes off the bench for the Spurs. Although he is more than capable of starting for any NBA team, his role as the bench star allows the Spurs to rest their starting lineup and have the luxury of consistent bench scoring. He leads the second unit, mitigating the drop off between when the starters are on the court and when the bench comes in. That is why moving Waiters to the second unit would make a lot of sense. It’s also a position he’s both familiar and comfortable with, having strictly been a sixth man in college playing for Syracuse before coming to the NBA. The role simply suits him better. It suits the Cavs better as well. Three games into the season, it’s still too early to determine what tweaks and changes will be made in the “process” down the line. But every game, every possession counts in the NBA, and moving Waiters to the bench may happen sooner rather than later if the Cavs hope to match its championship aspirations.
sports Prepared to step on to the mat Wrestling to begin season with inaugural CWRU Wrestling Festival JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor The red hues of the Rough Riders and Red Cats replaced the Spartan Blue last Sunday as the Case wrestling team held their annual intra-squad scrimmage. The event kicked off the Spartan wrestling season, which will begin in full this weekend as the team will host its inaugural CWRU Wrestling Festival on Saturday. The festival will consist of two separate competitions held together, the Bob Del Rosa Duals and the Claude Sharer Classic. The duals are named in honor of Bob Del Rosa who served CWRU for 49 years with 46 seasons as the head coach of the wrestling team. Eight teams will be competing in four dual meets. Each team will face off against four of the other teams. The Spartans will be going up against Niagara County Community College, St. Catharine College, Ohio Valley University and Mount St. Joseph University. The other three teams competing in the duals will be Alma College, and crosstown rivals Baldwin Wallace University and John Carroll University. The Claude Sharer Classic is named in honor of Claude Sharer who served for 33 seasons as the head wrestling coach for the Case Institute of Technology. The classic will be a double elimination tournament with the top four wrestlers in each weight class. The same eight schools and in addition, Defiance College, will compete in the classic. The festival will kick off the actual competition season for Spartans. This is the third year the team has under the lead of head coach Mark Hawald and will be the largest in the programs recent his-
Harsha Chandupatla/Observer Nick Lees represented the Western Reserve Red Cats and Connor Medlang represented the Case Institute of Technology Rough Riders for the wrestling team’s intrasquad throwback scrimmage. tory with 19 wrestlers on the team. The Spartans finished third in the nation last season in Division III team grade point average and was in excellent shape, winning more dual matches than the previous five seasons combined. The team will be led by junior Josh Hall, who has a record of 36-19 over his first two seasons as a Spartan. In addition to six returning members, the team is welcoming 13 new wrestlers to the program.
In addition to the normal rigors of the season, the Spartans will be burdened by the loss of their three teammates who were tragically taken from their families, their friends, their team and this school community in the plane crash at the beginning of the school year. The loss is one that no team should have to endure, but the campus community came together to support the team and those who knew the young men: the wrestlers Luke Marcelli,
Abe Pishevar, and John Hill as well as their friend Michael Felten. Following the festival, the team will jump back into action against John Carroll on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Horsburgh Gymnasium. Everyone should come and support the team this week as they begin their season. After this, the Spartans will head out on the road and will not be returning to the Veale Center until February.
Spartans struggle away from Cleveland Football falls in second straight road match-up JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor The Case Western Spartans have fallen on the road again, this time against UAA rival Washington University in St. Louis. The Spartans fall to 3-5 on the season following their 28-17 loss to the host Bears. The final score was however also extremely close to the 24-17 scoreline that we at the Observer predicted last week and will be counted as another win. Spartan wide receiver Bryan Erb turned in a fantastic game with 10 receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown but it was not enough as the Bears walked away with the win at home. The Spartans were plagued by four turnovers on the game with two of them leading directly to 14 points for Washington. Beecher was again under center for the Spartans and finished with 24 completions on 44 pass attempts and 257 yards with two touchdowns. Freshman running back Anthony Canganelli comprised the brunt of
the Spartan ground game with 73 yards on 12 carries. On the defensive side of the ball junior linebacker Gavin Sandidge posted a game high 12 tackles with one sack. The first team to make it on the board was the Bears as they marched down field for an 11 play 48 yard drive which they capped with a 42 yard field goal with 8:03 left in the first quarter. The Spartans responded with a field goal of their own following a 17 play drive for 70 yards. The 25 yard kick for the Spartans rounded out the scoring from either team in the first quarter. Early in the second quarter the Bears reclaimed the lead on a 12 yard touchdown pass and they hit the point after attempt for a 10-3 lead. The Spartans responded with 61 yards but then fumbled away their scoring chance at the opposing 20 and were unable to score the rest of the half. The Bears added on another field goal on the opening possession of the second half to jump up to a 13-3 lead. The Spartans responded with another big drive, but again saw their efforts disappear as they turned the
ball over deep in the opposition’s territory. The Spartans were able to recover and held Washington to a punt and finally Beecher found Erb to cap a seven play drive for the first Spartan touchdown on the day. Beecher’s pass was a strong 11 yard pass and the Spartans converted the point after attempt to find themselves within three with just over three minutes left in the third quarter. Two more turnovers led to the next two Washington scores with a two-point conversion to jump to a 28-10 lead. The Spartans attempted to fight its way back and managed to get on the board one final time as Beecher connected with Ethan Albers with 6:57 left on the clock for a 20 yard touchdown pass to bring the game to its 28-17 final. The Spartans will go back on the road this weekend to face off against new PAC rival Thomas More. This will be the first time the Case squad will take on the Saints. The Saints have been huge producers of offense this season with the team averaging 42.6 points and 531.3 total yards per game.
These numbers make them the fourth best offense in the country at the Division III level. The Saints are led by junior QB Jensen Gebhardt who has completed 134 of 230 pass attempts on the season and has connected for 2,057 yards. This has led to 15 touchdowns on the season. Gebhardt’s top target is junior wide receiveR with 43 receptions for 835 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior RB Domonique Hayden leads the PAC with 1,251 yards on 183 carries and 21 touchdowns. The Spartans will be hard pressed to top Thomas More this week as our algorithm here at the Observer is predicting a whopping 60 points for the Saints. Surprisingly this astronomical sum is not outside the realm of possibility for Thomas More with their football team having put up more than 60 points twice this season. With this in mind we have adjusted our prediction, though still expect another hard loss for the Spartans. The Observer expects a 49-21 loss to the offensive powerhouse, although we of course are rooting for a Spartan upset.