Volume XLVI, Issue 15 January 16, 2015

the

Case Western Reserve University volume xlvi, issue 15 friday, 1/16/2015

Observer

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University Media Board at CES 2015

With support from think[box], Blackstone Launchpad, and Information Technology Services The International Consumer Electronics Show draws in businesses and entrepreneurs from 140 countries to exhibit their products and network within the industry. Among the over 3000 exhibits, there were six booths sponsored by Case Western Reserve University organizations, showcasing companies founded by CWRU alumni. These companies included Everykey, Carbon Origins, Event38, Spartan Yoyo Works, SpiroSano, Intwine Connect and Hema Imaging. The Observer followed these companies as they worked to meet their goals. We also took to the trade show floor to learn more about upcoming developments in technology and innovation from companies like Intel, 3D Systems and Oculus VR. Check out our coverage inside on page 2 and 3 and at observer.case.edu.

Meal swipes at Tink are here to stay Aneeka Ayyar Staff Reporter After an overwhelming push from students to have meal swipes at the Tinkham Veale University Center led to the temporary addition of swipes late last semester, Auxiliary Services made the decision to continue the program.

“By accepting meal swipes, it would alleviate lines at Grab It and Bag It,” said Jacob Ma, vice president of USG. Earlier in the year, Ma created a survey for students to voice their opinions on where else they would like meal swipes, and students overwhelmingly said TVUC. With the current meal plan, students have two meal swipes per week which can be used at the Jolly Scholar, Denny’s or the TVUC locations, including Melt University, naan, Pinzas and 8twenty6.

Beth Nochomovitz, director of Auxiliary Services, said that she hoped that this semester would allow for a “smoother transition” into TVUC accepting meal swipes. Because meal swipes were introduced last semester during finals week, the process was rushed.

More decisions on the specifics of the program are still being made.

News pg. 3 Researcher on prison reform

A&E pg. 9 History best drunk

Opinion pg. 6 Debunk disruptive innovation

Sports pg. 19 Cavs looking for answers

news Wearable computing, Internet of Things and more on display at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Andrew Hodowanec/Observer More than 3,600 exhibitors gathered at the International Consumer Electronics Show from Jan. 6 to Jan. 9. Among them were six booths with CWRU start-ups.

Joseph Satterfield Web Editor Each year, manufacturers and sellers of every type of electronic device gather in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show, a four-day exposition to showcase their products. The vendors pull out their latest innovations in an attempt to wow consumers and the media.

This year was no exception, with industry giants displaying products ranging from giant televisions to tiny computers. Among the many pieces of technology on display at the convention, wearable computers and smart devices were pushed to the forefront, but many other innovations were also displayed.

One of the biggest announcements in the realm of wearable computing was Intel’s Curie module, revealed at their keynote presentation. Through the use of the company’s new compact, low-power system architecture, Quark, the module can be as small as a button and still hold a charge for an extended period of time.

Intel envisions the chip being used in wearable technologies of any size.

Other companies also brought a

strong variety of wearable technologies to the show. Among the myriad of presentations, several devices stood out.

Emiota unveiled Beltly, a smart belt that adjusts itself automatically to best fit the user. In addition to this, the Link, a wearable solid state drive, was revealed along with an accompanying crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.

Another emerging trend was the increasing amount of Internet-connected devices. Everything, from doors to cars, will soon be connected by the Internet of Things (IoT).

Intel revealed True Key, a software package that stores and uses passwords for websites by using biometric authentication measures, such as facial recognition. In addition to showing the ability to unlock digital identities, Intel discussed a partnership with security firm ADT that would allow users of True Key to unlock the doors to their houses with the software.

Beyond creating new ways to unlock doors, other companies showed off connected cameras and light bulbs that produce Wi-Fi signals. With the connected devices sector of the

electronics industry only expected to grow over the next few years, the IoT can be expected to have an even larger presence at future conventions.

Whereas the makers of wearable computers are working to make their devices smaller, manufacturers of televisions showed off bigger models with higher resolutions than ever before.

Samsung and LG, two of the most wellknown television producers, brought a full complement of 4k televisions and some more experimental models to the show floor.

Samsung’s biggest attraction was a 110-inch television that utilized the company’s glasses-free 3D technology, while LG brought a TV with a similar resolution that boasted the company’s “Color Prime” technology to create more vibrant colors than past televisions.

In addition to ultra-high resolution televisions, companies showcased curved TVs, touting their improved viewing angles over normal models.

Although automobile companies usually wait to show their innovations at their own industry events, many of their innovations were also on display at

CES. The two areas of focus for the car industry were alternative energy sources and self-driving car technology.

In a surprising move, Toyota not only revealed a hydrogen fuel cell powered car, the Mirai, but also released all of its patents related to fuel cell technology in order to encourage development of competing cars.

BMW introduced the i3, a fully electric car with the ability to park itself after receiving a command from a smart watch.

Other companies exhibiting selfdriving car technologies included graphics card maker Nvidia and Ford, who revealed the Fusion Hybrid autonomous car. Ford also announced the Smart Mobility initiative to use big data analysis, connected vehicles and autonomous cars to conduct transportation experiments across the world.

CES is always a showcase for the latest trends in technology. Sectors spanning the entire consumer electronics industry brought their newest and most exciting products to the show in an attempt to capture the imagination of the public.

Andrew Hodowanec/Observer Some of the latest trends shown at the show included wearable technologies and innovations for cars and televisions.

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CWRU startups shine in Sin City Blackstone Launchpad, think[box] sponsor teams of students, alumni to exhibit at CES Katie Wieser Executive Editor While Cleveland was getting hit with another round of snow, some members of the campus community hit the road to sunny Las Vegas to heat things up at the International Consumer Electronics Show. The annual event, one of the largest trade shows in the world, is a mecca for technology startups and corporate giants alike, who converge on Sin City for four days of product releases, conference sessions and networking.

Blackstone LaunchPad and think[box] sponsored six startup companies to exhibit at the show. The companies included those founded and run by current students and those at least partially run by CWRU alumni.

The teams all had different goals heading into the show. Some wanted to earn start-up capital, others needed partners in technology or software development and others just wanted to gain some recognition.

Everykey, for example, put the focus on getting their brand known by potential customers in the wearables industry. They had several key meetings with high-level companies and were chosen as one of the 12 finalists in the prestigious ShowStoppers LaunchIt pitch competition.

SpiroSano, on the other hand, came into the show with a plan to find more business partners. The company, which has developed a software platform to help doctors track the progress of their patients’ respiratory health, spent time walking the show floor to make connections with companies selling health-tracking devices that could be set up on SpiroSano’s platform.

“We were pleasantly surprised at how many of the right people were at the show

and how open they were to our product,” said Jacob Glenn, a CWRU alumnus and co-founder of the company.

Event38, a company which manufactures and sells unmanned aerial vehicles for commercial use, also spent a great deal of time touring the other exhibits. The company found that their perspective needed to shift as they try to reach the next level.

“We’re thinking now about getting out of the day-to-day and thinking more big picture. Being here put things in perspective,” said founder Jeff Taylor.

Spartan Yoyo Works lured in attendees with the splashy yoyo work of Zachary Lerner, one of the founders. For this company, their biggest achievement during the show was obtaining samples of an expensive and useful filament that they’ll use to develop a new model of yoyo. The key of the show for Lerner and his partner Vincent Cozza was the experience of discussing your product with industry professionals.

“I came away more confident about my product and more confident about my ability to create that product,” said Lerner. “We got the experience of standing behind an idea with people who have ideas as good as your own.”

Sharing a table with Spartan Yoyo Works was Erik Beall with HemaImaging. Beall was demonstrating the power of the company’s first product, the HemaImager, which is a smartphone-integrated thermal imaging device. He was also talking up their new product, the HemaVision, an independent device with greater function and resolution. The major takeaway for Beall was the importance of the HemaVision in the current market.

“The biggest thing I learned was that people are looking for solutions and working really hard to find it,” said Beall

Andrew Hodowanec/Observer Six CWRU start-ups presented their ideas at the Consumer Electronics Show with the hopes of gaining recongition and investors.

Hosting a separate booth and bringing in the heaviest traffic was Carbon Origins.

Exhibiting the Apollo, a small circuit board with 11 separate sensors and bluetooth connectivity, the Carbon Origins team was working hard to complete their objective of having 5,000 beta testers and making connections with different industries to develop new applications.

Led by CWRU student Amogha Srirangarajan, the aerospace hardware development group exceeded its goals and realized its product was one that a lot of people had been looking for. The next step is finishing the beta testing period and going forward with full commercialization.

Bob Sopko, the director of Blackstone LaunchPad, was pleased with CWRU’s ex-

periences during the show, especially compared with the presence of other universities. While other schools had one booth each, CWRU had a sprawling six-booth area drawing in attendees with flashy displays and a focus on engineering.

“We wanted to increase the presence for Case in general,” said Sopko. “There are potential partnerships for the companies.

It’s too early to see, but the companies, particularly Everykey, Carbon Origins and SpiroSano, had a tremendous show.”

Blackstone Launchpad, think[box] and all of the startup companies are looking to keep the momentum going in 2015. Most of these organizations are planning crowdfunding campaigns, product launches or redesigns in the next 12 months.

Spotlight on research

Researcher finds that boys and girls react differently to witnessing intimate partner violence oping social skills, girls are worse off both sive behavior, and 46 percent showed fewer ship in college at a residential treatment pro-

Kushagra Gupta Staff Reporter

Dr. Megan Holmes’ poise is confident and warm, like that of someone to approach for support. Her demeanor comes as no surprise.

Holmes’ challenging work at a domestic violence shelter during graduate school helped her to foster this disposition. It was the children she met there, who had witnessed intimate partner violence (IPV), who eventually became the subject of her research.

Holmes was recently the lead investigator of a study that found that boys and girls react differently to IPV. Boys tend to become aggressive in social interactions, while girls struggle with social skills. While boys’ aggression may be maladaptive toward devel-

academically and socially.

The study involved information on 1,125 children from the federal National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. The survey questioned all parties involved with a child who had been referred to a state Child Protective Services agency. The data was collected over a number of years.

The researchers then used the data to see how observations of a child’s behavior changed over time. Using this information, they found that effects were most apparent at two pivotal points: from three to four years old in preschool and from five to seven years old in kindergarten.

For the preschool group, the study found that 14 percent of children displayed aggres-

Scholarship program to allow students to study in China Sruthi Meka Staff Reporter Starting in the fall 2015 semester, a new scholarship program will grant two Case Western Reserve University students the opportunity to study abroad in China.

The annual program will cover tuition, basic living expenses and medical insurance for the accepted students. Travel and other personal costs will be at the students’ expense.

Students in any field of study are encouraged to apply to the program after selecting an institution in China that has been pre-ap-

proved by CWRU. CWRU will send the applications to the Chinese Consulate General in New York by the middle of February of each year. Then, the China Scholarship Council will provide placements qualified students.

Accepted students will be able to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and gain exposure to different approaches to education.

They will also be able to forge relationships with Chinese students and their families.

Students interested in applying to the program should contact the Office of Education Abroad for further guidance.

social skills. For the kindergarten group, the amount of aggression increased to 18 percent, but the amount of children with poor social skills fell to 36 percent.

What really intrigued Holmes was when the genders were looked at separately. Boys were more likely to display aggression, while girls, who started off with poor social skills in preschool, did not improve in kindergarten.

The researchers knew from past work that different genders respond differently to different types of violence. Here, there was a clear indication that boys and girls who had witnessed IPV were reacting differently.

These types of findings attracted Holmes to her current line of work. While at an inter-

gram for children who had been abused and neglected, she realized that she wanted to focus her career on kids. It was in graduate school, however, while working at a domestic shelter, that Holmes became interested in children who had been exposed to IPV. “To me, it felt like this was a hidden population that didn’t get a lot of attention,” she said. “There’s a big focus on children who have been mistreated, but those that have been exposed to domestic violence has been very quietly talked about.”

Her curiosity was sparked, and she began her work into witnessing how IPV affects children.

“I knew I wanted to work with people and make a difference early on,” she said.

Thwing Center printing services to become full-service FedEx facility Adithi Iyengar Staff Reporter Printing services in the Thwing Center will be transformed into a full-service FedEx facility. Construction began on Dec. 19, and the facility is expected to be completed sometime during the

month of January. No specific completion date has been announced.

During the construction, all printing needs will be processed off campus at the Cedar Avenue Service Center.

Once the facility is fully operational, printing services will resume at the FedEx facility.

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Editor’s choice

Professor writes about reform in juvenile justice initiatives

Alexander Wheaton Staff Reporter Are there better ways than jail to reform juvenile criminal offenders? That is what Gabriella Celeste, professor in the Schubert Center for Child Studies, examines in her new brief, “Getting it Right: Realigning Juvenile Corrections in Ohio to Reinvest in What Works,” which sheds light on the state’s history of juvenile justice reform and the impact on local communities in the greater Cleveland area.

Celeste’s brief follows the August announcement from the Ohio Department of Youth Services for more funding to community based alternatives to the detention of children in the juvenile justice system.

The brief, which is available in full online, also highlights the long history of Ohio’s Reasoned and Equitable Community and Local Alternatives to the Incarceration of Minors (RECLAIM) program.

In Ohio and most of the United States, juvenile justice is instituted at the local level. While the federal government and some state governments standardize allocation of funds, arrest, indictment and punishment are all executed by local police officers and judges. Local governments also determine

how their courts define offenses for which juveniles can be tried as an adult.

“Juvenile justice is entirely dependent on how it is enforced at the local level,” said Celeste.

Before the institution of the RECLAIM program, juveniles in Ohio’s justice system were sent to Department of Youth Services (DYS) correctional facilities. Children who spent time in these facilities showed high rates of recidivism, or relapse into crime, upon release.

In response to overcrowding in these facilities, the Ohio DYS began its first RECLAIM program in 1992, by making funding for community-based alternatives to detention available in counties with the highest juvenile crime rates. The program directed juvenile offenders out of expensive prisons, where the cost per child was up to $561.00 per day, and into cheaper, local reform institutions.

Though the initial RECLAIM program sparked investment in community program development, the DYS provided few guidelines for the types of programs in which local governments invested the funds. At the time, local governments favored short, boot-camp style programs, which employed “scare them straight” tactics to re-

duce recidivism rates, Celeste said. However, recent research shows that children who attend boot camps are actually more likely to engage in criminal activity.

Despite this, the country saw gradual reductions in juvenile crime in the middle to late ‘90s. Still, juvenile justice records continued to follow children into adulthood.

Early community programs proved ineffective and local governments often failed to expunge records of juvenile offenses.

The old system, according to Celeste, “made it very hard for kids to have a true second chance, to screw up and not have it follow them for the rest of their lives.”

A resurgence of juvenile crime in 2000 prompted a closer look at the RECLAIM program’s success.

A shift in funding towards more evidence-based programs followed. Non-profit organizations evaluated youth rehabilitation programs for measurable outcomes like recidivism and school attendance, and the DYS issued stricter requirements for use of RECLAIM money.

According to Celeste, this led to increased use of programs that led to lower recidivism among adolescents for $9,000$11,000 a year, as opposed to the $561 per day while incarcerated. Local govern-

Attention!

ments reallocated fundings to programs like these, which showed better results than DYS facilities.

The changes announced in August

by DYS will make funding freed by the closure of all but three state correctional facilities available to all Ohio counties, not just those with high juvenile crime rates. When prisons close, the savings are usually rolled back into the state general fund and used to pay state debts or reduce taxes. By sending those savings instead to local governments to invest in local programs, Celeste says competitive RECLAIM “provides fiscal incentives for local judges to better the juvenile justice system.”

In this regard, Celeste says Ohio has set an example for the rest of the nation.

“This work informs policy makers about the consequences of being caught up in the juvenile justice system so they have a better appreciation of why young people do what they do,” she said.

Grants for the new competitive RECLAIM program will be released early this year, the brief describes, and stakeholders across the nation will be watching to see the new policy’s effects Ohio youth and communities.

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Required Courses ORBH 250 {5259}: Leading People ORBH 251 {5259 or 5490}: Leading Organizations

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ORBH 370 {5432}: Women & Men in Organizations T/Th 11:30-12:45

Weatherhead’s Department of Organizational Behavior is ranked in the top three world-wide Contact: Organizational Behavior org-behavior@case.edu 368-2055

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Water main breaks affect campus Garretson Oester Staff Reporter Over break, students who checked their emails received news of two water main breaks that affected the Case Western Reserve University campus.

The first occurred on Jan. 6 on campus near Wickenden Hall and Sears Library and affected buildings from Nord Hall to Crawford Hall for approximately five hours.

Three days later, on Jan. 9, a Cleveland Water Department water main break occurred on 120th Ave. near Mayfield Ave.,

On the beat

shutting down water to the campus, the community and limiting it at the hospitals.

Alex Margevicius, interim commissioner of water for the city of Cleveland, told ABC 5 that in cold weather, like the region saw that day, the city averages ten water main breaks per day.

According to the Winnipeg, Canadian water provider, breaks are caused when the ground freezes and thaws, exerting pressure on pipes. This primarily impacts water mains that are already weakened by corrosion—generally older pipes—like the one that burst on Jan. 9, which was installed in 1924.

Problems are repaired using a multistep process, as detailed by the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority.

First, underground utilities are marked, and then water is rerouted around the affected zone to lessen the impact, if possible. Excavation commences and, on large main breaks, like the one on Jan. 9, a temporary patch is installed until permanent repairs can be undertaken and the pipe can be fully “recharged” with water pressure.

However, by the evening of Jan. 9, water had been restored to CWRU, with permanent repairs to the 24-inch water main and road expected to be complete by Jan. 16.

Back in the saddle

The CWRU Police Department would like to welcome back all of our returning students, staff and faculty. As much as we enjoyed the quiet phones in dispatch and the shorter lines at Starbucks, we are glad to have you back.

Whether you spent your break traveling to an exotic location or just watching a lot of college football and sleeping for 20 hours a day, we hope everyone is rested and recharged for the spring semester. As we get back into academic routines, let’s get back into safety routines as well. Here are a few tips.

The almanac says that the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, passed on Dec. 21, and everyday thereafter we get a few more minutes of sunlight. While that’s a reassuring thought, it still gets dark really early in Janu-

CWRU Police Blotter Dec. 2 to Jan. 14 Dec. 8: Assault—student punched in head by unknown make, E. 115 St. Dec. 12: Criminal damage— tire slashed on car, Lot 5.

Dec. 14: Aggravated assault—male suspect struck student on head with bottle, Euclid Ave. and E. 120 St. Dec. 17: Felony theft— unattended backpack taken, Allen Memorial Library.

Dec. 18: Felony theft— backpack taken from next to sleeping owner, Fribley Commons.

Dec. 22: Criminal damage— window smashed, Amasa Stone Chapel.

Jan. 5: Breaking and entering—males found inside building, University Circle Inc. Office.

Jan. 8: Criminal trespass— previously warned male found on property, Crawford Hall.

Jan. 13: Driving while intoxicated—male involved in vehicle damage accident found to be intoxicated, Lot 63.

ary, so continue to stick to well-lit, well-travelled paths when moving around the campus area at night. The shuttle buses and Safe Ride are also good options for getting around safely.

The CWRU PD usually sees a spike in alcohol-related transports and incidents in January, especially around long weekends. We know it’s cold outside, but you might want to think about moderating your eggnog intake just a little bit.

As always, regardless of the season, theft of unattended cell phones, tablets, backpacks, wallets and purses is the most frequent criminal occurrence on campus. Leave your valuables in your room if you don’t need them, and keep an eye on them if you do bring them with

you. If you go to a gym or similar facility, keep valuables in a locker instead of leaving them lying around courtside or poolside.

Make sure you still have our dispatch number, 216-268-3333, in your phone and download the free CWRU Shield safety app on your iPhone or Android if you haven’t done so already. So call us if you need us and have a great and safe second semester. Let’s look out for each other.

On the Beat is a weekly safety column written by Sergeant Jeffrey Daberko and Officer Mark (The Crossing Guard) Chavis of CWRU PD. We welcome questions, suggestions and gripes/groans/moans/complaints about campus life at policecolumn@case.edu.

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Cleveland catch-up Julia Bianco News Editor Tamir Rice’s investigation moves to the Sheriff’s Department Following the fatal police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, the subsequent investigation, previously being conducted by the Cleveland police department, will be taken over by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.

Rice was shot by Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann on Nov. 22, 2014 while at the Cudell Recreation Center with an Airsoft gun. He died the next day.

Rice’s death, which came at a time of national turmoil over police brutality due to the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases, led to protests across the city.

“The decision to turn the investigation over was made to ensure that transparency and an extra layer of separation and impartiality were established,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson in a statement.

Some still aren’t happy with moving the investigation to the Sheriff’s Department, with Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed asking Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine to take over the investigation to increase trust and remove possible bias.

Tanisha Anderson’s death ruled a homicide On Jan. 2, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner ruled the death of 37-yearold Tanisha Anderson a homicide, saying that she died from being “physically restrained in a prone position.”

On Nov. 13, Anderson’s family called the police twice to report that she was disturbing the peace. When the police came, Anderson, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, reportedly struggled while being escorted to the police car. However, according to her brother, Anderson voluntarily entered the car before getting nervous and leaving.

Upon leaving the vehicle, a police officer performed a take-down move to handcuff her, which caused her sudden death. The police department’s Use of Deadly Force Investigation Team is currently looking into the incident.

Anderson’s family recently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Cleveland, calling for a jury trial for the two officers involved, as well as damages.

Anderson’s death, like Rice’s, has been cited by protesters as an example of police brutality and a call to reform the system.

Mandatory rape kit testing leads to new convictions

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Senate Bill 316, which requires law enforcement agencies to test all untested raped kits, passed unanimously through the Ohio House on Dec. 17. The law, which will take effect in March, will require all departments to send previous and current rape kits in for DNA testing.

This law follows a recent initiative to test a backlog of rape kits from 1993 to 2010, in order to prosecute cases before their 20-year statute of limitations expires. The project has sent more than 4,300 kits in for testing.

On Jan. 7, Moses Clark, a 64-year-old man who was set to be released from prison on that day, had his sentence extended when DNA evidence linked him to three new rape cases, which occurred in 2006.

opinion Editor’s Note

Popping the market disruption bubble

This new innovation trend isn’t all it’s cracked up to be For something that’s meant to inspire exciting ideas and unforeseen productivity, the concept of disruptive innovation seems to have gotten a bit stodgy.

For those of you who haven’t taken an entrepreneurship class in the past few years, disruptive innovation is all about making products and organizations work in different ways in order to “disrupt” the current market. Ideally this would mean a product becoming more intuitive. However, it usually just means that the company’s employees use beanbag chairs and they have unnecessarily redesigned a perfectly good system.The philosophy has become the rallying cry of startups and Fortune 500 companies alike as these businesses seem to think every aspect of the customer experience needs a reinvention.

With the help of think[box] and Blackstone Launchpad, I received the chance to attend International CES last week where it was all about innovation as new products were launched and different industries collaborated to create new solutions. But once you have the CEO of Comcast—one of the most backwards and unsatisfactory corporations in the U.S.—as a part of a panel called Disrupt or be Disrupted to dole out advice on how to get ahead through this new innovation called ‘the cloud,’ it certainly seems like disruptive innovation has completely jumped the shark.

Maybe it’s time to interrupt your regularly disruptive programming with a way to think about new ideas and progress in a

way that can actually help a business grow.

As it’s taught, innovation is driven by technological advances and genius-level marketing, but it seems like what actually works in the real world isn’t centered around technology at all. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the oldest business tools there is. Successful business and product developers know how to listen to customers and learn from them what they need and want.

Every panel on leadership or entrepreneurship seemed to look at this aspect of their business differently. When I went to a discussion on how today’s connected world can adapt to increasing challenges of security and efficiency, the panel members found themselves discussing how people don’t really want to go through 15 steps and 8 verifications to open their front door. They just want it to work easily and effortlessly every time.

Another discussion about growing a customer base from nothing to something was faced with a question from the crowd on how to get past the people who aren’t in your target market. The reply was both simple and a departure from the trendy discussions on how to destroy what people think about your brand until they love it. The answer was simply that until you have your first 100 customers, you don’t even know what your product is. So how can you have a target market? Let the early adopters put in the hard work of figuring out what your product can do so you can better meet their expectations.

This concept of adaptation and active listening was seen again on the show floor.

For example, Carbon Origins, a startup built out of Case Western Reserve University, thought that the people who would be most interested in their product would be other rocket or unmanned aerial vehicle developers. However, they realized just last week there were entire industries being ignored by companies who come in with a target product and a target market and fail to listen to the people who would use their product. Who would have thought that a sports team would need an advanced device to track the fitness of their athletes?

No one except those intimately familiar with the challenges of the industry.

The keynote on disruption also had a different take on this concept, with the CEOs of Cisco and Robert Bosch LLC weighing in on how important it is to have external creative forces at work on your behalf to figure out the best way to break and remake each system. They talked specifically about being flexible and projectfocused to better adapt to changes in the market. This may be disruptive from a traditional corporate mindset, but it’s intuitive to the way we’ve all learned to work and collaborate in our personal lives and in the academic world.

Another perceived disruption was Intel’s announcement of their plan to increase hiring of women and underrepresented minorities within their organization. This break from business as usual in Silicon Valley could be seen as an innovation, but as Robin Hunicke, the CEO of an independent video game studio, discussed, it is actually essential to have a group of

people working on a project who reflect those who will be using it. The prophets of disruptive innovation say that this is needed because more perspectives are needed to come up with innovative ideas, but Hunicke had a different point.

In a market that is both ethnically and culturally diverse, it’s ludicrous to think that a team of similar individuals could create a product that will be accepted by the majority. It may be easier to just draft a group of your friends or people with the same thought process to work with you on your latest project, but it will have a better result if you reach outside your comfort zone to someone who represents what your target market could be.

Listening to people and making sure you have the right team isn’t disruptive innovation, it’s a way to really construct a market of your own. It means you will come up with products and ideas that are greater than just one person’s input. And it’s something we can all apply when we look to create both teams and products. Instead of focusing on redesigning cubicles or making a twostep process into one that requires five different external authentications, look for constructive feedback and position yourself to change quickly and as often as the market requires.

Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those semesters Sophomore slump

Stephen Kolison From day one of starting school, our parents, friends, grandparents, priests and barbers wanted us to be the best in our classes. And for the last three semesters I, and the rest of my classmates, strived for perfection.

More than likely, we will want to be close to perfect until we graduate because being the best at something simply makes your life that much easier. I know that we all spent the last month resting and relaxing, but I am still tired. I am tired of wanting to get everything right the first time. The awe and passion that I once had has slowly chipped away and been replaced with an urge to simply get my degree and get the hell out of here. The motivation to do anything disappeared the minute we were welcomed back with Cleveland’s lame weather.

You’d think that coming back to a new term would give everyone the energy to push on ahead to the end of the year, but we all don’t have the drive right now. The second semester is a time for change, and without our determination the only thing that will change are the people around us as they make an effort to act differently.

Resolutions are not for everyone, but

students still make vows to help alter the course of their lives.

Whether someone wants to wake up earlier or wishes to go to Veale every now and then, we make promises to ourselves because we want something to be different. We want the unexpectedness and enjoyment that come with changing the mundane routines we’ve made during our college careers. And sometimes we really don’t know what we want, but we want something that reminds us that this semester is not going to be a repeat of the last one. Unfortunately, the more we want to change our old habits, the more likely we are to make a mistake.

When I look back on my past three semesters at CWRU, all I can really remember are the times that I have made a complete ass of myself. Even after all the embarrassment and failures, that part of the year becomes ingrained in my memory and for some crazy reason it makes me want to make more mistakes.

It sounds odd to want to royally mess up.

Here come the clichés, but we need to learn from our mistakes. There is always one guy in the crowd who interprets something as little as falling while going up the stairs as something big and dramatic: “As I saw the ground inch closer to my face, I realized that the stairs represent life and how it’s

always knocking me down.”

Then there is the guy next to him who would fall too and just say, “Man that was dumb. Stupid stairs.”

Not every mistake has a lesson and not every lesson is meant to be profound.

Learning something from an experience makes it all worthwhile. I guess I want to muck things up because I am looking forward to having something to look back on. In just four years we’re expected to get an education, find everlasting friends and make memories that will last forever.

College is tough, but having the memories of different mistakes I’ve made feels like having battle scars. It says that even though it was a crappy time in my life, I got through it and I’m still alive to talk about it.

A wise resident assistant once told me that college is the only place where socially unacceptable things become socially acceptable. Maybe the passion and drive that people look for are within those words. If we really do just have four years to make things happen, then why not make it happen now and see where it goes?

You wouldn’t think that it would be humanly impossible to screw up so many times within the short span of a year and a half, but somehow I’ve become the inhuman Guinness World Record Holder for “Most Screwups” in just a month. I

abused Freshman Forgiveness when I had it, and I have failed so hard at flirting that I should be barred from making human contact. But they are my mistakes, and I take full responsibility for them. They make me cringe, but they make me laugh too. These beautifully painful stories will be the tales I tell my siblings, parents, children and the guy sitting next to me on the number 32 to Target.

So I guess this is my time to make a “call to action.” I’m not asking anyone to mess up beyond repair or stop trying to be perfect. I think I am asking people to do something in the middle of that. I’m asking people to take more risks and own their mistakes this term so they can learn something that isn’t in a book. A semester doesn’t become perfect because of academics alone but because we found that doing imperfect things leads to discovery.

And maybe becoming good at college means trying to be a little bad.

Stephen Kolison is a sophomore psychology major and pre-unemployment student. He is a jack of all trades and master of none in training, a member of IMPROVment and knits while watching Downton Abbey. He hopes to be a talk show host.

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Think beyond the white noise The meaning of Spartan life Jacob Martin I read a great book over winter break called “White Noise” by Don Delillo about an interesting family living in a college town. Amid an airborne toxic event, a death-defying drug called dylar and a Hitler studies department, one of the best characters I’ve ever encountered in literature, is Murray. Filled with cultural and philosophical musings, I analyzed my life in reaction to his words.

Near the end of the book, Murray says, “Nostalgia is a product of dissatisfaction and rage. It’s a settling of grievances between the present and the past. The more powerful the nostalgia, the closer you come to violence. War is the form nostalgia takes when men are hard-pressed to say something good about their country.”

Spring 2015 is my last semester at Case Western Reserve University. As my last first week of college classes comes to an end I can’t help but get a little nostalgic. I wonder, am I dissatisfied and in a pent-up rage? Is my present situation becoming infused with and subsequently satisfied with my past? Am I becoming violent? Am I somehow on the verge of war with CWRU? Overall, I have none of Murray’s nostalgic attributes, but I think his words are relevant because they make me think about my experiences at CWRU. Nostalgia is a fascinating phenomenon. Perhaps it can bring one to vio-

lence, but it can also guide one to a heightened awareness of one’s present consciousness.

As I listen to the stories of students returned from Decembers of skiing, working a crappy job, lazily sitting at home and a whole battery of other break-time festivities, I cannot help but think about the typical college semester.

In the beginning, stories and catching up is normal. The obligatory “how was your break?” is asked, and an even more obligatory “Blah, blah, blah… how was yours?” is returned. Everyone makes it to class on time and the seemingly abundant free time is spent in frantic anticipation of the impending lack of it.

By week three the library starts to hit its operating stride as students unsuspectingly traipse in for long nights at tables with friends and classmates. The first round of sickness makes its way around each residence hall and complaints about the meal plan resume. Complaints about homework also resume.

By midterms everyone is in shock the semester is half over. Eight weeks go by quickly.

Spring Break plans are mused and dreamt about until they are fulfilled, and when classes resume the inevitability of the “how was your break?” exchange ensues before we settle back into our routines.

As finals approach the stress pushes out everything that isn’t directly related to studying, SpringFest, Greek Week and travel plans home. We take exams and all the hoopla of camaraderie and fellowship that we feel at the beginning and throughout a semester is nowhere to be found. Oftentimes it feels like

a semester leaves you alone and confused at what just happened.

Maybe what I am describing is the manifestation of Murray’s nostalgic anger, violence and war. Maybe each semester is anti-cathartic.

On Monday, President Barbara R. Snyder sent the entire CWRU community an email with “Looking Forward, and Back” in the subject line. She talked about how the fall semester was “unlike any other in recent memory,” and she affirmed our collective purpose. It was, essentially, a touching gesture of solidarity and community building—a gesture offered with the announcement of the release of “Think Beyond,” the university’s annual report.

I looked at “Think Beyond” and—just as Snyder alludes—there are inspiring stories within that may subvert “devastating developments or one-too-many mundane distractions,” but humdrum routines are what we must have. Without paradoxically blocking out and simultaneously embedding oneself in the trivialities of everyday existence, students might not be as successful as they are.

However, that is not a case for apathy. We students should be discussing immediate issues like university administration transparency and tuition, as well as hot ticketed world issues like ISIS, CIA questioning and torture tactics, and the ethics of creating a movie in which the assassination of a currently living person is depicted. These issues slip through the cracks somewhere around the three week mark and no required public relations brochure will detract from our egoism.

Delillo’s book is littered with purposely out-of-place one-liners: after a long interior monologue about death, the single word “Panasonic;” after another about the presence of mountains in any given state the radio interrupts, “Excesses of salt, phosphorous, magnesium;” constantly intruding between dialogue the television interjects, “Meanwhile here is a quick and attractive lemon garnish suitable for any seafood,” and “In the four-hundred-thousand-dollar Nabisco Dinah Shore.”

These absurdities give the novel its title: “White Noise.” I’d like to think we overcome the aberration of white noise around us every day, and that’s the point, isn’t it, to overcoming the unavoidable triviality of our daily existence and establish a meaningful purpose in life?

Perhaps Snyder is right. “Think Beyond” might be an uplifting phrase, one which possesses the power to rejuvenate the soul. But one could argue the university’s annual report is no different than an intrusive one-liner issued from a TV set. (Enter the paradox of blocking out and embedding oneself in the mundane.)

Pink Floyd said, “Breathe, breathe in the air. Don’t be afraid to care.” However you spend your time this semester, be aware of the white noise: sense it, own it, accept it, reject it, live with it. When you feel challenged, breathe, care and just be you. Welcome back.

Jacob Martin is still waiting for the green scaffolding to come down around Clark Hall.

Why do we erect new buildings in the face of neglected existing ones?

A note on beginnings The elephant in the room

Andrew Breland Last week, Nov. 4 specifically, the U.S. held the midterm general elections. By 11 p.m. it was obvious that the Republican Party would regain control of the U.S. Senate and expand their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here in Ohio, all of the statewide elections also went to the Republicans—margins ranged from 45 percent to 13 percent. By all accounts, nationally and here in Ohio, it was a hallmark victory for the GOP. This should, however, be taken with a sort of caveat. In Ohio, turnout for the elections sat somewhere around 38 percent.

Here in Cuyahoga County, predictions were marginally better—40 percent. Nationwide, it looks like this election will match previous elections at around 41 percent.

In other developed democracies around the world, turnout rates are better on average.

Germany sits at about 85 percent. France averages 76 percent. India, even with a massive population, reports 66 percent turnout.

Brazil, another large country, has 83 percent.

Of course just comparing these numbers is a large simplification. Some countries make voting compulsory, others only hold elections once a year. But in general, the United States suffers from one of the worst voter turnout

percentages in the world.

This points not just to apathy in regard to politics, which many people argue is true.

Instead, it indicates a lack of community and a sense of involvement with the rest of the world.

For many, university students especially, the world of politics, conflict and anything other than daily work, food and sleep is a foreign concept. When our world clashes with that one, it’s abrupt and conflicting.

One prescient example of the two worlds colliding occurred two weeks ago. By now, most everyone should know about the racist comments made against protesters on campus.

For those still unaware, during a demonstration as part of a “National Day of Protest,” students from a number of minority rights groups walked throughout campus at night chanting, arguing against police brutality. The protests were triggered by the allegedly improper shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer. Whatever your views on the subject (and many, including me, have strong and competing views on the veracity of parts of the movement), all must admit that the protest signified an uncommon instance where a part of the campus engaged with the outside world.

However, the responses that followed illustrate the discomfort. While many students sat silently in their rooms, others took to social media to support or attack the demonstrators.

Some now-famous messages compared them

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The Observer is a proud member of the CWRU Media Board.

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 10900 Euclid Avenue, Suite A09, Cleveland, OH 44106. For policy and guidelines related to the submission of Letters to the Editor, refer to observer.case.edu/submit-a-letter.

to animals and used other offensive language.

The visceral responses illustrate just how hard it can be when our idyllic world clashes with that outside our ivory tower.

Students on college campuses exemplify the kind of apathy that causes discomfort. In the past few weeks, students were annoyed or offended by the protest, by Young Americans for Liberty’s free speech wall, by voter outreach efforts and more. Although these were simply attempts to bring students back into the real world.

Unfortunately, this might be our own fault. Students tend to dissociate from the outside world. We stop listening to the news and start to care about the latest hashtag or viral article on Facebook. This sometimes results in the delivery of information, but often blinds us to what’s really going on.

How many students know what is going on in Ukraine right now? I could imagine most know that Russia invaded the country a couple months ago? But would most realize that two other provinces are voting to secede, and that Ukraine is using their own military to keep the country together? How about here at home? While the internet is abuzz with Ebola, what about other diseases that kill millions? What happened to net neutrality?

Where did the outrage over the NSA go?

The country as a whole is driven toward these short bursts of interest in small issues.

This is only exacerbated with students. Too

often, students have their heads in a book or computer, oblivious to the outside world around them. Oblivious to the struggles that other people are facing. Unfortunately, this outlook creates conflict. Not just between us and the outside, but after graduation, students who have been immune to news for the last four years are once again inundated with it.

Presently, our immunity raises generations of people comfortable with being apathetic.

We shouldn’t exist in an environment where the response to “Who are you voting for” is “Who’s running?” There shouldn’t be an option to say “What is that?” when asked about the ongoing conflict in Syria. “I don’t care” shouldn’t be in our vocabulary.

Apathy is a dangerous thing. We can complain about the lack of community or tradition at Case Western Reserve University, but that ignores the larger issue. Students are apathetic. Apathetic students become apathetic adults. That has to change. So, although some might have been startled by the protest, although some might have been offended by statements on the free speech wall, the efforts are for the better. They should continue and become more common.

If people will not learn themselves, those of us determined to better our community and world should speak louder.

Andrew Breland, senior, is a weekly Opinion columnist. Contact him at awb69@ case.edu.

the observer

established in 1969 by the undergradute students of case western reserve university executive editor & publisher KATHLEEN WIESER director of design MEREDITH DYKEHOUSE director of print MIKE MCKENNA director of business operations TAYLOR MORAN advertising & marketing manager COLE MORRIS account manager MARCUS GUTIERREZ digital publicity & communications manager JESSICA YANG news editor JULIA BIANCO a&e editor ANNE NICKOLOFF opinion editor AQUENE KIMMEL sports editor JP O’HAGAN advisor BERNIE JIM multimedia editor HARSHA CHANDUPATLA web editor JOE SATTERFIELD news layout CHRISTINA CHENG a&e layout VICTOR LOPEZ copy editors MARIA FAZAL ADITHI IYENGAR sports layout ROBERT BROWN opinion layout AMANDA LI

fun

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9/5/14

Horoscopes Aries

You will feel cold at some point this week.

Taurus

Charge this semester head-on (buy lots of Vitamin C!)

Gemini

Don’t let the cold cramp your style!

Show off all them Grandmaknitted scarves!

Cancer

Ivory Tower

COMICS

Nutcase

Kevin Yong

You will probably trick yourself into thinking you can take 21 credit hours this semester. Your mantra is “Cs get degrees.”

Leo

If you’re rushing this weekend, you will get into the sorority of your dreams. If you’re not rushing, you will be confused when you get into the sorority of your dreams.

Virgo

The weather outside may be cold but chocolate is warm. It’s all a metaphor for life.

Libra

No matter how hard your life gets, remember that Constantinos sells Nutella.

Scorpio

Take a hint from that chubby squirrel just chilling in the snow. Life’s a beach!

Ophiuchus

Shout out to all you resolutioners.

Make them come true!

Sagittarius

You’re pretty. Good for you.

Capricorn

You will win second place at a beauty pageant, collect ten dollars.

Aquarius

This week, you’re basically Aqua from the Cheetah Girls.

Pisces

Across 1. Stop for a horse 5. Thick slices of something 10. Backside 14. Rime 15. Garden bulb 16. Mobile phone 17. Unhygienic 19. Wicked 20. Japanese apricot 21. Excrete 22. List components 23. Schemes 25. Ritual 27. American Dental Association 28. Physiologically dependent 31. Door fasteners 34. Interprets written material 35. Nigerian tribesman 36. ___ vera 37. Herbs 38. Kiss 39. 3 in Roman numerals 40. Motherless calf 41. Indications 42. Proceed

12. Slender 13. L L L L 18. Requires 22. Nile bird 24. Give and ____ 26. Contributes 28. Eagle’s nest 29. Black, in poetry 30. Canines 31. Nonclerical 32. Hodgepodge 33. Happens simultaneously 34. Mischievously 37. Habit 38. Anagram of “Sing” 40. Cut into cubes Down 41. Move furtively 1. Caprices 43. Ability 2. Product of bees 44. Rapids 3. Fertile area in a desert 46. Artillery burst 4. Genus of macaws 47. Keen 5. A symbol of disgrace 48. Cubic meter 6. Chordophones 49. Goat antelope 7. “Oh my!”

50. Anagram of “Dome” 8. Birthday 51. Russian parliament 9. Operative 53. Found on most heads 10. Vinegary 11. Strengthening a wall with 56. Small portable bed 57. Apprehend masonry 44. Excavate 45. Desert plants 46. Unhappiness 50. Ancient Roman magistrate 52. Will 54. Consumed food 55. Guy 56. Rival 58. Portent 59. Drink garnish 60. Relating to aircraft 61. Spar 62. Beginners 63. Beer

Crossword Puzzle

Envision finals week. Now ignore that image for the next few months. Actually just ignore that image for the rest of time. Now you’re getting the hang of it.

arts & entertainment Drunk Cleveland history Comedy Central show tours through Euclid Tavern for Q&A with locals

The small basement of the Euclid Tavern was busier than ever at “Drunk History’s” Q&A session with local Clevelanders.

Lilith Freed/Observer

Enio Chinca Staff Reporter On Monday, Jan. 12, “Drunk History” filmed new content in Cleveland’s own Euclid Tavern. The show took place in the basement, because the producers made the unfortunate decision of scheduling the show during an Ohio State football game. While crowds erupted upstairs, actors fielded a number of blunt and witty questions to Cleveland residents waiting below.

The show premiered in 2013 on Jul. 9, and is based on a popular webisode series. It will soon begin its third season under Comedy Central. Cleveland will

be part of the third season and features a number of conversations between the actors in the show and civilians, as well as some information about the city as well.

The setting in the Euclid Tavern was dim and coarse, with its worn bricks lining the walls of the basement. Just one woman operated the barkeep, keeping actors and guests happily entertained with drinks. At one point, show creator and star of “Drunk History” Derek Waters began interviewing Clevelanders about how they like their city. As the

partners exchanged remarks, the actor suddenly drifted totally off topic; a result of a combination of his intoxication and dedication to his craft.

“My spirit animal is a worm,” said Waters spontaneously, as people listening around the bar laughed.

His conversation about Cleveland had turned to something different (and a little more incoherent) altogether. People in the bar all jostled in line for a chance to be part of the show.

Waters, a 35 year old actor and comedian, has been travelling around

the United States with his crew to find places with interesting history where they can share a pint and speak with some locals. The trip stopped at Miami and New Jersey, before making its way to Cleveland.

These specific segments were not for episodes, but rather to be added on as interview extras in season three of “Drunk History.” Their goal in Cleveland was simply to interview as many people as they could to get funny or interesting bits in the few hours they filmed in the tavern.

UPB announces Nick Offerman as spring comedian, New York City as spring break trip destination Tiffany Cheung Staff Reporter Get ready to look forward to two more University Program Board events this semester: the Spring Comedian, and the Spring Break Trip.

With spring semester off to a cold and snowy start, students look forward to the warm days ahead. Although spring break may be two months away, UPB’s spring break trip plans are already underway.

As UPB announced during Thwing Study Over, this year’s spring break trip will be to New York City. When choosing the destination for the trip, the members of UPB had to take into consideration cost, travel time and student opinions.

Kya Sherman, the director of public relations for UPB, says that although UPB stayed within its normal travel limits, the trip itself will expand to become bigger and even more exciting for the students. Sherman also said that since the mode of transportation is coach

buses, UPB had to greatly consider how long students would be willing to travel.

Unlike previous years, this year’s spring break trip will be extended to six days and four nights. Also, instead of only allowing 50 students to go on this trip, UPB is adding another coach bus so that 100 students will be able to attend.

Similar to how tickets for the fall break trip were sold in person, tickets for the spring break trip to New York City will be sold in person too. UPB found that this method was efficient, because students were able to stand in line with their friends and purchase the tickets together. Tickets will be sold at the Students Activities & Leadership Office on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 9:30 p.m.

The prices of tickets have not yet been determined, because UPB is currently trying to lower the cost for students.

Another exciting event that students will have to look forward to is the Spring Comedian coming to campus.

Annually, UPB puts on its two biggest events: the Fall Concert in the Fall

Semester and the Spring Comedian in the Spring Semester. Since both of these events aim to bring big names to campus, a huge portion of UPB’s budget goes to these two events.

This year, there has been a delay in the spring comedian decision because of a few hiccups and issues, according Sherman. In addition, UPB had to take into consideration the cost and opinions of the students.

As per tradition, UPB announced the Spring Comedian on their Facebook page. This year, Nick Offerman and Retta will be coming to campus.

Offerman and Retta are respectively known for their roles as Ron Swanson and Donna Meagle in the popular NBC show, “Parks and Recreation” .

Since UPB’s Facebook post on Tuesday, Jan. 15, students have already been talking about the spring comedians coming to campus.

One student, Noah Blatt, excitedly shouted, “Nick Offerman? The manliest man? I am so excited. The dude is a

Event: Spring Comedian Location: Severance Hall Tickets: TBA

legend.”

Student Jared Robinson had a similar assessment.

“I think it’s an exciting opportunity for Case Western students to meet a celebrity,” Robinson said. “It will be really cool.”

With all the excitement surrounding the comedians for this event, UPB expects to fill all 1,900 seats of Severance Hall. Kya Sherman says that this event has always been a huge turnout and that she expects this year to be the same.

Tickets for the spring comedian will be on sale on Jan. 26 and will eventually be opened up to the community as well.

Currently, UPB is also working with GradProCouncil and Graduate Student Senate to get discounted tickets for graduate students.

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Local January Events Cleveland moments you won’t want to miss Sanjana Krishnakumar Contributing Reporter Show: “Disney on Ice Presents Frozen” Location: Quicken Loans

Arena Dates: Jan. 9-18 Tickets: $20+ See your friends Olaf and Elsa figure skate at the Q. Get your tickets today for the “Disney on Ice Presents Frozen” ice spectacle. The use of lighting, pyrotechnics and illuminated ice makes the show enjoyable for all ages.

Event: “Provocatively Pre- Code” Location: Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque Dates: Jan. 10-March 1 Tickets: $8-$10 Interested in flashy, gaudy and naughty films from 1930s Hollywood?

Visit the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque and watch the “Provocatively Pre-Code” series show. It’s a blast from the past event you won’t want to miss.

Event: Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Concert Location: Severance Hall Dates: Jan. 18 Tickets: Free Dress to impress for a night of beautiful music. Cleveland Orchestra will be performing a free concert at Severance Hall to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and accomplishments.

Event: The Beat Uptown: Fire and Ice Location: Toby’s Plaza Dates: Jan. 22 Tickets: Free The winter fun has begun. Come to The Beat Uptown: Fire and Ice fest for hot cider, ice bowling, ice sculpting, bonfires and much more. The event title’s “Game of Thrones” reference alone should lead to a good turnout, when surrounded by CWRU’s campus.

Brite Winter Fest announces 2015 lineup Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter Event: Brite Winter Festival Location: Various Ohio City locations Dates: Jan. 21 Time: 4pm—11pm Tickets: Free It’s not often that you can get excited about winter in Cleveland, but for the past six years, Brite Winter Fest has been cause for celebration, as tens of thousands of people swarm to Market Square on West 25th Street in support of local music, homegrown art and endless fun.

This year is the festival’s biggest yet, featuring Chicago’s Maps & Atlases and hometown heroes Welshly Arms as headliners amongst a group of 60 bands that will perform on eight different stages spread throughout Ohio City.

Other acts of note include Baltimore’s Sun Club, Cleveland’s Cobra Verde, Nowhere, Ottawa, Uno Lady, hip hop artist Archie Green and many more. Check out the full lineup and be sure to mark Feb. 21 on your calendars.

1/16/15

The Modern Electric look to

soundtrack your year Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter The Modern Electric, Cleveland’s own crafters of “cinematic pop,” have announced plans to create a soundtrack for their fans in 2015.

Each month in the upcoming year will see a new single released from the quartet’s forthcoming album, “Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” due out this June. Given the group’s strong relationship to film, each track will also feature its own accompanying visual counterpart.

“We are excited to be growing as

filmmakers, writers, directors as well as musicians. There is so much room for art around the music, and as a cinematic pop band, it is our job to take advantage of those opportunities,” said bassist and drummer Matthew Childers.

January’s single is the aptly titled “Great Expectations,” produced by Mike McCarthy, who is known for his work with Spoon. For lead singer Garrett Koymati, the power of this new single is in the commonality that listeners will experience.

“The new material becomes a universal soundtrack in a way,” he said. “Mod-

ern Electric fans will be living their lives, listening to “Great Expectations” in their cars and in their bedrooms, making memories to this new track. Twenty years from now they will hear that song and be brought back to the experiences they created in January of 2015. It’s like emotional time travel. The best part is that, as each month passes, there will be something new to look forward to.”

Look for each of The Modern Electric’s new songs at your favorite digital music outlet and music videos at the band’s website.

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Ska-tastic!

Less than Jake and Reel Big Fish to take on House of Blues Jan. 23

CWRU

formal recruitment The basic fashion guide for potential new members

Allison Duchin Staff Reporter

Courtesy Less Than Jake The last time Less Than Jake was in Northeast Ohio was for Warped Tour in July 2014. On Jan. 23, they will return for a show at House of Blues with Reel Big Fish.

Anne Nickoloff Arts & Entertainment Editor Ska may not be going strong in mainstream music, but this hasn’t put a dent in the plans of Less than Jake. Just under 20 years after the release of their first album “Pezcore,” the band has stayed busy.

Their latest album, “See the Light,” came out on Nov. 12, 2013, and they’ve been touring around the world with soldout shows nearly everywhere they go. On Jan. 23, they’ll be stopping by Cleveland’s House of Blues with Reel Big Fish and Authority Zero for a ska-filled kicker of a show, on a tour around the eastern U.S. This band just hasn’t slowed down, and neither has their music.

Less than Jake singer Chris Demakes said that the band is still just as energetic as ever.

“What we were doing 20 years ago is still there. We go out there and we genuinely have a good time on stage together and the audience feeds off that, and then we feed off the audience,” he said. “We’ve gotten better as performers, we’ve refined our shows and we’ve gotten better as musicians, but the overall vibe and energy is pretty much intact from what it was.”

The same can be said of Reel Big Fish, who is co-headlining Less than Jake’s latest tour, along with opener Authority Zero. To most 90’s punks who grew up with the these bands’ music, this kind of tour is the biggest musical treat to start off the new year. At press time, tickets for the show were already sold out by House of Blues but were available at a steeper, resale price on the website.

(Probably still worth it.)

Demakes is excited to be sharing the stage with Reel Big Fish, too.

“We both came around at the same time, back in the early 90’s, and we both ‘hit’ at the same time when the late 90’s punk/ska thing was happening,” he said. “We just ran into each other time and time again, and a lot of the bands that we used to run with

Event: Less than Jake/Reel Big Fish/Authority Zero Location: House of Blues Cleveland Date: Jan. 23, 7 p.m.

Tickets:(as of press time) $81-$100 aren’t around anymore.”

Most of Less than Jake’s previous shows have had large turnouts, but with Reel Big Fish sharing the stage, they’re selling out faster than ever, with 1,500 to 2,000 tickets sold per night on the tour, according to Demakes.

A full house, some of the biggest punk rock/ska bands in the world and a city of punk-lovers means that this show will make musical history and will undoubtedly get pretty rowdy.

Demakes admitted that injuries have happened at past Less than Jake shows, noting a particular instance in London, where a man dove off the third story balcony of the theater, thinking the crowd could catch him.

“Everyone parted like the Red Sea and he came straight down,” said Demakes.

“He ended up being okay… the show never could quite catch the momentum after that.

It was a little disheartening.”

His words of advice: “Don’t dive off the third store balcony.”

Luckily for Less than Jake, there are only two stories in Cleveland’s House of Blues.

The ska-filled evening will kick off at 7 p.m., and the mosh pit will probably start the moment the music does. “[The audience is] gonna leave all their troubles at the doorstep, they’re gonna come in and have the best four hours they’ve had this whole year,” said Demakes.

He paused. “And there’s not many days this year so far, so that’s not saying much.

But they’re gonna have a good time.”

There are many things associated with the initial return to school for a second semester. Some students hopefully anticipate the start of their classes, but they’re often already thinking about the workload that awaits them. Plus, it is also the beginning of a new recruitment season for Greek Life on campus.

Since most sororities on campus do not participate in a fall recruitment season and freshman girls would be ineligible for that process anyway, most girls (of all grades) going through recruitment are filled with excitement and anticipation, but more overwhelming is the sense of nervousness. One of the most frequently asked questions, and often the most daunting, is, “What do I wear?”

The simple answer to this question is: whatever is comfortable to you. However, there are some guidelines that hopefully will be helpful so that “comfortable” is not synonymous with yoga pants and leggings for these two weekends.

The first two weekends are fairly casual; jeans without holes in them in any style that fits you best and a nice shirt (something that could be worn out to a nice lunch with your friends or family).

Most importantly is what will keep you upright all day; comfortable, clean shoes work great and boots are always nice, but remember these rooms are crowded and can get hot.

These first two days are pretty simple.

Cherish them because wearing pants allows you to evade the cold outside when walking to meet your Rho Chis in Thwing. If you are worried of getting your shoes dirty by walking in the snow, pack them in a backpack and find a safe place to store your boots at the event.

Remember, however, that clothing is not the most important thing going into recruitment. What is, is the experience you take out of it. Victoria Onufrieff, an active member of Greek life on campus, said, “The one thing I probably wish I knew going into recruitment was not to over think about trying to find where I would best fit in. You just come to learn that you click with a certain group of people best, and you’ll know where you’ll fit in.”

The second weekend is where things get to be a little more formal, but formal in a very casual sense, meaning prom dresses will not be necessary by a long shot. Day three, or the Saturday of the second weekend, can be classified by attire as something you would wear to a nice dinner with your family or something that could be classified as business casual. A skirt or nice pants paired with

a nice shirt are always easy, and casual dresses are safe too. The key for this day is to wear something first and foremost comfortable but something you take yourself seriously in. For this day, nice boots or comfortable heels typically tie these looks together.

As cliché as it sounds, trust the system.

“I also wish I had known that it is totally fine to not get your first choice coming back on days two through four,” said Katie Cox, a former Chief Recruiting Officer for a Greek chapter. “Just because you get invited back to chapters that you might have ranked lower doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be a good fit.”

Finally Day Four, you’re almost done and the excitement has only grown since Day One. This is the most formal of the days. That being said, the best looks for this day are often dresses or nice pants (slacks; not jeans) and a blouse that could be dressed up for a social or family gathering, such as a casual daytime wedding.

Most girls typically do wear heels on this last day, but if you are simply not into heels, nice flats are always practical.

The following are some tips to avoid the cold weather on these days if you go sans pants (aka you wear a skirt or a dress). Don’t walk in heels when you meet your Rho Chi at the start of your day; instead, pack them in a bag and wear boots.

Also, if it is as frigid as it was last year, no one wants to walk in negative degree weather in only tights; grab sweatpants and pull them over your dress, or let the dress hang out of the top of your pants.

Yes, you will look silly, but you will be warm, and it wouldn’t be surprising if you saw actives doing the same thing.

They get cold too, just like you.

To add to this, Cox also advised, “It does feel like speed dating girls, so make sure you bring mints, chapstick—more so because it’s cold— and your water bottle.

Or five water bottles.”

Remember, as much hype as outfits get, no matter what you wear, it is the least important part of the weekends. If you are not comfortable in what you are wearing, that’s all you will be thinking about rather than finding the best home in Case Western Reserve’s Greek Life for you. It is, after all, the primary objective of the two weekends. Cox solidified this statement with her own statement: “Greek life is a values-based organization, so we recruit on values. If your hair is a bit frizzy or shoe comes untied, no judgment from our end. Why? Because my hair is frizzy 90 percent of the time and I trip over my own feet regularly.”

To close out, the final tip is as follows: Be yourself, because people recruit people, not your wardrobe.

Little Italy 2187 Murray Hill Road (at Edgehill)

Bring this ad to our Little Italy location for 20% off your next “to go” beverage!

HIngetown 1455 W 29th St (in the Ohio City Firehouse)

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Playlist of the Week Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter

“Leaving Los Feliz”—Mark Ronson Feat. Kevin Parker

Before “Uptown Funk” burst into the scene, most people knew Mark Ronson as the guy responsible for Amy Winehouse’s “Back To Black.” Now, with a number one hit comfortably under his belt, the producer released his fourth solo release, the star-studded “Uptown Special” on Jan. 13. Kevin Parker of Tame Impala is one such guest artist, lending his psychedelic swagger to the standout cut, “Leaving Los Feliz.”

January Spot Night previews Temi Omilabu Staff Reporter

“Mr Noah”—Panda Bear “Mr Noah” finds Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox in a class by himself, conjuring the type of deep, hypnotic electro-pop grooves we have come to know and love from Panda Bear. Don’t be scared by this track’s long, noisy intro; it is a rite of passage into sonic bliss. Look for “Mr Noah” on Panda Bear’s fifth record, “Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper,” released Jan. 13 on Domino Records.

“Let It Burn”—Jazmine Sullivan The phrase “slow jam” goes a long way when asked to describe Jazmine Sullivan’s positively liquid “Let It Burn.” Sullivan’s crisp voice is undeniably the star of this ballad, having lost none of its potency or ferocity in the nearly five-year break the R&B star has taken from music. Returning with her third album, “Reality Show,” on Jan. 13, Jazmine Sullivan reminds listeners why everyone needs a little retro-soul in their life.

“Nothing Wrong”—Liam Hayes Channeling the classic pop melodies of The Kinks and The Beatles, Liam Hayes serves up a scoop of pop perfection with “Nothing Wrong.” Indeed, with its muscular bass line and spiky keyboards, the only qualm listeners may have with this tune is that it’s over much too quickly. “Nothing Wrong” is the third track off of Liam Hayes’ latest, “Slurrup,” released Jan. 13.

“Long Night”—Guster It’s tempting to view Guster’s newest album, “Evermotion,” as the sound of a band that has finally discovered electricity. “Long Night” shockingly finds the group trading in their patented combination of acoustic guitar and bongo for the modern indie-rock sheen of bands like Coldplay and The Shins. Recommended listening to get back in the habit of studying.

Retro Pick of the Week: “The Obvious Child”—Paul Simon A new year and the start of another semester are always cause for reflection, and the lyrics of Paul Simon are one of this writer’s personal favorite places to discover wisdom. “The Obvious Child” is an electrifying tune that finds Simon exploring the sounds of world music whilst at his songwriting best, urging listeners not to deny or regret the past, but instead to celebrate the feeling of being alive, especially in the present. In a year sure to be full of constant change and some disappointments, we would do well to heed Paul Simon’s advice.

Find all these tracks online with our weekly Spotify playlist at observer.case.edu Teddy Eisenberg is a third year programmer at WRUW-FM 91.1 Cleveland. He hosts The ’59 Sound, an exploration of rock music, every Thursday morning from 8-10 a.m.. and co-hosts the variety talk show Max and Teddy in the Morning at Night (Sometimes) on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. The crackle of vinyl warms him on cold Cleveland nights.

All photos courtesy amazon.com

Bear Hands (Jan. 22) Bear Hands is an indie rock band that hails from New York. The band consists of Ted Feldman (guitar), Dylan Rau (guitar/vocals), TJ Orscher (drums) and Val Loper (bass). The group formed in 2006, and since then, they released their premier album, “Burning Bush Supper Club,” in 2010 and toured with big names like Passion Pit, who performed at Case Western’s 2013 Fall Concert. You may have heard Bear Hands’ popular single “Giants,” which was recently ranked in the top 10 of the Alternative Songs charts.

Here’s a fun fact for all of you alternative music junkies: Bear Hands’ lead vocalist Dylan Rau is a close friend and previous classmate of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden of the ever-popular psychedelic rock duo MGMT, and as a result, Bear Hands has been MGMT’s opening act twice in the past.

Saint Motel (Jan. 29) Saint Motel is an indie pop band from Los Angeles that has performed with a myriad of similar famous bands recently such as Imagine Dragons, Arctic Monkeys and Weezer. They released their first album of full length, “Voyeur,” in 2012 and their EP, “My Type,” in 2014.

Six of the songs on “Voyeur” charted on the Hype Machine Charts, and their single “My Type” recently became their first Top 40 hit. The song has also been certified gold in Italy and has charted in various European countries.

Their shows have been described as dramatic, complete with themes, costumes and hysterical fun. Meanwhile, their sound has been described as a mix of energetic pop and glamorous rock. They are sure to put on a captivating show.

February films New movies coming out next month

Winston Eng Staff Reporter “Jupiter Ascending” Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis) always thought she was destined for greatness.

Unfortunately, the string of previous jobs involving the cleaning of toilets has so far proven otherwise. However, when Caine (Channing Tatum), an extraterrestrial ex-military hunter, arrives at her doorstep and explains that her DNA is a match for an exceptional inheritance, Jupiter finds herself at odds with a powerhungry villain (Eddie Redmayne) set on claiming Earth as his own. Written, produced and directed by The Wachowskis (“The Matrix” Series, “V for Vendetta,” “Speed Racer,” “Cloud Atlas”), this film should surely not be missed. Release date is Feb. 6.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” If you have no idea what this film will entail, I guarantee you’ll be in for a surprise. Based off the first entry into the best-selling novel series that has topped 100 million sales, “Fifty Shades

of Grey” follows Anastasia “Ana” Steele (Dakota Johnson), a 21-year-old Washington State University Vancouver student who gets an opportunity of a lifetime to interview 27-year-old Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), a young, handsome entrepreneur. What starts out as an innocent experience soon morphs itself into an erotic BDSM relationship. Prepare to get steamy in this saucy surprise.

Release date is Feb. 13.

“Hot Tub Time Machine 2” In the sequel from the same guys that brought you the classic cult film, “Hot Tub Time Machine,” Lou (Rob Corddry), Nick (Craig Robinson) and Jacob (Clark Duke) find themselves firing up the hot tub time machine when they find themselves in trouble. Instead of landing in the past, the gang finds themselves in the future and meet the unexpected Adam Jr. (Adam Scott), who explains how terribly they have all turned. Now, in order to save themselves in the future, they must take the tub machine back to the past which, for them, is still ahead of their present… Release date is Feb. 20.

Top 10

observer.case.edu

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Top 10 Films

1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

“Boyhood” (Released July 11, 2014)

There are and will always be movies about growing up.

But few will ever truly capture the essence of it. “Boyhood” does that and more. Mason’s story might not be your own but wow, does it feel like it is. It’s heartbreaking, uplifting, engaging and oh so nostalgic.

“Snowpiercer” (Released June 27, 2014)

“Snowpiercer” breaks your heart into a million little pieces so at the end you’re left trying to put it back together. It’s a story about humanity that’s wrapped up in a thriller. It works, because, at the very end, the movie gives you just a little piece of your heart back.

“The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Released March 7, 2014)

This movie is Wes Anderson at his best. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is delightfully quirky, has a touch of humor, and just a dash of melancholy. It’s a heroic tale that’s as ornate and elegant as the European backdrop it’s set against.

“Nightcrawler” (Released Oct. 31, 2014)

This movie is Wes Anderson at his best. “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is delightfully quirky, has a touch of humor, and just a dash of melancholy. It’s a heroic tale that’s as ornate and elegant as the European backdrop it’s set against.

“Interstellar” (Released Nov. 5, 2014)

Christopher Nolan comes back to the big screen with his latest offering to the game of “how-much-can-I-messwith-your-minds.” This is a big movie. Backed by an epic score, “Interstellar” pushes thought provoking questions, and provides one heck of a thrill ride.

6) 7) 8) 9) 10)

“The Theory of Everything” (Released Nov. 7, 2014)

“The Theory of Everything” is a stunning biopic that is incredibly heartfelt and remarkably inspiring. Terrific performances by the two leads keep you engaged and makes you root for the success of their relationship.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” (Released Aug. 1, 2014)

This is what a superhero movie is supposed to be like: equal parts action, humor and heart. Everybody loves a movie about a band of misfits that come together for the greater good, but add in Chris Pratt and a kickass soundtrack, and you’ve got a bona fide hit.

“Whiplash” (Released Oct. 10, 2014)

“Whiplash” is the movie that you don’t expect to like but end up loving. It’s a film about holding onto convictions against all odds and a tale of perseverance. Miles Teller is great, but the real scene stealer is J.K. Simmons’ Terence Fletcher, who teeters eerily between the lines of enemy and friend.

“Big Hero 6” (Released Nov. 7, 2014)

Aside from fantastic characters like the adorable robot BAYMAX (or should I say BAEmax?), “Big Hero 6” is a delightfully animated treat that picks your heart up and gives it the biggest hug ever. It’s a film dedicated to nerd culture and it’s impossible not to love.

“Gone Girl” (Released Oct. 3, 2014)

This film is a thriller at the top of its form. It’s dark and meticulous and appropriately moody. Sure it may be soapy and contain one too many plot twists, but if you take those out, where’s the fun?

Sunny Kalidindi Staff Reporter

Top 10 Albums

1) 2) 3)

“Boys”—Herzog

“Boys” is the best guitar rock album released this year, bar none. Cleveland’s musical hometown heroes saturate each of this album’s 13 hooky and adrenaline-filled tracks with so much heart that nothing will keep you from singing along. (Recommended Tracks: “Mad Men,” “Satan Is Real” and “You Are Not The Villain”)

“Manipulator”—Ty Segall

Garage rock’s hardest working virtuoso unleashes his inner rock star, conjuring infectious amounts of glam, fuzz and rock n’ roll snazz on his best release yet. (Recommended Tracks: “Manipulator,” “Tall Man, Skinny Lady” and “Feel”)

“Lazaretto”—Jack White

Jack White’s otherworldly talent for pushing the boundaries of music is on full display throughout “Lazaretto,” as rock’s great living renaissance man draws on the sounds of roots, blues and garage to deliver some of the year’s most dizzyingly brilliant performances. (Recommended Tracks: “Three Women,” “Lazaretto” and “High Ball Stepper”)

4) 5)

“Black Messiah”—D’Angelo & the Vanguard

D’Angelo’s first album in 14 years, “Black Messiah” channels the dense, old school funk of Sly & The Family Stone into a dazzling modern bouillabaisse of R&B flavors and sounds. (Recommended Tracks: “Ain’t That Easy,” “Sugah Daddy” and “Another Life”)

“Random Lights”—Ottawa

With talent and confidence to spare, Ottawa’s first EP ranks among the best debut records of 2014. This album’s huge, arena-ready songs are a statement of purpose from a Cleveland band with every intention of conquering the mainstream. (Recommended Tracks: “Random Lights,” “The Good Kind” and “Lie To Me”)

6) 7) 8) 9) 10)

“Alvvays”—Alvvays

“Alvvays” is the sound of indie-pop perfected in 2014, with dreamy sonic portraits that evoke the warmth of falling in love for the first time and the melancholy of falling out of it. (Recommended Tracks: “Adult Diversion,” “Archie, Marry Me” and “Next of Kin”)

“Are We There”—Sharon Van Etten

“Are We There” is the sound of an artist operating at the height of her powers, finding Sharon Van Etten’s transfixing voice navigating ballads with seemingly borderless confidence and command. (Recommended Tracks: “Afraid Of Nothing,” “Your Love Is Killing Me” and “Every Time the Sun Comes Up”)

“Wild Onion”—Twin Peaks

Chicago’s best and brightest, Twin Peaks borrow classic rock tropes to create a sprawling masterpiece of nuanced pop songs played with just the right mix of frenzied energy and swagger. (Recommended Tracks: “I Found A New Way,” “Sloop Jay D” and “Telephone”)

“St. Vincent”—St. Vincent

To date, “St. Vincent” is Anne Clark’s most realized and satisfying album, delivering a fascinating mix of direct yet avant-garde pop songs that solidify her place as the musical chameleon of our time. (Recommended Tracks: “Prince Johnny,” “Digital Witness” and “Severed Crossed Fingers”)

“Sun Structures”—Temples

Backward looking and forward sounding, “Sun Structures” is a modern psychedelic classic that blurs the lines between past and present and could easily pass as a musical time capsule from 1967. (Recommended Tracks: “Shelter Song,” “Mesmerize” and “Move With The Season”)

Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter

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Top 10 Cleveland Concerts

1)

1) OK Go Concert (Aug. 24)

Warped Tour (July 17, 2014)

Blossom Music Center exploded with scenesters in the middle of summer. This year, Warped Tour’s eclectic lineup wasn’t just limited to punk or metal, and instead spanned across most conceivable genres. Clevelanders had a one-day chance to hop in a mosh pit and dance their hearts out like there was no tomorrow.

2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10)

Top 5 A&E Events of Fall 2014

Brite Winter Festival (Feb. 15 2014)

It was cold. It was crowded. And it was beautiful. Make sure to mark Feb. 21, the next night of Brite Winter Festival, on your calendar.

OK Go (Aug. 24, 2014)

Framed by a stage and the newly-opened Tinkham Veale University Center, students gathered to see the OK Go concert at the beginning of the school year; what better way to start off a semester?

Ed Sheeran (Sept. 3, 2014)

Thousands of fangirls united for the Ed Sheeran concert. And with reason; this huge show was a success in Cleveland’s books.

Man Man (Jan. 23, 2014)

Groovy, cozy and weird: Man Man’s show, early on in the year, still proved to be one of Grog Shop’s more interesting concerts.

Studio-a-Rama (Sept. 6, 2014)

As always, WRUW’s Studio-a-Rama brought in plenty of impressive local acts, and plenty of strange stories to tell until next year’s show rolls around. Seriously, how many times can you say you’ve seen someone rubbing ice cream all over himself?

Fitz & The Tantrums (Nov. 6, 2014)

In the older Cleveland Masonic Auditorium, Fitz and the Tantrums’ flashy show still fit in perfectly, especially with its devoted crowd.

Jack White (Sept. 15, 2014)

His show may have had a color theme of blue, but Jack White was still full of upbeat energy that made his rock hit especially hard, even in his 40-minute encore.

Shaggy (Nov. 16, 2014)

Millenials’ childhood memories came flooding back at Shaggy’s Grog Shop show, featuring such great pieces as “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel.”

UPB Fall Concert: Juicy J and Echosmith (Nov. 1, 2014)

Juicy J, as an artist, can be hit or miss for some people. University Program Board’s Fall Concert wasn’t the biggest concert, compared to past years, but it was still solid for fans of the rapper. With the help of Echosmith, the concert transformed Veale Athletic Center into a music venue for just a few hours.

Anne Nickoloff Arts & Entertainment Editor

Case Western Reserve hosted OK Go on Sunday, Aug. 24, the day before classes began, and it was the perfect way to celebrate the opening of the Tinkham Veale University Center. This concert provided a chance for the campus to come together both to enjoy a great performance and to usher in the new school year. Not to mention, it was the last bit of stress-free fun before the year officially began.

2) UPB Fall Concert (Nov. 1)

On Nov. 1, Echosmith and Juicy J took stage at Veale for the Fall Concert. Although there were complications with the original artist, Neon Trees, many students enjoyed the co-headliners.

The turnout was lower than the past Fall Concert crowds, but the varying artists drew a diverse and excited audience.

Overall, many students had the chance to see two entertaining performers, and the concert proved to be a lively night.

3) Homecoming Parade (Oct. 18)

pus exhibiting their pride for CWRU and all of its different student organizations and groups.

4) “Waiting For Lefty” (Oct. 3-12) CWRU alumni Tim Koch and Cassie Dorland returned to Eldred to direct and design “Waiting For Lefty,” a play set in 1935 that centered on a group of cab drivers on strike. The play was inspiring, and although set in the early 1900s, the themes were still relatable for all sorts of audience members.

5) UPB’s British Invasion Tea Party (Nov. 11)

On Nov. 11, University Program Board hosted a British-themed tea party complete with all sorts of teas and crumpets. Students were momentarily transformed to a fantasy world filled with British culture and goodies. There were entertainment, souvenirs, prizes and a costume contest.

(See 6-10 at observer.case.edu)

This year’s homecoming parade on Oct. 18 hosted one of the largest turnouts. Students paraded down the cam-

Temi Omilabu Staff Reporter

Top 10 Fashion 1) L.L.Bean boots

6) Marsala

2) Blanket scarves

7) Winter white

Much to my mother’s delight, the rubberized boots she’s worn for 20+ years have finally come into style. Pair the boots with fleece-lined leggings for an ultra cozy option to wear to class when you don’t have time to put on real pants.

No, I’m not talking about chicken marsala, this is Pantone 2015’s color of the year! Rich and earthy, marsala is the neutral red that is universally flattering on all skin tones. This wearable trend looks fantastic worn as a pop of lipstick or as a statement item of clothing.

Say goodbye to the days of being cold walking to class with the blanket scarf.

This must-have accessory is so big and cozy, it can double as a blanket during your nap between classes.

“No white after Labor Day” is an outdated fashion rule which looks amazing when broken. For a true statement, wear white head-to-toe (that is, if you can avoid spilling coffee on yourself).

3) Faux fur vests

8) Chunky sweaters

In keeping with the theme of warmth is the faux fur vest. Layer this trend with a simple long-sleeved t-shirt just in case your classroom gets too toasty.

Chunky sweaters are nothing new, but they are a staple to endure the Cleveland winters.

4) Leather accents

Popular in plaid, flannel is soft and easy to wear. Pair with your favorite jeans for an effortless outfit that feels like pajamas.

While this trend started a few years back, it is finally trickling its way into Ohio’s street style. Both men and women are rocking this look in every item of clothing: shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, etc. There are also many cruelty-free options that feel just as soft and luxurious as the real thing, but without the guilt from PETA.

5) Combat boots

If full-blown snow boots aren’t your thing, turn to combat boots for an edgy 90s option to keep your toes warm and dry.

9) Flannel

10) Simplistic Jewelry

Ohio’s fashion sense has taken a turn for effortless chic, so many people are wearing dainty jewelry to match. Pair your cozy winter wardrobe with delicate jewelry for hints of shimmer and shine.

Janet Lanman Contributing Reporter

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Top 10 Museum Exhibits

1)

And in my Dream I was Rolling on the Floor (MOCA)

Artist Kevin Beasley’s sound installation and sound performance at the Cozad-Bates House, University Circle’s oldest and only pre-Civil war structure that served as part of the Underground Railroad. It merged past and present and presented something uniquely “University Circle.”

2) 3) 4) 5)

Forbidden Games (CMA)

Artist Kevin Beasley’s sound installation and sound performance at the Cozad-Bates House, University Circle’s oldest and only pre-Civil war structure that served as part of the Underground Railroad. It merged past and present and presented something uniquely “University Circle.”

Nature’s Mating Games (Museum of Natural History)

A frank, straightforward exhibit on sex, sexuality and reproduction that was both educational and scandalous. It featured interactive exhibits, ridiculous short films and an array of taxidermied critters.

Glow (Botanical Gardens)

The yearly holiday exhibition continually grows, expands and generally outdoes itself. This year is no exception and showcases lights, trees, gingerbread houses, ice-skating, caroling and more. Something to note is the new outdoor walking tour featuring holiday art and design by Cleveland MC2 STEM High School Students.

Kasumi Shockwaves (MOCA)

A cinematic assemblage by the globally renowned artist Kasumi, who has been referred to as a pacesetter in the mediums of film, video, sound and more. It displayed her most recent work, “The Perpetual Series,” and “Shockwaves,” an 82-minute film that begins on the road to love and happiness and takes a dramatically crooked turn into madness and destruction.

6)

Paul Simon: Words & Music (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

The exhibit was the museum’s first exhibit anchored by the artist’s first-person narration and spans over Simon’s life, including his lengthy career and creative process. It featured over 80 artifacts ranging from his early life to his time with Simon & Garfunkel to his solo career and present.

7) 8) 9) 10)

DIRGE (MOCA)

An exhibition filled with several artists’ works that focused on the concept of mortality and the teetering, wispy bridge between life and death. The word “dirge” can be defined as a funeral song used to express mourning, but the main emphasis of the exhibition was life and its momentousness.

Mammoths and Mastodons (Museum of Natural History)

An exhibition that takes visitors into the Ice Age and is – as usual for the museum – extremely interactive and suited for people of all ages. The highlight of the exhibition is a replica of a 42,000-year-old intact baby mammoth, Lyuba.

Peoples’ Art Show (CSU) An art show without rules that featured works from literally anybody. The eclectic, unrestricted nature of the show captured something of Cleveland that no normal museum can ever hope to obtain.

In Grand Style (Western Reserve Historical Society)

An exhibition that featured some of the exquisite fashion worn by Cleveland’s wealthiest from the 1870s – 1930s, a period in which Cleveland was known as one of America’s best cities. It captured a period of luxury the museum likens to that of “Downton Abbey.”

Maria Fazal Copy Editor

Top 10 Cleveland Bars

1) 2)

Platform Beer Company (Best New Brewery)

Very chill atmosphere. Platform offers an extensive draft list, including several house beers and daily guest food options. Perfect.

16-Bit Bar + Arcade (Best New Bar)

This new addition to Lakewood offers a selection of vintage arcade games, which are completely free to play as long as you buy a drink. With fair beer prices and amazing cocktails this is a great place to check out.

3)

Indigo Imp Brewery (Best Kept Secret)

The tasting room is only open on Fridays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., but this hidden gem allows patrons to drink with brewmaster and owner, Matt Chappel, as you sip beer among large brew kettles.

4) 5) 6) 7)

Great Lakes Brewing Company (Best Cleveland Staple)

Sure, you’ve probably tried all their beers before, but have you tried their pub-only exclusives? I think not.

The Vault at the 9 (Best Speakeasy)

Ever want to sip a cocktail in a 1906 bank vault? Here’s your chance.

Mahall’s 20 Lanes (Best Bowling and Bar)

An awesome throwback to different times, this vintage bowling alley offers an excellent beer selection, live music and old-school bowling.

Johnny Mango World Cafe and Bar (Best Margaritas)

With the death of half off margaritas on Wednesdays at Mi Pueblo, the best priced and best tasting margaritas in town can be found here. With discounts on Taco Tuesday (tacos are only $1), this is a great destination to get your margarita fix.

8) 9) 10)

Jolly Scholar (Best Budget Bar)

No one can deny the amazing prices at the Jolly Scholar. They offer an excellent rotating draft list, with beer usually no more than $5.

Velvet Dog (Best Rooftop/Summer Bar) This Cleveland summer staple has one of the best views of Cleveland.

TownHall (Best Specials)

TownHall is rather affordable with all beers priced at only $5, but on Monday evenings all beers are only $3, which is perfect if you are trying to taste new brews.

Sunny Kalidindi Staff Reporter

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Top 10 Coffee Shops for CWRU Students

1)

Coffee House

Tucked away near the North Residential halls, the Coffee House has various rooms on both the first and second floors for studying or hanging out with friends. A selection of various beverages, including thick hot cocoa and spiced hot cider, makes the Coffee House a warm favorite in the heart of CWRU.

2)

Rising Star

One of the newest additions to the local coffee scene, Rising Star’s home-roasted beans give each cup some extra flavor. Plus, with a focus on conversation and (of course) coffee, the place is more open and friendly than many other coffee shops.

3) 4) 5) 6)

Coquette Patisserie

French-pressed coffee, anyone? Paired with a macaron, get the Parisian coffee experience at the small Coquette Patisserie, right down the street from the Village houses.

SAGES Cafe The SAGES Cafe offers a tight arrangement of tea and coffees, in a small location on the first floor of Crawford Hall. The prices aren’t bad, and they take Case Cash.

Fuel Coffee Bar Combined vintage gas station and contemporary coffee bar, Fuel has proved to be one of the more popular coffee places in Little Italy. However, its limited hours make it a difficult location to plan for in a last-minute caffeine run.

Presti’s Bakery

Presti’s might be a little more expensive, and it might be a little bit far away from campus, but its quality mochas are made with care, and few things are as relaxing as sitting near Presti’s glass windows and watching Little Italy’s weekend shoppers and diners walk by.

7) 8) 9)

Village Starbucks

The Village Starbucks is cheap; with a cup in hand, students can slash otherwise-pricey costs in half, and enjoy later hours when other Starbucks in the area have closed.

Euclid Starbucks

The workers in the Euclid Starbucks move the lines quickly, even when they stretch out the doors on buy-one-getone-free day. And out of all the Starbucks, it’s definitely the most popular in University Circle.

Phoenix Coffee

It’s a hike, but it’s worth it. Phoenix Coffee, located on Coventry Rd., is one of the hippest coffee shops around. With open mic nights and many students working on homework (or their latest novels), Phoenix is the place to be… if you’re willing to wait for the Greenie ride to get over there in the evening.

10)

Cool Beanz

Located inside the new Tinkham Veale University Center, Cool Beanz can make a decent cup of joe, and it’s located in one of the most strategic areas for a quick coffee stop. It’s a little pricey, but it won’t make you late for your next class, so there’s that.

Anne Nickoloff Arts & Entertainment Editor

Top 10 Cleveland Restaurants

1)

Trentina

Jonathan Sawyer’s latest restaurant is a culinary pilgrimage through northern Italian haute cuisine unlike anything currently offered on the Cleveland scene. Adventurous diners can tackle the impressive 12-course tasting menu bianco, while the less-hungry can enjoy Trentina’s stellar à la carte brunch, lunch and dinner menus.

2) 3) 4) 5)

Butcher and the Brewer

One of the newest additions to the bustling East 4th district of downtown Cleveland, Butcher and the Brewer offers tantalizing cuts of meat and well-built brews in an open and inviting atmosphere owned and operated by Cleveland Brewing Company.

Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern

The popular West Side fixture has moved east into the historic Euclid Tavern and is an utterly charming mixture of beers, tater tots, unique hot dog toppings and live music.

Mitchell’s Ice Cream (Ohio City)

Mitchell’s new flagship store and ice cream kitchen is a gorgeous addition to the already picturesque Ohio City, drawing visitors in with not only its flavorful, sweet frozen delights, but also a chance to peer into the creative ice cream making process.

Spotted Owl

The Spotted Owl may be the hippest bar ever to open in Cleveland, as evidenced by house rules like “Women initiate conversation” and cocktails named “A Rabbit As King As The Ghosts.” This hipness, however, is genuine and stems from a real love for the craft of mixed drinks and killer snacks provided by The Black Pig and Bon Bon Pastry & Café.

6) 7) 8) 9)

Hofbrauhaus

This October saw the 400-year old German microbrewery and beer hall Hofbräuhaus open a restaurant in Playhouse Square, bringing an authentic, year-round Oktoberfest experience that makes for a great lunch or dinner.

Jukebox

Jukebox is a bar crafted for the audiophile and beer snob among you, offering a monthly rotation of craft drafts and physical jukebox selections that highlight the best local music and old favorites.

Cleveland Vegan

Operating as a catering service for two years prior to opening their all-vegan café, Cleveland Vegan is one of Lakewood’s rising restaurant stars, boasting Cleveland’s first completely vegan brunch.

Crop Kitchen

Arriving to the anchor district of University Circle in its most recent explosion of fine dining establishments, Crop Kitchen is an accessible and enjoyable take on the menu of its sister restaurant of Crop Bistro & Bar that brings the cuisine of Steve Schimoler within the easy reach of college students.

10)

Ninja City

Arriving to the anchor district of University Circle in its most recent explosion of fine dining establishments, Crop Kitchen is an accessible and enjoyable take on the menu of its sister restaurant of Crop Bistro & Bar that brings the cuisine of Steve Schimoler within the easy reach of college students.

Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter

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The Jolly Scholar jolly.scholar @JollyScholar 216.368.0090 mpv3@case.edu MTW RF Sat. Sun.

11a – 12a 11a – 2a 12p – 2a 12p – 12a

Super Bowl Sunday The Jolly Scholar will be hosting a party to watch the big game.

Be there or be square.

Sorority & Fraternity Catering & Meal Plans

We are now offering catered meal plans for sororities and fraternities.

Contact Matt Vann for details.

Catering!

Call the Jolly Scholar for your next party. All budgets are welcome, and we’ll help you find a place to hold your event.

Wednesday is Comedy Night

Sports Standings Men’s Basketball

Conference

All

Wins

Losses

Ties

Percent

Wins

Losses

Ties

Percent

Emory

1

0

0

1.000

11

1

0

0.917

Case Western Reserve

1

0

0

1.000

10

2

0

0.833

Chicago

1

0

0

1.000

9

3

0

0.750

Brandeis

1

0

0

1.000

6

6

0

0.500

Washington

0

1

0

0.000

11

1

0

0.917

Carnegie Mellon

0

1

0

0.000

9

3

0

0.750

New York U.

0

1

0

0.000

9

3

0

0.750

Rochester

0

1

0

0.000

4

8

0

0.333

Wins

Losses

Ties

Percent

Wins

Losses

Ties

Percent

1

0

0

1.000

12

0

0

1.000

Conference

Women’s Basketball New York U.

All

Rochester

1

0

0

1.000

12

0

0

1.000

Washington

1

0

0

1.000

9

2

0

0.818

Carnegie Mellon

1

0

0

1.000

9

3

0

0.750

Brandeis

0

1

0

0.000

8

4

0

0.667

Case Western Reserve

0

1

0

0.000

8

4

0

0.667

Emory

0

1

0

0.000

6

6

0

0.500

Chicago

0

1

0

0.000

6

6

0

0.500

Conference

Volleyball

All

Wins

Losses

Percent

Wins

Losses

Percent

Emory

6

1

0.857

34

3

0.919

Chicago

4

3

0.571

26

12

0.684

Washington

6

1

0.857

33

5

0.868

Carnegie Mellon

5

2

0.714

22

11

0.667

Case Western Reserve

4

3

0.571

18

12

0.600

New York U.

1

6

0.143

17

19

0.472

Rochester

2

5

0.286

20

18

0.526

Brandeis

0

7

0.000

7

24

0.226

Football (UAA)

Conference

All

Wins

Losses

Percent

Wins

Losses

Percent

Chicago

2

0

1.000

7

1

0.875

Washington

1

1

0.500

4

5

0.444

Case Western Reserve

1

1

0.500

3

6

0.333

Carnegie Mellon

0

2

0.000

3

6

0.333

Football (PAC)

Conference

All

Wins

Losses

Percent

Wins

Losses

Percent

Washington & Jefferson

7

0

1.000

9

0

1.000

Thomas More

7

1

0.875

8

2

0.800

Waynesburg

5

2

0.714

7

2

0.778

Bethany

5

2

0.714

6

3

0.667

St. Vincent

3

4

0.429

3

6

0.333

Westminster

3

4

0.429

3

6

0.333

Case Western Reserve

3

5

0.375

3

6

0.333

Carnegie Mellon

3

5

0.375

3

6

0.333

Geneva

2

5

0.286

3

6

0.333

Thiel

2

5

0.286

3

6

0.333

Grove City

0

7

0.000

0

9

0.000

Calendar Varsity Sport

Friday 12/5

Saturday 12/6

Friday 12/19

Men's Basketball

Home vs. New York U. 8:00 PM

Home vs Brandeis 12:00 PM

Women's Basketball

Home vs. New York U. 6:00 PM

Home vs Brandeis 2:00 PM

Swimming and Diving

Home vs.

Allegheny 1:00 PM

Track and Field

Week Off

Wrestling

Week Off

17

18

sports

1/16/15

Arko’s Cleveland Corner

Ohio against the world Appreciating Ohio State’s latest title run Joey Arko Staff Reporter As the final seconds ticked away, the scoreboard read 42-20. Based on the expert predictions and odds in Las Vegas, one would assume Oregon’s high octane offense had once again led them to a decisive victory.

However, it was Ohio State’s unofficial anthem “Hang On Sloopy” that accompanied a shower of confetti when the clock hit 00:00. On Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, the Ohio State University throttled the Oregon Ducks in the first ever College Football Playoff National Championship game.

So much for being “over-rated.”

So much for being the “underdogs.”

And so much for being “undeserving of a playoff spot.”

The Buckeyes heard all the criticism, but for the third straight game, OSU stifled its favored opponent and went on to win the school’s overall 8th college football national championship—and the first ever championship in the playoff format.

From everyone with ties to the state: Thank you Buckeyes.

Championships of any sort are exceedingly rare to come by, and especially with Ohio sports. Just ask people in the Cleveland area. That is why it’s important to really take a step back and appre-

ciate what the Buckeyes were able to accomplish this season.

Their season was pronounced dead when they lost starting quarterback and potential Heisman candidate Braxton Miller before the season even started. They then dug their own grave when they lost at home to a lowly Virginia Tech team on the second game of the season.

Then something extraordinary happened.

The red shirt freshman backup QB J.T. Barrett sparked life into a lost season and slowly but surely steered the ship in the right direction, restoring hope to Buckeye Nation. With Barrett under center, the Buckeyes ripped off 10 straight wins, as he passed for 34 touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions. His play forced him into the Heisman conversation, and deservedly so.

A season that started off so tumultuously became nothing but smooth sailing for the Buckeyes.

Then, for the third time in one season, OSU’s ship sank in one foul swoop.

Against their biggest rivals, Michigan, Barrett sustained a season-ending leg/ankle injury and had to be carted off the field.

Ohio State’s hopes and dreams left on that very same cart.

In came Ohio State’s third-string quarterback, Cardale Jones.

Track and field springs from the starting line Evan Rose Contributing Reporter Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams opened their winter seasons with strong performances at the second annual Spartan Holiday Classic, held at the Veale Athletic Center on Dec. 6. The Spartans dominated the other five teams in the meet, earning a combined score of 433, compared to 2nd place Allegheny College’s 179.

On the men’s side, Case Western Reserve University finished with 211 points, with Muskingum University ending up 77 points behind. The men took advantage of the depth of this year’s team, winning four individual events and all three relays as well as sweeping two individual events.

The Spartans swept the mile run, finishing in the top four positions. Freshman Aidan DeSanto won the race with a time of 4:36.45.

CWRU also completed the sweep in the 400-meter dash, with an entirely new set of runners. Sophomore Nico Ericksen-Deris was the winner, dropping 0.27 seconds from his seed time to finish in 51.73.

The third Case victory came in the 800-meter run, as freshman Andrew Ibibo secured victory in a 2:01.66. Senior pole vaulter Mark Kulinski was the final event champion, clearing a maximum height of 4.55 meters.

The CWRU women’s team also won by

a sizable margin, scoring 222 points over Allegheny’s 93. The women won an impressive six individual events, sweeping three of them.

Senior Rachel Tam was the women’s high point scorer, with victories in the long jump and high jump, as well as a third-place finish in the 55-meter hurdles. Tam jumped a personal-best 16-10.75 in the long jump and cleared the bar at 4-11.00 in the high jump.

The Spartan women recorded sweeps in both the long and high jumps, securing the top five spots in the long jump and top four in the high jump.

Senior McKenzie Braun led the way for the third Case sweep of the day, winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:02.72.

The next Spartan winner was freshman Kate Erickson, who won a solitary heat of the mile run in 6:02.28. The final champion on the women’s side was senior Sophia Herzog, who won the pole vault by leaping over the bar at 11-01.75.

CWRU rounded out the meet with wins in two relay events, both the 4x200 and 4x400 meter relays.

After taking a pause from competition over winter break, both teams resume their seasons on January 23, competing at the Baldwin-Wallace Mid-January Meet in Berea, Ohio.

To read more, visit observer.case.edu

f

The Glenville product (homegrown from Cleveland) at this point in his career was best known for tweeting, “Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play football? We ain’t come to play school, classes are pointless.”

Needless to say, Jones didn’t inspire much confidence. Not yet.

Jim Ricciardo, a recent OSU grad now living in Cleveland, recalls his thoughts about Cardale Jones when Cardale first came in the game versus Michigan and then his thoughts leading up to the following game against Wisconsin: “When J.T. went down, I thought our post-season hopes were finished. I thought there was no way that OSU would beat whoever they were going to play in the Big Ten Championship, and I thought about how unlucky we were to lose two quarterbacks in one season. I mean, what else could go wrong?”

But all that changed in a whirlwind.

Things took a turn for the best, and in a hurry.

Guided by unprecedented coaching from Urban Meyer, OSU went on to not only beat Michigan, but rattle off three straight dominating victories over opponents that were deemed superior. In the Big Ten Championship game, the Buckeyes obliterated Wisconsin 59-0, a performance that pushed

them into the top four and into the College Football Playoffs.

Then they went up against the number one ranked team, Alabama, and once again, Cardale Jones and the Buckeyes emerged victorious in one of the most physical games played all season long.

Up next: the Oregon Ducks.

The third-stringer from Cleveland, Cardale Jones, matched up against Oregon’s Heisman Trophy Winning QB Marcus Mariotta.

Cardale came out on top.

That’s not to say he did it alone. OSU’s defense manhandled the opposition while their Offensive Line bullied opposing Lineman and Linebackers, allowing Ezekiel Elliot to carry the brunt of the Offense in dominating fashion.

Just like that, Urban Meyer, Cardale Jones and the rest of the Ohio State football team were crowned the 2015 BCS champions.

They overcame more adversity than anyone believed they could, which makes this championship especially sweet. It’s only right that every Ohioan feel a sense of pride when thinking about the Buckeyes, regardless of whether or not you have any direct ties to the school.

Ohio against the world, and Ohio came out on top.

CWRU Film Society Presents The 40th Annual

Science Fiction Marathon in Strosacker Auditorium

Friday, January 16

8:00 p.m.

Godzilla (2014)

11:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 17

1:15 a.m.

3:00 a.m.

4:45 a.m.

7:15 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

2:45 p.m.

4:15 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

10:00 p.m.

Surprise I

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) Sleeper (1973) Steamboy (2004) Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989) Forbidden Planet (1956) Surprise II Jodorowsky’s Dune (2013) Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) Edge of Tomorrow (2014) Surprise III Jumanji (1995) Tremors (1990)

Tickets are $4 per movie or $30 for the entire event Pre-Sale Tickets in Nord Monday - Thursday from 10 - 4 pm

Visit films.cwru.edu/sfmarathon40 for more information

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19

Spartans crush rival Carnegie Mellon Men’s basketball enters UAA Conference play with best start in program history JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor While the rest of the student body enjoyed their breaks relaxing at home or on vacation, the Spartans returned to the hardwood ready to compete at the highest level.

The Spartans’ hard work has paid off as they now stand at 10-2 on the season, the best start in program history. Furthermore, the Spartans kicked off their University Athletic Association (UAA) play with a big win over archrival Carnegie Mellon University last Saturday Jan. 10 and now stand as the secondbest team in the conference.

The Spartans have been able to ride their offensive play to big wins, especially over the Tartans just before school started for the semester. The Spartans have beat both of their past two opponents by 10 points or more and have yet to lose at home. Their only losses this season came on the road at the hands of Den-

nison and Bucknell Universities. The Spartans have also won all three tournaments they have participated in during non-conference play, including the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Memorial Tournament and Bill Sudeck Holiday Tournament, which CWRU hosted.

Since then, the Spartans have faced off against Muskingum University and of course archrival Carnegie Mellon. The game at home against Muskingum showed the Spartans’ excellent sharing of the wealth. Against the visiting Fighting Muskies, the Spartans followed the lead of senior Dane McLoughlin, who boosted the squad with four three-pointers to move into a tie for second place for mostmade threes with 192 over his CWRU career.

Even more impressive was that McLoughlin came to the game after traveling all day before coming back to campus from a medical school interview. To add to the performance, 10 different Spartans made buckets, with junior guard Matt Clark adding ten of his own and

freshman Eric Black putting up 11 points on a perfect five of five from the field. The Spartans rode this great play to a 76-75 victory.

Against Carnegie Mellon, the Spartans’ shots kept falling, one after another. The Spartans outshot the Tartans 44 to 27 percent from the floor and rode that offensive advantage to a huge 80-46 victory. In addition to the superior field goal percentage, the Spartans kept the Tartans off the boards, grabbing 55 shots of the glass to Carnegie Mellon’s 33 rebounds.

Black followed his impressive shooting display with his first career double-double.

Black played 23 minutes of the bench and posted 15 points while pulling down 10 rebounds, a game high. Black was helped in the route by point guard Jimmy Holman, who put up 13 points of his own and senior guard Julien Person, who added another 11 points and pulled down four boards. However, it was Black and his teammate’s play off

the bench that sealed the game for the Spartans as the bench combined for 52 points.

As the Spartans head full force into conference play, the stat that has looked most promising is not their 80.2 points per game or their 46.9 from the field but rather their assist and turnover numbers. The Spartans have been unselfish with the ball thus far, putting up a strong 16.1 assists per game and impressively holding a turnover advantage of 18 against the Tartans, an issue that plagued the team at times last season. The squad looks poised to continue their non-conference success against the strong UAA conference.

The Spartans return home after the short trip to Pittsburgh and will host first the New York University Violets on Friday night, followed by Brandies on Sunday. Both matchups are the second game of a Case Western Reserve University doubleheader, as the women’s squad will take the court beforehand to also play NYU and Brandies.

The Hall is broken

How a Cleveland sports writer exposed another flaw with baseball’s highest honor JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor Paul Hoynes had every good intention when he wrote about his recent dilemma.

Hoynes has been entrusted with the preservation of the history of “America’s favorite pastime,” but more on him later.

Baseball has been a part of American life since the late 1800’s, and despite modern complaints that the game is “boring” or “dull” due to the lack of constant energy in sports like hockey or basketball, or fancy camera work in football, it has earned its spot as the nation’s favorite pastime.

Of the hundreds of thousands of kids who learned to play catch with their dads in the front yard, played little league and ever dreamed of playing in one of the cathedrals of baseball that are ballparks like Wrigley Field, Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium, very few ever grow up to have that chance. Only the greatest amongst them will then be enshrined in Cooperstown, at the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside the likes of Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Jackie Robinson (just to name a few).

However, the system by which former

players, managers and executives are given a position in this palace of baseball is flawed, has always been flawed and needs to be replaced.

For a player to be enshrined in the hall, they must be elected by one of the now many committees of voters. The most direct entrance is through the Baseball Writer’s Association of America annual vote, where writers who have covered the sport for years are given the great responsibility of choosing the players who will join the list of the game’s greatest; our friend Hoynes is amongst this group of individuals.

To be eligible for election, a player must have played in the MLB for 10 years and have been retired for five. It seems simple but after that first ballot, the process becomes bogged down in dozens of subsequent votes, other committees and years of anguish. Players have roughly a one in 70 chance to make the fall of fame, and only one out of seven of those players make it in on the first ballot.

However, this system is broken, as our friend and Plain Dealer Indians reporter Hoynes inadvertently pointed out when he wrote about how he refused to vote for new inductee to the hall, Pedro Martinez.

Hoyne wrote that he was unable to force

himself to vote for Martinez last week because, “I thought he was a punk on the mound.” He went on in his article to explain that Martinez, who made it into the hall on his first ballot and was obviously deserving of the honor, was at times a jerk on the mound and had historically done so well against the Indians that Hoyne could not bring himself to vote for Martinez.

If that sounds like a dumb reason to keep someone out of the hall of fame in their sport, you aren’t alone. Babe Ruth, considered by many to be the best baseball player of all time, routinely destroyed the Indians, Michael Jordan used to light up the Cavaliers on a regular basis; just because of that, should the greatest to play their sports not be voted to be entered into the hall of fame? However, that is what Hoyne’s article boiled down to, and though it didn’t matter, his lack of a vote could have kept a deserving player out of the hall.

However, this is not a rare case in the history of the hall of fame. A sports writer this year said he voted without “looking at a website or picking up a book,” which would seem to be important in critiquing the careers of 34 players against their counterparts and against the history of great players on

their ballot this year.

Furthermore, the hall has long held out players who were obviously deserving.

Amongst the most obvious is third-baseman Ron Santo, whose long career, predominantly with the Chicago Cubs, was by many measures worthy of the hall of fame. Despite this, year after year, Santo was not voted in by first the baseball writers and later the different veterans’ committees. Finally, after Santo passed away following a long battle with diabetes, the beloved former Cub was elected. Did his stats change after his death?

Of course not, but now he was worth something, when before he was not, according to the voters.

Hoyne’s desire not to vote in Pedro Martinez was just the latest gaff in the attempts to add players to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The system has long been broken, but the Indians and other clubs, notably the Cleveland Hall of Fame, have taken it upon themselves to recognize their greatest players. Perhaps this gives hope of the greatest to ever play the game receiving recognition. In the meantime, all we can do is sit, wait and hope that those entrusted with this great responsibility will make the correct choice.

Cavaliers looking for answers The high expectations are giving way to harsh reality

David Hoffman Staff Reporter When the Cavaliers shook up their roster this past summer, an adjustment period was to be expected. The “Big 3” of Lebron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love would need time to figure out how to play alongside each other. After all, the Miami Heat required a similar stretch when their “Big 3” initially joined forces. However, nobody envisioned the team struggling as much as they have over the first half of the season.

As of Tuesday, the Cavs are merely a .500 team at 19-19 and a distant fifth in the Eastern Conference. They’ve struggled to adjust to life without James, who is out with an injury, dropping eight of their last nine games. In the standings, they can only helplessly look up at

the Chicago Bulls, who were expected to be their main competition for supremacy in the East before the season began. What started out as such a promising campaign has rapidly spiraled into chaos, with the futures of certain key figures being called into question. For this Cavs team, the answers to those questions can’t come quickly enough.

General Manager David Griffin has done his part to right the ship, completing two trades in recent weeks to bring in reinforcements on both ends of the floor. First, he acquired Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith from the New York Knicks. Both players, while flawed, can help the Cavs with certain weaknesses. Smith, a former recipient of the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award, should provide an spark off the bench. The Cavs’ bench has been anemic thus far with an average of 24.7 points scored

per game, the second worst mark in the league.

With another scorer now in the fold, perhaps coach David Blatt can breathe a bit easier whenever he has to rest one of his star players.

Shumpert, on the other hand, offers competent defensive play, which is all too scarce on the team at the moment. The Cavs were never expected to play great defense with this roster, but their average of 100 points allowed per game could still be improved upon. Shumpert will be counted on to help bring that number down, allowing the Cavs to get closer to the lofty expectations they’ve set for themselves.

Shortly afterwards, Griffin acquired Timofey Mozgov from the Denver Nuggets, albeit at the steep price of a pair of first round draft picks. The move was a response to the loss of Anderson Varejāo, who went down with a torn ACL in December and is out for

the remainder of the season. Varejāo was a key cog on defense for the Cavs, providing excellent interior protection at the center position. Now, Mozgov will be expected to fill that same role for his new team. Once again, it all ties back to the Cavs’ porous team defense preventing them from reaching the heights they aspired to when the season began.

With the season only halfway finished, the Cavs certainly have plenty of time to right the ship and quell any doubts that pundits have about their ability to succeed. Of course, they’ve already endured more struggles than anyone anticipated, and nothing is guaranteed.

Chances are, they won’t quite reach the lofty goals pundits and fans alike set for them back in October. However, they still have a chance to make this season a successful one with better play over the next few months.

sports the

Observer TRASH TALK

Dear Ohio State,

Congratulations on your national championship (for our coverage, see page 18). While you may have beaten a Heisman-winning quarterback, we’re not ready to crown you here at Case Western Reserve University just yet. As your only in-state kryptonite (Western Reserve was the only school in Ohio with a winning all-time record against you), before you can consider yourself the best football team in America, you need to beat us first. Athletic departments, let’s make this happen.

16-16-3

The Ohio State University’s all-time record against Western Reserve University and the Case Institute of Technology, CWRU’s two precursor schools who merged in 1976.

The games: Western Reserve or Case Wins 1911: Case 9 – OSU 0 1910: Case 14 – OSU 10 1909: Case 11 – OSU 3 1908: Case 18 – OSU 8 1908: Western Reserve 18 – OSU 0 1907: Case 11 – 9 1903: Case 12 – 0 1902: Case 23 – 12 1898: Case 23 – 5 1898: Western Reseve 49 –OSU 0 1894: Case 14 – 0 1894: Western Reseve 24 –OSU 4 1894: Case 38 – 0 1893: Western Reseve 30 –OSU 16 1892: Western Reseve 40 –OSU 18 1891: Western Reseve 50 –OSU 6

The Ohio State University Wins 1934: OSU 1918: OSU 1917: OSU 1916: OSU 1915: OSU 1914: OSU 1913: OSU 1913: OSU 1912: OSU 1910: OSU 1906: OSU 1904: OSU 1901: OSU 1900: OSU 1899: OSU 1896: OSU

76 – Western Reserve 0 56 – Case 0 49 – Case 0 28 – Case 0 14 – Case 0 7 – Case 6 18 – Case 0 14 – Western Reserve 8 31 – Case 6 6 – Western Reserve 0 9 – Case 0 16 – Case 6 6 – Western Reserve 5 24 – Case 10 6 – Western Reserve 0 30 –Case 10

TIES:

1911: Western Reserve 0 – OSU 0; 1905: Case 0 – OSU 0; 1899: Case 5-OSU 5 -Scores taken from Associated Press Reports

OSU hasn’t played CWRU since 1934. They must be too scared*.

-Compiled by Mike McKenna, Director of Print

Why CWRU would win: We already have

If you take the transitive property to the extreme, CWRU beat Ohio State this year.

= beat

CWRU

Carnegie Mellon

Elmhurst

Millikin

Augustana IL

Loras

Washington MO North Park Simpson IA

S Dakota Tech

Wm Jewell

St Joseph’s IN

Missouri S&T

WI River Falls Valparaiso Butler

Stetson

Marist Jacksonville Sam Houston St

San Diego

W New Mexico

CSUPueblo

Villanova

Liberty

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Ft Lewis Appalachian St ULM

The Ohio State University -Information from myteamisbetterthanyourteam.com

We already stole their top talent

*It’s probably because OSU won the last 9 games, but we’ll keep dreaming Courtesy case.edu

CWRU president Barbara R. Snyder was OSU”s provost and executive vice president until she came here in 2007.

Courtesy case.edu

CWRU provost Bud Baeslack was the dean of OSU’s engineering school before joining CWRU in 2008.