News: CWRU jumps to No. 44 in National University rankings (pg. 3)
The Case Western Reserve
Observer
Friday, September 25, 2026 Volume LVIII, Issue 6 Est. 1969
EDITORIAL
Detriments of online sports betting Editorial Board With fall in the air, major sports seasons have kicked off, such as the National Football League (NFL), while others, such as the Major League Baseball (MLB) season are coming to a close. While NFL fans may be engaging in the usual NFL season behavior, such as tailgating parties and managing fantasy teams, a more malignant activity is also on the rise: sports betting. Specifically, sports betting through online trading platforms and predictive markets such as Kalshi are reaping the successes of their sudden popularity. Traditional sports betting or gambling is both highly regulated and involves the player and the house. Specifically, the player bets against a bookmaker with their own set of odds. These bookmakers are regulated by state gambling commissions or gaming agencies. Winnings through traditional sports betting or gambling are also heavily taxed if they go over $600 in a single wager or if the player makes 300 times more than their betting amount. Furthermore, players have to pay a vigorish, more colloquially known as a vig, which is a payment required for a bet to be accepted. The vig ensures that the house is profitable even when they have to pay out money to winning players. On the other hand, online “financial trade” markets such as Kalshi are not offi-
cially recognized as sports betting, instead as exchanges, and thus lack the regulation and oversight that traditional sports betting has. Kalshi is an online market that allows users ages 18 and up to place money on any event with uncertain outcomes. It operates through what the platform calls “trades,” where players trade against each other rather than the house. Kalshi uses this to evade the label of betting or gambling. The events a user can “trade” for on Kalshi are varied. They can span from election results to the predicted rotten tomatoes score of the upcoming Resident Evil movie. That being said, one of the biggest draws for Kalshi is the ability to bet on sports outcomes. The two most popular events as of print are the games between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Tennessee Titans and the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans, with the total money bet reaching well in the millions for both. Recent uproar against Kalshi has led to many states suing the company over illegal, unregulated gambling. The state of New York, for instance, sued Kalshi for exposing New Yorkers to the risk of unregulated gambling addictions. Their accusation holds weight. Since 2018, gambling addiction with-
in the United States has risen by almost 33%, coinciding with the legalization of sports betting coupled with the accessibility of online betting. New York is not the only party suing Kalshi—the state of Connecticut, the city of Baltimore, and the state of Utah are among others that have recently sued Kalshi for similar reasons. The attraction of Kalshi is real: It provides an easy, effortless way to get something that you want. It doesn’t help that Kalshi also emulates gambling, a real cause of addiction that has serious consequences. Among all disorders, gambling disorder carries the highest risk of suicide rate, with one in five gamblers attempting suicide. Kalshi, then carries real weight not only as a legal debate but also as a true public health concern. However, because Kalshi is an online platform, and taking into account Kalshi’s connections to the White House (Donald Trump Jr. is a financial advisor and investor to the platform), it will likely be difficult to limit Kalshi’s reach. As of print, Kalshi is still up and running despite garnering national recognition and multiple legal cases. Broadly speaking, Kalshi reflects a trend within the U.S. towards an obsession with malignantly accessible technology. According to the online platform, “One of the primary reasons for Kalshi’s existence is to democratize access to prediction
markets. Traditionally, prediction markets have been complex and somewhat inaccessible to the average person.” Kalshi co-opts the word “accessibility” and its positive connotations to justify their brand. Indeed, the main hook of Kalshi is the ease of usage. Now, users are able to place bets from the comfort of their homes; there is no need for one to visit casinos and sports venues to engage in regulated gambling practices when it is within arm’s reach. Limitations surrounding areas such as betting are there for a reason. It is okay that some things are harder to obtain than others as long as there are justifiable reasons for safeguarding. In the context of sports betting, there is much reason to maintain oversight. In other words, everything should not be equally as easy to obtain. Instead of focusing on sports betting, technological advancements should focus on making inherently beneficial programs accessible, like education or healthcare. As students, it is critical to remember that technology is a byproduct of engineering and science conducted by people, and not the other way around. It may be a common misconception that technology is growing disproportionately, when it is really those who utilize the technology that nurture its popularity and eventually feel dependent on it. Technology is not some organic matter that can move and grow on its own. We are the ones with the ability to enforce limitations where necessary and use technology responsibly.
Kristina Guo/The Observer
News
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 25, 2026 observer.case.edu Volume LVIII, Issue 6
Stanford RA unionization efforts raise questions for other universities Maria Burrus
News Editor
At Stanford University, a group of undergraduate Resident Assistants (RA) organized a unionization effort in response to increased responsibilities caused by understaffing and budget cuts. In Jan. 2026, the RA’s hosted a “March on the Boss” rally to show their grievances to the university housing administration regarding working conditions. The organizers launched the Resident Assistant United Rising (RAUR) in April. They quickly surpassed the threshold requiring 30% of workers to submit union authorization cards by collecting cards for 40% of RAs. This allowed them to file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to unionize. At Stanford, RAs receive a stipend of $12,400 although room and board is typically over $20,000, leaving their basic campus living expenses only partially covered. Dawn Royster, a prior RA at Stanford, commented on the union’s goal. “I would say we still are looking for a more transparent hiring and firing process from Residential Education (ResEd), which is still something we have not gotten from them,” Royster said. The union knows what they want, but the organizers are searching for a legally binding contract to clearly line out the conditions of their position. The Stanford Undergraduate Senate passed legislation in sup-
port of RA’s unionizing effort. Organizers of RAUR protested the administration’s attempt to delay their efforts by pushing for a voluntary card-check recognition process. This month, the NLRB regional director Christy Kwon handling the case declared that the group is eligible to unionize. As a result, a secret-ballot election to determine if RAs will be formally represented by RAUR was scheduled for October. The Stanford University administration asked the NLRB to postpone the election to ensure that they had enough time to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which protects the privacy of students’ education records and personally identifiable information. Because the RAs are both students and student workers, Stanford argues that providing the NLRB with the required voter list could disclose protected student information and therefore raise FERPA concerns. As of today, the NLRB has not granted the request to postpone. If a majority of participants in the election vote in favor of union representation, then all RAs will be represented by RAUR. For example, if 400 RAs are eligible but only 100 cast ballots, the union would be approved with 51 votes in favor. RAs at Case Western Reserve University are currently not unionized. However, the recent NLRB ruling may be monumental because it firmly establishes that undergraduate RAs are legally considered employees and therefore they have the right to unionize. At CWRU, RAs balance is about a weekly 12-
Courtsey of King of Hearts via. Wikimedia Commons hour commitment alongside their coursework. A third-year student RA anonymously commented on her opinion of CWRU’s Office of Residential Living and Learning. “The administrative staff is generally very accommodating and personable, and even though they oversee a couple hundred RAs, I’ve found that they often know me by name and work hard to make the residential staff feel like a collaborative community,” she said. The only negative comment she made regarding the office was, “I am planning to take my MCAT the week before spring semester starts, and I’m anticipating that it will conflict with spring RA training. I think it’s unreasonable [that] I will not be allowed to miss training for arguably the biggest exam of my life. I understand why training is important, but I think there could be more flexibility for returning RAs who have already completed the training numerous times before.”
When asked about compensation, she replied that she felt fairly compensated, but she mentioned that CWRU does not cover the cost of a meal plan. “Since housing is already considered part of our compensation, I think there is a reasonable argument that the university should also help cover the cost of food,” she said. “In that sense, I think RAs should receive compensation closer to ‘room and board,’ rather than just ‘room.’” Her final comment was, “I don’t think the issues I’ve experienced as an RA make me feel like unionization is necessary. I honestly really like being an RA and the majority of my job is just having positive interactions getting to know residents.” Another RA, who requested to be anonymous, commented, “I think the long list of alternate students who want to be RAs are a testament to the compensation here overall being enough to make it worthwhile.”
Trump proposes the Trump Dividend to every adult citizen in the U.S. promise to you,” Trump said. “And here is my promise. If the Republicans win the House of RepresentaCopy Editor tives and the United States Senate, On Sept. 9 and 10, Republicans both of them, because of our ecoheld the party’s first national mid- nomic, tremendous economic sucterm convention in Dallas, Texas, cess, I will issue a dividend to every bringing together party leaders and adult citizen in the United States of candidates to rally support and pro- America for $5,000.” mote the party’s agenda ahead of He called it the Trump Dividend. the 2026 elections. During the first With approximately 245 million day of the convention, President American adults, the checks come Donald Trump made a big promise to a total cost of $1.2 trillion. In orto voters. der for such a large payment to be “Because we’ve done so well and given to the American people, Conbecause our country is making so gress must approve of this proposed much money, only I can make this dividend. According to the Congres-
Olivia Wen
Courtsey of Gage Skidmore via. Flickr
sional Budget Office, the federal budget is at a $1.96 trillion deficit for the fiscal year of 2026. This deficit has raised some concerns for how these payments would affect the budget. However, in an interview with NBC News, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed that the Trump administration would fund the payments without using taxpayer money. “Together we’re going to deliver that plan and we’re going to pay that money to the Americans and not from taxpayer money,” Lutnick said. Despite Lutnick’s and Trump’s statements, the Trump Dividend has received criticism over the money’s purpose. California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for the funds to instead reimburse Americans for higher fuel costs associated with the Iran conflict. “If Trump and congressional Republicans want to put money back in people’s pockets, they know where to start: pay Americans back the more than $108 billion TrumpIran war surcharge that families, farmers and small businesses have already been stuck with,” Newsom said. On the other hand, some politicians, including Bernie Moreno, a U.S. Senator representing Ohio,
have also voiced their support for the proposal. “I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election because Republicans (and America) will win!” Moreno said. On the second day of the convention, Trump led attendees in a pledge that they would “cheat like hell.” “I pledge, to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much he can’t even breathe … that I will go out with my family, my friends … I’ll do it anyway,” Trump said while continuing to encourage voter turnout throughout the speech. “I don’t care if I’m registered or not, I’m going to try and cheat like hell, like they do.” The proposal will continue to develop until early November, when the midterm elections take place. Although politicians like Moreno have backed the dividend, the proposal faces questions about how it would be funded and whether it could gain enough support in Congress. If Republicans retain control of both the House and Senate, Congress would then have to vote on legislation authorizing the payments before the Trump Dividend could be distributed to Americans.
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Trump administration bans journalists from the White House Olivia Wen
Copy Editor On Friday, Sept. 18, reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were banned from the White House. “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW… and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS,” President Donald Trump announced in a post on Truth Social. “Media Outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump Administration or the United States of America. Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.” The ban followed a similar disapproval of CNN in the past. In March 2025, the White House criticized CNN after the network factchecked President Donald Trump’s claim that the Biden administration had spent $8 million “for making mice transgender.” They then issued a statement claiming, “The Fake News losers at CNN immediately tried to fact check it, but President Trump was right (as usual).” On Sept. 19, the day after the ban, Cheyenne Haslett, a reporter for Politico, was denied access to the White House, and the Secret
Service confiscated her access pass. CNN and MS NOW reporters were also denied access the same day. Soon after, the restriction escalated. The following Monday, on Sept. 21, CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued President Donald Trump and members of his administration, including Steven Cheung, Assistant to the President for Communications; Sean Curran, Director of the Secret Service and Susan Wiles, White House Chief of Staff. They sued for a violation of their First and Fifth Amendment rights. The lawsuit claims that Trump and other government officials are limiting their protected speech, and they “may not use the power of the State to punish or suppress disfavored expression.” Additionally, they added that the District of Columbia Circuit has established that hard passes, which provide journalists with recurring access to the White House for reporting, are protected by the First Amendment and “cannot be denied without due process of law under the fifth amendment.” It requires that explicit standards that are used for exclusion must be formally articulated; the president cannot make a spontaneous decision to ban these reporters. Other news outlets responded to the bans. In particular, The Washington Post and The New York Times have supported the affected outlets by temporarily withholding
photographs taken by their White House photographers from their coverage. Coverage of Trump’s activities, including his departure from the White House and appearances at the United Nations, were not to be published or distributed until Monday, Sept. 20, at midnight. ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media and NBC News (the White House TV pool) issued a joint statement on Monday saying, “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.” As of Monday, Sept. 21, they’ve collectively suspended their coverage of pool-designated events of the president. The boycott was effective immediately. At a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new South Lawn helipad later that day, there were no White House reporters present to cover the event or record Trump’s remarks. The White House responded by launching “TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station,” a 24-hour digital stream featuring content from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, the legal battle over the media ban has moved into federal court, with CNN, MS NOW and Politico seeking to restore their access to the White House.
CWRU jumps to No. 44 in national university rankings
Melania Trump’s Busy Schedule: A New Show, a Foster-Care Bill and Reading Executive Orders By Katie Rogers From The New York Times
White House Backtracks on Plan to Exert New Control Over N.I.H. Grants By Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Tony Romm From The New York Times
At the U.N., Trump Lays Out a Winner-Takes-All Vision of U.S. Power By Zolan Kanno-Youngs and David E. Sanger From The New York Times
States can soon access covid vaccines for low-income children, after delay By Lena H. Sun and Rachel Roubein From The Washington Post
At U.N., tech leaders urge global effort to limit AI’s risk to humanity By Pranshu Verma and Ian Duncan From The Washington Post
Meta’s New AI Agent Is an Instant Hit—and the Backlash Has Already Begun
Alyssa Wang
News Editor
On Sept. 22, U.S. News & World Report released its 2027 Best Colleges rankings, placing Case Western Reserve University at No. 44 among national universities. The ranking places CWRU among the top 50 national universities in the country and marks one of the largest increases among universities in the top 50. The university was ranked No. 51 in last year’s rankings. Third-year pre-law student Ethan Park commented on the newly released ranking. “I didn’t expect a seven-spot jump,” Park said. “But I think all the new construction and publicity contributed greatly to CWRU’s success.” According to CWRU’s The Daily, the increase is partly attributed to changes in U.S. News’ ranking methodology, which placed greater emphasis on student outcomes, including graduation rates. CWRU said its recent growth in graduation rates to reach 75% contributed to the university’s rise. The 2027 rankings evaluate national universities, which U.S. News defines as institutions offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. This year, U.S. News also introduced separate rankings for public and private universities. CWRU ranked No. 31 among private universities nationally. Second-year student Sophia Wang believes that CWRU’s opportunities for research are comparable to other top universities. “Intersections, the research symposium, was a really helpful experience in preparing me to present my
News -inBrief
By Meghan Bobrowsky From Wall Street Journal
Contractor Played Down Contamination Risks After Ohio Train Disaster, Worker Says By Kris Maher From Wall Street Journal
Courtsey of CWRU research to professionals,” Wang said. “All of the research mentors are very supportive and just want to see you succeed.” CWRU also saw changes in several undergraduate program rankings. The university ranked No. 12 in nursing, up one spot from last year, while biomedical engineering ranked No. 23, down six spots. Business rose two spots to No. 39, and marketing ranked No. 43 for its first appearance in the rankings. Second-year nursing student Nathan Chung believes the rise in the nursing program’s rankings is due to the strong clinical opportunities and connections with local hospitals Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. “I didn’t know nursing moved up rankings, but I think that it is a good indicator of our nursing program,” Chung said. “Although there are a lot of classes, I like the structure of the program and how connected we are to the nearby hospitals for work. CWRU lets you work in the hospital as a first-year student, while most schools don’t provide clinical hours until junior year. By the time nurs-
ing students graduate, they have over a thousand hours in the clinic.” The university also rose eight spots in U.S. News’ undergraduate research and creative projects category, ranking No. 36 nationally. In an interview with CWRU’s The Daily, CWRU President Eric W. Kaler said the ranking reflects the university’s focus on helping students prepare for their future careers. “Obviously, no single list can fully demonstrate the exceptional work happening in classrooms, labs and clinical spaces across our campus,” Kaler said. “But I am pleased this ranking recognizes areas that matter most: preparing students to graduate and excel in their careers.” Provost and executive Vice President Joy K. Ward said the ranking recognizes the work of CWRU faculty in education and research. “This latest ranking is another recognition of the exceptional work of our faculty in educating our students and advancing our research,” Ward said. “It’s fitting to have this recognition in our bicentennial year, and I’m eager to see the momentum we will have in the years ahead.”
Food drive coming to Northeast Ohio — here’s how you can help By Ann Lipsett From Fox 8 News
Cleveland Clinic Lutheran Hospital workers are on strike By Laura Morrison and Kiara Patterson From Fox 8 News
U.S. proposes exchanging AI safety alerts with China, Bessent says By Allie Canal, Jennifer Jett and Steve Kopack From NBC News
Taylor Swift has a new song called ‘Cleveland!’ Here’s when you can hear it By Joey Morona From Cleveland.com
Life
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 25, 2026 observer.case.edu Volume LVIII, Issue 6
The Lost Tour: Phoebe Bridgers loses recordings and finds intimacy Penelope Cloonan Executive Editor In an Instagram post announcing the tour for her third studio album, “Lost Weekend,” Phoebe Bridgers wrote, “I’m going on tour no phones,” and that was that. Once digital tickets were scanned, devices were locked in Yondr pouches and fans entered Bridgers’ world, fully device-free. No-device—more commonly nophone—shows are not a new concept. Growing from a need to bring intimacy back to live music, these unplugged gigs gained traction in the past ten years. Now, Bridgers removes recording devices in an effort to keep fans in the moment and—as she claimed in a speech at her Columbus show—to avoid the recording of any potential emotional moments. “Lost Weekend” is a vulnerable album, written about the death of Bridgers’ father, grief and loss in personal relationships. It is raw. Having thousands of phones in her face is not an enviable position. Without the presence of phones, pressure is removed from both Bridgers and the audience. Fans are not asked to memorialize or document, only to feel. Overall, the atmosphere of the show was beautifully tranquil. Walking into the arena was surreal. It was shockingly dark, aside from the small stage which was illuminated by pulsating rainbow lights, with the opener, Alex G. Arena attendants had lanterns and the stands were navigable, but the arena remained overwhelmingly dark. Before Bridgers came out, the small
Courtesy of David Lee via Wikimedia Commons stage’s orb of light projected blue beams across the crowd, while the opening track from her album “The Outside” played. The song includes the line, “Ohio carried me away” which hordes of fans screamed into the darkness. As her set finally began, a white dome on the main stage came up to reveal Bridgers and her extensive band playing “Motion Sickness,” one of her biggest hits. Bridgers is known for deeply emotional and relatable pieces, and “The Lost Tour” certainly displayed that. However, the real star of the
show remained the lighting design, shining without the sea of phone lights to dull their glow. The small stage’s orb threw rainbows of light across the dark crowd. The dome on the main stage became a moon for “Moon Song,” projected pastel lights over the crowd for “The Governor’s Waltz” and illuminated the crowd’s scream at “I Know the End” with red lights. It was gorgeous. Being unplugged and offline for the duration of the concert, you are immersed in sound. Time slips away and, while that can be stressful, you
have no choice but to experience the concert on its terms. Nothing exists beyond the music and the fans. In the quiet dark, there was camaraderie. Fans coordinated bringing glow stick bracelets to light up the seats. During slower, more emotional songs, fans held lighters in place of phone flashlights, bringing back the original tradition. While the sea of lights was certainly dimmer, the warm glow was like nothing else. It felt intentional and real, not the performance of what is expected at concerts. Most no-phone tours use Yondr pouches. While they are simple for artists to implement, they do have issues. The main issue is that Yondr pouches do not unlock automatically at the end of the show. Instead, they must be manually unlocked by an attendant with a magnet. For small venues with enough attendants this is not an issue, but for an arena that can seat 20,000 people, bottlenecks are inevitable. Lines from the upper sections stretched through at least three flights of steps and moved at a snail's pace. There is no real way around this, but it is something to be mindful of when going to these shows. You are not going to make a swift exit if you have a Yondr pouch to unlock. In the end, the show was worth whatever strife leaving the arena brought. Being surrounded by fans who were all singularly focused on what was right in front of them, without the expectation of performing for social media or records, was an experience like no other. When unplugged and untethered at “The Lost Tour,” it is easy to find love for the star of the show: music.
What to do this last September week(end) Anya Lin Director of Business Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to those who celebrate. As we slowly begin transitioning into autumn, it seems as if the Case Western Reserve University campus is only becoming livelier. Student-run clubs are organizing more events, courses are in full swing and the Greater Cleveland community is anticipating beautiful fall foliage and perfectly brisk temperatures. No matter what you already have planned, keep your calendars open for these exciting events happening this weekend. Mid-Autumn Festival in AsiaTown Date: Sept. 26 Price: Free! AsiaTown is coming together for the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional harvest festival celebrated by many East Asian cultures. With local vendors, artsy activities, cultural performances and free mooncakes for attendees, this festival aims to bring the Cleveland community together to celebrate a fruitful year. Although this event ends before sundown, feel free to migrate elsewhere to continue the party and honor the tra-
dition of telling stories under the full moon. Farm Harvest Festival Date: Sept. 26 Price: Free! Celebrate the harvest season with the CWRU University Farm while enjoying classic farm festival activities such as hayrides or a pumpkin trebuchet demonstration. Live alpacas, live entertainment and activities at student group booths all are anticipated to bring the autumn charm to its visitors. For those who enjoy fall fruits (or just free food), a variety of free apples, apple cider and apple cider donuts will be provided for registered attendees. Don’t worry about getting there—you can register for tickets that include free bus transportation to and from the farm on CampusGroups. SkateMarket Date: Sept. 26 Price: Free! Those not familiar with CWRU’s The Board Meeting might be surprised to hear about the joining of a vendor fair and … skateboarding? In addition to rows of vendor stalls and live music performances, the event also features skateboarding competitions and free skating zones. Don’t know how to skate? The club has equipment to borrow and members open to teaching the funda-
mentals. Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: In Concert Date: Sept. 27 Price: $25-75 “Labyrinth” (1986) is a cult-favorite oldie-but-goodie if there ever was one. Despite its A-lister talent set of George Lucas, David Bowie, Terry Jones (of Monty Python), Jim Henson, Jennifer Connelly and more, the movie initially performed very poorly at the box office. Now, at its 40th anniversary, it’s celebrated for its fantastic visuals and emotional plotline. This event features a cinema showing of the movie plus a live band synced perfectly with David Bowie’s vocals, creating a wholly immersive movie experience that’s hard to forget. RPG Club One-Shot Night: Weird Science Date: Sept. 26 Price: Free! Roleplaying games are classic tabletop games set in fantasy worlds played with paper, pencil and players’ limitless imaginations. Given this broad definition and the event’s vague twosentence online description, it’s hard to know what to expect from the CWRU Roleplaying Games Club’s third set of one-shot games of the semester, but that’s just part of the fun. Just keep rolling the dice and you’re sure to find out what weird science is truly taking place.
IMPROVment: The Black Tie Show! Date: Sept. 26 Price: Free! This comedy show promises to be classy. Will it be? As a musical improv comedy group, I don’t know if IMPROVment can make any promises about that. Either way, what you can expect is a hilarious hour-long show at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, which is just far enough away from campus to feel like you’re going out. Yet, the distance is walkable and convenient if you are only looking for a short, but fun, activity for this weekend. Cedar Point HalloWeekends Dates: Every Thursday through Sunday from Sept. 24 to Nov. 1 Price: $55+ September isn’t quite over yet, but Cedar Point is ready for Halloween. HalloWeekends at Cedar Point returns for its spooky 29th season. Enjoy fallthemed attractions leisurely during the day, but, after sundown, watch your back as scare actors start roaming the park, looking for their next target. The park features a daytime and nighttime experience, where thrilling Halloween attractions open after 8.pm. Normal park admission includes access during the special HalloWeekend hours, however entry to limited-time attractions requires a $25 ticket upgrade.
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Is ‘Best of the Best’ truly the best? Riya Kulkarni Life Editor Spoilers ahead for “Best of the Best” Bollywood dance teams as a construct capture the intricate dynamics of growing up in two cultures at once, while notably bringing out the most drama in the heat of the moment. It’s the epitome of the South Asian diaspora experience with a careful mix of Western influences to create a unique artform. It is this dynamic that is brought to life in “Best of the Best,” which made its debut on Netflix on Sept. 18. Through a slightly disastrous senior showcase performance (drones gone wrong) and a montage of home videos, we are introduced to long-time best friends Maya (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) and Anjali (Priyanka Kedia), about to start their freshman year of college at UCLA. Maya is reeling from turning into a viral internet meme after the drone incident, scared to get back into dance, and Anjali is given an ultimatum to keep her grades up—or else her mother would stop paying her tuition. Peer pressure and friendly solidarity push the pair to get back into dance and join UCLA Agni, the competition Bollywood fusion dance team. Enter politics, drama and many heated moments as the team prepares for Best of the Best—the national competition which actually existed until 2012—in hopes of finally defeating University of Southern California. So begins the coming-of-age story questioning the idea of conformity as Maya and Anjali struggle to choose between staying true to their goals or fitting in. The film boasts a talented, predominantly South Asian cast. Ramakrishnan has starred in several movies from indie to Disney after her debut role as Devi Vishwakumar in “Never Have I Ever”—another relatable South Asian story— which wrapped up in 2023. At the same time, Kedia was just coming off of her role as Grace Zhao in Ste-
ven Spielberg’s “Disclosure Day” which came out in June. The cast comes from many different backgrounds, and many talented dancers took part in the production. Ankur Rathee, who plays team captain Ronak, was a finalist on “Dance India Dance” in 2013, and comedian and actor (and producer on “Best of the Best”). Hasan Minhaj plays the much stricter Professor Latif—an almost jarring contrast to his usual comedic persona. The film’s foundation rests in the elaborate choreography—a feat that was not easy for Ramakrishnan and Kedia, who spent four months in a dance bootcamp, spending long hours in the dance studio to gain stamina and dance skills. The choreography was well worth that training. Paying homage to the style of choreography seen in Bollywood fusion dance competitions—even UCLA Nashaa, UCLA’s actual Bollywood dance team—with plenty of dramatic flair, every dance told a story. The first piece, Maya and Anjali’s first duet, acts as a cold open to the movie as a whole—a classicalturned-hip-hop dance to the song “Baazigar O Baazigar,” a classic by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik (and its remix). Baazigar ironically means magician in this song, and the drone setup (prior to disaster) was magical in itself. The final dance performance at the final competition mirrors this first scene, with technical difficulties and a more confident duet. It tells the story of the Koh-i-Noor diamond and its troubled past, a theme that is more than just another big Indian wedding. The duet sequence is meaningful, set to “Kaliyaan,” by Lost Stories and Bawari Basanti, the same song used in the pair’s growing-up montage, and the lighting and movement make the performance truly breathtaking. An honorable mention must also be given to the University of Texas at Dallas team performance. Though the choreography was later proven to be copied (only in the movie, of course) there is something about a cowboy fusion dance
Courtesy of Netflix with plenty of small, South Asian easter eggs that makes you smile. The next honorable mention must go to the soundtrack. Beyond the carefully crafted remixes sprinkled throughout the performances, a spotlight was given to smaller South Asian artists, from “moonlight” by dhruv to “dirty” by KOAD and nostalgic Bollywood hit features, such as “Tujhe Dekha To” from the iconic “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.” If this wasn’t enough, A.R. Rahman, two time Academy Award winner and versatile composer, wrote “Aamaasee,” an original Tamil song for this movie. Tracks feature from both North and South India in a variety of languages, adding to the diversity. This carries through to the characters as well. Maya introduces herself as Tamil, with her family from Sri Lanka, an homage to Ramak-
On Sept. 18, Netflix released “Best of the Best,” featuring best friends Maya and Anjali who join the UCLA Agni, a competition Bollywood fusion dance team. Through a complex plot, the show captures the South Asian diaspora through a coming of age trope on a college campus. Courtesy of Emily V. Aragones via. Netflix
rishnan’s own family history, and a few Tamil lines even make the script. We also briefly meet Ayesha, the begrudging co-president of the South Asian Students Association who is Pakistani-American. South Asia is more than just Bollywood, and though this diversity could have been made even more clear, the window was widened ever so slightly. That being said, there were many storylines that were left to the side. Much of the conflict of the movie is the result of a lifetime of comparisons that were internalized by each of our leads. Maya is berated by her mother for stepping out of line and being herself, and Anjali—despite being more perfect in Maya’s mother’s eyes—is under pressure to match Maya’s computer science skills and academic success. The subconscious competition created between the two friends causes many of the rifts that drive their friendship apart as the story progresses. This is a struggle that is intimately familiar to many, especially those who grew up in the South Asian community, and it was surprising at how fast this conflict got resolved for how much childhood tension went into it. The convenient plotline also applied to Maya and Arjun’s relationship, a part of the story that truly brought nothing to the plot. Arjun’s character made for a good palette cleanse from the near cookie-cutter mindsets of the UCLA Agni team, but his chemistry with Maya got very little focus to matter, so much so that his various romantic gestures or the jealousy trope from a classic case of miscommunication don’t seem to be of consequence, and it seems to resolve itself just so that the movie could end. While an attempt was made at familiar cliches, the plot was lost in the mix. “Best of the Best” truly stands as a love letter to the South Asian diaspora, and the coming of age trope in a college campus is the perfect way to capture the diversity of people who identify with this culture. Even if dance isn’t your thing, you will find the film to be warm with just the right bit of humor—all while telling a unique South Asian story.
Fun Which Fat Bear are you?
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 25, 2026 observer.case.edu Volume LVIII, Issue 6
Strands
Disclaimer: The Editorial Board does not endorse any Fat Bear in this election. Bears were randomly selected based on vibes.
1 2 3 4 5 6
What time do you wake up? (a) 6 a.m (b) 8 a.m. (c) Noon (d) 7 a.m. You are hungry, so you: (a) Go fishing to the nearest river (b) Plan a potluck with the neighboring bears (c) Raid a beehive, because why not? (d) Steal food from another bear With your meal complete, you want to take a bear nap. You: (a) Find a safe cave to curl up in (b) Sleepover! (c) Collapse on your belly right there on the grass (d) Squeeze into the first comfy corner to sleep You finished the nap, and want to do something for fun. You: (a) Read the latest issue of The Observer in your bear-cave (b) Go find another bear to talk to (c) Decide to write a satirical piece on fish exchange rates (d) Play pranks on other bears You realize that your birthday is in a few days. How many bears are coming to your party? (a) None, maybe a bird (b) 50 (c) 80,000 (d) 2 (and only one will be able to leave) What time will you go to bed tonight? (a) 8 p.m. (b) Midnight (c) What's sleep? (d) 10 p.m.
QUIZ RESULTS: If you mostly answered A: You are 131 Marshmallow, a strong independent bear-boss who doesn’t need the support of anyone. Perhaps that means that you find yourself alone from time to time, but you don’t mind. A fish tastes better when you don’t have to share, right? If you mostly answered B: You are 89 Backpack, and your strength is in your friendships and connections. You are a social butterfly, not afraid to ask for help or rely on others when you need it. You would do it for someone else in a heartbeat. If you mostly answered C: You are 903 Gully, a chaotic wonder. No bear knows what you will be doing on a day-to-day basis, not even you. You float through life, avoiding any sort of stakes whatsoever. Enjoy the dopamine chasing adventures. If you mostly answered D: You are 32 Chunk, and you aren’t afraid to give another bear a piece (chunk) of your mind. Perhaps that has served you poorly in the past, but you are strong in your beliefs and refuse to be held back by any other bear. You know your worth.
Anya's Ahahahahas
Answers for Strands will be on the next issue.
Top 10 Ways to Not Get Hired
With the fall career fair this past Thursday and internship application season truly starting up, you probably have interviews lined up. In this job market, we don’t know why you would want an interview to go poorly, but we’re sure you have your reasons. Here are The Observers Top 10 ways to not get hired.
1. Describe yourself only in personality types: You are not a candidate, you are a type A, type 6, INFJ Libra. 2. Reject your interviewer’s questions: If you don’t like the question, just ask for a new one. You hold the power here, not the interviewer. 3. Interview your interviewers: Pro-tip for avoiding questions you don’t want to answer, just make the interviewer answer them instead. 4. Bully your interviewer: You know who was a real go-getter? Your interviewer’s middle school bully. Bring them back to the good old days in your interview. 5. Don’t send in a cover letter: Recruiters love a bit of mystery. Make them guess about your goals, experience and reasons for applying. 6. Act like you don’t want to be there: Nothing shows interest more than a lack of interest. Be sure to seem at most neutral about being considered for the role.
Last week's answers
7. Conduct no prior research: Interviewing is a learning process, so make sure you learn everything about the role on the spot. 8. Sleep through it: Interviews are stressful, why would you want to be there? You deserve some much needed rest. 9. Talk about another position you are applying for elsewhere: Play hard to get. Companies will definitely chase after you. 10. Bribe them: Money cannot buy happiness, but maybe it can buy a job.
Opinion
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 25, 2026 observer.case.edu Volume LVIII, Issue 6
Music as an argument Christopher Clarizio Contributing Writer Music can be thought of as an argument. This is to say, it aims to convince you or impress something upon you. Of course, this begs the question: What is music trying to convince us of? As with most good questions, there is no single response and, if there were, it would answer the age-old question of what music really is. Fortunately for us, musical arguments usually fall within a few broad categories. One such category is the attempt to make us feel or think about an emotion, often associated with the romantic era and still prevalent in contemporary styles. Famous examples that fit this category are Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (expressing both weighty fatalism and gently overflowing love) and Adele’s “Someone Like You.” Another less common category is that music convinces us of certain scenes, associated with the impressionistic era. Of the works in this group, Maurice Ravel’s depictions of water are among the greatest (see Jeux D’eau and Ondine). The last group for now are those arguments that convince us of specific events and tell a story. This category could be described as a combination of the preceding two categories; however, due to its prevalence, it is helpful to group it separately. For this category, let us remember Queen’s masterpiece “Bohemian Rhapsody.” These need not be strict categories; music of one category will likely contain elements of another or even be a homogenous mixture of two. Still, there are naturally some pieces which cannot be said to contain specific arguments. Some of these are pieces whose sheer complexity justifies their existence. It is difficult, for example, to pleasurably listen to Pierre Boulez’s Piano Sonata No. 2, yet closer analysis reveals a depth of complexity that cannot be guessed at first glance. Similarly, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, while often deeply emotional, is also so astoundingly intricate that it may be appreciated as art on that basis alone. In a different vein, some composers choose to write pieces that are meant to be background music or create ambience. While there is nothing necessarily wrong with this, music of this form will always be of less importance than the other forms. This form is equivalent to a speaker droning on while listeners daydream, or even converse among themselves. It matters not what they say or why they have said it, only that they have said something. Naturally, it is absurd to think any notion of profundity, complexity or love can be conveyed in this manner. Worse still is music generated by artificial intelligence. The AI speaker cannot communicate with our language; it merely takes the sounds we make and the order we make them in and returns some form of it back to us without having said anything. For the majority of music, we may wonder how these arguments are conveyed through sound. Indeed, that question is the unending study of composers and analysts alike. And while a thorough answer would take several semesters to impart, we may, just as was done for the previous question, describe some general techniques common-
ly used to give music meaning. The one we are probably most familiar with is lyrics. The combination of language and music allow not only greater depth and complexity, but also specificity that no other technique does. It is for this reason that songs make up the majority of the third category of musical arguments. My favorite example of lyrics’ ability to alter the meaning of a work is “Hey Ya!” by OutKast. The music generally has a positive, upbeat feel to it, yet the lyrics read almost like a rejection of love as a concept. While it is difficult to describe the composite effect, it can confidently be said that the impression upon the listener would be radically different were there no lyrics, or even if the lyrics were not so contrasting to the other parts. Similarly, form can also drastically change the meaning of a section of music. To illustrate, one tried-and-true structure may be the presentation of a calm, lyrical musical segment followed closely by a more violent and tempestuous section, ending with a repeat of the initial musical idea. When the first idea comes back to us, it feels all the more calming, even if restated verbatim, simply because it follows a period of turmoil. While this simple structure can be incredibly effective, more complex formal layouts, such as the superimposition of one form onto another (see Franz Liszt’s Sonata in B minor) or the presentation and continual interaction of two contrasting ideas (see Frederic Chopin’s Ballade No. 2), allow music to convince us of things that it otherwise could not. One of the greatest examples of this is Alexander Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 9. It begins with an ominous musical motif followed by a sweet and hopeful second one. Throughout the sonata, the two ideas alternate with the first, growing more and more powerful until the second idea is restated in a static, hopeless shape over the first idea. As before, the feeling impressed upon the listener is beyond words, but we may point out how it arises from the organization of the piece as a whole. It should also be noted that while other musical elements are recognized as they are heard, following the form of a piece of music, just like following an argument, requires remembering what came before. Fortunately, this is not a difficult task; we naturally start to remember and distinguish musical ideas with repeated, attentive listening. It is also possible for musical elements to be combined in ways that detract from the central argument. In song covers, for instance, changes and additions often detract from the intended effect of the original, making many of them unconvincing. Similarly, if a pianist plays what is supposed to be a frantic, exciting passage at half the original tempo, the music will likely no longer convince the listener of any dramatic effect. Let this remind us that, when listening to classical music, the interpretation is as large a factor as any in how convincing the piece will be, just as is true with literal arguments. As an example, for Scriabin’s Poeme Satanique Op. 36, I have only ever heard one interpretation that sounds convincingly like demonic laughter: that by Vladimir Sofronitsky. Detriments may also come within a piece itself. “A Night To Remember” by Laufey and beabadoobee is one of
my all-time favorite songs, yet the inclusion of two singers has always baffled me. Of course, music is more than the sum of its parts and the reason a song convinces us or doesn’t convince us often can’t be pinpointed to individual flaws or merits. We should then only talk of detriments to the extent that they are useful in critiquing or discussing music, just as we may single out weak points in an argument in order to better understand the whole. The most important question regarding all of this, heretofore unmentioned, is why anyone should
care about this. The most obvious takeaway is that thinking about music as argument is simply a helpful tool in describing, critiquing and thinking about music. Some of us may come away with a reminder of the different types of music or a slightly deeper understanding of the process that goes into writing. Perhaps the most important thing to remember, though, is that music as an artform requires careful attention to be fully appreciated. Countless treasures are available to us if we are willing to just listen a little closer.
The Case Western Reserve Observer Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University
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8
Opinion
Friday, September 25, 2026
The benefits of exercising the brain Jacqueline Huh Contributing Writer We often become overwhelmed when the brain receives too much information at once. This interferes with our abilities to focus, think clearly or stay calm. For example, an overwhelmed individual may feel annoyed or drained, act confused or frustrated and not be able to make sensible decisions. Being overwhelmed is unpleasant, to say the least, and is only exacerbated by the internet and social media. However, what if the problem isn’t a brain overload as a result of too much stimuli, but rather because of the type of stimuli? What if all of these symptoms emerge from a lack of change in how our brain inputs certain information and circumstances? In small doses, moments that feel like we are overworking our brain might actually be what our brain needs to stay resilient, adaptable and alive. Research in neuroscience shows that exposure to certain environments, complex problem-solving and diverse stimuli triggers the release of dopamine and promotes neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. For instance, forcing our brain’s networks to adapt rather than run on autopilot encourages the brain to learn how to withstand the stress. A static environment may feel peaceful, but also leads to stagnation. When the brain has nothing to push against, it just engages in autopilot. Studies demonstrate an “inverted-
U” relationship between brain stimulation and its effects. Under-utilizing the brain leads to stagnation, while overuse from chronic, unmanageable stress causes burnout. However, moderate-to-high active cognitive challenge hits the sweet spot that encourages learning and strengthens the brain without resulting in exhaustion. Engaging in diverse intellectual challenges helps build cognitive reserve, essentially making the brain more resilient. Studies on lifelong learning improves cognitive flexibility and memory performance over time. In other words, the main issue is not a busy brain, but rather a stagnant one. That being said, scrolling through TikTok at 2 a.m. while a TV plays in the background is not the same thing as healthily stimulating the brain. Ironically, it likely falls into the category of under-stimulating the brain. However, embracing high-intensity mental engagement, such as juggling creative ideas, diving deep into rapid-fire learning or immersing in vibrant experiences, helps to exercise our brain’s systems. It may feel chaotic at first, much like a workout, but just like that workout, research suggests that the brain flourishes when given a rich, diverse diet of active mental challenges rather than a vacuum of total stillness and social media induced dazes. Blocking ourselves mentally from the world to find peace is unnecessary. Instead, we should change how we interpret and accept the chaos in our lives. Thus, the next time you feel overloaded from dealing with life, avoid
shutting down mentally or mindlessly scrolling through social media.
Instead, accept the fact, and let the brain restructure to embrace it.
Anna Trusova/The Observer
The importance of intentional voting they want to win elections. Encouraging participation is not only insufficient, it is counterproductive. In many ways, today’s America is more politically active than ever. More Americans are donating to political campaigns and voter turnout is trending upwards. Yet, our politics has only gotten more divisive. There are fewer can-
Justin Rosentover Contributing Writer In 1835, French politician and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville wrote a book entitled “Democracy in America” about the then young American Republic. While touring the small towns of New England, he saw a people engaged with their governments as responsible citizens. “The humblest individual who is called upon to co-operate in the government of society acquires a certain degree of self-respect; and as he possesses authority, he can command the services of minds much more enlightened than his own,” he wrote. This spirit of participation, de Tocqueville contended, is what allowed for the stability of American democracy and the functioning of an egalitarian society. For the past week on Euclid Avenue, people who no doubt believe in our democratic institutions and who want to protect our democracy have been campaigning to register voters. These “Get Out The Vote” campaigns are a staple of community engagement in America carried out by age-old civic institutions like the American Legion. During their 1920 convention in Cleveland, the Legion began their now century-old campaign to “[promote] an informed populace, participation in our government, and involvement in its electoral process.” But these voter registration drives have sacrificed the first of those ideals in favor of the latter two. Our institutions do not survive on participation trophies alone. A functioning democracy requires its citizens to be engaged members, not
merely participants. “A nation, as a Society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his Society,” Thomas Jefferson wrote. Twothirds of Americans do not know the name of their district’s congressman. One-third can not name all three branches of government. How can we expect people to engage in government in a personally responsible way if they do not even know who or what they are voting for or against? The reality is that many people lead busy lives and have neither the interest nor the time to engage in politics. If people choose to dedicate their efforts to their families or their jobs and not to reading The Atlantic, for example, that is a fair choice. We should not be pressuring them into a polling booth to pull a lever based on surface-level, highly-filtered news sources such as social media.
Jana Ashour/The Observer There is likely a more prosaic motivation behind many of these voter registration drives, no matter how neutral they appear. For many years, Democrats had an advantage among voters who were not engaged. As Democratic political pundit Matthew Yglesias writes, “That conventional wisdom was true during the Bush and Obama presidencies … because people with low levels of political knowledge were a Dem-leaning constituency.” It is a convenient belief that your party would win if only more people voted because the “true American” believes what you believe. Unfortunately for Democrats, this is no longer true. Low-propensity voters, those who rarely show up to the polls, are more likely to vote for Republicans. A purely utilitarian Democrat would be doing everything in their power to keep people home if
didates for office on a local level than ever, and trust in government is at an all time low. We need better participation, not more. Perhaps the solution to engaged participation lies in explaining both sides of political debates at the voting booth or in improving civics education in schools. Or perhaps democracy is a skill we need to practice at the local level. De Tocqueville thought that the security of our republic lay in municipal government. “Local assemblies of citizens constitute the strength of free nations,” he wrote, “Town-meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach, they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it.” Americans could start by learning their local government officials’ names, maybe then they will be ready to go to the polls.
Sports Weekly Scores
No. 3-ranked CWRU men’s soccer defeats Kenyon 3-0 Abhishek Nambiar Sports Editor
Football vs Shenandoah (9/19)
The Case Western Reserve Observer Friday, September 25, 2026 observer.case.edu Volume LVIII, Issue 6
W 48-41
Cross Country All-Ohio Challenge 9/18) 1st of 13 D3 teams (2nd overall)
Men’s Soccer vs Kenyon (9/19)
W 3-0
vs John Carroll (9/23)
T 0-0
Women’s Soccer at Hope (9/18)
W 3-0
at Calvin (9/19)
L 1-2
at No. 14 Penn State Behrend (9/23) T 0-0
Volleyball 2026 Grove City Invitational vs Marietta (9/18)
L 1-3
vs Mount St. Joseph (9/19)
W 3-2
vs Thiel (9/23)
W 3-0
Men’sTennis Denison Invite (9/19-9/20) No team scoring
Women’sTennis Kenyon Invite (9/19-9/20) No team scoring
The Case Western Reserve University men’s soccer team continues to be on a roll, defeating Kenyon College 3-0 this past Saturday at DiSanto Field. With the win, CWRU improves to 7-0 while Kenyon falls to 5-2 for the season. Going into the game, CWRU was ranked as the No. 3 men’s soccer program in the country, the highest rank for the program in recent memory. Though the ranking is a notable one, many members of the team felt that it had no effect on their performance or the expectations going into the match. “We all know what the No. 3 ranking means for how we approach every game and training—absolutely nothing changes,” fourth-year defender and cocaptain Cormac Apostolides said. “We approached this game the same way we would have vapproached it if we had come in unranked.” Third-year midfielder Owen Guffey expressed similar sentiments about the ranking. “It’s exciting to get that recognition, but we try to take things day by day,” Guffey said. “Our focus is on the next practice, then the next match. We can’t control rankings, but we can control how much we put into each day.” That approach was evident from the opening whistle, as both teams battled through a defense-heavy first half. Second-year goalkeeper Carter Shedd saved a Kenyon shot off a corner kick within the first five minutes of the match, and back and forth play continued for much of the period with both sides showing strong defensive efforts but unable to break through. Kenyon came close to taking the lead near the end of the period with a pair of corner kicks, but the Owls were unable to convert their opportunities, leaving the score 0-0 going into halftime. Reflecting on the team’s mindset at halftime, fourth-year midfielder Ohta Kamiya took note of the team’s mentality: same as before but continue keeping up the pressure. “At halftime the message was pretty simple. Keep doing what we were doing and make sure we capitalize on our chances,” Kamiya said. “I think we did exactly that in the second half. They were a good team and made us work for the win, but we put away our chances when they came and came out on top.” The Spartan offense indeed capitalized on its chances during the second half, quickly jumping into action as they broke through Kenyon’s defense to
Case Western Reserve University’s Men’s Soccer team ranked No. 3 going into a game with Kenyon College last Saturday. The team’s record for the season grows to 7-0 after their 3-0 win with goals from Saiheed Jah, Gavin Trosch and Ohta Kamiya. Courtesy of Philip Kornberg/The Observer. score a goal in the 46th minute, courtesy of graduate student forward Saiheed Jah with an assist from Guffey. Kenyon continued to pressure the Spartan defense and generate opportunities. Shedd responded with several key saves, ultimately finishing the night with six saves and his first career shutout. The Spartans’ defense held firm as the Owls looked for an equalizer. CWRU then doubled their advantage in the 68th minute. Jah played a role once again, sending a ball across the front of the net after a throw-in. Second-year defender Gavin Trosch finished the chance to give the Spartans a 2-0 lead, with assists coming from Jah and second-year midfielder Aydin
Philip Kornberg/The Observer
Sumer to secure the goal. Then, in the 87th minute, Kamiya found the back of the net off an assist from third-year midfielder Mitchell Fein, giving CWRU its third goal of the night and sealing their seventh straight win of the season. Reflecting on the win, Apostolides emphasized the significance of the result. “This was a strong result for me and my teammates,” Apostolides said. “We knew the quality of our opponent this year, and we were able to get a strong result that stands out after several draws and losses to Kenyon over the years.” Kamiya applauded the combined efforts of his teammates to play at their highest level. “Every guy who stepped on the field, played with a really high level of intensity. We won a lot of second balls, pressed together as a unit, and never let them get comfortable,” Kamiya said. “There were definitely moments where we could have been cleaner on the ball, and that’s something we’ll keep working on, but our work rate carried us through those stretches. That kind of effort is something we can bring every single game, and it’s a big part of our identity as a team.” Looking forward, the squad will be traveling to Angola, Indiana to take on Trine University on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 12 p.m. This match marks the Spartans’s final non-conference match of the season. Upon returning to Cleveland, preparation begins for the year’s UAA slate, which will commence on Saturday, Oct. 3 with a 5 p.m. away match against the University of Rochester.
10 Sports
Friday, September 25, 2026
Old Trafford is falling down, falling down: What is going on with Manchester United? Derick Su Staff Writer Manchester United, a team once feared in both English and European football and at one point crowned the king of football, has now begun to fall from glory. The squad once fielded eight of 11 players in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Best XI in the 2006-2007 season, including Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo. But, the beginning of the end of this dominant era did not begin just a few years back. Everyone has a different opinion on when Manchester United’s fall-off began. In my opinion, it was the day Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group took over football operations from the Glazer family on Feb. 20, 2024. While the decline in squad quality had already started years earlier, this is where the culture began to decline with both the players and fans. The manager, one of the most important figures on a football team, has been a consistent issue for Manchester United. The constant carousel of managers has made it difficult for the squad to stick to one style and develop it. Over the past five years alone, including this season, the Red Devils have gone through seven different coaches, and 10 in the last 13 campaigns. This would not be as big of a problem if the team consistently found success, but for a club like Manchester United, success is a necessity. Since winning the league in the 2012-2013 season, United has finished second twice and third three times, while also finishing seventh, eighth, and 15th. The 15th-place finish in 2024-2025 was the club’s worst Premier League finish in franchise history. Even their trophy-winning seasons, including the Football Association Challenge (FA) Cup and League Cup in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, were overshadowed by poor league performances, especially the eighth-place finish in 2023-2024. Being a club as big as Manchester United means attracting big-name transfers is rarely difficult. This was evident in the summer of 2025, when United brought in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Šeško to create a new-look attack. The Premier League pointed out that their combined goals from the previous season were greater than United’s en-
Courtesy of André Zahn via Wikimedia Commons tire league goal total in 2024-2025. On paper, this seemed to be exactly what United needed. Mbeumo had established himself as one of Brentford’s best attackers, Cunha had proven he could create and score in the Premier League, and Šeško gave United the young, physical striker they had been missing. The problem has never necessarily been attracting talented players; it is what happens after they arrive. This is where I think United’s problems go deeper than simply having the wrong players. The club has spent years replacing individual pieces instead of consistently building one system. Every new manager brings different ideas, preferred players and styles of football. When the results do not come quickly enough, the manager is replaced and the process starts again. Players are constantly adapting instead of developing within one consistent system. The arrival of INEOS was supposed to change that. When Ratcliffe’s deal was completed in February 2024, INEOS took control of football operations while the Glazer family remained majority owners. Ratcliffe described the project as an attempt to bring United back to the top of English and European football. New executives were brought in, the football department was reorganized and the club began taking a more structured approach to
recruitment. Sky Sports reported that the new football operations team was focused on improving recruitment, selling players more effectively and operating more sustainably. But rebuilding Manchester United is not like rebuilding an average Premier League club. There is an expectation that comes with wearing the red shirt that does not exist at most other clubs. At United, a bad month can become a major storyline, and a bad season can become a crisis. Every transfer is analyzed, every manager is questioned and every loss feels like another reminder of how far the club has fallen from the days of Alex Ferguson’s tenure. This pressure makes patience almost impossible. Manchester United fans are not used to rebuilding. They are used to winning. For decades, winning was not something the club hoped to do and was simply what Manchester United did. This is probably the biggest difference between the Manchester United of the past and the Manchester United today. The old United had an identity that remained recognizable even as players changed. Ferguson’s teams were never exactly the same, but there was always a clear sense of what Manchester United was supposed to look like. Young players came through the academy, experienced players led them and the team played with an
intensity that became almost synonymous with the club. Today, that identity is much harder to recognize. Manchester United has tried to recreate parts of that identity by investing in its academy and younger players. However, signing young talent is only one part of rebuilding a club. Those players still need a stable environment, a clear tactical system and enough time to develop together. It all comes back to management. Manchester United has to decide what it wants to be before deciding who it wants to buy. If the club chooses a manager because of his style, recruitment needs to support that style. If that manager is fired a year later, United cannot simply start over with another group of players. Otherwise, the club will continue spending enormous amounts of money to solve problems that it keeps creating for itself. Manchester United’s fall from the top was not caused by one bad transfer, manager or season. It has been the result of years of decisions that have slowly pushed the club away from the standards that once made it one of the most feared teams in the world. INEOS may eventually be able to change that, but fixing Manchester United will require more than spending money or replacing another manager. It will require creating an identity that players, coaches and fans can believe in again.
Manchester United was once an untouchable football giant. Poor management, league performances, and strategic planning have led the team to its downfall, diminishing its identity in the process. Courtesy of André Zahn via Wikimedia Commons.
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observer.case.edu
Coach Debeljak secures 150th win in home opener with Derick Su Staff Writer
Cross Country
Maria Burrus News Editor On Sep. 19, the Case Western Reserve University football team prevailed in their home opener on DiSanto Field against Shenandoah University, winning 48-41. This game was the first-ever matchup between Spartans and the Hornets, resulting in a multitude of new records for the home team. Third-year running back Andy Kavcic broke the program record for total offense yards, recording 264 yards to beat the previous record from 1999 by 12 yards. He was the first Spartan to run over 200 rushing yards in a game in more than 20 years. “When I found out about the record I was incredibly proud of not just myself but the entire team,” Kavcic said. “Finding an identity in the run game is something we’ve looked for ever since I’ve gone to school here and it seems like we’re finding our stride. The only reason I say ‘we’ is because it truly is our record. It takes 11 guys to run the football and we all did our job.” Head Coach Greg Debeljack’s career record improved to 150-67-1 with the win on Saturday. He is the winningest coach in program history and became No. 14 active Division III coach with 150 or more victories. The Spartans hit the ground running in the first quarter with three touchdowns, shutting out the Hornets and leading the game 20-0. In the first 15 seconds of the matchup, Kavcic received the opening kickoff and tossed the ball to fourth-year wide receiver Beau Wolf who ran the ball 89 yards to the endzone for the first touchdown of the game. With seven minutes left in the period, graduate student quarterback Aaron Filips found graduate student wide receiver Sergio Beltran and secured their team’s second touchdown of the game. Five minutes later, Kavcic carried a 47-yard touchdown to extend the lead 20-0. In just the first quarter, Kavcic surpassed his career single-game record for rushing yards completing the frame with 113 yards.
Paul Short Run
The Fencing Club of Case Western Reserve University is planning to attend the upcoming University of Michigan Duels on Saturday, Oct. 3. 15 fencers from CWRU who compete across the three types of fencing (foil, éspée and sabre) will be traveling to Ann Arbor, Michigan to participate in this event. Among their competitors are fencers from six to eight other schools such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Purdue University and Xavier University. Fourth-year Matthew Lehman is the vice president of the Fencing Club. Prior to coming to CWRU, Lehman fenced in the U.S. Nationals, attended a fencing club back home and is currently active as a referee for competitions. Additionally, he has participated in previous Fencing Club competitions
10/2
Football vs Washington and Jefferson 9/26 Disanto Field, 7 pm
Men’s Soccer at Trine
Case Western Reserve University’s Football team played their first home game at DiSanto field this past Saturday against Shenandoah University, winning 48-41, and setting multiple records. Third-year Andy Kavcic broke the 1999 program record for total offense yards, and Head Coach Greg vDebeljack became the 14th active Division III coach with 150 or more victories. Courtesy of Philip Kornberg/The Observer. On the opening drive of the second quarter, Filips threw a passing touchdown to fourth-year wide receiver Garrett Pavlick to increase the Spartans’s lead and give Pavlick the first touchdown of his career. Shenandoah made a break halfway through the quarter, scoring two touchdowns to cut the Spartans’ lead. The Hornets scored again with four minutes left on the clock, minimizing the lead once again. The Spartans had a quick response and Kavcic came back with a 53-yard run to the endzone to end the first half up 34-20. On the opening possession of the half, the Spartans creeped up to the Hornet’s 1-yard line but a fumble cost them the touchdown. Shenandoah countered going 95-yards on their drive to shrink the Spartans’s lead, putting the score at 34-27. On the first play of the final quarter, Filips completed a 37-yard touchdown pass to Wolf to increase the lead. The Hornets fought back with a seven play response resulting in a 10yard touchdown pass with 12 minutes remaining. Third-year linebacker Zach Yordy intercepted a pass from the Hornets
and brought it to the endzone for a touchdown increasing the lead to 4834. Yet again, Shenandoah responded with an 80-yard drive to the endzone to reduce the Spartan’s lead to a one score game. However, the Spartans were able to hold possession of the ball for the last five minutes and run out the clock to secure the win. When asked about the game, Kavcic noted several flaws in the team’s performance but also highlighted the team’s resilience. “The overall team performance was sloppy. We’re turning the ball over too much and we need to fix that if we want to beat [Washington & Jefferson College],” Kavcic said. “But Shenandoah is a good team and I thought we showed great mental toughness versus adversity when last year we were very bad when faced with adversity.” The Spartans have now gone 116 consecutive games without being shut out. Their next matchup will see them host the Washington & Jefferson Presidents on DiSanto Field on Saturday, Sep. 26. Disclaimer: Derick Su is a second-year on the football team.
CWRU Fencing Club takes on University of Michigan duels Jacqueline Huh Staff Writer
Upcoming Games
and is one of the more active members. When asked what his goals were for the upcoming Duels, Lehman mentioned that the focus was less so about the tournament and more about the overall experience. “It doesn’t matter what school wins or loses. It’s just about making sure that inexperienced fencers get competition experience as well as getting people’s bouts in so they can qualify for championships and obviously having fun,” Lehman said. The Fencing Club received a surplus of new members this year, with approximately 10 to 12 new freshmen. Lehman applauded the new executive board for being able to recruit so many new members this year and hopes to bring in more members next semester. “I’m very happy with the number of people we have for all the weapons,” he said “Epee is a little low as usual, but hopefully we get that up [soon].” While other schools have a coach
that trains and guides their fencing teams, CWRU’s fencing team is student-led. However, this has not deterred the members from training and conditioning themselves to the best of their condition. The student-led aspect of the club also allows new members to freely move around the different types of fencing and ultimately decide which one suits their strengths. The CWRU Fencing Club has worked extremely hard to be able to send their members to competitions. The club does not exclusively compete in competitive events but rather aims to give members the chance to meet fencers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and explore their strengths in that particular sport. Fencing is often considered to be an exclusive sport where only those that can afford the time and money can participate. However, at CWRU, the Fencing Club looks for members who are willing to learn and enjoy the sport.
9/26
Women’s Soccer at Denison
9/26
vs Heidelberg 9/29 Disanto Field, 7:30 pm
Men’s Tennis Everybody vs. Cancer Invitational 9/25-9/27 Oberlin Invitational
9/26-9/27
Women’s Tennis ITA Fall Regional Championship 9/25-9/27
Volleyball 2026 UAA Round Robin #1 vs No. 8 Carnegie Mellon
9/26
vs No. 24 Chicago
9/26
at Rochester
9/27
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Friday, September 25, 2026