Sports: After historic nationals run, CWRU swim and dive teams launch promising new season (pg. 11)
Friday, October 24, 2025 Volume LVII, Issue 9 Est. 1969
Stein appointed to RFK Jr.’s vaccine board
Alyssa Wang News Editor
On Sept. 15, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially appointed five new members of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Among them is Catherine Stein, a professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health at Case Western Reserve University.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. selects the new appointees. In June, Kennedy fired all 17 members of the ACIP, all of whom were previously appointed by the Biden Administration. According to The New York Times, Kennedy claimed the ACIP “had been plagued with persistent conflicts of interest,” and said that replacing the committee would help restore public trust. After the dismissals of the board, Kennedy chose eight new doctors and researchers for the ACIP, though one stepped down soon after due to a financial conflict of interest. Then in September, the HHS reported that five members had been added, bringing the board to a total of 12.
“The ACIP safeguards the health of Americans by issuing objective, evidence-based vaccine recommendations,” Kennedy said in a statement to ABC News. “Its new members bring diverse expertise that strengthens the committee and ensures it fulfills its mission with transparency, independence and gold-standard science. Today we are prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda. The public must know that unbiased science, evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest, guides the recommendations of our health agencies.”
Stein is an epidemiologist who researches tuberculosis and infectious diseases. She has been teaching epidemiology-related courses for several years at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
“Every epidemiologist wants their work to have a meaningful impact on society,” Stein remarked when interviewed. “I have a passion for digging into data, especially epidemiologic data, and making recommendations based on data.
I believe this appointment reflects my professional reputation and an opportunity to make policy recommendations based on that reputation.”
According to The New York Times, Stein has previously ex-
pressed concern about vaccines. In an article published by Brownstone Journal in 2022, she “[called] for an end to vaccine mandates at universities.” In 2021, she and the Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom, an anti-vaccine group, showed support for proposals allowing legislators to block public health orders, as reported by Ohio Capital Journal.
“Some people don’t have a solid understanding of what vaccines do, [such as] what they actually prevent and [the fact] that they are not 100 percent effective,” Stein said. “As with any medical intervention, there is an incomplete understanding of unintended side effects. [As we did] in the first meeting of the full panel, the ACIP board will consider these things using all available data. Hopefully these things will be communicated clearly to the public, since one goal is shared-decision making.”
As part of the ACIP, Stein will be responsible for developing vaccine recommendations to control diseases in the United States, considering the safety of the vaccine and the overall effectiveness when given at specific ages and in regard to the severity of the diseases. Her current priority is learning processes and how things are done within the ACIP.
“As an epidemiologist, I understand a lot about infectious disease transmission, individual risk factors and incidence, prevalence and mortality,” Stein said. “While tuberculosis has been my main focus, I have [also] done collaborative work in other infectious diseases. All of this shapes my approach [to vaccine policy decisions] in two ways. First, core concepts in epidemiology are common across infectious diseases, even if there [are] specific aspects that differ across various infectious
diseases. Second, epidemiology as science looks at population risk and disease burden. Vaccines affect individual risk, population risk and disease burden.”
She will attend at least three meetings a year at the CDC to review findings and discuss vaccine research, clinical trial research and labeling information. One of these meetings was held on Sept. 18 and 19 during which the ACIP had the opportunity to vote on COVID-19 vaccines and vaccines for children and newborns. However, the meeting concluded without a vote on whether COVID-19 vaccines should be covered by the Vaccines for Children program, and the panel postponed the decision regarding hepatitis B vaccination for newborns to allow for further discussion, according to the Nature Portfolio.
At the beginning of the meeting, Committee Chairman Martin Kulldorf addressed concerns about the group’s perceived anti-vaccine stance.
“The members of this ACIP Committee are committed to reassuring the public and restoring public confidence by removing unnecessary risks and harms whenever possible,” Kulldorff said, according to PBS News.
For Stein, this role offers her an opportunity to contribute her expertise as the committee helps guide national vaccine policy under new leadership. ACIP’s future deliberations will determine how its new membership influences vaccine recommendations and public health decisions in the months ahead.
When asked about what would make her time on a committee a success, Stein replied, “[to be able to make] data-driven decisions and respect informed consent.”
Professor in Department of Population and Quantitative Health Catherine Stein appointed to CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Courtesy of Case Western Reserve University
Courtesy of
White House via Wikimedia Commons
The AWS outage affects Canvas and other apps
Olivia Wen Staff Writer
On Monday, Oct 20, Amazon Web Services (AWS) experienced problems from around 3:11 a.m. Eastern Time to 6:01 p.m. later that day. In technical terms, the health monitoring system of network load balancers inside AWS’s Elastic Compute Cloud 2 (EC2) internal network in USEast-1 malfunctioned. Simply put, there was a database malfunction in a major cloud computing hub. Amazon reported increased error rates and connectivity issues across multiple services across the United States.
AWS is a cloud computing platform that provides technology infrastructure, such as data processing, storage and management to other companies that purchase it. Instead of buying hardware and infrastructure that needs to be maintained, companies can simply rent the services it runs on from AWS. Because AWS already has and operates the infrastructure needed to power Amazon, they are able to also rent their cloud services out to others for a profit.
However, AWS sharing its service with these companies also means it
powers them. These companies include apps like Zoom, Reddit, Snapchat, Duolingo, Microsoft 365 and more. For some of these companies, like Snapchat and Duolingo, websites and services were completely down during the outage, while some just experienced slowdowns.
Canvas was one of the apps that was completely down, not only for
Case Western Reserve University students but for high school and college students across the country. Students couldn’t access educational resources or their classes on Canvas for the day. For some students at other universities, professors cancelled classes that were highly dependent on Canvas or pushed deadlines that passed during the outage.
By 3:35 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time on AWS Health Dashboard, AWS reported,“the underlying DNS issue has been fully mitigated, and most AWS Service operations are succeeding normally now. Some requests may be throttled while we work toward full resolution.” However, these issues continued further into the afternoon and even into the evening.
The outage received mixed reactions from CWRU students coming back from fall break. Some were happy and hoping it wouldn’t be back up when Wednesday rolled around, while others were worried about upcoming deadlines and midterms.
“I actually thought it was nice because I could relax during the break since I couldn’t do any work,” said Maria Burrus, a first-year student at CWRU.
On the other hand, first-year student Zoe Shankland said “I was anxious because I have a midterm tomorrow, and I couldn’t look at the notes that my professor uploaded on Canvas.”
However, around 6 p.m., AWS repaired its issues, allowing students to regain access to their courses and assignments and prepare for upcoming classes.
CLEANR deal puts washing machine microplastic filters in CWRU student dorms
Noah Paniagua Staff Writer
Case Western Reserve University is partnering with alumni-founded startup CLEANR to reduce plastic pollution from student laundry rooms. The initiative, launched in April, began with a pilot at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Residence Hall and will expand to other dorms after testing and evaluation, according to a university announcement.
CLEANR’s technology, designed by three CWRU alumni, David Dillman, Chip Miller and Max Pennington, attaches directly to washing machines and captures up to 90 percent of mi-
croplastic fibers shed during wash cycles. Any remaining particles are small enough to pass through wastewater systems and into Lake Erie. The filters are based on the company’s VORTX system, a vortex-driven design inspired by filter-feeding fish, and are certified by the Shaw Institute for removing fibers as small as 50 microns.
Each installed filter can prevent the equivalent of 56 credit cards’ worth of plastic from entering waterways every year. For a campus of over 5,000 residents, the potential environmental benefit is significant.
The effort aligns with CWRU’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for reducing waste and pollution through
practical campus projects. The university’s Sustainability Ambassadors and Residence Hall Association are helping monitor maintenance and usage. Each filter requires under a minute of weekly upkeep, and students who work with the project team help track the amount of microplastics captured.
Cleveland’s proximity to Lake Erie makes the project especially relevant. The lake is among the most microplastic-polluted freshwater bodies in the world, according to studies by the Rochester Institute of Technology and NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. CLEANR’s founders said the partnership with their alma mater demonstrates how
universities can reduce pollution at the source while contributing to regional restoration goals.
University officials said data from the pilot will determine how quickly the program can expand to all residence halls. The long-term goal, according to CLEANR’s leadership, is to eventually make the system “as standard as seatbelts in cars” and included in every washer.
For now, students may not notice much change when doing laundry, but the filters beneath the machines are quietly trapping plastics that would otherwise flow downstream. For CWRU, it’s a small change with a measurable impact, one load of laundry at a time.
Tyler Sun/The Observer
The initiative was launched by Case Western Reserve University in partnership with CLEANR, an alumni-founded startup. Courtesy of CLEANR via Instagram
News-in-Brief
CAMPUS
As of Oct. 20, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine Professor Anthony Wynshaw-Boris has been elected to join the National Academy of Medicine. The National Academy of Medicine, founded in 1970, is made up of health professionals who aim to address health issues on national and international levels and provide guidance to improve upon such issues. Wynshaw-Boris studies the pathophysiological mechanisms of human neurogenetic disorders as a professor in the department of Genetics and Genome Sciences. New members are selected by current
members for their major contributions to healthcare, medical sciences or public health. According to the academy, Wynshaw was chosen for his research on the mechanisms and genes responsible for ataxia telangiectasia, lissencephalies and autism and contributions to the “understanding of the pathophysiology of human developmental neurogenetic diseases and cancer.” The National Academy of Medicine is prestigious, and being elected “recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.”
NATIONAL
Trump tears down the East Wing of the White House
On Monday, construction began on the East Wing of the White House to make way for President Trump’s new ballroom, after the president had previously made claims that it would not interfere with the existing structure. The 90,000-square-foot project, intended to hold state dinners and other White House gatherings, is projected to cost $300 million, up from earlier estimates of around $200 million. Trump stated that the construction of the ballroom
will be funded by private donors from individuals and corporations.
According to The New York Times, the East Wing is “one of the last pieces of the White House complex he hadn’t yet started to make over in his own image.” The demolition of the East Wing is just one example of the ways that President Trump, in the wake of his August executive order to “make federal architecture beautiful again,” has been attempting to reconstruct the nation’s capital.
COMMUNITY
Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital set up for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
On Oct. 25, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospital will collaborate to prepare for more than a dozen prescription drug collection sites throughout Northeast Ohio. The site will remain open between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Twice a year, in April and October, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts National Prescription Take Back Day, sponsoring collection sites across the country where medications can be dropped off for proper disposal. The
DEA and the event organizers encourage community members to discard expired, unwanted and unused medications to prevent accidental poisoning or misuse. In a report by University Hospitals, Michael Carlin, Vice President of Hospital Pharmacy Operations at University Hospitals said, “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an easy way for all of us to do our part. By clearing out our medicine cabinets, we can help prevent addiction and save lives.”
Museum heist of crown jewels shocks Paris
In Paris, France, four burglars disguised as workers stole eight pieces from the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning. They arrived at 9:30 a.m. in a truck alongside the museum walls in broad daylight while interested visitors were already gathering around the museum’s various exhibitions. Their faces covered in masks, they used a truckmounted electrical ladder to hoist themselves up to the second floor of the building. Then, they used grind-
ers to break a window, which set off security alarms and drew the police to rush to the defense. However, the thieves were still able to make an escape after the seven minutes they intruded into the building, taking with them several of Paris’ crown jewels. “The way it happened was straight out of a cartoon,” secondyear student Loveleen Sasan said. “It’s just the new souping of the Mona Lisa,” first-year student Riya Kulkarni said.
Alyssa Wang News Editor
Sabrina Feldberg News Editor
Anthony Wynshaw-Boris elected to the National Academy of Medicine
Louvre
Courtesy of Case Western Reserve University
Courtesy of University Hospitals
Courtesy of Sizzlipedia via Wikimedia Commons
Courtesy of HiraV
Do you “Fancy Some More?”
Hannah Johnson Director of Print
As an avid listener of “Fancy That” by PinkPantheress, I was thrilled when I saw the news that a remix album would be released. The album in question, “Fancy Some More?,” kicks off with a bang, opening on a collaboration with Anitta, “Illegal + Anitta.” The Brazilian singer’s smooth voice meshes perfectly with PinkPantheress’s higher, more staccato one, although this opening track immediately raised some concerns about what was to come.
I was looking forward to the remix album to hear the songs I knew and loved completely reimagined. I wanted the essence of them to remain while something new took center stage. Unfortunately, I found that for a lot of the first disc, the remixes turned out to be more focused on features. The Anitta track proved to be the first of many more feature tracks on the release. Among these were the following: JADE’s track, “Tonight + JADE,” which sounded exactly the same other than the part where JADE comes on, JT’s “Noises + JT,” in which rap was a welcome addition (even if the bars were not very good), the iconic Kylie Minogue’s “Stateside + Kylie Minogue,” one of my favorite songs on the original album, of which this sounds almost exactly the same, and finally Rachel Chinouriri’s, who has the voice of an angel’s, take on “Romeo + Rachel Chinouriri.”
Immediately following Anitta, SEVENTEEN’s remix of “Illegal” lost me. A faster beat was added to up the danceability ante, yet I was not a fan of the autotune on SEVENTEEN’s voices. It made for a robotic quality that was distracting, especially considering that I wasn’t a fan of their vocals on the track in the first place.
The album bounced back quickly, though, with Oklou’s refreshing take on “Girl Like Me.” Oklou, known affectionately as a hyperpop artist in many scenes, slowed down the original poppy beat of the track, crafting a fittingly somber take for an overall
PinkPantheress' new remix album both delights and disappoints with some tracks completely transformed from their original versions and some presenting more as features than remixes.
Courtesy of /u/vivianaq on Reddit via Wikimedia Commons
lyrically disheartening song. Generally, I’ve found that hyperpop artists are willing to take the term “remix” to heart, taking more risks and creating a considerably different sonic experience.
Pink takes another turn toward Kpop with her track with Yves—”Stars + Yves.” Unlike the track with SEVENTEEN, though, this one was a pleasant surprise. The use of autotune on Yves’ softer voice created an interesting echo that made her words linger. The ending of the song transitioning to a more aggressive, 2010s-esque electronic shift was also a fun touch.
One of my favorites on the album has to be Sugababes’ take on “Nice
to Know You.” The song is usually a sway-worthy, sad song with lyrics like “I'm emotional / You made a mess, you know?” Sugababes completely upends this narrative, taking us to the club with a fun, bouncy beat that it is impossible to sit still to. You may still be crying, but you’ll be having fun doing it to this track.
After Kylie Minogue’s unfortunate take on “Stateside,” another underwhelming take is Bladee’s version of the same song. Bladee is considered highly influential in the hyperpop space, well-lauded and loved, yet I’ve never been a huge fan of his music. He often uses frenetic beats, so chaotic it is almost like they are clamoring to
get off the track. His vocal delivery is usually as nonchalant as possible to combat this, but I think the songs on “Fancy That” need more emotional attention. Overall, I don’t think the two voices blended very well on the remix, but I do appreciate that it was made into an entirely different track from the original.
“Stateside + Zara Larsson” turned out to be my favorite on the record. It was different from the jump, with a couple electronic beats instantly overlaying the original. At the thirty second mark, the evolution into the second verse sounds magical, like something I’d hear in “Bratz Fashion Pixiez.” The song is unbelievably nostalgic and reminds me of being a kid listening to girly electronic pop.
Ravyn Lenae also succeeded at providing a refreshing take on “Romeo + Ravyn Lenae,” another favorite from the original. The electronic R&B was like nothing else on the rest of the album, and the swinging beat was great. My only complaint with this one was that Pink and Lenae’s vocals don’t mesh very well. Because Pink has a very high-pitched, staccato voice, its pairing with Lenae’s lingering, jazzbar singing creates a bit too much contrast.
Disc 2 for me was an extreme toss up of EDM-adjacent remixes. Nia Archives’ “Illegal + Nia Archives” is a fun take on the original, making it bouncier and faster. Joe Goddard managed to provide a similarly pleasant experience with his take on “Tonight + Joe Goddard.” Some proved to be a bit bland, such as Mochakk’s “Noises + Mochakk” or Kaytranada’s “Girl Like Me + Kaytranada” and some did way too much, such as Basement Jaxx’s “Tonight + Basement Jaxx,” which featured honking, cartoony beats and, at one point, a ghostly choir.
Overall, “Fancy Some More?” turned out to be what I expected, with some songs being almost exactly the same, others being bangers and others being, perhaps, better left off the album. If you’re a fan of the original album then I would consider giving it a listen. If not, maybe just listen to the Zara Larsson and Sugababes remixes.
Hello Internet: Dan and Phil and obsessive Phan-doms
Penelope Cloonan Life Editor
“Are Dan and Phil in a Relationship? Yes.” After 16 years of collaboration across Youtube channels, the OG Youtubers have confirmed what many have been speculating about for years: they’ve been together the whole time.
Daniel Howell (previously danisnotonfire, currently Dan Howell) and Phil Lester (AmazingPhil) are two of Youtube’s inaugural creators. They had both been creating vlog-style content on the platform since 2006, before moving to frequent collaborations upon meeting in 2009. They began with a series of vlogs cleverly called “phil is not on fire,” which set the tone of early YouTube as poorly edited but ultimately endearing vlogs. From then on they moved on to broader collaborations and eventually moved
in together in a house they co-own. Eventually, their joint channel “DanAndPhilGAMES” was born, during the peak of YouTube gaming channels. Here they played any number of games across various genres and continuously collaborated. Through every major era of YouTube, Dan and Phil were active participants. While they retained their individual channels, Dan and Phil became one entity. Through tours, a book, a break, radio shows and countless other combined efforts, it has always been Dan and Phil.
Since the beginning of their collaboration, there have been dating rumors, with the couple being referred to as “Phan,” not to be confused with their fans, the “phans.” Dan and Phil started out around the dawn of Youtube and grew into adulthood with the platform. Their fandom—The Phandom—grew with them. Given their easily acces-
sible and mostly child-appropriate content until recently—especially on Phil’s part—their fandom skews fairly young. These young people did not know how to engage with the internet or fandom, no one did. As such, many boundaries were crossed. Phans showed their love in various, and increasingly concerning, ways. There were harmless edits, detailed fan fictions and some particularly obsessive fans found out where the duo lived. Throughout the course of their careers, the duo has been doxxed, stalked and taken advantage of. The whole thing got very parasocial very quickly. People felt as though they knew Dan and Phil personally. When they uploaded their video “Are Dan and Phil in a Relationship? The Truth” on Oct. 13, a prevailing sentiment is “we already knew.” As Dan and Phil address in their video, no, we didn’t.
Back in June of 2019, when Dan
and Phil came out separately—Dan with a 40 minute art piece and Phil with an 8 minute quippy video— these same sentiments of “knowing” bubbled up, because two gay men couldn’t possibly be friends. Suddenly years of fan edits made by 13-year-olds were taken as gospel. The obsession with every touch, every glance was emboldened. Admittedly, two gay men who own a house together, have kept the entirety of their relationships private and have stayed by each others’ side for 16 years does seem like an open secret, but that is not the point. Dan and Phil make content off of themselves, and they asked to keep this one part private. Even now in admitting they are together, they ask that a level of privacy be maintained, as is their right.
Continue reading on page 5
Obsessive Phan-doms from page 4
In a deep and thoughtful 47 minute video, Dan and Phil answered a series of questions about their relationship, history and future. Helpfully, they lay out an agenda for the viewer. “What is the conspiracy? Why we never talked about it? Why we are talking about it now? What is the truth?” In short, the conspiracy is that they’re dating, they didn’t talk about it due to personal issues, they feel more comfortable now, and the truth is that they’ve been together the whole time. The duo, Dan specifically, cited the second coming out as an exercise in being more open and freely themselves. Dan has previously discussed his history with homophobia and struggles to be out both in regards to his relationship with Phil and his personal identity back in 2019. After work with his therapist, Dan has reportedly reached a point where coming out publicly was an option. Having reached a level of
success and stability in life, now felt like the time to hard launch. Just as Dan and Phil have been a part of and fueled every major trend on YouTube, the long awaited Dan and Phil podcast “Hard Launch” began this week. Dan and Phil are pervasive, but a comfortable mainstay and will remain that way.
Though this did break a certain side of the internet, it is important to remember to ease off. It is exciting that Dan and Phil announced they are together, it’s flashy and attention grabbing, but it is not life-altering. After 16 years of being on the internet with an often overzealous fanbase, Dan and Phil have shown some more vulnerability. Under the generational comedy duo are real, private people. There hasn’t really been a YouTube without Dan and Phil, and it would be sad to see that reality. They gave up a piece of their lives to the internet, do not demand more.
María Zardoya’s first solo venture as Not For Radio hits the airwaves
María Burrus Staff Writer
María Zardoya, the lead singer of The Marías, released her first solo project on Oct. 10 under the name Not for Radio. “Melt” is a slow-tempo, lush, melancholic album that approaches themes of romance from different perspectives. Although the sound is consistent throughout the album, Zardoya’s poetic lyrics, soft locals and piano melodies make it a great listen.
Zardoya described the album as a “seasonal project” in an interview with Zane Lowe. “Melt is like the winter album. A collection of songs that were written truly in the dead of winter.” She felt that “Melt” encapsulated all the feelings that come during the colder months of the year as she was working on the project.
Not For Radio’s debut album opens with the track “Puddles,” which immediately sets the tone for her body of work. The subtle drum pattern resembles a rhythmic heartbeat that backs Zardoya’s breathy vocals. The lyrics convey a sense of yearning for a relationship with someone that doesn’t exist. Throughout the song, she imagines an intangible romance that will never exist. The chorus repeats the line “Puddles and puddles, I picture us there,” showing that the singer longs for connection but fears heartbreak that may
follow. Towards the end, the song becomes faster and more dynamic.
“My Turn” is a track written from the perspective of someone who is feeling guilty for having done something to hurt their partner, while “Back To You” is about feelings of missing an old partner and accepting that they won't come back.
Not For Radio takes a more playful approach on “Swan.” It is a longing ballad in search of the person you’re meant to end up with, referencing the fact that swans mate for life in the wild. Zardoya explores the idea of humans finding one love and mating for life.
My personal favorite from the album is “Not the Only One.” The song feels like being pulled into someone’s personal diary. Zardoya’s voice is slow and feels fragile. The measured, floaty production compliments the intimately honest lyrics perfectly. The line “You don’t see me like he do…” in verse three highlights feelings of neglect and comparison. Not For Radio captures the push and pull of an emotional imbalance in a relationship.
On “Magnet,” Zardoya’s vocals are layered over minimal production and synth textures. The lyrics describe the feelings of a connection between two people that can’t be controlled. She tackles the theme of desiring someone but wanting to protect yourself from the possibility of heartbreak.
The only track that is sung entirely
in Spanish is “Vueltas,” which favors an acoustic guitar instead of her usual piano. “Vueltas” follows the singer's internal conflict between holding on and letting go of old feelings. Lines like “Y tú das vueltas en mi mente (And you spin around in my mind)” show the obsessive thoughts that make it difficult to find emotional closure after a relationship has ended. The acoustic sound and lyrical vulnerability makes it a standout track on the album.
The penultimate track, “Water on the Nose,” evokes a sense of tension. Zardoya’s voice is almost a whisper and seems submerged into the soft synth of the production.
The album closes with the track
“Slip to End.” It's not a dramatic conclusion, but rather a slow farewell. It has minimal production with light airy vocals. The song fully leans into the vulnerability mentioned in the title. The song is about letting go with uncertainty and a little fear. It captures the peace in knowing that there are no feelings left to hold onto. The album concludes with a lingering echo fading into static.
Although the album doesn’t feel like a big departure from The Marías, it takes a darker and more mature approach. Sam Evian’s dreamy production paired with Zardoya’s melancholic voice and intimate lyrics results in a wistful, tight-knit record.
Last week, beloved internet sensations Dan and Phil admitted to being in a relationship for the past 16 years after careers full of parasocial speculation. Courtesy Gabe Skidmore
Maria Zardoya from The Marías debuted her first album "Melt" under the name "Not For Radio", exploring themes of romance from various perspectives. Erika Goldring via WireImage
NERD!
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No Kings Day: Welcome to the Black Parade
Sabrina Feldberg News Editor
As the chords fell like raindrops before Gerard Way started singing “Welcome to the Black Parade,” he recalled a parade at which his father asked him, “Son, when you grow up / Would you be the savior of the broken / The beaten and the damned?”
It was a perfect mixture of Halloween and late summer. Just like a costume parade, people of all backgrounds, parties and ages were decked in garments of “TyrannySaurus” rexes, British colonialists, witches and more, donning capes of American flags and rainbows. The crowd was dressed as a testament to the power of people. Many signs sprouted from raised hands, declaring each person’s rallying cry against the president. It was a costume parade—the more dressed up a person was, the more committed they were to freely expressing their opinion, the more they stood out from the crowd. The more garish and courageous—the more American.
As glistening bubbles floated gently through the crowd, against all odds, I could see smiles passing over several people’s faces. It was not only an invitation to bright, sunny days— it was a reminder to everyone that standing up for yourself is fun. At some point in the parade, a small but boisterous group of children started to chant all by themselves: “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!” Their high-pitched voices held the bite that many of the adults’ could not—a sad but necessary representation of the American people. We are all the witnesses of the crimes done by the president and responsible for the creation of the future.
The “No Kings” protest was so large that I began to wonder who wasn’t there. Yet, for all the children with their parents, elderly couples and adults, I could not find many who appeared to be college students. It was strange because there were many reasons why a college student should have been there. From the bubbles to the stickers to the streaming of Sara Bareilles’ “Brave,” reminding everyone that they, too, can have courage during these seemingly endless dark times, everything in the parade resembled college to me. As people donned both their courage and playful sides, becoming strangers with a
united purpose, I wanted to see the same energy at our university.
There is plenty of irony in our nation’s government. Students like us can and should be at the forefront of the resistance. The question is not what we believe—most of us, whether Democrat or Republican, disagree with issues like the detainment of immigrants, the suppression of free speech and the deployment of federal troops. It is how and when we are willing to stand up for what we believe in. We can either sit on the sidelines or we can show up as ourselves, whether that means holding up a protest sign, being loud, being bold or, if you feel so inclined, dressing as an inflatable anti-tyranny dinosaur and “say[ing] what you want to say” like Bareilles sings.
As American flags waved from people’s pockets and across shoulders like the capes of superheroes, the moving nature of the U.S. Constitution seemed to materialize before us. The signs expressed various ironies about the current administration. “We are a land of immigrants,” one read, in acknowledgment of the recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests. Another read, “the village idiot thinks he can be king,” as if our nation is a parable whose ending has yet to be written, awaiting the actions and responses of the American people. Another held up in the hands of a little girl read “I’m with her!” It is difficult to imagine having to explain to a child the allegations of sexual assault attached to the president.
As “No Kings” day showed, there is plenty of overlap in the beliefs of many Americans and no lack of courage in individuals. The power is, as it always will be, with the people: us. There was a reason why so many people were there, why it was so welcoming and why play and resistance fit hand in hand in a way I had never seen before. It is because “no kings” means that everyone is welcome—everyone has a cape in their own story. People can stand out with all their creativity and courage not just to protest, but to parade for what they believe in. They can celebrate their freedom and the strength of their unity in the midst of relentless abuses of power.
Will you “be the savior of the broken / The beaten and the damned?” Or will you look away? Personally, I’ll be donning Wonder Woman’s American flag for the black parade this Halloween. How about you?
Art appreciation in times of its defunding
Editorial Board
In July, Cleveland’s Transformative Arts Fund (TAF) grant program of nearly $3 million was awarded to seven local public art projects around the city, with more than 200 artists anticipated to work on these initiatives. Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced the program’s introduction backed by the American Rescue Plan allocations from the Biden-Harris administration in January. Artists underwent an application process, detailing the work progress, budgeting and institutional partner letter of commit-
ment among other documentation. The chosen applicants have left their signature in the city. Most notably, “For Art’s Sake: Empowering Diverse Creatives, Our City & the Youth” by Kumar Arora in the University Circle and “All Our Babies: Birthing in the Afrofuture” by Jameelah Rahman in Fairfax among many others bring color, creativity and diversity to the city. This program marks Cleveland’s construction of a safe haven for artists and the greater community to discover hope in creativity.
As students at Case Western Reserve University, a hub for creativity and innovation, we sometimes
overlook the true value art holds for communities of all types. It surrounds us. In some instances, there is buzz about the “incoherent” architectural art styles of the campus-scape, mixing the old with the new. Truth is, our campus wouldn’t be complete without it. For example, the 1981 piece called Back by Ira Matteson is a staple in the North Residential Village. The steel silhouette of a nude woman’s back, at first glance, portrays weakness. But, its steel body symbolizes strength in vulnerability and openness. Its location is fitting, standing as a message for rising college students to ponder on the values of
vulnerability and discovery of oneself. On another side of campus, the Spitball is a geometrically angled metal monument. It is the second of three Tony Smith original works in 1961. In the eighties, it was valued at nearly $2.1 million in accountancy for inflation. Art doesn’t have a price, though. We economize art to give it value and meaning. We walk by this sculpture, gawk at it, criticize it, but we never take the time to learn its history or significance. That is the problem.
Continue reading on page 9
Jana Ashour/The Observer
“No Kings” was a parade that exemplified the loud, rebellious American spirit. Courtesy of Sabrina Feldberg/The Observer
Art appreciation from page 8
We have to be more mindful of our privilege. The next time you walk past an art structure on your way to class, appreciate its value and what it stands for. Even if you’re not a fan of the art piece, it’s important to remind ourselves that we have that privilege to do so.
The celebration of the TAF projects’ completion will be held Oct. 29, which is much needed to recognize the dedication of the artists and the city’s ability to put forth a
meaningful initiative. We are living in a time while funding for individual artists is lacking. The Trump administration began by terminating National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants in May, cancelling over 150 awards totalling to approximately $4.5 million.
At CWRU, we are surrounded by art in a multitude of mediums. The Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Contemporary
Art Cleveland and the Cleveland History Center are just a few artcentric institutions that surround our campus with free, unlimited access to students. It would almost be unwise to not take advantage of visiting these opportunities at some point in your college career while in Cleveland.
Art is meant to inspire its bystanders. It’s okay if not all art is for you, but by becoming more openminded, finding your preferred ar-
tistic style won’t be difficult, and appreciation follows easily thereafter. Now, by no means do you have to be an art fanatic for this. But, the appreciation of art can facilitate creativity and provide grounding. And art should be appreciated more than ever as funding is hindered and art is undergoing censorship in museums and galleries. Celebrate our luxurious access to art on campus and beyond. Appreciate it before it’s too late.
The Rot at the Heart of American Education
Milo Vetter Staff Writer
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the voter base that the United States used to have, in contrast to the base that elected Trump in the present. Remember in history class, when you learned about the Gettysburg Address? It was famous because it was an off-the-cuff speech and was unusually short and blunt. And it starts with: “four score and seven years.” A phrase that most people wouldn’t understand today. Compare that to our president in the year 2025, whose speeches are so incoherent that the transcripts seem nonsensical.
To put it another way, most of the framers of the Constitution were the most renowned intellectuals in the thirteen colonies. It was a fairly obvious decision to pick these people, because, at the time, powerful people and educated people were the same group. Part of why the Federalist Papers were so famous is because they were an explicit and erudite framing of political values by people who would later go on to directly apply those principles to the U.S. government. In contrast, the history of US presidents is that of a shockingly undereducated group of leaders; the majority of them only carrying undergraduate degrees. Some recent presidents have law degrees, but those aren’t seen as qualities that make them fit to lead, but rather qualifications for a job.
Today, the powerful and the educated are an increasingly separate class. Academic experts aren’t leaders, but rather servants to decision makers. The Gilded Age saw the rise of the “robber baron,” who tended to forego expectations that aristocracy should receive an education befitting their station. Billionaires in the 21st century, on the other hand, are much more likely than the average person to hold a college degree, but this doesn’t represent a rediscovery of the value of knowledge among the ultrawealthy, but rather the shifting role of college in building power. A large proportion of powerful people have attended top universities, especially the Ivy Leagues. As most academics will tell you, the purpose of attending an Ivy League school is not to receive the best education, but rather to foster connections that mark you as a member of the upper crust. This disregard for the actual value of knowledge is the origin of the rot at the heart of American education. And it’s also why the competition for the middle class to get into these top-level universities is so stiff. People either mistakenly believe that a more prestigious college means a better education, or
worse—they see through the facade and want the same opportunities the rich reap.
Now, top-level education has always been an incubator for the powerful instead of what it should be: a place for top minds to gather and learn. But this rot has now spread to the rest of higher education. “Apathy” is actually the word that I would use to describe the manifestation of this rot in higher education. The simple fact that so many students use AI to shortcut their assignments shows that they care less about the journey of education and more about the diploma they receive at the end.
The apathy about the value of education is justified, in some ways. For example, there is a shortage of doctors in America, in large part because doctors’ associations deliberately maintain extremely high standards for receiving a medical license in order to keep their position valuable. Not to devalue the practice of medicine, but most medical doctors will tell you that the amount of training they received was unnecessary. Similarly, the white-collar job market at large generally requires a bachelor’s degree for entry, and often doesn’t even care what you majored in. To what end? Does working in accounting, or HR, or marketing really require skills that can’t be taught in high school? In the context of someone seeking a typical white-collar job, college serves only as a financial roadblock that either
locks out the poor or leaves them saddled with debt post-graduation. Colleges themselves aren’t blameless, either. Due to multiple causes—including soaring application rates—tuition costs have sharply increased over the past few decades, which only reinforces the perception that college is a scam. Can we blame students for failing to care about their education in this environment? If every semester you spend at college means more debt you’ll have to pay off, of course you’d rush through your requirements and spend as little time as possible on unnecessary distractions.
But, of course, we can’t lay all the blame at the feet of the callous free market. There are also strong forces deliberately fighting education. For decades now, the Republican Party has targeted education, due to the inconvenient truth that a proper education lays bare all the ugly lies central to Republican ideology. The latest front in this war on an educated public is the Trump administration’s use of executive power, from the direct shakedowns of Columbia and Harvard to the more recent “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which is an attempt to bribe universities into embracing reactionary politics. This fight against education also manifests in more subtle ways, such as “centrist” or “apolitical” podcasters, who focus on the aforementioned problems with higher education to dissuade people from enriching their minds,
which just so happens to benefit the people who fund the manosphere. And don’t forget that this rot is spreading to K-12 education, too. If you’ve talked to an elementary school teacher lately, they might tell you that they’re thinking about retiring or quitting because the quality of students they’re responsible for is the last straw for an already stressful job with low pay. Many have speculated about the cause for the decline in primary school student aptitude—people are quick to blame the pandemic and screen time for the decline. And I’d agree that screen time is the problem, but it’s not the cause.
In order for a child to excel at learning, they have to believe that the learning is valuable. We used to motivate our kids to learn by reading to them every night and encouraging them to read books on their own. But now, we inflict standardized tests on our children. We enroll them in “gifted child” programs, which often serve to punish them for their curiosity by giving them more work and separating them from their peers. We demand that they participate in as many extracurricular activities as possible, so as to get into the best possible college. We present their future success as the reward at the end of a decade of drudgery. Is this gauntlet that we run our children through really inspired by a desire to see our children grow into smart, well-adjusted adults? Or do we just want to heap as much prestige on them as possible, so as to help them attain a high-paying job?
So, with all these grievances in mind, what can we do to redeem American education? Well, first, we need to respond to the most pressing threats by adamantly refusing political demands from the Trump administration that further propagate this rot. We also need to push back against the forces that have directed our places of learning away from community and knowledge and towards credentials and prestige. But, most importantly for each of us individually, we need to rethink how we approach education. Whether or not you have a High School Diploma, a Bachelor in Arts, or a PhD, the primary quality that makes you a scholar is your willingness to commit to the pursuit of knowledge as a lifelong quest. Regardless of any decision you make that balances the cost of education with the value of a credential, that quest’s rewards are valuable, and they will make you a better person. So, when you have the time, push yourself to take that interesting class that doesn’t count towards your major. Read that long article that explains something you’ve never understood. Stop following influencers and start following experts. And never forget that knowledge is its own reward.
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Yes, people may stare, and, yes, you should still wear a mask
Lily Zhang Copy Editor
As the weather turns colder and the changing leaves mark the arrival of fall, sickness also makes an appearance. A classmate that usually comes to lecture is suddenly no longer there, and around every corner of campus, the echoes of coughs can be heard.
In times like these, it is of utmost importance to protect yourself and others, often in the form of wearing a mask. Yet, I have seen too many people who have been visibly sick but also visibly barefaced—that is, with no masks in sight. This is in no manner an accusatory statement, but rather one in observance and solidarity. I myself at times have been the perpetrator of this issue, even though I would like to say that, for the majority of the time, I do wear a mask when I am sick. So, why do so many of us not wear masks when we feel sick?
To first dive into this question, it’s important to consider the culture of wearing masks in public within the United States. In many other countries, notably, East Asian countries, wearing masks has always been normalized. It’s not uncommon to see people of all ages wearing masks in their day-to-day lives. In fact, mask usage in East Asian countries has become so ingrained in the culture that they have evolved into beauty and fashion accessories. In the United States, however, mask use is more a marker of disease than a common practice, as mask usage before COVID-19 was only seen in healthcare or laboratory settings. Thus, wearing a mask in the United States makes someone stand out, and with the implication being that of sickness, not in a good way. The overall individualist mindset ingrained in the people of the United States doesn’t help either; with less emphasis placed on community and civic responsibilities, there are less reasons for a person to wear a mask. This individualist mindset is what also caused the mask to be in
the political spotlight for so long, contributing to the hesitancy surrounding mask-wearing. To some, the mask was the antithesis to the principles of American democracy: autonomy and freedom. To others, maybe not so much. But regardless of which side you may be on, it’s true for everyone that anything in such an intense spotlight for that long will start to look different. Just the fact that the mask was debated for so long is a factor in how we view the mask in our everyday lives.
Public mask-wearing in the United States is stigmatized. Of course, after COVID-19, mask use has become more normalized. The percentage of American adults who regularly wore masks during this time rose substantially (from 50 to 90 percent), likely due to the state-enforced mask mandates. However, in the current year of 2025, five years out from the beginning of COVID-19, it seems that this normalization has dwindled. Why? The reasons, I think, can be attributed to the stigma that still manages to persist after COVID-19.
Let’s draw out a scenario, one that I’m sure we all experience at least once a year. You wake up in the morning with a scratchy voice and a cough creeping up your throat. You know you’re sick—you can feel it. As you get dressed, you think about whether you should wear a mask or not. You will undoubtedly be in contact with many people today, whether that be the hundreds of students in your lectures, your friends or your teachers. With all this in mind, why do you not wear a mask?
Maybe wearing a mask is uncomfortable, you don’t want other people to know that you’re sick or you even want others to get sick because someone else who probably wasn’t wearing a mask got you sick. All of these reasons are selfish, but also understandable, given the individualist mindset that the United States pushes, as well as the cultural stigma around wearing masks in the United States. Even after COVID-19, which killed over one million people
in the United States alone, wearing masks in the United States still holds a negative connotation. From there, it feeds into a negative cycle; if I see someone visibly sick without a mask, I might be less inclined to wear a mask when I get sick.
Of course, wearing a mask when you feel sick, especially now that there are no mandates, is a personal choice. But a personal choice
always affects more than just the person making the decision. And though there is still an ever-looming political and cultural cloud around the mask in the United States, it’s necessary to boil it down to what it is in our day-to-day lives: a way of keeping ourselves and others safe. So, here’s a PSA for all those listening: if you wake up feeling sickly, put on that mask quickly!
The Case Western Reserve Observer
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We’ve all been there, trying to study or finish that last assignment when all we want to do is … anything else. Maybe we’re overwhelmed with the work we have to do, or maybe we feel the pressures of perfectionism and don’t want to start. We push ourselves to “lock in,” but call it quits too often, feeling guilty each time we pick up our phones to doomscroll again and again. Doing anything but the work we have piled up always seems to feel better than actually getting things done, but the sinking feeling in our stomach knowing we’ve wasted time is much worse. Can we really consider these pauses to be “breaks” if we feel worse after taking them?
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We may trap ourselves in a cycle of counterproductivity and double the time it takes to complete a task. In this “popcorn brain” mindset, we work and get little done, then stop working and think about how we could be working. By the time we resume our work, we feel ashamed, not refreshed, and we stay up late in attempts to catch up.
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A break is not shameful, not when it has the potential to act as a tool that makes productivity much more efficient. We just need to know how to use them.
Esha Bagora Social Media Editor
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Just as an athlete wouldn’t do 150 consecutive bicep curls while strength training at the gym, as students we must take meaningful breaks in reasonable intervals. One popular example of this is the Pomodoro method, where 5 minute breaks follow 25 minutes of work (10 minutes of break to 50 minutes of work is also a popular option). By time-boxing our productivity and knowing we will be rewarded,
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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 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.
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Sports
Homecoming unveils “Spartan Stadium” videoboard, signifies new era for CWRU athletics
Ellie Palaian Sports Editor
Over Homecoming Weekend, students, alumni and fans were greeted with a major new feature at DiSanto Field—a state-of-the-art, arena-sized videoboard installed in the southwest corner of the stadium.
The new videoboard made its official debut during the men’s and women’s soccer matches as well as the football game against Allegheny College on Oct. 11, enhancing the game-day experience with live footage and graphics. Case Western Reserve University’s James C. Wyant Director of Athletics and Chair of Physical Education, TJ Shelton, noted that the installation of the videoboard had long been a priority and marked a significant milestone for the university’s athletic facilities.
“The video board was always top of mind when I got here,” Shelton said. “That was kind of an area that we felt like we could potentially get donor support. We were targeting Homecoming weekend and were able to pull that off. I think we plugged it in Wednesday or Thursday and got it operational and it worked out perfectly on Saturday.”
Previously, DiSanto Field relied on a traditional scoreboard located on the north end. According to Shelton, the decision to install the new videoboard was driven by a desire to enhance the fan experience. During its first weekend in use, the board displayed game scores and timing information, along with a live video feed. Following key plays, it featured dynamic graphics similar to those seen in professional sports stadiums, adding a new level of excitement to the atmosphere. Currently there are no plans to remove the
old scoreboard, which has been there since the opening of DiSanto Field in 2005.
Notably, the new videoboard prominently features the title “Spartan Stadium” across the top. Although the field has long been named in honor of Fred DiSanto, a CWRU Athletics alum, the stadium itself had never previously been given an official name, until now. Beneath the screen, a dedication recognizes James C. Wyant, a 1965 alumnus and longtime benefactor of the university, for whom the Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center is also named. The videoboard’s installation not only formalizes the stadium’s naming but also creates new opportunities to enhance the spectator experience, including player introductions, instant replays and other professional-level features.
“Everything is there now, it is just a matter of operating [the videoboard] at a high level,” Shelton said. “It has all the bells and whistles for sure.”
In addition to the videoboard, CWRU also upgraded the outdoor deck at the Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center with televisions and space heaters, further enhancing the comfort and experience for spectators.
“The TV’s and heaters [are] just to enhance the fan experience,” Shelton said. “We do events up there, and it might be a bit chilly, so guests can still enjoy the game from the balcony and have a little bit of heat from that perspective.”
These installations are part of a broader series of upgrades to CWRU’s athletic facilities over the past year. DiSanto Field received new inlays, infill and comprehensive regrooming and a new sound system, while both Veale Recreation Center and Wyant Athletic and Wellness Center were outfitted
with updated cardio and weight equipment. At Nobby’s Ballpark and Mather Park, the university upgraded pitching mounds and expanded batting cages. Horsburgh Gymnasium saw improvements with new lighting and refreshed CWRU-branded logos. The Veale Natatorium also underwent significant enhancements, including new lighting, diving boards, lane lines and a modern timing computer system.
“We don’t just do things to keep up with the Joneses,” Shelton said. “For me, it’s performance, extending the life on things. Some of the items were 10 to 14 years old, and we were having a hard time repairing them because those parts don’t work anymore. We serve not only athletics, but recreation, sports clubs, intramurals and physical education classes. So it makes sense to try and keep those things upgraded and/or replaced.”
Shelton expressed his gratitude for the CWRU community and alumni, noting their continued commitment to supporting and reinvesting in the university long after graduation.
“We have great donor alumni and parent support, and all of these initiatives could not be done without them along with the university support,” Shelton said.
Looking ahead, Shelton said that future upgrades to CWRU Athletics will be guided by priority and need, noting that the list of planned improvements is extensive.
“We’re not replacing things just to replace, but what needs to be replaced from a safety perspective,” Shelton said. “There’s always an opportunity to support our programs through facility enhancements. You cross something off and there’s always something else added.”
After historic nationals run, CWRU swim and dive teams launch promising new season
Ellie Palaian Sports Editor
After sending five men and eight women to the NCAA National Championships last season, the Case Western Reserve University men’s and women’s swim and dive teams have returned with strong momentum and are preparing for another highly competitive season.
Last season, the men’s team finished with a 5-1 record, their only loss coming against Carnegie Mellon University. While they placed sixth out of eight teams at the UAA Championship, the squad earned a 25th-place finish nationally at the NCAA Championships—their best performance since 1999, when they finished 23rd.
“I feel pretty excited,” fourthyear co-captain Adam Khatib said. “As my last year here, I really want to make the most of my season and spend time with my friends here. I think we have a really talented group that is ready to both compete and enjoy the season.”
During the weekend of Oct. 11, both teams kicked off their season at the Oberlin Early Season Invite. The men’s team delivered a standout performance, finishing first among four competing schools.
“The team had an incredible display this past weekend which sets us up beautifully for the rest of the season,” Khatib said. “Multiple people were within striking distance of their times, and the atmosphere was incredibly positive. Considering that this meet was held over a shorter timeframe, and that this is still early in the season, things are looking very promising for the rest of the year.”
Both the men’s and women’s teams were deeply impacted early this season by the loss of fourth-year student-athlete Emil LaSida, who passed away on Sept. 15 at the age of 21. LaSida was a standout competitor, having participated in the 2025 NCAA National Championship, where he broke his own CWRU Men’s Swimming & Diving record with a time of 19.98 seconds, becoming the first athlete in school history to swim under 20 seconds in the sprint event. His passing was a profound loss for the program. Khatib acknowledged not only the grief felt across the team, but also the resilience and unity that have emerged as teammates continue to support one another through this tragedy.
“Our strongest attribute is our resilience, in both a physical and mental sense,” Khatib said. “The fact that everyone was able to compete this weekend after losing a
teammate and being pushed hard in the water to make up for the time we lost is proof of that. I think this trait is really going to shine during our midseason and championship meets, where the timeframe is longer and having the mental fortitude to continue swimming fast despite past races is vital.”
With a roster featuring 11 fourthyear athletes and 11 first-years, the team blends seasoned experience with fresh talent still acclimating to the program. Khatib acknowledged the challenges of managing expectations, but praised how the newcomers have adjusted and been welcomed by the squad.
“There has absolutely been a transition period that everyone has struggled with,” Khatib said. “The freshman class this year is large, resulting in many who come from different backgrounds, have different training styles, and expect different results. As there is a smaller junior and sophomore class, our senior class has had to set a strong example. Truthfully, the biggest problem between the experience gap is the expectations. Expectations about how difficult or easy college classes are, how the practices are run, and performances at competitions. After this first meet, I think most of the team is well adjusted and has found
a routine that will help them.”
Khatib, entering his final season, has set high expectations for the team and expresses full confidence in their ability to achieve them.
“I hope that we can have the same level of success as last year,” Khatib said. “We had a phenomenal season. For the men specifically, this was a massive accomplishment and one that I hope we can repeat this year, or potentially do better. Our freshman class is very strong, and we have the chance of bringing more people to nationals with our depth.”
The women’s team has also gotten off to a strong start, finishing first out of five teams at the Oberlin Early Season Invite alongside the men.
Fourth-year 100 and 200-yard butterfly swimmer Kailyn Smith said she hopes to savor her final season as a Spartan and encourages her teammates to do the same.
“I’m of the opinion that setting high expectations does more harm than good,” Smith said. “I always swim the best when I take pressure off myself and have a bit of fun, so my hopes for the season are that we will take it one swim at a time, and enjoy every second of it.”
Continue reading on page 12
The new videoboard is a milestone for Case Western Reserve University’s goal of improving its sports facilities. Tyler Sun/The Observer
Weekly Scores
Men’s Soccer
vs WashU (10/11) L 0-1 vs UChicago (10/18) L 0-1
Women’s Soccer
vs WashU (10/11) L 1-2 vs UChicago (10/18) T 2-2
Football vs Allegheny (10/11) W 62-21
Volleyball
UAA Round Robin #2 vs Rochester (10/12) W 3-2 vs WashU (10/12) W 3-1 at John Carroll (10/15) W 3-2
Swim and Dive
Oberlin Early Season Invite (10/10-11)
Men’s Team 1st of 4 teams
CWRU swim and dive from page 11
The Spartans closed out last season with strong performances. The team finished 17th overall at the NCAA National Championship, marking a tie for the fifth-best national finish in program history.
Smith said the team’s success stems from the strong connections and genuine care the athletes have for one another. She expressed appreciation for the supportive team environment that everyone has worked hard to cultivate.
“People are extremely supportive of one another, be that in the pool,
the classroom, or socially,” Smith said. “I think our bond has grown stronger over the years, and the team is very tightly knit.
This is also a place where you can be yourself, as any judgement or negativity is quickly shut down.”
The women’s team features a balanced roster across all class years, including eight first-years, six second-years, six third-years and eight fourth-years. Smith acknowledged the impact of the looming graduation of the current fourth-years but expressed confidence that the younger
Spartans excel in
athletes will carry forward the team’s competitive spirit.
“The team is going to lose quite a few seniors this year, but our underclassmen are very talented and will continue to grow and improve after we’re gone,” Smith said. “I think the team will recover quickly.”
The men’s and women’s teams will compete at Ohio Wesleyan University on Oct. 25 as they gear up for the UAA Championships from Feb. 11–14, the NCAA Diving Regional on Feb. 27–28 and the NCAA National Championships from March 18–21.
UAA play with key volleyball wins and strong soccer effort
Ellie Palaian Sports Editor
Volleyball
On Oct. 12, the Case Western Reserve University volleyball team hosted the second University Athletic Association round robin, defeating both the University of Rochester and nationally ranked No. 10 Washington University in St. Louis. The Spartans concluded Homecoming Weekend with two victories, improving their conference record to 3-2.
Item recorded a career-high five service aces against WashU, while Esquivel added seven aces and dished out 55 assists. On the backline, secondyear defensive specialist Sophia Datoo tallied 41 digs and first-year defensive specialist Thea Beran contributed 26.
The two conference victories marked a pivotal turning point in the Spartans’ season. Continuing to build on that momentum, CWRU defeated crosstown rival John Carroll University in a five-set thriller, winning 3-2.
The Spartans regained the lead early in the second half when Mueller connected with fourth-year forward Ceci Dapino, who finished a one-onone opportunity with the UChicago keeper to put CWRU ahead 2-1. However, the advantage was short-lived, as the Maroons converted a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box to tie the match. Despite several late attempts from CWRU, the contest ended in a 2-2 draw.
Cross Country
Oberlin Inter-Regional
Rumble (10/18)
Men’s Team 1st of 26 teams
Women’s Team 1st of 25 teams
Upcoming Games
Men’s Soccer at Brandeis 10/24 at NYU 10/25
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Team 1st of 5 teams at Brandeis 10/24 at NYU 10/26
Football at Thiel 10/25
Volleyball
UAA Round Robin #3 vs NYU 10/26 at UChicago 10/26
Swim and Dive
Battle
The Spartans opened the weekend against Rochester, battling to a five-set victory. The Yellowjackets claimed the first set, but CWRU responded in the second, sealing the win with a kill from fourth-year co-captain Kalli Wall. The Spartans carried that momentum into the third set, commanding a 4-0 run led by second-year setter Avery Basinger to build a five-point lead and take the set.
The fourth set proved to be turbulent. After trailing 18-13, CWRU surged back with seven straight points behind the serving of second-year setter Elena Esquivel to regain the lead. Rochester, however, answered with four consecutive points to force a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, the Spartans left no doubt. They won seven of the first nine points and closed the match on a dominant 5-0 run to cinch the victory.
Following their win over Rochester, the Spartans faced a major test against No. 10 WashU and rose to the occasion, winning the match in four sets. The Bears claimed the opening set after pulling ahead 20-16 on a string of three straight kills and closing with a 4-1 run. But from there, CWRU seized control.
In the second set, WashU jumped out to an early lead before fourth-year middle blocker Amanda Ngo delivered three consecutive kills to ignite a 5-0 Spartans run. Ngo later sealed the set with another kill, leading CWRU to a dominant 25-13 victory. The Spartans maintained their momentum in the third set, cruising to a 25-18 win.
The fourth set proved to be more tightly contested, with the Bears taking a brief 12-11 lead after falling behind early. But the Spartans responded with poise. Wall tied the score with a kill, third-year defensive specialist Sude Naz Item delivered a clutch service ace, and second-year right-side hitter Madeline Halter secured the upset with her ninth kill of the match.
The Spartans closed out the weekend with standout performances across the roster. Wall led the offense with 30 kills, followed by Ngo with 22 kills and nine blocks. Fourth-year middle blocker Kiya Levy anchored the defense at the net with 10 blocks.
After a weekend of rest, the Spartans will return to UAA play on Oct. 26 in Chicago, where they are set to face conference opponents New York University and the University of Chicago in their third round robin of the year.
Women’s Soccer
After three weekends of UAA competition, the Case Western Reserve University women’s soccer team holds a 1-1-1 conference record and stands at 11-1-2 overall.
The Spartans opened the stretch with a marquee matchup on Oct. 11 against reigning NCAA national champion Washington University in St. Louis during Homecoming Weekend. WashU applied pressure from kickoff and controlled much of the first half. The Bears broke through in the 20th minute, capitalizing on a rebound inside the box following a blocked shot, and doubled their lead in the 34th minute on a counterattack.
CWRU emerged from halftime revitalized, immediately pushing into the attacking third and earning a corner kick within the opening five minutes. The Spartans’ persistence paid off in the 50th minute when secondyear midfielder Abby Welker scored off an assist from first-year forward Izzy Probst. Riding that momentum, Welker nearly netted the equalizer in the 67th minute, striking the crossbar. Despite a dominant second-half effort, the Spartans were unable to draw level and suffered their first loss of the season, 2-1.
Following their loss at home, the Spartans traveled to Chicago to face No. 5-ranked University of Chicago in a pivotal UAA matchup. The contest featured two evenly matched teams whose styles produced an intense, back-and-forth 90 minutes.
CWRU struck first when fourthyear co-captain Mackenzie Mueller sent a through ball to Welker, who had just entered the match four minutes earlier. Welker beat her defender and slipped a shot past the Maroons’ goalkeeper to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. The goal marked Welker’s fourth of the season and of her collegiate career.
The Maroons responded quickly, equalizing less than six minutes later with a header off a corner kick. The first half ended in a 1-1 deadlock.
The matchup marked the third in a grueling seven-game stretch against nationally ranked opponents, all within UAA play. The Spartans will travel next to Waltham, Massachusetts, and Newark, New Jersey, for a doubleheader weekend against Brandeis University and New York University.
Men’s Soccer
Like the women’s team, the CWRU men’s soccer team faced Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago over the past two weekends, falling in both matches by identical 1-0 scores and dropping to 0-2-1 in UAA play.
The Spartans opened their match against WashU with intensity, generating early opportunities. Third-year forward Philip Vlastaris forced a save with a shot on goal, and third-year midfielder Ohta Kamiya followed with a threatening free kick that was also stopped by the Bears’ goalkeeper. WashU broke the stalemate in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a corner kick to take the lead.
Despite a competitive second half and a handful of chances for CWRU, the Spartans were unable to convert. The 1-0 defeat marked their first home loss of the season.
CWRU then traveled to Chicago to face the University of Chicago in a match marked by unusual circumstances, including two rain delays—the second lasting nearly two hours. Once play resumed, the teams completed the final seven minutes of the first half, went through a shortened halftime and proceeded directly into the full 45 minutes of the second period.
Fourth-year forward Phillip Washington generated two shots on goal in the first half, both saved by the Maroons’ goalkeeper, and the game remained scoreless at the break. UChicago broke the deadlock in the 54th minute and held onto the one-goal lead for the remainder of the match. Fourth-year goalkeeper and co-captain Bradley Winter recorded a season-high five saves in the effort.
The Spartans will look to bounce back as they head to Waltham, Massachusetts, and Newark, New Jersey, to face Brandeis University and New York University this weekend in a doubleheader series alongside the women’s team.