The Observer

2D mobile barcodes to be launched nationwide after successful trial

observer@case.edu (Margaret Grady) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The nation's first large-scale 2D mobile barcode trial took place from February through April at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, an institution known for its technological innovation. The trial was sponsored by Mobile Discovery, a tech start-up based out of Reston, Va., and has been judged a "great success" by students, faculty, and Mobile Discovery executives.

"We learned a lot, and I'm happy to report our technology platform worked very well," said Mobile Discovery CEO and founder David Miller.

As part of a technology symposium at the university on May 8, the company released findings and implications from the semester-long trial and discussed the potential for 2D barcode technology in non-campus environments. Mobile Discovery was a sponsor of the event, titled "Collaboration Technology and Engaging the Campus 2008," alongside technology titans IBM, Apple, Cisco, and Dell.

"We were pleased to have had the opportunity to work with a technology innovator like Mobile Discovery. The trial was an excellent learning experience, and keeps the Case community exposed to the cutting edge of mobile technology," said Lev Gonick, Case Western's chief information officer and host of the technology summit.

During the symposium, Mobile Discovery set up a display to showcase the different ways that codes were used over the course of the semester: the QVC sweepstakes, Relay for Life charitable promotions, free magazine subscription offers, mobile coupons redeemable at the campus bookstore, shuttle bus arrival time predictors, and content expanders in The Observer. There were even posters promoting popular news outlets like USA Today and Thomson Reuters with codes to access online content and to subscribe to alert services.

The barcodes act as print hyperlinks, eliminating the process of having to type a mobile URL into a tiny cell phone keypad. Instead, using a camera phone, the user scans a barcode, which directs their mobile web browser to a website. If the user doesn't want to look at content on a small screen, he can view his scanned codes on a computer and access content online at a later point in time. "We've enabled time shifting and channel shifting, allowing users to consume content on their terms," said Miller.

"Anything can be enhanced with a code," said Nsi Obotetukudo, a CWRU Master of Engineering Management (MEM) student who served as one of two project managers during the trial. He is now Mobile Discovery's newest hire. "A picture speaks 1000 words; a code speaks volumes more."

Trial findings

During one breakout session at the symposium, Miller shared statistics gathered from the trial's final evaluation survey. Overall, 73 percent of trial participants found value in code scanning; 71 percent said they would recommend the technology to others.

When a user registered for the trial, he was asked to give his name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Code-enabled offers designed by advertisers were able to request pieces of personal information – a free magazine subscription, for instance, requested name and address. The system allowed users to share information on an opt-in basis. In response to this simple approach, 81 percent of participants found the capability useful for sharing their personal information.

When asked what kind of code content they would want to see, 70 percent of participants said free product sample giveaways; 68 percent said public service utilities, such as a shuttle bus locator; 59 percent said digital rebates and coupons; and 51 percent said free ring tones and downloadable music.

Mobile Discovery successfully introduced public service codes and digital coupon codes over the course of the trial. The shuttle bus locator code was the second most popular code overall – it was scanned by about 39 percent of participants. The campus bookstore coupon was scanned by 15 percent of participants.

The most popular code, however, was the Q Code, which entered students into a drawing for a different prize each day. Half of registered users participated. Those who couldn't scan codes due to phone incompatibilities had the opportunity to create codes and post them around campus, which gave them an equal shot at winning the QVC sweepstakes. Eighty-eight percent of registered users found it easy to create 2D barcode content with Mobile Discovery's online portal.

Finally, the survey asked participants how they would feel about using their mobile phones for an e-commerce transaction in the same way that they often use the Internet. Sixty-five percent said they would be comfortable with this, and of those, about 64 percent said their credit card would be the payment method of choice.

2D barcodes and marketing

Another breakout session focused on the relationship between 2D barcodes and advertising, which is Mobile Discovery's primary focus.

Mobile phones have greater potential for collecting valuable marketing data than any other medium currently available, said Laird Garner, president of Garner Consulting LLC.

A person's cell phone says a lot about their interests, allowing for more targeted and personal marketing. However, the consumer needs to have control over the process.

Mike Kenney, one of the professors who worked alongside the MEM students and Mobile Discovery, agreed. Several years ago, he watched an attempt to launch the CueCat, a tool used to scan barcodes into a personal computer. The technology ultimately failed because the company that owned it began to sell customer information. With Mobile Discovery's 2D barcodes, "privacy issues have been addressed," he said.

According to Miller, Mobile Discovery has "trusted marketers" with whom the company has policy-based relationships.

In addition to mitigated privacy concerns, panelists had other reasons to believe the United States is ready for the technology. For one, said Garner, the barcodes have seen widespread success in Europe and Asia. Many Americans are now equipped with camera phones; the one feature that will cement adoption is flat-rate data plans.

"This generation is now ready to adopt the technology," said Philippe Winthrop, from market research firm Enterprise Mobility Matters. "It's all about the timing and convergence of techniques and processes."

What's more, the barcodes can be used for purposes other than advertising, said Leigh Ann Barnes, trial coordinator. Mobile Discovery and Relay for Life teams at CWRU hosted the nation's first 2D mobile barcode fundraising program on April 16. Company representatives and MEM students helped teams create and promote barcodes attached to prizes, and Mobile Discovery donated $1 to the American Cancer Society for every code created or scanned by Case Western students, faculty, and staff. The event led to more widespread adoption of the technology; on the day of the event, over 1000 codes were scanned with help from a phone bank donated by Sprint.

"It showed the students that it [the technology] wasn't all about money," said MEM student Mike McHugh.

The future of 2D code scanning

Miller says that people should view 2D barcodes in the same way that they viewed text messaging a few years ago.

"Yes, it has kinks," he said. "But history has proven that it's very useful." He believes it will only be a matter of time until the codes start popping up all over the United States.

Project members were well aware of what prevented some students from adopting the technology. First was the financial aspect: students wanted to know how much it would cost them to scan a code, since few have unlimited flat-rate data plans. Mobile Discovery tried to alleviate these concerns by printing the information directly on posters alongside promotional barcodes. The company also used numerous giveaways and contests in an attempt to make scanning worth the cost.

Another concern, said Obotetukudo, was usability: "students wanted to see better applications for the codes."

What's next for Mobile Discovery? Only time will tell. The company is currently preparing for a nationwide product launch and will be operating full-time from corporate headquarters in Reston.

That means no more Mobile Discovery-sponsored barcodes on Case Western's campus, says Miller, though students will still have the option to create codes for their own purposes.

"We'll keep the capability open if students want to use it," said Miller. "My hope is that the students will continue to innovate." Case Western remains the only university in the country to have widespread access to the technology.

Case senior leaving to serve in Israeli military this summer

observer@case.edu (Kabir Gulati) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Ask senior economics and finance major Nadav Weinberg about his summer plans, and he'll tell you something you may not expect. Born in Jerusalem, Weingberg has chosen to return to his native country in order to reconnect with his father's family. Though he is not required to join the Israeli Defense Force, because his parents are American, it is something he expects of himself.

"I decided that, no matter what, I would live in Israel again and make Aliyah [the act of becoming an Israeli citizen] to build relations with my father's family," he said. "Learning Hebrew would be a priority if I wanted to accomplish both of theseAbove all, I decided that when I look back on my life in 50 years, I do not want to regret any chances I did not take or obligations I did not fulfill.

"Knowing that my father served in Lebanon and that each and every one of my aunts, uncles, and cousins has served in the IDF, I realized that it is now my time. It upsets me that since I am lucky enough to be born to American parents, I am not required to serve while my cousins who share my blood are fighting for my country. These patriotic roots drove me to enter service in the IDF this coming November."

Preparaing for service began over a year ago, the process starting with enrollment in the program Garin Tzabar. Garin Tzabar is a program of the Friends of Israel Scouts movement, designed to get Americans motivated to help Israel in different ways. Although not affiliated with the IDF, Garin Tzabar helps Americans ages 17-23 interested in serving in the IDF learn Israeli culture, Israel's political system, and assists with the transition for Americans into Israel in order to make it as smooth as possible.

"The process has been pretty rigorous, with trips once a month to New Jersey to meet with the other 35 group members from the East Coast since December," Weinberg explained. "The meetings are three days long and entirely in Hebrew. Although rough, it's helped me with my Hebrew tremendously. My biggest trouble has been learning Hebrew; I was born in Jerusalem but moved to the U.S. when I was two and a half, and forgot most of my Hebrew. Going to classes at Siegel College in Beachwood and studying online with Rosetta Stone, my Hebrew has gotten much better. Knowing that I was going to serve in the IDF, I have been training physically for a year, running about 10-15 miles a week and lifting three times a week."

All his preparations will begin to pay off this summer when he leaves for Israel on June 11. Weinberg will begin his journey with an immersion program and then will enlist in the IDF in November.

"My first choice is Nachal, which is one of the main brigades in the IDF. Nachal is known for having a lot of international soldiers," Weinberg explained.

Despite the intense training, the most difficult part for Weinberg has been neither the physical aspects nor learning Hebrew, but rather revealing his decision to his parents.

He elaborated: "Although both my parents moved to Israel and my father served in the IDF, I knew that telling them would be the hardest part of it all. I waited as long as I could to tell them and finally did in September. What resulted was a two-hour heavily charged, emotional confrontation that left my entire family in tears. It was especially rough, since I am postponing a job offer from Merrill Lynch in New York City, something that my parents thought that I would take in a heartbeat. You have to realize that some things in life are bigger than you are. You can't live life in regret wishing that you had done something; when you have an obligation, you seize it and don't look back."

From politics to midgets: UPB brings Springer to Case

observer@case.edu (Michael Benning) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Student conversation bounced off the high stone walls of Amasa Stone Chapel; anything above a whisper echoed. While the typical banter about grades and assignments floated around, a majority of the noise was rooted in anticipation. Somewhere, in this holy church, was the chieftain of trash television, Jerry Springer, host of The Jerry Springer Show.

The audience, mostly Case students, had various reasons for attending the event; most weren't aware of the topics Springer would be covering in his UPB-sponsored speech, held the evening of April 17. Lori Felske, a freshman international studies major, was interested in what the former mayor of Cincinnati had to say. "When I was in middle school and high school, I watched [The Jerry Springer Show]…like every day in the summer…[It's] interesting how he went into government…after being the king of trash TV."

Sophomore Maya Alunkal attended because "his show is a cultural phenomenon." Accompanying Alunkal, Becky DiOrio added, "It's not every day you can see a living legend."

Around the planned 7:30 p.m. start time, Jerry Springer entered from stage left to a warm chant of "Jerry! Jerry!" as students mimicked the chorus of his show's audience members. Wearing a dark blue suit, he stood before the 50 or so students in attendance. His face and blondish hair, although aged, had a soft glow; even at age 64, his energy expanded to fill the room.

Springer made a quick joke about being in a church then followed up, "May you never be on my show. It's not a good thing." The crowd laughs, and Springer presented the agenda for his speech.

"I wanted to talk a little about political issues," Springer began, "and how they will affect you." He then added that the mistakes in the last eight years, referencing Congress and the Bush Administration, would be felt by the audience for the next 20 to 30 years.

Springer retold the story of his family and his childhood. The son of Jewish immigrants fleeing the Holocaust, Springer, born in England, sailed across the Atlantic at age five on the Queen Mary. His most vivid memory of the trip was being taken by his mother to the ship's upper deck upon arriving in the New York harbor in the freezing weather; although there were over 2000 people on deck, no one spoke as they all gazed at the Statue of Liberty. In German, Springer's mother told him, "One day, it will mean everything."

Springer then explained how the American dream "was so real" to his family, but explained that today, a parent can no longer look at his or her child and know that the child's life will be better than the parent's. As he put it, the college degree has now become the high school diploma.

There are three things, Springer explained, that need to be changed to give children this same dream: jobs, education, and healthcare, a triptych that he dubbed "the three-legged stool." Advocating a universal healthcare system, he reasoned that nationalized health care will reduce employee costs for companies, thus allowing them to remain competitive with overseas labor. Springer then posed an interesting dilemma. Pitting national defense and national healthcare against one another, he questioned the logic of spending billions on preventive terrorist measures when "over 99.9 percent" of people will die due to sickness or accidents. He emphasized that healthcare is the first line of defense.

Expanding on healthcare, he also contested the claim that the United States has the best healthcare in the world; he maintained it does for those wealthy enough to afford it. Springer then vowed that he will campaign with all his power in the next presidential election against the incumbent, regardless of party affiliation, if he or she does not institute a national healthcare plan. He closed out the subject by repeating his reasoning that healthcare will generate more jobs, and those jobs will lead to better education.

At this point, a man walked in one of the side entrances and interrupted Springer. He exchanged greetings with Springer before exclaiming, "Bless this congregation." The man then walked out, and after a pause, Springer quipped, "He's on Thursday's show."

Springer turned his attention to education, remarking upon the discrepancies between suburban and urban public education. He pointed to school levies, and how poorer city residents who cannot afford tax increases vote down on education which would benefit their own children and grandchildren. He finishes the issue with his mantra, "Health care will result in jobs, and jobs will result in education."

As Springer finishes his speech, he notes the failure of trickle down theory and the naiveté of tax cuts for the wealthy. "Whatever I wanted, I already purchased," he explained. Springer said, regarding the Bush administration, "They're nice people…[but their] policies have crippled the economy."

Though a strong supporter of Hilary Clinton, he said that he will endorse Barack Obama if he wins the Democratic nomination.

Springer then opened the floor to questions. When asked why he continues to do The Jerry Springer Show, he replied that he actually spends most of his time as a political activist. He added that he never mixes the show with politics, even admitting, "The show…is stupid…[but] if I wouldn't have done the show, you wouldn't have known who I was."

After a few more questions, Springer went back to the subject of the economy; referencing the brain drain in Ohio, he brought up an economic consequence of Ohio's Issue 1, a referendum banning same-sex marriage and restricting other rights. "Creative people go to a place that is tolerant," Springer explains, and he believes that Ohio is sending the message, "we don't like things a little bit different."

"It's not like my marriage is going to be hurt because two gay guys are living down the street," he said before adding, "Stand up for the institute of marriage? Fine, don't get divorced."

Springer then entertained more questions, mostly about his show. He posited that criticism of the guests on his show are "elitist," since celebrities who have the same problems as guests on his show are viewed to be more acceptable; he specifically cited a television interview with the late Princess Diana where she discussed her infidelity. Of his show's guests, he said, "[They] want to be happy…they're just like everyone else."

Springer voiced his opinions on leverage in the Middle East, the Olympics in China, and the energy crisis. When asked about his celebrity status, he replies that there is "no plus in being famous…I wish I could have been successful without being known."

As the evening drew to a close, Springer again reiterated the importance of being politically active and warned against voting for the "cooler" candidate, referencing an earlier question in which he broke down the personalities of presidential candidates back to Nixon, who, in Springer's opinion, was "cooler" than McGovern.

With his "final thought," Springer again reminded the audience: "may you never be on my show."

Pervasive presence of 2D barcodes on campus sparks various reactions

observer@case.edu (Alison Dietz) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

They take up whole windows in Nord. They fit inside the "O" in The Observer. They help you find out when the next Greenie is coming. They get you a free subscription to Vanity Fair. The 2D bar codes littering campus do a lot of things – but are they useful?

"They're stupid," said junior Tom Guyer. He is one of many students on campus whose phone does not come equipped with a camera, but that's not why he doesn't use the bar codes. "If it did, I wouldn't do it anyway," said Guyer. "They tell you stuff you don't wanna know."

Guyer's opinion reflects that of many students at Case who have been inundated with the bar codes since the trial's official kick-off after spring break. The bar codes have graced everything from Greenie stops to the floor of Nord to sheets of paper pinned to bulletin boards. The problem is that people don't know what to do with them.

"It's confusing and seems sort of redundant," said freshman Brennon Ham. Some codes come with no indication of what the camera phone will display after scanning them. Other codes, especially those placed on posters, reiterate the message written on the poster. "Why bother scanning something if you can otherwise put it up there?" said graduate student Allyson Whipple.

Some uses of the bar codes have been more successful. Last weekend, the codes were used in a highly visible and philanthropic manner at Case's first Relay for Life event. Mobile Discovery pledged $1 for every code created or scanned by members of the Case community, raising over $4000 by last Monday.

One concern about the bar codes is their price. While data service is ubiquitous in Japan, where the 2D codes are currently popular, less than half of Americans have unlimited data plans for their cell phones. Without one of these plans, scanning costs a minimum $.02 per code or a few dollars a month for unlimited scanning, depending on the provider. This is a common reason that students have avoided participating in the Case trial. "I might if it didn't cost money," said Whipple.

Another problem is that the 2D barcodes used by Mobile Discovery are read by a program called ScanLife that is available for many camera phones, but not all. The ScanLife website (www.scanlife.com) lists 13 Alltel, 15 AT&T, 30 Sprint, 7 T-Mobile, 10 Verizon, and 32 "other" phones that support the software. Students who don't own one of these phones were out of luck in scanning the myriad of codes around campus.

To alleviate these concerns, Mobile Discovery provided students with a free "phone bank" starting last week. Eight phones were made available for students to use to scan and create codes if their own phones were incompatible with the trial. "We want to make sure that as many people as possible can enter," said Leigh Ann Barnes, the trial coordinator.

Students used these phones to participate in special programs including the Relay for Life fundraising and the QVC-sponsored prize program. For the latter, students could scan codes daily to enter into a drawing for items including a 19-inch flat screen HDTV, a GPS, a camera and printer, and other prizes from the home shopping network QVC. "My phone doesn't support the codes, but I borrowed one from [Barnes] to use around campus," said sophomore Matt Webster. "I used it mostly to enter the contests."

The contests required students to get others to scan the codes that they had created. Some students came up with creative ways to lure scanners in. "I used some false advertising," said senior Janice Makinen. She mimicked the codes already around campus; one "advertisement" she posted in Glennan urged viewers to scan the code and win a DeLorean. "I got something like 25 hits on that sign alone!"

Although not all students found the bar codes useful, the people behind the trial consider it an educational experience. "We have the raw technology that does X, Y, and Z, but how do you get people involved?" said David Miller, CEO of Mobile Discovery.

"It was a huge success to learn and see how codes may come to the market," said Barnes. In seven weeks, various use cases were tried and ways to improve the codes considered. One such improvement is the use of codes at their smaller sizes, rather than the large window sizes or poster sizes, to allow for better and less obtrusive placement in advertising. Another important revelation for the group was the learning element. "The findings showed how much time should be spent on education – what codes are and what they're used for," said Barnes. "Adoption and use will follow."

Provost search underway

observer@case.edu (Ilana Yergin) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

As the academic term draws to a close, the search for a new provost is just beginning.

Case president Barbara Snyder recently announced Hunter Peckham would serve as the chair of the committee in charge of finding the replacement provost. Peckham is the Donnell Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopedics, and the executive director of the FES Center.

The university has been in need of a new provost since its former provost, John L. Anderson, announced he would be leaving the university to accept the position of president of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago starting July 2007. Jerold S. Goldberg, dean of the School of Dental Medicine, has been serving as the university's interim provost since August 2007.

According to Peckham, the committee is hoping to find the appropriate person to assist Snyder as the chief academic officer. A provost must be prepared to take on resbonsibilities such as articulating institutional goals, inspiring and enabling growth and productivity in each college and school, promoting diversity, and overseeing the dean's council and the research council.

Although the search is just in the beginning stages, Peckham believes it is off to a promising start. The committee already seems to have a pretty clear idea of the qualities they are looking for in potential candidates.

The candidates will be required to possess a doctorate, but the committee is mostly looking for someone who has "really demonstrated some ability to lead programs," said Peckham, "especially programs that link things together." Peckham believes that an important part of Case is how well all of the departments and schools are connected.

Not only is the committee coming up with its own ideas of what it wants to see in the next provost, but it is counting on community input. There were a series of open forums this past week inwhich students as well as faculty and staff were welcome to share their thoughts. Although the turnout at the first forum was small, the comments gleaned from participants were insightful.

We went an hour and a half with talking about ideas and qualities," said Peckham. "I think if we can get the input of what people are looking for and what they're not looking for and the names of people, we'll do a good job. Those are the two things we need to know and the committee is working really well together, so I'm very optimistic." Peckham and Snyder fulfilled their goal of having "representation [from] across the university;" the committee is made up of 11 people from different areas of the Case community, including Peckham.

Last year, Peckham was a member of the search committee that found Snyder, and he is also currently a senior faculty member –he explained that he has been with the university for at least 25 years, although he has lost count of the exact number.

There is one unusual aspect to this particular search. Peckham says that a process like this usually takes place over the academic year, but that they are hoping to reach a decision on a provost over the summer. Because the University's strategic plan is led bythe provost, the searc has become urgent.

Peckham believes it is important to get a permanent provost involved in the strategic planning as soon as possible, since this is something that will affect the entire university. He made it very clear that the committee will not sacrifice quality for speed. "There are good reasons for doing it [slow], but why not do it fast? As long as you can get the quality you're looking for. We're not going to sacrifice quality for speed, but we want both." Peckham is confident that they will at least have found a new provost by the start of the fall semester.

"I'm pretty confident we'll do this," he says. "If we get enough really good, high quality candidates that have the right experience and can really be a good partner, I think we'll be OK."

To ensure the committe finds the best canidates it is using Spencer Stuart, a firm that specializes in searches for academic institutions. The university wants to make sure it hires someone according to what the student body is looking for – as Peckham said, "This administration really wants to be responsive to the student body."

More information is available online, regarding both the search and the process for submitting comments/nominations, at http://www.case.edu/provost/search/.

Questions regarding event overprogramming foster discussion

observer@case.edu (Steve Cummins) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

To say a few events have been occurring lately would be putting it mildly. Beta Walk-a-thon, Relay for Life, Phi Psi Softball Tournament, Hudson Relays, Spot Night, Springfest, formals, hand massages, sand art, Cedar Cabaret, cultural shows, jazz ensembles, ExtravaDance, RHA Movie on the Diamond, concert choir, guest lectures, Research ShowCASE, Pizzalympics, and varsity athletics all need people to come and support them in order to help the sponsoring organizations thrive.

With 156 student organizations recognized for fall 2008 and University Program Board, Class Officers Collective, Greek Life, and RHA all vying for students' time and interest, is overprogramming present at Case? And if so, is it actually a problem?

The Student Activities and Leadership Office oversees COC, USG, UPB, and Journey Council, giving director Colleen Barker-Williamson unique insight into programming at Case.

"My staff is just exhausted [this time of year] from helping with all the events. This isn't unique to this year by any means; I've been doing this for so long," said Barker-Williamson.

Recently, Greek Life created an overprogramming committee, consisting of seven involved individuals independent of the executive committee, to find out if it is indeed a problem on campus, and what can be done to circumvent the issues that arise. The committee is in the fact-gathering stage, taking chapter calendars, distributing questionnaires, and finding out national chapter requirements for philanthropy.

"Planning all around can help. Communication, telling the necessary people by planning ahead prevents these problems that arise when we have three huge programs in one weekend. It also depends on when you put your program on. The ones that are every year at the end of the semester, like 24-hour softball, can be planned around," said Elisse Cortez, programming vice president for Pan-Hellenic Council.

Yanink Cohen, vice president of programing for Interfraternity Congress, is in the process of creating a Greek Life calendar for the fall semester that will facilitate better planning of events. There will be two calendars, one for the Greek Life website consisting of concrete dates and the other for internal use among IFC and PHC consisting of more events with tentative dates.

IFC president Matt Robinett said, "It gets to a point, especially in the spring where a lot of this is unavoidable. There are four or five good weekends that have good weather that people would like to participate in your philanthropy event. With two-thirds of Greek Life wanting to have events and half of them outside, those weekends get busy real quick. April and October always seem to be crazy."

With so many student organizations, finding a niche on campus can make or break the longevity of clubs. RHA and COC seem to be relatively unaffected by overprogramming issues due to their nature. RHA holds residential college building events often on Thursday, a seldom programmed day of the week. COC holds such events that are unique to Case's tradition, with dates planned far in the future to prevent conflicts.

"A lot of our programs are rather large and tend to be heavily attended. These things include Snowball and Homecoming. Groups aren't going to plan things Homecoming weekend; there's too much going on. I feel if there was overprogramming on campus we wouldn't be affected," said senior class president Lauren Hassen.

While there are overlaps in clubs, most have very different causes and interests. "I know there are a lot of programs, but each brings a unique view and does something different towards different goals," said Cortez.

With so many events on campus, advertising and differentiating events is a daunting task. RHA and UPB have increased the sophistication of publicity, utilizing photos.case.edu and the Nord printing labs along with traditional e-mail, flyers, and table tents.

To help alleviate the problem of communication among groups, a campus-wide calendar solution is being devised that will incorporate all programming on campus. According to Barker-Williamson, four or five calendars are currently under consideration, with the plan to be incorporated barring any financial problems over the summer. Northwestern University's "Plan-It Purple" was an inspiration, with its searchable schedule based on interests and its ease of use.

"I really think for something like this to work the culture of Case Western will have to change," said Barker-Williamson. "Instead of asking a friend what is going on that weekend, they'll go straight to the calendar and plan out their weekend around their academics and other engagements. Also, the event programmers will look forward on the calendar and see if the date is filled and decide whether they will collaborate and make an event better or decide that the groups cater to different enough groups and continue planning."

"If someone comes up to me complaining there's nothing to do on campus, I'll be able to give them a calendar soon with all the events on it, telling them what they are missing. If they aren't interested in any of those I would suggest they talk to UPB or whatever organization and can almost guarantee that such an event can be planned. There's almost no excuse to feel bored at Case," said Meck.

Relay for Life raises more than double its goal

observer@case.edu (Sarah Piper) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Case Western Reserve's first -first ever Relay for Life surpassed almost everyone's expectations.

Relay for Life is an annual fundraising event for the American Cancer Society in which participants form teams to raise money, then come to the event and walk the track in shifts for the duration of the 18-hour event. According to the event chair, Elizabeth Kiracofe, this continued involvement in the fundraising process is what sets Relay apart from other fundraisers: "People feel like they're doing something. They're not just writing a check and putting it in an envelope."

A lot of teams had fundraisers in their tents at the event too, ranging from back massages from 1-2-1 Fitness, to Fish Pong, sponsored by Phi Delta Epsilon. Beside the individual team's fundraisers, the planning team organized events throughout the night for free. If the bead rewarded at the end of each lap to put on a purple pipe cleaner as a lap counter wasn't motivation enough, there were live bands, IHOP pancakes, and even yoga and aerobics classes, all free of charge. Entertainment was provided by different Case performance groups, and then if 18 hours was too long to be away from video games, there were Halo and Rock Band tournaments, complete with prizes.

When organizing Relay, Kiracofe said the initial goal was to get 30 teams to raise $30,000. During opening ceremonies Friday night, it was announced that the 51 teams, consisting of more than 700 participants, had already raised $40,000, and the Relay hadn't even begun. The Zeta Psi and Phi Mu team raised the most money, contributing $4015, and the final count for the entire Relay was over $60,000, more than double the original goal.

One of the most striking parts of the event was the very beginning of the relay, when all of the survivors, distinguished by their purple shirts, joined to complete the first lap around the track. These weren't some strangers the American Cancer Society had brought in for the event, but fellow students.

Freshman Emily Friedlander agreed that this is what really brings the issue home, because "when you see people in your school community that you can relate to, it makes it real."

Friedlander, a survivor herself, said that getting involved in Case's first ever Relay was a no-brainer. She explained why it is often so difficult to speak about her experience with cancer. "It's not that I don't want to share about it," Friedlander said, but "I don't want it to define me."

Another powerful part of Relay was the luminary ceremony, when decorated paper bags were placed around the track in memory or in honor of loved ones with cancer. During the ceremony, there were luminaries in the stands spelling out the word "hope," and after all the candles had been lit and names had been read, the word was changed to "cure."

Serving as honorary chair for the event was Case president Barbara Snyder, whose invaluable support of the event brought together students and staff alike. Another person whose involvement was crucial in the success of Case's first Relay was Dr. Bob Brodell, one of only five members of the national Relay For Life Hall of Fame. Brodell is also one of the founding members of the Trumbull County Relay For Life, the largest in Ohio, which raises close to $1 million every year. Both Brodell and Snyder helped kick off the event by speaking at the opening ceremonies, and then continued to show their support by walking the track with the other participants.

Case's first Relay for Life was a huge success, not just because of the amount of money raised, but because of all the people it touched. The luminary ceremony, survivor lap, and all the fundraisers, free entertainment, and activities came together to form a remarkable event that the organizers, participants, and the Case community as a whole can be extremely proud of.

Planning for Case Western Reserve University's Relay for Life 2009 is already underway. If you're interested in becoming a part of the planning team, contact Alex Hamberger at relay@case.edu.

A modest proposal for a new alma mater

observer@case.edu (Yvette Cendes) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

One thing I never quite understood about commencement at any institution is the singing of the alma mater. The alma mater is, of course, the official school anthem which you might have heard once four years ago during orientation, except you don't remember it because you were too busy checking out new classmates to see if any were cute. In hindsight, you feel kind of silly that you fell for that blockhead idiot whereas it might have been avoided had you paid attention to the alma mater in the first place, so during convocation you will try your best to sing along from the sheet to cover up this prior transgression.

Let's all admit it together: it's a farce. No student knows the words or the tune to this song, and there's no reason for our relatives to magically know them either. (In fact, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't know the CWRU alma mater is Shine On, Case Western Reserve, written by a student who graduated in the early 1990s, unless I told you.) So why do the organizers of convocation feel obliged to put it in the program each year? You're not going to suddenly start feeling nostalgic for your time at university thanks to a song you never heard while attending. It strikes me very much as one of those traditions in convocation we have because it feels like we should have because all the other universities do, even if our alma mater was written fairly recently and no one knows the words or tune.

Personally, if this were up to me we would sing a song – I'm the sort always looking for a socially acceptable excuse to sing in public – but the song would be revamped. Something to properly evoke nostalgia for my college years, which would go something like this:

Dear Case Western Reserve, that great fountain of knowledge,

Where we hung out and did our four years of college,

Our time would be incomplete unless we do acknowledge

The things that shaped us to who we are today.

There were those humid stifling nights and horrid winter squalls,

The doors that locked behind you in the residence halls,

And there were those obligatory late night homework calls

To see if anyone knew how to do number three…

There were the sporting events that we never attended,

The pranks which, in hindsight, should have got us suspended,

And those labs which dragged on and never ended

But were pretty damn sweet nonetheless.

And of course the friendships forged which were truly incredible

While pondering if Leutner's food was actually edible,

How the "Macarena" in the jukebox was truly regrettable,

And cool, they have brownies today!

And there was the guy over 21 who bought us our liquor,

And those shots we took down quick, and then quicker,

To that subsequent morning where we couldn't feel sicker,

(Because hey, this was college after all…)

Soon we'll scatter, each toward a separate vocation,

But fear not: regardless of your means or location

You'll soon get letters asking for an alumnus donation

To our dear school, Case Western Reserve!

Anyone who finds him or herself singing the above words at convocation will receive my utmost respect and adoration, if not necessarily a diploma. Either way, thanks for a great year everybody! It's been fun, it's been grand, and we'll see you next fall.

Death penalty debate depends on purpose of punishment

observer@case.edu — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

To the Editor:

[Last] week's opinion articles about the death penalty ["Checks and Balances"] did not touch on the real debate over capital punishment. The real debate that faces America is about our justice system as a whole. We must decide the purpose of punishing criminals before we can dole out sentences.

If punishment is meant to be a deterrent, then sentences should reflect deterring future criminals. In such a case, the death penalty would seem appropriate as a warning against the most heinous of crimes.

Others believe that punishment, however, is about justice; healing wounds in the moral fabric of society. This opinion holds that society should not tolerate murderers. By putting the worst criminals to death it would be felt that the great wrong of murder has been righted by an appropriate response.

If punishment is instead meant to rehabilitate criminals to prevent them from committing crime again, then the death penalty should only be used against criminals who cannot be rehabilitated. In this case, sentencing would be dependent on the criminal's mental state, and not the actual crime committed.

Before we can debate whether the death penalty is an acceptable form of punishment, we must first debate our reasons for punishing criminals. While we can agree with any combination of philosophies, it would be wrong to judge criminals according to different standards.

While one may argue against the death penalty because it statistically is not an effective deterrent, you must also then evaluate our minimalist sentencing against underage drinking, because it obviously is not an effective deterrent either. The debate about the death penalty cannot be resolved without a clear understanding of the purpose of punishment.

John Field

Undergraduate student

Iraq tour offers new experiences, perspectives

observer@case.edu (Michael Wiehagen) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

This has been one of the longest four weeks of my life. My team and I finally made it to our combat outpost on the Syrian border, but it took us three weeks to get here. We took a long and winding road that involved training and more class work. The highlights of the journey were few and far between, but they will stick in my mind forever.

The first highlight is experiencing the total desert of Kuwait. The sun, the heat, the sandstorms, and the camels all combined for a crash course in desert life. The first day we were there, we threw on all 55 pounds of our gear (Kevlar helmet, vest, ballistic plates, etc.) and went out to the range. If you ever get a chance to see a desert sunrise, it is truly a sight to behold; however, if you get the chance to get back into air conditioning within two hours of the sun coming up, I suggest that as well. The high reached 110 degrees, and with our gear it felt more like 120. The one thing that did really stick out in my mind other than the heat in Kuwait was the herd of wild camels that I saw. I know it isn't that big of a deal, but since I had never seen that before, I thought it was pretty nifty. Throughout our time in Kuwait, we had a solid four days of sandstorms. That was quite the experience as well. Sand would get into everything and I am pretty sure that I ended up ingesting a solid two to five pounds of it.

The second leg of the journey involved us flying from Kuwait to Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) in a C-130. The big event that sticks out in my mind here was the combat landing. I remember falling asleep during the first hour and a half and being woken up by a feeling of weightlessness as the plane nosedived to the ground, swerving to avoid any ground fire from Baghdad. I could only console myself with the simple fact that I was certain the pilots did not want to die any more than I did. All in all, I would rate the ride nine dancing popcorn boxes out of ten. That was truly a lot of fun. We stayed at BIAP for a couple of days enjoying what I like to term "The Little U.S.A." BIAP was the center of several large Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and it all combined into a giant super-FOB. It had large dining facilities, fully stocked exchange stores, and even locally run bazaars. Except for the occasional announcement of controlled detonations, I could almost forget I was in Iraq.

The good life was not meant to last forever. We soon took a helicopter tour of Baghdad to reach our next destination, the Phoenix Academy at Camp Taji. The cool thing about Taji was that we stayed on the Iraqi Army side and we stayed in Saddam's old Republican Guard barracks. They were OK, not great, but OK. They were air conditioned, small, and forty men to a bay. But they had all the necessities, so I really cannot complain.

From Taji, it was off to our final destination. There are some things you will not forget in your lifetime and my first combat convoy will qualify as such. I was just a passenger, but I have never been more paranoid in my life. Everything the Army has ever taught me was flashing through my head. We went through towns that were all relatively friendly, but still, I was paranoid. Every time someone shifted their eyes I was thinking, "What's that guy doing, why are his eyes shifting? Is he going to do something fishy? Oh, no, he's shifting his eyes because the sun is in them. Oh wait, look at that guy, why is he ducking down over there? Oh, because he's pooping, that's why." I am not a fan of being a passenger in a convoy; you feel like you have no control over your fate, which is not a good feeling. The next patrol we did, I was able to be in the gun turret. It was a lot more comfortable because it at least made me feel like I had some measure of control; whether it was real or perceived, it made me feel a lot better.

Now that I am in my combat advisor role, I have found interacting with the Iraqis not unlike interacting with people in the U.S. Army. The training we received led us to believe that the Iraqis are a strict culture that revolves around decorum and good manners. However, like most things learned in the classroom, the reality turned out to be entirely different. I was sitting in one of the Iraqi's rooms drinking some chai with him and he was complaining about work, saying that he would bring his boss good ideas and his boss would either turn him down outright or change his idea into something that was much worse. All I could think was, 'Wait a tick, same thing happens to me!' No offense to my boss or anything, because he reads these articles too. I really mean other bosses…you know, the ones I had before…anyway, the point is that people are the same everywhere with just a different twist on life. They want food, security, and a chance to better themselves.

In conclusion, Case Western, have a great summer, good luck with finals, and stay safe. With a little luck, hopefully I will have the opportunity to continue this column in the fall. In the meantime, I am going to take some English writing classes, because after ENGL 150, my grammar is still most badder than many peoples.

Michael Wiehagen is a CWRU alumnus serving his first tour of duty with the U.S. Army. Questions or comments can be e-mailed to him at michael.wiehagen@gmail.com.

Global Scorning: Joining Kyoto Protocol will not destroy U.S. economy

observer@case.edu (Michelle Udem) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

When it comes to global warming and climate change issues, society tends to either ignore the problem or fear it. Environmental groups and newspapers throw dates around when society will completely disintegrate and the world will appear to have never existed at all: 2050, 2075…And while these dates haunt our daily lives, our President consistently refuses to join the Kyoto Protocol out of his own fear of our "economy falling apart." Not to sound like a total defeatist or cynic, but now that our economy is officially falling apart, change is inevitable, and from the bottom there is only one way to go. Accordingly, in the past month, studies have been released that as it turns out, our economy is able to withstand sacrifices and change: the utilization of a cap-and-trade program.

President Bush has regularly opposed cap-and-trade programs that would limit harmful carbon dioxide emissions, claiming that this kind of program would cause permanent damage to the economy. Contrary to his belief, studies have been released reporting that capping carbon emissions would cost U.S. households less than one cent on the dollar over the next two decades. This minuscule payment is significantly less than the cost (both monetary and in terms of jobs and damage to the economy) that critics have predicted. The study proves that economic growth can still exist while consciously cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.

The study looked at five different models of forecasting the economic impact of cap-and-trade programs. Looking at all five models, the conclusion was made that the projected median impact on annual growth over the next two decades would be .03 percent. Meanwhile, the economy is expected to grow at nearly three percent per year, the same rate of growth since World War II. According to the report's author, Nathaniel Keohane, the downward impact of the cap-and-trade program would be slight and barely distinguishable.

To put this cost into perspective, Americans now spend more than three cents on the dollar on insurance, about four cents on national defense, and 10 cents on Social Security. And just to throw another number out there, according to Keohane, total U.S. output is supposed to reach $26 trillion by January 2030. With the cap on greenhouse gas emissions, the economy will reach that level by April of the same year. As for the number of jobs destroyed due to the climate policy, Keohane believes that there should be no real difference compared to the number of jobs created and destroyed every three months in the U.S.

Now that our economy is a bust and our fears of the world's fate are settled, the U.S. is ready to open its arms up to climate policies. Last week, Bush made a vague, yet refreshing announcement about reaching a greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2025 – with no specifics offered. We have been the black sheep of climate change for a long time, claiming the title of the only major industrialized nation to reject the Kyoto Protocol. I think we're ready to join the rest of the sheep and submit to our herder known as the Kyoto Protocol and rationalism.

A Fresh Perspective: Know difference between value of time

observer@case.edu (Mandy Martin) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

I have heard so often lately that time has simply flown this year. In conversation, it seems that people neglect to differentiate between the quantitative measure of time, and the events that make said time truly valuable. I believe that these are two entities that should be clearly delineated.

In looking back over the past few months of my life, minutes, hours, days haven't really seemed to impact my experience here at Case. In fact, the most meaningful time that I have spent here seems to consist of small, but ultimately valuable, episodes.

It is not the tests that we will remember in the upcoming years, nor is it the papers that we rushed to write 20 minutes before the deadline. It is the things and the people that we center our lives around that we will recall with the most vividness.

In my first column, I recalled the regret that I felt from not having a set calendar. Now I fully realize that the lack of a plan empowers me to seize the day completely and revel in the sheer beauty of life. The spontaneity that accompanies this freedom is what allows us to make the best of life.

I have gotten to know the most important people in my life under these circumstances. From painting the wall on an icy table to cheers below, to getting a standing ovation and knowing that those standing are the real reason for my successes, to walking into the house and getting dozens of smiles from amazing sisters and knowing that I am loved deeply by my friends – these are the small events that cement my life together. What are yours? They are more important than you realize.

College is four years of our lives, but it is more than four years, 48 months, 1440 days. College is laughter and smiles. College is knowing that you can depend on the girl down the hall to cheer you up. College is having a family to come back to when you leave your first.

You may tell me that time has flown, but I will simply shake my head and insist that we haven't even begun.

Mandy Martin is a first-year English major.

Letters to the Editor

observer@case.edu — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

To the Editor:

Some days it feels like McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell are taking over the world. Everywhere I look, commercials and advertisements are encouraging us to consume more and more. But there's another side to consumption that we don't see in the price of our burgers – the side of negative, lasting effects of pollution, deforestation, and carbon emissions. Few people know that eating meat, dairy, and eggs contributes more carbon emissions than driving cars, and more than half of the water used in this country is consumed by animal agribusinesses.

This Earth Day represents an era of change. People around the globe are beginning to recognize how their actions affect the planet, and are putting forth the time and effort to make the decisions that will safeguard our resources for generations to come. I have a newfound confidence in our society, in myself, and in you. I believe that as we learn about the resources and suffering that went into our steak and eggs, we will change our habits to reflect a more peaceful and sustainable world. This Earth Day represents a movement to educate ourselves, to overcome apathy, to instill willpower, and to make a difference.   

Michelle Cehn

Undergraduate student

eggs, fudge and stroganoff

observer@case.edu (Cory Hershberger) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Let's face it. As college students, we don't have time for crazy cooking. Even if you're an upperclassman with a full kitchen, there still is not always time to make a complete dinner or snack. Thus, college students turn to everyone's favorite kitchen appliance: the microwave. The following three recipes are simple, cheap, quick to prepare, and best of all, can be done in the comfort of your own common room. Heat up and enjoy.

Easiest Fudge Recipe in the World

Ingredients:

12 oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate chips

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

Preparation: Place chips and milk in microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Microwave, stirring at 1 minutes intervals, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth and thick. Pour into greased 8" square pan and cool. You can also melt the chips and milk in a heavy saucepan over low heat.

Microwave Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

8 eggs, beaten

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. white pepper

Preparation: Place butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high power until butter melts, about 60-90 seconds. Mix eggs, milk, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper in another large bowl and beat well. Pour into hot butter. Microwave on high until eggs are set but still slightly moist, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from microwave and cover; let stand on solid surface until eggs become firm, about 2-3 minutes.

Microwave Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients:

1 lb. boneless beef sirloin steak

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

10 oz. can condensed cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp. paprika

Preparation: Freeze steak 1 hour to make slicing easier. Cut steak into very thin slices across the grain. Combine steak, onion, and garlic in a 2 quart microwave-safe casserole dish. Cover with lid and microwave on high 5 minutes or until beef is no longer pink, stirring once during cooking. In a small bowl, stir together soup, sour cream, and paprika with wire whisk until smooth. Add to beef mixture, stir well. Cover casserole dish and microwave on 50 percent power for 3-4 minutes or until heated through, stirring once during cooking. Let stand 3 minutes before serving. Serve over noodles.

Former Mather Gallery director brings inspirational story to life

observer@case.edu (Cory Hershberger) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Some people's stories just beg to be told. These lives are so full of tragedy and triumph that it would be a travesty not to share them. And there really is nothing like the success story of a hometown hero to provide inspiration to the common man.

The life of Reverend Albert Wagner, a local East Cleveland artist, is one such story. Hailing originally from Arkansas, Reverend Wagner was a prolific painter during the latter part of his life, even having his works featured at Case's own Mather Gallery in 1984. His inspiring roller coaster journey of self-redemption is depicted wonderfully in the film, One Bad Cat, which screened at the Cleveland Film Festival last month and took home the audience award for Best Film.

Wagner, who began life as the son of cotton pickers in Arkansas, moved his family to Cleveland when he was 17. Soon after, he married his wife Magnolia, and had 16 children with her. Here was when his life began its downward slope. He became a sex addict, unable to control his primal urges. This caused him to begin two affairs with other women, each one bearing two children. When his wife found out, she kicked him to the curb, and both of his mistresses did the same.

In the worst state of his life, Wagner was delivered a sign from God, as he saw it. After spending time in jail for a heinous felony, his 50th birthday rolled around. As he headed into the basement to grab something, he saw that a paint can had leaked onto a board, creating a crisscross of blue paint dribbles. Wagner says that God spoke to him through this simple sign, directing him to dedicate his life to painting, and to impart his messages to the public.

And that he did. Before his death in 2006, Reverend Wagner estimated that he created 3500 works of art. He became entirely supported by his art, drawing collectors from all over the country. He had articles about him in the New York Times and Life magazine, among other noteworthy publications. But greatest of all, Wagner found himself again through his art.

His art was cathartic to him, allowing him to deal with his inner demons and sexual addiction. He actually became ordained as a minister as a result of his epiphany, and he held services of the People Love People House of God in his basement until he passed away.

The well-crafted documentary depicts Wagner in these final stages of his life, seriously ill with arthritis, diabetes, and congestive heart failure. Utilizing personal interviews from both Wagner and those close to him, One Bad Cat is a phenomenal vehicle for this moving story of human achievement.

Both the editing and musical score are stellar, showcasing the tremendous talent of those who worked behind the scenes. The amount of time and energy placed into the film shines through, with the film coming across as homage of sorts to the incredible Reverend Wagner.

Producer Nancy Dickenson, who actually took classes here at Case, met Reverend Wagner in 1984, as she was the director of the Mather Gallery during his initial exhibition. She was completely struck by his work, finding it intellectually challenging and beautiful. His paintings were very controversial and racially charged, with lots of works involving white figures always being portrayed as larger or superior to blacks. Not everyone agreed with the ideologies in his work, but people still loved Wagner, due to his warm, accepting, inviting personality.

One Bad Cat is a great film that tells a great story of a great man. Despite all his difficulties and mistakes in life, Reverend Albert Wagner made quite a name for himself, and impacted more people than can be counted. His is a story that you will definitely benefit from viewing.

For more information on the film, Reverend Wagner, and the cast and crew, go to onebadcat.net.

Former Moldy Peach releases diverse new indie-soul album, complete with gospel choir

observer@case.edu (Kyle Niemi) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It's not often that one comes across an album to which the classification of indie-soul can be applied. Songs featuring both gospel choirs and country rhythms are just as rare. And while rock is the heaviest influence in Adam Green's Sixes & Sevens, the ubiquitous impact of a collection of distinct music styles is unmistakable.

Released on March 18, Sixes & Sevens is Green's fifth solo effort. The former member of The Moldy Peaches has made a name for himself with his innovative and unusual musical choices. His newest album, a 20-track experience, once again features a signature sound that only extensive experimentation can bring about. The result is not only unique, but also very successful, providing a pleasurable 48 minutes.

Sixes & Sevens features an orchestra's worth of instruments producing incredible sounds that few other indie rockers can match. Everything from piano to strings to woodwinds is included, along with the standard fare of guitars, drums, and synthetic noise. Adam Green even recruited a gospel choir for this album. They can be heard in a number of tracks, though they are most prominently featured in "Morning After Midnight." The inclusion of a choir is nothing short of pure genius and it really works on this album, adding depth and interest to already more than competent tracks.

"Drowning Head First," a duet reminiscent of "Anyone But You" by The Moldy Peaches, similarly promises to be a hit. It has all the required components: a guy, a girl, and catchy lyrics. The standout on this album, however, is "Cannot Get Sicker," due to a resonating beat and a perfect juxtaposition of Green's voice along with those of his choir.

Green includes a couple tracks that seem somewhat experimental, including "That Sounds Like a Pony" and "Exp. 1." The fact that these songs work within the album speaks volumes about just how cutting-edge Sixes & Sevens is. The truth is, Green is quickly becoming an icon in indie music and anything he produces will probably be greeted with enthusiasm. And frankly, he'll most likely deserve the praise; he knows what he's doing and he's very good at it.

The range of music types that Green pulled from to create his newest album is incredible. Sometimes you would swear that you're about to hear a song by The Temptations or The Supremes. At other times the album hits a completely different part of the spectrum, with tunes suggestive of country and blues. Somehow these diverse selections are pulled together in a surprisingly coherent manner, all linked by Green's relaxing vocals.

The closer, "Rich Kids," is a song that manages to lament and celebrate at the same time. It fits nicely with the rest of the album, bringing it to a soft, satisfying, introspective conclusion.

Green's music provides plenty of entertainment to any kind of listener. Those who superficially listen to the album will find just as much pleasure as those who pay careful attention to the thoughtfully planned sounds and insightful and often humorous lyrics. It's obvious that Green enjoyed making the album. And one can't help but to be swept up in the fun. With a combination of diverse sounds and catchy lyrics, Sixes & Sevens provides a one of a kind experience and is definitely a winner.

Worst Case Scenario: Good or Bad?

observer@case.edu (Anne Lloyd) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

I forgot to write my column this week. Oops! Well, I didn't forget entirely - it's just that I only remembered a day after it was technically due. I also remembered it long before it was due - I had even started a few quickly abandoned drafts. For some reason, when the time came to knuckle down and write it - at the last minute, as is my custom - I just totally forgot about it. Maybe I forgot because I have a million presentations and papers and finals to worry about. Maybe I forgot about it because aside from all those other millions of things to do, I also have a lot of extracurricular events this week. While either of those may serve as moderately ok excuses to my editor, I think the real reason is that this column represents the last piece of illegible frivolity that I will write in my undergraduate career. Once I finish this column, it will be out with the old, and in with the new. Law school (Ohio State), marriage (June 21), and full-time work (if you've heard of any, let me know), all loom ahead of me, and my scurrying fingertips go numb just thinking about it.

We have a saying in my family: new is bad. It has persisted through new houses, new schools, new jobs, and three new incarnations of the Hershey bar wrapper. Reactionary as this statement may be, leaving the old comfort zone, at least in my experience, seems to lead indirectly to huge catastrophes. The day I visited Cleveland, and decided to come to Case Western, there was a huge five-alarm fire that completely obliterated a building downtown. The day I met my future roommate, another fire ravished my middle school. Nobody was injured in either case, and the demise of the middle school was not an entirely sad occasion for me, but all the same, I couldn't help but feel it was a sign. It was fairly unaccurate - Case Western Reserve University has brought me nothing but writing opportunities, good schooling, and impending marriage. There haven't been any new big disasters since I came. I have broken the curse of the new!

Thus, with a profound sense of calm rationality, I approach the new and unknown that await me after my time at Case. I shall not be daunted by natural disasters, earthquakes, volcanoes (well, maybe), or the occasional empty-building fire. I shall brave all of these, and still remain more terrified of law school professors, exams, and even more frightening, the prospect of having children a few years down the road. With such scary prospects ahead of me, I wonder why these blissfully stressful years of undergraduate school have to end.

But end they must, and with the rest of the Class of 2008, I'll be moving on. Don't burn anything down after we leave. Thanks for the memories - and with that, I'll leave you at the end of my final Worst Case Scenario column. You won't be hearing from me any more. New is starting to sound pretty good, isn't it?

Jerry Springer: a first person account

observer@case.edu (Nick Barbuto) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

When our campus had the pleasure of hosting distinctive television personality Jerry Springer, who I like to think of as the patron saint of outrageous television, I was given the opportunity to interview him. It turns out, however, that his show is not what occupies most of his time. I was quite surprised to find out that he spends most of his time talking to college students.

There I sat, in the dank little side room of Amasa Stone Chapel wondering exactly how serious this interview was going to be. However, he instantly gained my respect by complimenting Cleveland, claiming "[Cleveland] is a great city. And you have got great universities…so it was a natural place to go."

My co-interviewer and I were curious if there was anything that kept the show fresh, after 17 years and about 3400 episodes. Is there anything different for Springer? "No. It's all stupid… It's a crazy escape."

At this point I thank the heavens and relax because it is clear that Springer is not as batty as those who frequent his show. He does, however, enjoy doing the show, which isn't surprising since he still manages, as he pointed out, to come up with a final thought day after day. I had to know what prerequisites were required to land your own show on network television. It turns out Mr. Springer was a mild-mannered TV news anchor prior to his stardom.

But at this point the question on everyone's mind has to be if the show is real. "Oh yeah, the show is real," he responds, laughing. "I'm fake, but the show is real." I find this idea fascinating. Springer goes on to report that he is not he is not very aware of people who dismiss him as a person because of his actions on the show. His career has treated him well in various facets of his life, from television and show business to personal encounters and politics.

In fact, it seems while he does enjoy his diverse jobs, including The Jerry Springer Show, competing on Dancing with the Stars¸ and hosting America's Got Talent, politics are where his true passions lie. Springer served as mayor of Cincinnati for a year in 1979 after serving on its city council for a number of years. He currently is a very strong advocate for national health care, claiming that a poor policy sis the number one threat to national security since illness threatens the lives of American citizens every day.

The most impressive thing about Jerry Springer is the enthusiasm he demonstrates while speaking about those issues which are important to him. I found myself drawn to every word that came out of his mouth, which is an odd feeling when I note that I am talking about a politician. The passion is well directed as well. He is not passionate about himself at all, often referring to himself as a normal schmuck who got lucky.

As the interview drew to a close I posed the scenario that he had to actually give the "final thought" of his life, and in that situation, what would that final thought be? His answer was quite simple: "Be good at whatever you are doing… You can't map out your life, because you are not in charge of it. But, if you are really good at what you are doing, whatever the job is, someone will notice." I found this advice comforting as a graduating senior, since I and many of my fellow classmates have no idea exactly what we want to do. It is always comforting to hear someone extremely successful tell you it is alright not to know.

In the end, my initial fears of this interview were quashed, and Jerry Springer turned out to be an intelligent, well versed, and affable person. It is clear that there is more to him than you see on TV, and I think it is wonderful he chooses to spend his time speaking with students around the country.

Making finals manageable, or how to not have a nervous breakdown

observer@case.edu (Ruchi Asher) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Facing the next two weeks is terrifying: somewhere between the three 15- page papers, four tests, and five final exams, there hardly seems time to eat or sleep, let alone time to relax. With the sun shining temptingly and the end of the school year looming, finals at this time of year are a high-stress situation, often resulting in multiple panic attacks and frequent psychotic meltdowns. It is inevitable; finals time is bound to steal away some of our precious sanity. Still, as proven by the large number of students back at Case every year, there are ways to survive end-of-year finals.

Surviving finals takes a lot of energy, which means hungry stomachs are constantly demanding more. Luckily, a number of study break events and other places around campus offer a wide variety of cheap or free food around finals. The Thwing Study Over, while perhaps not the best venue for productivity, does provide four hours of free food from vendors around campus.

This year, due to its success at the Pizzalympics, Dewey's will be the sole provider of pizza. A little closer to the residential areas, Leutner and Fribley host their annual Late Night Breakfasts. From crepes with fresh fruit to custom-made omelets, Late Night Breakfast offers more sustenance than the average academic appetite can handle. If that cannot satisfy your study munchies, RHA generally hosts study breaks complete with coffee and sweet snacks on both sides of campus.

The crucial, most painful part of finals is the actual studying that the academic schedule demands. Nevertheless, studying does not have to be so excruciatingly oppressive. To enjoy the sunshine and make schoolwork a more tolerable task, take the books outside! The beautiful weather is irresistible, so make the most of it: Wade Lagoon is an excellent place for a little bit of nature and solace, or even Wade Oval for those on Northside.

For those who can afford to take a little bit of a road trip, spend the afternoon by Lake Erie by driving down to Gordon Park – water can be very calming, making study sessions more pleasant. If nothing else, enjoy the spring flowers on the quad or around the residential areas. Despite living on an urban campus, there is plenty of green space to utilize and enjoy. Sunshine is rare in Cleveland, and studying in the great outdoors is an excellent way to savor the spring and be productive.

Once your study conditions are perfect, it is easy to forget that not everything can be accomplished in one sitting. Sure, some people have ridiculous cramming capabilities or can produce papers like popcorn, but for the average student, learning everything needed for finals takes time. We are all expert procrastinators, but during finals time, it behooves us all to start working ahead of time.

Studies have shown that getting enough sleep can increase academic performance, but studying longer will most definitely increase academic performance. The key to doing well is not having to choose between sleep and studying; starting preparation for end-of-semester finals well in advance can help with the classic sleep-or-study conundrum. Plus, allowing ample time for studying also allows abundant time to enjoy the end of the year.

Strangely enough, finals time is the best time to get out and have a little fun. With Club Delt on Friday night, Springfest and the Hudson relays on Saturday, and a number of a capella and choral performances all throughout finals and reading days, it seems like there is always something happening during finals. Just because we all have to study does not mean the campus shuts down. In fact, it seems like the campus is actually at its busiest during finals. Between the paper-writing and cramming, the weekend is a great time to take a break.

With the school year ending and moving out, saying good-bye, and studying approaching, it is easy to become overwhelmed. In spite of this, with a little bit of planning, finals do not have to be the horror we make them out to be. No doubt that this is the most stressful time of year, but there are ways to survive the madness with sanity intact. With fewer psychotic stress meltdowns, we can allow ourselves to look forward to stress-free summer months.

Summer movie offerings look better than ever

observer@case.edu (Andrew Dotta) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Summer is the time for catching up on sleep, going on vacation, taking extra classes or working (don't do it, take a break instead!), finishing the Harry Potter series a year late...and most of all, finally finding time to go out to the movies with friends. The summer proves to be consistently one of the largest times for box office returns on films. Memorial Day and July Fourth weekends are historic weekends for premiering the great "summer blockbusters." After a relatively disappointing and sporadic summer of movie releases last year, I was skeptical to research movies to detail in this article, anticipating even more disappointment. Ideas were great for 2007 summer films, but many could hardly be considered good movies. Nonetheless, I did enjoy seeing Bruce Willis kill a helicopter with a car. That's pretty hardcore.

I could hardly finish this article. This looks to be one of the greatest summers for movies ever! Starting May 2, make sure to take a break from finals and go see Iron Man, a new superhero franchise movie starring Robert Downey Jr. This film has been getting considerable buzz, and according to initial reviews, the movie could be as memorable as the original Spiderman. All the huge franchise films will be released in May, each a different weekend: Speed Racer, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and Sex and the City: The Movie. Make sure to also take note of some of the more independent releases: Son of Rambow, a coming-of-age story about two boys' obsession with Rambo, The Tracey Fragments, a new film with Ellen Page, and The Strangers, a horror film with a trailer that actually looks truly horrifying. Shock those good feelings you get from watching Speed Racer and get yourself spooked!

June is a noticeably tamer movie month, the highlights being Wall-E, Wanted, The Love Guru, Get Smart, and Jack Black's new animated film Kung Fu Panda. Some other movies of particular interest in June are The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan's new film, and hopefully a return to form of his earlier work, and The Incredible Hulk, a remake of a film released just years ago, now starring Edward Norton. Both films will be released on June 13.

July picks up where May left off, with a slew of new and original movie releases, including Step Brothers, the new film by director Adam McKay of Anchorman and Talladega Nights, and Hancock, an original superhero movie with Will Smith starring as just your ordinary homeless dude... with added superhero powers. Originally, the plot of the movie sounded stupid to me, but after seeing the trailer, I'm confident I'll be seeing that movie opening weekend. Some other films in July: Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Mamma Mia!, based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, and The X-Files: I Want to Believe. Also, look forward to new possibilities for the 2008 Razzie awards for worst film: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D and Eddie Murphy's Meet Dave. You heard it here first! Of course, I wouldn't be able to finish listing the releases in July without mentioning The Dark Knight, the new Batman film featuring the late, great Heath Ledger. It comes out July 18.

August's movie releases surprised me. The first weekend of August will feature four movie releases: Choke, Midnight Meat Train, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, and The Rocker. Choke is the newest movie based off a Chuck Palahniuk book, and considerable praise has been given to actor Sam Rockwell, who plays the lead character. The movie premiered at Sundance this year with pretty decent reviews.

The summer ends strong, with a few noticeable releases: Hell Ride, a film produced by Quentin Tarantino and starring Larry Bishop, a biker who seeks revenge after seeing his woman murdered by the Satanic biker gang the 666ers; Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a new animated feature film detailing the Clone Wars from Star Wars mythology as seen in Episode 2; College, a new comedy about the horrors and enjoyment of living a typical "college life," by the creators of Waiting..., and of course, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Make sure to look for the release of Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder on August 15, a comedy about a bunch of failed actors who film an action movie that ends up turning 'real.' The movie proves to be a good casting wrap up to the entire summer movie season, with Ben Stiller starring as a vain action star, Jack Black as a heroin-addicted bleached-white drunkard, and a black Robert Downey Jr. Tom Cruise also makes an appearance...in a fat suit. I'd direct you to pictures of the fat Tom Cruise, but the Church of Scientology took them off the internet.

My predictions for biggest money-making blockbuster of the summer? I think it'll be The Dark Knight. Picking up where Batman Begins left off, the movie features The Joker as the newest Batman villain, played by the late Heath Ledger. It looks incredible. This summer promises to be a great movie summer, so instead of staying cooped up with classes and work, make sure to take some time to check out a few of the stellar releases soon to be hitting theaters nationwide.

The Buzz

observer@case.edu (Observer Staff) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Friday, April 25

Case's Eldred Theater will be the host to the Players' Theater Group, which will be performing Songs for the City, its second annual cabaret in support of the Cleveland Public Theater's Student Theater Enrichment Program. Come for an entertaining night for a worthy cause! Time: 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Cost: $5. Location: Eldred Theater. Info: kathryn.duval@case.edu.

Saturday, April 26

Case's annual Springfest will take place behind KSL. This day-long event will feature alt-rock band Sugarcult as well as Battle of the Bands-winners Walk the Moon, the Dirty Pickles, and Miles. It's sure to be a rocking time for Case students, but be sure to grab your meal ticket at one of the dining halls beforehand, as they close early for this special event! Time: 12:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: Behind KSL. Info: springfest.case.edu

Sunday, April 27

Legendary psychobilly trio Reverend Horton Heat are coming to shake things up at the House of Blues. Known for rowdy tunes like "Psychobilly Freakout" and "Eat Steak," Jim Heath and company are ready to set Cleveland ablaze. Time: 7 p.m. Cost: $20-$25. Location: House of Blues, 308 Euclid Avenue. Info: www.hob.com

Monday, April 28

UPB is hosting a fun-filled night of Laser Tag on the KSL Oval to commemorate the last day of spring semester classes. Blast your buddies away while eating food courtesy of Qdoba and jamming to beats being laid down by DJ Slipperz. Time: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: KSL Oval. Info: upb.case.edu

Tuesday, April 29

"We promise a night of improv comedy like no other," says IMPROVment member Andrew Fixell. Case's only short-form improv comedy group is hosting their final show of the year at Strosacker and will surely leave its audience in stitches. Time: 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: Strosacker Auditorium. Info: andrew.fixell@case.edu

An utterance of the word "finals" will often bring feelings of intense fear and nausea to the minds and souls of many students at Case. That is why UPB is here to help out with another Thwing Study Over. Come to Thwing Center and relax for a bit with some pizza, massages, and for those who are still overtly worried, study sessions. Time: 8 p.m. to midnight. Cost: Free. Location: Thwing Center. Info: upb.case.edu

Thursday, May 1

The Cleveland Cinematheque will host the Romanian drama, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days this Thursday. Director Cristian Mungiu's film, which won last year's coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, tells a dark story of one woman's assistance in illegal abortions in 1980s Communist Romania. Time: 6:45 p.m. Cost: $6-8. Location: Cleveland Cinematheque. Info: www.clevescene.com

The rules of hooking up

observer@case.edu (Kali) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If you've ever spent an evening hooking up with someone, whether or not it was entirely intentional, you have probably asked yourself the following question: should I stay or should I go? After you've exchanged bodily fluids and hopefully names, the conundrum of whether it's appropriate to spend the night or drag yourself back to your room is bound to pop up. So how do you decide what's within bounds, and more importantly, how will you know what the implications of your choice are? Here are a few things to keep in mind if you have ever faced this problem or expect to over the summer.

There are many variables in the hooking up equation, namely the general rule of thumb that you should never hook up with someone you don't want to wake up next to in the morning. But, life happens. And in the event that it does, the next thing to consider is the quality and duration of the hook up. Was there tongue involved? Was there removal of clothing? Were roommates warned or left to fend for themselves? Do you know where your underwear is? If there is no tactful hint like "Well, I have an early class/meeting/fill-in-the-blank tomorrow," you will need to have some tact yourself. Whatever you do, if you were lucky enough to have a good hookup with this person and would like to see another one in the future, you can't leave without at least saying goodnight. You might have a valid excuse like the fact that you have an early fill-in-the-blank tomorrow also, but even if you don't, under no conditions should you leave without saying goodnight or after the other person has fallen asleep. It's just a little rude and it certainly doesn't pave the yellow brick road to future hookups very well.

Speaking of which, the possibility of future hookups is a very important factor in your decision. If you genuinely aren't sure who you just hooked up with and there is no chance you'll run into them at the dining hall the next morning, a quick exit is fine. But if the hookup was good and you are looking for a round two, I'd recommend staying if it doesn't seem like an inconvenience. You are also allowed to leave if there was no below-the-belt action. However, bear in mind what time it is, because if getting back to your room involves walking across campus at 4 a.m., then it is also fine to stay. And if you choose to stay the night, remember that there is a morning-after protocol to follow. Generally, it is not advisable to stay past 8 a.m.

In the early stages of hooking up, being discreet is especially advisable since you know if someone sees you walking out of someone else's room, 10 more people are going to be talking about it an hour from then. Nothing kills a budding romance faster than gossip, so try to get out as early as possible without offending the other person.

Hopefully that cleared up some of the rules and codes of conduct about hooking up, even though we all know it's incredibly difficult to predict awkward situations. But try to stay positive about the whole thing and you can turn your walk of shame into a stride of pride!

Top 10: Fun things to do over the summer

observer@case.edu (Anna Gunther) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Once finals are over, it seems that the summer is a prime opportunity to get ahead for the next year. Jobs, internships, and summer classes book our schedules. While it is good to be productive, vacation is supposed to be enjoyed, not worked away. In between days at work or between projects for class, plan out fun things to do. Here are the top ten things to do over the summer.

10. The Beach. Even if you don't live in the Caribbean, a trip to the beach isn't far away. In Cleveland, there is even a beach on good ol' Lake Erie. Taking a day trip on the weekend is a good time to relax and work on that tan.

9. Barbeque. Bring out the grill and tiki torches. This event is great because of its flexibility. A barbeque can be a casual dinner with family, or an all-day event with games like bocce ball and cornhole.

8. Backyard beach. If you have a lot of trees, or a high fence to shield you from pesky neighbors, lay out in your bikini in the backyard. Load up on tunes and good books. Don't forget the sunscreen, as the sun is still strong through the shade of trees.

7. Drive in movies. This concept is a great fantasy of mine. While there are no drive-ins where I live, I have met several students at Case who have experienced this all American tradition. It is the perfect date night for that summer fling.

6. Car wash. Back in the day, my dad used to pay me to wash his car. This is a great summer activity to cool down. Water fights are the best, and your car will shine after all your hard work.

5. Make popsicles. Popsicle trays are similar to ice cube trays. You can find them at Target, or any other kitchen supply store. Just fill them with yogurt, or your favorite juice for a tasty snack.

4. Concerts. Many cities have concerts outdoors in parks. Summer is the prime season for these venues, so look up events at parks near you. There may even be some events that are free.

3. Carnival. Carnivals are the best summer past time. Usually, the carnival will be set up for a number of weeks. On days like the Fourth of July, there may be music and later hours. Even if you don't like rides, there are tons of games and delicious food.

2. Sports. For the physically gifted, this is a great time to shoot some hoops or set up a baseball game. For the rest of us, going to see a game is still fun too. My family has a tradition of yard game competitions in the backyard. Events usually include croquet and badminton.

1. Summer nights. The most amazing part of the summer is the evening. The cool breezes make this my favorite time of day. The weather is perfect, allowing for stargazing and great heart-to-heart conversations. Set up lounge chairs, grab a bowl of cherries, and just enjoy.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: A modest proposition

observer@case.edu (Senor Itis) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

It is a melancholy object to those who wander this campus when they see hundreds of students stressed beyond a point any human can be expected to endure. Students with responsibilities that have stretched them paper-thin between classwork and numerous extracurricular activities are embroiled in a constant internal battle between their academic expectations and the unquenchable need for the glorious restoration of sleep. These pitiable students, of which I am one, are constantly forced to sacrifice sleep for the good of the grade.

I think it is agreed by all parties that the paramount priority of those attending this fine institution is to receive some level of higher learning, cumulating in a degree of certification of the thorough education of a chosen field, and, that distraction from this end is detrimental to the future lives of the students. Therefore, if there is a way to solve this great dilemma, the solution's developer would truly be the hero of this campus.

However, my intention is quite far from being limited to the confines of this campus alone: it is much grander than that. The impacts that students create on lives around this mighty globe is well understood, and to support the students to this end should be imperative to the population of the campus.

I, having witnessed this atrocity of burdened students for four complete years, have, after a mature weighing of the several schemes currently used to facilitate the easing of stress on students, have found said schemes to be grossly mistaken in their execution. While it is true that the extracurricular activities allow for a vacation from the turmoil of complex class work contained in a typical day, it is that very vacation that causes undue stress and tension to the students of this university.

I propose to provide for the students in such a manner, as, instead of adding charge to their time through simple holiday, their fabric of life being pulled ever thinner during the collegiate career, we shall, on the contrary, close and refocus the resources used to drive the extracurricular activities into the academic education of all students on the campus.

The elimination of these activities offers clear advantage to all students on this campus. When the temptation of academic vacation is removed from the path of our wonderful students, their time for that paramount focus on the augmentation of academic action is exponentially increased. We cannot forget to note the decrease in the numerous stressors instigated by the recently eliminated extracurricular activities. And while this is reason alone to pursue this positive plan, there are a number of other benefits which grow out of this simple action.

A very reliable website reports that these extracurricular activities use over a half million dollars to perpetuate their cause which, in the absence of such activities, could easily be redistributed to more productive endeavors. For instance, this funding would provide a wonderful source for a monetary motivation system that would search out faculty who truly make an exceptional positive impact on those students with whom they interact. In setting up this contest, very few faculty members would be opposed to increase their skills as positive instructors and excite the academic passion of students across campus.

Also, another advantage ascending from this solution comes not only from the reduced stress in the lives of students, but in the decreased interpersonal stress caused from tension between organizations. It is well known that there are conflicts that arise between currently existing organizations which stem from an overlap in projected goals of said organizations, and it is truly tragic when students inhumanely get dragged into these petty quarrels. The proposed solution dives straight to the proverbial roots of the problem and destroys those weeds at the source.

Now many well respected members of this campus community would argue that lessons learned in these extracurricular activities are crucial for the future of students involved. But I ask in response, could we not impart these lessons to our students better in a controlled classroom setting? These extracurricular activities are almost all led, with amazing zeal, I might add, by the very students we are trying to educate. However, too often is the direct supervision by more educated and experienced mentors severely lacking, to the point that these organizations lie on the brink of sunder, or worse, complete collapse. It is clear that the lessons could be better imparted to the students in a classroom setting.

I must note that I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion, as to reject any offer, proposed by wise members of this community, which is found to be equally beneficial and effectual. But before something of that kind shall be advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering better, I would be pleased if the following was considered. First, with a very simple action that can be carried out as easily as an e-mail instantly solves the problems of the burdened student. Secondly, the numerous advantages to the campus spirit and ultimate goal outlined above.

I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work, having no other motive than the public good of my campus, by reducing the incredible burden on our students, advancing our academic morale, and maximizing the education of our students. I will be graduating in just a few short weeks and have no interest or personal stock directly in this campus. Please, allow these words to weigh heavy in your thoughts.

Young@Heart offers insightful look into lives of elderly hard rockers

observer@case.edu (Adam Spektor) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In a society almost exclusively focused on youth, it was oddly refreshing to see a film featuring a cast of elderly people. Even more refreshing (and certainly more fascinating) than that would be watching these people singing a large variety of punk and alternative songs on a stage for hundreds of cheering fans. This is the premise for Stephen Walker's documentary, Young@Heart, which looks at a same-named Northampton, Mass. choral group for the elderly.

The group, directed by Bob Cilman, started in 1982 with a repertoire of vaudeville tunes, although now the group's direction has steered toward modern rock bands like The Clash and the Talking Heads.

Cilman works the group with a great passion and determination and keeps them on a tight schedule, but the rewards he provides are worth the trouble. Cilman has, in the group's existence, organized performances for diverse audiences, from prison to Norwegian royalty.

Walker, a British documentarian, and his crew follow Cilman and company and sit in on rehearsals as they prepare a new set of songs. The rehearsal scenes, which take up approximately half of the film, are delightful and often humorous, showing the group hard at work trying to perfect many songs that these old-timers would have never listened to on their own. They struggle with some of them (particularly James Brown's "I Feel Good" and Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia"), but as they begin to perfect the songs, the audience cannot help but cheer the group on.

This is largely due in part to what makes up the other half of the film – detailed scenes that personalize many individuals within the group. These people are genial, good natured and humorous, but most importantly, they possess a certain sense of youth that even many young people don't seem to have. "I'm 92," one member of Young@Heart said, "but I feel like I'm 29." It is this sort of vitality that not only gives these people the ability to rock out on stage, but also endears them to the audience, making their stories enjoyable to watch unfold.

Apart from being thoroughly entertaining, the film also provides a stunning look at ageism. Watching senior citizens gather together and willingly belt out "I Wanna Be Sedated" or "Life During Wartime" is not particularly normal. Walker's intent to try and break down some of these barriers and show that getting old is not completely congruous with withering away is a noble one. The entire concept of watching a film with an elderly cast and leaving it feeling young is unique and excellently executed.

The documentary itself is well assembled, striking the perfect balance between light-hearted entertainment and a moving story of coping with the onset of age. Sentimentality runs strong, but it never feels contrived, and the film will probably tug the heartstrings of even some of the greatest cynics.

As such, Young@Heart is the sort of film that will leave its audience cheering, likely have it clapping at various points during the film, and might even have it leaving the theater singing. Its insightful look into this specific senior chorus, the lives of its members, and ageism in general is powerful and genuine, and if any film were to truly convey the message of Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" (which is sung in the film at a visit to a local prison), this would be it.

BLUE CWRU will continue next year

observer@case.edu (Joe Amick) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

For Case students, getting punched is a good thing.

The Case Association of Student-Athletes (CASA) implemented the BLUE CWRU initiative this year to promote Case athletic events. The organization picked a home event for each varsity athletic team and CASA members punched the cards of students who showed up. CASA distributed BLUE CWRU cards throughout the year. The more holes you have in your card, the better off you are: five punches gets you a drawstring bag, 10 gets you a knit cap, and 15 means a jacket. In order to redeem your card, visit the CASA booth at Springfest on Saturday. CASA is also raffling off a 20" Sylvania LCD TV for anyone has a BLUE CWRU card with at least one punch.

The program will continue next year, according to CASA president and distance runner Mike Petro. "For a first year, it went well. We're coming up with ways to improve," he said. Next year's changes could include expanding the number of punchable events. "We didn't keep track of how many people got cards punched, so when people bring back their cards, we'll get a better feeling of the turnout," said Petro.

CASA gets some of its funding by selling canvas bags to athletes, some from the University Athletic Association via an NCAA grant, which makes BLUE CWRU's sportsmanship tie-in important. The BLUE CWRU card reads, "Be Loud. Be Proud. Be Positive.," a phrase found on NCAA banners. They also get money from USG.

"The general idea is to get students excited about the school and the athletic teams," said Petro.

Case fencing puts on a clinic

observer@case.edu (Imran Baig) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Over the past weekend, Veale was host to the 2008 Case Western Reserve University Collegiate Open. This is an annual fencing tournament hosted by Case's fencing team. Instead of hosting the event strictly as a tournament, it was instead promoted as "an open clinic/free fence/come learn to fence extravaganza," and was attended by a number of schools and students. The entire event was very casual, with a free fence tournament-esque game going on that involved pools and direct eliminations like a real tournament, as well as many other mixed events.

In pools, fencers are divided into groups, and every fencer in a pool has the chance to fence every other fencer once. After the pools are finished, the fencers are given a ranking, or seed, compared to all other fencers in the tournament, based primarily on the percent of bouts they won, and then based secondarily on the difference between the touchés they scored and the touchés they received. Once the seeds have been determined, the direct elimination round starts. Fencers are sorted in a table of some power of 2 (16, 32, 64, etc.) based on how many people are competing. Because it is highly unlikely for the number of fencers to be exactly a power of two, the fencers with the best results in the pools are given byes. The winner carries on in the tournament, and the loser is eliminated.

Participants in the tournament were allowed to compete using three types of weapons, including the foil, the épée, and the sabre. The foil is a light and flexible weapon. The target area when using a foil is restricted to the torso of the opponent. Points can be scored using a foil only by hitting the opponent with the tip of weapon in a stabbing motion. If you hit with any other part of the weapon, the bout is ended and no points are scored. The épée is similar to the foil, but is slightly heavier and sturdier, and there is no restriction on it, meaning points can be scored by landing a hit on any part of the opponent's body. Like the foil, the hits must be made using the tip of the weapon. The sabre is a cutting weapon with a light and flexible blade, just slightly stiffer than that of the foil. The target area when using a sabre is anywhere above the opponents waist, and because it is a cutting weapon, one can hit using the sides of the blade as well as the tip.

The tournament also served as a fundraising and publicity event for the fencing club. Overall, the event was considered to be very successful with a large turnout. In addition to the tournament, fencers of all skill levels, even complete beginners, were able to partake in lessons as well as receive tips from a number of fencing coaches that were on hand.