The Observer, Volume LVI, Issue 4, 09/13/24

Editorial: Supporting college journalists: The Observer is not The Daily (pg. 9)

The Case Western Reserve

Observer

Friday, September 13, 2024 Volume LVI, Issue 4 Est. 1969

SPORTS Darcy Chew Sports Editor After Case Western Reserve University’s volleyball team swept the Great Lakes Cross Over at Cedar Point Sports Center, they returned to Horsburgh Gymnasium looking to extend their win streak and dominate the court in the CWRU Quad. Not only did the Spartans succeed in sweeping all three of the matchups 3-0, the squad also ended the tournament with a special celebration as they concluded CWRU Quad 2024 with Head Coach Karen Farrell’s 500th career win. Of the 500 wins, 415 occurred during her 22 seasons at CWRU. “I’ve been blessed with a really awesome career and great assistant coaches and great players and great alumni that continue to support us. The match that we just played for the 500th win was just the culmination of a really beautiful match. The team just competed really hard all the way through.

And it’s really exciting to see what we’re capable of when we put it all together. And it’s just a really awesome feeling to get to this point in my career and be with such a competitive team that works hard and wants to win, and is just really kind and supportive of each other.” Farrell said, commenting on her impressive achievement.

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NEWS

US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar speaks about her work at CWRU Elie Aoun Director of Print On Sept. 4, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar spoke at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law as part of the Sumner Canary Memorial lecture. Her hour-long talk covered a wide range of topics, including the nature of her job, issues facing the Supreme Court and her advice for future lawyers.

Sometimes called the “tenth justice” of the Supreme Court, the solicitor general (SG) is the fourthhighest-ranked position in the Department of Justice and represents the federal government in cases before the Supreme Court. Since her confirmation as the 48th SG on Oct. 28, 2021, Prelogar has argued in over 20 cases before the court, including in recent landmark decisions such as Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.

Born in Boise, Idaho, Prelogar majored in English and Russian at Emory University and graduated with a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. There, she

was an articles editor for the Harvard Law Review and a finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition. She then clerked for Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. Prelogar went on to work in private practice at Hogan Lovells LLP and Cooley LLP in Washington. She also served as assistant special counsel on the Robert Mueller special counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The annual Sumner Canary Memorial lecture has hosted preeminent legal scholars and judges, including six Supreme Court justices.

The lectureship was made possible

by Nancy Canary, the widow of the late Judge Sumner Canary, who served on the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Eighth District and as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Rather than deliver a speech as previous Sumner Canary speakers have done, Prelogar spoke with Professor Jonathan H. Adler in George Gund Hall. Adler first asked Prelogar about the responsibilities of the SG, and she divided her duties into three categories. The most public part of her job “is to manage Supreme

Court litigation on behalf of the United States,” and she noted that “the federal government participates in probably over 90% of the cases that the Supreme Court hears each term.” Second, the SG must manage the government’s appellate strategy in the lower courts because it requires her personal authorization to appeal adverse decisions reached by those courts. The final “grab bag” part of her job means that Prelogar is an advisor to the “federal agencies and components of the federal government who are [its] clients.”

Soon after that, Prelogar was asked about how she decided to change the federal government’s position on a variety of issues after becoming acting SG on the first day of the Biden administration. “I took those decisions really seriously because it is not a small thing to change the legal position of the United States,” she said, later adding that “at the same time, there are certain cases where routinely across administrations you come at things with a different jurisprudential philosophy or where there are very relevant factual changes on the ground that affect litigation.”

For example, while the Biden administration’s position on the border wall or the “Remain in Mexico” policy differed from the Trump administration’s, the shift came because of “the very real change in the on-the-ground facts,” not simply a jurisprudential shift. She noted that in other areas of law, such as criminal law, “there’s more consistency in the position of the United States” across administrations because the federal government “tend[s] to have a pretty well-defined set of interests as an entity that prosecutes and enforces federal criminal law.”

Prelogar spoke at length about the issue of legal remedies, which are “all about when you can ask the courts to intervene in the first instance.” She said, “Throughout the course of our nation’s history, states have disagreed with the Federal Government about any number of policies, and yet they have not been able to come to court and ask the judicial branch to resolve those inherently policy based and often political disputes.”

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2 News

Friday, April 5, 2024

News

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 13, 2024 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 4

SG Prelogar from page 1 She noted that the U.S. has a system of relief only for affected parties, but because in recent years “lower courts have started entertaining suits by states and finding that states have standing,” this has caused problems for the federal government’s interests. Prelogar said that this means that “one district judge around the nation can decide for the entire country whether some important policy or rule is going to go into effect or whether it’s going to be struck down across the whole country, and it means that the federal government has to run the table because if we win

the first case and the second case and the 10th case, but then in the 11th case, the plaintiff gets relief—and it’s nationwide—it effectively overrides the decisions of all of those other courts that came before.”

She went on to argue that the problem of the growing number of cases on the Supreme Court’s shadow docket—also called the emergency docket—have come as a result of the lower courts’ ability to go beyond giving relief only to affected parties.

Cases on the shadow docket are decided a few days after an application is filed without oral argument

On Sept. 4, US Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar answers questions on a range of topics, including her approach to oral argument and the Supreme Court’s shadow docket.

Elena Cangahuala/The Observer

and other SCOTUS procedures, thus hastily circumventing the usual judicial process. She said, “If one court decides to grant a nationwide remedy, then it shuts off further dialog or debate about the issue among the lower courts themselves,” leading to an increasing number of shadow docket cases where the Supreme Court is “being asked to make a preliminary merits determination in a rushed posture.”

Adler later asked her how she argues on behalf of a Democratic administration when six of the nine justices were appointed by a Republican president. “We are very much thinking in every case about how we can craft arguments that get us to five or more votes,” she said. For example, when it comes to the Second Amendment, she explained that “the court has made clear that history and tradition are the guiding principles there, and so we’re not coming into the court with policy arguments.”

Her comments make it clear that she believes there is plenty of room to persuade justices with whom she often disagrees; rather than work to “lose best,” she said that “there are any number of cases where I’m thinking hard about ways to limit any damage that occurs or to make sure that the court is aware of the consequences of different ways of resolving a case.”

Regarding how she prepares for oral argument, Prelogar said that her preparation is “very much oriented around thinking hard about questions and then working hard on thinking about [her] answers—not for purposes of trying to memorize or have some set piece that [she] can give—but really for purposes of trying

to develop a comfort level with [her] case, a sense of fluency in talking about [her] case, so that [she] can be ready for whatever the court throws at [her].” She added that on the night before an oral argument, she has the same meal with her family and tries out her two-minute introduction to the case in front of her two young boys who then rate her performance from one to 10. The first time they did this, one of her sons who was six or seven years old gave her an 11 out of 10, even while conceding that he “didn’t understand anything”; when asked why he gave such a high rating for an incomprehensible argument, he said, “because we’re a family, and we support each other.”

After advising law students to take opportunities to engage in public speaking and look into moot court programs, Prelogar ended the conversation with advice for her law school self. She believes that she has “benefitted so tremendously” whenever she soaked up lessons “like a sponge” while working at a place with people from whom she thought she could learn; she added that it is really important to work at a place with people who have integrity and whom you respect. She finished by saying, “I think the best advice I ever received was to seize on opportunities to make myself uncomfortable …

I feel like every time in my life when I have put myself out there and seized on an opportunity that pushed me outside my comfort zone, it has paid dividends. And so I would look—if I were you—for opportunities to make yourself uncomfortable and to just sit with that and embrace that ultimately as a step to really try to stretch and grow.”

CIM faculty vote on unionization, Kalmar sues in county court Zachary Treseler News Editor Faculty members from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) are petitioning for union representation in the face of pay cuts and the ongoing lawsuit filed by former Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar.

As reported in February by The Observer, Kalmar sued CIM for $260 million in federal court. Since then, the lawsuit has been withdrawn in federal court and was refilled in Cuyahoga County Court as of Sept. 6.

Much like in the previous suit, Kalmar’s lawsuit focuses on CIM and various staff members who “catered to and placated the misinformed and misled students, permitted them to publicly demonstrate and boycott Kalmar by refusing to participate in his classes, rehearsals, training sessions, and concerts, and prohibited Kalmar from treating or grading these students accordingly.”

The Docket, available publicly via the Clerk of Courts website, also contains his employment contract.

Unlike the previous suit, it does not mention his wife and the amount of damages sought for is lowered. This suit is only asking for $180 million, compared to $260 million in the previously reported suit.

According to an interview with

his attorneys published in the Cleveland Scene, one of the main reasons for the new lawsuit in a different court is due to the nuances related to Title IX procedures, which are adjudicated in federal court.

Perhaps the most shocking change for CIM students came from reports of more faculty members stepping down. According to SlippedDisk, a classical music magazine, this is in response to an overall pay cut, due to “reduced teaching loads due to lower enrollment.”

The Instagram page whosenext.

CIM encouraged students to check in on their teachers, speculating that many will leave soon. On the same account, a faculty member submitted that “The current situation at CIM is worse than anyone on the outside can imagine.”

Sharon Robinson, a member of the cello faculty, and Jaime Laredo, a violinist, are two of the individuals who elected to leave. The cuts to funding are, supposedly, to make up a $1.6 million shortfall in tuition, even after President Paul Hogle wrote about his goal to make CIM tuition-free.

The letter to faculty was released in June, after full- and part-time faculty submitted a request to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a vote on unionization.

This request was approved Sept.

9 for a vote which is scheduled to

CIM students and faculty continue to face the aftermath of former Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar’s impending lawsuit. Amidst administrative tension and pay cuts to compensate for a tuition deficit, CIM students are experiencing educational disruptions, while faculty members petition for union representation.

Clay Preusch/The Observer take place at the end of September at CWRU’s Coffee House on the second floor. The NLRB notice applies to full- and part-time “faculty employees” with directors’ and division heads’ contracts still in negotiation.

Many, if not all, of the professional staff members, managers and deans are prohibited from voting.

Cleveland Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 4, the union that the staff members elected to represent themselves with, has previously organized musicians at The Cleveland Orchestra in addition to other musical groups in Northeast Ohio.

CIM has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Life

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 13, 2024 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 4

CWRU Flea Market showcases quality student and community-based retailers Kate Gordon Life Editor This past Saturday, CWRU Flea Market hosted their first flea of the 2024-2025 school year. Taking over Thwing Atrium, part of KSL Oval and, for the first time, Thwing Ballroom, this was the largest flea market of theirs that I have personally attended. Especially after remembering some of their previous events in smaller venues—such as Thwing Atrium all by itself—I was impressed first and foremost by the sheer size of the event.

For a completely student-run organization, being able to fill up such a large space with vendors is no small feat.

And not only did CWRU Flea Market fill up the space, they filled it with quality retailers I was happy to support. I would say that the majority of the vendors were students, but I was surprised to see a smattering of booths from local Cleveland businesses as well. There were a lot of stalls selling thrifted clothes, naturally, but there were also ones for jewelry, crochet accessories, bookmarks, paintings and 3D beaded charms—all of which were handmade. I also saw at least two booths doing on-the-spot art, which added to the event’s overall feeling of being a creative showcase. Everything I laid eyes on, from clay earrings to plastic keychains to the racks upon racks of vintage clothing, was obviously crafted with care.

As for the clothing itself, I was again impressed with both the selection of pieces and the pricing. I won’t lie, at the very first CWRU Flea Market event, I was a little appalled by some of the price tags, which were attached to mediocre pieces not worth (in my eyes) half of what the sellers were asking for. So I was pleasantly surprised last Saturday when I found myself actively searching through racks across Thwing Ballroom, and even more so when I ultimately purchased a top.

Most of the items I saw for sale were on-trend—meaning namely hailing from or in the style of the ’90s and ear-

ly 2000s—and came in a variety of sizes. Plus, I would say the average price range for items was $5–20, which for college students I think is well within our means.

Beyond the actual goods to take home, the market also offered food and live music to its attendees. My friend got a cold brew coffee with milk and brown sugar syrup from Cleveland Cold Brew Coffee, and I saw other students walking around with homemade cookies from secondyear student Syreeta Ferguson’s booth and bubble tea from the student boba makers at Tippit Tea. The day’s performers were Ellipses Jazz Combo, a student jazz band. Both the food and the music contributed to the flea’s lively atmosphere and made sure you stayed in Thwing for just a little longer.

CWRU Flea Market’s executive board was also quite happy with how the event turned out. In a statement they made to The Observer, they said the following: “We had an amazing turnout with lots of foot traffic, and want to extend a thank you to everyone who came to check us out.

We planned diligently for this event, contacting new and returning vendors alike, talking through logistics with CWRU facilities and thinking on our feet to overcome any setbacks we faced.” The work they put in is clear— there were 227 registered attendees on CampusGroups and likely far more actually in attendance, as many people (including me) simply walked into Thwing without first registering.

If you missed this past flea market and are hoping to make the next one, there is a Food Market in Thwing Ballroom on Oct. 26 and another fullblown flea market in Thwing Atrium and Thwing Ballroom on Nov. 9. And if you’re interested in becoming a vendor, you can register on the CWRU Flea Market website. After the success of this past market, I’m sure that the next two are going to be even better— for anyone interested in clothing, art or simply a good time, CWRU Flea Market is an event you can’t miss.

All photos courtesy of Geo Kim/CWRU Flea Market

4 Life

Friday, September 13, 2024

“Fairy Tales and Fables: Illustration and Storytelling in Art” at the CMA brushes with whimsy Kennedy Wolf Contributing Writer I genuinely think that everyone needs more whimsy in their life. I consistently try to live in such a way that exudes whimsy. My socks? Always colorful. My computer? Covered in glitter stickers. And if I see a hill, I am absolutely going to roll down it. Naturally, I was delighted to find a temporary exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art titled “Fairy Tales and Fables: Illustration and Storytelling in Art.” This exhibit examines the ways in which illustration affects the art of storytelling, specifically in Britain, France, Germany and America.

The exhibit’s earliest pieces date back to the start of the 18th century, with more recent works hailing from the mid-20th century. Many of the illustrations were done by the same artist, and it was interesting to see how their work changed between drafts. An example is Antonio Frasconi’s sketches for the fable, “The Dog and the Crocodile” (c. 19501952). Early editions of his sketches were graphite on paper, while later editions were woodcut. It was quite easy to tell these pieces were done by the same individual, but the difference in mediums between the pieces gave each a sense of individuality.

Another example of this phenomenon occurred with the British artist Arthur Rackham, who lived and worked in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His piece for the fable, “The Wren and the Bear” (c. 1902) is made with black ink and watercolor.

While a later one of his works for the

fable “The Green Dragon” (c. 1910) uses the same technique, it utilizes shadows to give contrast between the dragon and the trees it hides within.

The exhibition itself points out that book printing did not change much in the 400 years following the invention of the printing press in 1440. But with the arrival of the second wave of the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th century and the new technology that came with it, illustrations were much more widely manufactured and spread. This is the primary reason why most of the artworks only date back to the late 18th and early 19th century. The illustrations were too complicated and intricate to print before, and much more costly. But post-Industrial Revolution, illustrations were much more widespread and appeared in new and exciting mediums such as magazines and newspapers. For the first time, many fairy tale illustrations were completed for an adult audience and not for children, like Edouard Manet’s lithographs for Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Raven.” Books with many illustrations on nearly every page were also achievable now, such as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (c. 1900), which is on loan to the museum from Case Western Reserve University’s special collections.

“Fairy Tales and Fables” does a wonderful job of showcasing the evolution of illustration in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries while also highlighting many different mediums and artists in the industry. It’s a must see for anyone who appreciates the work behind the scenes that went into making our favorite childhood tales.

“The Green Dragon” painted by Arthur Rackham in 1910 utilizes shadows to create distinction between the dragon and the trees.

Courtesy of Creative Commons

Arthur Rackham used black ink and watercolor to create his 1902 silhouette illustration for “The Wren and the Bear.”

Courtesy of Creative Commons

‘We are so back’: After a four-year hiatus, WRUW’s Studio-A-Rama returns Kate Gordon Life Editor Despite the popularity of Studio-ARama, college radio station WRUW’s annual all-day music festival, the organization has had a hard time resurrecting its flagship event after it was shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, campus COVID-19 protocols have limited the number of participants allowed at events as well as added difficulty in coordinating with the Case Western Reserve University administration, preventing Studio-A-Rama’s return—

but now, four years later, the event is back and, hopefully, back for good.

This year, Studio-A-Rama ran from 1-11 p.m. with 12 different musical acts, all but two of which were local to the Cleveland area. Shadow Show came in from Detroit, and headliner Cheekface flew in all the way from Los Angeles.

The event took place in the Mather Memorial Courtyard, with a stage set up in the corner against the Mather Memorial Building, merchandise tables on the side by Harkness Chapel and food trucks in the parking lot behind Hillel. Attendees spread themselves out on blankets and lawn chairs across the courtyard’s lawn, occasionally flit-

ting away to get food or check out merchandise, until Cheekface took to the stage—then everyone was on their feet.

My general impression of StudioA-Rama was that it was like a smaller, more community-oriented version of Springfest, CWRU’s annual studentled spring music festival. I was surprised to see that the majority of the crowd, at least when I went in the mid-afternoon, seemed to be made up of community members who actually traveled to CWRU’s campus to see the festival. Many of the various artists’ friends and family members came out to show support—even the adorable toddler daughter of one of

WRUW’s Studio-A-Rama rallies an array of Clevelanders, forging a community where students and locals can share their appreciation for music. Courtesy of Hannah Morris

the members of C-Level placed a CLevel sticker right onto my friend’s hand. It was really sweet to see so many locals brought together by music and interacting with our campus, although I wish that I could have seen a few more CWRU students in attendance before the headliner came on.

WRUW General Manager and fourth-year student Vani Subramony echoed these thoughts about the event: “I am so happy with how [Studio-ARama] turned out! Having the opportunity to break through the bubble of the university and have community members and students alike enjoying music from local and national bands was the most rewarding experience. I’m so incredibly thankful to our WRUW team for making it happen.”

Recruitment Director and fourth-year Hannah Morris was similarly pleased, saying, “There was a lot of anticipation on how our return to the music festival scene would turn out … I talked to some community radio folks who shared my sentiment that ‘We are so back.’”

If you missed Studio-A-Rama but want to support WRUW, you can tune in to their station 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And if you want to support them financially, you can donate to their annual spring telethon. Either way, you’ll be ensuring WRUW continues to broadcast great underrated music and be able to put on Studio-A-Rama and similar events well into the future.

Fun

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 13, 2024 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 4

Weekly Horoscope What presidential debate quote are you?

Aquarius "She refused to be there because she was at a sorority party of hers."

Pisces "They're eating the dogs."

Aries "She doesn’t have a plan. She copied Biden’s plan, and it’s like four sentences like, ‘Run Spot, Run.’" Taurus "I fired most of those people. Not so graciously. They did bad things or a bad job."

Gemini "I have concepts of a plan."

Cancer "Look, Viktor Orban said it. He said the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump."

Leo "I had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech."

Virgo "Transgender operations on illegal aliens that are in prison."

Libra "That's why I got involved in the Taliban."

Scorpio "You’re going to have to figure that out, Abdul."

Sagittarius "A leader on fertilization."

Capricorn "No, I don’t acknowledge that all, that was said sarcastically."

Sudoku

6 Fun

Friday, September 13, 2024

Weekly Tarot

What We've Been Listening To

Read by Mulan Ma Aquarius: Pancake Cereal

How Do You Sleep?

Faux Paz (opb. Sam Smith)

The Chariot (Reversed): Sometimes you are your own biggest enemy. Learn to draw boundaries within and hold back on negatively speaking to yourself.

Kethan Srinivasan

Pisces: Garden Foccacia

Godspeed Camila Cabello

The Hermit (Reversed): Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge that you are isolating yourself from triggers and telling yourself that you’re “enjoying solitude.”

Lucas Yang

Aries: Tanghulu

Doodles Rose Betts

3 of Wands (Upright): You’ve got a good head on your shoulders for this semester already, your

Zachary Treseler

goals and aspirations are on their way to being met as long as you continue what you are doing

Stacy's Mom Foutains of Wayne

mindfully.

Ella Lasky

Taurus: Breakfast Tortilla Wrap

Time in a Circle Proxima Parada

3 of Swords (Upright): Something that has greatly emotionally affected you has either already

Clay Preusch

happened or is bound to happen. The actions or words of others around you have wounded you,

Otaku Hot Girl Megan Thee Stallion

take time to heal and rest.

Joce Ortiz

Gemini: Cloud Bread

How Soon is Now? The Smiths

2 of Coins (Reversed): It’s not that you bet on losing dogs, it’s just that you have bet on too many.

Try to lessen the amount of things you are taking up.

Auden Koetters

Cancer: Whipped Coffee

hoped. You cannot constantly unroot a seed to see its path to becoming a flower.

Leo: Baked Feta Pasta 7 of Wands (Reversed): Feeling overwhelmed by responsibility and duty is difficult and burdensome yet this too shall pass with ingenuity and patience.

Nowhere

6 of swords (Reversed): Don’t be disappointed that you are not growing or healing as fast as you

Virgo: Ramen Carbonara The Lovers (Reversed): You may be disconnecting with someone you felt had been very close to you. It would be good to respect the newfound distance and communicate if given the chance.

Libra: The “Chickle” 3 of Cups (Reversed): Perhaps it would be good to have some solitude and get to know yourself again. Try taking yourself to coffee or a nice dinner.

Scorpio: Cucumber Jars King of Pentacles (Reversed): There is a male figure in your life who may not be leading you down a fruitful path for the sake of yourself, but to line his own pockets. Tread carefully.

Sagittarius: Grinder Sandwich Page of Coins (Reversed): Your grand plans for the future are being diminished by short-term

Capricorn: Salmon rice bowl 7 of Coins (Reversed): Giving too much to others has caused you to forget to pour that care and love into yourself.

by:xkcd

pleasures.

Opinion

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 13, 2024 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 4

The lingering crisis of youth political apathy Why it exists and how to fight it Katharina Staehr Staff Writer

Bowen Zhang/The Observer

Before coming back to campus for the new semester, I visited Chicago amid the hustle and bustle of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). Red, white and blue flags were hoisted along house facades and hotel banisters, security and police officers skirted streets and building entrances, TVs everywhere broadcasted political figures speaking in front of huge crowds at the United Center.

Naturally, being amidst it all, I followed the DNC scrupulously.

During the day I would read articles zealously, anticipating the speeches to come that night; in the evenings I would listen to the most eagerlyawaited political figures, followed by analysis and commentary from reporters. The mere thriller-like nature of the 2024 presidential race began to captivate me and continues to keep me engaged. Yet when I talk to my peers, I struggle to find the same interest—some hadn’t followed the DNC, others didn’t even know it had happened.

There is no doubt that many young people are involved in politics—we don’t have to look any further than the leaders of movements like Black Lives Matter and Climate Justice, or advocates in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Meanwhile, social media has become a spirited debate floor for young adults to voice their opinions. The number of political organizations and clubs across colleges like Case Western Reserve University speak to an interested and politically well-versed community of “Gen Zers” and “millennials.”

Still, according to data from Statista on voter turnout amongst 18-29 year olds in U.S. presidential elections, a little over half of young people voted in the 2020 presidential race— and four years earlier, only a meager 44% participated in the election. Thus, a question keeps on resurfacing: Why aren’t more young people involved in politics?

It is hardly an understatement to say we find ourselves in the thick of some troubling, turbulent and teetering times. Young adulthood is currently being marked by two major armed conflicts with death tolls soaring, and the U.S. democratic system is slipping away from its position as a world leader into a messy battleground—left to the devices of radical polarization, disinformation and the pursuit of personal interests along with an unwillingness to find compromise. The Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol brought a faltering democracy to the brink of disaster, and we may have to brace ourselves for the ruthless aftermath of this year’s elections. All this considered, the reason for low political engagement becomes more clear then: Why would any young adult confronted with this “swamp” on a day-to-day basis want to tread through these murky, flaw-infested waters?

To add insult to injury, young adults are growing up on a planet where habitability is becoming increasingly jeopardized. With

a bleak forecast about climate change, it comes as no surprise that waves of hopelessness wash over young people and deter them from politics altogether.

Yet it’s an oversimplification to label the troubling political circumstances of the 21st century— and the despair that unequivocally follows—as the only reasons for a lack of civic engagement among the youth.

The underlying disengagement in politics comes, quite frankly, from a place of apathy. With the rise of the internet, the information we consume and where we consume it has been redefined entirely. Rather than listening to the radio or watching TV, we find a conglomerate of content at our fingertips—a mere click away, lodged in apps like Instagram and TikTok or in the boundless, seemingly all-knowing Google search engine. Entertainment, sports, celebrity gossip, culture and health are among the most popular topics that concern the youth these days.

When subjected to social media’s intricate AI algorithm machinery, it comes as no surprise that young people are consuming more of the same content—while neglecting other information: like news and current events.

In an age where social media has become a fuming amalgam of political disinformation, it is hard for young people to know what to trust, let alone take anything seriously at all. Thus, it becomes imperative for older generations—be it family members, teachers, older colleagues or mentors—to guide political newcomers through the process of getting involved. It starts with showing younger generations where and how to find good journalism, and extends to helping them understand complicated policy conditions and how to register to vote. It can be daunting to navigate a cumbersome political system alone, yet with active examples of political engagement, much of the stress and anxiety can be circumvented.

Young people can take matters into their own hands, too. Getting into politics doesn’t take much— tune into the “Up First” podcast by NPR, watch the Obamas’ speeches from the DNC, survey the Sept. 10 presidential debate or read a credible news article between classes instead of scrolling through Instagram. The opportunities are out there. We just need to summon the determination to seek them out and take advantage.

Why does all this matter? Well, young people are the future that will support the generations that follow. It is their duty to confront and overcome the trials and tribulations of the next century, a responsibility that relies on an educated, interested and politically active public. That’s not to say everyone must run for office or become the world’s next political activist. However, being an informed citizen is essential to sparking constructive discourse, practicing our fundamental freedoms and exercising our right to vote—democracy will thank us later.

8 Opinion

Friday, September 13, 2024

How to protect our wallets in this era of overconsumption Catherine Choi Staff Writer Every day we are faced with multiple forms of advertisements.

Some are as obvious as billboards in Times Square or mailed catalogs, and some are sneaky as influencers promoting items as “viral products” or logos on designer clothes. The availability of credit cards and payday loans have also facilitated consumption beyond our means. However, passively absorbing all this content and mindlessly swiping our credit cards can lead to financial ruin. As a college student who is terrible with money, I am writing this article to share some money mistakes that I have made along with the best ways to save money.

First, you should get a job to make your own money. Before college, money may have been readily available if your parents gave you an allowance or covered your necessities. Because of this, you may have been misled to believe that money is readily available and we are able to get everything we want or need instantly. As a result, you may undermine the value of money. For instance, when I was younger my parents gave me an allowance so I didn’t have to work and could instead focus fully on my studies. As I came to college and began living on my own, I started an on-campus work-study job. Through my job, I’ve had to sacrifice aspects of my academic and personal life, becoming frustrated when, despite my efforts, money did not stack up in my bank account. Even more alarmingly, I experienced how easily money can be depleted. Although my job came with some unpleasant realizations, by holding a difficult job as a patient care nursing assistant, I established the habit of evaluating if a product is worth the time, stress, and energy that was put in to pay the cost. Holding more responsibility in a setting where you have to deny mere wants will help you realize the true value of money.

You will think twice before making a purchase by considering whether there are less costly alternatives and whether you truly need the item under consideration.

I would advise that you have priorities. In other words, be high maintenance to be low maintenance.

Although we want to refrain from spending money, this does not mean that we should cut down on everything.

For instance, cheap and unhealthy processed foods, refusing health checkups, purchasing cheap and low quality equipment for a business or cutting down the costs of vacation can eventually lead to not only more spending but also a decline in health and well-being, increased conflicts and even danger. For example, by sav-

ing on transportation and hotels by settling with low-cost airlines and traveling by foot and public transport, the family vacation that is supposed to be a happy memory can turn into one full of fights, pain, fatigue, frustration and danger, especially in areas that are dangerous to walk around or public transport is not well-developed.

You should keep a record. As we start using credit or debit cards, we lose track of how much money we use and how much we have left.

However, the consequences appear in the form of an unbearable credit card bill or a declined debit card. At first, I would justify my purchases by saying that the purchase would not bring impending doom. However, during my sophomore year summer break, I took the time to review my spending records and realized that I have been spending beyond my means. Although some spending was necessary, such as textbooks, fees and food for meal prepping, many of the purchases were impulsive, such as eating out too often, clothes and makeup products that I forgot I purchased and miscellaneous items that were promoted by Amazon or Target.

Although I do not make big purchases such as luxury items, the small costs added up to become a huge expense. Moreover, I came to realize that the purchases were mostly driven by stress, which indicated that I had to re-evaluate how I manage my stress. Keeping a written record and visualizing how much money you earn, spend and have left can serve as a wake-up call for you to re-evaluate your behavioral patterns, be more intentional about how you spend your money and refrain from being irresponsible.

Do the research and buy products that are long-lasting and sustainable. As college students, money is short and

it is impossible to purchase only high-class items. However, the thought of purchasing low-cost and low-quality items until we have a decent amount of money to splurge can leave us spending more money—especially if the items require frequent repairs and replacements and leave us unsatisfied. Additionally, the waste produced along the way is detrimental to the environment. For instance, trendy fastfashion clothes or fad products can lead to overconsumption because they become obsolete in such a short time frame. This phenomenon even existed back when I was in kindergarten. Scented pencils were sold on the playground during recess for $5 each. Many people would purchase the item to show off the different scents they got and how many they had. Nevertheless, because I did not have an allowance and my parents did not approve the purchase, I could not purchase them. Although I was frustrated, as time went by, I was glad that I did not fall for the marketing and peer pressure. Pencils are frequently lost, broken and need to be replaced. Also, I can get a dozen No. 2 pencils for the price of one scented pencil.

High price does not mean high quality. When it comes to luxury designer brands, the quality and the cost of resources and labor are not the only factors that determine the cost. Many high-end products are aimed at those who want to show off, not those that are rich.

The primary marketing tactic these brands use is to appeal to exclusivity and the experience of being the “special ones.”

You may be familiar with the Hermes Birkin bag—the bag Logan gave to Rory as a gift in The Gilmore Girls. To purchase Hermes Birkin bags, customers have to establish a membership with the store by purchasing their other products. After that, they must appeal to the seller about the admiration they have towards the brand by dressing up and demonstrating knowledge about it. Once getting approved, they do not have the option to choose size, color or price and have to wait for two to four years in order to receive their product. To make matters worse, Hermès is notorious for burning and discarding products that are not sold or poorly made.

This practice is so detrimental to the environment that Jane Birkin, whom the bag is named after, refused to have her name on the bag.

Such marketing tactics appeal to the public by alluding to the rarity of the object, so people view it as a piece of art that only the few chosen ones can own rather than as a bag. Although it is understandable to want to look rich and fancy, these bags are very cost-inefficient options for those who cannot afford them. These people may end up “courting” the product—protecting them from wear and tear—rather than actually using them.

Money does not grow on trees nor do we find money by digging in our backyard. We have a limited amount of it, and the time it takes to deplete it is far less than the time it takes to earn it. For this reason, we have to know how to value our money, spend it reasonably, keep in mind the future and not have other people, such as family, payday loans or the government, take over the responsibility of cleaning up our mess.

Bowen Zhang/The Observer

Opinion 9

observer.case.edu

EDITORIAL

Supporting college journalists: The Observer is not The Daily Editorial Board

The Observer

As Case Western Reserve University’s student-run newspaper, we—The Observer—are dedicated to representing and uplifting the community and student voices. We feel it is our duty as the school newspaper to hear and voice the pressing concerns of the student body in order to keep the campus informed while acting as a voice for change.

Established in 1969, the Case Western Reserve Observer is CWRU’s student newspaper, which combined two previously existing papers, the Tech and the Tribune. It came out of the 1967 federation between Western Reserve University and the Case Institute of Technology.

The Daily calls itself “Case Western Reserve University’s internal communications outlet, distributed every weekday via an e-newsletter to all faculty, staff and students.” Established in the mid-2000s, its self-described purpose is not only to be a source of positive campus news but also to act as a liaison to disseminate universityapproved events and messages.

Our goals are distinctly different: The Daily focuses on our campus’ achievements, events and news, which tend to highlight the positives of CWRU’s community, while The Observer covers campus news and topics based on student, faculty and community views and interests.

To illustrate this point, let’s examine how our coverage differed during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. On May 2, the third day of the encampment, The Daily ran a profile on three dental students and advertised the

“Late Night Breakfast” event run by Residence Life. At the same time, The Observer published a photojournalism piece about the encampment with live updates from the Instagram account, hoping to keep the campus informed about the unfolding student-led event.

During this time, The Observer published many letters to the editor. These allowed members of the campus community to share their thoughts on the current event, even directly responding to articles in the paper if they wished to do so. Faculty members were able to voice their discontent with the way the administration decided to handle the protestors and state what they believed should be altered going forward in a clear, organized and public way. These are just some of the ways in which The Observer has provided a channel for discussion among the entire campus.

Engaging with each other is the only way we can eventually reach harmony and dispel a constant state of tension.

Student journalism is a fundamental part of the collegiate experience. Not only does The Observer translate our thoughts, feelings and opinions into articles, but it also immortalizes the experience of students.

At The Observer, our entire system— from writing articles to designing the print—is entirely run by students. We intend to remain decentralized, relying on the interests of the students and faculty to inform what we decide to cover in our weekly issues. This differs from the more centralized model of The Daily in which those over the newsletter are the main contributors to the final product.

Because The Observer and The

@cwruobserver observer.case.edu

Daily have different missions, their coverage can end up being vastly different, which is not a bad thing.

The Daily is run by professional staff in University Marketing and Communications to highlight important campus events and achievements while The Observer is run and written mainly by students and staff in order to shed light on current events and opinions.

While the Observer focuses on giving a voice to students in order to spark discourse, The Daily “hope[s] students read [the newsletter] to stay up to date on the informative events and incredible work taking place across the university—as well as to get to know some of the exceptional people in our community.” Because it is published nearly daily and informed by a wide campus network, it can cover a wide variety of topics, from undergraduate life to the Cleveland community—and even beyond. “The

mission of The Daily is to grow awareness of the wide-ranging research, achievements and events taking place throughout our campus community,” its website reads. Its stories are designed to reflect positively on the university to uplift its main audience, those who are already affiliated with CWRU. That being said, it would be irresponsible for us to simply use our platform to share the positives of life on campus. If we resorted to that, there would be no incentive for the school to do better. Furthermore, we are highly receptive to criticism. We recognize the fact that the newspaper creates a space for discussion and are not afraid to recognize differences in opinion. The Observer provides a platform for anyone to voice their opinions so that we can generate productive discourse that strengthens communication rather than divides us.

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

Shivangi Nanda Executive Editor & Publisher PRINT Elie Aoun Director of Print Téa Tamburo News Editor Zachary Treseler News Editor Kate Gordon Life Editor Hannah Johnson Opinion Editor Darcy Chew Sports Editor Sahar Kapasi Copy Editor Ella Lasky Copy Editor Isabella Lopez Copy Editor Katherine Riley Copy Editor DESIGN Auden Koetters Director of Design Clay Preusch Photo Editor Anjali Bhuthpur Layout Designer Elizabeth McHugh Layout Designer Tyler Vu Layout Designer Bowen Zhang Graphic Designer Lucas Yang Graphic Designer Mulan Ma Graphic Designer DIGITAL MEDIA Joce Ortiz Director of Digital Media Aambar Agarwal Social Media Manager Shejuti Wahed Social Media Content Creator & Video Editor Kethan Srinivasan Social Media Content Creator Noah Henriques Web Editor BUSINESS Kamila Sattler Sanchez Director of Business Operations The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer reports news affecting students and provides an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are typically written by the opinion editor but reflect the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. Opinion columns are the views of their writers and not necessarily of The Observer staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer via e-mail at observer@case. edu.

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

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

Sports

The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 13, 2024 observer.case.edu Volume LVI, Issue 4

Volleyball continued from page 1 The first match of the tournament began on Sept. 6 with the Spartans facing off against the Adrian College Bulldogs. The squad opened the first set strong with a 4-0 run.

However, after the two teams traded points, Adrian went on a 7-1 run allowing the Bulldogs to pull ahead by 5 points, placing the score at 12-17. The Spartans, however, remained unfettered. They went on to make 10 next of the 11 shots, gaining an advantage of 4. The next few points remained tense for the Spartans as the two teams went back and forth, with the Bulldogs coming within one point of the squad as they approached 25. However, the Spartans remained victorious, finishing the first set 25-23 after a kill from fourth-year outside hitter Rea Marfatia.

The second set had another strong start for the Spartans, with them going on a 3-0 run. But their lead did not last long as the Bulldogs followed with 5 consecutive points, allowing them to pull ahead by 2. After a back-and-forth, the Spartans took command of the court, scoring 12 of the next 17 points, giving them a 15-10 lead.

The two teams traded points before the Spartans took command once again, bringing them to an 8-point lead at 22-13. While the Bulldogs made a few points, they didn’t come close to touching the Spartans and the squad ended the set 25-18 after a kill by third-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo. Despite an early point by Adrian in the third set, the Spartans took the lead, going on a 7-4 run. The teams traded points and Adrian eventually pulled ahead, going on a 2-0 run (13-14). However, the Bulldog’s lead didn’t last long with the Spartans following with a 5-0 run. The two squads traded points and Adrian tried to cut their deficit,

coming within 3 points of the Spartans. Despite the set being closer than the previous one, the Spartans still reigned victorious, finishing 25-20 after a pair of kills by Marfatia and fourth-year right side/outside hitter Chloe Maciejewski.

Offensively, Marfatia led the team in both kills and digs with 11 and 14, respectively. This was followed by Ngo with 8 kills and a 0.538 hitting percentage. Fourthyear setter/right side hitter Carly Scott also aided the team with 34 assists and recorded 13 digs and fourth-year middle blocker Lily Crouch added 3 kills, 2 service aces, 6 digs and 6 total blocks. On defense, liberos second-year Sude Naz Item and first-year Sophia Datto contributed 9 and 7 digs, respectively.

“Coming off of a big win Wednesday, we were definitely feeling super competitive and energized. We definitely got off to a slow start, but I thought we pulled it together.

[We] got some new people on the court, brought some new energy.

Overall, it was a good game,” Marfatia commented on the win against Adrian.

Ngo also commented on the team’s mentality that led them to their win.

“Our goal is to start strong and finish strong. That’s one of our sayings we say every practice and before every game, to start strong and finish strong together, as one, as a team.” Ngo added.

On Sept. 7, the Spartans began the first match of the day against Allegheny College.

Despite Allegheny gaining an early 2-0 lead from attack errors, CWRU pulled ahead after 3 kills

by Ngo, Crouch and Scott. The two squads traded points for a while before an 6-0 run by the Spartans brought their lead to 22-17. The Ga-

tors tried to cut their deficit but it proved to be ineffective as CWRU followed with 3 consecutive points ending the first set 25-18.

During the second set, Allegheny and CWRU traded points before the Spartans went on a 8-2 run to take a 6-point lead. Their lead would continue to extend and the Spartans would solidify their second set win 25-12 after an attack error. Despite the third set starting with the Gators taking the early 3-1 advantage, the Spartans soon dominated the court by scoring 10 consecutive points. The two teams went on back and forth for a few points, before the Gators went on a 4-0 run to cut their deficit to 9-13.

This was then followed by a 10-6 run by CWRU and back-to-back kills from Maciejewski and Ngo secured the Spartans’ win against Allegheny 25-15.

Ngo led the team offensively with 9 kills and a 0.438 hitting percentage. Both Maciejewski and thirdyear Kalli Wall recorded 8 kills.

Scott contributed 28 assists and 6 digs, and Marfatia led the Spartans with 9 digs and 7 kills.

The third and final opponent of CWRU Quad for the Spartans was Earlham College. In the first set, Spartans gained an advantage due to a bad set by Earlham.

During the following two sets against Earlham, the Spartans were able to maintain their lead and never trailed behind the Quakers. They finished the second set 25-13 after a pair of kills from Wall followed by a kill by Marfatia. The final set for the Spartans was closer as Earlham was able to cut the deficit to 4 po ints late in the match, making the score 21-17. Despite a back and forth between the two teams, the Spartans won their eighth consecutive win after a kill by Marfatia.

With the final kill, Marfatia fin-

ished with 12 kills during the three sets against Earlham, which was her sixth recorded double-digit total this season. She also contributed 11 digs and 3 service aces. Scott added 28 assists and a team-high of 19 digs. Both Ngo and Wall added 6 kills and 2 blocks.

Wall commented on the team’s match against Earlham.

“This is probably the most solid game I’ve seen us play this season.

It was not the biggest competition, but we went out there and played solid all the way through. So I’m really proud of how we came out today. So I thought it was a really good game overall. Lots of energy, super fun at the end, of course.”

Wall said.

Overall, Marfatia paced the squad with a total of 30 kills during CWRU Quad. She commented saying that this could not have occurred without the help of the team. “[Leading in kills] doesn’t happen without the execution of everyone on the team. Yeah, good sets, good digs, and everyone doing their part is really what allows the whole team to be successful.” Marfatia said.

Ngo also commented on the team camaraderie and how it contributed to the team’s effort.

“It’s just great to be surrounded by people that want the best for the whole team, and the energy is always up. Everyone’s so nice. Everyone’s always so supportive,” Ngo added, “I like to see how the team can really come together as one and finish games and keep that three set and keep it clean.”

With the triple win, the Spartans improved 8-0 which is their best start for a season since 2016. Next, the Spartans will be on the road as they participate in the OWU Tournament hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University this upcoming weekend.

The CWRU volleyball team celebrates after finishing 8-0 at the CWRU Quad, the highest season start since 2016.

Courtesy of Myroslava Photography

Sports 11

observer.case.edu

Men’s and women’s cross country place third and fourth at Grizzly Invitational Ellie Palaian Contributing Writer After coming off of a dominating 2023 season, finishing top 10 in all in-season meets and sixth in the UAA Championship, the Case Western Reserve University women’s cross country team is ready for the 2024 season. Similarly, the CWRU men’s cross country squad is coming off of top 10 finishes in all in-season 2023 meets and sixth out of 40 teams in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional competition.

Both teams competed in their first race of the season on Aug. 30 at the Bill Sudeck Invitational.

Technology. Nathan came in third overall with a time of 25:30.58, leading the team in points once again. The next two Spartan runners came in back to back, with first-year Donovan Crowley placing 26th with a time of 26:17.42, then second-year Finn Bonner placing 27th with a time of 26:18.82. Firstyear Brendan Bradish finished 63rd overall with a time of 27:11.86 and says the team’s impressive results have boosted their confidence.

“My expectations for the rest of the season are high given we placed 3rd at the meet,” Bradish said.

“Hopefully we will place well at our Great Lakes Regional. Many of the teams who we will be competing

6K event for the women, and first 8K event for the men’s team this season. High school cross country races are typically 5Ks, so both teams had to adjust to these longer distances and help the first-years acclimate to the increased length.

“The training has been tough, but consistent to be able to race the full 8K distance,” Bradish said. “It has been a group effort, and everyone has been working hard to make sure we stay competitive as a team.”

Ledford also felt that the women’s team prepared well for the longer distance race and recognized that some runners are more suited for long-distance runs and others for shorter events.

eating, relaxing, and playing games together. It helped us get to know each other in a chill environment, and also allowed us to bond as a team,” Ledford said. “Once we got back, there were numerous team events that allowed us to spend time together and develop friendships, which has resulted in us now being a closer team. We now know who we can run with in a race, who we can cry to if it doesn’t go as we hoped, and who we want to celebrate with when it does.”

Bradish also attributed a significant part of the team’s success to their chemistry off the track, praising team captains Nathan and fourth-year Nate Gilbert for moti-

First-year Ciara Ledford finishes 36th at the Grizzly Invitational, helping her team secure fourth place in the first 6K of the season.

Courtesy of Tim Phillis/CWRU Athletics The men brought home a win over John Carroll University 22-39, with fourth-year Aidan Nathan dominating the field and placing first with a time of 19:08.17, 25 seconds faster than the second place finisher from John Carroll. The women, however, fell to John Carroll 24-36 despite CWRU third-year Ashley Novak coming in first place with a time of 15:12.49.

“We have very strong teams on both the men’s and women’s sides this year, which is something I’ve heard my coach mention a few times, and we have high hopes for the season,” first-year Ciara Ledford said. “We’re just getting into the swing of things after a few weeks of preseason training, and if we can all stay healthy, we feel like we have a shot at doing well at regionals and maybe even making nationals.”

On Sept. 7, both teams competed in the Grizzly Invitational. The men finished strong, placing third overall in the 8K behind Trine University and Rose-Hulman Institute of

against at the Regional were at the [Grizzly Invitational], so it was a good preview.”

The women’s team also performed impressively, securing fourth place overall in the 6K. Leading the way, Novak finished sixth with a time of 22:48.42, while thirdyear Lauren Iagnemma came in eighth with a time of 22:59.61. Other notable finishes included thirdyear Arianna Holbrook who placed 25th with a time of 23:55.39, Ledford in 36th with a time of 24:22.93 and third-year Julia Hluck who finished 37th with a time of 24:23.94.

“Our entire team, men’s and women’s combined, did very well today. On the men’s side, we saw 3rd, 24th, 26th, and 27th place finishes, some of which were from freshmen, which is quite impressive. On the women’s side, there were 6th, 8th, and 25th place finishes from some of the top women, and high finishes from the others as well,” Ledford said.

The invitational marked the first

“Preparation for our first 6K involved hard work at our preseason practices, including time trials, lifting, and some harder workouts, like hills and intervals,” Ledford said.

“All of the freshmen ran very well, especially considering that the typical high school racing distance is a 5K. Some of the freshmen are more naturally suited to distances like the 800m or the mile, and others lean more towards the 5K and 10K. So upping the distance from a 5K to a 6K gives some an advantage and others a disadvantage. Still, everyone did exceptionally well, and we are all looking forward to growing stronger at racing longer distances.”

Ledford credited much of the team’s success to their strong bond and noted that the team invested significant effort during preseason to build connections with one another.

“After moving in, we went to Mosquito Lake for team camp, where we spent a few days running,

vating the team to reach its full potential.

“The team has been successful because we work as a unit and prioritize community over individuality,” Bradish said. “[Nathan and Gilbert] have been doing a great job leading the team to where we are now.”

The strong placements of both the men’s and women’s teams at the invitational have fueled high hopes for the rest of the season, with aspirations of making an appearance in the national championships. “Overall, our finish has left us hopeful. We have team goals for the season like making it to nationals, and we have individual goals as well, like personal bests or becoming an All-American,” Ledford said.

“Our teams are strong, and as we continue to improve throughout the season, we will see those goals come more and more into focus. For now, we’re confident that if we can stay healthy and fast, we can achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves.”

12 Sports

Friday, September 13, 2024

Courtesy of Adam Huckestein/DigitalMediaHuck Abhishek Nambiar Contributing Writer This past Saturday, Sept. 7, the Case Western Reserve University football team kicked off the new season with a bang, defeating Waynesburg University 41-7 while on the road in Pennsylvania. With this win, CWRU starts the 2024 season with a 1-0 record, while Waynesburg starts at 0-1.

The game started off relatively uneventful, with neither side scoring at all during the first quarter. Waynesburg spent the first seven minutes of the game on the opening drive before performing a punt, giving possession of the ball to CWRU. For the rest of the first quarter, the Spartans made a drive down the field—a move that enabled fifth-year quarterback Alex Fromberg to run a goal line touchdown early in the second quarter, giving CWRU the first score of the game and putting the score at 6-0.

Fromberg’s touchdown was followed up exactly four minutes later, with 10:08 to play in the quarter, by a touchdown from fifth-year running back Sean-Michael James through a 12-yard pass from Fromberg. This touchdown in turn was followed up by one from fourth-year wide receiver Noah Coyne, scoring from a nineyard pass by Fromberg with 4:21 left.

CWRU’s final touchdown of the second quarter came courtesy of thirdyear quarterback Aaron Filips, giving CWRU a 27-0 lead going into halftime.

Going into the third quarter, CWRU appeared poised to keep a hold on their strong lead over Waynesburg.

This proved true as first-year quarterback Jake Kavcic completed a sevenyard touchdown pass to third-year tight end Jack Bryer. This pass further extended CWRU’s lead to 34-0 with 8:50 left in the third quarter. Attempts

by Waynesburg to break through CWRU’s defense through the rest of the quarter proved largely unsuccessful, as

the latter held their ground throughout the period.

With 1:54 left in the quarter, thirdyear defensive back Osi Chukwuocha intercepted an attempted pass by Waynesburg from the CWRU threeyard line, with the Spartans holding onto possession of the ball as the third quarter ended.

With the start of the fourth quarter came a powerful offensive charge from CWRU, pushing past the defense of Waynesburg and all the way to the Spartans’s sixth touchdown of the game, putting the score at 41-0 with 11:15 left in the quarter. However, this would prove to be CWRU’s last touchdown of the game, with Waynesburg following up CWRU’s move with a touchdown of their own—and their first of the game. This left the score at 41-7, a score that went unchanged for the remainder of the game as the two sides went back and forth over possession of the ball, with neither side able to make much progress breaking

through the other side’s defense.

Overall, Fromberg completed the game with 269 yards on 24-of-29 pass attempts, along with 2 touchdowns and an interception while running for an additional 18 yards with a score. He found Coyne 8 times for 74 yards and a score. As a team, the Spartans ran for 186 yards and passed for 303 while allowing for 37 rushing yards and 147 passing yards. Their offense proved to be very strong throughout the game, with no sacks allowed and a mere 2 tackles surrendered for loss.

The Spartans have a chance to continue their momentum on Saturday, Sept. 14, when they will be hosting Bethany College on DiSanto Field at 7 p.m. Bethany will also be playing their second game of the season, coming off a 14-20 loss in their season opener against Allegheny College. The previous game between Bethany and CWRU, held on Sept. 30 of last year, saw the Spartans emerge victorious with a 34-12 win.

Scores and Upcoming Games

Soccer Volleyball Men’s Soccer Women’s CWRU at Puget Sound (9/6) - W 3-2 CWRU at Great Lakes Cross Over 2024 CWRU at Lycoming (9/7) - W 1-0 CWRU vs Trine (9/13, 7:30 p.m., DiSanto Field) CWRU vs Stockton (9/15, noon, DiSanto Field) CWRU vs Marietta (9/18, 5 p.m., DiSanto Field)

CWRU at Pacific Lutheran (9/7) - T 1-1 CWRU at Baldwin Wallace (9/11) - W 2-0 CWRU at Otterbein (9/11) CWU vs Mount Union (9/18, 7:30 p.m., DiSanto Field)

Football

CWRU at Waynesburg (9/7) - W 41-7

Men’s Tennis

CWRU at Denison Invitational (9/7-8) - No Team Scores CWRU at YSU Invitational (9/14-15)

CWRU vs Bethany College (9/14, 7 p.m., DiSanto Field)

Women’s Tennis CWRU at Carnegie Mellon Invite (9/7-8) - No Team Scores

CWRU vs Adrian (9/6) - W 3-0 CWRU vs Allegheny (9/7) - W 3-0 CWRU vs Earlham (9/7) - W 3-0 CWRU vs Baldwin Wallace (9/11) - W 3-2 CWRU at CWRU Quad 2024 CWRU vs Albion (9/13) CWRU vs Wisconsin Platteville (9/14) CWRU vs Ohio Wesleyan (9/14)

Cross Country Grizzly Invitational (9/7) Men’s team: 3rd of 21 teams Women’s team: 4th of 21 team Alumni Meet (9/14)