The Observer

Bon Appetit hosts Eat Local Challenge

observer@case.edu (Bryan Bourgeois) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Bob Lubecky, Bon Appetit's campus executive chef here at Case, is the first to admit that preparing food with only ingredients within 150 miles of campus is a tremendous challenge. After all, it means he has to find alternatives for many kinds of spices, for flour, and for sugar – all ingredients that can't be found locally. But the results of what he describes as the "chef's challenge" will be on display this Tuesday, Sept. 30, at dining locations across campus.

The fourth annual Eat Local Challenge, where every dish is prepared with ingredients from within a 150 mile radius of campus (except for salt), will feature some new items this year. In addition to yellowtail perch and smallmouth bass, a new farmers' market will be set up at BRB. Local farmers will be present at the market and many of the campus diners.

Lubecky explained that the reason preparing food from local ingredients is such a challenge is not what people might assume.

Though cost and the additional work involved are some factors, the main issue is really "the seasonality of Ohio," Lubecky said. For example, black pepper isn't local, so chefs will instead crush jalapeño seeds to make pepper. Sugar from sugarcane isn't local either, so Lubecky and his chefs will often use honey instead.

"Before electricity, you had to get food from the ground," he said. "It's amazing how much we've outsourced things." He continued by explaining that the variety of food we are used to has increased as well.

Though not to the extent that will be seen this Tuesday, Bon Appetit does offer many local foods on a regular basis. Lubecky listed the diners' cheese, milk, tomato products, chicken, honey, maple syrup, and some cereals as a few examples that visitors to the dining halls can see at any time. In addition, the dining halls will now offer locally raised, free-range turkey from a local producer, Bowman & Landes. Carl Bowman, the owner, will be present on campus throughout the Eat Local Challenge.

Though most foods in America end up traveling an average of about 1500 miles from origin to consumer, Bon Appetit believes that many are interested in ensuring the food they eat is locally grown. There is a "challenge on labor and the financial end," stated Lubecky, "but the result is really worth it."

Darfur conflict continues amid little foreign support

observer@case.edu (Sultan Ahmed) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A remote region of Africa now makes headline news. The interests of the tribes and nomadic people living there are central in the international political discourse. But do we really understand what is happening in Darfur? How did it get started? Why is it happening, and what is being done? Most importantly, what do those affected have to say about it?

The Southern tribal regions of Sudan have been subject to economic troubles, drought, and violent internal conflict for the past two decades. Multiple factions have risen out of the hardships in an attempt to gain control.

In 2003, due to the government's failure to respond to the economically depressed state of the region, warfare broke out in Sudan. Two rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement, began attacking military installments throughout the country.

Shortly thereafter, rebels in the South took up arms to fight against militias raiding their villages. Over the past few years, the Sudanese government has provided support to these militias to clear civilians in areas that are considered to be disloyal to the government. These government-sponsored militia groups are known as the Janjaweed. The campaign has become focused in the Darfur region of Sudan, primarily targeting the Fur, Massaleit, and Zaghawa tribes. Since its escalation to a fully armed conflict in 2003, the conflict in Sudan has resulted in the deaths of over 400,000 people and the displacement of over one million more.

Daoud Hari lost his brother and his village to Sudanese bombing in 2003. He managed to flee and become an active force in spreading global awareness about what is occurring in Darfur. He became a translator for the Chicago Tribune and was imprisoned, risking his life to convey the reality of what he had experienced. Hari spoke at the University of Alabama in July of this year, conveying tales of rape, beheadings, and killings of children. Hari said he had recently returned to his village only to find nobody there and everything he once knew completely destroyed. He has recently published a book, The Translator, which gives a firsthand account of Darfur tragedies . He is one of the fortunate few to have made it out alive.

Currently, the international community is choosing not to intervene in Darfur, citing respect for Sudan's national sovereignty as the reason. China is providing financial backing to the Sudanese government, as Sudan is their largest supplier of oil. The United States brokered peace deals shortly after the violence broke out, but the violent armed conflict continues.

Homecoming and Alumni Weekend events are underway

observer@case.edu (Lauren Hennen) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

For anyone looking for a break from studying, Homecoming events swing into gear today. Overlapping with the scheduled Homecoming events is Alumni Weekend, which runs from Thursday, Oct. 2 to Sunday, Oct. 5.

In preparation for the Homecoming football and soccer games on Saturday, there will be a spirit banner contest this afternoon. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with pizza provided.

Continuing the Homecoming action, the Homecoming candidates will be on hand when The Silent Years and Conduct perform at Spot Night on Wednesday evening.

The Powder Puff football game will be played on Thursday at 9 p.m. at Case Field in the Village. The senior girls will take on the juniors, and the Homecoming court will be announced during halftime.

During Community Hour on Friday, the Spartan Spirit Fest will be held at Thwing. Here, the winners of the Powder Puff football game and the banner contest will be announced and, in keeping with this year's Homecoming theme, island food will be provided.

From 10:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, the Homecoming parade will weave its way through campus. The procession, starting on Northside, will consist of various campus groups and the Homecoming court.

Directly following the parade, there will be a pregame tailgate party at the Village. Lunch will be provided, and students can come out to get ready to cheer on the football team.

At 1 p.m., the Spartans will take on Denison University in the Homecoming football game. During the game, UPB and the Black Greek Council will be hosting a tailgate party. Students filling the stands can also see the Homecoming king and queen crowned during halftime.

The men's and women's soccer teams will host New York University in a doubleheader at the Village stadium on Saturday. The women will kick things off at 5 p.m., and the men's game will follow at 7:30 p.m.

To close out the week, the Homecoming dance will take place under the tent on Freiberger Field from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. This year's theme is "Spartan Paradise."

The Office of University Alumni Relations is also sponsoring a number of events in the upcoming week.

Dan Clancy, the executive director of the Alumni Association, specifically said that the Taste of Cleveland Party at the House of Blues on Friday, the Jim Brickman and Anne Cochran Concert at Harkness Chapel on Saturday, and Sunday's GospelFest at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History are events particularly suitable for bringing about student attendance.

Despite its name, Alumni Weekend is not aimed solely at former Case students. In addition to bringing former students together, one goal of Alumni Weekend is to strengthen ties between alumni and current Case students. "Our current students will all be alumni someday," Clancy said, "so this weekend is about getting everyone together."

To learn more or to register for events, visit the Alumni weekend website.

Identity theft and college students

observer@case.edu (Valbona Bushi) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Identity theft happens to over 750,000 Americans annually, according to the Ohio Society of CPAs. In fact, 34 percent of complaint cases relating to identity theft that the Federal Trade Commision (FTC) received in 2007 came from those 29 years and younger, including many of us college students.

While I have not experienced a full identity theft myself, I cannot begin to tell you the fear that I felt when a check I wrote and mailed never made it to the destination it was meant for, but ended up in someone else's bank account. Two months later, that money still isn't in my hands. Luckily, I caught it immediately and no matter what, I will receive the entire amount back. Sometimes this isn't always the case with many banks or credit cards, so check into your policy.

What should you look for to catch this kind of theft early?

Unexplained charges

Failing to receive certain mail/bills

Credit cards for which you didn't apply

Phishing (pop-up while visiting a website, asking for information)

Pharming (companies will never ask you confirm your information via e-mail)

A lot of our personal information has become public. Think of how much information someone could find out about you just from the yellow pages (phone number, address) or even Facebook and MySpace. Because of this, we must be extra careful with the rest of the information that we have.

Identity theft can occur through stolen mail, information from old bills and receipts, stolen or lost wallets, etc. Make sure to react as soon as you discover any information that looks suspicious. It's better to check and be wrong than forgetting about it.

Tips to minimize risk

Don't e-mail any personal information

Use a strong antivirus program (software.case.edu)

Check your bank and credit card charges frequently

Shred all documents with personal information

Memorize your new case ID (no longer using SSN)

Order the free annual credit report from one of the three companies (Experian, Equifax, Transunion). You can space these out every four months so you have the most coverage.

Place your name in the donotcall.gov registry

If you are going out of the country or to another state, call your credit cards or bank and let them know. This way they can also catch any weird charges.

For more information, visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft or www.identitytheft.org.

Recent crime increase catalyzes improvements in security

observer@case.edu (Steve Cummins) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Living in an urban setting such as Case Western Reserve University provides positives and negatives to daily life. Unfortunately for Case students, a prominent negative â" security alerts â" notoriously increases during the first few months of class.

Richard Jamieson, vice president of Campus Services, and Art Hardee, director of Protective Services, have not overlooked this fact and are taking many proactive steps to ensure the safety of Case students.

Students new to Case traditionally arenâ't used to living in an urban environment, which inherently carries more risks. Crime rates are higher this time of year because the weather hasnâ't yet turned sour. Once Cleveland winter hits, outside robberies become less of a problem.

Last year, there were four security alerts issued in September, putting this year on equal footing. There were no security alerts in October last year.

Protective Services states that the university has 31 full-time field officers under its purview, which allows it to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day. The University Circle Police Department has 28 police officers that also patrol Caseâ's campus.

According to Ali Hasanali, vice president of USGâ's Student Affairs committee, three officers are being trained currently to further assist the campus. One will be positioned on Northside and another on Southside to patrol during the evening shift, the time when most students are out and about.

Consistent with a more proactive stance on crime around campus, Protective Services is set to increase plainclothes officers on campus. They are focusing on some of the fringe and higher-crime areas of campus in order to provide a faster response time to crimes should they occur.

Having more people on the street at night decreases the instance where offenders feel they are alone with a victim. This strategy also increases the chance repeat offenders will be arrested and removed from campus.

A traditionally student-led initiative to check all blue-light terminals for functionality is in the works for this year. Walking along with representatives from Protective Services, the â"lighting toursâ" point out potential replacements of burnt-out and broken lighting that could pose security threats. With Jamiesonâ's blessing, this yearâ's tour will also be looking for ideal positions for placing new blue lights around campus, factoring in input from students.

With the near completion of the Euclid Corridor project, Case Protective Services hopes to increase relationships with the Regional Transit Authority police that would then have a higher visibility in the middle of campus. Case Police hope to have access to the RTA blue lights that will be stationed along Euclid as part of this relationship.

Along with the RTA and University Circle police, Protective Services is also working with Cleveland Heights police to increase patrols on Southside.

Hasanali expressed in his meeting with Jamieson the need for better public relations for Protective Services, perhaps by creating and posting blue light maps at Greenie stops.

â"That way, the students will just know where the blue lights are if an event should occur instead of the student having to look around and search for such a tool to utilize,â" said Hasanali.

Another topic discussed was the possible rerouting of the commuter shuttle to include the Rapid stop on Euclid and 120th. With a short one- to-two-minute detour, students on Northside would be able to travel downtown or to the airport more safely without having to go underneath the bridge on Euclid. Many students feel the bridge is improperly lit.

â"If thereâ's one thing Iâ'll say, when weâ're not complaining, you know they [Case Police] are doing their job well. A lot of little stuff is going on behind the scenes,â" said Hasanali. â"There are constantly evaluations and minor changes trying to improve service to the students. Health and safety of students is a huge concern of administration even if we donâ't always acknowledge it.â"

University Career Fair brings job opportunities to students

observer@case.edu (Brian Slayton) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Students of all majors, from undecided freshmen to graduate students, can meet with potential future employers at this semester's University Career Fair, held on Oct. 2 in Veale Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This semester's fair has a record number of employers. There will be representatives of 140 organizations in total, ranging from small Cleveland businesses to multinational corporations.

Thomas Matthews, director of the Career Center, attributes the large increase to the experience past employers have had with CWRU students.

"Employers want smart, motivated students and they want them early," Matthews said. He believes that employers understand the university is home to some of Ohio's brightest students and they want to be the first to give an offer.

Students from the arts and sciences and professional majors are urged to attend. Matthews explained that the fair can be a great first contact with employers that can lead to a campus interview and eventually a practicum, internship, co-op, or full-time job.

He said that in the past, a number of students from all years reported a positive experience and counted the fair as a success, because of the results it yielded.

Matthews added that students who don't have a career field of interest should still come for the experience, since the fair is a good way to build potential leads and network. If nothing else, it is important to practice and build confidence talking to employers. Jimmy Morse, a student career peer in the Career Center, echoed that sentiment.

"The whole point is to make connections," he said. "Even if you're still a freshman or sophomore, you can still get something out of it."

Morse recommended that students who may not be looking for a specific job right away still get in contact with employers and exchange e-mails or get a card from them. Students will then already have a contact with a potential employer, or if nothing else, experience on how to approach a job opportunity.

"In the past, employers have said how impressed they were that students were properly prepared," he said. The Career Center offers various programs designed to instruct students on how to make a good first impression with a potential employer, as well as how to follow up afterward.

In general, Matthews suggests that you research the organizations you plan to approach beforehand, since knowledge of an organization not only gives you a great conversation topic, but it also shows interest.

Students can meet with Career Center employees and a representative from GE on Monday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. in Nord 410. In addition, students can stop by Sears 206 today from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. to have their résumés critiqued by local employers.

Students may register for events, register to volunteer at the Career Fair and view a full list of employers on the Career Center website at http://studentaffairs.case.edu/careers/. Make sure to check out the various other services the career center supplies on the website; preparation can set you apart from other candidates.

Be sure to go to the University Career Fair and accept your gift from the university: 140 employers in one room waiting to give you a job!

A vice-presidential profile: the other half of the ticket

observer@case.edu (Joshua Goldberg) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

September has been a month of political analysis on both sides of the continuum. Both Democrats and Republicans have their nominations as well as the candidates' picks for vice president, and this has not processed without some turbulence.

For the Democrats, Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden was safe but unwise. Biden is a very experienced politician in matters of foreign policy, Obama's Achilles heel. However, he was terribly unpopular in the presidential primaries, picking up just 0.22 percent of the entire vote and beating only Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel. Don't expect Biden to contribute any discernable electoral impact come Election Day. Had the senator hailed from a state such as Ohio or Florida, the pick would have been exponentially better.

The state of Delaware was penciled in for Obama even before the conventions, having voted Democrat in four straight presidential elections. All the major polls currently show Obama leading McCain by five or more points, and with their Golden Boy as his vice presidential pick, it is sure to be penciled in blue for a fifth time come November.

For the Republicans, Sarah Palin is a curious yet good choice. Palin is only the second woman to run on a presidential ticket and arguably the first woman to run on a ticket that might have a chance of winning come November (the first was Geraldine Ferraro, who ran with Walter Mondale in 1988 in a disastrous election in which the Democrats won only the state of Minnesota). She fills in the gaps left by John McCain, particularly in the areas of values conservatives and women.

Many were shocked when candidates such as Tim Pawlenty and Joe Lieberman were overlooked for an Alaskan dark horse. But McCain holds his own among independents, which absolves Lieberman from any electoral contribution. In fact, many neoconservatives would frown upon a former Democrat carrying the GOP colors into Election Day. Tim Pawlenty would have been an excellent choice, giving McCain a prayer in Minnesota as well as a solid south. However, Pawlenty would not have resonated as well with women, a group that will overall procure more electoral votes than Minnesota's 10.

Palin allows the McCain camp to feed off the bad vibrations left over from Hillary Clinton's tussle with Obama. Many independent feminist Hilary supporters, now doubly snubbed after her political benching both at the top and bottom of the ticket, have the potential to be recruited to the GOP.

Palin is also a perfect standard bearer for values conservatism. She is a card-carrying member of the National Rifle Association, against gay marriage, and fiercely pro-life, going so far as to call for an amendment banning it unless the woman's life is at stake. With a platform like hers, McCain is almost guaranteed to win over the votes of much of the Bible belt and surrounding area, which will become very apparent once election returns start flowing in.

Palin only has one blemish. She is from Alaska, a state fortified with scores of GOP officials that, like Delaware, has a very minimal electoral contribution. The state was never in danger of being conquered by the Democrats.

Biden and Palin will have the opportunity to square off and discuss the issues on Thursday, Oct. 2 in St. Louis.

Case Culture: Remedying the cheating trend – is punishment the only way?

observer@case.edu (Alex Cooke) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Cheating used to take some cleverness on the part of the student. He would have to be skilled in writing abnormally small on various body parts, breaking and entering to steal tests, or creating new and elaborate communication signals with friends.

Nowadays, however, technology makes it so much easier, so much more tempting to cheat. No longer does cheating involve the ability to pick a lock or learn Morse code; a student can accomplish his end by saving some formulas in his calculator, discreetly sending text messages, or downloading essays.

Cheating has become quite a convenient way to circumvent work. Furthermore, discussions with professors indicate that it has become quite a popular method of handling the infamous workload at Case.

Before we can really discuss cheating, we must have a clear definition of it. Such a definition isn't as trivial as one might think. For example, if you slept through an exam and told the professor you were deathly ill to avoid failing, did you cheat? If you define cheating as the use of plagiarism, fabrication, deception, sabotage, or unauthorized sources, then yes, you did. What else would you call lying with intent to gain an unfair academic advantage?

The consequences of cheating are vast and often much more influential than one might realize. What happens when an individual cheats? That individual makes his or her peers look worse by comparison and in a curved class, raises the curve. Furthermore, that individual lowers his or her competence by avoiding the standards set forth in academia. Multiply this by a couple million and what happens? Grade inflation, less qualified graduates, and even more incentive to cheat.

What motivates cheating? Let's be honest: much as professors and most students would like to believe it doesn't go unpunished, most cheating slips under the radar. If someone does it once and doesn't get caught, he or she will probably do it again. Furthermore, cheating can be thought of as a coping technique. If you're overworked and stressed, why not avoid further stress and frustration?

Suspending moral beliefs temporarily, one has to realize that the current system is built to reward cheaters. Remember that previous example? What will most likely happen? The student will get to take the test without penalty. If he or she gets caught in the lie, at worst, he or she would fail that particular test. In all likelihood, however, nothing will come of it. What would have happened if he or she had told the truth? Simple: he or she would have failed the test. Honesty can be awfully hard to rationalize.

The question then becomes how we remedy this, how we fix a system that rewards unfair play. It wouldn't necessarily be right to reward honesty; if you miss an exam, being honest about why you missed it doesn't change the fact that you weren't there. Rather, this begs for better enforcement, for stricter punishment.

Enforcement is as good as it can reasonably be, short of taking tests in isolation booths. Stricter punishments would certainly deter those who are stressed to the max and fighting that temptation. There will always be those who cheat, see nothing wrong with it, and continue to do it as long as it goes unchecked. It's those who are on the fence that we should be focusing on.

Quarked: The 2008 Presidential Debate Drinking Game

observer@case.edu (Yvette Cendes) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Note: Neither The Observer nor this columnist approves in any way of stupid behavior, such as underage drinking or irresponsible use of alcohol. Further, the columnist reminds her readers to not take things too seriously, as anyone who cannot laugh about politics is not paying attention.

Any time a candidate says…

Change – 1 drink

Expounds on the need for change without any specifics about how said change will work or be implemented – switch from beer to hard liquor; we are going to need it

"Ready to lead" – 1 drink

A word that doesn't exist – 1 drink

God, or any euphemism for God – 1 four horsemen

Afghani…you know, it's been so long that this has been mentioned that I've forgotten how to spell it – 2 drinks

Someone speaks Spanish in an effort to court the Hispanic vote – 1 tequila shot

Terrorist – 1 car bomb

Ethanol – do I really need to spell it out for you?

Whenever McCain…

Addresses the audience as "my friends" – 1 drink

A member of the audience jumps up shouting, "Shut up, McCain! You're not my friend! It's not like you call me asking if we can hang out on the weekend or would lend me 20 bucks!" – 2 drinks

Recommends increasing troop protections by issuing +1 armor – 3 drinks

Makes a joke about being old and/or references his mother – 1 gin and tonic

Tries to market himself as a unique maverick in vain hope that people won't remember he's from the same party as George W. Bush – 1 drink

Mentions he was a POW – 1 drink

The moderator says, "Wait, you were a POW? I didn't know that!" – 2 drinks

Is questioned on how exactly being a POW prepares him to be President – 3 drinks

Whenever Obama…

Says "folks" – 1 drink

Mentions Indonesia, Hawaii, or Kenya – 1 drink

Is referred to as "Osama" by McCain or the moderator – 2 drinks and a kick in the shins

Tells an anecdote about a middle-class woman who can't get by – 1 drink

Says something so socialist that he could be quoting a communist leader – 1 vodka shot

- He is quoting a communist leader – 2 shots

Worst Case Scenario: Avoiding attacks

observer@case.edu (Kyle Niemi) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

My inbox just received its third security alert in a week, and I think that I'm starting to see a pattern. People get mugged when they go outside! It's all so obvious now. Unfortunately, most of you will have to go outside sooner or later. Not me, of course: I've got a year's supply of Doritos, a Wi-Fi connection, and a pillow fort – I'm good. But some of you don't lead the fulfilling life I do and have to participate in mundane activities like going to class and getting an education.

As a Case student, this means that you must venture out of the safety of your abode, and this opens up the possibility that you might get mugged. Heck, if I weren't too busy reading Star Wars novels in my pillow fort, I'd probably mug you myself. But if you adhere to the guidelines I have thoughtfully provided for you in the following paragraphs, you might not get mugged quite as often.

If you want to avoid being the victim of a mugger, you need to think like a mugger. Start off by concentrating on your wardrobe: a nondescript black shirt, a pair of black pants, and something flashy like black shoes should provide a good start. If you want to add a little more pizzazz, try wearing a hoodie – black of course. The hoodie lets you obscure your face while at the same time letting victims know that you're up to date with modern fashion. This is very important to muggers.

Next, you need to concentrate on your best "give me your money" voice. You want to practice a voice capable of striking fear into the hearts of naïve freshmen and hardened seniors alike. You have two options here: either you go for a really low voice or a really high voice. You might be wondering how a really high voice will be menacing to people, but consider it for a second. Think of a high-pitched wailing voice tearing any reasonable thoughts out of your head. You'll give up your money in a second, if for no other reason than to stop that horrible, piercing noise.

Lastly, you need to practice a hulking posture. You'll want to look as huge and intimidating as possible. Think deranged, infuriated gorilla and you'll be on the right track. If you're of short stature, don't worry; grab some platform shoes. I hear they're totally coming back into style anyway. Plus, few things are quite as unnerving as an inexplicably tall short-person. Trust me; it's freaky.

Now that you've got your mugging skills down, you'll blend right in to the Cleveland streets. Just walk around in your new threads, maintaining your intimidating posture and yelling demands for money at no one in particular. The chance that you'll be mugged will be severely reduced. No would-be criminal wants to mess with someone who appears to be dangerously insane.

Anyway, I've got to go check the front door; I'm expecting a shipment of Mr. Pibb. Oh, and before you ask, the answer is no. Exercise is for you outdoorsy types.

Caffeine addiction: one man's search for the perfect coffee shop

observer@case.edu (Adam Spektor) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In my beloved hometown of Milford, Conn., there is a locally owned café right on one of the busiest corners of the downtown area. There's a lovely outdoor courtyard, friendly staff (largely comprised of former high school classmates), and delicious, albeit pricey, food and drinks. It's basically the perfect hangout for my friends and me, and it sits high up as one of the most significant things that I miss about being home.

And so I decided to set out upon a multi-day trek that would prove costly for both my wallet and my health, but necessary to make this extended temporary residence, Case, as close to home as possible. I planned to hit five different coffeehouses on or around campus, ordering an iced medium caramel latté at each one, and measuring them up to each other, to see which establishment best suited my needs. My caffeinated coffee quest was about to begin.

I started on the north side of campus, at the Starbucks in the Village. I already had various preconceived notions about Starbucks (chalk me up on the list of the many who feel the faux-chic decision to replace "large" with "venti" is just silly), yet this establishment is not without its charms. The service is good, and there are plenty of comfy couches and chairs, plus it's located in the perfect area for both business and convenience. The latté though? A bit bitter. But such are the ways of the massive corporation.

Moving southward for day two, I happened upon the Arabica Coffeehouse on Juniper Road, next to Alumni House. Converted from an old mansion into a coffeehouse, this locale was much closer to the quintessential coffee shop in my mind. The service was good, but it was the layout that won me over. The building is dark and cozy, complete with fireplaces and a Baldwin piano, and on nicer days, the patio out front is ideal and relaxing. The coffee was a bit bitter for my tastes, but a wide selection of food helped make up for that.

By the third day, I was beginning to show signs of caffeine dependency, so it was to my great relief that I came upon Pura Vida in the Thwing Center in the Heart of the Campus. This establishment is hardly a coffeehouse, but rather a stand in the middle of the atrium. As such, it lacks a distinct coffeehouse atmosphere, but it naturally wins points for convenience, being located in the middle of campus and all. The service was fine and the coffee was good, although slightly syrupy. Alas, I had traveled to three out of the five locations on my roster, but the perfect medium iced caramel latté was still yet to be found. And my hands were beginning to quiver quite a bit.

The fourth and final day of my journey brought me two pleasant surprises, the first of which was a small coffee stand located in the main lobby of Crawford Hall, the appropriately named Sages Café. It was here that I found my perfect coffee. Finding itself balanced somewhere between bitter and sweet and full of flavor, this latté was everything I had hoped for. Unfortunately, its academic setting wasn't exactly cozy, but it was still very convenient, and the service was great. This looked to be a winner.

My final destination was also the last coffeehouse I had heard of in the area, as it is also the farthest away from campus. Located near the corner of Murray Hill and Cornell, Algebra Teahouse was just about as local as local could get. The building was full of handmade wooden furniture, arranged in that endearingly stereotypical artsy fashion, and the whole establishment had a slightly Middle Eastern feel to it. The service was great, and the taste of the coffee was far removed from what I had at all of my other stops. This was likely due in part to the wide variety of coffees (and teas) that Algebra had. I suppose that Algebra Teahouse is the anti-Starbucks in almost every manner.

So I never did quite find the perfect coffeehouse to match the one I was used to back home, but each of the five locations I purchased coffee from had something to offer, and lest I forget, all for very similar prices. It is unfortunate, though, that I will try to not return to any of these coffeehouses for quite some time, as after four days of constantly buzzing on caffeine, I am absolutely sick of coffee. Of course, "try" is the key word in that sentence.

Case Raas Goondas carry high standards through new academic year

observer@case.edu (Gillian Seaman) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Since its inception in 2003, the Case Western Reserve Raas dancing team has enjoyed numerous successes, and it appears poised to continue its legacy of excellence in the 2008-2009 school year. Raas is a traditional form of Indian dance that originated from the province of Gujarat. The dance is performed with two sticks, called dandias, and is one of the two dance forms employed during the nine-day-long Hindu festival of Navrati. Over the years, raas has developed into a more modern form that consists of "elements of traditional raas as well as modern components such as influences from modern dances or just new raas moves that are based on traditional raas," according to choreographer Eric Tsung.

The CWRU team is highly competitive, often practicing for hours three to four times a week and every day when a competition is close. The overall competitiveness of the team is reflected not only in that all former team members have to try out again, but also in the fact that only two freshmen made the final cut. Tsung maintains that it is not an issue of favoritism. "Most freshman who come in generally don't have much training," which is essential to the team's success.

The enormous effort put forth by the team members is evident in their participation in last year's prestigious Dandia Dhamaka at the University of Michigan and the Rock for Doc show. The team has also participated in the prominent intercollegiate competition Raas Chaos at George Washington University in Washington D.C., which is sponsored by the South Asian Student Association.

The group's success is even more impressive considering they have no connection to CWRU's dance department. Raas is run by a board, that secures funding from USG for the dancers called Goondas. The board also selects the choreographers for the team during the previous year. In addition to Tsung, the choreographers are Pooja Sandesara and Reema Patel.

Besides the competitive benefit of frequent intense practices, there are also many additional awards that the team reaps. Both freshman on the team, Varun Mengla and Sabina Chandramani can attest to the family atmosphere the team creates. Mengla describes his practices with the team thus far as "a good experience" and feels like he will be able to learn from all the upperclassmen on the team. Chandramani also professes, "The whole team is like a family. I can already feel that, and I've only been to three practices."

It is important to understand that the performances the Goondas participate in are not all simply for competitive reasons only. According to Tsung, the ultimate purposes of the performances are to "promote and preserve the Gujurati culture, support intercollegiate networking and connections, and ultimately create a weekend with a competitive and fun atmosphere.

For the first semester of the year, the Goondas plan to perform at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Oct. 26 and the Undergraduate Indian Student Association show Nov. 22.

Independent artist quietly releases fifth album

observer@case.edu (Zac Ruetz) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The singing/songwriting genius of Keith Lynch produced an interestingly melancholy, 40-minute adventure into gentle, progressive rock with Unknown Component's In Direct Communication.

With the band's fifth independently released album in as many years, Unknown Component attempts to redefine an overused coffee-shop resonance with ambient acoustic guitar and surprisingly profound lyrics. Hailing from Iowa City, Iowa, the brainchild of this overlooked one-man effort combines the worn approach of pop music with a fresh technical elegance of songwriting.

Lynch fulfills every role demanded by this inventive arrangement of any standard soft rock group. No single instrument takes the limelight, backing a balanced rhythm under the nasally, drawn out, and melodic vocals. This style of airy and intriguing acoustic rock is reminiscent of Elliot Smith, Loudon Wainwright III, or Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, without their overshadowing vocal talent, of course.

When it comes down to it, the music heard on this album seems to belong atop a stool in a small, college-town venue. The lyrics have substance, but seem to be lacking the drive of bigger, better, studio cut albums from respectable labels. Not dismissing any independent artists in the indie rock world, the sound quality of the album suggests a shoddy, third party recording of a live show played in a studio apartment. This, in essence, may be the weight of the rationale that after five albums, Lynch hasn't received quite the response from the indie scene as he expected, much less been signed by a major label along his emergent career.

It appears that some in the music industry have ignored and disregarded the potential in Lynch and his adequate songwriting abilities that might be amplified by a strong supporting band and decent studio time.

His budget-constrained claustrophobia seems to be plaguing his product with the tension of an underdeveloped indie rock star with so much talent and so little professional production. In short, this space rocket may lift off some time in the near future, but for now the only thing grounding Unknown Component is Keith Lynch.

PTG is off to a great start with hilarious Hamlette

observer@case.edu (Peter Cooke) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Autumn at Case Western Reserve University starts off on the right foot as the Players' Theatre Group (PTG) gathers to produce Hamlette: A Comedy in One Act at the Eldred Black Box Theater. The parody is packed with quick scenes and dialogue as it commendably cuts down an epic five-hour drama into a half-hour light-hearted, yet dark and twisted comedy, complete with double entendres and subtle jokes.

Hamlette begins in the "backwards, downtrodden nation of Denmark" where murder and cross-dressing are among key topics in the royal courts. The gender-questioning Prince, or is that Princess, Hamlette is torn with strife after the King's problematic death. Hamlette is played by the enthusiastic and witty Kaitlyn Estes, who shines in her debut with the PTG. Reluctant to admit to Hamlette's uncertainty is Horatio, played by the peppy Brianna Willinger, who gives a delightful performance as Hamlette's best friend. Hamlette's mother, the Queen, is played by fellow freshman Katie Metzger, whose quick reactions and delivery set the tone for the play. Gabe Geschke meets the challenge of transforming between the hopeless romantic Laertes and the torn, frail Ophelia by overacting and adding a few perks to his costume. Polonius, played by the serious, mellow, and unpredictable Colin McCauley hits his high note on an unexpected, hilariously conceived monologue that is played even better.

The small intimate cast of Hamlette has great chemistry and flows throughout the play nearly seamlessly. Director Aaron Byers helps lead seniors Clint Gable and Niklas Bauer, as Francisco and the Ghost respectively, in molding the young cast into a hilarious ensemble. Byers adds a few of his own personal touches to the play with splendid prop and costume choices, most notably with Laertes and Ophelia. Even more noticeable is Byers' culmination of slow-motion montages and a "bodacious soundtrack" that raise Hamlette to a whole new level.

Hamlette forecasts a great start to a year of theater from the PTG at Case. The cast is able to successfully move from the setting of the play to tangents in the movie Hamlet to today's pop-culture.

The meta-humor used during the final battle scenes are excellently performed as Beau Buccilli takes on the role of a fight night announcer before the final duel between Hamlette and Laertes. Overloaded with jokes in the short half-hour runtime, Hamlette is an excellent play to just enjoy and have a good laugh.

Sex & Dating: Scoring big

observer@case.edu (Kali) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

As almost anyone with friends of the opposite sex has learned, there are certain ways to "score points" with your significant others or friends, male or female, that get you in good standing. For instance, if a guy is in the doghouse with his girlfriend, he might think that after doing something apology-worthy, flowers might earn him back some points and taking her out to dinner would earn even more. From another perspective, if a woman messes up, she might think that apologizing profusely might earn her more points. From my experience, I've found that both of these ways of scoring points actually get people nowhere at all. For your reference, I'm going to cover a few good ways to score brownie points with your significant other.

When a woman is keeping score, no matter how small or big a gift out of love is, it scores one point and everything has equal value. However, to a man, it might seem that a small gift would earn one point and a bigger one would earn 10 points. Instead, it's really little things that make a difference. Many times, relationships start out where both people do little things for each other, but having done them once or twice, they stop and begin to focus their energies on bigger things as they already know they have earned the loyalty of their partner. However, the way women score points is not just a preference, as women generally require many expressions of love in a relationship to really feel loved. This can be hard for her significant other to understand, particularly if he is a man, but it helps to think of women having a love tank like a gas tank that continually needs to be filled little by little and gets used over time.

Here are some ways to score points with women: give her a hug when you first see her before you start talking; plan a date a few days in advance instead of waiting until the day of and asking her to plan it; be patient when she is speaking; don't let your hand go limp when you hold her hand; send her an e-mail to say that you are thinking of her.

On the other side, scoring points with men is completely different. Every time you appreciate what a man has done for you, he feels good and will give out points. To keep the score even, some men generally don't require much beyond a little support and appreciation, since that is what they primarily need. Men have a love tank too, but it is not filled in the same way a woman's is; rather, it is filled by how a man's partner reacts to him or how they feel about him. Because of this, if your partner is a man and you find yourself in trouble often, you may want to prioritize having caring attitudes and feelings, as being genuinely caring will motivate a man to give more.

Here are some ways to score points with men: don't punish him if he disappoints you; ask for support instead of dwelling on what he did wrong; let him go when he needs to retreat, and don't make him feel guilty when he returns; forgive him even when he doesn't know he did something wrong.

Student Profile: Aaron Byers

observer@case.edu (Christine Cadman) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Aaron Byers is a sophomore majoring in psychology and history with a minor in theater. He has recently been appointed the new Case Western Spartan mascot. In addition to his Spartan duties, he is a member of IMPROVment, Players' Theatre Group, Case Footlighters, and also participates in various intramural sports. He is directing Hamlette for the Players' Theatre Group, which premieres tonight, and will also be performing in the Eldred Theatre production of The Firebugs.

Christine Cadman: What inspired you to become the Spartan?

Aaron Byers: I love this university, and I couldn't think of a better way to represent it. And I love spreading school spirit.

CC: When did you decide you were going to pursue being the Spartan?

AB: At orientation freshman year. I talked to Chuck Becker [the previous Spartan] who was an orientation leader, and that's what got it started.

CC: What did you have to do in order to become the Spartan?

AB: I filled out an application and had a couple interviews.

CC: What are some of your responsibilities?

AB: Well, the mascot represents the entire university: students, staff, alumni, everybody. The Spartan is required to have strong ethics and good moral character.

CC: How has being the Spartan changed your experience at Case Western?

AB: Well, I've met a lot more people. I've met some pretty important people that I wouldn't have otherwise. Also, I get to talk to everybody; I don't have inhibitions when I'm the mascot.

CC: Who have you had a chance to meet?

AB: President Snyder, the athletic director Dave Diles, and other members of the administration.

CC: What's your favorite thing about being the Spartan?

AB: Being at football games is probably the best so far.

CC: How was your first game?

AB: It was very exciting to interact with people and get my picture taken with lots of people…10 billion times.

CC: What other events have you done besides football games?

AB: I work with alumni, admissions, and the orientation staff. I'm also available for any student group that wants me.

CC: What do you like to do when you're not being the Spartan?

AB: Play Mario Kart, watch movies, watch football, work out. That's really it; I don't have much spare time. I also like to do voices, like Batman [Christian Bale]…or James Earl Jones.

CC: Where do you keep the Spartan uniform when it's not in use?

AB: In an undisclosed location.

CC: What do you really like or dislike about Case?

AB: I hate how the Greenies are so unreliable! And I love the fact that there are so many things to be involved with here.

CC: What has been you favorite club/experience that you've participated in at Case?

AB: I enjoy everything that I do here, but I really love being a part of IMPROVment.

Uncomfortable Towelhead provides opportunity for discussion

observer@case.edu (Andrew Dotta) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Oscar-winning writer of American Beauty and creator of Six Feet Under and True Blood, Alan Ball has a gift for grounding darkly comedic situations in reality. His new movie, Towelhead, makes American Beauty seem like a Saturday morning cartoon. Based on Alicia Erian's novel Towelhead, the film mainly concerns the sexual exploration and development of a young Arab-American growing up in suburban Texas. After disobeying her mother, the young girl Jasira (played by Summer Bishil) is sent to her strict Lebanese father (Peter Macdissi), who desires to raise her under his own strict view of the world. Jasira has a hard time living under her father's expectations, is bombarded by racist comments by classmates, and becomes sexually obsessed with a conveniently placed army reservist neighbor, awkwardly and uncomfortably played by Aaron Eckhart. After watching this movie, I'll never be able to look at Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight) the same way again. The character of Two-Face has a whole new meaning.

The movie ran at a brisk pace for approximately two hours. I enjoyed the movie, as much as one could enjoy a movie with racists and child abusers. The acting was extraordinary, that's for certain. Many lines from Jasira's Lebanese father drew laughter from the audience. The movie certainly fell into black comedy territory at times, possibly to ease up tension from the uncomfortable subject matter. What is this uncomfortable material I keep mentioning, exactly? I refuse to spoil the movie, but there are a few scenes of dramatic action and dialogue that made me squirm. Replace the use of weapons in the powerful ending of American Beauty with more dialogue, and you can kind of see the picture.

Unfortunately, the movie ran at too brisk of a pace. I can't even comment on how well the movie was filmed, because frankly, I can't remember any specific techniques being used. I'm sure there's some symbolism in placing all the main characters in the same cul-de-sac, a setting used for most of it, but I didn't figure that out while watching the movie. It's easier, in retrospect, to decipher some of the hidden meanings of particular scenes. I just wish that the movie would have given me a little more time to process its "messages" while watching it. Unlike American Beauty, I would not watch this movie again; it moved too fast to be really enjoyable.

I'm not really sure how to recommend this movie. If you are going to the cinemas to be entertained or with expectations after seeing American Beauty, don't see this movie. If you want to be challenged and aren't seeing the movie with too many friends, give it a try. It's certainly not a date movie (unlike Lakeview Terrace). This movie will definitely be good source material for hour-long dinner conversations, and I can guarantee it'll be used for social justice programming on campus next semester. That being said, Hollywood, please stop throwing war commentary into every Oscar-baiting film. It's getting tiring.

Towelhead premieres this Friday at Cedar Lee Theatre.

Case student athletes put on a clinic

observer@case.edu (Joe Amick) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In the breakfast room of Daniel E. Morgan Elementary School last Friday, students were already asking when they were leaving. They were getting out early that day to go to the Case for Community Day Sports Clinic, a three-and-a-half hour event featuring six stations of sports skills (basketball, football, soccer, track and field, and volleyball) and a pizza lunch. And when the buses were 20 minutes late arriving to the school, a five-minute drive northwest of campus, kids were nervous the sports clinic was cancelled.

"To be out of school and to be able to play outside – that's a double bonus," said Teri Walton, the parent liaison at Daniel Morgan, as she passed out water to students thirsty from a flag football game. "We enjoy it immensely."

For Latisha James, director of community relations, the fun and games are a tool to get some 250 students from five of Cleveland's public elementary schools on to Case's campus. "It plants a seed for them to see themselves in college one day. It's subliminal messaging," said James with a laugh.

The clinic was organized and operated by the Case Association of Student Athletes (CASA). Andrea Wojtowicz, CASA's community service chair and a junior volleyball player, said that planning for the clinic started at the end of August. She estimated 60 student athletes volunteered. Each of the 35-minute stations was saturated with volunteers. "It looks like all of them are having a good time," she said.

At the end of the day, students were given medallions from Case's Center for Community Partnerships and drawstring backpacks from CASA.

Absent from the sports clinic was the men's basketball team. They were hard at work off campus in Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood, assisting the Buckeye Area Development Corporation with a large-scale landscaping project around model homes in the neighborhood. This marked the fifth year that the team worked on a substantial off-campus project.

"For the last five years our players have made a positive impact on Cleveland's East Side during Case for Community Day," said the team's head coach, Sean McDonnell. "The event has always provided our team with a forum where they've been able to help others, bond as a team, and have a good time meeting members of the local community. I continue to be proud of their efforts."

"The basketball team; they're the best," said James. Last Friday marked the sixth annual Case for Community day.

Case Sports Information contributed information to this article.

Cross Country: Where are we now? Teams find out against ranked opponents

observer@case.edu (Joe Amick) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The women's cross country team placed second and the men's team placed fourth on Saturday at Calvin College's Knight Invitational in an early season barometer for the Spartans.

The men, ranked 16th in Div. III, ran against three teams rated above them: second-ranked Calvin, ninth-ranked Ohio Northern, and 12th ranked UW Oshkosh. Those were the three teams they finished behind on Saturday. In cross country, meets are scored by adding up the places of a team's top five finishers.

Calvin ran away with the meet, accumulating only 24 points. The second through fifth place grouping was much tighter. Oshkosh tallied 90 points, Ohio Northern finished with 97, Case with 98, and fifth place Aquinas College accumulated 99. Eleven teams competed on the men's side.

"Calvin is impossible to stop unless their three top runners fall down," said cross country coach Kathy Lanese.

That meant that the Spartans concentrated on beating Ohio Northern, who, along with Case and Calvin, is in the Great Lakes region. The top two teams at the regional meet in November get an automatic qualification to nationals.

One factor that will improve between now and November is the health of the men's best runner, Dominic Smith, who broke his right elbow in a bicycle accident and missed a week of practice. Smith finished ninth overall (25:52).

"Dom was not at his best this week. I thought he looked a little lopey," said Lanese.

"It was hot. I felt alright. I was worried about my arm," said Smith, who is close to full extension on the injured arm.

Despite being beaten by a point by Ohio Northern, the Spartans held a two- second advantage in the average time of their top five, 26:12 to 26:14. The Case men ran conservatively in the 8k race to focus on pack running. The Spartans finished with 34-second difference between their first and fifth-place runners. Anything under 45 seconds is considered ideal.

The men's key runner, according to Lanese, was their fifth-place runner, senior Josh Ward, who was 28th overall. "He made the difference for the team this week," she said.

"Well, we've got an incredibly deep team this year, so it seems that every week there's someone there to step it up and 'make the difference' for the team," said Ward. "I'm just glad it was me this week, and hopefully we can all step it up a bit each week."

The women's team, currently ranked 10th in Div. III, finished behind only host Calvin. Ten teams competed in the 5k. Calvin accumulated 33 points to Case's 58, a bigger point spread than Lanese wanted. "[Calvin] had us beat," she said.

The problem was the 59-second gap between the first and fifth spots.

"We really need to pull that fifth runner up," said Lanese.

Part of the problem was that Natalia Cabrera was out with tendinitis in her foot, limiting the women's depth. The freshman took Case's sixth spot at the Case-hosted Sudeck Classic three weeks ago.

Co-captains Kristen Bowhers and Britta Kumley finished eighth and ninth overall and second and third respectively for the Spartans. Both set personal bests with times of 18:25 on Calvin's Grand Rapids, Mich. course.

The Spartan's best run at Calvin came from an unexpected source: sophomore Justine Jeroski, who finished sixth overall with a time of 18:13. She finished behind Bowhers and Kumley at the Sudeck Classic. "Justine had a superb race," said Lanese. "She was very aggressive from start to finish."

At last year's Knight Invitational, the women's team took second and the men's team took fifth. Both teams are back in action tomorrow at Otterbein College.

Football: Another week, 48 more points Spartans thrash Oberlin to improve to 3-0

observer@case.edu (Nick Spring) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On Saturday, the Spartans traveled to Oberlin to do battle with the Yeomen. Once again, Case came out on top by beating Oberlin 48-21. Saturday's game extended the Spartans' winning streak against Oberlin to 24 games, dating back to 1982. The Case offense kept up its recent trend by scoring early, often, and in explosive fashion. The Spartans got on the board first by way of a 2-yard run from Corey Checkan, capping an opening 51-yard drive. The Yeomen countered the early score by producing their own scoring drive on an impressive 79-yard drive. The next two scores came through the air for Case and sophomore Shaun Nicely was on the receiving end of both. The first came from a 25-yard pass from Dan Whalen after kick returner Bryan Metlesitz set up the Spartan offense with great field position. The second score came after the Case defense stopped the driving Yeomen when Bobby Bott forced a fumble and Brad Paramore recovered the loose ball. The Case offense started the drive on the Case 29 yard line and drove 71-yards in 6 plays, ending with a 37-yard strike to Nicely. The first quarter ended with Case leading 21-7.

Case's first punt of the game came early in the second quarter, but Oberlin could not capitalize on the defensive stop. During the punt, Oberlin's returner coughed up the ball when Jeff Brown made the hit. Brown also happened to recover the fumble. Case capitalized on the turnover with a 35-yard field goal from Sam Coffey. Every score in the second quarter came from Case as the offense continued to pour on points and the defense made important stops. The Case offense scored three touchdowns in the second quarter: the first a fumble recovery by DJ Suitca, the second a 33-yard completion to Zach Homyk, and lastly on a 2-yard pass to Brian Webster. The first half ended with the Spartans up 45-7.

With Whalen sitting the second half to prevent injury, the offense stalled a bit. They only produced 112 second-half yards and scored a total of three points on a 34-yard field goal attempt from Coffey. The Oberlin offense looked much more in sync during the second half and managed to score 14 more points. Oberlin could have possibly scored another time if Case sophomore Greg Kingscott had not intercepted a pass early in the fourth quarter.

Statistically, the Spartans outgained the Yeomen by 100 yards, putting up 432 yards compared to Oberlin's 332. Out of Case's 432 yards, 319 came through the air and 113 came on the ground. The Spartans averaged 7 yards per play as opposed to Oberlin's 4.8. Leading Case on the ground was Checkan, who had seven rushes for a team-high 57 yards. Ryan Kolesar tied Webster with four catches, but lead the team in receiving yards and all-purpose yards with 105. Defensively, Case sacked the quarterback three times, all of which came from defensive linemen (Gian Genovesi 0.5, Richard Doolin 1.0, Jake Mey 0.5, Dale English 1.0). Middle linebacker Brown caused havoc for the Oberlin offense all day. Brown ended with 11 tackles (nine solo, four assists), two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Case's kick return unit was outstanding, consistently giving the Spartans great starting field position. The offensive line allowed Case quarterbacks to carve up the Yeomen secondary for 319 yards by providing stellar protection. The Spartans are off this week, but return to action next week versus Denison in Case's homecoming game.

Men's Soccer: With three straight wins, Spartans hope to right ship

observer@case.edu (Greg Meyer) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Stinging from a horrific two weeks for a team that was supposed to have national-title-contention type talent, the Spartans fought back this past week. The men's soccer team has won their past three games, doing it in every possible fashion. They played physically against cross-town rival John Carroll University. They outlasted and dominated late against a strong Heidelberg College team. Yet the best was yet to come as this past Thursday they pulled out a thrilling overtime victory against the College of Wooster. While familiar faces continued to play well, it was the freshmen class that really stole the show for the Spartans over the past three games.

The game against John Carroll saw a total of 30 fouls while Case players drew three yellow cards, all coming in the second half. Both teams played very well on defense, but John Carroll finally broke when freshman Mark Ilhan received a great pass from senior R.J. French in the 71st minute and scored the lone goal of the game. Konrad Karasek was back in goal and played incredibly well, making six saves during the game and preserving the shutout.

Against Heidelberg, the Spartans built on their performance against Carroll, playing more outstanding defense and making big plays offensively when they needed to. The first goal came off the head of freshman Vinny Bell in the 36th minute, after French set him up with another great pass. The game turned into a defensive battle for the next 46 minutes, with Karasek grabbing six of his eight saves over the duration. Then, the Spartans unleashed a flurry of offense, scoring three goals in a span of under four minutes. The first was by French, the second by sophomore Kyle Bednar, and the last was Bell's second goal of the night. All three of the goals were unassisted.

The most recent victory for Case came at the expense of the College of Wooster. This past Wednesday, the Spartans found themselves behind going into the second period after the Fighting Scots scored a goal in the 42nd minute during a scramble for the ball in front of the Spartans' net. However, Case Western answered quickly in the second period, scoring in the 56th minute. After Wooster had been whistled for a hand ball, French continued his offensive prowess from the previous two games and put the equalizer in the lower right corner. Both teams found opportunities in the rest of the second period, but great goalkeeping – Karasek recorded all five of his saves in the second period – from both sides sent the game into overtime. This is when Bell again came through. In the 94th minute, Bell took a poor clear from the Scot's defense, split two defenders, and put the ball in the left side of the net, winning the game for the Spartans.

Spartan Spotlight: Zeyad Schwen

observer@case.edu (Greg Meyer) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Zeyad Schwen is a senior defender for the men's soccer team. He went to Sycamore High School in "The Nasty Nati" (a.k.a. Cincinnati, Ohio). He is currently studying biomedical engineering, with the intent to attend medical school.

Greg Meyer: Who inspired you to play soccer?

Zeyad Schwen: My mom wouldn't let me play football so I just fell into it.

GM: I had to wait until the fourth grade to play football. Even then my dad had to sneak me to sign-ups. What makes soccer stand out from other sports?

ZS: You don't wear a cup unless you're Niro Wimalasena.

GM: Nothing like throwing your teammate under the bus in print media. Sorry Niro. What is your favorite quote?

ZS: "You know that look women have when they want sex? Me neither." – Steve Martin

GM: Great comedian, even smarter man. What is your worst soccer memory?

ZS: Skinny dipping with the team in Brazil in the middle of the night. The water was a little too cold.

GM: Two bad things about that: first, you cannot see what is in the water at night. Second, any fan of Seinfeld knows what cold water does to guys. If they made a movie about your life, who would you want to play you?

ZS: Gregory Peck or Robert Redford because they are manlier than everyone else combined.

GM: Legitimate answer. I wouldn't mess with Atticus Finch or the Sundance Kid. If you could participate in any other sport, which would you pick and why?

ZS: T-ball because it's probably the only other one I could actually be good at.

GM: I couldn't hit a baseball now to save my life. I like how you go from the sport with the most running to the least, though. What would we find in your locker right now that might surprise us?

ZS: A lack of steroids. I know, believe it or not, my huge biceps are 100 percent natural.

GM: OK, Barry Bonds. Now I see why you chose T-ball, no formidable drug testing policy. Last time I checked soccer was played with your feet, not your arms, Arnold. Who is the best athlete you've ever competed with and why?

ZS: Kyle Bednar, for obvious reasons.

GM: I know Kyle Bednar, and I cannot help but catch the sarcasm that is dripping from that answer. Finish this sentence: Soccer is like a girl because…

ZS: Just when you think you're about to score, Jon Milan ruins everything.

GM: Being a goalie, I guess he is just a natural at blocking stuff, huh? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

ZS: Married with 7-9 children and still winging for my boy Chris Cservak on the weekends.

GM: Nine children in 10 years? You better find a wife quick and go to work. What are some of your extracurricular activities and hobbies outside of soccer?

ZS: IHOP and I'm the prez of the senior class.

GM: There is nothing better than never-ending pancakes after a long night of, ummm…studying. Who's your favorite athlete?

ZS: Randy Moss.

GM: Only if he could have made it all four years at Florida State. Instead he goes to Marshall and now loses to the Fins on Sunday. What a shame. What is your best soccer memory?

ZS: Taking home a UAA championship and our NCAA tourney appearance sophomore year.

GM: It does feel nice to walk out onto that field everyday and see that banner hanging along the track, doesn't it? Would you rather have the strength of 1000 men, be able to fly, or be invisible?

ZS: Fly – walking is boring.

GM: That is starting to be the general consensus with this question. What's the one thing people don't know about soccer?

ZS: Rioting is encouraged.

GM: We'll expect big things on Saturday from the home crowd in that case. What is the high point in the soccer season?

ZS: Kudos bars after we win.

GM: Do you guys get oranges at the half too? Or juice boxes? Any insight on how the season is going so far?

ZS: All the seniors keep getting injured, but thankfully we have quite a few players who have stepped up and filled holes.

GM: Good luck with the rest of your season. Zeyad Schwen, everyone.

Women's soccer beats Wooster for first time in five years

observer@case.edu (Sonya Narla) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Last Wednesday, in an electrifying 2-1 win over the College of Wooster, Case women's soccer accomplished a difficult feat by beating the Scots for the first time in over five years. The game was destined to be competitive and intense; the Spartans were coming into the match 4-1 while the Scots had a record of 6-0, and were hoping for a win to begin their first 7-0 start in program history. Needless to say, the Spartans did not let that happen.

Coach Tiff Crooks said she is "really proud of the intensity and passion with which the girls played." Crooks began her coaching career as an assistant at Wooster, so this win had an extra underlying significance for her. The first half progressed with many opportunities for Case as the Spartans capitalized off of corner kicks and crosses to challenge Wooster keeper Alix Hoffman. Hoffman made excruciatingly close saves as the Spartan attack charged on, but at the 24:12 mark of the first half, freshman Kristina Vaci scored off of a corner kick to make the score 1-0. It looked as if the Spartans would score quickly again after a shot by Ana Arruda, but Hoffman made a last-minute diving save. The first half ended 1-0, Spartans. In the second half, Wooster worked to tie up the game and succeeded when Kate Kiley put the ball in the lower right 90. The Spartans fought hard as the game wore on, and their hard work paid off. About 75 minutes into the game, junior captain Jen Soo Hoo took a free kick that led to a mad scramble inside the box. Arruda was able to get to the ball amidst the chaos and finished the goal beautifully off of a header, making the score 2-1. Case's defense held out strongly throughout the game, stifling the Wooster attack and providing backbone support for the Spartan midfield. Senior keeper Kirsten McClain had four saves while freshman goalie Anna Kennedy had three. Overall, the game was fiercely competitive and exciting, and the end result bodes well for Case women's soccer – defeating Wooster means beating a team regularly ranked among the top 10 in the NCAA Div. III Great Lakes Region. "It was a fun game to play," said sophomore midfielder Cecelia Fusco, "We deserved the win."

Three days later, the Spartans took on Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. After being on the road for the past four games and after playing just three days earlier, the Spartans fell in a 3-2 loss to Mount Union's Purple Raiders. The first goal was scored by Soo Hoo after senior Caitlin Miller played a ball over the Purple Raiders' offside trap. Soo Hoo ran onto the ball for a one-on-one situation with the keeper and finished with a breakaway goal. However, just three minutes later, Alyssa Flitcraft shot a ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out. The Spartans fought to recover the lead, but Mount Union scored again, this time Kelly Aughinbaug from outside of the 18. In the second half, the Spartans continued to fight. At the 78:51 mark, Mount Union's Deidre Dick received a yellow card and Amy Baumann took the free kick from midfield. Soo Hoo then found the ball and crossed it to Vaci, who headed it into the goal, tying the score at two.

Vaci has been a vital addition to the attack this season; not only has she scored in the last four games, but she now tallies in with five goals on the season – the team high. The Spartans, however, were unable to hold onto the tie, and Mount Union scored again with four minutes left in regulation. The final score ended 3-2, Mount Union.

"Mount Union came out strong, and we didn't work as hard as we should have. The second half was much better and people stepped up the intensity but [Mount Union] kept up their pressure," said Miller.

Crossword Answers

observer@case.edu — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Jumble Answers

observer@case.edu — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

diode

funnel

ejection

obligate

silicone

interference

SuDoKu Answers

observer@case.edu — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400