Cauldron
MONDAY
The
October
ee r F
22 2007
VOL. 105, NO.9
T H E S T U D E N T N E W S PA P E R O F C L E V E L A N D S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y S I N C E 1 9 2 9 T H E S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R O F C L E V E L A N D S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y S I N C E 1 9 2 9
Cleveland’s Own Amityville: The Haunted History of
Franklin Castle
>> Culture
>> News
Jablonski’s Political Notebook
Wes Anderson’s New Movie Explores The Bonds of Family
Videos, Podcasts, Forums - Oh My!
>> SPORTS
Q & A with Head Wrestling Coach Jack Effner
O n l i n e @ h t t p : / / w w w. c s u c a u l d r o n . c o m
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For the Students...By the Students
Editorial Staff: Francis X. Bova III, Editor-In-Chief Andrea Mitchell, Managing Editor Jayson Gerbec, Advertising Manager Ebony Cash, News Editor Ilona Westfall, Culture Editor Nick Camino, Sports Editor Steve Thomas, Layout Designer Michael Quintero, Cartoonist Jeff “Z” Stoskus, Distribution Manager Anne Werner, Business Manager Staff Writers: David Imburgia, Mark Jablonski, Faith Larraine, Laura Dynda, Jamie DuBois, Mark Katzbach, Christopher Enoch, Reid May, Scott Arko, Andrea Cervenak, Gary Typerstone Foreign Correspondent: Amanda Richards Contributing Writers: Dave Orzechowski, Sabrina Peacock, Johntay Brown, Alex Friedman, Audrey McCrone, Roman Verzub, Charlotte Morgan, James Kneblik Cleveland State University 2121 Euclid Avenue UC 10 Cleveland, Ohio 44115 (216) 687-2270 / (216) 687-5155 www.csucauldron.com www.myspace.com/csucauldron The Melting Pot The Cauldron reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All entries must include your name, year-in-school, and daytime phone number for verification purposes. All entries must be submitted by Friday at 5 p.m. To submit editorials, articles, etc. please e-mail The Cauldron at: cauldroneditors@hotmail.com Campus Life Releases 100 words or less: Organization name and phone number must be included. Releases are for student organizations only and should include the event date, time, and location. Letters to the Editor 800 words or less: Letters must be in response to a written article or campus issue. Student Columns 600-800 words: Columns can be submitted by students regarding campus issues, positive or negative, and will be sent directly to President Schwartz in order to bring more student awareness. Advertising Policy For advertising inquiries e-mail cauldronadvertisements@hotmail.com or call (216) 687.2270.
Contents
This Week
October 22, 2007
The Melting Pot The Un-Adventurous Adventure Pro and Con on Gun Control
News SPJ to Host “Women in Media” Forum Beloved CSU Professor Passes Away Jablonski’s Political Notebook The Black Studies Program Hosts Lecture
Feature Cleveland’s Own Amityville
Culture Wes Anderson’s New Movie Explores The Bonds of Family PSYKICK MUSIC, SEEN Are They Worth a Listen? CSU Chic
Sports Q & A with Wrestling Coach Jack Effner Cleveland State Wrestling Projected Starting Lineup Conference Play Ready to Begin for CSU Soccer Teams
Is It Finals Week Yet?
For a pro and con on the issue of gun control check out The Melting Pot on page 4 and 5. Illustration by Michael Quintero
The Melting Pot The Un-Adventurous Adventure
Some people think that Europe is all fine wines and fancy haircuts. I know otherwise. Column by Amanda Richards | The Cauldron Foreign Correspondent
“When I wake up in the morning, take a shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, have a cup of coffee and step outside, I step outside to a street in Germany.”
Since I’ve been in Germany, the average phone conversation with an Anonymous Friend or Relative goes something like this: Me: Hey, what’s up? Anonymous Friend or Relative: Oh my god! How are you? Me: I’m okay, I guess. AFOR: What do you mean, ‘you guess?’ You’re in Europe! Have a crazy adventure! Get out there! Me: Oh…yeah, okay, sure. After countless phone conversations that were slight variations on the one I just recounted, I came to a realization: When you study and live abroad in Europe, the people you left at home assume that your life is somehow more glamorous, more exciting than the one you lived at home, a non-stop adventure complete with sparkling lights and fireworks and saucy Frenchmen and fancy miniature cakes. It’s kind of cute, actually. Even through the phone I can hear their brains buzzing as they stir up mental images of me zipping through the narrow streets in various cities in Europe on a Vespa, a scarf wrapped around my neck, large sunglasses covering half of my face, a baguette sticking out of a grocery bag in the basket attached to the back. Many believe that I am constantly en route to my next cappuccino at the next café or planning my next weekend holiday to London. And now, after living here for about two months, I feel it would behoove me to tell those people that it just isn’t true. I’m a phony. I have no Vespa, but rather an old bicycle with a rusty pink bell that I use to get from place to place. Yes, I may have a baguette in a grocery
bag, but that’s simply because bread is affordable, and money is tight. And as far as the weekends are concerned, sometimes I stay at home all weekend, just as I did at home, and hope that someone makes plans to have drinks. Sometimes I take walks around the neighborhood, sometimes I sleep until noon, and sometimes I watch TV all day. Disappointed? Do you think that I’m wasting my time here in Europe doing things that I could just as easily do at home? Should I throw caution to the wind, spend all my money and time traveling and come home penniless (and not to mention, with bad grades) just so I can say I did? Some people think so. At first, I agreed. But then I realized that the purpose of an experience like this isn’t so you can spend your time and money as if you were a wealthy divorcee escaping for a four-month European hiatus. This isn’t a vacation for me, it’s just another four months of collegiate life. I have responsibilities, I have obligations, an apartment, and I even have a cell phone bill. But, there is one major difference, one that I tell my friends and relatives after I spend twenty minutes disappointing them with recaps of my average, day to day life: When I wake up in the morning, take a shower, brush my teeth, get dressed, have a cup of coffee and step outside, I step outside to a street in Germany. That, in my opinion, is an adventure in itself.
Page | The Melting Pot
October 22, 2007 | The Cauldron
The Issue of Gun Control Con Pro Opinion by Christopher Enoch| The Cauldron Staff Writer
Opinion by Roman Verzub | The Cauldron Contributing Writer
On Oct. 10, I came to a few or perhaps they bought it from conclusions about what makes another individual working the for a safer neighborhood, a safer same sort of operation. community, and a safer school. In the end, all individuals On the day where Asa Coon involved have blood on their wounded two teachers and four hands, all the way up to the state students at SuccessTech Academy, government, which doesn’t make Cleveland and the rest of the the gun sellers register sales, nation have a few responsibilities. the purchasers procure licenses, Now more than ever our or even restrict our minors from community should be reflecting. having guns (on their own). We should be bitter, and we The blood trickles down, and should be resentful. But most of the illegal street capitalists are all we should send our prayers and more than willing to make a few sympathies bucks selling their When old laws to all parties wares. Besides, involved. they’ve found their don’t work, In order key demographic: it’s time to try to move on, frustrated, angry, questions unstable minors and some new ones. must be young adults. asked and Organizations answers must be sought. like the NRA, local militias, and What avenues should we take various other firearms associations in our community and our nation would have you believe that such at large to find safety and security? incidents of violence occur on How is it that reckless and such a small scale as to become angry youths at their breaking negligible. They say prevalent point are getting firearms? statistics which show that gun How many lives must be lost violence can be prevented with the before we rework a failed policy right precautions are false. Most on gun control? of all, they clamor for following Five out of every six guns the enforcement of safety formerly used in crimes, violent practices such as gun registrars and otherwise, are obtained and licensing. through illegal sales. Some Truth and reason typically lose random organization calling itself out in the minds of the dogmatic the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and fanatical. and Firearms put that statistic out After the death of Asteve’ in case you were wondering. Thomas, a 12-year-old girl shot The National Institute of dead in September walking to Justice reported as far back as the candy store, and now with 1993 that there was a direct the more recent infamy of the correlation between the amount SuccessTech shooting, we can of gun owners and the level of no longer sit idly and make crime. In other words saying the concessions to the gun lobbies, more guns on the streets, the more organizations, and manufacturers. crimes there are. There is no such thing as a Guns are scalped by thugs on negligible life in Cleveland: our our streets like Cavaliers tickets people are our greatest export outside The Q. Perhaps these after all. Continued on next page thugs bought their gun legally,
The recent school shooting In fact most of school shooters at SuccessTech has lead to a get guns from home. If the parent bombardment of criticism from has a gun for whatever reason, anti-gun activists and has once (be they a collector, enthusiast, or again brought the gun control hunter, etc.) and they don't take question to the forefront of the time to explain things like everyone's mind. If guns were the value of the human life and made illegal and no one had the of morality (with guns, and in right to own a gun, these kinds of general) to their kids then it's no things wouldn't happen. wonder that they don't turn out to The question is, does making be law abiding citizens. something illegal destroy the It sounds strange to say it problem? because it seems like something The answer, sadly is no. that I thought was so obvious, but Since parents need to The question is, Richard Nixon parent, educators coined the need to educate, does making something term in 1971, and peers need illegal destroy the the "War on to be a positive Drugs" has influence on their problem? been supported fellow peers. and carried out I don't want by six successive presidents from people to misunderstand me when both parties. they read that I am against gun Since 1971 the government control. has spent one trillion dollars to Being against the control of arrest millions of people and fill guns, does not make me "pro-gun" millions of warehouses with illicit by any stretch of the imagination. substances. Yet the war on drugs I don't like guns...at all. has been an abysmal failure. I believe that guns can cause The use of cocaine has serious irreparable damage even in increased more than fivefold. the right hands. The uses of methamphetamine One doesn't have to have a and ecstasy have similar increases. mental disability or an irrational Marijuana has now been used admiration of Marilyn Manson by 20-30 percent of the youth in to not be trustworthy around a this country. firearm. Today most "illegal" drugs are So what is, therefore the cheaper, stronger, and easier to buy solution to the growing gun than ever before. problem if not tighter bigThe reason is that laws can government regulation? It's like I only be effective if citizens are law- said before, parents teaching their abiding, and if they are not lawkids the proper way to behave. abiding it can only mean that when Common sense, as well as they were growing up they were most of the significant scientific never taught (by their guardians, understanding about the educators, and peers) the necessity upbringing of children shows us in following laws to create a stable that they learn most from their and calm environment. parents and at a very young age. In the case of Asa Coon, he If, therefore, we wish to may have obtained the gun he used eradicate guns from our society, it from his own home. Continued on next page
The Cauldron | October 22, 2007
The Melting Pot | Page
Pro Gun Control Continued ...
Con Gun Control Continued ...
So let’s be bitter. Let’s be resentful. Let’s demand a lasting change. When old laws don’t work, it’s time to try some new ones. Making gun buyers go through state background checks is a start. Can anybody really defend that an armed robber out on parole deserves to buy a firearm? Holding gun owners accountable for leaving loaded weapons around kids would be another giant leap forward, not to mention, a great victory for common sense and parental/ familial responsibility. Children should be able to shoot a gun or go hunting with their parents, but those should be the only scenarios in which a child should “possess” (that is, carry) a gun. Minors go through some turbulent times on their way to adulthood, it’s probably better they don’t go through them
MUST start at home. The sad thing is, that there are parents who were never taught themselves how to raise and educate their kids, because it was considered "old fashioned" and the "progressive" parenting method was to be more of a "friend" than a "mentor." That way, they argued, they can understand the kids and their own level. Thus, at some point, in some generation, somebody abandoned the "old" way and submitted to this new "more hip" method of punishment, namely not doing it, and thus the mess in which we find ourselves today. I, luckily, was raised the "old" way, and that's why I will never smoke, or do drugs. I will never go a party or hang out with a peer group of questionable nature (because I know what questionable nature is) and I will never put myself into
owning a loaded .44. If guns were registered with law enforcement, police could trace guns used in crime, not to mention, easily find the sources of illegal gun trafficking. With this idea in effect, I’d already know how Asa Coon got his guns. Last, but far from least, let’s hold Cleveland accountable. Although it is our state government that may not (currently) have the sensibility to put these changes into effect, Cleveland still can. As a city we have the right to pass stronger gun laws than that of our state. We have jurisdiction over our own future. If we rally as a neighborhood, as a community, and as a family of citizens, we can make Cleveland the model city for gun violence prevention. In light of last week’s tragedy, we owe each other that much.
the situation in which temptation has the opportunity to get the best of me. And that means that I won't pick up a gun, not even as a "game." If more parents actually took the time to do their jobs instead of running off and doing "their jobs" each day they wouldn't have to worry about what their kids are watching on TV, what kinds of Web sites they are visiting on the Internet, and where the kids are partying. It's not difficult, but it does require some commitment, but the truth is, it pays off in the end. No one can raise your child for you, and the sooner parents realize that fact, the sooner the gun issue, as well as many other issues in this country, will be solved. Share your thoughts on gun control at csucauldron.com.
News
SPJ Diversity Forum Coming to Drinko Hall Story by Christopher Enoch | The Cauldron Staff Writer
The Cleveland State University Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) will be hosting a forum on Wednesday, Oct. 24 dedicated to “Women in Media.” The event will be held in Drinko Hall from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature two talented Cleveland media women from separate spheres of influence. Guest speakers will be The Plain Dealer’s Connie Schultz and WKYC Channel 3’s Kim Wheeler. Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and wife of Ohio’s senator elect, Sherrod Brown. She has written two books: Life Happens, a collection of her Pulitzer Prize winning columns, and …And His Lovely Wife, a memoir of Schultz’s life on the campaign trail that resulted in her husband being elected Ohio’s first Democratic Senator in 14 years. Wheeler is an anchor and education/parenting reporter with years of televised media experience. Wheeler became part of the WKYC-TV news team in 1995 and is best known for her work anchoring weekday mornings alongside Jeff Maynor, though she is now back to her old schedule working on weekend mornings from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Cleveland State student and SPJ member Audrey McCrone will be moderating the panel discussion. As the focus of this discussion is the aforementioned “Women in Media,” subjects will range in scope. Topics addressed are included but not limited to what it means to be a female in what was once a highly male-dominated industry to the issues that directly affects women working in media. The free-flowing nature of this discussion will allow the guest
Connie Schultz of The Plain Dealer
Kim Wheeler of WKYC Channel 3
speakers the liberty to share stories and tell of their own joys, trials and tribulations of working in the realms of print and television. Opening statements will kick off after a brief introduction by McCrone who will then give the floor to the guest speakers. Near the end of the discussion SPJ has allotted 15 to 20 minutes of the forum for questions by those in attendance. The Cleveland State Chapter of SPJ officers for the fall semester are: Jarod Miller (president), Mike Kohuth (vice president), Brandon Petitto (treasurer), Jennifer Spike (executive membership committee chair) and Francis X. Bova III (secretary). To learn more about SPJ visit spj.org or to be a part of Cleveland State’s chapter e-mail Clifford Anthony at c.r.anthony@csuohio.edu.
Beloved CSU Professor Passes Away Story by Ebony Cash | The Cauldron News Editor
CSU Professor Chas Smith was loved by many, in particular his students. Smith, 50, taught the lectured music course, “The Roots of Rock and Soul.” The course teaches students the history of American music from the Civil War era to Woodstock. Smith originally started teaching a course in classical music and then got the idea to revamp a rock and roll history course that hadn’t been taught for some time. The class started off much smaller than it is today with approximately 80 students. Now, the course has had well over 300 students at one time. In addition to teaching, Smith also wrote three textbooks on the history of rock and it’s roots and hosted “Swamp Radio” on Cleveland State’s WCSB for over 20 years. The rock music life of Chas Smith began when he was a freshman at St. Joseph’s High School. After graduation he played in a few bands, most notably The Clocks, and at one point decided to enroll
as a CSU student. He originally wanted to major in Anthropology but decided to change his major to music after taking a music theory course. Smith always tried to keep his classes interesting, educational and fun. When not lighting up the classroom with his animated teaching ways, one could find him teaching music to first graders for the Cleveland Opera. Smith died on Oct. 16. See a living tribute to Chas’s memory at chastribute.com. Gifts for the Smith family can be sent directly to: Donation for Charles V. Smith Fund U.S. Bank 26410 Lakeshore Blvd. Euclid, OH 44132
The Cauldron | October 22, 2007
News | Page
Jablonski’s Political Notebook Notebook by Mark Jablonski | The Cauldron Political Correspondent “Let's just describe very votes. Brownback Out: factually and dispassionately what The bi-partisan bill, which Will He Endorse? has happened here,” Greenwald had the support of over forty wrote last week. “Congress Republicans, would have Sen. Sam Brownback, who's led by Senators, such as Jay provided an extra $35 billion been polling in the low single Rockefeller, who have received over the next five years for states digits, has dropped out of the huge payments from the telecom Republican primary race for to insure children, and would industry, and by privatized have raised that revenue by president. intelligence pioneer Mike tacking on an extra sixty-one The Kansas Senator's McConnell, former Chairman cents to a pack of cigarettes. announcement was not officially of the secretive intelligence Bush insisted that the bill made at press time, but it was industry association that has been being widely reported that he went too far by offering health Senate Dems. Cave to Law- demanding telecom amnesty - is coverage to the children of would drop out on Friday. Breaking TeleCom Industry going to intervene directly in the families of four making up to A Brownback aide told ABC pending lawsuits against AT&T News that the Senator just might $61,000 a year. It currently Last week, the Senate and other telecoms and declare covers children from families of endorse Rudy Giuliani for the Intelligence Committee voted them the winners on the ground four who make up to $41,000. nomination, despite the fact that 13-2 to add a provision to the that they did nothing wrong.” Bush favors a $5 billion dollar Brownback has implied that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Democratic Presidential increase of the program, $30 former New York mayor was a Act (FISA) that would grant candidate Sen. Chris Dodd (CT) “false conservative.” billion less than Congress retroactive immunity to the has placed a ‘hold’ on the bill, favored. Gov. Mike Huckabee, telephone companies who which will prevent its passage “This is not about an issue. It's also seeking the Republican participated in President Bush's unless at least 60 Senators vote to nomination, is hoping that he about a value,” House Speaker illegal warrant-less wiretapping proceed with the measure. Nancy Pelosi said last week. "For can absorb enough Brownback program. “I have decided to place a the cost of less than 40 days in supporters to pose a significant Currently, civil suits are ‘hold’ on the latest FISA bill that challenge to front-runners Iraq, we can provide SCHIP pending against the companies, would have included amnesty for Giulianni and Mitt Romney. coverage for 10 million children who granted the Bush telecommunications companies for one year." “I'd love to talk to Sam,” administration the ability to spy that enabled the President's The administration lobbied Huckabee told MSNBC on their customers. assault on the Constitution by hard to ensure that the veto last week. “I don't know of Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden illegally providing personal would stand, sending Secretary many areas in which we're (OR) and Russ Feingold (WI) information on their customers incompatible. I'd certainly love to of Health and Human Services were the sole “nay” votes. without judicial authorization,” Mike Leavitt, among others, to have his support and that of his “When you are talking about Dodd said on his Web site. Capitol Hill to twist some arms. supporters. But that's something retroactive immunity from If his hold is defeated (or According to the New York the senator will have to decide.” billions of dollars in liability, I simply ignored, as Sen. Majority Times, Democrats plan to send Brownback is expected to run think there ought to be more Leader Harry Reid has oddly for governor of Kansas when his Bush the same exact bill again caution applied,” Wyden told implied it will be), Dodd intends second Senate term ends in 2010. and again, saying they've already Bloomberg News. “Senators to filibuster the bill to prevent its compromised enough. know very little about this passage. Bush Victorious in SCHIP program and very little about In one of the suits against Battle what the government said to AT&T, federal judge Vaughn Crime Prevention Tip the phone companies and vice Walker rejected the company's The House last week Cleveland State University Police versa.” argument that they acted in failed to override the Glenn Greenwald, an “good faith” when complying President's veto of the Traveling around the Campus administration critic and with the Bush administration. popular State Children's constitutional attorney who “AT&T cannot seriously Health Insurance writes for Salon.com, has contend that a reasonable entity Program. covered the TeleCom and FISA in its position could have believed To overturn a veto, Walk with your head up and issues for years. Greenwald and that the alleged domestic dragnet two-thirds of the members be aware of your surroundings. others contend that the pending was legal,” he wrote. of both the House and the legislation granting immunity Senate must vote together Walk with confidence and disregards the rule of law that For in-depth coverage of this issue, on the matter. The Senate purpose. This non-verbal the U.S. was founded upon and visit Greenwald's blog at salon.com/ had the veto-proof communication shows that you has operated under for over 200 opinion/greenwald. majority it needed, while are aware and in control. years. the House fell short by 13
Stay Alert!
October 22, 2007 | The Cauldron
Page | News
Black Studies Program Hosts Lecture Story by James Kneblik | The Cauldron Contributing Writer
CSU instructor and journalist, Roger Jones, spoke out for Cleveland’s need for African American journalism during a lecture Wednesday night, Oct. 18, sponsored by The Black Studies Program at CSU. Jones, an active African American journalist, was formerly an editor of the Cleveland Monitor, a black paper in Cleveland. He recently co-founded Cleveland Current with Larry Durstin, an online news journal. Though the website, clevelandcurrent.com, has been active for a year, the formal launch is this month. “All newspapers have a slant and orientation,” said Jones, as he lectured on historical black papers in cities such as Cleveland. Jones revealed the mere 200 black newspapers across the country are no comparison to the 1,200 once thriving a century ago. While instrumental in the merger of City News & Tab in 1999 with Larry Durstin, Jones wanted a paper that bridged the chasm of
black and white journalism. White journalist and editor, Durstin, led the once politically and community aggressive Tab to earn over 20 awards. “We failed,” in the end, said Durstin, who attended the CSU Black Studies lecture. “Never the twain shall meet,” he said, referring to the marriage of Cleveland’s black City News and former Tab. The merger never survived. After the lecture, Jones facilitated
publicly urged Jones and Durstin to keep working. “I’d love to see the end result of a unified paper,” said Camilo. The new Cleveland Current is designed to “produce original content that aggressively explores and analyzes political, economic, cultural and social issues,” according to clevelandcurrent.com. Durstin explained neither the Scene nor Free Times, both sources for alternative news in Cleveland,
“Is not the ultimate goal of the U.S. to have, not a black paper, not a white paper, but just a paper?” active discussion with the racially mixed audience of students, faculty and journalists. The audience quizzed Jones on his opinions of journalism and African American issues in Cleveland. “Is not the ultimate goal of the U.S. to have, not a black paper, not a white paper, but just a paper?” asked Antjuan Camilo, an African American student attending the lecture. With the failure of Cleveland’s City News and Tab in mind, Camilo
currently have black news writers in staff positions. “They hardly ever deal with African American issues,” said Durstin, referring to the Free Times. Is there a need for exclusive black papers in Cleveland? Cleveland had a 50.7 percent black majority in 2000, according to the City of Cleveland. Though Jones has encouraged integration among journalists, he advocates the protection of true African American culture.
“Integration has worked,” said Jones. The existence of only 200 ‘black’ papers may be a testimony to integration rather than a lack of African American journalism. “The fact I am standing here at Cleveland State University,” said Jones, is a testimony to the success of integration. During his lecture, Jones asked the audience how they would describe the African American culture. “Miles Davis,” said one man. “Attitude,” said another. “The flatted fifth,” said Jones. The musical technique found largely in jazz and blues was Jones’ description of African American culture. It is “invisible and intangible,” he said. African American culture is not someone, “with a hat on, with baggy jeans, with FUBU across his chest,” said Jones. The Black Studies Program primarily serves the student body at CSU. Although, “The entire Cleveland community has the opportunity to be our students,” said Prester Pickett, assistant to director of black studies at CSU. Pickett is creating a playwright to illustrate the history of the Call & Post, Cleveland’s historical black newspaper. The lecture with Roger Jones was part of the Curtis Wilson Colloquium Series, one of several spotlights by The Black Studies program at CSU.
F e at u r e Cleveland’s Own Amityville The Haunted History of Franklin Castle
The massive mansion looms high above anyone standing below. Its many windows, covered with black plywood, seem to stare like eyes, menacingly observing everything outside yet obscuring what lies within. Stone lions flank the immense wooden front doors like sentinels guarding whatever lurks within the many dark rooms of the house. A bent wrought-iron gate surrounds the property with no trespassing signs threatening curiosity seekers. With stone walls and a turret, it really does look like a castle, as its name suggests. Franklin Castle, known to many as the most haunted house in Ohio, is located a mere five minutes from downtown in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. The house lies on a stretch
of Franklin Boulevard that is sometimes referred to as the west side’s answer to Millionaire’s Row, for its abundance of ornate mansions. What sets Franklin Castle apart from its neighbors might be its fourth-floor ballroom or its amount of rooms, which number between 20 and 30 depending on who you ask. Or it might be the ghosts. The house is supposedly home to more than a few of them. With a history like Franklin Castle’s, it’s no wonder. The story of the house, now muddled with so many rumors that it’s hard to identify what’s true or just legend, is more terrifying and bizarre than most horror movie plots. The castle was built in the late 1800’s by banker, Hannes
Feature by Illona Westfall | The Cauldron Culture Editor
Tiedemann. During the time Hannes and his wife Luise lived there, they suffered the losses of not only three infant children, but also their 15-year-old daughter. Perhaps Luise drowned her sorrows in liquor because she died of “liver troubles” in 1895. As was common at the time, her funeral was held in the house. Stories tell that Tiedemann brutally murdered Karen, his niece or illegitimate daughter, in a secret passageway in the house. She is cited as the most prolific ghost in the castle, appearing dressed in black on its balconies. Soon after his wife’s death, Tiedemann sold the house. It was, at one point, home to a German Socialist organization that was rumored to have Nazi ties. Supposedly, in a secret room 20 Socialists were gunned down because of a political dispute. The house also became a doctor’s office for a short time. But what sort of doctor, one can’t help but wonder, in light of the supposed discovery of the bones of babies, hidden in the house. Indeed, the disembodied crying of a baby is one of the many spooky things heard in the house. During prohibition, the castle was possibly home to bootleggers and a tunnel to smuggle liquor out may hide beneath a concrete floor in a back room of the house. In 1968 the Romano family moved into the castle in hopes of turning it into a restaurant. These aspirations were never fulfilled because the family couldn’t bear to live there for too long. The nightmare started when the Romano’s children started talking to an invisible friend, a little girl in an old-fashioned dress who wouldn’t stop crying.
Then Mrs. Romano acquired her own unseen friend. “They claim the original owner, Mrs. Tiedemann, is in this house and she possesses me,” she was quoted as telling a newspaper, in Chris Woodyard’s book Haunted Ohio 3, “And at times I feel as if I’m not myself.” A priest advised Romano to leave the house but she initially refused. “The spirits are very good to me, that are here,” she said. “They’ve opened doors for me and everything. They’ve kept me from falling down the steps where others have been pushed down the steps.” The Romano’s finally moved out and sold the house to Reverend Sam Muscatello, who along with Reverend Tim Swope, planned on turning the building into, of all things, a church. After apparently encountering the ghost of the murdered Karen, they began conducting ghost tours of the castle to raise money for their church. A 1976 article from the Mansfield News Journal detailed
Feature | Page 11
The Cauldron | October 22, 2007
Swope’s interactions with Karen. Swope would ask Karen to make her presence known to visitors, particularly in what he called “the cold room,” a room that mysteriously maintained a temperature 10 degrees colder than the rest of the house. “He said she usually performs for visitors when her name is called by placing her hand on someone’s neck or shoulder,” wrote the newspaper, “Swope said that usually converts skeptics into believer.” It was during Muscatello’s ownership of the castle that Cleveland radio executive, John Webster, attempted to catch the ghosts on tape for a radio special. “I was climbing the stairs, with a large tape recorder strapped over my shoulder,” Webster said, “When something that I couldn’t see tore the recorder from my shoulders.” The recorder smashed into pieces at the bottom of the stairs. Like their predecessors, the reverends didn’t stay long. The house switched owners a few more times before Michelle Heimburger, who remains the current owner, purchased it in 1999. Later that year, a homeless man set fire to the house, eliminating much of the interior restoration that had been done by her and the previous owner. The house, nearly gutted by the fire, sat vacant
with no signs of renovation for years before yet more controversy arose. Heimburger had enlisted real-estate developer Charles Milsaps to oversee the post-arson restoration of the building with intentions of selling it to him. In 2003 Milsaps announced
Milsaps plans. Mary Ann appears to have been right. It was revealed last year by The Plain Dealer that although the Web site for the Franklin Castle Club trumps the building as being beautifully restored and club membership to be selling fast, all
More than a few people claim to have seen the figure of a woman (Karen perhaps) in a mirror above a first-floor fireplace, during stops at the building on local ghost tours. Whether it’s cursed by negligence or the supernatural, Ohio’s most haunted house maintains it’s turbulent and unusual history. So, the next time you drive down Franklin Blvd. be sure to look for the towering castle. Keep your eyes peeled for a dark figure standing on the balcony. Don’t be surprised if it disappears into thin air.
“The spirits are very good to me, that are here,” she said. “They’ve opened doors for me and everything. They’ve kept me from falling down the steps where others have been For more ghost stories from Northeastern Ohio: pushed down the steps.” plans for the building to become the home of the Franklin Castle Club, an upscale social club with membership fees of $5,000. Things were definitely looking up for the building. Later that year, local ghost buster Mary Ann, best known as the inspiration for the popular television show The Ghost Whisperer, told Cleveland’s Scene that the ghosts probably would be detrimental to any possible businesses hoping to take residence at the castle. “If there are ghosts there, he’s going to have terrible problems renovating the place,” she said of
was not as it seemed. Milsaps was actually only “reserving” memberships and not selling them. Besides, the club still didn’t have a home since renovations were happening at a much slower pace than anticipated. Several local companies claimed that work done at the castle was not paid for and a lien against the house was awarded to one company. Earlier this year, the inside of the castle still showed very little progress. The ghosts still seem to be there, though.
www.deadohio.com www.forgottenohio.com For more information on touring haunted sites in cleveland check these Web sites: www.hauntedcleveland.net www.hauntedclevelandtours.com
Culture Wes Anderson’s New Movie Explores The Bonds of Family Story by Laura Dynda | The Cauldron Staff Writer Director Wes Anderson is used to premiering his films in such Anderson. luxurious places such as New York, Los Angeles, but not in Cleveland. The film was shot primarily in the palace-lined, desert region of Recently Anderson and Jason Schwartzman, one of the film’s stars Rajasthan in the Northwest corner of the sub-continent of India, and co-writers were present at the Cedar Lee Theatre for a screening with The Darjeeling Limited itself moving on tracks that ran from the of their newest film The Darjeeling Limited. city of Jodhpur all the way to Jaisalmer, in the Thar Desert, near the When asked what he thought of Cleveland, Anderson said, “I like Pakistani border. it. I like Cleveland. We haven’t been here for very long, but I [have] a The Indian rail system is the busiest in the world, carrying an astongood feeling about it.” ishing 15 million passengers a day. The trains range from the most The film is about three American sleek, air conditioned, modern brothers who have not seen or spoken cabins to classical hand-carved to each other in a year, who go on a steam engines from another era, train voyage together across India to with most falling some where in find themselves and to again reclaim between the two. what it means to be brothers. The According to Anderson, makname of the train that the brothers are ing this film has been different riding on is The Darjeeling Limited. than previous ones because, “I’m During the film the brothers end used to the set design in my films up meeting many new and interesting coming from my imagination or characters along the way, like the Chief different influences combined Steward played by Wally Wolodarsky with my imagination,” explains (who was last seen in Anderson‘s The the director, “but in India, it was a Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou), and the different case. There was so much incomparable Angelica Huston, who to surprise you in every direction plays the brothers’ mother Patricia. you might look. There was always But unforeseen circumstances arrive something funny or something Scene from The Darjeeling Limited that force the brothers out of the luxury of their train strange and we wanted to capture it all -- and the chaland into the majestic beauty of India that starts them on another jour- lenge was getting as much of that as possible into the movie we had ney, one that will bring new meaning to each of their lives. written.” The cast includes Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman While making the film, the director said that he and the actors and the trio’s 15-piece Louis Vuitton suitcase set which is present in had to do away with separate living spaces and bond. “We were all in almost the entire film. India living in a house together and everyone just completely threw Anderson recruited Marc Jacobs on behalf of the design house and themselves into the experience. And the best thing that could have Louis Vuitton to produce a special set of luggage for this film. “They happened on this movie did -- the actors all became best friends and make the best suitcases, and I say that because I watched how they it was as if they were really in the story, which was the inspiration for made these, putting hundreds of little nails and making them so care- all of us.” fully and intricately,” says Anderson. “They were made so well that we When watching this film it is easy to see the bond between the three were able to drag them around the desert and have them fall in the main characters, and how they interact throughout the film. Each of river and throw them onto trains and have them really take a beating the brothers, Francis, Peter, and Jack are different in their own ways, and yet, still they lasted. We only had one set so it would have been a but by the end of the film, after they fight, bicker, and spray mace in big problem if they were destroyed.” each other’s faces, realize that family is the most important thing of all. The suitcases represent the one character that the audience does They are brothers through and through, and it is enjoyable to watch. not see throughout the film, the brothers’ father who died the year Fans of other Wes Anderson films will indeed be able to connect before. Since the funeral the brothers have not seen or spoken to each with each of these characters, and enjoy watching this film. Although other, but after an accident that has left him physically bruised, the this film deviates from using sound stages, and many of the other luxueldest brother Francis (Owen Wilson) recruit’s his younger brothers ries that most Hollywood sets have, a member of the audience would Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) to go on a journey never know. and become brothers like they used to be. For the characters, the location of India, and the wonderful script After making films like Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life keep the audience of The Darjeeling Limited entertained from start to Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson was certain that he wanted to try finish. something different with his next film. “I decided I would like to make People that are interested in seeing this film should watch the short a movie in India, I decided I would like to make a movie on a train, film Hotel Chevalier that was made one year before featuring Jason and I thought I’d like to make a movie about three brothers,” says Schwartzman’s character from The Darjeeling Limited.
The Cauldron | October 22, 2007
Culture | Page 13
PSYKICK MUSIC, SEEN Column by David Imburgia | The Cauldron Staff Writer
Daniel A. I. U. Higgs Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot (Thrill Jockey) Baltimore’s Daniel Higgs was usually mentioned in sync with his longtime post-punk band Lungfish, but since he started putting out solo records of jew’s-harp ragas, apocalyptic banjo folk tunes, and droning guitar instrumentals, more heads started to turn. The front sleeve of a bearded Higgs staring into space on his solo debut, 2005’s Magic Alphabet, taken in context with the fact that a jew’s harp was the sole instrument on the entire record may have had the word “loony” swimming around in the heads of the confounded. But soon after last year’s Ancestral Songs on the Holy Mountain record label and the recent Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot book + CD release of wildly imaginative art and music, it’s becoming more apparent that Higgs had began with a simple idea and let it evolve around his own prophetic visions and spiraling universe. The elegant, bronze-laced banjo explosion that starts off “Luminous Carcass Ornament” expands into shimmering tinny branches that buzz like a metaphysical hummingbird. “Spectral Hues” brings in a distorted, meditative piano piece that makes it sound like a completely new instrument, alien and exotic. The themes of the music
are noticeably connected to the paintings and words in the book as well. Insanely simple yet mind-bending images of multicolored orbs, egg-shaped beings with different bulges and tentaclelike appendages, sometimes in repeating patterns, come off as highly symbolic and at times even downright creepy. Thoughtful acronyms accompany the art as well, such as Mighty Undulations Syncronize Into Cosmoses, and Belief Is Blasphemy Lovingly Encoded, among a couple dozen others. In addition to the release of Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot just this past June, another full-length CD will be coming out this week on Holy Mountain called Metempsychotic Melodies. The prolific output and highly spiritual nature of Higgs’ art, words and music point toward the budding of a fiercely original artist in the throes of his own selfdiscovery. POSTSCRIPT w/ first-person pronouns: While Daniel Higgs seems to be on his own inter-dimensional mission weaving between the stars and galaxies in his head, he’s still a very approachable and downto-earth guy. This reviewer had to chance to casually chat with Higgs at the Grog Shop when he came to town to perform with drone-metal liaisons Om. After he and I bummed a couple smokes off of people and talked about how to pronounce “Yggdrasil” (he wasn’t entirely sure either), I got to see his absolutely stunning performance. Between the chanting banjo ragas and mesmerizing jew’s harp instrumentals, he pulled out a couple of new noisemakers into his repertoire, like live tape-manipulation and some sort of hand-percussion that was completely alien to me. While I’m sure a decent chunk of the crowd had the impression of some
homeless-looking guy being off his rocker, there were just as many who were stunned by the man’s unparalleled presence. Higgs had told me that he plans on returning to Cleveland to perform again in spring, and as we all know live music is a whole differently rewarding experience than recorded music, it shall be duly noted that his performance is not one to be missed. And on that note, it seems like the perfect segue into the next section of P.M.S.
CLOCKCLEANER/ HOMOSTUPIDS/ WOLFDOWNERS/ SICK ELECTRIC Saturday, 10/27 @ Now That’s Class
GO SEE SOME LIVE MUSIC: Show announcements and what not
The new Clockcleaner record Babylon Rules brings to mind an American-made Bauhaus forced to live in the sickest parts of the rust belt of Pennsylvania with no human contact. Their noisy acid-rock and roll are welcome back in town, again supported by the shrieking, reverb-over-everything angle of local cave-punks Homostupids, who have been made the subject of ridicule in this paper before.
HIVE MIND/ CADAVER IN DRAG/ EMERALDS/SKIN GRAFT Thursday, 10/25 @ Now That’s Class (11213 Detroit Ave, 221-8576)
SIC ALPS/ THEE SCARCITY OF TANKS/ STEPHE DK Sunday, 10/28 @ Pat’s In the Flats (2233 W. 3rd St, 621-8044)
Detroit’s Hive Mind has been sliming the line between dark ambient and noise for a few years now, and will bring his sick sounds and rad hair into town along with Lexington’s space noise cacophonous quintet, Cadaver In Drag. Local drone heroes Emeralds, who have been glowingly written about in this paper before, are on the bill as well as also-local brutal noise engineer Skin Graft.
The psych-garage rock of Sic Alps traces all the way to the west coast, the mecca of their style of lo-fi, space bending jams. Local troublemakers Thee Scarcity of Tanks fill out the bill with their ragged prose-meets-improv head music along with Stephe DK, the New Lou Reed apparently out on what is sure to be a totally unpredictable solo joint.
October 22, 2007 | The Cauldron
Page 14 | Culture
Video Game Preview Preview by Mark Katzbach | The Cauldron Staff Writer
Assassin’s Creed, developed by Ubisoft Montreal, is a highly anticipated game coming out this holiday season. Set in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade, you are placed into the shoes of an assassin named Altair, who becomes caught up in a conspiracy that spreads beyond Jerusalem to the world beyond. The game features four types of weapons, a long sword, short sword, throwing knives and hidden blade. Throughout the game, you can pick up newer, more effective weaponry of those types and use them to engage in realistic swordfights or perform stealth assassinations. An interactive environment dominates the game. The crowds can either aid in your concealment or make it more difficult for you to chase down your target. Scaling buildings and mountains is more realistic than it has ever been before. Altair grasps at actual
handholds on walls, towers and cliff-faces. The team behind this game was also responsible for Price of Persia: Sands of Time (2003). Following its release, it received the E3 2003 Game Critics Awards: Best Action/Adventure Game and numerous other awards. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is currently available for ad-supported free download from FilePlanet. com. Assassin’s Creed was named “Best Action Game” at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this year. As well as being awarded Game Critics Awards: Best Action/Adventure Game, IGN: Best Action Game, PS3 Game of the Show, Best PS3 Action Game, Best PS3 Graphics, and Gametrailers: Best of Show at E3 2006. Rated “M” for Mature (ages 17 and up) and due for release on the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 on Nov. 13 with a price tag of $59.99.
CSU Chic
Story by Andrea Cervenak | The Cauldron Staff Writer Name: Megan Mahany Age: 24 Major: Law Student Style Inspirations: Sarah Jessica Parker, fashion magazines, and her very stylish friends Favorite Stores: Banana Republic, BCBG, United Colors of Benetton, Guess, Express, H&M Favorite Fashion Eras: “Current, and I also love ‘80’s concert t-shirts.” Fashion Philosophy: “I try to find really comfortable clothes. I also focus on buying classic, well-made pieces that will last a long time.” Loves What About Fashion: “Like most girls, I love shopping and finding good deals.”
What Megan’s Wearing: Calvin Klein Dress. Nine West Mary Jane Heels. Coach Monogram Purse.
The Cauldron | October 22, 2007
Culture | Page 15
Are They Worth a Listen? Column by Faith Larraine | The Cauldron Staff Writer
QuietDrive
Is Kevin Trunkenmiller (center) and company worth a listen? You decide.
Momma’s boys, best friends, great drummers and rock stars make up this week’s band. The quintet is coming to the Agora Ballroom on Nov. 16 and they are doing big things in a small amount of time. And when the drummer starts screaming, “BE QUIET! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A QUIETDRIVE" maybe you will understand how they got their name. So it’s time for you to decide…are they worth a listen? Band of Choice: Quietdrive 10 Reasons Why You Should Listen to Quietdrive 1. “Time After Time”: Yep! This is the rock group that has that amazing Cyndi Lauper cover. If you’ve already heard them play this, think of the brilliance of their own work. 2. XBOX Live stars: Quietdrive was named Artist of Month for XBOX Live in Jan. 2007. 3. Any time, any place: Any time
lead singer Kevin Trunkenmiller would come up with song lyrics or melodies, he would simply call his house’s answering machine and sing whatever had come to mind. Even when he would go to the movies with other band members, if he had an idea he would call the answering machine singing at the top of his lungs while waiting in line. Goes to show that true creativity can be quite random. 4. Myspace.com groupies: Creating their own M y s p a c e page is what got them their fame. Thousands of Myspace users were drawn to their page through e-mails and bulletins posted by the band. Now they have tons of listeners. 5. Mom cried, I died: Trunkenmiller’s mother went to the studio to listen to her son create his masterpiece, and she cried tears of joy. She cried and the two had a very emotional moment. If the music made her cry, there must be something talented about it. 6. Poker fiends: Quietdrive’s biography on their website has a quote from Matt Kirby, guitarist and vocalist, that explains how he and Trunkenmiller attained their
equipment. “We pretty much paid for all of our college expenses, as well as guitars and gear, with poker winnings.” 7. “Rise From the Ashes”: This single from their debut album When All That’s Left Is You is definitely a ‘fight back’ type of song. Very uplifting and it rocks! 8. Funny pods: The band posts comical podcasts on their Myspace for fans to listen to. They have recently released No. 10. 9. Soundtrack worthy: More news for all the gamer fans, “Rise From the Ashes,” was also featured on the NFL 2007 soundtrack. 10. Quietdrive: Sometimes that’s all we need is a quiet drive. If only I drove. 10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Quietdrive 1. Indian givers: Last year, the band had decided that they needed a new name other than Quietdrive. However, they already had all these printed up shirts with that moniker on them. The band decided it would
be a good idea to give all the shirts to the Salvation Army. About a week later, they decided they wanted to keep the name Quietdrive…but they also wanted the shirts back. How rude! And no…they didn’t get the shirts back. 2. Kevin needs Ritalin: Watching the music video for “Rise From the Ashes” makes me think that Trunkenmiller could be having a seizure through the entire thing. Calm down. 3. Easily comparable: They’re definitely something that has probably been heard before. Somewhat unique, but not by much. 4. Cover charts: “Time After Time” has been the only song of theirs to make charts so far. That’s not too good, because it is a cover of someone else’s hit. 5. Droo Hastings: He used to be the vocalist, but now he’s just the bassist. Do we not get to hear his voice? 6. Punk?: These guys try to classify themselves as a punk band. Punk they are not. 7. Fact: The fact that most of their fans did come from Myspace is really sad. 8. Crap quote: Trunkenmiller said this in an interview about the bands sound, “Rock n roll mixed with some passion and emotion and a never-ending drive to succeed, I guess. That's kind of what the name is all about, that quiet drive within us all." Corny crap-ola being dished out for fake empathy. 9. Matt Kirby: You wonder if this is his real name or if he stole it from the puffy pink cartoon character for kicks. 10. Pop tarts: It wouldn’t take much to turn their music into a new pop album. And no…we don’t want that. No, seriously, we really don’t want that! Recommend your band, or a band you feel is or is not worth a listen. Let The Cauldron know at csucauldron.com or at cauldroneditors@hotmail.com
Cauldron
S p o rt s Q & A with Head Wrestling Coach Jack Effner CSU grapplers envision success for upcoming season and future Interview conducted by Nick Camino | The Cauldron Sports Editor
Nick Camino (NC): What’s the team’s agenda from now until Nov. 3, which is your first official matches, at the Eastern Michigan Open?
NC: You hired Anthony Coleman, a former wrestler as your new assistant coach, what excites you about his arrival to the team?
Jack Effner (JE): We started practicing at the beginning of August right when school began to create team chemistry, build a good aerobic base among the wrestlers, and to get them stronger. That is why we started so early this season. Before October, we practiced early in the morning before classes started. Then in October we began two-a-days. Those double practices help us get ready for competition, where as the practices before got the guys back in shape and ready for the season ahead. Right now it is a very intense time, but obviously we have to be doing this. In order to be tough you need to practice daily. In November and early December we will face our competition phase, where we do not wrestle too many dual meets, we wrestle in a lot of tournaments. During that time our goal is to gain experience, and it will give us the ability to get live mat time and get seasoned for the grind ahead. After that we take a little break over Christmas, then right after Christmas we begin our peak cycle where we look to prepare for our conference dual meets, conference championship, and NCAA tournament.
JE: As a college Division I program, you would like to get that big name guy, that jumps out at you, and brings some instant notoriety to your program, and I have done that a few times. And I look to do that again. But Anthony applied and I kept getting back to him, because he is a guy that can get it done here. Anthony is a guy that loves Cleveland, loves Cleveland State, he’s one of our own, he sells it well, and he had a great career wrestling here at Cleveland State. While winning over 80 matches at CSU, he was also a great student in the classroom. He never won a national title or even placed as an AllAmerican, but who ever he wrestled he was always in the match. The reason for that were his dedication and his work ethic. In the NCAA Tournament, he lost to the defending national champion from Okalahoma, Teyon Ware, in double overtime. He was just a real tough kid, and I think he will help our program tremendously. NC: I know the team has begun conditioning and one-on-one practices…and the team’s begun practicing, how do you feel so far? Can you get a read yet on some of these guys? JE: You can get a read on these
guys and the team in general, but things do change. Many things can change including emotion and interest level. This sport takes time, and you not only have to be good, you have to be lucky. You need to stay healthy and injury-free both mentally and physically. I get criticized a lot about not having more success here at Cleveland State. But I think we have done very well since I have been here. I want more obviously, but I don’t think a lot of people realize how hard this is and how tough it is. There are a lot of kids in this sport working their tails off and not getting rewarded for it, it’s personal. To be one of the top eight (AllAmerican) wrestlers in your weight class is just incredible. NC: Give us a quick explanation of this new hydration testing they are doing at the NCAA level? What are your thoughts on it? JE: There is a medical committee that determined what being hydrated is. So our wrestlers need to take a urine test in order to see which weight they are permitted to compete at throughout the season. In order to certify at a weight class you need to make the weight and be hydrated at the same time. The test is issued by the NCAA. And it is a great thing. It ensures the safety of our wrestlers. It’s better for the wrestlers, it’s better for the coaches, and it is better for the sport.
NC: Coach obviously your team will face tough competition with teams from the EWL conference, and individually your wrestlers will face top guys at the Michigan State Open and the Midlands Invitational at Northwestern, but besides Kent State and Eastern Michigan you do not have a lot of non-conference competition…any reasoning behind that? I know in previous years you wrestled Ohio State and Michigan, is there any reasoning behind a short nonconference schedule? JE: Yes, you are correct Nick. I have tapered our schedule a little bit. I don’t want to say I have lost steam, but I feel that it is real important for our program to have a winning record. Overall it is better for
Sports | Page 17
The Cauldron | October 22, 2007 our wrestlers’ confidence, it is good for our program to get stronger and remain strong. The unique thing about this sport is that we do not have to wrestle them in dual meets in order to wrestle their guys individually by weight class. We have a number of tournaments where we will face these top guys from these teams we are talking about. So while we can face great opponents in tournaments, we can still compete within our dual meet schedule and have a winning team. I want to create a good mix for this team. We are always going to have a tough EWL dual meet schedule, which is very tough and credible, and after that some other teams that we can compete and beat. NC: As a coach, what are you looking forward to most this upcoming season? JE: I look forward to having a winning team, a winning program, and our wrestlers living up to their potential. I am very optimistic about our team and our individual wrestlers for this season. NC: When you are recruiting a wrestler, what is your pull? In other words, why should a high school student-athlete, want to wrestle for this program and earn a degree from this institution? JE: I try and keep it very basic. These recruits need to realize that here at Cleveland State you can get a great college education, while getting an NCAA Division I wrestling experience. With those two things hopefully we can spark some initial interest with some recruits. Our administration does a great job supporting us. We have scholarships, we have a great schedule, we are in a very good conference, and we qualify guys for the NCAA Tournament every year. Those are all huge aspects. NC: Is this program where you
want it or envisioned it to be since your arrival in 1998? Has it been more difficult than you envisioned recruiting the stud wrestler to CSU? JE: Nick hindsight is a wonderful thing. If I could go back and make some adjustments and changes I certainly would. But since I have been here we have had some great things happen. We had the winningest wrestler in school history come through when I coached here, we have had many winning seasons, and we have sent wrestlers go to nationals. We have had wrestlers win EWL Conference Championships, which is terrific, but I am greedy. I would like to have thought that we would have an All-American by now, and when I look at that it really bothers me. Yet, I am able to put into perspective how competitive this sport is. So have we accomplished everything I had hoped for? No. But I feel good about the fact that we have gotten a lot out of what we had here. NC: Coach, I think that we would be remised if we didn’t talk about former Olympian and assistant coach Brian Dolph. I understand why he left, but was there any attempt to keep him around?? Because he seems like a guy who could have definitely help in your building of this program. JE: Definitely, yes there was an attempt to keep him here. Brian coming here for one year was a shot in the arm for our program. What he brought to the practice room and the competitive side of matches was just amazing. We all learned from him in his one season here, and in that year he helped us to become a better program. But what he was offered for his new head coaching job at North Canton Hoover High School was just very hard to match. He was able to go back
to his high school, his dream job, and most importantly where his family is. When he was at the University of Pennsylvania, the reason he came back to Ohio was because he wanted to be closer to his family. Cleveland State was close, but obviously his new job is even closer. NC: This is your ninth season here at CSU do you have any regrets or anything you would have done differently? JE: There are a couple of kids I wish I had recruited, but there are also a few wrestlers that we brought in to wrestle here, but they just did not work out. But we have learned from those experiences and those things are not going to happen anymore. I am not trying to make excuses, but I am real confident that we are doing good things here, and kids are learning a lot from what we are teaching. Sometimes though things do not work out; that has happened a few times here. We have lost our best wrestler a couple seasons since my arrival in 1998. NC: On paper when you look at the projected lineup, it seems to have the ingredients of a successful 5-month season for this team. Are you happy with your projected lineup? JE: Oh yeah! I am confident that we have talent, so we have the right tools too work with, but obviously we have to still work hard at getting good, because being good takes a lot more than just talent. In order to be great you need to have toughness, you need to be in great shape, and you need to be well prepared, and honestly, I think our wrestlers are up for that challenge. NC: The strengths are visible, your team can compete with the best, the hard work is visible year after year, the condition and stamina when you put wrestlers
on the mat is visible, but can you pinpoint some weaknesses this team and program have had in previous seasons? JE: I think we need to have better consistent work habits. That itself will produce better results. When you look back in the history here there is just a bunch of excuses, either somebody gets hurt, or somebody gets disciplined. So if we can just get back to the fundamentals of practicing being tough more consistently, I think we are going to be a much better wrestling team with better results. That is our mind set and that is our goal, if we can do that, I think some real special things can happen. NC: What has been the single greatest moment in your time here at Cleveland State University? JE: (Laughs) You put me on the spot. On the competitive side of things in 2003 we had our winningest team in 20 years here at Cleveland State. That year we had Gerald Harris, along with Phil and Rocco Mansueto. Harris was the winningest wrestler in school history. All three of those guys won conference championships, so it was a tremendous season. Competitively that was the pinnacle of my career here at CSU. Defeating Ohio State in Woodling Gym was certainly a highlight of my career as well. We’re fighting to get back to how good we were in that ‘03 season. NC: Some NCAA wrestling media and even local media has gone as far to say that as a coach you and the program have underachieved. I am not one to judge. So what do you tell these naysayers? JE: I say that these people need to be careful about judging from the outside. I am very confident
Page 18 | Sports that we have done good things since I have been here. Someone that says that knows wrestling, but does not have a feel for how competitive it is, how tough it is, and how many things have to go right in order for things to work out. When I see a Division I team or an individual win an NCAA Championship I just sit there in awe, because you not only have to be real good, but you have to be very lucky. A lot of things have to come together in order for those things to happen. So for someone to say that we have underachieved might be accurate, but for someone to say that as a team we are not working at it, we’re not doing good things, is crazy. NC: Do you and your coaching staff make an attempt to go after and recruit every great Northeast Ohio high school wrestler? St. Edward High School, Walsh Jesuit High School, Solon High School and even Maple Heights High School wrestling stars? JE: Nick, I think it’s my job try and get the best here, so I am either going to make those great Northeast Ohio wrestlers either tell me no, or tell me yes. I make that call to those guys. If you ask them, did Coach Effner call you? They will answer yes. Again it
October 22, 2007 | The Cauldron is my job to try and get the best guys to come here and wrestle for Cleveland State. NC: It seems like you guys received a nice surprise last season when transfer Antonio Nicholson showed up to the room. I know he is eyeing the 141 lbs. spot, and this is a guy who in my humble opinion should have won states his senior year, but he took third; can you talk about what he could mean to your program? JE: Antonio has been a great addition to this team. He is like a sponge, he is around here all the time, he’s working out, he’s listening, and I think all of that will only make him better. NC: Is Rashard Goff ready to take that next step? JE: Rashard is still developing and maturing, but he is certainly capable of making some great things happen for himself and our team this upcoming season. NC: And do you feel that wrestling No. 1 ranked Cole Konrad of Minnesota last season was good for him, just to see where he is at and actually how far he has to go still? JE: Well, he wrestled Cole
as close as anybody in that tournament. The final score was 9-1, but he got taken down at the very end to claim the major decision. However, he was right in that match throughout the entire contest. Last season Rashard wrestled his best at our conference tournament where he was able to beat a few people who had beaten him earlier in the season. That performance showed us coaches and it showed him that if he just does what he is capable of, and brush all the adversity aside, then some real special things can happen for him this season. NC: I know I have February 9th and February 24th circled on my calendar already. Those two dates you have nationally ranked Edinboro and West Virginia to wrestle. Can you describe what it would mean to the CSU program to defeat those teams and show people that you guys can wrestle with some of the best in the country? These are teams CSU has to be competitive year in and year out correct? JE: Well any time you can beat those teams it’s huge. I think about those teams year round. I literally have nightmares about those teams. They are the enemy and they are our rivals. Off the
mat I am friends with all of those coaches, but when we get on the mat, it’s nasty. This season I think we can beat those teams. Over the past few years those two programs have won the EWL and the fact that they do that burns me, and it drives me as a coach. We have beaten them since I have been here, and this season I am optimistic I think we can go into the matches with those teams and get it done. NC: Lastly coach, in order for you to look back on this wrestling season on March 23rd, when it’s all over and look back and say, “Wow that was a great season, something we can definitely build off of for the future”…what will your team have had to of accomplished? JE: I will sleep well at night if we have a winning team record, we place high in the conference, and we bring home at least one AllAmerican plaque. I would feel real proud as a head coach if we could do that. Obviously it would be real nice to have a conference champion too. For the wrestling schedule, results and wrestler bios visit csuvikings.com.
Cleveland State Wrestling Projected Starting Lineup Story by Nick Camino | The Cauldron Sports Editor Roll out the mats and blow the whistle baby, the wrestling season is right around the corner! With wrestle-offs slated for Friday, Oct. 26 the Viking grapplers are looking to compete for an EWL Championship this season, and to once again qualify a number of individuals for the NCAA Wrestling Championships in March, where the ultimate goal is becoming AllAmericans, that is finishing in the top eight in your weight class. Coming off an encouraging
fourth place finish in the EWL and a 10-5 dual meet record, the Vikings return eight varsity starters and five NCAA qualifiers from last season’s squad. Although wrestle-offs (matches wrestled between CSU wrestlers in the same weight class to determine who the varsity starter will be) still need to be completed in order to see what grapplers will represent this year’s squad, this writer took it upon myself to brainstorm and project a starting line-up.
Here is the projected weightby-weight breakdown and a brief discussion of the wrestlers who will compete for the CSU Vikings this winter: 125 lbs: The well-conditioned and fundamentally sound senior Ryan Riggs is back at the 125pound spot for the Vikings again this season. The former Perry High School standout looks to have another consistent season for CSU in hopes of qualifying for the NCAA
Championships. Obviously that task will not be easy with nationally ranked wrestlers Obensen Blanc of Lockhaven and Mike Sees of Bloomsburg returning at this weight class as well. Pushing and challenging Riggs on the 26th will be standout freshman Matt Reynolds. Reynolds comes from Marion Pleasant High School where he compiled a career record of 105-24 and placed third in the state in Division III at 119 lbs. his senior season.
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The Cauldron | October 22, 2007 133 lbs: With two-time NCAA qualifier David Armstrong taking a redshirt year off so he can work out and prepare for his final season here at Cleveland State, the 133-pound weight class is virtually wide open for the taking. At this point the favorite appears to be freshman Josh Palivoda. Palivoda completed his senior season at Marysville High School with a record of 46-1, claiming the Division I state champion at 130 lbs. Competing with Palivoda for the 133-pound spot will be two local wrestlers, Matt Waxman of Solon High School and Mike Mitchell of Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio. 141 lbs: For three seasons Mike Hurley has represented the Cleveland State Vikings at this spot in the varsity lineup. Although he is still planning on wrestling 141 lbs. in this his final season at CSU, looming in the horizon and looking brighter is West Liberty (Va.) transfer Antonio Nicholson. Both head coach Jack Effner and assistant coach Anthony Coleman have raved about Nicholson’s work ethic this past off-season and his athletic ability on the mat. With a style reminiscent of former Edinboro national champion Shawn Bunch, Nicholson could provide Cleveland State with the spark they have been looking for in the past few
Rashard Goff
seasons at the 141 lbs. spot in the varsity lineup. Behind Nicholson and Hurley are two tough Ohio wrestlers, Lawrence Cavello and T.J. Chappelear. 149 lbs: Ryan Hurley clearly has All-American potential, and will hold the varsity spot at 149 lbs. for the Vikings. Hurley has qualified for the NCAA Championships three times in his career off of Euclid Avenue. This season he is looking to place in the top eight at nationals. Last season Hurley boasted a team best record of 28-13 for the Vikings. Also competing against the younger Hurley brother at 149 lbs. will be Dan Castillo, Willie McCollie, Mike McLaughlin, Shaun Mitchell, Tim Vicek, and Tyler Young. From that group, McLaughlin from St. Edward High School took sixth his junior year at the state tournament and Vicek finished with a 42-3 record his senior campaign at Henry County High School in Jonesboro, Georgia winning the Georgia state championship at 145 lbs.
team-high six pins, Effner should get the start at the 165-pound weight class again this season. Despite Effner eyeing the varsity spot, junior Nate Kmetz will bump down a weight class this season to challenge Effner on Oct. 26 for the starting position and will look to push him the entire season. 174 lbs: At this point, it looks like former Garfield Heights High School standout J.T. Miller will start for the Vikings this season at 174 lbs. However, it is possible that Miller may redshirt this season in order to develop himself into a 184-pound wrestler for the Vikings for his senior season. In that case, Caleb Kennedy and Gerred Tolson would battle for the right to wrestle at the 174pound weight class and the starting spot on Oct. 26.
157 lbs: This is a total toss-up weight class. I truly cannot make a prediction on this weight class simply because three tough freshman wrestlers who are all without varsity experience at the Division I collegiate level. This weight class includes Dustin Doty of Start High School in Toledo, Rob Michaels of Clyde High School, and Thomas Schwartz of Clyde High School. This should make for interesting challenge matches not only on Oct. 26, but throughout the season as well.
184 lbs: With junior Chris Hahn deciding to bump down to 184 lbs. from the 197-pound weight class, the former Minerva high school state and national champion will utilize his strength and exceptional skill to help him win matches this season. Although Hahn’s decision to go down a weight class leaves the door wide-open at the 197-pound weight class, he will help the Vikings tremendously at 184 lbs. Pushing Hahn will be freshmen Derek Cummins and Alex Hughes of Ohio.
165 lbs: Coming back for the Vikings this season at 165 lbs. will be national qualifier Marcus Effner, who is once again committed to qualifying for the national tournament and gaining AllAmerican status as well. Posting a record of 24-15, including a
197 lbs: Although you may see Hughes and Cummins try and bump up to 197 lbs. for the varsity spot, it looks like Benny Balogh will once again begin the season as the varsity starter. The former Valley Forge Patriot also started last season in place of Hahn who was injured at the time. As a true freshman, Balogh went a respectable 7-11 with one major decision at this difficult weight class
Ryan Riggs
for the Vikings. His size at just 5foot-4 allows the Parma, Ohio native to stay low on his opponents while using his colossal strength to wear them down on the mat. HWT: Cleveland State heavyweight Rashard Goff is currently ranked No. 18 in the country in Division I, and in my humble opinion should be ranked even higher. This season Goff looks to not only qualify once again for the NCAA National Championships, but to wrestle well enough to become an All-American as well. His enormous strength as well as his great top wrestling is what carried Goff to the National Championships last season. Last season Goff gave No. 1 ranked Cole Konrad of Minnesota all he could handle in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, but in the end fell 9-1, still giving Konrad his second-closest match of the tournament. Believe it or not, Goff will receive a tough challenge though on Oct. 26 when he squares off against freshman Eric Schwartz for the starting spot at heavyweight. Schwartz is from Clyde High School in Ohio where he finished third at the state tournament in Division II in 2006 while boasting an impressive 47-2 record his senior season.
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October 22, 2007 | The Cauldron
Conference Play Ready to Begin for CSU Soccer Teams A Glance at the Men’s and Women’s Squads
Story by Robert Ivory | The Cauldron Contributing Writer With the month of October coming to a close, the men’s and women’s soccer teams are in the heart of their respective seasons and will now begin the grind of their conference season. As of Oct. 20, the men’s team is 3-9-2 overall, while the women are improving quickly with a 4-11 record. With a first ever match with the 2006 ACC Champs Duke Blue Devils less than two weeks away; the men’s soccer team is also looking toward the Horizon League tournament. Key matches with Detroit Mercy (4-6-5) and Valparaiso (3-8-2) will determine the Vikings opponent in post-season play. The Vikings are looking to recreate the magic of 2002, when they advanced to the Horizon League Championship game. Although the team has changed faces and coaches since then, a strong finish could create a boost of energy needed to win in the playoffs. Luckily for the Vikings, out of their final four fixtures, the teams they face have combined to win only two league games this season. If second year head coach, Ali Kazemaini doesn’t want to run into last year’s champions, Loyola-Chicago, then the Vikings need to beat the bottom feeders of the Horizon League. There is a very thin line between playing a tough Wisconsin-Green Bay, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and LoyolaChicago or a lowly Valpo or Bulter. But now is the time for the men to shine. The amount of team wins doesn’t reflect the strong fight the team has been through. Close defeats have become a common theme this year, but hopes on the sidelines have not been crushed. Keeping their heads up will lead to great things on the field. Not giving up will help in so many ways. Building momentum and confidence in the final games will help the men win the little battles on the field. Over time, those battles lead to strong steps forward and accomplishments the team will need. This may be the year that Cleveland State triumphs in their first Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship. With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, women’s soccer head coach Derek Falor is getting his squad ready for a date in the post season. They will likely face an unbeaten team in the Horizon League, Wisconsin-Milwaukee or second best LoyolaChicago. But, that won’t stop hopes of a major upset. The girls are coming off the high of their first ever Horizon League win, a 2-0 thrashing of Youngstown State, last week. “To be honest, it was more of a relief,” Coach Falor said of the win. “It was more of a validation of we are in the right path.” A win couldn’t have come at a better time for the team since they play a very tough Wisconsin-
Milwaukee (9-3-3) team this weekend in Wisconsin, and a home contest with Valparaiso (8-7-0) on Sunday. “Now we have confidence that it can get done,” Falor explained. Winning has put the team in the right frame of mind for the final games and an idea of how they would like to strategically attack their final opponents. In addition to the final push, help is needed to a banged up squad, Falor said. “We have to find a way to keep them (the players) healthy,” Falor said. Facing mighty or unbeaten teams may be tough, but losing key, backbone players may be even tougher. On a much larger scale, a Vikings win can help set the bar higher for next season and years to come. A winning program will help the staff create awareness of the team, and assist in the beginning of a great winning tradition of women’s soccer at Cleveland State. Even though the wins and losses may not add up in the first years, progress has been made in coach Falor’s plans. “The biggest step forward we have made this year is that we have a complete team,” said Falor. “That has allowed us to perceive with more confidence in games.” And confidence could be a deciding factor when a game comes down to the wire. The playoffs are right around the corner, so get ready for the best soccer the team will play. Hopefully, if Cinderella is a soccer fan, she’ll be rooting for the girls in green.