Zhu: Cancelled culture is moral absolutism, and it’s unsustainable
Caroline Zhu, Staff Columnist
January 17, 2020
Although social media has introduced us to instant connection and a global community, it has also created a stage upon which everyone is a public figure and subject to a growing “cancel culture.” The term refers to “cancelling” public figures, or publicly denouncing them for their negative actions...
Richards: Questioning the placement of new waste and recycling bins
Jason Richards, Staff Columnist
January 17, 2020
If you’ve attended the first few classes of the semester this past week at Case Western Reserve University—which you hopefully have—you’ve probably noticed a handful of the 1,200 new trash and recycling combination bins placed throughout the campus’s academic and residential buildings. If y...
Kim: Into the Observer’s process
Won Hee Kim, Director of Print
December 6, 2019
Unless I wait 50 years for the 100th anniversary, this will likely be my last article for The Observer. I’ve been privileged to be a part of this publication for over two years now as a writer, copy editor and director of print—but because of my position on the editorial board, people have come to me w...
Horwitz: This is an emergency
Avi Horwitz, Contributing Columnist
December 6, 2019
In his 2016 work “Who Rules the World?” Noam Chomsky theorizes that, “As long as the general population is passive, apathetic, diverted to consumerism or hatred of the vulnerable, then the powerful can do as they please, and those who survive will be left to contemplate the outcome.” After ...
Reyna: Mental health tips for finals
Christian Reyna, Staff Columnist
December 6, 2019
It’s that time of the year again: finals. It’s time for students to push through multiple exams—for the unfortunate ones on the same day—after suffering, for many, through days, if not weeks, of procrastination. For first-year students, some of you don’t know what to expect and will dedicat...
Rossy: Instagram’s removal of likes draws attention to engagement and mental health
Aura Rossy, Copy Editor
December 6, 2019
If you’ve recently scrolled through your Instagram feed, you may have noticed the app is testing out an update—the elimination of the visible number of likes posts receive. This followed the app’s other recent update—removing its Following Activity feature, where you could see the recent activi...
Kuntzman: Greek life recruitment should be a spring activity
Caroline Kuntzman, Staff Columnist
November 22, 2019
For many college campuses across the United States, fall is the time when students interested in Greek life have the opportunity to get involved. Whether it’s through rushing, a more formal recruitment process or some other system used by the Greek chapters on campus, students may not be able to joi...
McGinnis: Sexual assault education on campus is lacking
Emerson McGinnis, Contributing Columnist
November 22, 2019
Walking alone at night can be scary, and while Case Western Reserve University is in a city, I’ve found it does a fairly good job of making people feel safe. Most areas are well lit—although there are one or two lights, like the one by the Mather Dance Center, that turn off when you walk by rather ...
Panaro: Down but not out
Kevin Panaro, Contributing Columnist
November 22, 2019
Despite Bernie Sanders’ prevalence in the 2016 election, many established news sources and politicians have discounted his contention for the 2020 Democratic Primary, citing his democratic socialist platform as the disqualifying factor. They have seemingly replaced him with Elizabeth Warren, D-M.A., ...
Richards: Be your own student ambassador
Jason Richards, Staff Columnist
November 15, 2019
Often times throughout your life, you may find your voice squashed in the expansive structure of an organization or large group. Whether it be your academic, personal or professional life, your contributions may go unnoticed or your opinions swept under the rug. Sometimes you make it through half the battl...
