The Observer, Volume LIV, Issue 6, 9/30/22

News: A look into CWRU’s new shuttle text number (pg. 2)

the

Observer

friday, september 30, 2022 volume LIV, issue 6 estd. 1969

Healthy holidays: Up-to-date campus vaccine and booster information Sarah Karkoff Staff Writer

Flu season is nearly upon us, and as the seasons continue to change and the cold forces people indoors, people are more likely to get sick. Fortunately, Case Western Reserve University offers free vaccinations to the student body and faculty.

For walk-in COVID-19 vaccine doses, a vaccine schedule is available.

They are mainly offering dates for the primary doses, but bivalent doses are available on select days. Members of the CWRU community can ensure they qualify for the updated bivalent booster by checking the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those who have had the primary series are generally eligible as long as it has been at least 60 days since their last vaccination. Wear a mask and bring a vaccination card to these appointments.

Individual appointments can also be scheduled if there are no dates or times available on the vaccine schedule. By using myhealthconnect.case. edu—or by calling 216-368-1964— CWRU members have the option to create specific appointments. If it is impossible to get vaccinated at the CWRU sites during open hours, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart are currently

offering booster doses.

The flu vaccine, which fortifies the body against four different influenza viruses, is available on campus as well. The CDC advises that everyone receives the flu vaccine annually.

Much like the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to get immunized every flu season to prevent flu-related complications. Not only does the vaccine diminish the risks of getting sick, but it also helps reduce the negative short-term and long-term effects on the body. Flu-related complications include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions.

CWRU offers walk-in flu vaccines; all that’s required is for community members to present their CWRU ID to receive an influenza immunization. All of the dates and locations are available on the University Health and Counseling Services website. Scheduled appointments are also available on MyHealthConnect through the hours of 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

Masks can help keep respiratory illnesses—such as the flu or the common cold—from spreading, and should be worn if feeling sick in public.

Tyler Vu / The Observer

Cleveland Guardians win division, clinch playoff spot, following an exciting season Shreyas Banerjee Executive Editor If you had told people a year ago that the Cleveland Guardians would be the champions of the American League Central Division and make their way to the MLB postseason, they would have been utterly bewildered.

They would first be confused because the Cleveland Guardians were not technically a team at the time. After playing as the Cleveland Indians since 1915, the organization changed its name in 2021 and rebranded following decades of protests surrounding its racist and tokenizing name.

But second of all, they would be confused because last year’s Cleveland baseball team was wildly mediocre.

The 2021 team failed to qualify for the playoffs, entering the offseason with a losing record of 80-82. Aside from ace pitcher Shane Bieber and All-Star third baseman José Ramírez, the Guardians roster seemed lacking.

Ramírez was the only remnant of the 2016 lineup that took Cleveland all the way to the World Series in 2016 before they lost the championship against the Chicago Cubs. Since then, all of his former teammates, such as Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana, have retired or been traded away, often due to the organization’s unwillingness to pay their star players how much they are worth. Instead, the front office tends to trade away their stars for younger, cheaper players.

With Ramírez’s contract ending soon and many teams eager to snatch him up, it seemed inevitable that he would be traded away as well. In all likelihood, it was expected that despite the fresh name and rebrand, the Guardians would tread water for another

The Cleveland Guardians have been having a very successful season, led by All-Star third basemen José Ramirez (pictured). Courtesy of Jason Miller / Getty Images year, dump its one star hitter and continue to acquire more young talent that would also be traded away someday.

That all changed just days before the 2022 season began on April 6, when it was announced that Ramírez had signed a contract extension to stay in Cleveland through 2028 for $124 million—the largest in Cleveland baseball history. The total was still far less than what other teams were offering Ramírez, but he decided to turn down millions just to stay in Cleveland. His

agent quoted him as saying, “$150 million or $200 million, my life is gonna be the same. I’m happier with $150 million in Cleveland than $200 million somewhere else.” This is quite unusual for ballplayers, but Ramírez has made it clear that Cleveland is his home and that he had a “desire of never wearing another uniform,” making the sacrifice in salary worth it for him.

And boy, has it paid off for the Guardians. Ramírez is having the best season of his career so far, being ranked

No. 3 in the MLB for the number of doubles hit and runs batted in.

With Ramírez leading the way, the Guardians have surprised everyone with their performance this season. Before the season began, they had 10-1 odds of winning the division, according to BetMGM. No one had them picked to win the division, especially over the Chicago White Sox, who had spent $130 million more than the Guardians for their players.

Continued on pg. 8

news

friday, september 30, 2022 volume LIV, issue 6 estd. 1969

A look into CWRU’s new shuttle text number

Committed to improving transportation accessibility on campus, USG announced the release of a new text shuttle number that will provide students with direct and rapid responses to shuttle-related concerns. Courtesy of CWRU (case.edu website) Darcy Chew Contributing Writer On Sept. 13, the Undergraduate this issue, can you speak to it?’ We can Student Government of Case Western of course take notes and respond to Reserve University (USG) announced stuff later too,” Heddleston explains.

Currently, the shuttle number is a new text shuttle number in their weekly newsletter designed to aid stu- only getting a few calls and texts per day, but both Heddleston and Hari dents with the shuttle system.

Nathan Heddleston, Director of the hope to spread the word about it. “One Shuttle Operations at SP Plus, empha- of the things I’m really excited about sizes how the number is a resource for is that this text feature is going to put students as they navigate the shuttle so many more pairs of eyes in the field. system. “Any student can call or text So if there’s an issue with wait time, that number. And we have from 8 a.m. they’ll let us know and we can get to 11 p.m. a dispatcher who will re- them moving right away,” Heddleston says. spond to it,” Heddleston says.

“It’s really [a] strength in numbers.

USG President Ananya Hari elaborates on how the text number was a That’s why I put it in the newsletter recent development pushed by the every week. I want as many students Student Life Committee last semester to have this on their phone as possidue to similar recurring problems with ble so that if the bus isn’t running or the unreliability of the shuttle system. something’s not expected, you [can] “We’ve just had a lot of issues with have 20 people message this number. drivers just randomly taking breaks [And they’ll] do something about it,” or popping off the grid, or [situations] Hari adds.

Hari also mentions how this number like you’re in the bus and the [driver’s] taking a break, and you’re sitting is part of a collection of transportation there in the bus [for] 20 minutes and initiatives pushed last semester to crethey’re, like, eating a sandwich,” Hari ate a more reliable shuttle system for students. “There were a bunch of transdescribes.

Rather than having to write emails portation initiatives that were coming after the event occurred, the dispatch out of Student Life last year. ​​We were number is in place to solve real-time trying to fix a lot of bus issues. We got issues. It gives students a direct and the capacity limits on TransLoc. So rapid response to the problems they you can see that or it’s like 50% full or are facing. “The idea behind the tex- 40% full,” Hari explains.

Transportation is an integral part of ting and calling is to be able to react more quickly, because we were finding college life and USG and SP Plus are that, when I get an email, there’s so lit- committed to making the shuttle systle I can do about it at that [moment].” tem more accessible and convenient.

This dispatch is able to provide rap- “The notion is that there are all these id answers to student questions about problems. So I really would love to the estimated time of arrival (ETA) of work to change the temperature of it the shuttles as well as other concerns and have people embrace the shuttle about the system. “We can do a lot of system, and when there’s an issue just stuff in real time. So we can pick up let us know and let us work on it. My the radio and radio a shuttle driver and team and I both, we really want to just say ‘hey, what’s your ETA to this work to make this thing convenient,” stop?’ or ‘we have someone who has Heddleston says.

CWRU Film Society Friday, September 30, 2022 7:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 11:59 p.m.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Rated PG (120 mins.)

Cosponsored by The Observer Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock With James Stewart, Doris Day, Brenda de Banzie Dr. Ben McKenna, his wife Jo, and their son Hank are on a touring vacation of Africa when they meet the mysterious Louis Bernard on a bus. The next day, Bernard is murdered in the local marketplace, but before he dies, he manages to reveal details of an assassination about to take place in London. Fearing that their plot will be revealed, the assassins kidnap Hank in order to keep the McKennas silent. Ben and Jo go to London and take matters into their own hands.

Saturday, October 1, 2022 7:00 p.m., 9:15 p.m.

Manry at Sea: In the Wake of a Dream (2018)

Not Rated (94 mins.)

Directed by: Steve Wystrach With Robert Manry, Bill Jorgensen, Steven Callahan

In 1965, Robert Manry was a typical middle-aged suburbanite in Cleveland, Ohio. However, his colleagues at the Plain Dealer newspaper were shocked to learn he had just set sail on a solo voyage across the Atlantic in his 13½-foot sloop, Tinkerbelle. By the time his 78-day odyssey ended in England, Manry was the target of a wild journalistic arms race, the guest of honor to a welcoming committee of 20,000 Britons, and a hero to his countrymen—and to dreamers everywhere.

General Admission $4.00 Strosacker Auditorium, CWRU Campus Quad Free Parking: Lot 44 at Adelbert Rd and Murray Hill

FILMS.CWRU.EDU

life

friday, september 30, 2022 volume LIV, issue 6 estd. 1969

“Moss” is Maya Hawke’s ode to indie folk Joey Gonzalez Life Editor

Maya Hawke has become a figure in the indie folk music scene, with her latest album, “Moss,” drawing upon personal pain through memorable lyricism and soothing instrumentals. Courtesy of Mom + Pop Music.

Known for her role in “Stranger wrenching heartbreak or tear-jerking of the song, as Hawke sings a melan- ing, the song feels more wholesome Things” and the recent Netflix suc- joy—that viscerally draw the listener choly letter to her parents’ love. Her and endearing than its predecessor. cess “Do Revenge,” Maya Hawke in. Indie artists often use simplistic parents, Uma Therman and Ethan Yet, her signature voice permeates has established herself as a force to folk instruments—mostly acoustic— Hawke, met on the set of “Gattaca,” the pain of having to transform and be reckoned with in Hollywood, and as well, distancing themselves from and the film portrays a romanticized give herself up to someone to become she has continually garnered herself the technologically dominated mu- version of their love. “Driver” rejects what someone else wants them to be. new and inventive roles. But, her sic industry. While indie folk artists the notion of that “crafted and clear” Despite being newly introduced to talents don’t end on the big or small aren’t limited to folk instruments, love, instead wishing she were the the music industry, Hawke produces screen, as she recently introduced the sound they create often helps driver of a taxi so that she could see it the perfect combination of lyricism herself into the world of indie folk listeners retreat from the noises of for herself. She wishes to be a viewer and tone to convey the themes of each music. After listening to her new al- everyday life, allowing them access in her parents’ love but through a real song. She encapsulates the modern bum, “Moss,” it is clear why Hawke to something much more simple and lens, not just one that has been edited indie folk genre in a way that builds is such a powerhouse, as her talent comforting. Hawke’s “Moss” cer- and chopped down to something com- on her past pain and carries the lisand personableness are on full dis- tainly conveys these feelings through mercial. The song ‘’Backup Plan’’ tener with her. It isn’t just a depressplay throughout. her narrative-like lyrics and simple repeats a simple list of lost items, ing acoustic ode to her pain either.

Indie folk, as a genre, provides a acoustic tunes. In “Moss,” she encap- where Hawke wants to “be anything She is able to convey her message continually underappreciated trove sulates the genre, with the album ref- you’ve lost that you might be lookin’ and the notions of sadness without of endearing and heartbreaking musi- erencing her past as an industry child. for.” It is about becoming the missing creating an entirely depressing song. cal talent. It can make you feel like With its personal nature, “Moss” is a piece in another person’s puzzle and “Moss” truly conveys Hawke’s you want to go camping or drop ev- distinct step up from her debut album completing them. She uses the meta- past in such a creative way that you erything to travel across the country “Blush,” which came out in 2020. phor of becoming the items that a sig- almost forget that you’re listening in a van. The genre is also known for Throughout the album, Hawke nificant other needs to conduct their to someone’s pain. So even if indie its ability to tell stories, with a vibe is able to portray her vulnerabil- daily tasks, whether she’s a charger folk isn’t your genre, or if you’re akin to sitting around a campfire ity, showing how she longs for love or a winter coat in summer storage. just a fan of Hawke’s acting and and listening to the artist in the mo- and struggles with being the child of This theme is conveyed through such want more, I recommend popping ment. It is able to capture and elicit celebrities. In “Driver,” the simple simple lyrics; with the repetition of your headphones on and queuing up such raw emotions—whether its gut- acoustic tune puts focus on the lyrics missing items and acoustic back- “Moss” this fall.

4

life

9/30/22

Conan Gray Conquers Cleveland with “Superache” tour Shivangi Nanda Copy Editor

With COVID-19 restrictions finally easing up, concerts are once again in session; artists have begun long-anticipated tours across the country, and we can once again feel the anxiety of buying tickets, getting in line early to secure the best seats and having goosebumps as our favorite artist emerges onto the stage. I had the pleasure of experiencing all of this and more last Saturday, Sept. 24, at Jacobs Pavillion for Conan Gray’s “Superache” concert.

As someone who has listened to the “Kid Krow’’ album about a million times and knows every word to “Maniac,” I was certain this concert would be a weekend well-spent—plus, the venue was just a short 20-minute ride from campus. Before I get into my thoughts and praise, here is a little context on Conan Lee Gray, a 23-year-old American singer and songwriter, whose recent album “Superache” debuted in the Top 10 in five countries. Like many artists of his generation, Gray got his big break from YouTube—truly humble beginnings. Launched in 2013, Gray’s channel included vlogs of his daily life in addition to self-produced music recordings. Four years later, Gray released his debut song “Idle Town” which received 14 million listens on Spotify. From there, his success soared. In November 2018, Gray released his EP “Sunset Season” and in March 2020, he released his first full album “Kid Krow,” my personal favorite. Now, “Superache,” embodies the next part of his music-making journey.

Arguably the most diverse album in his collection, “Superache”—contrary to its name—tackles more than just tragic love stories. Through this album, Gray touches on the ideas of friendship, heartache, family turmoil and acceptance. For instance, in “Family Line,” Gray turns his complicated family situation into an artistic appreciation for his past. On the other hand, “Footnote,” much like his previous hit song “Heather,” highlights the relatable story of a one-sided, unrequited love. As in past albums, each song is simple with its words and rich in emotion. And in concert, every one of

Last Saturday, Sept. 24, Conan Gray graced the stage at Jacobs Pavillion to share his journey through heartbreak, acceptance and family turmoil from his album “Superache”. Courtesy of Republic Records. these emotions becomes so much more real and memorable.

Surrounded by an audience united by their love for Gray’s work, I felt like a part of something bigger. So, when Gray finally hit the stage—working the most elegant white, glittery matching shirt and pants set—I joined in on the uproar. The cheers quickly fell silent as the lights dimmed and a heart projected onto the stage, signaling the start of this “Superache’’ journey. This backdrop was made more beautiful by the perfect fall weather—very unlike Cleveland—and the intimate view of the sunset along the Cuyahoga River. With the mood set, we could not wait for the music.

Gray did not disappoint. As a performer, he was powerful and vibrant,

moving across the stage with swiftness and constantly encouraging the audience to join in on lyrics. Staying true to his roots, Gray accompanied some instrumentals with live guitar. With his increasing fame, it felt special to see Gray go back to his more simple music-making roots. At the same time, this variety in the song presentation made for an even more dynamic performance, which— coupled with the persistent cheers from fans—further uplifted the mood. For certain sections, Gray included song introductions that provided context for his lyrics and message. In doing so, he bared a level of vulnerability and charm, leveling himself with the audience and better connecting them with his past. When the set list was complete, we were offered

one last hurrah with an encore, before the applause of fans signaled the official end. A perfect ending to a near-perfect evening.

So, while I accept that Gray’s music style is not for everyone, his stage presence, love for music and his fans made this concert something special. His personality shows through in his raw lyrics and his ability to make every person in the audience feel warm and welcomed.

Gray is just one of those artists that feels approachable and “normal” even after all this success. For this reason and more, I implore you to take the opportunity to become a part of the Gray family—even if just for night—and experience the beauty of his music and the passion of his performance.

Case For Life hosts guest speaker event with Equal Rights Institute Milo Vetter Staff Writer Ever since its official recognition by the Undergraduate Student Government in 2020, Case For Life (CFL), a club on campus devoted to hosting discourse about abortion, has been marred by controvery. The USG vote to recognize CFL was close, but ultimately passed due to concerns that suppressing the club would be both legally tenuous and an unprecedented use of USG’s power to refuse club recognition.

CFL has been relatively quiet since then, but on Friday, Sept. 23, they hosted a speaker event with Emily Albrecht, the director of education and outreach at the Equal Rights Institute (ERI). The ERI is an anti-abortion organization devoted mainly to providing anti-abortion activists with talking points in order to equip them with strong arguments to defend their position against their peers.

Albrecht has become a talented speaker and is probably one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to the abortion debate.

It was evident that the administration of Case Western Reserve University was worried about conflict arising, stationing multiple security guards and staff from the dean’s office at the event.

The members of CFL also checked in every person entering the room order

to make sure they had registered in advance. It’s hard to say whether or not the measures were effective in discouraging conflict. Regardless, the event was peaceful enough that some of the security left early.

The event itself began with a brief introduction and disclaimer by CFL President Ethan Hansen, who stated that the views of CFL and Albrecht are not endorsed by CWRU. Once the floor was given to Albrecht, she gave a measured and researched speech about the ethics of abortion from the perspective of bodily autonomy. She began by expressing her frustration at the level of conversation about abortion that currently takes place in the United States, both generally and specifically.

“If you’re pro-choice and you’ve ever felt strawmanned by a pro-lifer, I’m so sorry. I’m trying to fix that,” she said.

Albrecht believes there are multiple arguments that could be made against the pro-life movement, but she finds those focusing on bodily autonomy and the “right to refuse” to be most challenging to her ideology. This argument states that even if one considers an embryo to be a full human being, a pregnant person should still have the right to refuse to support that human, and that

the government should not force people to carry a pregnancy to term.

Albrecht’s rebuttal to the “right to refuse” argument rests on a principle that abortion is not an act of passively withdrawing support, but rather actively killing a distinct human life. “We can’t keep fooling ourselves, abortion is killing… I know that there are very understandable emotional reasons to frame it differently, but I don’t think it’s helpful to pretend that abortion is something other than what it is,” she said.

Albrecht’s argument raised certain questions, namely: does the morality of the situation become different when the perspective changes from withdrawing support from a dependent to killing them? If, in both cases, the consequence is the same, the intent is the same, and the person being killed is not yet sentient enough to understand, what difference is left between killing someone and withdrawing support from them in a manner that will leave them to die?

There are also other aspects to the debate when considering Albrecht’s argument. When arguing about killing distinct human life, one assumes that an embryo or fetus is conscientiously equal to an adult human, but that’s not a safe assumption for everyone. Ultimately,

the question of your personal values, despite any claims of objectivity, will earn you disagreement from many.

Another important consideration is legality. Most of the time, when people argue about abortion, the biggest question in their heads is “should abortion be morally condemned?” But the question that really matters is “should someone who performs an abortion be punished by the law?” It is entirely possible to believe that abortions are morally inadvisable while also believing that the state shouldn’t have a say in whether they happen. The issue of abortion is extremely complicated, and no person who has thought about it for long enough will tell you that it’s simple.

It can be said confidently that the goal of CFL and Emily Albrecht—and possibly the ERI as a whole—is to get people to ask and discuss these questions respectfully and in good faith.

While there is still bitter controversy about CFL’s recognition by the USG, CFL’s event and Albrecht seemed to emphasize the need for civility when debating these topics. The hope is that despite the heavy political implications of the abortion debate, students at CWRU can continue to have this discussion respecfully.

fun Horoscope

Aries

Pisces

Aquarius

The Signs as college media

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

Young Sheldon

Gilmore Girls

friday, september 30, 2022 volume LIV, issue 6 estd. 1969

Weekly Tarot Read by Mulan Ma Seven of Cups (Reversed) When given a multitude of opportunities, pick the choices that benefit yourself the most. Sometimes making good choices are harder than bad ones.

Two of Cups (Upright) There are good things coming in terms of parternship and mutual attraction Three of Wands (Reversed) You might be experiencing obstacles in your love, finances, and career.

However, it is important to face said challenges as soon as possible.

What we’ve been listening to Jackie Onassis Sammy Rae & The Friends

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered Ella Fitzgerald

Dasha Degterev

Khushali Desai

alright Kendrick Lamar

on & on piri & tommy

Shejuti Wahed

Mulan Ma

Mountain Peaks Stephen Sanchez

I Ain’t Worried OneRepublic

Grace Johnson

Puneet Bansal

Do Friends Fall In Love?

Rachael & Vilray

Only Way Out Madeon ft.

Vancouver Sleep Clinic

Lexy Jensen

A Different World

Grown-ish Community

Seven of Pentacles (Upright) It’s been a week, don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments, big and small.

The Chariot (Upright) This is an encouraging card, take this as a message that you are on the right path.

How To Get Away With Murder

Page of Pentacles (Upright) Now is a good time to think of how to blow up and act like you don’t know nobody.

Scream Queens

Six of Wands (Reversed) Some of your recent successes are meant to be celebrated silently.

Friends From College

Two of Wands (Reversed) Knowing what you deserve is the only way you’ll know what you want.

Normal People

Six of Cups (Upright) It will be very fruitful to go down memory lane and remember the past good times.

Dear White People

Eight of Cups (Upright) Running away is easy but it will be harder to come back the farther away you try to escape your responsibilities.

Capricorn Sagittarius

Virgo

King of Wands (Reversed) Although you have been given opportunities to lead, sometimes someone else needs to step up. Let others take the reins.

Libra

Blood & Water

Knight of Pentacles (Upright) Hard work will always overcome any circumstances you’re having.

Gemini: Grown-ish

Scorpio

Leo

Cancer

Gemini

Taurus

Sara Khorshidi

MAMII Becky G, KAROL G

I Want You Marvin Gaye

Jocelyn Ortiz

Shreyas Banerjee

Bad Sneakers Steely Dan Kate Gordon

Charmer p-rallel ft. Sam Wise Shifra Narasimhan

SUBSCRIBE TO Fly Out West Yot Club NEWSLETTER Tarun Sepuri

Sudoku Medium

‘Tis Autumn The Nat King Cole Trio Sophia Popkin

Sweater Weather The Neighborhood OUR Beau Bilinovich

opinion

friday, september 30, 2022 2022 friday, february 18, volume LIV, issue 6 volume LIII, issue 20 estd.

1969 estd. 1969

EDITORIAL

Take breaks outside of school Editorial Board

It’s the time of year that we all dread and one that we always lament about: the first wave of presentations, exams and papers has arrived and students are struggling. We aren’t here to scold you if you haven’t been taking care of your basic health while studying because we understand that it’s hard. However, that doesn’t mean putting yourself first isn’t important.

Therefore, while this editorial isn’t detailing the aspects of your health you should focus on, it is here to serve as a reminder that life exists beyond school. So, perhaps you should think about taking a break every once in a while.

When assignment after assignment and obligation after obligation start piling up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed

by everything. We are all guilty of tunnel vision as we try to stay focused in order to achieve our goals and aspirations. In fact, it is commendable that we as a student body are so goaloriented and want to see our dreams come true. We’re all working incredibly hard to become the most successful and passionate versions of ourselves. However, that can come at a cost—not just to ourselves, but also to those around us.

It’s easy to stop taking care of ourselves when responsibilities pile up.

However, when grocery shopping or exercising gets put on the back burner, it is still important to have simple tasks to look forward to in order to break up the monotony of stressful tasks. Whether that involves taking

the RTA off campus to study, watching birds for five minutes, listening to an audiobook on the way to class, sitting down and eating dinner at a favorite restaurant or buying your favorite overpriced coffee drink, you can do more for yourself than you know.

Sure, eating three meals a day and getting eight hours of sleep is great, but those basic living habits don’t always feel attainable. Doing something completely different and unrelated to your daily routine could be the small change of pace you need to keep moving forward. Beyond just that splice of abnormality, it’s also important not to ignore the people around you. Intentionally taking the time to call family members, having lunch with a friend you don’t see all the time or even

spending an evening volunteering at a food bank reminds us that we’re all intertwined with each other. You aren’t alone in feeling overwhelmed; being around others and interacting with the community can not only give you a break, but can also be a way to build lasting relationships in your life. We all need support systems.

It may be cliché to say that time flies by or that life is short, but both of those sentiments are true. Pouring our energy into only our academics and career will only give us a limited amount of happiness in the end.

Making sure that we experience life with the help of others is essential in ultimately not burning ourselves out.

Enjoy the time we have here. It won’t last long.

Haven’t subscribed to our newsletter yet?

Do it now!

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

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 at (216) 302-4442 or e-mail observer-ads@case.edu.

executive editor & publisher SHREYAS BANERJEE director of print SARA KHORSHIDI director of digital media JOCELYN ORTIZ director of design TARUN SEPURI director of business operations KHUSHALI DESAI development editor BEAU BILINOVICH engagement editor MULAN MA news editor GRACE JOHNSON life editor JOEY GONZALEZ opinion editor KARUNA LAKHIANI

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.

sports editor PUNEET BANSAL social media editor SOPHIA POPKIN photo editor CLAY PREUSCH web editor COLLIN WONG copy editors SHIVANGI NANDA, LEXY JENSEN, RACHEL ALEXANDER, ELIE AOUN, KATE GORDON layout designers DASHA DEGTEREV, SHIFRA NARASIMHAN

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

graphic designer TYLER VU advertising manager MATTHEW CHANG

opinion 7

observer.case.edu

The importance of student journalism Beau Billinovich Development Editor As staff members of The Observer, we like to tout ourselves as the voice of the student body. We are the platform for students from all walks of life and backgrounds, allowing all to share their stories and ideas with the campus community. But what does it actually mean—the voice of the student body? Why does what we, as student journalists, do matter?

What’s the point, anyway?

Being a writer, I sometimes ask myself those questions. Whenever I write an article, I feel as if I’m just sending it off into the silent void where, save for a few of my family members (who are awesome), no one truly cares. Of course, that isn’t true. The conversations we as writers create with the community of Case Western Reserve University and the surrounding Cleveland community are important. It’s one of the ways we connect with the people around us.

So what do we gain from student journalism?

Student journalism can act as a model for the real world, where people can freely and openly discuss ideas, debate and point to the problems that need to be addressed.

As opposed to state or even federal politics, schools offer a smaller,

more confined community. It’s easier to see the effects of a change in, for example, university policy, since we are around each other all the time and see the direct effects immediately.

When we familiarize ourselves with campus-wide issues, we can learn to understand strategies for resolving them.

That skill—figuring out how to resolve conflicts—is needed now more than ever. 60% of rural youth and 30% of urban youth live in “civic deserts,” where limited opportunities are available to meet people, discuss issues and address problems. Trying to cure the maladies that plague the country nationally is hard enough.

But by engaging in conversations on the campus level, students can more easily meet and find solutions to the issues specific to a school’s community.

For us at CWRU, that means calling to attention when the administration has an inadequate response to changes in housing policies, as happened last semester, or to the violent crimes that frequent this place we call home—issues that we are all too familiar with. For students at Virginia Commonwealth University, that means being on the front lines and

covering police brutality protests.

And countless school papers reported on the pandemic and its effects on the student body, including ourselves.

Hence by working together to figure out solutions to the problems affecting the campus community, we can build bridges. Figuring out solutions forces us to see each other. It brings the community closer together. This connection is valuable—especially since we as young adults were affected the most by loneliness and social isolation due to the pandemic.

Student journalism also enables young Americans to have their voices heard, broadcast and uplifted. Much of the political power in this country is held by older Americans: The average ages of members of the Senate and House of Representatives is 62.9 years and 57.6 years, respectively.

President Joe Biden is currently the oldest president in history at 79 years old. Moreover, voter turnout for younger Americans in 2020 lagged behind older Americans by about 25%.

Seeing so much authority in the hands of only a fraction of the U.S. population can feel crushing. The connection that student journalists

have with their community can help to mitigate these feelings and give young voices a sense of validity, especially when our concerns are often silenced.

No student newspaper is at the same level as The Washington Post or The New York Times. We aren’t Daniel Ellsberg uncovering classified government documents detailing two decades’ worth of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, but our work still has value in its own way. But as a student newspaper, we do cover issues personal to us, the student body.

We shine a light on the issues that large media outlets might not pick up on, the issues that we have to face every day on campus. That’s what truly matters.

So that is what it means to be the voice of the student body. It’s not that we speak for all students, but rather that we bring conversations forward and unite together to determine how we can change this university for the better. Obviously, no writer can speak for every individual; differences in values make this near impossible. But we can share in a common understanding that CWRU, and all other universities, should be places for students to thrive.

Complaining about complaining Enya Eettickal Staff Writer I’m sure we all have certain fables from our childhood that have stuck with us over the years. One of my favorites went like this: a painter presented a piece of his to a king and his court. But upon doing so, many court members complained about different parts of the painting. As an experiment, the king’s adviser put the art out in front of the steps of his palace with the instructions, “mark whatever part of the painting you think needs to be better.” By the end of the day, the entire painting was covered by the various marks left by the people. But the next day, the advisor kept the painting out and changed the instructions to, “now make the part you marked better.” When he returned the next day, the painting remained identical—covered with marks of what needed to be improved, but none of the improvements made.

I can’t say I think about this fable often (my butchered details are probably a reflection of this). However, I was recently reminded of it when my roommate was explaining something she, as a camp counselor, said a lot to the kids, “at the root of every complaint is a request.” Once I realized she was right, my immediate follow-

up question was, if that’s true, why do we often hear complaints but not the requests they are alluding to?

It is necessary to understand both the distinction between the word complaint and complaining, while also addressing the restrictions each of these words have. Complaints are defined as statements of dissatisfaction. Complaining, on the other hand, is the act of outwardly expressing that dissatisfaction. But connotatively, there’s more to what complaining actually looks like.

We all complain to some degree.

People broadly have issues with classes, professors, assignments, living arrangements, friends and other people.

Frequently, the critiques they have are well-founded. There are often genuine concerns linked to these aspects of life, and complaining can be a method of communicating the issue at hand.

That, however, is contingent on the way complaining is approached. While there are productive ways to complain, there are some which are more detrimental than helpful. For example, persistent complaining can become annoying for listeners but it also builds a negative environment. Complaining breeds more complaining, and when a space is filled with critique from all

parties involved, it can be difficult to shift the energy.

The easiest solution is going back to “at the root of every complaint is a request.” If there’s something worth complaining about, something can be changed. In this way, complaints can be good if they are used as a tool for a solution, rather than a lament of existing problems.

For instance, my roommate’s solution is to allow yourself a set amount of time to complain. This can either be a literal timer, or it can just be a time frame, so for example, a day. And after that time frame elapses, stop complaining and try to make the request or take action to find a solution to what you were complaining about.

However, there’s a distinction between complaining and venting. While complaining can be a cause for concern and needs to be addressed, I want to validate venting. I think venting can be very productive. In some situations, venting may just be the solution if it’s a one-off scenario. If verbalizing your feelings to someone else allows you to process your frustration and reorient yourself, that’s great. But if you feel the need to do it over and over without changing the circumstances, re-eval-

uate whether you’re venting or really just complaining.

I’ve never really understood when people complain in closed spaces for extended periods of time, then proceed to refuse the solutions posed to them—especially when pertaining to other people. And I’m sure you probably know someone who is like this as well. Nothing good can come from complaining about someone, especially when the opportunity to communicate your concerns is viable. Often, problems are easier to address than you would think, and there is nothing another person can do to help manage your issues unless you let them know how you’re feeling.

At the end of the day, complaining is really easy to do. I get it, and I’ve definitely done it a bunch, and I still do it sometimes. But taking my complaints and doing something about them is a surefire way to ensure my circumstances don’t stagnate. Taking action is the only possible way for things to get better. If there is no solution I’m willing to look for, then there’s no point in complaining. Just like how if I don’t know how I can make a painting better, you won’t find me marking the canvas.

Have an interesting take you want to share?

Email observer@case.edu

sports

friday, september 30, 2022 volume LIV, issue 6 estd. 1969

Volleyball rolls past Kenyon and Denison, improving to 11-3 Puneet Bansal Sports Editor On Sept. 24, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team defeated Kenyon College (3-0) and Denison University (3-2), extending their winning streak to three games.

The squad improved to 11-3 overall, remaining undefeated at home.

“It was a great weekend for us traveling down to Columbus, playing [teams] we don’t play regularly,” said head coach Karen Farrell.

The Spartans opened Saturday against a struggling Kenyon team, who held a 1-10 record. The Owls came out strong and took an early 11-7 lead in the first set before the Spartans closed the gap. After trading runs, first-year middle blocker Kiya Levy tied the score 22-22. Kenyon scored the next point, but CWRU came back in three straight bouts to win the set 25-23.

Unlike the first set, CWRU established strong control of the second set with an early 11-2 run. Kenyon was unable to answer and CWRU took the 25-14 win.

The Owls, desperate to escape their 0-2 hole, fought tooth and nail in the third set. The two teams went backand-forth, tying 13 times to reach an even 16-16 score. From there, the Spartans settled in and closed out Kenyon. Kills from third-year middle blocker Jennifer Ngo and second-year Rea Marfatia led the Spartans to the 25-20 set victory.

Ngo recorded a team-high 12 kills while Marfatia finished with 10 kills and nine digs. Fourth-year setter Sara Rogers tallied 23 assists and 11 digs while third-year libero Alyssa Blessinger led the team with 13 digs.

“It was a pretty close score all the way through,” added Coach Farrell.

“Though we felt like they were in control of the match, [we] widened the gap at the end of their sets ... That was our 10th win, which is kind of a nice number to get this early in the season.”

The second match of the week-

As CWRU’s volleyball team beats Kenyon, third-year libero Alyssa Blessinger serves the ball and leads the team in digs, continuing the Spartans’ win streak. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics end was a different story altogether.

Though Denison stood with a record of 5-8, they forced CWRU to play some of their best volleyball of the season.

The Spartans rolled through the first two sets 25-16 and 25-18. Marfatia led the charge in the first set, recording two consecutive kills to seal the victory. Blessinger and third-year defensive Specialist Hannah Fox were instrumental in pulling together a 9-2 run to overcome an early 3-point deficit in the second set. Denison fought back and trimmed the Spartan lead to 20-16, but Marfatia put a quick stop to

that with a kill and two service aces.

First-year outside hitter Kalli Wall put the finishing touches on the set win with a kill.

The Big Red roared back in the next couple of sets, clinching 25-15 and 2521 victories to even the match to 2-2.

CWRU committed multiple attack errors and gave up kills, looking like a completely different squad from the first two sets.

“We had some third set blues, which we’ve seen our team go through,” reflected Coach Farrell on these miscues. “[But] we were able to continue

to work through that.”

Denison owned the momentum heading into the decisive fifth set.

They had an 11-7 stranglehold on the Spartans and were only four points away from an impressive comeback.

CWRU persevered and scored four straight points to even it to 11-11 with two kills and two blocks. Fox gave the Spartans their first lead of the set with an ace and Marfatia followed with a kill to make it 13-11. Denison answered the 6-0 CWRU run with a kill but Ngo and Marfatia blocked an attack to reach within a point of the victory. Marfatia and first-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo combined for a block to secure the 15-13 set win and the 3-2 match win.

Wall totaled a career-high 14 kills and Rogers recorded 26 assists with 10 digs. Ngo and Marfatia contributed seven and four blocks, respectively, to the Spartans’ 12 as a team.

“We had to really scratch and claw back from 5-10 and 7-11 ... We had some really strong serving by Hannah Fox and some really strong blocking up front,” said Coach Farrell. “[It was] a really exciting 15-13 victory in set five. That’s the second time we’ve done that this year and it’s kind of an adrenaline rush.”

The Spartans will participate in the second UAA Round Robin on Oct. 2.

Hosted by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the event will feature conference matchups against Brandeis University and New York University. This is an opportunity for CWRU to improve upon their 1-2 conference record. “[Brandeis] is having a great season,” remarked Coach Farrell. “They have a couple new players and a much stronger attack ... [NYU] is a very, very talented, very balanced, very very strong team ranked in the top 10 in the country, so we have our work cut out for us this weekend.”

Guardians continued from pg. 1 Yet on Sunday, Sept. 25, the Cleveland Guardians clinched the AL Central after winning 17 of their last 20 games, including 10 wins in 12 games against their division rivals, the Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox. They managed to do this as the youngest team in the MLB, with an average player age of 26. They are the first team since the 1986 New York Mets to have made the playoffs while being the youngest team in the league. With no other star players, the team took the mentality of “letting the kids play,” using their deep young talent pool to see which players would fit in their lineup for the long term. Surprisingly, many rookies made their mark—they are the first team in MLB history to win their division while seeing at least 16 rookies make their debut. As a result of the team’s youth, the Guardians feature one of the lowest payrolls in the MLB, but that hasn’t seemed to matter as they dominate teams that spend hundreds of millions more than them.

The season has not been easy on the Guardians, with the team having struggled early in April and May, but

it has since blossomed into one of the most competitive teams in the major leagues. This happened under the direction of longtime manager Terry Francona, who defined the team’s identity and shaped the Guardians into a hustling team that would work each at-bat and get as many balls into play as possible, allowing the team to chain together several hits in a row and score runs—an old-school approach that sticks out in an age that focuses more and more on home runs. As a result, the Guardians lead the league in contact rate and strikeout rate.

While their hits aren’t too powerful—with Cleveland leading the league in infield hits and being far down the list in home run leaders—just by virtue of their approach of hitting the ball as much as possible, inevitably some balls land and the players are able to make it to base. This is helped by the fact that the Guardians run the bases like no other team in the league, featuring the highest number of players that advance from first to third base on singles and the third most stolen bases in the league. With their high contact

and aggressive baserunning, the team constantly grinds for each hit and score, allowing them to constantly apply pressure to opposing teams.

This approach is best epitomized by rookie outfielder Steven Kwan, who started the season simply refusing to strike out, becoming the first batter in the league since 2000 to see 116 pitches before swinging and missing while starting their career. Though he started out the season as a low-power hitter, his consistency and ability to reach base made him instantly stand out. His progression through the season has only made him better—in the division-clinching game on Sept. 25 against the Texas Rangers, Kwan hit his first career grand slam, winning the Guardians the game.

Meanwhile, pitching has been especially strong. Along with Bieber continuing to be as hot as ever, this year also saw the transformation of starting pitcher Triston McKenzie into an absolute machine. McKenzie has so far pitched three games with at least 10 strikeouts this season, tying him for first in organization history for such a

single-season performance.

The Guardians have also found in Emmanuel Clase a pitcher who can consistently close out games and whose consistent performances have ensured that the team holds on to slim victories. He refuses to allow opposing hitters to score home runs and, as a result, he leads the entire league in saves.

With José Ramírez locked down for years to come and a promising young roster, the Cleveland Guardians have a bright future ahead of them; but this season isn’t over yet. Now qualifying for the playoffs, the Guardians will host the best-of-three American League (AL) Wild Card Series in Cleveland, where they will face the to-be-determined No. 6 seed of the AL starting Oct. 7. How far they go into the postseason remains to be seen, but Cleveland has not won a World Series since 1948—the longest drought in MLB history—so the city is hungry to see a championship. The Indians couldn’t do it, but now with a new name and new identity, perhaps the Guardians can bring it home.