Life: The Feast: Little Italy showcases the heart of Italian-American culture (pg. 3)
The Case Western Reserve
NEWS
Friday, August 22, 2025 Volume LVII, Issue 1 Est. 1969
Plum Market is replaced by Spartie Mart
implementations includes
Alyssa Wang News Editor
In August, Case Western Reserve University’s local market, Plum Market Kitchen, was replaced by Spartie Mart to bring new improvements for CWRU students and faculty and the local Cleveland community.
In March 2021, Plum Market Kitchen opened in University Circle’s Uptown to provide full-food service management and produce to the Cleveland community.
CWRU’s food service company, Bon Appétit, signed a contract with Plum Market to manage the Uptown Plum Market. In 2025, Bon Appétit, in partnership with CWRU, decided to take full control of the store, converting it to a Bon Appétit-managed store model.
“The underlying reason for the conversion is to better position the store to serve the needs of both the university and local communities,” Richard Jamieson, the vice president of Campus Services at CWRU, said.
Since Bon Appétit is no longer under a contract with Plum Market, Bon Appétit, CWRU Auxiliary Services, and University Marketing and Communications renamed the grocery store Spartie Mart, a recognition of CWRU’s Spartan mascot.
“The name is intended to strengthen the connection to the Case Western Reserve community, and in particular, our students,” Jamieson said.
However, the name is not the only change the market made for the Cleveland community. Bon
Appétit will include its homemade grab-and-go meals for students’ convenience. In September, Spartie Mart is introducing a robot barista to prepare customizable espresso drinks, with hopes to add even more technology to better its customer services. Bon Appétit also plans to partner with Stonehouse Teas and AllCLE Coffee to add a wider variety of tea leaves and coffee beans.
Continue reading on page 2
Editor’s Note: Turning the page to a new volume with The Observer OPINION
Darcy Chew Executive Editor
Coming into college, I never imagined I would be the executive editor of The Observer. Like many others at Case Western Reserve University, I thought my time in college would be spent solving mind-boggling complex equations, volunteering at the three local hospitals and spending hours upon hours in a lab doing groundbreaking medical research. (Yes, I’m one of the many failed BME premeds.) Yet over the past three years at CWRU, what had begun as a hobby and a method to decompress after hours of STEM classes had turned into one of the most defining experiences of my college career.
I joined The Observer as a staff writer my first year, covering
news topics pertaining to the campus community with articles such as the new shuttle hotline number and the creation of Swipe Out Hunger. As an extremely introverted first-year, The Observer was my way to connect with CWRU. Writing for The Observer allowed me to meet members of our undergraduate student government, interview administration, and it even encouraged me to go to various sporting events while I was copy editor and later sports editor. Not only did I foster a connection with our campus and community, I also became more aware of the role the media plays in our everyday lives. Now, I am hyper-cognizant of the media I consume. As a writer, I paid attention to how others write, their diction and how they craft a story. And now as the publisher of
The Observer, I have spent a lot of time pondering and scrutinizing the choices of major news outlets and watching the impact it has on their followers. Today, one of the biggest issues with journalism is the valid distrust in mainstream media. It is unfortunate that journalism is plagued by the sensationalization and monetization of stories that stem from a lack of adequate funding. While journalism and journalists often have a bad reputation, journalism in its pure unadulterated form is one of the most powerful things we have as a society. Knowledge is power. Staying connected to one another and being informed is one of the most valuable things one can do.
So, as I step into the position of being executive editor of The Observer, I want to acknowledge the impact of our writing and recog -
nize the responsibility we carry as student journalists to be truthful and representative of actual voices on campus. As a student-run newspaper, our stories memorialize our years here at CWRU. The stories we write and publish, the sources we interview and the pictures we use all tell a story within themselves.
Our goal at The Observer is to represent the diverse school community—to record and share important events and stories, but to also facilitate discourse. One of the beautiful things about the college experience is the ability to interact with people of various backgrounds and share, discuss and debate topics.
Continue reading on page 5
Bon Appétit explains their recent decision to convert Plum Market into Spartie Mart in an effort to improve the local market. One of the market’s new
a robototic espresso machine. Tyler Vu/The Observer
Boundaries within Ohio: How redistricting fuels partisan tensions and the house race
district after four years.
By Nov. 30, Ohio lawmakers and the Redistricting Commission must redraw congressional districts in preparation for the 2026 House of Representatives race. This process, required under state law and influenced by both partisan and bipartisan pressures, could reshape political representation and will determine how districts are configured for voters across the state.
Typically, the districts are redrawn every ten years following the census. In 2022, however, the General Assembly approved the new map through a simple majority rather than a bipartisan vote. Following the implementation of Issue 1 in 2018, a map approved without full bipartisan backing must be redrawn after four years rather than 10.
There are multiple steps to Ohio’s redistricting process. First, the General Assembly must redraw the districts and obtain a bipartisan vote by Sept. 30. If they fail, Ohio’s Redistricting Commission will redraw the districts and attempt to secure a map with bipartisan agreement by Oct. 31. If the commission is unsuccessful, responsibility returns to the General Assembly, which must approve the map by Nov. 30. A map may be enacted with support from a simple majority if bipartisan support cannot be secured, but they must re -
Ohio’s Redistricting Commission has seven members. The senate president, speaker of the house, senate’s minority leader and the house’s minority leader all appoint one member each. The remaining three are the governor, the auditor and the secretary of state. The majority of its seats are held by the Republican Party, raising concerns for Democrats about potentially unfavorable districts in Ohio, especially after Texas’s recent move to introduce a greater number of Republican seats.
The discussion around Texas’s gerrymandering in early August has prompted similar attention to Ohio’s redistricting.
“If any state goes too far with a partisan gerrymander, it can backfire,” said Justin Buchler, Case Western Reserve University assistant professor in the department of political science. “Texas’s plan is a significant change, and we have no idea what any other state might do. Everything is up in the air at the moment.”
Despite the uncertainty that comes with redistricting, many incumbents plan on running for re-election in the November 2026 congressional elections.
Democrat incumbents include Greg Landsman for Ohio’s 1st congressional district, Joyce Beatty for the 3rd, Marcy Kaptur for the 9th, Shontel Brown for the 11th and Emilia Sykes for the 13th. Possible challengers include Repub -
lican Eric Conroy, a veteran and CIA officer, and Kevin Coughlin for districts 1 and 13, respectively. For the Republicans, incumbents are David Taylor for the 2nd congressional district, Jim Jordan for the 4th, Bob Latta for the 5th, Michael Rulli for the 6th and more. These districts, as per the 2024 election, remain solid red.
While the district can change, CWRU currently falls into Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. Its representative is Democrat Shontel Brown, who was first elected as a Representative in 2021 and has retained her position since. Securing 78% of the votes in District 11 in 2024, Brown has solidified her position as Representative and
plans to maintain it in 2026. As of August 2025, there are no public running challengers for the district.
As a Congresswoman, she has focused on policies that close the racial health gap, expand opportunities for Black Americans and strengthen anti-discrimination laws. Alongside these policies, she serves as an active member of several caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, the ProChoice Caucus, the Democratic Women’s Caucus and others.
As the date comes closer to Nov. 30, partisan tensions will only continue to rise. Only time will tell how the districts will be redrawn.
Spartie Mart from page 1
Bon Appétit will be partnering with multiple new companies to improve the variety and quality of produce for its customers. In addition to partnering with Stonehouse Teas and All-CLE Coffee to expand their selection of tea leaves and coffee beans, Spartie Mart plans to collaborate with local farms, including Rainbow Farms in Madison for fresh produce and New Creations Farm in Chardon for beef.
Although Spartie Mart is partnering with new companies, they will continue to collaborate with FujiSan to offer students an updated menu that includes a number of sushi rolls, poke bowls and bubble tea.
“The change provides the flexibility for feedback from our stu -
dents and the broader community, incorporating items they’d like to see that weren’t possible under the previous format,” Jamieson said.
While Spartie Mart is rolling out new features, they still hope to gather more community feedback with their “Happy or Not” stations, added during the spring semester, to improve their service and quickly adapt to any issues customers may run into.
“The biggest challenge has been waiting for students to return for the fall semester so we can share the exciting news,” Jamieson said.
“The new format will transform the space into a true destination, offering a local market feel built on the strong partnerships Bon Appétit has cultivated over the years.”
Tyler Vu/The Observer
Olivia Wen Contributing Writer
“Superman” (2025) is punk rock
Penelope Cloonan Life Editor
Minor spoilers ahead for “Super man” (2025).
“Superman” (2025) boldly asks what no superhero movie has dared to in the past decade: what if some one just wanted to do good for the sake of it? If you have grown tired of the formulaic and mildly depressing turn that the superhero genre has taken in the past 10 years or so, I urge you to give “Superman” (2025) a chance. For devout Superman fans like myself and newcomers to the genre alike, “Superman” (2025) is worth the run time. While you can not catch “Superman” (2025) in the aters as of publishing, it is currently available on streaming platforms such as Apple TV+ and Prime Video. I encourage you to go in blind and with an open mind.
To summarize a very rich plot, “Superman” (2025) explores Super man/Clark Kent (David Corenswet) being drawn into both domestic and personal conflicts because of both his status as an alien and his drive to do good. His main antagonist is Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), who, along with the dictator of the fictional country Boravia, will stop at nothing to take Superman down. Superman and his rag-tag group of heroes and civilians alike win the day and pro tect their city against these evil mas terminds, with good winning out in the end. It is testament to the power of hope and human cooperation.
“Superman” (2025) opens in a world that has grown accustomed to superheroes, with a Superman who has been a hero for 3 years. Instead of an origin story, Director James Gunn takes the audience on a journey to examine how this ver sion of Superman deals with mod ern conflicts, all while keeping his kind sensibilities. The world is full and the audience is thrown right into it. While it may be a bit jarring for newcomers, the movie market is oversaturated with origin stories and empty worlds, so Gunn’s choice here makes a lot of sense. This is a more modern take on Superman’s moral challenges, but the heart of his character is pure. In this way, “Superman” (2025) exemplifies its core theme: being kind and true to yourself is punk rock. “Superman” (2025) is truly subversive.
Guy Gardner. With Green Lanterns, it is almost impossible to make their fighting boring. To provide some context for how the Green Lanterns work, they are part of a space police force and their rings let them create physical manifestations of willpower. Guy Gardner is fairly consistently the worst Green Lantern. He is cocky, he is rude and he is shady. As such, when he manifests, he does so effortlessly and with obnoxious constructs. In the final fight scene, he flips over trucks with hands flipping the bird. Any other large solid object would have worked, but in an amazing feat of characterization, Guy Gardner continues to be the worst guy even when he’s fighting. The choreography is organic and makes sense for each character. In a movie climate where the focus of fight choreography is just to hit hard and look cool, having distinct and memorable choreography is beautiful.
The most punk rock thing about this movie is its political messaging. More simplistic and cowardly takes on Superman are politically sterile. This movie is not that. The inciting incident for Superman’s conflict in this movie is his protection of the fictional country of Jarhanpur against the invading Boravia, in conflict with the US’s stance on the issue. A billionaire in the US is bankrolling a genocide somewhere overseas. While Gunn has claimed this is not intentionally a parallel to the genocide in Palestine, the parallels are striking. Superman has returned to his roots as an allegory for immigrants and a voice for social change. He is an illegal alien and that is where the strength of his character
Superman, the character, is a simple meal well made. He is not complicated, and while the way he interacts with the world is interesting and worthy of questioning, his morals should be pretty straight forward. We see Clark struggle and become frustrated but, ultimately, he has no arc. He is a static character. Superman is simply good, and that is unchanging. While a story can and should explore what that means, Superman’s actions will always be an earnest attempt at doing the most good. You don’t question Superman, not because he is threatening and all powerful, but because you don’t have to. You trust him and that trust is rewarded. Corenswet’s portrayal of the character exemplifies this perfectly. Of course Superman saved Krypto the dog, even though he was “not even a particularly good dog.” Of course Superman is the one watching out for civilian casualties while other heroes focus on the threat, a moment straight out of “The Death of Superman” (1993).
Of course Superman will take on a large-scale threat while saving a baby—he can. Of course he won’t even let a squirrel die, as every life matters. Corenswet’s Superman is a stark departure from Henry Cavill’s portrayal in the Snyderverse from the 2010s. It is a ray of sunshine in a sea of nihilism.
This take on Superman is very fresh for DC, but it has been nice to see some familiarity with Gunn’s style from the early “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies. Gunn’s directorial voice shines through in this movie and while it is a bit much at times, it can be a welcome comfort. In the Kaiju fight, we see a lot of focus on eyeball violence, which has been a hallmark of his movies since the “Guardians” days. The flight scenes of Superman are also shot in a very close, fishbowl, thirdperson perspective, which Gunn has used consistently throughout his career. Gunn himself admitted that there were meant to be more fishbowl shots, but they were cut due to their oddity. Gunn also has a tendency to write sins of the father narratives, which is on full display in this movie. Most takes on Superman do not have his biological parents
being evil. Often, his father tries to save his planet before it is destroyed, which is quite noble of him. It is an interesting take on an over 80-yearold narrative. However, I would say the most James Gunn aspect of this movie is the Mr. Terrific fight scene on the beach. A drone-based superhero nonchalantly taking out a large crowd of people with a needle drop is very reminiscent of his take on Yondu in the “Guardians” movies. In another break from the new superhero movie norm, this movie has interesting fight choreography, which is often an under-utilized method of characterization. As previously mentioned, Mr. Terrific’s fight choreography shows a sense of ego as he flies around and swiftly handles large numbers of threats. Superman very rarely engages with the main villain and often does crowd control. While he is the most powerful of all the heroes, his fight style shows that his main concern is not killing a villain or stopping a threat immediately, it is and always will be saving people. On the flip side, Hawkgirl is senselessly violent, which is very fitting for an aggressive character. However, my favorite fight choreography in this film has to be
https://www imdb com/title/tt5950044/mediaviewer/rm777108226/ 1/1
Superman is not human, but every single day he wakes up and chooses not to lord over humanity, but instead to preserve it. He sees something special in it and tries everyday to be the best human he can. Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince do stellar work as the kind Ma and Pa Kent; the audience can easily understand why Clark loves humanity as much as he does. In another departure from past Superman iterations, Ma and Pa Kent look like farmers. Gunn has finally captured Superman’s humble beginnings. While we don’t see much of Clark out of the costume, we see his roots, and that makes up for it. That’s why his down-to-earth farmer parents are so important: they created Superman. Ordinary people showed an extraordinary person with the potential for mass destruction kindness, and that was enough. Humanity is a gift. If Superman can choose to be good, loving and deeply human, anyone can. You, the audience, can. “Superman” (2025) is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise trying time, both for DC films and our country. On a metatextual level, “Superman” (2025) is counter-culture. This movie is unapologetically a comic book movie. It is cheesy, it plays into genre tropes and the fighting is captivating. Politically, it tells a story of an immigrant fighting for social justice globally. On a deeper level, this Superman is a punk to us. Being punk is not about being cool or edgy, it is about going against the norm and making an impact. He loves freely and without fear. He wants to be good. In a world where some level of apathy is the norm, that is what is truly subversive. Kindness really is the new punk rock.
David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman brings a breath of fresh air to the tired superhero movie genre, proving that kindness really is the new punk rock. Courtesy of Warner Bros
Ethel Cain delivers fulfilling backstory in most recent album
Kennedy Wolf Staff Writer
On Aug. 8, American singer-songwriter Ethel Cain released her fourth studio album titled, “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You.” Cain, whose real name is Hayden Anhedönia, made it clear that her primary intention with her latest release was to explore the story of Ethel Cain before her 2022 album “Preacher’s Daughter.” It is important to note that Ethel Cain is a character, which Anhedönia has constructed through years of lore and world-building released via musical albums. In this way “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You” serves as the prequel for Ethel Cain, before the events of “Preacher’s Daughter” take place. Like the name suggests, the album focuses on Ethel Cain’s high school years in the late 1980s, specifically her relationship with her boyfriend Willoughby Tucker. Other characters in the world of Cain are mentioned as well, such as Ethel’s best friend Janie (in the track titled after her) and a girl named Holly. The events presented chronologically through lyrical storytelling mostly serve to examine the relationship between Ethel and Willoughby, as well as its demise. Anhedönia is well known for utilizing specific aesthetics to accompany her works, especially southern gothic. This makes sense, as Anhedönia herself is from southern Florida, and the story of Ethel Cain primarily takes place in the town of Shady Grove, Alabama. This aesthetic continues to be present in Willoughby Tucker, which helps further connect the established narratives between “Preacher’s Daughter” and “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You.”
The sadness that often accompanies this regional aesthetic is also deeply entrenched in all of Anhedö-
nia’s music, including her latest album release. While much of Willoughby’s story is left up to audience interpretation, it’s made apparent that he has suffered abuse at the hands of his father and eventually is abandoned by Ethel which emotionally destroys him. This is depicted lyrically in both “Tempest” and “Waco, Texas”—the last two tracks on the album. While Anhedönia does not explicitly clarify if Willoughby dies at the end of the album, it is heavily implied that he either died in a tornado or by suicide after the Ethel left him to face the tornado on his own. Anhedönia partially implies this through sound design, in which she utilizes both hospital monitors beeping and a tornado warning siren in some of her later tracks. The continued demonstration of the tragedy of youth and the effects of cycles of abuse by Anhedönia is grounded in a regional aesthetic which helps to strengthen the characters’ motivations and backstories. It’s important to note here that the album “Preachers’ Daughter” ends with Ethel’s murder and cannibalization. Anhedönia achieves this haunting effect not only through her lyrical story telling, but also sound and production design. Her lyrical, instrumental and storytelling abilities are on full display in her latest release. Willoughby Tucker’s release truly exemplifies Anhedönia’s ability to develop characters outside of the main narrative, and give them a life of their own. There was only one song entirely dedicated to Willoughby on the album “Preacher’s Daughter”: “House in Nebraska,” Ethel’s reflection on an abandoned house she and Willoughby would pretend to be married to each other in. That song highlights the escapism and imagination that Ethel shared with Willoughby, and especially reflects her desire for a better life outside of Alabama. On “Preacher’s Daughter” only one rela-
tively happy aspect of Ethel and Willoughby’s relationship is explored. However, on “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You,” Ethel and Willoughby’s relationship becomes much more complicated and multifaceted. We, as an audience, can examine how Ethel builds Willoughby up in her head as an idea, and how this comes crashing down. This is especially clear in the song “Tempest,” which is the only song written from Willoughby’s point of view. He states, “Do you swing from your neck with the hope someone cares?” This deep insult
demonstrates the complete fracture of their relationship, and serves as an absolute contrast to the escapism and imagination that Ethel believes Willoughby provided her as stated in a “House in Nebraska.” This complete shift in Ethel’s perception of Willoughby further demonstrates Anhedönia’s ability to write complicated characters. While Anhedönia’s is on her biggest tour to date, promoting her latest release, audiences should be noting her ability to create characters and write worlds that so many people resonate with.
The Feast: Little Italy showcases the heart of Italian-American culture
Esha Bagora Social Media Editor
Every August, Cleveland’s Little Italy becomes the stage for one of the city’s most anticipated traditions: the Feast of the Assumption. For four days, Mayfield Road overflows with the scent of Italian cooking, the sound of music and laughter and the sight of thousands gathering to celebrate a blend of culture, community and Catholic devotion. Known as “The Feast,” it is a unique mix of sacred ritual and street festival, balancing deep spiritual traditions with a carnival-like atmosphere.
At the center of The Feast is the Holy Rosary Church, the heart of Little Italy since the late 19th century. While food and entertainment dominate the streets, the celebration’s soul lies inside and around the church where Masses, rosaries, and prayer services are held throughout the weekend. On the day of the Assumption, parishioners carry a statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets, draped in flowers and followed by hundreds of participants. Hymns and prayers rise above the crowd as the procession winds past restaurants, bakeries and storefronts. On the final evening, a candlelight
parade of devotion closes The Feast. Thousands follow the statue back toward the church, each carrying a candle that glows against the night sky. The result is both solemn and breathtaking: a sea of flickering lights moving through the heart of Little Italy, blending reverence with spectacle.
If the processions give the Feast its spiritual heartbeat, the food provides its rhythm. The street is lined with vendors serving an endless array of Italian specialties: cavatelli tossed in red sauce, sausage and peppers on warm rolls, fried calamari and endless slices of pizza. Sweet treats are just as essential. Cannoli filled with ricotta, sweet lemonade and scoops of gelato tempt festival-goers at every turn. Presti’s bakery, a neighborhood staple, saw lines stretching out the door as people waited for cannoli and biscotti. Guarino’s, Cleveland’s oldest Italian restaurant, is packed with diners enjoying plates and wine under the glow of patio lights. The Feast is an indulgent experience, allowing visitors to move from booth to booth, turning a single meal into an evening-long adventure. The cooking itself becomes part of the spectacle. Volunteers work massive grills and pasta stations in full view of hungry crowds, adding the-
ater to the preparation. The sizzle of sausages, the toss of cavatelli in steaming pots and the assembly-line production of sandwiches become performances unto themselves. Families pass down recipes and cooking duties from generation to generation, with grandmothers supervising as younger relatives learn the art of feeding hundreds.
Music is another hallmark of the celebration. Local bands play from temporary stages, restaurants host outdoor concerts and DJs keep patios buzzing late into the night. The soundtrack shifts constantly—from traditional Italian songs that bring tears to older generations’ eyes to pop covers for entire crowds to sing along to. Street musicians weave between the vendors, adding spontaneous accordion melodies, guitar serenades and operatic belts to the mix.
What makes The Feast even more memorable is how it bridges generations and backgrounds. ItalianAmerican families who moved to the suburbs decades ago return faithfully each August, reconnecting with neighbors and traditions. Children who grew up attending the Feast bring their own families, creating multi-generational memories. Meanwhile, Clevelanders from every corner of the city discover Little Italy
through the Feast, many returning year after year as adopted members of the community. The festival also showcases the neighborhood’s evolution. While honoring its Italian roots, Little Italy has welcomed new residents and businesses that add contemporary flavors to the traditional celebration. Art galleries open their doors for special exhibitions and new restaurants offer fusion dishes alongside classic Italian fare. Local volunteers, many of whom have been organizing The Feast for decades, work year-round to coordinate everything from permits to entertainment schedules. Their dedication ensures that each year’s celebration maintains the authentic spirit that has made it beloved throughout Cleveland.
The Feast of the Assumption is more than a neighborhood festival. It is an annual tradition that unites generations, sustains cultural heritage and welcomes the wider city into its embrace. It’s joyous, heartfelt and uniquely Cleveland. With its mix of processions, food, music and community, the Feast offers an experience that lingers long after the last candle is blown out. It is a celebration full of faith and festivity where Little Italy undoubtedly becomes the city’s beating heart.
Ethel Cain’s new album “Willoughby Tucker” further explores characters and lore previously established in earlier albums, doing so in a haunting yet beautiful and fulfulling fashion. Courtesy of Daughter of Cain
EDITORIAL
Opinion Making time, not just for deadlines
Editorial Board
As a college student, at least one adult in your life has probably advised you to be careful with your newfound freedom and to prioritize academic studies. As your peers, we’re here to tell you the opposite.
Though this specific advice may apply to larger universities, where it is easy to get caught up in diverse social events and neglect your studies, at a smaller college like CWRU, fun and socialization should be embraced just as much as studying is encouraged. It’s easy to get caught up in the grand scheme of academics and then neglect your mental and physical health in the process. Neglect isn’t just about skipping a shower, ignoring your friends’ text messages or eating microwavable junk food. It’s also about missing out on genuine, exciting experiences that provide you with enough social stimulation to keep you sane during finals season.
The hardworking, pre-professional population at CWRU doesn’t go unnoticed. As the pre-nursing students balance early morning classes with clinicals, pre-medical students pace the length of the Kelvin Smith Library’s whiteboards with a permanent scrunch in between their brows, and prelaw students are hidden deep in the corners of the library with football field-length books. When does the fun end, or rather, when does it begin?
Now, we are not encouraging students to abandon their education or lose focus. Instead, we urge students to accept the fact that a little fun now and then is essential to maintaining your sanity. Constantly studying without a stop in the system causes days to feel shorter, months to pass instantaneously and your college experience to slip from between your fingers.
Camping out at KSL or the
Health Education Campus is not a hobby. Devouring a foot-long Subway sandwich at the speed of light to get back to studying isn’t one either. Instead, you could try actual camping … or possibly entering yourself into a hot dog eating competition if you’re truly eating at record times.
Many college students enter school with expectations higher than Mount Everest. Nothing less is expected of CWRU students, as we are an ambitious and driven bunch. But it’s okay to not have it all figured out in your first, second—or even third year. What’s most important is to not lose who you are to the restless nights of studying and comparing ourselves to other’s successes. College is meant to be tough and, if it’s not, something isn’t right. So, instead of torturing yourself over an unexpected grade by cramming in more information, it’s okay to take a beat to recuperate, reflect and to come back stronger. Studying comes in many different styles. Explore those and find the one that works the best for you. But, also, find a hobby that works for you to destress and refresh your memory. There is such a thing as studying too much. Effective studying is quality over quantity.
There may not be a calculated guidebook on how to find a hobby that you’ll enjoy. But there are hundreds of student clubs to choose from on campus, even some of the most niche sports— like Quidditch. Cleveland itself has so much to offer, being home to the Browns, Guardians and the Cavaliers. CampusGroups also offers experiences with the press of a registration button, like a Guardians baseball game, a hike around The Holden Arbortem or a trip to the University Farm, if you’re unsure of where to start.
When it comes to taking care of your physical health and wellbeing while in school, you have to be cognizant of the food you are using as fuel. Most students select
Editor’s Note from page 1
We now live in a time where knowledge is literally at the tips of our fingers. With a few taps on the screen we can find any information we want. At The Observer, we recognize the shift towards digitalization and we hope to become your primary source for news on campus. This year we look to improve our digital presence so you can stay up to date with our coverage beyond just our traditional Friday print. We have a digital newsletter that recaps articles of the week sent directly to your email inbox. We also look to revitalizing our website and incorporating different forms of media into our coverage that our readers can engage with. Beyond improving our digital presence, I hope to revitalize our news coverage and become a consistent and reliable news source for the community. I understand that trust
the unlimited meal plan at CWRU, at least in their first years, and that is a plan to be taken advantage of. It’s easy to skip a meal or to choose the more convenient dining options, like becoming a regular at The Den by Denny’s. But the meal plan offers more than just on-campus dining. CaseCash is supported by nearby eateries on Euclid Avenue, like Beyond Juicery and Eatery, Bibibop, Tacologist, Sittoo’s Pita and Salads and many more. If you’re not swiping, take advantage of CaseCash and the diverse kitchens Euclid Avenue has to offer.
Every student is at a different stage of their college career, but it’s never too late to switch things up. You may never be able to get back those countless hours of studying. However, creating cherished moments with those you care about will stick with you and carry through stories and generations to come. College is about more than just doing well in classes. It is also about finding yourself, and a hobby might just be the way to begin. Not every detail can be calculated, and that is the beauty of life.
The Case Western Reserve Observer
Established in 1969 by the undergraduate students of Case Western Reserve University
Darcy Chew Executive Editor & Publisher
Hannah Johnson Director of Print
Alyssa Wang News Editor
Sabrina Feldberg News Editor
Penelope Cloonan Life Editor
Aleksandra Majewski Opinion Editor
Ellie Palaian Sports Editor
Siya Motwani Copy Editor
Mariana Parilli-Castillo Copy Editor
Abhishek Nambiar Copy Editor
Rithika Karthikeyan Copy Editor
DESIGN
Anjali Bhuthpur Director of Design
Lucas Yang Director of Design
Shareen Chahal Layout Designer
Sahar Kapasi Layout Designer
Auden Koetters Layout Designer
Elizabeth McHugh Layout Designer
Auden Koetters Graphic Designer
Anna Trusova Graphic Designer
DIGITAL MEDIA
Auden Koetters Director of Digital Media
Moses Fleischman Web Editor
Matthew Stall Video Editor
Phillip Kornberg Photo Editors
Aambar Agarwal Social Media Manager
Esha Bagora Social Media Editor
is earned, and I hope to continue to grow alongside our campus community as we navigate an uncertain future.
Here, at the Observer, we welcome the CWRU community to join our staff. Whether it’s engaging in discourse through writing opinion articles or helping our news and video sections do interviews with members of our community or creating graphics to accompany a piece—we have a place for you. If you are interested in joining our various positions and being more involved with the student newspaper, reach out to observer@case.edu, and we’ll make sure to find a position that best suits your interests and skills.
It is an incredible privilege to be executive editor and I hope you will continue following us through the year as we memorialize our time at CWRU.
BUSINESS
Tyler Vu Director of Business Operations
The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer reports news affecting students and provides an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are typically written by the opinion editor but reflect the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. Opinion columns are the views of their writers and not necessarily of The Observer staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer via e-mail at observer@case. edu.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be e-mailed to observer@case.edu or submitted on our website at observer.case.edu. Letters can be mailed to Thwing Center 11111 Euclid Avenue, Suite 01, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter.
The Observer is a proud member of CWRU’s University Media Board. Follow The Observer on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram @cwruobserver.
LTTE: Does this university know how to handle complaints?
Jeremy Bendik-Keymer Professor of Philosophy
The Office of the Provost has scheduled a series of “Hard Conversations” for two years now. Instructive of viewpoints by panelists, these events do not seriously allow attendants to work through differences. That is the result of a top-down view of learning, rather than a participatory one. It also implies a merely ornamental view of the kinds of discourse and practices needed for people to actually weave together social trust through on-going authentic disagreement.
Spring 2024, too, showed the university suffering from polarization and poor practices of community and disagreement. The encampments selfrighteously insulted those who disagreed with aspects of their practice or platform, while hecklers harassed those inside the encampment circle. Widespread distrust broke to the surface between many students and the administration, and rifts opened among faculty. Some faculty left the university as a result of the spiraling distrust, and many students left the experience disaffected, offended or more cynical than ever.
There are many causes of these loosely related examples of weak social ties. One of them, however, is so ordinary as to easily go unnoticed: how the university handles complaints from students, staff or faculty. Does Case Western Reserve University have a consistent, unified, humane, restorative and educational manner of handling the everyday times when someone is upset enough at another in this working environment to lodge a complaint against them, for whatever reason? The
answer is no, no, no, no and no.
The manner is not consistent. Norms differ between schools and the central administration.
The manner is disunified. For legal and historical reasons, there are multiple channels and reporting agencies, both within and without the university, in some offices and then in others, for processing the variety of kinds of complaints to which university life gives rise.
The manner is often not humane. Many instances involve cold, bureaucratic processes, made with rigid fear on multiple fronts, running from forming good relationships between people, rather than running to form them.
The manner is not restorative. Those who are offended often do not see the accountability and adjustment of those who offended, and those who were unfairly accused often have no recourse to see the accusers come to account themselves. The damage stays alive and present in patterns of erasure and minimization, stigma and avoidance.
The manner, finally, is not educational—the greatest irony of all. Parallel processing in institutions is the idea that all parts of a mission-driven institution participate in the core mission. Ours is educational. But is conflict resolution here a chance to learn from each other, truly?
This university does not know how to handle conflict. But I have a simple proposal for conflicts of all kinds. The goal should be to bring about face-toface resolutions born of communication, accountability, mutual learning and restorative justice. I say, “the goal,” because in many cases, there are solid, moral reasons to protect one party or another from aspects of the process.
Childhood for sale
Afshan Ara Staff Writer
In a digital age where sharing content on social media is almost inevitable, it is common to see adults who post their children on social media and even “family channels” which solely focus on showcasing their family unit as relatable. The spectrum ranges from dedicated content creators who consistently post milestones and routines, to creators who occasionally feature their kids on their account. Unfortunately, the digital era has its own consequences, and posting children on social media in any capacity should be something taken very seriously. This content can seem like harmless entertainment, but it comes at the cost of the wellbeing of children.
The biggest issue that is introduced once a person decides to post their children on a platform is the irreversible loss of privacy. When an adult makes the conscious decision to include their children on their social media account, they do not realize that children may lack the ability to have a meaningful say in whether moments of their lives, medical conditions or daily life are shared with potentially millions of people. After being posted, their digital footprint is permanent even if the creator decides to remove it. A common example is on TikTok, where a mother may post the daily routine of her children but may later decide to delete it after the audience raises questions about a certain aspect of the routine. However, several viewers could have already screen recorded the video, so the post has not truly been removed. Posting children can
But the goal sets the standard and drives reform, to scrutinize each practice to see if it is trying the best it can to be worthy of this institution’s educational mission.
Here is how the proposal works. The university should have an ombudsperson office with adequate staff trained in conflict resolution, professional confidentiality and restorative justice. The default assumption should be that ombudspeople handle all non-legally driven complaints (for the legal processes require specific legal standards and practices). This is what the staff would do:
• Check to see if there is credible evidence that any party is dangerous in any way to others.
• See if the parties are willing to talk, work through differences and learn from each other.
• When not, compile a multi-sided account of the incidents or relationships in the complaint— what each side sees and can show.
• Then, share these with the other parties and see if some softening of the situation can occur as a result of hearing others.
• Recommend further accountability measures as called for, only after these initial attempts at weaving society together, mending trust and co-learning.
That the university does not have some such office is backwards. Ombudsperson offices are common in schools. That we do not aspire to mend community when it is broken is weak, short-sighted and thoughtless. Making a complaint should be a courageous call for community. Resolving a complaint should be an enduring answer.
Weekly Horoscope:
How will you spend your first day of
classes?
Aries
Crying
Taurus
Changing your entire schedule after your first class
Gemini
Stocking up on robot coffee at Spartie Mart
Cancer
Sprinting for the Greenlink
Leo
Acing the pop quiz your professor gave you
Virgo
Walking into the wrong classroom
expose them to people who are looking to bully, commit identity theft or exploit them for other purposes. Sexual exploitation remains a risk, since it is difficult to gauge a new and wide audience of family channels. Predatory online users use this as an opportunity to share content with other predators and harass creators. Despite how alarming this can be, several creators continue to post their very young kids during their most vulnerable moments and unintentionally create an uncomfortable environment. This makes it difficult for normal viewers to enjoy otherwise wholesome material. Even in the future, potential peers and strangers could discover these posts when they search for someone who is now an adult online.
Children lack the developmental milestones to consent to social media exposure and likely do not understand the long-term consequences they may face through digital exposure. Often, adults will post their personal life stories and moments that display their personality to generate revenue, invite sponsorships and get brand deals. These creators may start as casual posters who provide entertainment, but, slowly and surely, they are enticed by the idea of financial potential. In these scenarios, children become unpaid workers for which their personal and private moments of growing and learning become moments of financial gain for adults. One example is Ruby Franke and the “8 Passengers” Youtube channel in which her daughter testified that her mother had taken all the earnings that were generated from their videos. The children of influencers’ roles are no different from child actors who are managed poorly and
do not have access to a support system that ensures their well-being over potential profits. In other contexts, this is seen as child labor, which society and governing bodies have deemed illegal. Children who spend a majority of their time growing up in front of a camera with a wide audience are prone to experience issues with normal psychological and emotional development. They may struggle to distinguish between genuine familial connections and staged dynamics that are used to create amusing content. Their personal achievements are tied to marketability, and they can have trouble separating their value as a person from their ability to be entertaining. Internalizing this belief might make them believe that their only worth is hinged on performing for people and that this is what makes them likeable. This phenomenon regularly invites long-lasting effects on self-esteem, trust and individuality. A once-popular pranking channel, DaddyOFive, was known for the parents of five children who “pranked” them for content. However, the pranks became borderline emotional abuse and the children suffered mental flashbacks of being yelled at or slapped. Although intentions can be well meaning, a troubling reality hides behind carefully edited and catered content. It is challenging to ensure kids are not being taken advantage of emotionally or financially behind the screen. It is up to adults and responsible individuals to create an environment that focuses on ethically sourced content and remind people that childhood is a lively yet personal lived experience that should never be used as a business model.
Libra
Finding out your PE class is in Veale (You live on Northside)
Scorpio
On the phone with your parents
Sagittarius
Downing a croissant sandwich from Dunkin
Capricorn
Slipping down the Elephant Steps
Aquarius
Getting lost
Pisces
Losing your CaseID and getting locked out your dorm
Sports
Men’s soccer looks to bounce back after a middling 2024 season
Abhishek Nambiar Copy Editor
After a disappointing 2024 season, the Case Western Reserve University men’s soccer team looks to bounce back from their struggles.
The previous season saw CWRU finish with a 5-5-6 record—down from the 10-3-4 record they achieved during both the 2023 and 2022 seasons. The team also failed to win a single game against a UAA opponent, finishing conference play with a 0-3-4 record. As a result, the Spartans failed to qualify for a thirdconsecutive NCAA tournament after having qualified in 2022 and 2023.
Taking note of this is fourth-year goalkeeper and co-captain Bradley Winter, who has been around to witness CWRU’s successes and struggles over the past three seasons. Winter expressed his excitement and optimism about the upcoming season in spite of the Spartans’ lackluster showing last season.
“We’ve got a group of young, talented guys along with a couple of veterans returning, which should
be a good combination heading into the fall,” Winter said. “I’m definitely ready to get back to work after our largely unsuccessful campaign last year...We’ve got a tough schedule ahead, both out of conference and in the UAA, but this should prepare the guys well for the season.”
The upcoming season’s roster will consist of only a handful of Spartans who played during the squad’s 2023 NCAA tournament run, including Winter and fourth-year midfielder Camden Larson. Conversely, the roster consists of nine first-years: midfielders Aydin Sumer, Micah Rossen and Raj Chitre, defenders Maximilian Majewski, Milo Stehling, Gavin Trosch and Alex Eby, forward Ethan Barr and goalkeeper Carter Shedd, who will all be making their collegiate debuts this fall. Winter notes the high potential of this new Spartan talent to perform strongly in conjunction with returning players thanks to the efforts of the team during the past spring and summer.
“[We have] got a very tight group right now after having worked with the freshman all summer via men-
tor groups and through the time that the returning guys spent together into the spring,” Winter said. “I think this bodes well for the team heading into the season.”
Despite the addition of a talented first-year class, the Spartans will still face obstacles this season. Key third-year defenders Cormac Apostolides and Cameron Thayer, both crucial contributors in recent years, are sidelined with long-term injuries. On top of that, the team faces a grueling schedule, with matchups nearly every Saturday and several weekends featuring multiple games.
“This can be a lot on the guys’ legs so we will need to rely on everyone in the group to push through and get results,” Winter said.
Nonetheless, there is still a lot to look forward to in this upcoming season. Winter, for one, reiterates his confidence in this year’s team and beyond.
“We’ve got a lot of young, talented players who are also awesome people that will play pivotal roles for this program over the next few years,” Winter said. “I think it will be exciting to see how this plays out
across the season and I’m hoping for a lot of success for our team.”
Notable opponents on the Spartans’ schedule include Kenyon College, who the team last faced in 2022 in a 0–4 defeat. In UAA play, CWRU will square off against familiar rivals such as the University of Rochester, who edged the Spartans 3–2 last season, and Carnegie Mellon University, with whom they battled to a 2–2 draw.
“I’d like to right the ship and beat [Kenyon] this year,” Winter said. “I also know they’re a very talented out of conference team so a win against them would be massive. Rochester and Carnegie Mellon are both games that I’m specifically excited for due to the results last year. I think everyone on our team would like to beat them, in addition to everyone else in the UAA. Every UAA game is a dogfight, though, so we will be up for the challenge and I look forward to all of those games.”
The men’s soccer team will begin play on Friday, Aug. 29, when they travel to Steubenville, Ohio for a match against Franciscan University of Steubenville at 7 p.m.
men’s soccer team, they look to improve this upcoming 2025 season, particularly in UAA conference play. Courtesy of CWRU Athletics
FloSports partnership to bring new era of coverage for UAA athletics
Ellie Palaian Sports Editor
On June 20, the UAA announced that they have entered into an exclusive five-year media rights agreement with FloSports that will begin in the Fall of 2025. Through FloCollege, a dedicated sub-platform of FloSports, the UAA will receive live and on-demand coverage for 20 different sports, following the full UAA athletics calendar. In addition, FloCollege will provide personalized content tailored specifically for the confer-
ence.
“Beyond live competition, FloSports will also invest in original content and storytelling initiatives online and across social media aimed at elevating the profile of UAA student-athletes and institutions,” said FloSports in an article about the new streaming agreement.
The new contract marks a significant milestone for the UAA and its efforts to elevate the visibility of its athletes. Until now, schools were largely responsible for managing their own athletic streaming, resulting in a patchwork of solutions.
For example, Washington University in St. Louis relied on thirdparty services, while Case Western Reserve University developed its own streaming platforms and apps to share content. However, these approaches often lacked consistency, professional commentary and high-quality production, elements that are standard for many other collegiate athletic programs.
“UAA student-athletes are second to none in their academic and athletic successes—and we are grateful to have a streaming network that will give us an opportunity to appropriately promote them,”
said Sarah Otey, Commissioner of the UAA in a statement to FloSports. “This agreement will allow our institutions to ensure they can stream UAA competition and promote the UAA brand in a manner that best reflects the exceptional nature of our UAA student-athletes.”
While having a designated streaming service shows much improvement by the UAA, some players and parents expressed disappointment that a subscription is required for the service.
Continue reading on page 8
Following a low season for the Spartan
FloSports partnership from page 7
“I personally don’t mind paying a monthly subscription fee if it truly delivers a better viewing experience,” Jennifer Gootman, mother of a CWRU women’s soccer player said. “However, I worry about the broader impact on friends and family who only tune in occasionally. Many of them have enjoyed being able to drop in through the Case platform to watch a game or two, but they’re unlikely to pay for a subscription just for that.”
Currently, FloSports offers two subscription options: an annual plan billed at $8.99 per month, or a month-to-month plan at $19.99 with discounts available to users with an educational institutionaffiliated email. While the pricing may seem high, subscription-based streaming services are common in collegiate athletics. Many Division I programs, for example, partner with ESPN+, a platform that costs $11.99 per month, to broadcast their games. Despite the price, CWRU Women’s Soccer second-year Vivian
Nohra believes that this new partnership will improve accessibility, making it easier for fans to find and watch UAA matchups.
“I think that having a designated streaming platform will be very helpful in viewership for the UAA,” Nohra said. “The streaming platform would help for away games that families can not go to, and hopefully with FloSports our games can be streamed better and will be easier to find by friends and family.”
However, like many streaming platforms today, FloSports uses your home’s public IP address to verify that all devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and located in the same physical space. As a result, if a family member or friend is in a different state or country, they won’t be able to stream using the same account. For families spread across multiple locations this means each household would need to purchase its own subscription in order to access the service.
“I think this restriction will make
it much harder for families and friends to share in the experience of watching the games together,” Gootman said. “Instead of bringing the community together, it creates barriers that limit who can tune in and support the players. Over time, this could reduce the sense of connection and enthusiasm around the team because fewer people will have access.”
While subscription fees and restrictions are not uncommon in collegiate sports streaming, FloSports’ pricing model and viewing limitations have already caused frustration among some CWRU families and athletes who are used to free access through CWRU’s own website. Upon learning of the new agreement, Gootman raised several questions about what the contract means for both the UAA as a whole and CWRU specifically.
“It’s unclear what specific benefit this arrangement provides to UAA and to the Case women’s soccer team,” Gootman said. “What’s also
unclear is the rationale behind the deal, specifically what tangible benefits it provides to the UAA and to the Case women’s soccer program. If there are financial advantages, it would be important to know whether those resources will directly support student-athletes by improving facilities or expanding opportunities. Without that transparency, it’s difficult to see how the trade-off of reduced accessibility is justified.”
FloSports has stated that it is investing “more than $50 million to support rights fees, production, content, product technology, and marketing for its NCAA rights.” Hopefully this investment, enhanced streaming quality and content offerings will justify the cost for viewers.
“I do think that this will put a good spotlight on the UAA and its athletes who are often overlooked,” Nohra said. “I think this gives the conference a good opportunity to increase exposure for the schools and promote what are highly competitive programs.”
Women’s soccer aims for UAA title after up-and-down 2024 season
Ellie Palaian Sports Editor
After finishing the 2024 season with a 9-5-5 overall record and a 1-4-2 mark in conference play, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team returns this fall with its sights set on a UAA championship.
Despite the team’s 2024 conference record, a UAA championship remains within reach. The Spartans finished third in the conference in 2023 after capturing the title in 2022, a season that saw CWRU advance all the way to the national championship against Johns Hopkins, where they finished as runner-up.
“I think we’re all very excited to kind of put last year in the past and just move forward,” fourth-year co-captain Alexis Sassower said. “I think we have a lot of great players and great talent this season.”
Sassower, along with fourthyears Mackenzie Mueller and Ja-
mie Goldfarb, were chosen by their teammates to serve as captains this season. All three played key roles for the Spartans last year, appearing in nearly every match and accounting for 11 of the team’s 29 goals.
As members of the Class of 2026, the three captains were part of the program’s run to the national championship in 2022, giving them firsthand experience of what it takes to return to that stage.
“What set us apart that year was making sure that we did whatever it took to get the result on the field,” Mueller said. “Just a level of grittiness and determination to get those results is something that we’ll just have to do. And I think that the girls we have right now can get it done.”
Within the past four years the Spartans have gone through three different head coaching changes, settling on Head Coach Alyssa Johnson, Assistant Coach Ross Minick and Goalkeeper Coach Scott Lindsay to lead the team.
“[The coaches] really go out of
their way to build a relationship with each player,” Mueller said. “Not only related to soccer, but also just to get to know them on a personal level, which helps a lot. I think they have put a lot of effort into making sure we are still enjoying the game.”
Sassower echoed Mueller’s thoughts, agreeing that they have been a positive addition to the team.
“They create a very welcoming environment to make sure that everyone feels like they belong on our team and has an important role regardless of whether they are on the field or not,” Sassower said.
With a graduating class of nine, Mueller and Sassower are eager to make the most of their final season, both on the field and alongside their classmates.
“All good things come to an end,” Mueller said. “It’s our opportunity to put it all out on the field. It’s the last season that we have, so we’re not going to leave anything out.”
Mueller has high expectations for the season, but firmly believes
that the team can meet those expectations.
“I think we take it one game at a time, and focus on first non-conference and then really lock in for our conference games, since those are definitely tougher,” Mueller said. “Hopefully [we] get the title, conference champs, and then work our way through the NCAA tournament to get back to the championship, kind of how we started. Hopefully we can end off on a high note.”
The Spartans open non-conference play at home on Friday, Aug. 29 against Franciscan University of Steubenville, before kicking off UAA competition on Saturday, Oct. 4 versus the University of Rochester. Both matchups will be played at home and streamed live on FloSports.
“I think we’re a really strong group and we can make it very far this season,” Sassower said. “I want to go out with a bang.”
Disclaimer: Ellie Palaian is a second-year on the women’s soccer team.
