Volume XLVI, Issue 16 January 23, 2015

Case Western Reserve University volume xlvi, issue 16 friday, 1/23/2015

the

Observer Je suis Charlie?

Charlie Hebdo att a grief around the wcks trigger orl discussions at CWd, open RU When the now-no torious gu

nmen, Cherif and Saïd Ko uachi, burst into the Charlie, was shared on social med ia offices of satirica l magazine Charlie sites, uniting people around the wo rld Hebdo on Jan. 7, th in su pport of the magaz ey not only triggered three days of terror tims. There was als ine and its vicfor France that left o 17 victims dead; they in support of the M #JeSuisAhmed, uslim cop who lost also left the world in a state of shock. his life during the sh ootin “The first thing th And then there wa g. at I thought was that it was going Jan. 11, when world s the march on to be the 9/11 of France,” said Celes lions of people jo leaders and milined hands in Paris te Engel, a Case Western Reserve in memory of thos University student e who had lost their . lives. But som She was in France th e of the most linge e day of the attack, ring visiting her family consequences of th in the suburbs. e discussions that oc attack were the The next couple curred post-Charlie of days were filled with grief an d unexpected con- Hebdo, the discussions on freedom of sequences. #JeSui speech, on Islam, sCharlie, or #IAm - lims around the on the state of Musworld and on satire.

Nardine Taleb Staff Reporter

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Anne Nickoloff/Observer

New study focuses on the oft-ignored “T” in LGBT Survey hopes to find ways to help transgender children

Aquene Kimmel Opinion Editor The recent death of 17-year-old transgender girl Leelah Alcorn brought attention to the need for greater acceptance and support of transgender people. How to accomplish that support, though, remains unclear. A new study

through the Case Western Reserve University psychology department aims to change that.

In a 40-minute survey, created by assistant professor of psychology Amy Przeworski, Ph.D. and graduate student Jennifer Birnkrant, this study asks transgender and gender variant children ages 10-17 and their parents about

their experiences in relation to gender, school, family and their local and religious communities.

Similar studies in the past have had a maximum of 50 participants or have focused on LGBT youth as a whole, rather than specifically transgender youth.

Currently at about 50 participants, this study aims to gather information from at

least 100 people. With that unprecedented sample size for a study on this topic, Przeworski and Birnkrant hope that this will give new insight into how best to help and support transgender and gender variant children.

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Opinion

Sports

pg. 4 Snyder talks about the issues

pg. 10 This week’s newest tunes

pg. 11 Not just a Greek problem

pg. 16 Piece of cake

to New Study | 2

news from Charlie Hebdo | 1 “I think it’s quite telling that very immediately there were discussions about the function of free speech and the limits of free speech and the position of Muslims in France,” said religious studies professor Justine Howe, whose teachings focus on Islam’s presence in American and European countries.

On Jan. 16, the Religious Studies Department held a forum in Tomlinson Hall to discuss topics ranging from Islamophobia to the limits of satire. After the Charlie Hebdo attack, several Muslims were targeted and some violently attacked.

Engel heard of a story where one Muslim man was denied a job just for being Muslim.

“I think it’s going to be a real problem in the next few years,” she said.

In response, a large number of Muslim journalists, leaders, and scholars wanted to make it clear that the perpetrators of the attack are not considered Muslims and that these attacks are condemned by the Mus-

from New Study | 1 One aim of the study is to educate professionals, such as doctors, therapists, teachers and school administrators, to better aid transgender and gender variant youth.

There are resources such as Safe Spacetrained teachers, therapists like those at the CWRU psychology department’s clinic trained to deal with LGBT topics and

lim community, especially by the community in France.

The reality of the attack, however, sparked discussion over the limits of satire and whether there are any. Religious studies professor Jonathan Tan provided context about European societies to fully explain the place of satire in France.

He and Engel seemed to agree that there is a notion of “laïcité,” which means that the French society is a “secular society.”

There is an absence of religion in politics.

Although American society also values a separation between church and state, there is still a difference.

“In America, we have freedom of religion; you can practice whatever religion you like, you can do whatever you like so long as you don’t infringe on my freedom of religion,” said Professor Tan. “Whereas in France, you have freedom from religion.

Two different concepts.

This “laïcité” concept in France is a result of the Enlightenment period, when religion was seen as a subculture. Engel furthered the definition of “laïcité,” say-

ing, “Religion doesn’t really have a really big importance in politics or in school.”

In other words, being French is the most important thing when it comes to identity.

Charlie Hebdo’s magazine rested heavily on the concept of freedom from religion.

Because religion is downplayed in Europe, generally speaking, making fun of other religions is not an offense. Or at least, was not an offense. Now, discussions have centered around whether Charlie Hebdo’s satire was equally fair to all religions and whether satire has its limits.

Professor Tan quoted Pope Francis’ Jan. 15 speech on the subject.

“You cannot make fun of the faith of others,” Tan said. “Charlie Hebdo could have easily critiqued the terrorists without dragging in the Prophet Muhammed.”

For Christianity, for example, the magazine often depicts the pope rather than Jesus.

“It’s very inconsistent, these things that are being practiced,” he added.

Mahima Devarajan, managing editor of CWRU’s humor magazine The Athenian,

shared her own thoughts about the value of satire. Satire, she said, is not just for humor.

“Satire points out flaws and inconsistencies that show up anywhere,” she said.

“It makes you laugh and then makes you think.”

The Athenian aims more at relieving the stress CWRU students experience during their college career. It’s generally for laughs. But the magazine is still a staunch supporter of the right to speak freely.

“Everybody’s opinion, even if it is stupid, is valid,” she said.

There are different sides, stories and arguments. It’s all about perspective. Tan likes using an Indian folktale to describe this concept: “There are four blind men, and they have an elephant and each blind man only recognizes a part of the elephant but not the whole thing. So focusing either on the victims or the ideological grievances, it’s just one picture.”

One picture. One world. One large, active discussion.

LGBT-specific clinics like Cleveland’s MetroHealth Pride Clinic, but these make up a minority of their respective fields. For the majority, the shortage of research about the experiences of transgender youth is reflected in ignorance and uncertainty.

According to Przeworski, the absence of knowledge about transgender issues can put extra work and pressure on parents who aim to be supportive.

“These parents have to be such an advocate for their kids and create a path where there is none in schools,” she said. “They have to push to make sure their kids’ rights aren’t being violated.”

Przeworski and Birnkrant have received questions from parents worried about their motives, concerned that they might reject their children’s gender identities or promote harmful tactics such as conversion therapy.

Pzreworski explains to parents that they hope to create a supportive, helpful intervention, such as a support group for transgender youth. “[Worries as to a potentially transphobic slant] couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Przeworski. “We’re trying to help families.”

This study has been active for a year and will continue until it has reached at least 100 responses. During the study, Birnkrant and Przeworski sent press releases to media sources, hoping to raise

awareness and find more transgender youth to share their experiences.

They received only one response, from a local news channel interested in doing a piece on the study. Shortly thereafter, it snowed, and the piece was cancelled entirely in favor of increased weather coverage. “[Leelah Alcorn] committed suicide, and she wanted her life—her death—to mean something and to make a change,” said Przeworski. “So, to me, it was refreshing that a TV station cared, and then disappointing when they cared more about the snow.”

“Twenty more things happened, so [the news] is done talking about it,” added Birnkrant. “You’re searching the news for more information about it, and they’re done with it.”

Links to surveys for transgender and gender variant youth and their parents are available on the CWRU Department of Psychological Sciences’ website.

Courtesy Leelah Alcorn on Tumblr Leelah Alcorn, a transgender girl from Kings Mills, OH, posted a suicide note on Tumblr, saying that she wanted her death to create a dialogue about discrimination against transgender people.

Sanjana Karishnakumar/Observer Psychology professor Amy Przeworski and graduate student Jennifer Birnkrant created a survey that is looking to learn more about the experiences of transgender children and their parents.

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Leadership summit highlights those who take action to stop hatred Adithi Iyengar, Copy Editor J.P. O’Hagan, Sports Editor The college identity is tied to the idea that a college student has the potential make a difference wherever they put their mind to work. The What You Do Matters Leadership Summit, hosted on campus this past weekend, embraced this ideology in respect to one of the world’s most ingrained social issues, hate speech.

Over 80 students, staff and visitors took part in the two-day conference, which was highlighted by a visit to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and four moving speakers with firsthand experience with hateful political movements. In addition to the speakers, the conference organizers set up small group discussions for the summit attendees to discuss ways to prevent the resurgence and continuation of hateful speech.

The Maltz Museum visit kicked off the summit, with a lesson about one of the most horrific sets of hate crimes in human history, the Holocaust. After everyone returned to campus, the first speaker, a victim of the Holocaust, began his story.

Prior to the outbreak, George Kronenberg was evacuated from Nazi Germany at the age of 10 as part of the Kindertransport. Kronenberg is Jewish, and while he and his sister made it out of Germany to safety—first in England and later here in the United States—his parents were barred from leaving Germany due to the outbreak of World War II and were murdered by the Nazis in the infamous concentration camp, Auschwitz. Kronenberg’s story, a moving testimonial by one of the few Jewish children lucky enough to escape Nazi clutches, highlighted the destruction such hateful movements cause, and the power of freedom.

The next talk was from Aaron Samuels, a poet and author with a rich family history.

As an African American Jewish writer and performer, Samuels felt a lot of anger while learning about his heritage.

For Samuels, the main message was to stand up for others.

“It’s easy to be angry at Nazis, at Nazism,” he said. “But what I am also angry at is the people standing by and watching all these atrocities take place.”

Standing up for others is exactly what the next speaker, Carl Wilkens, did. During the Rwandan genocide, Wilkens, a humanitarian, was one of the few Americans who chose to stay behind and help while others were evacuated.

The Rwandan genocide began when the country’s majority ethnic group, the Hutus, began a mass killing of the country’s minority ethnic group, the Tutsis. As Wilkens explained, the genocide was planned and driven by the political elite.

Before the genocide, Wilkens and his family lived peacefully. After the assassination of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, though, the killings began, and most of the Americans in the country were evacuated. Wilkens, however, decided to stay. He could not imagine leaving his Tutsi household workers behind.

After his family was evacuated, Wilkens spent hours recording everything he saw and experienced, in case he did not survive the ordeal. In the end, he helped save the lives of his workers and many others.

Despite the horrors he witnessed, Wilkes also came by a number of others who made the choice to help. In one story, he told of how his neighbors helped to protect him and his family, saying, “Their children play with our children.”

According to Wilkes, the actions of his neighbors saved his family. He said that, while it is hard to risk oneself and one’s family, it is always important to speak up and protect others.

All of the speakers stressed that the best way to stop atrocities from occurring in the name of hatred is to take action. This resonated in the minds of the summit attendees, who discussed what they each could do to respond to that call to action.

Courtesy Randall Blackford Participants in the summit held breakout sessions to discuss the talks and what they could do to take action against hatred.

Courtesy Randall Blackford Carl Wilkens saved the lives of many during the Rwandan genocide. Here, he speaks to participants at the What You Do Matters Leadership Summit.

University releases 2013-2014 Annual Report

President Snyder highlights CWRU’s international reach, university finances

Alexander Wheaton Staff Reporter Each year, Case Western Reserve University releases an annual report detailing university projects, finances and other campus developments. Past themes have included “The Bigger Picture,” “Who Would Have Thought,” “Think Ahead” and “Think by Numbers.”

This year’s theme, “Think Beyond the Possible,” isn’t just CWRU’s slogan. It refers to the university’s growing influence, innovation and ability to make a difference. Among all the numbers in the annual report were a few highlights of the CWRU community’s participation in Cleveland and around the world, in all disciplines, reaching as far as southeast Asia and the Antarctic.

CWRU’s School of Engineering made an appearance last year in the former Burmese capital of Yangon, where professor of chemical engineering Daniel Lacks helped train faculty at the newly reopened Yangon Technical University (YTU). YTU reopened last year when the government began Democratic reform and President Barack Obama lifted sanctions on the country and called for cultural exchange.

Lacks later led 12 undergraduate students on a two-week cultural exchange trip to YTU,

where they learned about the education, manufacturing and business systems in Yangon.

In Manot, a town in northern Israel, researchers from CWRU’s School of Dental Medicine participated in an archaeological dig that uncovered the teeth of Israeli cave dwellers from between 20,000-200,000 years ago. The discovery, which excavated a newly discovered cave on a hillside in Manot, was in cooperation with the University of Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion University. The remains of three individuals found in the cave have revealed information about their lifestyle and how human teeth have evolved over time. The dig also unearthed well-preserved stone tools and other bones. The DNA will be analyzed and compared with other findings to learn more about the cave dwellers’ ancestry.

The Department of Physics made history in 2013, when Professor of Physics and Astronomy John Ruhl traveled to the South Pole Telescope in Antarctica. There, he and other researchers confirmed the existence of B-mode polarization in the cosmic microwave background. Physics World magazine named the discovery one of the top 10 breakthroughs in 2013 and said the study “paves the way for a definitive test of inflation—a key theory in the Big Bang model of the universe.” Ruhl and his colleagues returned

to the Antarctic this winter to deploy a balloon-borne telescope.

Closer to home, the Department of Biology collaborated with CWRU’s Squire Valleevue Farm to provide better nutrition for two gorillas at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The two gorillas, Bebac and Mokolo, both suffer from heart disease.

Zoo officials immediately observed improvements in the animals’ health, citing better insulin and blood cholesterol levels. Since the beginning of the program in March, the zoo has received weekly orders of more than 300 pounds of leafy greens and hay from the farm.

The report also highlighted the work of the School of Nursing’s assistant professor Ronald Hickman, who received a $460,000 grant to develop software to help families make decisions regarding life-sustaining therapies for loved ones who are unable to make those decisions. The technology, called the Electronic Surrogate Decision Maker Resources and Tailored Training, is designed to educate families and give them resources about choices for the patient. It is the first avatar-based decision support technology.

Also working to improve our local and state community were students of the Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic, who won the right to

appear before the Ohio Supreme Court in a case defending the use of attorney fees to encourage parties involved in lawsuits to abide by discovery rules. The appeal is slated to go before the court sometime this winter.

The report also saw CWRU’s combined endowment grow to over $1.5 billion between 2013 and 2014, with an all time high of $151.6 million in gifts and pledges from private sources in 2014. In 2013, CWRU spent just 5.4 percent of that amount.

“We have a great development team and a lot of donors who care about CWRU,” President Barbara R. Snyder said. “Fundraising continues to be a success story at CWRU.” Although donations and total revenue are at an all-time high, expenses are as well.

CWRU’s operating surplus shrunk from $8.4 million to $7.2 million last year.

“It’s hard,” Snyder said, referring to the rising costs. “It’s all about choices and sometimes the choices are not easy.”

The usual suspects are to blame: rising healthcare costs and pay increases, for example.

“Increased costs haven’t been out of the ordinary, but they have been a challenge,” Snyder noted.

The report can be read in full online at case.edu/thinkbeyond/.

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In the spirit of President Obama’s State of the Union Address, we kick off bringing you our monthly sit-down with Case Western Reserve University President Barbara R. Snyder. This month, the conversation ranged from transportation to rising tuition prices.

On transportation Snyder noted that she had met with Vice President for Campus Services Dick Jamieson about increasing the number of Greenie’s on campus. She said talks are in place to add at least one Greenie to the busiest route.

On safety Snyder said that safety “continues to be another critical issue” and that CWRU recently posted an opening for a new position of safety director, who will oversee collaboration between CWRU Police Department and campus security services to ensure that security personnel are being used most effectively.

On the topic of the security tower, new this year near Wade Commons in the North Residential Village, Snyder said that its “hard to tell” if its construction has led to a reduction of crime in the area. She explained that the cold weather every year results in less crime, so it’s difficult to discern what is responsible in this winter’s drop in criminal activity.

However, she elaborated that there was an uptick in crime after the original security tower was torn down to construct the new residence hall.

On last semester’s report of 10 fraternity men being accused of sexual misconduct Snyder frequently referred to an upcoming survey in which members of the Association of American Universities will take part in regarding each campuses’ “sexual assault climate.” It will specifically look at occurrences of sexual assault and student perception of sexual assault case handling on campuses.

Snyder said that the study is hoping to get a better idea of what circumstances do not get reported, as instances of sexual assault and misconduct are typically drastically underreported.

“While we know it’s underreported, we don’t know how underreported it [sexual assault] is,” Snyder said.

However, Snyder did note that she was not aware that the sexual misconduct took place until after The Observer’s Dec. 5 report. She said that it’s “probably obvious” she would have known beforehand.

“This happens, we’re a big institution,” Snyder said. “I would like to have known, but I can’t know about every little thing [that happens at CWRU].”

On closing due to inclement weather Snyder said that the decision to close the university due to cold or snow is a “process” that begins at 5:30 a.m.

A number of individuals are contacted, including representatives from the Campus Planning and Facilities Management Department and local police.

“While we take safety seriously, at the same time, we don’t want to close the campus for inconsequential reasons,” Snyder said.

Snyder also said she receives the most emails from students complaining when the university isn’t closed on a cold day.

1/23/15

Spotlight on research

Colon cancer: Two different tumor worlds

Kushagra Gupta Staff Reporter

In his youth, Dr. Sanford Markowitz loved science. In college, his majors were chemistry and physics, and it was the latter he thought he would continue to study. As an upperclassman, however, Markowitz decided that medicine called to him. Now, he exclusively focuses on colon cancer as a doctor and researcher.

Markowitz was recently the principal investigator on a study that found 20 genetic mutations unique to colon cancer in African Americans. They were present in about 40 percent of African American colon cancers and three times as likely in colon cancers studied in Caucasians.

The study is the first to investigate a difference in the genetic makeup of tumors between ethnicities. Markowitz believes that future research on the subject will eventually allow faster detection and stronger prevention in colon cancer in African Americans.

Additionally, he says that the findings gave notice to researchers that previously disregarded genes can cause colon cancer, no matter the ethnicity.

“It’s not that no one has previously thought that cancer might be different in different ethnic groups,” said Markowitz. “We are the first folks to say let’s take a look at a population right here in the United States, and ask that question.”

Colon cancer is more present and deadly in African Americans than Caucasians.

However, the cause was thought to be mostly due to lower access to healthcare.

Markowitz, though, didn’t want to dismiss the idea of a genetic cause. In previous work, he had isolated the colon cancer genes, the DNA that was being actively used in tumor cells. The goal was to find

Courtesy Dr. Sanford Markowitz Dr. Sanford Markowitz found 20 genetic mutations that hint at the cause of colon cancer in African Americans. target genes susceptible to mutating and causing colon cancer.

The sample, however, only included a few African Americans. Looking back, he wondered if the genome would be different if his sample only included African Americans.

In the present study, the researchers did just that, sequencing a group of 103 tumor samples. The results were surprising, showing 20 genes that weren’t previously mutated.

Staying true to their scientific mindset, the researchers didn’t immediately jump to any conclusions. Instead, they identified advances in techniques and technology as a potential cause of the new findings.

Searching for a way to confirm their findings, the investigators sequenced a group of 129 tumor samples of colon tumors in Cau-

casians. This established that there were differences in the colon tumor makeup between the ethnicities.

Markowitz is aware that his work can be misinterpreted. Looking for a genetic difference between ethnicities as the cause of a disease can be taken in a negative light.

Although he understands this, Markowitz believes that future research on the topic can help detect cancer. If only a couple genes are tied to the risk of cancer in a certain group, he explains, knowing whether one has this genetic predisposition can help catch a tumor early on.

Additionally, Markowitz illustrates, by focusing on one specific ethnic group, he was able to identify new potential tumor-causing genes that would have gone undetected.

“You have lot of sorting of needles and haystacks to do,” he explains.

University Counseling Services expands interpersonal group due to high demand Suneil Kamath Staff Reporter University Counseling Services (UCS) is expanding its popular interpersonal process group (IPG) due to increased demand.

According to UCS, IPG is “for students who wish to better understand themselves and their relationships with others. Over time, students begin to better understand themselves and their relationship patterns and develop ways to improve the quality of

their relationships.”

IPG is not a support group for couples, though.

“IPG is really for individuals who want help navigating any kind of relationship in their lives,” Ann Letourneau, a doctoral intern at UCS, told The Daily. “Our participants come with a variety of goals, such as improving small-talk skills, overcoming shyness, gaining assertiveness and managing conflict with family, friends and colleagues.”

Approximately 1,300 Case Western Reserve University students visit UCS every year. UCS provides a range of services for students, including programs dealing with managing drug and alcohol abuse and academic stress.

Originally only scheduled once a week, IPG will now run three times a week, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday’s from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Students interested in signing up for the program should visit the UCS offices in the Sears Building, Room 220.

Dental School to offer free exams, cleanings to students on Jan. 24 Gabrielle Buffington Staff Reporter If you’re not a dental student or faculty member, chances are you have never heard of Prophy Day, an annual event where participants get free dental exams, X-rays, cleanings and oral cancer screenings at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine.

The event, which has been held for over 20 years, will take place on Jan. 24 from 9 a.m.12 p.m. It is open to CWRU students with ID and local Clevelanders over the age of 18. The event takes place at the Dental Clinic, located

at 2124 Cornell Road.

“It’s first come, first serve,” said second-year dental student Jackie Cheng, who is also the secretary for the Dental School’s Executive Student Council. Cheng recommends getting in early, as the doors close at noon.

Prophy Day is popular among locals, but many CWRU students aren’t aware that it takes place.

“We have so many people from the community that know about [Prophy Day] that the line is always coming out the door in the morning,” Cheng states, “but we see a very, very low number of undergrads.”

The student council hopes to publicize

the event more in an effort to help students maintain a better schedule for dental treatment instead of waiting for every other school break to book an appointment back home. With dentists recommending cleanings every six months, waiting for schools breaks is not the best plan of action.

“Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve never seen anyone from CWRU take advantage of this opportunity,” Cheng says. “No undergrads know about the services that the Dental School provides them. I just want to extend the courtesy of inviting undergrads here. If we want to clean your teeth, let us clean your teeth.”

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CWRU student launches CampusMonkey App allows students to ask for and receive help from their classmates Kevin Wang Staff Reporter CampusMonkey, a new app launching soon for iOS and Android, is aiming to help you with your homework. The free app, founded by fifth-year mechanical engineering student Leo Li, allows students to ask for and receive help from their peers by posting tasks that others can complete for pay.

Students who need help can post specific tasks, such as asking for tutoring, help taking notes in class or homework help. Other students can then sign up to help them out.

Students who are looking to get make a lit-

tle extra money can also offer help to others.

For example, if you have a car and are headed to the supermarket, you can post, offering to take others with you for a small fee.

Students who need help pay CampusMonkey, who then transfers the money to the helpers. Only people with a university email address can register for the app.

The app will be released later this month, first to Case Western Reserve University students and then to the general public. By doing this, CWRU students will get first dibs on the app’s benefits.

Li says that when he got his first smartphone, he was “shocked at how many things you can do with it.” With the new technolo-

gies opening doors for developers, the idea for CampusMonkey was born.

In partnership with Blackstone LaunchPad and the local startup community in Cleveland, Li was able to take his idea and turn it into a reality. Li was having trouble finding a partner for his idea before he attended a Cleveland startup weekend last April. There, he was able to find a developer who became his mentor.

Li hopes that the application can help students reap the benefits of CWRU’s entrepreneurial community. For more information about the application and for news about its launch, check out its website at www.campusmonkey.co.

Martin Luther King essay contest calls for submissions Jessica Yang, Social Media Editor In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Baker Nord Center for Humanities and the Kelvin Smith Library have come together to sponsor the 6th-annual essay contest celebrating Dr. King’s values and vision.

There will be a $500 prize in each category—staff, undergraduate student, graduate student and faculty. The essay prompt, which asks writers to respond to one out of three quotes, can be found online.

“Every year, there is a theme that Dr. Marilyn Sanders Mobley, Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity and her team come up with,” said Dr. Lisa Nielson, who is on the committee in charge of the essay contest. “What from Dr. King’s life and works do we want to fo-

cus on? They take into consideration what is going on politically, and they try to keep it hopeful instead of dreary. What can be a take away? The prompt tries to give people a quote from Dr. King’s works so they can explore where can we go. Where’s the next step? It gives people the chance to ask themselves, ‘What can we do to affect change?’“ With the essay deadline extension, the essay committee is now able to announce the winner to coincide with Black History Month, which is in February.

Although the prize money may be an incentive to enter the contest, Nielson says that the goal of the contest is “to get people thinking about whether or not we can start change.”

“Also, people on faculty and staff—we want to give them an outlet for conversation,” she added. “It gives them a platform to be creative but also share and collect ideas about social justice. It’s a really good way for people to think and react to what is going on around

campus and the community.”

As much as King is associated with racism, on a greater scale, his legacy is in the struggle against social justice. Nielson said that she hopes to see entries covering a broad range of experiences and backgrounds, be it LGBTQ, minorities or anything else.

“Where else can we take the ideas of Martin Luther King?” Nielson said. “He was not just concerned with racism. The way people present their interpretations is really neat.

Everyone takes it in a different way. What’s great about the contest is the ability to have this framework, and everyone grapples with it in his or her own perspective.”

Essays should be emailed to MLK2015essays@case.edu, and in the subject line, the applicable category (undergraduate student, faculty, etc.) should be included. Essays should be at least three pages, with a maximum of seven pages, all double-spaced. The deadline is Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.

App provides anonymous online therapy John Brogan Staff Reporter Need to vent? 7 Cups of Tea, an online-based talk therapy app, is working to provide support for students as they work through their college careers. The app gives users the option to chat anonymously with a therapist or attend free counseling online.

Users chat anonymously with one of the site’s 70,000 “listeners,” who are trained to

On the beat Starting in early November, the University Circle area experienced a rash of vehicle break-ins and catalytic converter thefts. These types of crimes hit the University Circle and Little Italy areas periodically, because these areas have a large numbers of parked cars due to commuters and apartment dwellers. Here are some facts and tips about car theft.

Auto-related crimes can occur anytime, even in broad daylight. A number of recent thefts in the area have taken place in surface lots in the Little Italy and Murray Hill area, or overnight from parked cars in the Carlton Road and Stearns Road areas.

If you see suspicious activity around cars or in parking lots in the area, call the Case Western Reserve University Police Department at 216-368-3333. Suspicious activity can mean people pulling on door handles, breaking glass, trying to jimmy or force their way into cars or anything that looks like trying to get into a car without a key. Also, watch for

help those seeking support. Many of the listeners, who are all volunteers, used the app to seek support before beginning to help others themselves.

The volunteers come from all over the world. Users who do not speak English can look through the database of listeners to find someone who speaks their native language.

Founder and owner Glen Moriarty started the company for people who don’t have someone they trust in their immediate life

in June of 2013. Moriarty, who practiced as a psychologist for 12 years before dedicating his time to 7 Cups of Tea, believes that students specifically need the support because of the stresses that young adults going through school face. Over 50 percent of the app’s users are students.

“The lack of staff on college campuses for talk therapy is a chronic problem,” he said.

7 Cups of Tea is available online and can be downloaded for iPhone and Android.

Cars, cars, cars people underneath cars—this is where you have to go to cut off catalytic converters, which are valued for the metals they contain.

When parking on the street, try and find a well-lit spot, if possible. When leaving your parked car, try not to leave valuables such as cash, laptops or GPS devices visible. If you have to leave some valuable items behind, put them in the trunk. Also, don’t keep the title to your car in the vehicle. Lock your car, including closing your windows.

Try not to leave a car running with the key in the ignition if you are not in the car.

In general, older model cars tend to be more vulnerable than newer model cars with anti-theft devices. Soft top cars, like Jeeps, are also vulnerable to having the tops slit to gain entry into the vehicle. The most stolen models of cars in the U.S. in 2013 were Honda Accords and Civics, partially due to the interchangeability of some of their parts. Several models of pickup trucks were next.

So let’s look out for each other, and our vehicles.

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.

CWRU Police Blotter

Dec. 14 to Jan. 21 Jan. 16: Petty theft— GPS device taken from office, A.W. Smith Building.

Jan. 19: Bicycle theft— bike taken from inside gym, Adelbert Gym.

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Cleveland catch-up Julia Bianco News Editor We boil down what happened in Cleveland this week.

Ohio Governor John Kasich dances around the question Ohio’s Republican Governor John Kasich gave his most clear answer yet to the question of whether he will run for president in 2016, but he still hasn’t given a definitive yes or no.

“It’s a privilege to be governor of Ohio… and that’s my focus,” he told the Associated Press. “But if I think something else makes sense, if I think the field is lacking or there’s an opportunity, I’ll look at it. All my options are open.”

Kasich considered running for president in 2000 but dropped out due to a lack of fundraising.

Richmond Town Square in danger of joining the city’s ‘dead malls’ The Richmond Town Square mall is losing Macy’s, Wet Seal, Claire’s, Radio Shack, putting it in danger of joining the 27 other “dead malls” in the state.

Macy’s announced its departure earlier this month, and the store is currently holding closeout sales. It is one of the 14 Macy’s stores closing across the country. The store, which was the anchor of the mall, closed due to a lack of shoppers.

“We’re worried the mall is going to end up being like Randall Park Mall or Euclid Square Mall,” Richmond Heights Councilman Donald O’Toole told cleveland.com, referencing two Ohio malls that were forced to shut down due to falling revenue. “They’re giant eyesores in the middle of their cities.”

The mall has been on decline for a long time, with the widening income gap leading to success for high-end malls but failure for the rest. Malls also suffer from the large number of stores that have popped up elsewhere, making it even more difficult to fill the entire space.

Macy’s owns their retail space, and what will happen to it is unclear.

Group writes plan for legalizing marijuana in Ohio Political action committee, ResponsibleOhio, is aiming to legalize the production, sale and medical and personal use of marijuana in Ohio by the summer of 2016.

The proposal wants to create a seven-member Marijuana Control Commission, appointed by the governor, who would regulate the 10 sites in which cannabis would be grown.

It also proposes a 15 percent tax on marijuana production, in conjunction with sales tax and commercial activity tax.

The majority of the tax revenue would go towards municipal and township governments for police, road repair and other public services. Medical marijuana would be tax free.

fun

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9/5/14

Horoscopes Aries

Cookies are good to eat.

Taurus

Keep your eye on the prize. That is, unless your prize is your crush who sits across from you in class.

Caring is not staring.

Gemini

The answers to today’s quiz are A, A, A, D and trick question... do not answer.

Cancer

Across 1. Flying mammals 5. Motif 10. Carpenter’s groove 14. Regrets 15. Aspirations 16. Among 17. Impertinent 19. Pear-shaped instrument 20. One of the tribes of Israel 21. Map within a map 22. Plateaux 23. Gist 25. Give a speech 27. Type of whiskey 28. Garbageman 31. Something to shoot for 34. Beverage 35. An uncle 36. Decays 37. Existence 38. Make a sweater 39. In song, the loneliest number 40. Confuse 41. Test versions

42. Tells a story 44. Do it yourself 45. Fertilizer ingredient 46. A style of roof 50. Skill 52. Make improvements 54. Suffering 55. Satan’s territory 56. Excessive 58. Doing nothing 59. Climb 60. Stepped 61. Playthings 62. Gauge 63. Not his Down 1. _____ and groom 2. Vibes 3. Small slender gulls 4. South southeast 5. Therefrom 6. Steed 7. Type of sword 8. Instructing 9. Eastern Standard Time 10. 4th Hebrew letter 11. Delight

Kevin Yong

12. Devil tree 13. Poems 18. A type of plastic 22. Disguise 24. Historical periods 26. Telephoned 28. Threesomes 29. Dogfish 30. Catches 31. Press 32. Spanish lady 33. Forever 34. Compliance 37. Mend (archaic) 38. Lock openers 40. Insulation 41. A forehead dot 43. Shoulder firearms 44. Hackles 46. European blackbird 47. Cognizant 48. Turbine part 49. Accomplishments 50. Voucher 51. Start over 53. Protective ditch 56. Belief 57. Greatest possible

Crossword Puzzle

Ivory Tower

COMICS

Nutcase

There’s more than one way to solve a problem.

Leo

Look up instead of at the ground when it’s snowing. Or you might get splashed by a passing car.

Virgo

Tip your barista well this week.

They will have a significant impact on your life for the next few months.

Libra

Having second thoughts about that class? Just drop it! You still have time.

Scorpio

If anyone displeases you this week, remember that you command the scorpion armies.

Ophiuchus

One week down. Feel accomplished.

Sagittarius

Always listed to sage advice.

Pun intended.

Capricorn Yahtzee!

Aquarius

Man or woman up. Ask your crush out. Valentine’s Day is coming up quick.

Pisces

You might want to make yourself a lemon-meringue pie—you could use some vitamin C.

arts & entertainment Extraterrestrial festival Film Society hosts long-running movie marathon Sierra Blanton Contributing Reporter From Friday, Jan. 16 to Saturday, Jan. 17, students and community members alike joined together to celebrate science fiction movies. However, it wasn’t just some sleepover. Among the rows of seats in Strosacker Auditorium, the crowd of people ate popcorn and tried to stay awake in the late hours, participating in the Film Society’s 40th Sci-Fi Marathon.

When the doors opened for the guests to find their seats, the throng made its way past colorful movie posters and funny regulation posters into the auditorium and balcony (or “bacon”). They were all prepared to bunker down, with sleeping bags and pillows in one hand and bags and coolers in the other.

Spaces filled as seats were taken and sleeping areas claimed in hallways, the lounge and even on the stage. The Film Society staff made sure to keep certain areas clean and had the warning “keep clear” taped down on the floor in various fantastical languages like Tolkien’s Tengwar and “Myst’s” D’ni.

To launch the marathon, the co-directors of Film Society, Liz Caceci and Christian Gündlach, walked on stage and welcomed everyone. They took the time to recognize any first-time guests as well as the ones who had returned, especially those who had been to all 40 film festivals. An energized applause ensued, and then it all began.

The marathon ran its course through its wildly diverse schedule, narrowed down from a list of about 40 possibilities, according

Courtesy James Cash Last weekend, Film Society put on its 40th Sci-Fi marathon, with special celebrations in addition to its lineup of films. to Liz, with the likes of “Forbidden Planet,” “Jumanji” and “Godzilla” on the big screen. A few surprise films were presented, including “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Island of Lost Souls” and “Planet 9 from Outer Space” on the terms that, as Liz explained, the first film must be a “bad movie, terrible,” the second a “classic, good movie,” and this year followed with a third that “can be anything.”

I think the films fit quite well.

There were also short cartoons and movie

trailers in between films. All in all, over 30 hours of movies were viewed.

However, at event, the films weren’t just watched. Instead, it was an interactive experience, as the audience reacted to the films, cheering or groaning, making offhanded remarks at the characters or clapping at the names in the opening credits.

The audience was also surprised with celebratory activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary. The first was a recognition

to long attending Sci-Fi Marathoners as medals were handed out and colorful LED crowns were presented to the four people who had attended all 40 marathons, including Charley Knox, a projectionist. Knox also received a film reel for his dedication to Film Society and the marathon. An honorary fifth crown was also given to Rich Drushel, Film Society’s advisor.

Later in the event, there was also a mystery raffle where the winner, James Seckler, won a pair of monster shoes and then was surprised with the opportunity to go Godzilla-like on a Drushel’s handmade layout replica of the main quad c. 1975, while being attacked by paper airplanes.

Amidst all the festivities and films, Film Society also served all sorts of concessions like popcorn, pizza and even late-night donuts. They also included much-needed coffee for people to stay awake. Though, despite that, odd hours of sleep did occur.

The entire event all seemed to be running on its own time with its schedule and activities, despite the hours slipping by outside as the sun set, rose and set again.

And through it all, there were conversations among friends catching up and hanging out.

In many ways, this event was a reunion of friends and a chance to make new ones. Many shared the sentiment that one of their main reasons for returning was to see their friends again, and they loved to tell stories of previous festivals. Caceci also said that it’s part of the draw of Film Society’s annual event.

“People came when they were students, and it’s a tradition for them,” said Caceci.

“The Nightly Show” brings a different face to late-night TV Julia Bianco News Editor When “The Colbert Report” aired its finale in December, it felt like someone had pulled the rug out from under the late-night comedy world. The show was completely unlike anything else on TV, and it was hard to even imagine replacing that. The new show filling in its 11:30 p.m. Comedy Central timeslot, “The Nightly Show,” is nothing like “The Colbert Report,” but that’s okay.

“The Nightly Show’s” host, Larry Wilmore, should be recognizable to fans

of “The Daily Show” as the show’s senior black correspondent. Wilmore’s other credits include small parts in “I Love You, Man,” “Dinner for Schmucks” and, most recently, “Playing House” on USA. He also serves as an executive producer on ABC’s “black-ish.”

Right from the first shot, it’s clear that “The Nightly Show” is different from its predecessors, “The Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” “The Nightly Show’s” set is an update on Colbert’s and Stewart’s, although it does have the same red and blue theme. The large table in the center is new, but required for the show’s panel format.

Arts & Entertainment Photo Spotlight

Freda Li/Observer Arthur Chu, Jeopardy legend, made an appearance at The Jolly Scholar’s trivia night last Tuesday, Jan. 20.

On the wall are clocks that show times from important places, including Pompeii, East St. Louis and Obama’s birthplace (which shows the time in Hawaii).

The graphics, which display, annoyingly, in the bottom left corner of the screen as opposed to the traditional, top right-hand box, are not as creative as those of the other two shows, and they are a bit hard to see against the dark background. Still, overall, the set is fitting for the show.

Wilmore seems nervous when he first steps on set at “The Nightly Show,” with his shoulders up a bit tight and his hands clenched around his note cards. His initial opening one-liners are solid, but the delivery feels a bit reminiscent of “The Soup” and other cheesy entertainment talk-shows.

Despite the slow start, when Wilmore gets into the longer bits, he really starts to shine. He does a nice job of interacting with the audience, and, although he is clearly still nervous, he looks much more comfortable here than he did earlier. His choice of topic, which focuses mostly on race and diversity, is daring and different, and it shows the potential for serious discussions that his new show has.

Previously titled “The Minority Report,” before an upcoming FOX pilot forced them to change it, the show focuses on underrepresented voices in television. The first night’s guests, rapper Talib Kweli, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and actor/comedian Bill Burr, along with contributor Shenaz Treasury, helped to facilitate that theme by bringing a variety of perspectives to the show’s

Show: “The Nightly Show” Starring: Larry Wilmore Date: 11:30pm, Mon. - Thurs.

Rating: new panel format, adeparture from “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report’s” traditional one-guest format.

The panel brings something new and different to “The Nightly Show,” and I think that it is one of the show’s greatest assets. The brunt of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” was on their hosts, which works because of the immense talent of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. However, bringing in multiple guests each night takes some of the pressure off Wilmore and allows for more variety in the viewpoints being presented.

The show also ended with a great nightly segment called “Keep It 100,” where guests were asked a question that they had to answer 100 percent honestly. Those who succeeded got a sticker, while those who failed (like Booker, when he was asked if he wanted to be president), got weak tea. Wilmore also participated, saying that he will be answering a Twitter question from a viewer each night.

The segment was original and new, and it brought a little bit more laughter into a show that did, at times, get heavy.

“The Nightly Show” still needs a bit of work—Wilmore doesn’t seem entirely comfortable in front of the camera yet, and the panel format still needs a bit more fleshing out. However, the show is a welcome addition to the Comedy Central line-up, and, with a little time to grow, it should turn into something great.

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A mesmerizing animation of the imagination Winston Eng Staff Reporter Film: “Paprika” Director: Satoshi Kon Release Date: Nov. 25, 2006 Rating: Whether it has spouted from our associations from childhood or the oft-targeted audience of younger generations, animation in film has long sought validation as a viable medium for adults.

This can be especially true for Japanese animation, which has colloquially held a stigma here in the U.S. for introducing themes revolving around the weird and nonsensical. American studios such as Pixar, Dreamworks and Disney Animation have performed tremendous accomplishments by putting forth material that can be enjoyed by all ages. However, how often are these “cartoons” specifically created to deal with mature themes on par with some of the most critically-received Hollywood blockbusters?

Enter “Paprika,” a twisted mosaic of future-shock oddities and experimental

“Paprika” tells a trippy tale of entering dreams and served as the inspiration for “Inception.” trips through the human psyche. This film turns a blind eye to the dissatisfaction of reality and releases the floodgates of imagination to commentate on our most wonderful, yet fleeting moments: dreams.

Directed by the late Satoshi Kon (“Millennium Actress,” “Tokyo Godfathers”) and based on the novel by Japanese author Yasutaka Tsutsui, “Paprika” centers on the brilliant man-child Dr. Kosaku Tokita’s (Toru Furuya) latest

Courtesy IMDB

creation, the DC Mini, an experimental therapy device that allows the user to enter into the dreams of patients. There is little doubt that the device demonstrates unparalleled potential; however, due to its unfinished nature, the DC Mini does not contain access restrictions, leaving it open for anyone at any time to enter another person’s dream.

When lead protagonists, stoic Dr. Atsuko Chiba (Megumi Hayashibara) and mischievous Dr. Torataro Shima (Katsunosuke Hori) discover the possibility of a missing prototype and, more importantly, a chronically-absent colleague, strange occurrences start to pop up all around them. This prompts a deliberate search in hopes of preventing any serious complications from arising.

Joining the manhunt is Toshimi Konakawa, a less keen Sam Spade, who finds himself initially troubled by a recurring nightmare shown to be related to the homicide case he is working on during the day. Demonstrating an unusual aversion to the cinema and consistently experiencing a bleeding of his dreams into his reality, Konakawa finds himself in positions where the separation between fact and fiction is hardly distinguishable, often producing scenarios ready and able to rival Spike Jonze in his “Being John Malkovich” meta-game.

To put it succinctly, the film is intricate. It’s a stunning bombardment of iridescent hallucinations, charmingly demented visuals and an infectious techno-pop score. Amidst the controlled chaos, a sinister underbelly pervades and produces an understanding that our materialistic obsession is slowly extracting our fantasies to replace our realities and disconnect ourselves from one another.

Consistently, themes include escaping isolation, admitting skepticism and questioning perception all in hopes of returning to the logical coherence of what is considered to be normal actuality. Add in the hyper-realistic 2D drawing style and the consistently unnerving banter regarding the assumed differentiating facets of physical bodies and machines, and “Paprika” delivers a surreal and addicting mania guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows by the end of your viewing.

Those familiar with Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” (which was inspired by this film) or Spike Jonze’s “Being John Malkovich” are encouraged to seek out Satoshi Kon’s “Paprika.” Fans of Mamoru Oshii’s “Ghost in the Shell” or Katsuhiro Otomo’s “Akira” should also give “Paprika” a chance.

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observer.case.edu

CWRU Thoughts Maria Fazal Staff Reporter The Case Western Reserve University community is known for thinking beyond the possible. Each week, this column aims to capture a slice of campus life.

Interview 1 Q: What’s been the biggest change coming back to college?

A: The biggest change is that I’m trying new stuff. I used to be a lazy guy, but now I’m more active. I go to the gym every day, do different kinds of sports and try new clubs. They cheer me up, and I feel a lot of new changes—I feel stronger. I used to just listen to music and stay at home, but now I’m socializing with people.

Q: What made you decide to make these changes?

A: Maybe it’s because I used to have a lot of friends. I felt pretty lonely here, especially the first semester, and I started to change things to make new friends.

Stephanie Kim/ Observer

Q: What’s been your best memory with your friends?

A: The second month after I came here, I joined a club, and we added a small part to toys—like cars and bears—to make them more suitable for disabled children, like kids who can’t see, hear or move. We made it easier for the kids to play with these toys, and I think that’s good. It felt like a very meaningful thing.

Interview 2 Q: I don’t know if you know this, but there have been a lot of events on campus celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Have you been to any of them?

A: Yeah, I went to the symposium. It was awesome. It’s nice to be involved and learn about civic engagement, civil rights and getting involved in the community.

Q: What do you think is something the Case community can do to further help with these sorts of issues?

A: In terms of the community and getting people more acclimated with different issues like race, sexual orientation and gender—those issues are really important right now, and people are ignorant about them—I think the latest thing they’re doing right now is Diversity 360. Basically, you come together, and it’s almost like a training about these issues, what people should be aware of and how to be careful of what they say. I think the solution comes down to people talking about things and being open, talking about different backgrounds and cultural experiences.

Stephanie Kim/ Observer

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Changing tradition

Playlist of the Week Teddy Eisenberg Staff Reporter

“Allie” is perhaps the most quintessentially Belle & Sebastian-sounding song on the Scottish group’s latest release, “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance,” melding twee harmonies with the upbeat rhythm of an acoustic guitar and breezy flute solos. On an album marked by questionable fortes into dancier territory, “Allie” serves as a reminder of just how great Belle & Sebastian can be. “Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance” was released on Jan. 20 on Matador Records.

Beadwork artist featured in new MOCA exhibition Maria Fazal Copy Editor On Jan. 29, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland will be unveiling an exhibition by Joyce J. Scott, a sculptor widely known as the “Queen of Beadwork.”

A Baltimore native, Scott still calls the city her home, and her art derives some of its core elements of inspiration from her identity as an urban African American woman.

Perhaps another pertinent component of Scott’s work is its strongly traditional roots. Scott began her art career through collaboration with her mother, Elizabeth Talford, who is a fiber artist. Much of Talford’s work was concerned with familial social struggles. From her mother, Scott learned the importance of storytelling to family history and memories.

In fact, Scott’s diverse African American, Native American and Scottish family boasts three generations of storytellers: quilters, basket makers and wood, and metal and clay workers. Much of Scott’s work also addresses hot topics, such as political and social issues concerned with gender, race and class struggle.

“It’s important to me to use art in a manner that incites people to look and then carry something home—even it it’s subliminal—that might make a change in them,” said Scott.

Although much of Scott’s work is rooted in tradition, she manages to take a completely different angle with longstanding techniques. Beadwork is certainly not a new craft, but what Scott manages to convey through it certainly is.

“Over the last four decades, Scott has honed her craft and delivered striking vi-

sual narratives through masterful technical skill, while demonstrating an ongoing interest in collaborating with craftspeople across the globe,” said New York City’s Museum of Art and Design Nanette L. Laitman Director Glenn Adamson.

Several of Scott’s pieces possibly take some inspiration from this global influence, if that assumption can be made by appearance alone. There’s something distinctly tribal about some of her sculptures, adorned with weathered fabrics, vibrant beading and exaggerated, almost ghastly features. These are the sorts of works that wouldn’t seem out of place in an enlightened shaman’s hut.

An example of this type of work is a sculpture titled “Confused,” which contains three persons morphed together in an uncomfortable pose. Each of the three heads is portrayed in a different style.

While one is rendered in a way that almost resembles a shrunken head, another head is elongated in a way similar to Easter Island’s Moai figures. The final head borders on caricature in a manner not too different from Norman Rockwell’s. Overall, it’s beautiful in a way that transcends our traditional views of the word.

The meaning behind pieces such as this is not exactly explicit. However, this only seems to add to Scott’s bold presence in the art world. These puzzling mysteries are also not lost on the artist.

“I know I’ve got an itch,” said Scott. “I guess I just want to keep making work that confounds me. I want to be confused, ignited, knocked down by my own work.”

Along with exhibition curator Patterson Sims, Scott will be present opening night of the new exhibition, “Truths and Visions,” to speak on her work, career and life.

TRAVEL LIKE A PROFESSIONAL Welter-Muzic Child Well-Being Scholars: Conference Support Program

“Allie”—Belle & Sebastian

“Uma Thurman”—Fall Out Boy A funny thing happened to Fall Out Boy after they returned to release 2013’s “Save Rock & Roll:” they became superstars. Now, when bassist Pete Wentz pens lyrics about being remembered for centuries or working miracles on the Pulp Fiction-referencing “Uma Thurman,” it’s not as hard to believe the group’s rock and roll savior aspirations. To hear Fall Out Boy’s new album, “American Beauty/American Psycho,” is to hear emo music alive and well in the 2010s, transformed into genre-defining pop and essential listening.

“Blur My Hands”—Lupe Fiasco Feat. Guy Sebastian The status of rap in 2015 is pretty good, with young talents like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole continuing to push the genre forward. However, no matter how good current fans of hip-hop have it, there is always room for established greats like Lupe Fiasco, something that this Windy City rapper quickly reminds us on his new album, “Tetsuo & Youth.” Blending fresh production with uncompromising political commentary, “Blur My Hands” is already sure to be one of the year’s best tracks.

“Coyotes”—Modest Mouse With the indie world abuzz due to news of a new Modest Mouse album on the horizon, “Coyotes” serves as a teaser for what one of year’s most anticipated releases. Detailing the real-life story of a coyote that rode Portland’s MAX light rail train in 2002, this track is a breathtaking ballad of circular vocals and layered guitars. Look for Modest Mouse’s newest album, “Strangers to Ourselves,” available March 3 from Epic Records.

“The Big Distraction”—Ohio Sky Local talent Ohio Sky conjures an arenaready rock sound just as expansive as its name suggests on “The Big Distraction,” delivering a brooding and hard-hitting ballad that not only distracts but also delights. Hear this track and more at Ohio Sky’s record release show on Jan. 24 in the Cambridge Room of the House of Blues, also featuring Nights and EYE. Tickets are $16 and doors open at 7 p.m.

provides funding to undergraduate students to attend a conference on research and policy or practice related to children and young people.

UP TO $700 FOR: Conference Registration | Transportation | Lodging | Meals CHILD-RELATED CONFERENCE TOPICS CAN INCLUDE: • Child Psychology, Mental Health • Anthropology, Sociology, Culture, Cognitive Science • Law, Political Science, Juvenile Justice

Retro Pick of the Week:

• Child and Family Medicine, Nursing, Health Care • Social Justice, Social Work, Family Welfare

For more information and to apply: schubert.case.edu/education/welter-muzic-scholars-program Applications for 2015 conferences due January 30, 2015!

Applications received after that date will be considered based on availability of funds.

Priority will be given to Childhood Studies minors, but all majors and minors within the Collge of Arts and Sciences are encouraged to apply.

Scholarship supported by the generous contributions of alumni Christina Welter, MPH, DrPH (CWR ‘98) and David Muzic, MD (CWR ‘97).

“Hit It And Quit It”—Funkadelic Doctors recommend a daily dose of funk to keep your life loose and colorful. Even if that last statement isn’t remotely true, the energy on Funkadelic’s hypnotic “Hit It And Quit It” might just convince you to incorporate a little bit more groove into your musical diet. From Eddie Hazel’s blistering guitar solo to the song’s timeless chorus, this track is sure to hit right where it feels good.

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.

Photos courtesy wikipedia.org, audiocastle.co, prettymuchamazing.com, ohioskymusic.bandcamp.com, and lyrics007.com

opinion Editorial

More than a Greek-only solution needed to solve CWRU’s sexual misconduct problem Last semester’s uptick in reported instances of sexual misconduct within the Greek system was initially all but unknown by people outside of the Greek community.

Rumors of the situation circulated on Yik Yak, but neither the Office of Greek Life nor the Office of Student Affairs, which had initially informed Greek Life of the problem, had issued any official statements to the campus community at large. Even President Barbara R. Snyder didn’t know about the situation until after The Observer had reported on it.

This trend of division between Greek action and greater campus unawareness continues, with the situation being addressed through a closed, Greek-only focus group. Neither condemnation from central administration, nor statement from the Office of Student Affairs, nor campus-wide solution or discussion has been offered so far for this campuswide problem.

To clarify for those who may have forgotten over the long break and taxing first couple of weeks back, the situation referred to here was 10 instances of sexual misconduct reported specifically in conjunction with Greek events, largely

involving alcohol, this past fall semester.

Shortly after someone within the Office of Student Affairs informed Greek Life of this disturbing trend, rumors that Greek Life had ordered fraternities to cancel all parties for the semester’s one remaining weekend began to spread on Yik Yak. More accurately, Greek Life issued a suggestion that fraternities cancel any event involving alcohol. Mark Starr, Director of Greek Life, reported this week that, to his knowledge, fraternities did heed this recommendation and cancelled that weekend’s planned parties.

Currently, there is a focus group comprised of one member from each fraternity and sorority chapter on campus working on finding solutions. The focus group, funded through the Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Congress (IFC) budgets, is working in collaboration with the Greek Life Office and the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. It has met as a whole twice, with smaller subcommittee meetings happening between these meetings, and it plans to meet three more times this semester before making its proposal for a plan of action to prevent future sexual misconduct. The IFC is also planning to educate new members on bystander intervention.

While the IFC and this focus group are clearly trying to work towards the best possible solution, they are doing so through a purely Greek channel. Yet, Greek officials repeat that this is a campus-wide problem. Starr commented, “I think it’s a general university issue, and not just here, but everywhere.” IFC President Ethan Pickering had a similar perspective on the scale of the issue.

Sexual misconduct is an issue that impacts the whole campus. Their solution should be one that encompasses the whole campus.

This complaint cannot rest on Greek Life; as both Pickering and Starr noted, their response had been oriented to remain within their organizations’ “sphere of influence.” In addition, the Greek system’s response has been making good use of the organizational frameworks they have in place. To strengthen their role in actively working towards a solution, though, Greek Life would do well to include some non-Greek students in their focus group, to add a broader campus perspective.

Similarly to Greek Life, it may be easy to point blame at the president, but this lack of whole-campus response is not re-

ally the fault of Snyder, either. There are University offices below hers on which the responsibility could more fairly be placed.

That brings the focus to the Office of Student Affairs and one of its sub organizations, the University Judicial Board. It was, after all, the Office of Student Affairs that initially brought this problem to Greek attention, so clearly those working in the Office know that this is an issue serious enough to merit attention. The University Judicial Board must also be mentioned, as this stems from a systemic problem with student conduct and the board is currently handling the misconduct cases. To include the whole campus in addressing this campuswide problem, the Office of Student Affairs and the University Judicial Board, not just Greek Life, would be the ideal organizations to take the lead in the search for solutions.

This solution should include all of us. After all, ending sexual misconduct is everyone’s responsibility.

Sexual misconduct is not just a Greek Life problem; fixing it shouldn’t be just a Greek Life solution.

‘Rape culture’ or just ‘culture’?

The meaning of Spartan life Jacob Martin I spent most of my freshman year partying. (I leave it to the reader to discern the meaning of the term partying.)

I distinctly remember finishing classes at 4:50 pm on Friday and proceeding directly to Storrs to drop my backpack off. I would meet two good friends at Leutner before we convened at their dorm to partake in pre-party festivities.

Text messages would litter our phones, informing us of the late-night revelries that could have taken place, while we steadily prepared with music and discussion of everything from classes to girls. Eventually, other prepartiers would show up at our door, and we would make final arrangements to head to the party on Hessler, E. 115th, Fairchild, Little Italy or the Village.

Most of the time, the parties we attended saw a surge in people around 11:45. The party would hit its stride sometime around midnight and either be broken up by the CWRU police around 1 a.m. or go until a little after 2 a.m. The latter was a veritable rarity.

We would often walk home, loudly debating the value of the party we just attended, lamenting the actions we hadn’t taken or opportunities we’d missed with girls and addressing the many questions drunk freshmen deem worthy of discussion between 1:30 and 2 in the morning.

If this sounds like your Friday or

Saturday night, then you are living a typical college experience, according to dominant cultural opinion. Now that I’m a senior and find myself working most weekend evenings, I can’t help but think about the partying culture of our university. What will you be doing tonight? What about Saturday night?

I don’t have time to party anymore, and even if I did, I have no interest.

In everything I described above, the common denominator is time, time spent making and cancelling plans, waiting, wondering and stressing about the evening in general. Also, not to mention the late start the following morning.

Leutner would slowly fill up around 10:30 a.m., as hungover freshmen and upperclassmen donning sweatpants and hoodies trickled in for brunch.

I can’t get over the amount of time I wasted partying. And for what? At the time, it was something to do, something to pass the weekends and a way to socialize. But shouldn’t we be asking what the deeper purpose of excessive partying is? I personally see partying as a way to fill a void in one’s life.

Unfortunately, partying is like putting a piece of plywood over a ditch: It’ll mask the hole and enable temporary passage over it, but it will eventually break or get misplaced.

Obviously, partying doesn’t stop after college, and, to reiterate, I’m not trying to condemn it. However, media and a number of advocates seem to be relating a so-called collegiate “rape culture” to the partying I’ve outlined above. The

idea is that young coeds are being taken advantage of sexually during and after these parties due to immoderate drinking.

I find the term “rape culture” troubling for a number of reasons, but I won’t deny the presence of a prevailing ignorance and even chauvinistic view of sex among young men in college today.

How many times do you hear a guy brag about a recent hookup, see a girl and say how badly he wants to sleep with her or casually call a girl a slut, whore or bitch? All men are guilty of some form of this, but its prevalence is appalling.

Nonetheless, does this constitute a culture of rape or just a culture of overall mistreatment?

If, for example, we knew exactly why we drank ourselves into unconsciousness, then maybe we could discover what we really need to fill our voids. Willingly drinking to blackout or memory-tainting levels yields only a couple of rational motives. Either the drinker has a bigger problem with moderation, or he or she enjoys not remembering their actions or there exists some deeper internal impetus that materializes as a desire to lose consciousness.

What else could be the reason for willfully drinking oneself into an alcoholic haze if it isn’t some type of avoidance of something? Is there something in life that forgetting temporarily will help? An emotional pain that won’t go away until it is numbed? A pressure that is insurmountable? I’m no psychologist, but if you have a rational, well-reasoned explanation for drinking

superfluous amounts, I’m all ears.

Of course, not everyone parties, and not all partiers drink until they can’t walk straight. Indeed, some students avoid socializing altogether on our campus. While I don’t drink much, I do fall into this latter category (and a bunch of other negative categories). That’s as unhealthy as unrestricted partying, and it’s something I’m aware of and actively working on.

The fact that we have declared college campuses breeding grounds for rape is a sad testament to how we treat one another, but I believe sexual misconduct is a small manifestation of cultural degradation in colleges. We learn the Golden Rule in kindergarten. Where has it gone? If we don’t treat ourselves well or care to know why we do a number of things, how can we treat others better?

The problem with our culture is that we value excess over moderation, passivity over solidarity, invulnerability over vulnerability, happiness over contentment, perfection over reality. Selfawareness, the conscious mindfulness of one’s individual autonomous nature, is the way to transcend cultural impositions.

Self-awareness is how to become a truly unique individual, recognize our own values and embody them. Self-awareness allows us to recognize the worth of ourselves and others, and that allows us to love.

Jacob Martin is a weekly opinion columnist. He likes to think all young men aren’t prone to rape.

Correction: In our previous issue Andrew Breland’s column “A note on beginnings” was instead a reprint of his previous article “What precedes community. The correct article is available at observer.case.edu.

12 opinion

1/23/15

The language of anxiety The elephant in the room Andrew Breland “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

The weather is cold and dreary. Nightly snowfalls cover the streets, as students begrudgingly muddle their way to class, hoping for some godsend of a last-minute “Class Canceled” email. While some students would use that reprieve as an excuse to return to the alluring siren call of their beds, others—dare I say a majority—would use the time to catch up on work. It is the derivative of the age-old and oft-mentioned problem: “I skip class to do work for class.”

However, if I were to simply say that students were overwhelmed with work from their classes, I would hardly be observing the larger truth. It remains that, beyond classwork, students also suffer from the commitments and responsibilities of other activities. January is perhaps the worst example of this.

Simultaneous with the start of spring semester, students get new positions in organizations, new leadership roles in their chapters, new opportunities for paid jobs and new research positions to go along with a renewed and often moredifficult-than-the-fall academic schedule. Then there are also continued commitments. There are organizations, jobs and duties that carry over from December. A month away from school did not alleviate their presence.

This happens to everyone. Even as a

senior who has experienced nearly the same thing every year, I still take the opportunity to add yet another organization or responsibility to my ever-increasing list of “things I do.” But the problem is never more troublesome than for the freshmen.

Perhaps easily coasting through a first semester, they overload their schedule with new, harder classes. But even if the first semester was not easy, the winter months tend to bring reevaluation of your experiences and new ideas about what you should be doing or participating in. The things you decided were important not 6 months ago may no longer be that way today.

This by itself, however, is not an issue. College is largely an experiment in self-discovery. Reevaluation of your principles is properly a part of that process.

It’s for that reason, that when a freshman drops out of something I run or organize, my reaction is not, “You’re dead to me,” but, rather, “I understand.”

The issue comes in, though, for all of us, when we complain about it. Everyone has heard it. “I have soooo much work.”

“This teacher assigns waaaaaaay too much work for this class.” “There’s no way I’ll get this done.” “I can’t do this.

It’s too hard.” These are the words you hear from students. Let’s be clear, though: These aren’t the students that are struggling in class for academic reasons. You hear this instead from the student taking 18 credits, with leadership or heavy involvement in four organizations, working over 15 hours a week and still intent on having some semblance of a life outside

these commitments.

I use these specific numbers because that was my experience during my third year in college. And I was guilty of the crime of complaints to the highest degree.

Rather than taking a step back and enjoying the limited time I have left in school, though, my final year brought enrollment into a Master’s degree program, a new job with over 20 hours a week and new organization commitments. Anxiety, the side effect of these sorts of situations, is all too present a reality in my life, as well as the lives of all those who have similar commitments, schedules and workloads.

I was laying out some of these realities to a colleague at work. Her reaction was one that I have perhaps become too accustomed to: “Are you crazy?” Upon reflection, my response was maybe worse: “I like to think of it as masochism.” The worst part is, the statement was true.

Somewhere along the way it became okay that I had no time to “enjoy,” no time alone, no time to reflect. Writing this, that seems to just be reality and I am content with that. But is that really the reality in which we want to live?

My holiday break brought another experience that seems relevant here. Traveling through Pennsylvania, I had the pleasure of visiting family whose reaction to general overcommitted-ness among students was, “This is so wrong. These kids are burning themselves out. It doesn’t make sense.”

This wasn’t said by a concerned parent, but instead by a current student, bemoaning her class’ experiences. My reaction again was, “No, we won’t. It’s all okay.”

Three weeks later, I stand by that reaction. Students are overly involved. It is reality. But in the same breath, I cannot say this is a reality brought on by choice.

Somewhere, there is a systemic drive to do more and, presumably, therefore be more. Younger and younger, children are driven to get involved. We make prodigies out of the simply talented. We make talent where perhaps none exists. Society has embraced and zealously practices the Gladwellian 10,000-Hour Rule.

Again, I cannot call this a bad thing. I have been raised as one of the first generations of students socialized by this reality, as have the vast majority of students currently in undergraduate coursework at Case Western Reserve University. However, it is important to understand what that reality means for us. We have to be involved, it seems. We have to do better.

We have to simply be better. All of us do.

Our continual complaints are simply our socialized recognition of that reality. Or maybe they are a cry for help.

The too-often used “Great Gatsby” quote that began this column is an interesting observation. We do beat on. We cannot escape the society and culture of which we have found ourselves the products. We also, however, understand and largely embrace the culture. We continue to adhere to our environment all the while complaining, shouting our anxious voices into the abyss.

Andrew Breland, senior, writes a weekly Opinion column. Contact him at awb69@case.edu.

Lessons from Cape Town Current adventure: Case

Heather O’Keeffe Last Monday was my first day back at Case Western Reserve University since 2013. After studying abroad at the University of Cape Town (UCT) for a year, I felt like a freshman all over again. The snowy start to the semester, though pretty, was a chilly shock to the system after sunny South Africa. Despite the daunting workload, I’m excited to start back up at CWRU, and hopefully I can apply a few lessons I learned in Cape Town.

As an American in South Africa, all I wanted to do was make local friends. But it proved difficult to penetrate established friend groups. Naturally, I made friends with other exchange students and our shared eagerness to explore Cape Town bonded our friendship. I learned to open myself up to others more quickly since the best way to enjoy yourself and the company of others is to let your true colors show.

By being friendly to all those I met and

inviting new acquaintances to hang out, I rarely felt lonely, even after flying around the world solo.

By joining sports teams at UCT, I was able to make lots of South African friends. Through persistent texts and friendliness, my local friends and I bonded outside of practice.

So while I’m a bit weary of reconnecting with old friends and making new friends at CWRU, I made lifelong friends in a country where previously I had none. Additionally, I understand how clique-y friend groups can be without meaning to; this semester I aim to ask new friends and especially international students to hang out outside of the context in which we met.

My favorite part of studying abroad was exploring UCT, Cape Town, South Africa and the rest of the continent. Throughout the year I was fortunate enough to travel to new countries, but even when Cape Town-bound, I tried my damnedest to do something new every weekend. So even when up to my eyeballs studying for linear algebra, I sought out an activity uniquely

The Observer is the weekly undergraduate student newspaper of Case Western Reserve University. Established in 1969, The Observer exists to report news affecting and/or involving students and to provide an editorial forum for the university community. Unsigned editorials are the majority opinion of the senior editorial staff. For advertising information, contact The Observer at (216) 302-4442 or e-mail observerads@case.edu.

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.

South African. Whether that meant trying out a new restaurant or taking a stroll through a neighborhood, each weekend brought a unique adventure.

Cleveland doesn’t seem as exotic as Cape Town, but it, too, holds potential for adventure and exploration. If every week I put aside my textbooks and turn off Netflix to support a CWRU club or cruise the Healthline to downtown, spring 2015 will be a success in my guidebook.

One of the beauties of studying abroad with CWRU is that the grades don’t matter. The Office of Education Abroad understands students’ desire to seek new experiences and are empathetic to culture shock and language barriers students might encounter while abroad.

For this reason, as long as I passed my classes at UCT I received CWRU credit.

While I’m not one to settle for straight C’s, this policy allowed me to take my focus off of grades and onto living and experiencing.

CWRU is a hard school and the workload is no joke, but my peers at UCT taught me that university really is more

about learning than your performance.

It was commonplace for engineers to fail at least one class in their undergrad and across the university A’s were the exception not the rule. Since students were pleased with B’s and C’s, they turned their focus to comprehension.

Students would ask professors follow up questions during lectures and intellectual conversations would ensue. They cared about the material rather than retaining just enough to ace the class.

I urge you to use the lessons I learned abroad: actively make new friends, focus on exploring the community and concentrate more on learning than grades.

Hopefully they will ease my transition back into CWRU and maybe make your semester (almost) as exciting as a semester abroad.

Heather O’Keeffe is a junior studying biomedical engineering and sports medicine. If her family gets a dog she wants to name it Sportscenter so she can introduce it to others as “This is Sportscenter. Duh nuh nuh. Duh nuh nuh.”

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

sports

observer.case.edu

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.

Wednesday is Comedy Night

Sports Standings Conference

Men’s Basketball

Losses

Ties

Percent

Wins

Losses

Ties

Percent

Case Western Reserve

3

0

0

1.000

12

2

0

0.857

Chicago

3

0

0

1.000

11

3

0

0.786

Washington

2

1

0

0.667

13

1

0

0.929

Emory

1

2

0

0.333

11

3

0

0.786

Carnegie Mellon

1

2

0

0.333

10

4

0

0.714

New York U.

1

2

0

0.333

10

4

0

0.714

Brandeis

1

2

0

0.333

6

8

0

0.429

Rochester

0

1

0

0.000

4

10

0

0.286

Wins

Losses

Percent

Wins

Losses

Conference

Women’s Basketball

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

Calendar Tues

Trivia Night

Wed

Thurs

Karaoke Comedy & Grad Night Happy Hour

Fri

40’s & Fridays

Sat

Sun

Charity Late Night

All You Can Eat Wings & Football

Ties

All Ties

Percent

New York U.

3

0

0

1.000

14

0

0

1.000

Washington

3

0

0

1.000

14

0

0

1.000

Chicago

2

1

0

2.000

8

6

0

0.571

Carnegie Mellon

1

2

0

3.000

9

4

0

0.692

Brandeis

1

2

0

0.000

9

5

0

0.643

Rochester

1

2

0

0.000

9

5

0

0.643

Case Western Reserve

1

2

0

0.000

7

7

0

0.500

Emory

0

3

0

0.000

8

6

0

0.571

Conference

Volleyball

All

Wins

Losses

Percent

Wins

Losses

Percent

Emory

6

1

0.857

Chicago

4

3

0.571

34

3

0.919

26

12

0.684

Washington

6

1

0.857

33

5

0.868

Carnegie Mellon

5

Case Western Reserve

4

2

0.714

22

11

0.667

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 Wins

Losses

Percent

All 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)

Catering!

All

Wins

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 12/16

Men's Basketball

Away @ Emory 8:00 PM

Away @ Rochester 12:00 PM

Women's Basketball

Away @ Emory 8:00 PM

Away @ Rochester 2:00 PM

Swimming and Diving

Saturday 12/17

Home vs. Ohio Northern 1:00 PM

Track and Field

vs. Baldwin Wallace - Mid January Meet 5:00 PM

Wrestling

@ Washington and Jefferson 7:00 PM

Sunday 12/18

13

14

sports

1/23/15

Arko’s Cleveland Corner

Clash of the dynasties

“The Duke”

Official NFL footballs come from Ohio Joey Arko Staff Reporter In the wake of the newest football scandal (centered around who else but the New England Patriots), where it has been reported that 11 of the 12 footballs allotted to the Pats in AFC title game were under-inflated, there has been a heightened focus on the actual ball used in the sport.

As it turns out, those same footballs got their start in Ohio.

Known for harboring the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, the Buckeye State is also home to the world’s only dedicated football factory. In 1955, the Wilson Company opened the Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio. According to the official website, this was done “to ensure that Wilson footballs would not only be American made, but the highest quality footballs ever produced.”

The result? Wilson is the official football of the NCAA and the National Football League, and the NFL is the only major sports league whose balls are manufactured in the United States.

Since 1941, each football used in every NFL game has been made by Wilson, and since 1955, those footballs have been

coming out of Ada, Ohio.

For anyone wondering: As far as the scandal involving the deflated footballs goes, the Wilson factory had nothing to do with it. Each ball is inspected two hours and 15 minutes before tipoff and must pass certain criteria in order to be deemed play-worthy.

Side quip—too bad they couldn’t give the Browns a friendly home-town advantage with their footballs.

And just how many footballs are needed to fulfill the needs of both the NFL and NCAA (and select high school conferences)?

The factory produces 4,000 footballs a day and over 700,000 a year, but none of them are made via an automated process. Each football is crafted by hand (the factory employs 120 people) to ensure excellence.

Furthermore, the official NFL football has a name.

As stated on the Wilson website, “The NFL first used a ball in honor of Wellington Mara called ‘The Duke’ in 1941 at the suggestion of George Halas (the man who paired the NFL with Wilson), as Tim Mara had helped him arrange for Wilson Sporting Goods Co. to become the league’s official supplier of game balls.”

“The Duke” name was actually discontinued in 1970, as Wilson redesigned their footballs and gave them no official name. However, in 2006 “The Duke” name would return upon the passing of New York Giants owner Wellington Mara. The NFL elected to honor her by bestowing the original “The Duke” name back onto the Wilson Footballs.

So, Ohio’s connection to Football runs deeper than most even realize. And just to clarify, “The Duke” and all other footballs produced at the Wilson football factory are not, and never were, made of pigskin (but rather of Cowhide leather).

Joey Arko is a current senior at Case Western Reserve University working towards his degree in English with a Marketing minor. Aside from The Observer he also writes for CavsNation, submitting articles pertaining to the analysis of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Born and raised in a suburb just outside the city, his love for Cleveland transcends beyond just it’s sports teams. He also really loves Cleveland bars.

Spartan wrestlers return to the mat

JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor

The Spartan wrestling team will return to the mats for the first time since the new semester started as they visit Washington University and Jefferson University.

The Spartans stand a match under .500 with a 5-6 record but have wrestled at a level that looks ready to compete well at the upcoming UAA tournament, to be hosted on campus in February.

In their last outing, the Spartans struggled in their dual meets at the 2014 Budd Whitehill National Duals over winter break. The Spartans started a two-day meet with a loss to No. 28 nationally-ranked United States Coast Guard Academy. The Spartans were unable to rebound from the loss and then lost to host Lycoming College and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on the first day of competition.

Despite team losses, sophomore Nick Lees and freshman Connor Gordon performed well, both going 2-1 in their matchups. Gordon, who competed at the 157 weight class, defeated his Coast Guard matchup Steve Kidwell and Ly-

coming’s Ross Orler by decisions of 9-5 and 9-7, respectfully. Lees also beat both his Coast Guard opponent and his Lycoming opponents at the 174 weight class with a 10-9 decision and 7-6 decision, respectively.

After the poor team day, the team was able to rebound in day two of the National Duals, by first losing to Trine University but defeating Alfred State College. Lees won both of his matchups on day two of competition, and Nate Lewis also went 2-0 on the same day.

The dual over Alfred State places the team at five wins, which surpasses the program’s win total from the 2013-2014 season.

Lees pinned both of his opponents to finish the weekend 4-1 and improve his season record to 12-8. Lewis won the first matchup by a pin and the second by decision and stands at 9-6 on the season.

While the numbers are not particularly outstanding, the team has made strong progress and has performed extremely well in the wake of the heartbreaking plane crash that stole the lives of four Case Western students, three of them wrestlers.

f

The season continues tonight, Friday January 23rd against Washington and Jefferson at 7:00 PM.

Wrestling

Trine

28

CWRU

21

Wt. Class

Winner

School

Over

School

By

125

D. Moore

TU

N. Lee

CWRU

12-6 Dec.

133

J. Hall

CWRU

N/A

141

J. Helm

TU

T. Alexander

CWRU

Fall 5:24

Forfeit

CWRU

Dec. 7-0

149

C. Konieczki

TU

K. Gironda

157

A. Boles

TU

N/A

165

J. Jensen

TU

N. Tommas

CWRU

Fall 3:22

174

Nick Lees

CWRU

K. Raab

TU

Fall 1:35

184

A. Khatib

CWRU

N/A

197

M. Connor

TU

C. Balsells

CWRU

Maj. 10-2

285

N. Lewis

CWRU

T. Prater

TU

Dec. 7-3

Wrestling

Forfeit

Forfeit

CWRU

30

Alfred State

25

Wt. Class

Winner

School

Over

School

By

125

R. Thierman

ASC

N. Lee

CWRU

Maj. 8-0

ASC

Fall 3:57

CWRU

Dec 1-0

133

J Hall.

CWRU

H. Schmieder

141

T. Alexander

CWRU

N/A

149

B. Carr

ASC

K. Gironda

Forfeit

157

K. Thayer

ASC

N/A

165

K. Kremer

ASC

N. Tommas

CWRU

Fall 1:58

Forfeit

ASC

Fall 1:50

174

Nick Lees

CWRU

J. Lord

184

A. Khatib

CWRU

N/A

197

Juan Nunez

ASC

C. Balsells

CWRU

Fall 00:43

285

N. Lewis

CWRU

A. Osman

ASC

Fall 2:09

Forfeit

Pats and Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX

David Hoffman Staff Reporter It’s hard to believe, but the Super Bowl is in just over a week, and after a turbulent season filled with surprises, the participants in the big game have been determined. Neither team is surprised to have made it this far; both came in with high expectations and have managed to attain them. However, both teams also had their fair share of detractors at times throughout the season.

Representing the National Football Conference (NFC) is the Seattle Seahawks, who won the Super Bowl just a year ago.

The Seahawks is actually the first defending Super Bowl champion to return to the big game since the 2004 season, on the verge of being called a dynasty.

For roughly three-quarters of the regular season, it was highly doubtful they would get this far again. However the Seahawks remained cool and collected, as they won nine of their last 10 games in the regular season to claim the NFC West division title and home-field advantage for the NFC playoffs.

Seattle appeared doomed in the conference championship game against the Green Bay Packers. They trailed 19-7 with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and had just given the ball back to the Packers. The Seahawks needed a miracle.

Thanks to a successful onside kick and a touchdown drive in overtime—after winning the coin toss to determine possession—they were able to escape with one of the greatest comeback victories of all time.

These Seahawks are a battle-tested bunch.

On the other side, the New England Patriots will be representing the American Football Conference (AFC). The Patriots is actually the last team to win consecutive Super Bowls, in February 2004 and 2005, respectively, the previous NFL dynasty.

New England comes in as arguably the hottest team in the league, having won 12 of its last 14 games. Their low point in the season came in week four, when they got humiliated by the Kansas City Chiefs on a Monday night in late September. After the game, critics were questioning the future of quarterback Tom Brady. Observers began to wonder if backup Jimmy Garoppolo should be inserted into the starting lineup and if the franchise needed to blow up their current core and start from scratch.

By the end of the regular season, the Patriots left little doubt that they were as dominant as ever. Additionally, New England also needed an unlikely comeback in the playoffs to reach the big game. Facing the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, they became the first team in history to erase two separate 14-point deficits in a playoff game. Brady threw the gamewinning touchdown with five minutes left, and the Patriots’ hopes stayed alive.

Now the Patriots hope their unmatched experience will pay off in spades, as this is their sixth trip to the Super Bowl in the last 14 seasons.

The stage is set, and the storylines are established. In a matchup where the defending champions are facing the last team to pull off the feat, who will prevail?

We’ll have the answer on Feb. 1. Get your party supplies ready and pull up plenty of chairs for all your guests, because this should be a game for the ages.

Women’s basketball headed in right direction Spartans bounce back following foiled upset bid

The women’s basketball team found their footing to climb back to .500 on Sunday, two days after dropping a heartbreaking upset bid of the visiting New York University squad.

The women’s squad has had their share of ups and downs this season, but back-to-back strong showings this weekend seem to put the Spartans on the right track.

Senior point guard Amanda Germer led the Spartans to the brink of victory, before a last-second bucket destroyed Case Western Reserve University’s upset hopes over the visiting Violets. The Violets, who were ranked eighth in the nation during the game and now are ranked seventh, came in as heavy favorites over the volatile Spartans.

The Spartans, however, came out ready to play at the highest level and found themselves seconds away from an upset.

The Spartans found themselves down to start the half. However, hot shooting helped them rattle off 8-0 and 12-5 runs heading into the locker room and find themselves with a 27-20 lead over the Violets, as the first 20 minutes of play drew to a close. The Violets played to their elite level, as they came out strong in the second half and were able to reclaim the lead with 11:12 left to play. The Violets found themselves up by as many as 10, before the Spartans were able to rebound.

The two teams battled for dominance, and with 28 seconds remaining, senior guard Brooke Orcutt seemed to give it to the Spartans as she hit two from the line to gain a single-digit 59-58 lead. All the Spartans needed to do was stop the visitors on the ensuing possession. However, with five seconds left on the clock, the Violets’ Amy Harioka drove through the lane and found space to hammer the nail in the coffin, a perfectly executed layup. The Spartans had a desperation shot miss its mark, as the Spartans fell for the second straight University Athletic Association (UAA) matchup by a single point, having lost to the Carnegie Mellon Tartans the week before by the same margin.

Sunday, the Spartans didn’t allow the tough loss from Friday hang over their heads, however. The ladies came ready to play and followed the lead of Orcutt, who put on a shooting clinic for the incoming Brandeis Judges.

Women’s Basketball

Andrew Hodowanec/Observer Jessica McCoy dribbles the ball into the Spartan’s offensive half.

Orcutt exploded on the offensive side of the ball, putting 23 points on the boards for the Spartans. Senior forward Berit Eppard added 10 points of her own and led the Spartans on the boards, pulling down six.

The Spartans traded blows with the visitors to start the game but grabbed a foothold when they went up 13-14 with 5:50 left in the first half to carry a lead into the locker room and then deep into the second half.

The Judges refused to go away quietly, however, and with just over four minutes left in regulation, tied the game at 45-45.

The Spartans answered quickly, as Jessica McCoy made a pair of free throws two possessions later. The Judges tied the game again but were unable to climb completely out of their hole in the final minutes, as Orcutt and Germer combined for nine points in 65 seconds to put the game firmly out of reach and into the win column for the Spartans, a first in UAA play.

The win put the Spartans back to even wins and losses on the season, as they head into their toughest-scheduled stretch of the season.

Following the brief homestand this past weekend, the Spartans will be away from campus for the next two. They begin the trip in Atlanta tonight, where they will go head-tohead with Emory University at 6 p.m. Following the matchup, they will head north to NYU to take on the University of Rochester on their home court on Sunday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.

CWRU

Spartans return to pool with splash

JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor

JP. O’Hagan Sports Editor

Both Spartan squads returned to the pool after nearly a month off this past weekend, as the Spartans hosted the Allegheny College Gators in the Veale Natatorium.

While gators are naturally more inclined to be better swimmers than Spartans, the Case Western Reserve University squads handily beat the visitors from Allegheny. The nationally-ranked men’s team crushed the Gators by a score of 210-70, while the women were harderpressed but still easily floated past Allegheny’s women’s squad to improve to 3-4 on the season.

The women were lead by freshmen swimmers Ellie Wilson and Mary Katherine Miller, who both were double-winners in the meet. Wilson touched the wall first in 100-yard breaststroke, with a strong time of 1:09.19, and then outpaced the competition again in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:31.24. Miller won the 200 fly with a time of 2:14.38 and the 400 individual medley finishing in just under five minutes with a time of 4:51.45.

Wilson also added victories for the Spartans, swimming on teams with firstplace relay finishes. She teamed up with Rebecca Pakradooni, Jennifer Eurich and Cassandra Laios for first in the 400 medley. The trio of Wilson, Pakradooni and Eurich teamed up again and added freshman Inez Moore for a impressive 1:42.28 time in the 200 free relay.

Brandeis

Brandeis

Player

PTS

AST

REB

BLK

TO

MIN

#

Player

PTS

AST

REB

BLK

TO

MIN

42

B. Klements

4

1

1

2

3

18

44

O. Shaw

0

0

3

1

3

18

44

D. McLoughlin

20

1

11

0

0

41

13

F. Pinto

5

0

1

0

1

11

50

C. Edel

2

0

1

0

0

6

14

N. Laskaris

14

1

7

0

5

31

2

J. Holman

7

3

3

0

1

33

15

S. Sodine

2

1

10

0

6

26

Men

CWRU

210

Allegheny

70

Women

CWRU

165

Allegheny

126

Women’s Swimming Events Event

4:05.50

Team A

CWRU

A. Glenn

CWRU

200 Yd. Freestyle

2:02.00

M. Feeney

Allegheny

100 Yd. Backstroke

1:02.17

J. Reed

Allegheny

100 Yd. Breaststroke

1:10.19

E. Wilson

CWRU

200 Yd. Butterfly

2:14.38

M. Miller

CWRU

50 Yd. Freestyle

25.89

I. Moore

CWRU

100 Yd. Freestyle

55.58

J. Reed

Allegheny

200 Yd. Backstroke

2:13.69

M. Feeney

Allegheny

200 Yd. Breaststroke

2:31.24

E. Wilson

CWRU

500 Yd. Freestyle

5:24.78

T. Johnson

CWRU

100 Yd. Butterfly

1:00.88

J. Reed

Allegheny

400 Yd. IM

4:51.45

M. Miller

CWRU

200 Freestyle Relay

1:42.48

Team A

CWRU

Team A D. Hamilton

CWRU

200 Yd. Freestyle

1:46.17

E. Haufler

CWRU

100 Yd. Backstroke

54.19

F. Chen

Allegheny

100 Yd. Breaststroke

1:02.63

E. Kerbel

CWRU

200 Yd. Butterfly

1:59.41

L. Smith

CWRU

50 Yd. Freestyle

21.71

A. Tam

CWRU Allegheny

100 Yd. Freestyle

47.85

J. Bailey

200 Yd. Backstroke

1:58.68

O. Maxian

CWRU

200 Yd. Breaststroke

2:16.55

D. Litwin

Allegheny

500 Yd. Freestyle

4:51.45

L. Smith

CWRU

100 Yd. Butterfly

4:19.56

A. Pang

CWRU

400 Yd. IM

1:42.48

Team A

CWRU

200 Freestyle Relay

1:27.13

Team A

CWRU

Women’s Diving Events Event

Winning Score

Winner

School

224.40

E. Salizzoni

Allegheny

230.70

E. Salizzoni

Allegheny

2

2

1

2

29

32

H. Cain

10

3

4

0

3

28

1

4

1

0

1

12

4

N. Hodges

2

0

2

1

3

16

3 Meter Dive

11

M. Clark

6

1

0

0

2

13

5

T. Dobson

4

0

6

2

1

23

15

D. Black

13

1

0

0

0

29

12

C. McNamara

0

0

3

0

0

11

24

28

24

16

34

S. Boyd

3

0

1

0

0

Team Totals

83

14

27

3

12

P. Hodges

9

2

4

0

1

23 13

H. Cain

5

0

3

0

2

Team Totals

81

10

28

0

15

CWRU

3:34.71

17

3

School

9:50.06

J. Dean

0

Winner

1000 Yd. Freestyle

J. Person

7

Winning Time

400 Yd. Medley Relay

5

1

School

11:20.28

10

10

Winner

1000 Yd. Freestyle

1 Meter Dive

E. Black

Winning Time

400 Yd. Medley Relay

Event

51

#

The men have now won six consecutive meets and stand as 25th in the nation.

In the matchup, a Spartan touched the wall first in 11 of 14 swimming events and swept the two diving events once again.

Aaron Tam, who was a four-time winner, led the CWRU squad, taking individual first-place finishes in the 50-yard free and the 100-yard fly, with a career best 21.17 and 51.91 times, respectively.

Tam’s other two wins were a part of the team relays first-place finishes in the 400 medley and the 200 free relay. He swam the 400 medley with senior Andrew Bollinger and freshmen John Kilbane and Oliver Hudgins, the team finishing with a strong time of 3:34.71. Tam’s 200 free team consisted of seniors Elliot Kerbel and Eric Haufler, along with Hudgins, and they touched the wall in just under a minute and a half at the 1:27.13 mark.

The Spartans jump back into the pool on Saturday for their final home matchup of the season. The squads will take on Ohio Northern University and celebrate the seniors in senior night. The competition starts at 1 p.m.

Men’s Swimming Events

58

CWRU

21

15

sports

observer.case.edu

Men’s Diving Events

Harsha Chandupatla/Observer Spartan and Allegheny swimmers race to the wall in meet last weekend.

Event

Winning Score

Winner

School

1 Meter Dive

274.75

C. Farrell

CWRU

3 Meter Dive

277.35

C. Farrell

CWRU

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sports

Making history Spartans claim first ever Top 25 ranking

Aaron Shang Staff Reporter When the Spartans take the court this upcoming weekend against No. 12 Emory University in Atlanta, there will be a noticeable difference in the box score: For the first time in school history, the Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team will be ranked, having broken into the Division III rankings at No. 25. Off to a searing 12-2 start that has seen lopsided blowouts (80-46 over archrival Carnegie Mellon University) and thrilling finishes (83-81 over Brandeis University in overtime), the Spartans have proven to be a balanced, resilient and cohesive unit.

Whereas the mid-winter months of the basketball season usually do not entail much excitement in the sports community, this year could not be more different.

Having already shattered the school record for the best start to a basketball season (at 12-2 and counting), the Spartans are now looking ahead at more team and individual accomplishments. With 11 games left to play, the Spartans have a terrific opportunity to break the school record for wins in a season (17) and finish a perfect home record (currently 8-0).

On an individual note, all-University Athletic Association (UAA) senior forward Dane McLoughlin has continued a terrific final season as captain of the squad, averaging over 16 points and six rebounds per game; with two more treys, he will also stand to break John Link’s CWRU record for career three-pointers, one that has stood for a dozen years already (set from 1999-2003). Freshman twins Eric and David Black have also turned in strong debut campaigns, averaging 10 and 8.8 points, respectively.

While the achievements that the Spartans have already recorded are certainly impressive, the road ahead remains full of pitfalls that the team must avoid to finish the season

Harsha Chandupatla/Observer Left: Sophomore Eoghan Bees hits a clutch three point shot against New York University. Middle: Julien Person looks for the open man against the Violets. Right: Point Guard Jimmy Holman brings the ball up court, ready to jumpstart the offense. strong. This Friday, they face the Emory Dooleys, the highest ranked team CWRU has been matched against. With only one day off, the squad must then travel north to face a more manageable University of Rochester squad on Sunday. Should they successfully navigate these tricky road games, the Spartans would be in a nearly unassailable position within the UAA, having already compiled a 3-0 record in conference play thus far.

All records are meant to be broken; this season, the CWRU men’s basketball team has the opportunity to virtually rewrite the school history books. It has been a truly magical season for the Spartans—now is the time to bring the magic home.

Men’s Basketball

CWRU

83

Brandeis

81

CWRU

Brandeis

#

Player

PTS

AST

REB

BLK

TO

MIN

#

Player

PTS

AST

REB

BLK

TO

MIN

42

B. Klements

4

1

1

2

3

18

1

T. Reake

12

4

3

0

5

44

44

D. McLoughlin

20

1

11

0

0

41

10

J. Cooper

27

1

8

0

2

37

50

C. Edel

2

0

1

0

0

6

22

J. Poweel

7

1

3

0

1

17

2

J. Holman

7

3

3

0

1

33

2

C. Smith

9

1

3

0

2

37

10

J. Person

17

2

2

1

2

29

3

R. Vilmont

19

2

5

0

1

36

5

J. Dean

1

4

1

0

1

12

4

C. Haymon

0

0

0

0

1

4

11

M. Clark

6

1

0

0

2

13

11

KJ Baptiste

0

0

0

0

0

4

15

D. Black

13

1

0

0

0

29

13

C. Arnold

4

0

3

0

0

23

21

E. Black

10

1

7

0

3

28

15

S. Dowden

3

0

1

0

1

13

24

S. Boyd

3

0

1

0

0

16

24

N. Meehan

0

1

2

0

2

10

Team Totals

83

14

27

3

12

81

10

28

0

15

Team Totals

Editor’s Choice

Slices of victory

Basketball team continues successful “Cakes at Case” program Evan Rose Contributing Reporter Have you ever needed a custom-decorated cake for a special occasion? Have you ever wanted to raise money for one of Case Western Reserve University’s most successful varsity athletic teams? Well, thanks to the basketball team, here is your chance.

Cakes at Case is a fundraiser in which basketball players deliver customized cakes to CWRU residents and employees.

The team’s head coach, Sean McDonnell, created the organization during the 2012 winter season.

“Like all good ideas, I stole [Cakes at Case] from a friend, who is a Division III athletic director,” McDonnell said. “Cakes at

Case simply makes it easy for people to recognize CWRU students, faculty and staff.”

The process begins at athletics.case.edu/ cakes. Using an online form, buyers select the cake size, cake flavor and frosting flavor, written message and specify the delivery location. A member of the varsity basketball team, either a player or coach, will then deliver the cake to the on-campus location after at least 48 hours of ordering.

Although the pastries can only be delivered to locations on campus, off-campus recipients can organize an on-campus pickup location on the site.

All cakes are baked daily on commission by a local bakery, who chooses to remain anonymous.

“The bakery has requested anonymity, be-

cause they provide us with a small discount that they cannot pass on to every campus group,” McDonnell said.

However, he assured The Observer that the cakes are freshly baked and decorated, and delicious.

Prices range from $20 for a single-layer eight-inch round cake to $65 for a full sheet cake. The cakes are available in five flavors: chocolate, white, yellow, marble, red velvet and carrot. They can also be glazed in regular or chocolate buttercream icing.

Freshman forward Eric Black expressed his satisfaction with the Cakes at Case fundraising program.

“The program mostly runs through the more senior players,” he said. “It has pretty much been [captains] Person, Klements,

Edel and McLaughlin delivering cakes; I haven’t made a delivery yet.”

However, all of the players have enjoyed the fruits of the Cakes at Case program.

“Someone sent a cake to us,” Black said.

“They sent one for all the players after we had the best start in program history.”

The men’s basketball team has a 12-2 record so far for the 2014-2015 season, the best start ever for the Spartans. This week, they replaced Amherst College to earn the 25th spot in the Division III Top 25 Poll, coming off an 83-81 overtime win against Brandeis University.

The team kicks off a four-game conference away stretch this week, with their next game on Friday, Jan. 23 in Atlanta against Emory University.