Monday, April 8, 2019
VOL. 52, NO. 12
Truth Conquers All Since 1969
CLC alumni wins bronze in sweet sculpting competition Anastasia Gustafson
News Editor
Jocelyne Leon-Flores, a Class of 2017 graduate from the College of Lake County, won the bronze medal in the chocolate sculpting portion of the 2019 Italian Kitchen Competition in Rimini, Italy. Each year, the event is hosted and organized by the Italian Chef ’s Federation who work to bring attention to the artistic culture of Italian cuisine. The chocolate sculpture that won Leon-
Flores the medal was a complex and detailed sculpture of a dragon soaring out of the pages of a storybook. Leon-Flores and her partner drew inspiration from children’s fairy tale picture books. “It was based on a children’s book, we chose to do a dragonthemed sculpture as if it’s flying into the sky,” explained Leon-Flores. This was the third time the CLC graduate travelled to Italy in the past year. Just in this past summer, she and 17
other CLC students visited Italy for three weeks for their culinary-themed study abroad trip. The group of CLC students spent a significant amount of time at the Florence University of Arts, or FUA, where they got to have a hands on experience in an authentic Italian cooking environment. Leon-Flores along with her classmate Elana Green, both hospitality and culinary management students at CLC, were able to
grab the attention of the executive chef and director at the Apicius International School of Hospitality. The Apicius International School of Hospitality, of AISH, is a component of the Florence University of the Arts, or FUA. The executive chef invited both students to prepare a five-course Italian meal for the annual James Beard Foundation Gala in New York City last October. “This was an impressive accomplishment to be participating in
CLC graduate Jocelyne Leon-Flores, center, with two instructors from Florence Univsersity of the Arts Photo courtesy of CLC College News page
Art Professor lives on through artwork
Battle of the Bands needs support from students
p. 2
p. 9
the Academy Awards of the culinary world,” explains Chef Rob Wygant, the chair of CLC’s hospitality and culinary arts management program. Still, the CLC graduates returned to Florence for a second time in late September for additional Italian culinary training to ensure their skills were up for the challenge of the James Beard Foundation Gala. Following the event, they were invited back for a third time to compete in the Italian Competition in February where LeonFlores won her bronze medal. “I ate the best Italian food I’d ever had in my life,” said Leon-Flores. “Learning from the FUA chefs is allowing me to gain knowledge and experiences I have never heard of in the U.S.” As Leon-Flores continues to excel in her field of choice, she is eager to point out how integral attending the CLC has been in her success. “CLC is where my culinary career began,” Leon-Flores said, “If it weren’t for Chef Robert Wygant and William Vena to take the time and effort teach me and prepare me for this industry, I do not know where I would be. They were the reason I was able to make an impression to the chefs at FUA,” Leon-Flores said.
Student’s tell-all about their experiences as athletes
p. 16
News
THE CHRONICLE Page 2 | Monday, April 8, 2019
CLC mourns loss of full-time faculty member Sammie Wilkins Editor-In-Chief Full-time College of Lake County professor and artist Terry Dixon, 49, died on March 21. Born April 6, 1969, Dixon grew up surrounded by, and learning the ropes of, visual artistry. “His mother was an aspiring painter and his father’s job was in advertising, so a young Dixon was destined for creativity,” according to the biography on
Dixon’s online portfolio. After attending the Atlanta College of Art, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 1992 and then pursued a Master of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1995. “In route to receiving his BFA, Terry composed new art perspectives by employing various visual art techniques through painting, photography, computer art, video and electronic music,” according to his biography. Dixon began exhibiting
Image courtesy of http://artistterry.wixsite.com/dixonart/
his art in 1991 in Atlanta, Georgia but it wasn’t until 2000 where Dixon would find himself in the Chicago area. Dixon spent much of his time fueling his passion for art by exploring “kinetic connections with his abstract line style,” according to his biography. “His imagery reflects a heavy influence of African Art, and Abstract Expressionism, and this is all fueled by his love for jazz and electronic music,” his biography stated. “His painting style is sometimes aggressive and sporadic and then slows down to a smooth sense of control.” “We had a good friendship,” CLC Digital Media and Design professor Michael Kozien said. “Very serious. Teaching and art is really what bonded us. I am an artist and designer myself, and we really shared that interest.” While at CLC, Dixon traveled to China with the art department. He enjoyed it so much so that he returned back various times. When visiting in 2015, Dixon and the other faculty members were inspired by their experiences and were able to showcase their work in a CLC exhibition. “It includes work created and influenced by the
Image courtesy of The CLC Website
faculty’s experiences in China, art that explores a still emerging ‘super nation’ with both Third World and cuttingedge technologies and ancient and modern cultures,” according to the Chicago Tribune. Dixon himself held his own showcase the same year titled “Lines, Patterns and Images.” “Dixon juxtaposes photographic images with acrylic paint, oil pastels and ink, creating an interesting marriage between traditional studio techniques and digital media,” according to the Chicago Tribune. “Combining the various media allows the surface of his work to take on diff-erent depths so that the viewer’s eye is drawn into not just one area of the artwork, but to
many different angles.” “I had worked with him for 16 years,” Kozien said. “His dedication to artwork was an inspiration to me.” “Terry’s work explores different parts of the human face, and body, and abstracted in various ways that pull the viewer deeper into his creations,” according to his biography. “Certain pieces are influenced by interactions with society and political issues while others are free flowing ideas that move to the mental rhythm of his creativity.” To further appreciate Dixon’s art and learn about his inspirations, one can read a 2008 interview he had with online Magazine Neoteric Art at http://neotericart. com/2008/10/23/inter view-with-terry-dixon/.
CLC Ranked 7th out of all Illinois Online Community Colleges “The College of Lake County in Illinois offers a number of programs for students looking to pursue an Associate of Arts degree entirely online. Students who complete the A.A. degree will be prepared to transfer to a four-year college or university. Students can also complete half of the course requirements needed to complete degrees in applied science in accounting, marketing, management, entrepreneurship/small business management, business administration, web programming, administrative professional, and office applications specialist. Classes are delivered in multiple formats, including readings, message boards, videos, websites, and activities.” -SR Education Group
Corrections from March 18 issue: *The French Table meets on Thursdays at 3:30 in room B224, not on Wednesdays. *The article “‘Oedipus Rex’ has message still true to audiences today” was written by Freelance Contributor Fernando Reynoso, not Rebecca Martinez.
News
THE CHRONICLE Page 3 | Monday, April 8, 2019
CLC gets connected with local businesses at vendor fair Caspar Badovinac Staff Reporter The College of Lake County hosted a fair for local and disadvantaged businesses at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago on March 28. This event acted as a method for local businesses to get their name into CLC’s student’s minds as potential workers. The fair was held to connect with future vendors to do business with as the college moves forward to further modernize and improve CLC’s facilities and services. CLC is actively working to better engage students and their future field, trade, job, or business of choice. The Get Connected vendor fair is intended to inform local and disadvantaged businesses of CLC’s business opportunities and begin forming partnerships with community business leaders in order to improve the college and the surrounding economic community. This ensures a better transition from student, to either internship, apprenticeship, or full job and career opportunities.
CLC is currently looking for partnerships in areas such as campus construction, athletic training, catering for childcare services, natural restoration, and various other opportunities. These positions are areas in the community that currently need active interest, involvement, and participation. The fair was an opportunity for business representatives to network with college owner’s representation, campus architect, facilities, and to hear presentations on projects set for 2019-21. “At the CLC, our highest priorities are advancing student success and strengthening the diverse communities we serve,” CLC President Lori Suddick said. “Part of that mission involves creating strong ties to our local communities and engaging local businesses to further our growth.” With CLC’s planned expansion of the Lakeshore Waukegan campus, there is a $40 million dollar build-out led by the Capital Development Board in the works. Other cross campus projects such as solar panels and masonry repair are also planned. This enables the buildings to experience
upkeep and promotes internal employment. More professional services, such as engineering and civil engineering projects, are also being in need at CLC. It is important to the college’s administration that these improvements and expansions are made in tandem with the local needs in order to best support their students and give back to the community. Disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) are
for-profit small businesses for which socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent interest and also control management and daily business operations. In collaboration with both DBEs and local businesses, CLC looks to pay for the project in ways that directly give back to the community and to hardworking business owners and entrepreneurs who embody CLC’s mission of accessible
learning and career growth. “With campus upgrades, we’re investing in our students’ future and in the vitality of the Lake County community,” Michele Rey-nolds, the college’s director of purchasing and contracts said. The Get Connected vendor fair is the embodiment of this goal as the College pushes forward in their twoyear campus improvement plan.
Graphic courtesy of Hope Pham
Illinois state trooper mourned at College of Lake County
The James Lumber Center provided the sight for the visitation and funeral of Illinois State Trooper Gerald Ellis, who was killed early Saturday in a traffic accident along Interstate 94. The visitation was held Thursday April 4 from 2 to 8 pm and the funeral was scheduled for 10 am to noon April 5. The expected attendance for the funeral was estimated to between 2000 and 2500, most of them Illinois state Illinois Trooper Gerald Ellis Photo Courtesy of CNN.com
troopers and other police professionals. The wake for Ellis included close to 100 officers who walking through to show their respect, according to the Lake County NewsSun which was among a large media contingency covering the event. Illinois Patriot Guards held flags at the entrance and exit, and, in honor of Ellis’ military service, there were boots, a gun, and a folded flag at the entrance.
Students who came to classes on Thursday and Friday saw American flags, blue ribbons, and police officers in uniform both days. State police say Ellis grew up in Macomb and graduated from Western Illinois University. He served with the U.S. Army Reserves and joined the state police in 2008. He is survived by his wife and two young daughters.
Features
THE CHRONICLE Page 4 | Monday, April 8, 2019
CLC student experiences a different world in Japan Kevin Tellez
Managing Editor Deshawn Williams, a first-year student with the College of Lake County, has spent much of his life traveling between the United States and Japan. “I’ve lived in Japan cumulatively for nine years,” Williams said. “The first time I visited was when I was ten years old.” “My parents live there,” he added. “My dad’s in the navy and he’s stationed out in Japan, so I’m able to visit a lot.” Williams has observed several cultural differences between the United States and Japan. “Everybody is nicer there,” he said. “People aren’t rude. Everyone is polite everywhere you go.” “You don’t have a lot of personal space to live there because you pay so little for housing,” he said.
Williams has moved between several cities on his visits to Japan. “I’ve lived in Sasebo, Yokosuka, and Atsugi,” he said. “They’re all big cities.” “Sasebo is quiet. It’s like living in a rural town,” Williams added. “Yokosuka is in Yokohama prefecture. Atsugi is between Kanegawa and Tokyo.” Outside of these cities, Williams enjoys visiting the many attractions that Japan has to offer. “I like visiting the castles there,” he said. “When I lived in Sasebo, I went to Kumamoto Castle, close to Hiroshima.” “I also like going to Roppongi,” he added. “It’s a section of Tokyo where you can go to clubs and have parties.” “Shibuya and Harajuku are right next to each other,” he said. “They’re so close, you can walk between the two places. They’re towns where you can go
shopping for anything.” “I go to Harajuku for shoes a lot and I buy a lot of clothes from Shibuya,” he said. “There’s also Shibuya Crossing,” he added. “It’s a big road where tons of people walk across at one time.” “Shibuya Crossing is also where you can drive Mario-style go-karts,” Williams said. “You start down the street and drive down the crossing where all of the people are.” Considering how long he’s lived in Japan, Williams had taken Japanese language classes to refine his speech. “When I first moved there, my parents had to get driver’s licenses,” he said. “They had to go through a class and learn how to drive in Japan.” “My dad told their driving instructor about how I wanted to learn Japanese. She then volunteered to tutor me. So she would come visit our house and teach me Japanese,” he said. “She would also take me
Photo Courtesy of Deshawn Williams
to different places in Japan and we would talk in the language. This was going on from sixth through eighth grade. Alongside this, I was also taking Japanese classes in seventh
and eighth grade too.” “I would definitely recommend visiting Japan,” he said. “Everything and everyone there is so great. It’s worth the travel.”
TRANSFER TO NIU
OPEN HOUSE APRIL 19
REGISTER NOW go.niu.edu/CLC
Features
THE CHRONICLE Page 5 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Immigration panel shares struggles of undocumented students Alex Psyhogios Staff Reporter The College of Lake County Social Action Club held an Immigration Panel on March 19. The panel was held in order to talk about issue of immigration in the US with leaders in this field from the area. “Overall the event was great. Very informative and emotive,” said SGA Senator Patricia Martinez-Jeffers. Panelists at the event included a retired attorney and episcopalian priest, CEO and founder of Spanish Media Broadcasting, Roberto Ramirez, a CLC DACA student, Erica Delabra, and Julie Contreras from LULAC who unfortunately could not attend. The panelists discussed various issues related to current immigration issues and shared their
own personal insight and stories. “The purpose was to inform the audience of the challenges, struggles and fear that the undocumented students live on a daily basis,” said Martinez-Jeffers. The other panelists shared their personal stories of tragic and violent loss, such as the case of Roberto Ramirez’s father who was murdered, making his mother and siblings emigrate to the U.S.A. Sandra Castillo shared what college students can do in order to support the immigrant communities and that “voting is key”. Because of how many of these social issues are being debated today, it is important to have these events such as these. Panels, like the one put on by the Social Action Club, serve to inform students and the public in general on the realities of the situations that we are constantly surrounded by
Graphic courtesy of Hope Pham
on a daily basis. Events like these ensure that people better understand these issues and are less likely to make an uninformed statement and potentially offend someone. “My hope for the future
is that we continue to have informative panels like this in order to keep abreast of the never ending immigrant issues that affect all of us,” said Martinez-Jeffers With the issue of immigration in America
not going away any time soon, events like this will only become more important with time, because the more that people know about this topic, the more they can make informed decisions on ballots.
Spring break gives hope to some, brings trouble for others Elizabeth Taylor Features Editor With the end of March and the slow change of the seasons finally rolling around, spring break appeared suddenly, to the joy and disappointment of students. While the stereotype about spring break might be to take a trip somewhere warm and forget about school completely for a week, this idea is far from reality for
many students. Some might be able to take time off from studying, but because of the extra week off, many professors assign more work. This leaves students with the dilemma of choosing between enjoying break or taking time to study more or complete essays and projects which have been assigned. Austin Kehrer sees spring break not only as a chance to finally find time to relax, but also to help with getting work done.
“Because you’re in more of a relaxed state, you can do other things more optimally,” said Kehrer. Other students, such as Amanda Pierce, would like to their minds off of school even for a short time, but are unable to because of the work assigned over break. “I would love to have free time on spring break but that’s not how it’s gonna work out for me,” said Pierce. Having two exams when classes resume, she takes up
the motto “all work and no play”. Student Christopher Basse said that spring break is a mix of both working and finding time for himself. “If you don’t have a good balance in work and relaxation you’re gonna go insane,” said Basse. Finding the perfect balance is a quest which many students hope to find, and Chris Nava says he has achieved it. “I usually take the first half to relax and then the last half
to catch up on stuff because it helps when we go back,” explained Nava. This idea of taking some time to recover from the semester so far and some preparing for what is to come is very sound, but can be hard to follow through on once classes are out and brains turn off. Now that spring break has come and gone, students can only hope that they spent their time wisely and that summer break will come soon.
Graphic courtesy of Hope Pham
Features
THE CHRONICLE Page 6 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Theater professor wishes to guide students to future success Chris Schwaar Staff Reporter Tracie Folger, the newest professor in the CLC theater department, thought she was bound for the broadway stage, but instead discovered teaching to be her true passion. “I get to see so much that I never would’ve gotten to see if I didn’t teach,” she said. “I feel younger when I’m teaching cause I’m around people who are starting young and have a great deal of enthusiasm for life, or rediscovering life. That makes me feel good, I like the fact that I’m part of something bigger than myself.” Folger has been teaching for 13 years, passing on her craft of theater to younger generations. “My teaching career began right out of grad school, 2003,” Folger said. “My first full time teaching job was at Gallaudet University, a school for the deaf and the hard of hearing in Washington D.C.. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, that’s something I always was interested in.” This passion for teaching has only grown over the years, as she has seen more and more students discover the same excitement for theater that she holds. “I’ve continued to teach because I find it really satisfying,” she said.
“Working in the shops, I watch people come in and they’re intimidated by what they’re looking at--they can be really shy or quiet.” “Then over the course of the semester, as the kids start to build things and make things on their own--or they’re part of something bigger than they are, you see this shift,” she continued. “There’s a recognition that they can do anything they want. And they can accomplish anything. It feels really cool to be a part of that.” Every new class and every new school offers new opportunities for Folger to pass on not only the practical lessons of theatrical design, but the wisdom and advice she has gained over the years. “Learn everything you can,” she said. “If you are given an opportunity to learn something new, take it.” “Read a book, don’t rest on your laurels, always be willing to try something new, or experiment or go to a museum or pick up a book and look at something with fresh eyes.” She tells students, especially those pursuing theater and the arts, not to worry about their current skill sets or talents, but to focus on their passion and interests. “Every skill can be taught,” she said, “so never say you can’t do something. I can teach you how to draw, I can teach you how to paint, so don’t let your fear of lack of talent stop you from
Photo Courtesy of Tracy Folger
Courtesy of Tracy Folger
doing anything. Cause you probably have the talent, you probably have that in you. Ninety-nine percent of people do, you just need to figure out the skills so you can get it out of you.” “That’s what talent is, it’s something inside of you,” she added. “It’s not whether or not you can pick up a brush and draw, we can teach you how to do that.” For those students who already know they want to pursue theater or design, Folger has more words of wisdom as a professional in the field. “Value yourself,” she said. “Always remember your value and your worth, and that everything you do or contribute is worth being recognized. Never work for free, never accept a job that’s just for experience. You got that when you were in college, you don’t need that in your professional life. Stand strong and be proud of who you are.” Folger was not always the experienced teacher she is now. Her career started humbly, traveling around the country working with crews and designers for every type of show and event imaginable. “[After college] I went to Vermont and worked as the props master/assistant set designer with the Weston Playhouse in Weston, Vermont,” she said. “It was 13 weeks, and then during that summer, I got my first grown up person job. “It was the props apprentice with Theater of Virginia at the State Theater of Virginia. I packed up my car, moved to Richmond and worked there for two years,” she added. “Then I
went to North Carolina, I was with PlayMakers Rep. in Charlotte, on Chapel Hill. After two years there, I decided to go to grad school, and headed to the George Washington University.” Opportunities for work in her field came about through grad school classes and connections. “One of my grad school advisers, he owned a design studio in D.C., and did a lot of work with the White House and the government,” she said. “He did events all over the place, at these majorly cool places--the Pentagon, the White House, Langley, Virginia--the CIA headquarters.” Occasionally through her work on shows and galas, Folger has had the opportunity to meet and see stars and celebrities. “We met Blink 182 and Green Day,” she said. “I met ZZ Top. They were playing at one of the inaugural balls. I met John McCain. In high school I met Ray Charles, I got to talk to him for a couple of minutes. “You’re like ‘oh my god, I’m so close to this person, and they’re famous and they’re cool and they’re talented!’ You have those moments where you get super jazzed about that, where you’re working on the same show as these famous people. Just kind of blown away by it.” Before starting her work in the professional field, Folger attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. She received her degree in theater, with a focus on technical theater. “I intended to be a double major in performance and law,” she said. “The law
kind of went away. The performance part went away too.” Her interest in theater, however was not realized until she was a teenager. “When I was in high school,” she said, “I started volunteering with the Denver Center theater company as an usher. I thought it was fascinating.” The Denver Center theater company sparked Folger’s interest, but it was not her first exposure to theater. “My grandmother, my dad’s mom, she ran a theater company,” she said. “My parents used to take me to those rehearsals. They were both involved in the shows. So my grandmother always had this connection to theater. And her oldest sister, my Aunt Regina, was actually a New York Broadway actress in the 1950s. “My family always said I was just like my Aunt Regina. I looked like her. I acted like her. I was bull headed like her. I was creative like her. So I just fell into theater and knew that I really like it.” Folger used to think she might someday act on the same Broadway stages her great aunt used to perform on, but she has never regretted her choice to teach. “You see someone get that aha moment and they make that connection between something they’ve always done, and what they never understood,” she said. “Or they realize that math is important in everything that we do. Or theater can change something or give them something.” “That’s kind of cool. That’s why you teach, because you want to open doors and give opportunities.
A&E
THE CHRONICLE Page 7 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Hozier releases successful new politically inspired album
Fernando Reynoso Freelance Contributor
On March 1, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, known simply as Hozier, released his second album titled “Wasteland Baby”, which hit No.1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. The Irish musician had his first debut from his single “Take Me to Church” which received a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year from his first album released in 2014. After the release of his first album, which hit the No.2 on the Billboard Chart, and the two and a half year tour around the world that followed, Hozier took twelve months off to return home to Brey, County Wicklow in Ireland, and then spent eighteen months working on his new album. Hozier made live tv performances on The Ellen
Show in October 2018 performing “Nina Cried Power” for the first time with the soulful Mavis Staples, “Movement” on The Late Late Show this year in January, and “Almost” on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on March 6.
Hozer’s 2019 tour kicked off on March 10th in Buffalo, NY at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, and he celebrated his 29th birthday with his fans on March 17 in Charlotte, NC at the Ovens Auditorium. The cover art of both his albums were done by his mother, Raine HozierByrne, who is a talented Irish artist that creates contemporary sub-lime paintings. Hozier-Byrne pointed out the images that she added to the “Wasteland Baby” cover art which was an image of public dissent and another of migrants coming to shore on
flimsy boats. “It spoke to that whole thing of ‘we have to look out for each other,” quoted Hozier-Byrne, “Sometimes you can’t look away. You have to be a witness, and you have a responsibility to be a witness,” adding to the meaning behind those images and their relevance of today. The official music video of “Nina Cried Power” featuring Staples has gained 8.2 million views on YouTube. The song is a reminder of the struggles of a past that we all assumed we left behind, “this song, today is just more relevant than it’s ever been, as the 60’s you know. We’re living in some trying times,” Staples pointed out about the song, “I’m grateful that he is singing a song like this. It’s needed, it’s much needed.” It is obviously clear
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com
that Hozier finds his inspiration from current political events. In an interview with Tom Power from Q on CBC, Hozier states how some mainstream popular music might want to be void of being political.
Yet for him and most likely every true artist, that might not be the case, quoting “for me music is political no matter what. No matter what it’s about.”
‘Shazam’ continues to show progress for DCEU movies Jason Lee
Staff Reporter Our second Captain Marvel movie of the year is here, or the DC version at least. It’s also the DCEU’s newest entree since “Aquaman,” and how did this turn out? “Shazam” follows Billy Batson, a troubled foster kid who’s summoned by the wizard to become the titular hero, and must stop the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. The DCEU has been a pretty mixed bag, having some setbacks like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad.” Did this movie continue the good movie streak that was started by “Aquaman?” Zachary Levi truly is the star of the show, being perfectly cast in the role like Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Chris Evans as Captain America. Levi expertly manages to believably portray a kid stuck in an adult’s body, specifically with his naturally joyful attitude and childlike mannerisms. Likeable yet flawed, Shazam really is a joy to see on screen, easily being one of the most
entertaining superheroes ever in a superhero film. Instead of being some dark and conflicted character, Shazam is someone who’s very clearly excited to have fun with his powers, which is entertaining to watch. Asher Angel also does a great job portraying Shazam’s alter ego Billy Batson. Angel brings a natural charisma to Batson, and he never gets too annoying or too perfect. He’s literally just a troubled kid, like we all can be at some point. You understand why he acts the way he does, and his arc to find his mom was a realistic and touching addition. Jack Dylan Grazer is also great as Freddy Freeman, Batson’s disabled foster brother and superhero mentor and enthusiast. After giving a great performance in “It,” Grazer does it again playing a hilarious and optimistic friend and mentor character similar to the likes of Ned Leeds in “SpiderMan: Homecoming.” Seeing him rave about superheroes and Shazam is fun, and he has a lot of clever moments of comedy and great dialogue. On top of being a unique
and entertaining mentor, Freddy’s interactions and chemistry with both Billy and Shazam are the heart of the movie, especially with Shazam. Seeing this confused yet excited kid-stuck-in-a-man superhero banter with an unlikely friend and superhero lover is just fantastic, as they do entertaining things such as testing Shazam. Mark Strong is pretty great as Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, and surprisingly a pretty good villain. The best villain in the DCEU yet, Strong actually
Imager Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly
manages to play a genuinely threatening and not too overthe-top antagonist. The story has been described as “Big” with superpowers, as well as an homage to classic 80s films, and that’s pretty accurate. The storyline is brilliant, being not only a great superhero origin, but a great family drama as well. The story actually manages to avoid a decent amount of superhero cliches, other than a bullying trope which works, and focuses on the joys of a kid receiving superpowers. They actually test Shazam’s powers and post videos on YouTube, which is hysterical. Oh, speaking of hysterical, the comedy is pure gold, provoking several laughs. Clever and crazy with how over-the-top it can get, the comedy really works, especially when it involves Shazam and Freddy. As a result, the light and comedic tone serves well for a goofy character like Shazam. The themes of family, its meaning, and sticking together are very heartwarming here, as it serves for a great message. The pacing is also nice, as the movie moved by without me
feeling bored at all, as I was too invested in the comedy and compelling story. The direction is decent, and the comedic aesthetic is nice. The visual effects are also pretty good, as they bring to life the powers of Shazam and Sivana pretty well, and it’s sad how much it looks better than “Justice League” given the amount of money that movie had. The action sequences are also pretty cool, packing some cool sci-fi action and fights. The third act is unfortunately where it stumbles a tad bit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, but it’s not quite as great as the rest of the film, as it sort of drags down and the action isn’t as good. This movie is now the best of the DCEU, and I honestly don’t see that changing for a while given how great this film was, even with “Birds of Prey” and “Wonder Woman 1984” coming out next year. It’s definitely the better “Captain Marvel” film, and I actually take it over most of the comedies in the MCU. Go see this if you want to have a fun time. DC, you are really getting your act together.
A&E
THE CHRONICLE Page 8 | Monday, April 8, 2019
LAS Open Mic Night brings students closer together Payton HIggins
Staff Reporter The College of Lake County held another annual Open Mic Night on Wednesday, March 20 in room A011 on the Grayslake Campus. This event acted as a student led operation of free expression, entertainment, and fun. Students had the opportunity to perform their literary pieces in front of a live and vibrant student audience. The event was sponsored and run by the Literary Arts Society and featured a special guest poet among other various spectacles. The special event saw extraordinary performances of authentic student-written short stories, poems, musical numbers, and other
creative pieces that CLC students worked long and hard to create through workshops and over a long period of time. Open Mic Night allows CLC’s students who are interested in all forms of literature and art to come together and perform their original and innovative work to a live audience of students, staff, and friends. Those who were less enthusiastic about performing were also welcome to attend and experience the creative genius of their fellow classmates and artists. Impromptu or improvised performances were also welcome, and very much enjoyed. Admission to the event was completely free, however, generous donations were also accepted to help support
the Literary Arts Society’s Honorary Sterling Award. The Honorary Sterling Award is to be entrusted with any persons who have or are currently overcoming a struggle using writing. The award serves as a scholarship and will aid the lucky recipient with a financial contribution toward their education costs such as tuition, books or other expenses. Featured at Open Mic Night was the special guest and performing artist Mojdeh Stoakley. Mojdeh is an awardwinning writer, poet, performer, photographer, & education director of Poets With Class at the Poetry Center of Chicago. She has been fascinated with poetry since the age of five and started performing pre-
CATCH UP ON CREDITS GET CLOSER TO COMPLETING YOUR DEGREE
professionally at age 14 alongside the likes of Saul Williams, Pere Ubu, Genesis P Oridge, and John Legend. “She’s represented Chicago multiple times at the National Poetry Slam, Individual World Poetry Slam, Rustbelt, & Southern Fried Slam,” according to her website. “In addition to coaching youth competing in Louder Than A Bomb, and executive produced festivals like Lethal Poetry’s Nights of Sight & Sound, Art On Track, and PSi certified slams, through Lethal Poetry”. During Open Mic Night she performed a range of different pieces, examples being “Natural”, “An open letter to a fair Jesus from a dusk toned girl”, and “Finding solidarity”. Literary Arts Society is a student club at the
College of Lake County that encourages the expression of one’s self through writing. Their Mission statement affirms that they are “A gathering of kindred spirits who feel that reading, writing, language and all of the literary arts are a celebration of life.” The group meets every Thursday afternoon from 1-2:30 p.m. in room B105, also referred to as the Student Life MultiPurpose Room. For more information on Open Mic Night or the Literary Arts Society, contact Bridget Bell, English professor, at bbell@clcillinois.edu or Joel Chmara, communication professor, at COM585@clcillinois. edu.
Roosevelt’s Summer Session allows you to keep summer plans in place while earning the credits you need. Choose from a wide range of online courses to continue your education — wherever you are, at your own pace. Featured online courses • Psychology of Gender • McDonaldization of Society • Persuasion & Presentation Skills
Learn more at: roosevelt.edu/summer-clc
SUMMER SESSION
A&E
THE CHRONICLE Page 9 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Battle of the bands rocks crowd, but lacks a full audience Fernando Reynoso
Freelance Contributor On March 15 at 7 p.m. in room A011, CLC held free audience admission for this year’s Battle of the Bands. The lead of the program board, Matthew Mata, put up applications for bands back in Oct. 2018. Five unique bands that applied and performed in front of a live audience to entertain and win a first, second, or third place cash prize. The list of bands included Alias, Lunar Chiefs, Sioum, Strangers Among Us, and Young Otto. Before the show started, Mata introduced himself and the rest of the team of the program board: Eric, Leon, and Jessica; their adviser Mr. Kozien, and host; as well as Communications Instructor, comedian, and poet, Joel Chmara. The first performer to kick
off the show was Young Otto with his smooth rap and rhythmic beats. Young Otto has been singing rap for two years now, and is greatly influenced by his family and fans. Strangers Among Us was next and rocked out with a mix of genres but heavily fused in alternative rock. Cody Hawks, one of the band members, stated “we formed five years ago with just bass and drums,” when a year later they met their guitar player. “We were mostly playing instrumental music until our singer joined us in August last year,” Hawks added. In between the next set, Chmara recited a humorous poem he wrote about connecting with this generation’s youth. Next was Sioum with a sound of instrumental hard rock that hooks you in, then came Lunar Chiefs covering songs such as “21st-Century Schizoid
Man” by King Crimson and “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzaru. Bandmate Dylan Barnes from Lunar Chiefs spoke on their music genre,“Our band plays whatever genre strikes our interest.” Last but currently not least was a heartwarming duet by Alias. After the final performance, Chmara introduced the two judges and announced the winners of Battle of the Bands; third place went to Lunar Chiefs, second place went to Strangers Among Us, and first place went to Sioum. Chmara asked the audience to give the rest of the crew a well-deserved round of applause for switching out and setting up the equipment for the bands. The audience responded very well to all the performances and throughout the whole event, as each of the bands brought a mixture of different genres,“everyone was into
it,” Chmara said. While the program board worked hard to promote the event and received a huge number of family, friends, and music enthusiasts, Chmara felt that there could have been a full house if it
was advertised better, saying “I wish more people knew about it”. So on that note, go support your local bands, because you never know, you could very well be witnessing the start of something great.
Graphic courtesy of CLC Program Board
Peele continues to impress ‘Us’ with new thriller movie Peter Anders
Staff Reporter ‘Us’ is a horror thriller movie starring Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elisabeth Moss, and Tim Heidecker. Directed by Jordan Peele. It was released in theaters on March 22. ‘Us’ tells the terrifying tale of a normal family going on vacation at a summer home in Santa Cruz. One night however, they are attacked in their summer home by a family of doppelgangers and are forced to go on the run and attempt to survive against “themselves”. Jordan Peele has managed to create two movies, each of which most directors would consider the pinnacle of their careers. Yet, as a career, Peele is just getting started. The best part of ‘Us’ is without a doubt the direction, Peele does an amazing job. The camerawork truly immerses the viewer in the world of the movie, and it induces an amazing sense/ level of suspense in each
scene. It lingers often and allows the viewer to truly become “absorbed” in the film, yet it does not “linger” for too long to allow the movie to become boring. The pacing for the movie is also excellent, managing to find a perfect “middle ground” between being fast and taking its time, managing to do both at the same time perfectly. The acting here is just as phenomenal as the direction though, Nyong’o once again demonstrates that she is one of the best actresses working in the industry today, managing to be both vulnerable and yet strong and empowered and intelligent at the same time. Duke is charming and funny, yet comes off as a loving father and is immediately likable and charismatic. The actor and actress that play the children of the main family are also quite good in their roles and measure up almost as well as the aforementioned stand outs. ‘Us’ also benefits from having great writing behind it. Peele writes dialogue
that flows at a natural and amazing rhythm and it feels truly authentic for the characters. The quirky dark humor Peele brought to ‘Get Out’ makes an excellent fit here with some genuine great humor adding levity to the horror of the film. There are plenty of great lines in the movie and all of the characters are very distinct and all of them are likable. The story is both simple yet has various layers to it, and the script manages to pull that off with amazing fidelity. There is also plenty of well executed and surprising twist in the narrative that will keep the audience guessing about what is going to happen till the credits roll, and one at the end that will be debated long after the movie exits theaters. While not “scary” in the traditional sense per se, ‘Us’ is a masterwork when it comes to suspense and thrills. The suspense is aided by an amazing musical score from Michael Abels, which manages to be unique yet is not distracting.
Image courtesy of Cosmopolitan
‘Us’ also benefits from depth and well executed themes. There is a lot of subtext that could be read in this film, especially in regards to the political divide in America right now and fear of immigration and xenophobia, along with the nature of the “family unit” and how we react to those we are scared of. Much like Peele’s previous movie, ‘Get Out’, this is a film that can be analyzed by so many different people and many of them will come away with different
interpretations of the film. The mark of a good film is that it does more than entertain, and ‘Us’ bears that mark truly. ‘Us’ is yet another amazing movie from Peele, who has managed to establish himself as an amazing director with only two films under his belt. With great writing, acting, directing, suspense, themes, and humor, Jordan Peele has created a horror film that is a must watch for anyone who loves a good film, period.
A&E
THE CHRONICLE Page 10 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Artist gets too comfortable, disappoints fans with new album
Minha Khan Staff Reporter With his fourth studio album, “Bad Habits,” Nav is finally back. In Jan. of 2019, after rapper Lil Uzi Vert announced his retirement from the music industry, his friend and frequent collaborator, Nav, promptly announced his own retirement. Whereas Vert’s announcement resulted in a huge outpouring of support from fans, Nav’s did not rally his fans in nearly the same way. In fact, a huge chunk of rap fans and social media users applauded the decision. While he has built a substantial fanbase, Nav is also clowned for his extreme use
of autotune, being a culture vulture, and his borderline cringy lyrics. The reason why is not clear, as he’s certainly not the first rapper to use far too much autotune. Travis Scott literally went viral earlier this year for falling in autotune when he fell off the stage of his concert and his yell was autotuned all the way to the ground. But how many of the public’s favorite rappers are famous for corny, braggadocious lyrics that don’t really make sense (Lil Wayne and Eminem come to mind immediately). . Still, in the music industry the hate an artist gets could be astronomical but not enough to negate the impact of their work.
Therefore, with a substantial audience of both fans and critics, this album could be a redemption arc in Nav’s discography, a chance for himself to establish himself as more than a feature or a producer. But upon listening to the album, I was struck by how difficult it was to distinguish between the songs. Most of the songs had the exact same message of Nav’s struggle with success, and none of them presented a unique take on the topic. The meanings behind each songs seemed to be as shallow as a puddle. Nav has proven himself capable of making deeper music on previous albums which is why “Bad Habits” seems like a regression for him as an artist.
It certainly is not all bad, the some standout tracks were the title track “To My Grave,” which was motivating while still offering the trappings of a club anthem, meanwhile “OK,” featuring Lil Durk, is a welcomed energized track and a reprieve from the indistinguishable melodies on most of the songs. As is to be expected of Nav, a killer feature by The Weeknd in “Price on My Head” which uses paranoiainducing organ music in the background. In “Price on My Head,” Nav and The Weeknd rap about being targeted by their enemies in both the music industry and their hometowns, where they racked up foes before reaching their newfound celebrity.
If one could only listen to Nav’s collaborations with The Weeknd of all the songs in his discography they would not be missing much. Thus, Nav does not need to do better, he is guaranteed success through his affiliation with bigger names under his label and his friends in the industry. As a result, he seems to have begun completely slacking on his b-sides. While this album may not invoke much confidence from the fans, it is certainly possible that Nav could bring back some of the fire and passion he had before he got too comfortable, and we will certainly be waiting for that day.
THE CHRONICLE News
CLC’s independent student newspaper
Features
Features
Opinion
Sports
A&E
News
Join an award-winning publication
We are interested in: Writers Reporters Graphic Designers
Editors Cartoonists Photographers
For information email Chronicle@clcillinois.edu or visit Student Activities
Opinion
Sports
A&E
Opinion
THE CHRONICLE Page 11 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Campaigns need clear policies more than big budgets Daniel Lynch Opinion Editor The Democratic primary for the presidency is well underway with an exceptionally crowded field of candidates. While there are plenty of indications from these candidates that could persuade potential voters of who to vote for, it’s still too early for people to see who the real options are. However, there is data available to us that allows us to ask important questions regarding the race. Recently, fundraising reports have come out that show that Bernie Sanders raised $18 million in donations from about 900,000 people. Kamala Harris raised $12 million from about 200,000 people, and the up and coming Pete Buttigieg who is relatively unknown has raised $7 million from around 150,000 people. While his official reports have not been released, Beto O’Rourke raised $6 million in his first day of his announcement from an unknown number of people. Many Democrats, with
exceptions like Kirsten Gillibrand and Corey Booker, are attempting to approach funding from an entirely grass roots process. This is done so they do not give in to corporate interests, seeing the amounts they can raise and by how many people. It gives us an idea of what their support base is like and the passion behind their campaigns. However, there is an aspect of the presidential race that is out of the control of the candidates but is incredibly important, and that’s media coverage. There have been tendencies for the media to “pick” which candidates are important, and part of that can be distinguished by how much they talk and how they talk about candidates. Two interesting data points we can contrast is how often the media talks about candidates against how many detailed policy proposals they have made. Their point of contention here is that going into March, the media seems to be dialed in on Beto O’Rourke more than the other candidates. Given his day one fundraising, it
Letters to the Editor The Chronicle welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must contain the writer’s full name and a contact phone number. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit any submissions. Send letters to: Chronicle@ clcillinois.edu.
Editorial Policy The Chronicle staff is responsible for all material printed within its pages every issue. The views expressed in the Chronicle are not necessarily that of the Chronicle Staff or the administration at the College of Lake County. The Chronicle reserves the right to refuse publication of any ad that endorses bigotry or prejudice of any kind. For more information on policy or placement, please contact the Chronicle at (847)-543-2057 or at Chronicle@clcillinois.edu. View our issues online: Like us on Facebook:
issuu.com/chronicleclc
The Chronicle
can be seen why. According to Fivethirtyeight, a political data aggregate, over the month of March, Beto has averaged around 95 more mentions on cable news than any of his competitors. This is particularly puzzling after a closer examination. For starters, on Beto O’Rourke’s website there are currently no policy proposals or pledges to the American people. The most reliable way to find out information on O’Rourke seems to be his Twitter account. On March 30th, he made a string of posts that seemed to emphasize issues he stands for and promises he was making. In this writer’s opinion the devil to any plan or legislation is in the details and O’Rourke’s tweets unsurprisingly offer none. He makes pledges like universal background checks when buying a gun, and abolishing voter ID laws that discriminate against voters, these pledges are straightforward enough and are somewhat commonly understood. But when he promises to “rewrite this country’s immigration laws in our
own image” and doesn’t offer the details it becomes challenging to take that sort of pledge seriously. Immigration is a complex issue that has gone unreformed for a very long time. Additionally in his general speeches O’Rourke talks about the effect that free trade has harmed areas of our economy. Again, this sounds good but when we examine his voting record we can find examples where O’Rourke was supportive of free trade legislation when it benefitted Texas and boosted their economy. That is not a ‘gotcha’ or takedown of O’Rourke on trade, it seems reasonable in a political career to put your constituents first but it again begs the question: What kind of policies would we actually see from O’Rourke? So we may need to ask the question does our media prioritize coverage of candidates in a way that’s beneficial to the public discourse? The answer seems to be no and we demand better of them. The counterweight to O’Rourke is someone like Elizabeth Warren. A candidate that is not breaking fundraising records or frontrunning
in polls, but is laying comprehensive policy plans on a multitude of issues. She has released a detailed childcare plan that would give high quality child care to every American as our current childcare system is prohibitively expensive and unremarkable. She released a plan to break up huge farming conglomerates that would aid middle class rural farmers. She has an aggressive housing plan at a price tag of 450 billion would dramatically lower the overall rent and give low income people the ability to afford where they live and improve their quality of life while creating over a million jobs. When it comes to paying for her proposals she has laser detailed tax plans that raise taxes on wallstreet and the estate tax. Politics are unfortunately not necessarily going to reward the most intelligent candidates in the field, but as is our duty in a democracy we can and should change that.
THE CHRONICLE Arturo Ramirez
Health & Science
Rebecca Martinez A&E Editor
Bethany Newby Copy Editor
Anastasia Gustafson
Staff List John Kupetz Adviser
Sammie Wilkins Editor-in-Chief
Kevin Tellez
Managing Editor
Elizabeth Taylor Features Editor
Brandon Ferrara
Business Manager
Daniel Lynch Opinion Editor Hope Pham
Graphic Designer
News Editor
Contributors: Peter Anders, Casper Badovinac, Andrew Fine, Michael Flores, Payton Higgins, Jason Lee, Erin Neeson, Alex Psyhogios, Fernando Reynoso. Chris Schwaar, Katrina Topacio
Opinion
THE CHRONICLE Page 12 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Trump threatens to close border, cannot see economic impact Kevin Tellez
Managing Editor Ever since president Donald Trump has been elected into the Oval Office, America has seemed to have grown accustomed to the occasional controversial tweet sent out by the bleach-blonde official. Recently, another eyebrow-raising tweet was sent out, this time with the sights fixed on Mexico, threatening to shut down the Southern border. “The Democrats have given us the weakest immigration laws anywhere in the world,” Trump tweeted on March 29th. “Mexico has the strongest, & they make more than $100 Billion a year on the U.S.” “If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop all illegal immigration coming into the United States through our Southern border, I will be closing the border, or large sections of the border, next week,” he
continued in his tweet. With these threats issued out over Twitter once more, it begs the question: is this a serious statement, or is our president bluffing yet again? Several citizens, myself included, are crossing their fingers hoping that the latter is true. Hoping that the border remains open so that we can visit our families and continue working. However, if Trump’s bluff is called and proves to be a serious endeavor, millions of lives - and the United States as a whole are going to be impacted for the worse. According to a New York Times interview with Phil Cronee of the National Association of Home Builders’ Dallas division, housing and housing affordability will take an expensive hit. “The labor bottleneck was adding about $6,000 to the cost of every home built in the area,” Crone said, “and delaying completion by
two months.” According to a 2016 study by Natalia Siniavskaia of the National Association of Home Builders, immigrant workers counted for one in every four construction workers in the U.S. It isn’t just in construction where the worries are echoing. Several other businesses are fearing the economic pains from the projected lack of low-skilled labor. If the wall goes up and immigration goes down, the economy will be left without a workforce to employ. In a New York Times interview with Pia Orrenius, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, businesses will also be taking a nosedive without a migrant workforce “It is good for wages to go up, but if labor is at a point where employers can’t hire, it is reducing growth,” Orrenius said. “There’s also a considerable wage-
pressure in small towns and cities that are depopulating, she continued. “But that is a sign of distress, not of rising productivity.” Yes, wages may be on the rise without an employment pool that is as crowded as it has been, but that also means a lower employment rate, less productivity, and a weaker economy. If immigration were to be cut off immediately just as Trump wants, the working population as a whole in the United States is expected to shrink big-time. According to a March 2017 study by the Pew Research Center, the United States working population would shrink from 173 million reported in 2015, to a projected 166 million in 2035. If the border is closed down, the economic standing of the United States is expected to take a long time to recover. Small businesses and national conglomerates
would feel the pang of unemployment and shortened productivity. As a Mexican-American living in the United States with several members of my family still living in Mexico, this is a matter that is dire if the plan comes to fruition. Not only will my family be out of jobs that pay well in the States, but so will millions of other families as well. It will also be more difficult to afford a home in the near future without the labor force needed. My generation will be floored at how difficult it will be to afford the privilege of living in this country. It seems as if every passing month there’s a new worry weighing on the minds of the American public thanks to the Trump administration, and there will continue to be more in the next coming months, or years if our orangetinted authoritarian gets his way.
Photo courtesy of nationofchange.org
Health & Science
THE CHRONICLE Page 13 | Monday, April 8, 2019
CLC students inspired by future STEM professionals at Olympiad Arturo Ramirez Health & Science Editor On March 9, the College of Lake County hosted the Science Olympiad throughout campus. The Science Olympiad brought excitement, enjoyment, competition, and other learning experiences from various middle school and high school students. Some may ask, what’s the big deal of a Science Olympiad being hosted at your college? I would reply that this opportunity invites students to pursue their future dreams at an early age, and as a result, encouraging students to keep themselves passionate and motivated towards achieving bigger goals. According to the Science Olympiad official website, it “is an international nonprofit organization devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest in science and providing recognition for outstanding achievement in science education by both
students and teachers.” As found online at the official Science Olympiad website, www.soinc.org, one reputable organization that sponsors Science Olympiad is Texas Instruments, a semiconductor company. Others are Google, which is a technology program and one of the world’s most used search engine; NBC, which is a highly viewed television broadcasting company; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is a national institution that promotes and works with people to prevent diseases, and how to improve their health with expertise and information. There is also NASA, which is an independent agency of the U.S’ Federal Government that is responsible for aeronautics and aerospace research. Many of these agencies and institutions sponsor the Science Olympiad for similar causes. These institutions hope to strengthen and motivate future engineering students, medical students, and other students by
allowing this event to bring students forward with intellectual curiosity. As a bystander, I myself became inspired by watching students of all backgrounds come together for a common purpose. I too shared a high interest for science with them. Dr. Simondsen, who is a full-time Chemistry professor at CLC was running the “Chem Lab” section of the Science Olympiad Regional tournament. She mentioned that it is always a pleasure to see how involved these young students get in events like this. Dr. Kurbanov, who is also a Chemistry professor at CLC was present for the Chem Lab section. He was getting a taste and feel of what it’s like to run this section, for Dr. Simondsen will no longer run the section for the Science Olympiad next year--but she will continue to instruct future students. Eventually, Dr. Kurbanov plans to run the section himself. Students in the Chem Lab had to perform a titration, which is a laboratory
Photo courtesy of Arturo Ramirez
method used to determine the concentration of an unknown solution, such as an acid. As a current student in Dr. Simondsen’s General Chemistry II class, I was impressed and thrilled to see various younger students perform experiments at a college level. What’s more, these students also took a Chemistry test assessment that also shows what they will be studying--at a college level. It is always a good sign to see people start something at an early stage in their lives. As the saying goes, “You gotta start them young,” may apply to be a positive route
for their future careers. Whether it is a science career or not, these students have grasped an experience that various science professionals receive day in and day out. In the end, I left the Science Olympiad even more inspired towards my very own future endeavors and goals. I would like to thank these students and future students for being motivated in something that is of importance to all of us. I’m also glad that CLC hosted this regional tournament. I am more than positive that this institution feels the same way towards these students.
Exhaust increases acid rain, CLC works toward solution Erin Neeson Staff Reporter Over 4 billion years ago, the Earth’s atmosphere was estimated to contain more than 10,000 times the amount of carbon dioxide than today’s levels. Not only was the surface of the Earth significantly hotter than today’s temperatures, but the atmosphere’s air quality was too extreme to sustain life or even sustain rocks. This is because the high levels of carbon dioxide mixed with water in the atmosphere to form something known as acid rain. This rain could be so acidic that it weathered away all the rocks on the planet and prevent any new ones from forming. Over time, the Earth’s atmosphere has developed so that it can support life, but this does not mean acid rain does not remain a current environmental issue. According to the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) current definition, acid rain is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation that contains acidic components, such as sulfuric acid or nitric acid. This can be in the form of rain, snow, fog, dust, or other gasses and its effects can be detrimental. The difference between the cause of acid rain then versus now, however, is that the number one cause of acidic deposition today is manmade pollutants. Two thirds of the sulfur dioxide and one fourth of the nitric acid in the atmosphere can be traced back to electric power generators. The EPA also concluded that fossil-fuel power plants, vehicles and oil refineries are other major causes of acid rain today. With a pH of 5.2 or below, it can deteriorate almost anything from soil to trees and even some statues and buildings. It is not acidic enough to harm human skin, but that does not mean it does not affect our lives.
Substantial amounts of acid rain can ruin soil and bodies of water, making it inhabitable for animals and other organisms. However, there are solutions to decrease acid deposition that are being implemented by the government and by individuals across the country. In the past forty years the air quality regulations in America have become exponentially stricter, such as the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970 that makes it a federal law to regulate air emissions from both stationary and mobile sources. The EPA encourages that people take into consideration the amount of vehicle and electrical use you accumulate in a day and focus on ways to reduce that. For example, utilizing public transportation, carpools, and other efficient ways of transportation can decrease the amount of car exhaust being contributed to the air. CLC’s Sustainability
Manager, David Husemoller is working on a project to promote bicycling on several fronts not only for students here at CLC, but for members of municipalities across the county. “The idea behind hosting a bike share is that it would allow students or anyone to check a bike out here on campus and go explore our trail connections into Grayslake, to the Metra Station, to the Forest Preserves and beyond,” says Husemoller.
“We are going to install a bike repair station outside the PE Building that will help folks passing through to make some minor repairs and pump up their tires.” Husemoller also added that there are number of ways for students to get involved around campus during Earth Week with events such as the Campus Clean-Up on April 10 and other opportunities to learn how to be more environmentally conscience and proactive.
Graphic courtesy of Hope Pham
Health & Science
THE CHRONICLE Page 14 | Monday, April 8, 2019
Pollen season forecast to be more intense this year
Katrina Topacio Staff Reporter
The spring season is upon us and along with it, the dreaded allergy season. According to Mayo Clinic, allergies occur when your immune system responds to harmless substances in the environment, such as pollen, bee venom, pet dander, or animal fur, causing irritation to the skin and general discomfort to the sinuses. There are many different types of allergies, such as food allergies, insect sting allergies, drug allergies, atopic dermatitis, and hay fever. Hay fever is the condition that is associated with springtime due to all of the pollen grains and other substances in the air. The severity differs from person to person, and can either cause mild irritation or anaphylaxis, a lifethreatening reaction that can cause loss of
consciousness, a drop in blood pressure, or shortness of breath. Common symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, a runny nose, swollen and watery eyes, an itchy nose or throat, coughing, and fatigue. Some of the main seasonal factors include tree pollen, grass pollen, dust mites, and spores from fungi and mold. Hay fever is typically not lifethreatening. Accuweather reports that allergy season will be more severe this spring due to the heavy rainfall and late winter season that has left the ground damp for the upcoming months. “[The moist ground] will provide the trees and grass with ample water, leading to a high pollen season in these areas,” Accuweather Meteorologist Alan Reppert said. Fortunately, allergy season in the Northeast and Midwest has been postponed due to the season starting off with
cooler weather. “The start of pollen season may be delayed a week or two in both regions, but the pollen looks to come out quite fast and strong from April into May,” said Reppert. Accuweather provided some ways to prepare for the upcoming months which are sure to be irritating for at least 30% of the population that has allergies. Four ways to lessen the chances of an allergy attack is to: Stay inside in the
morning, especially since pollen is most prevalent between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Ideally, the safest time to go outside is right after a rain shower so that the air is free of pollen and other airborne allergens. Next, keep your indoor air clean by clearing your window and doors of dust and using the air conditioner to filter out the pollen. Third, avoid certain foods. People with more severe allergies should try to lessen their intake of raw or fresh fruit since
it can potentially cause itching around the mouth, on the roof of your mouth, tongue, or throat. Lastly, carry an allergy relief kit. Accuweather recommends people should carry with them “antihistamines, eye drops, nasal spray and decongestants [to] help make the season a more pleasant experience.” Make sure to protect yourself from airborne allergens and don’t let the pollen deter you from going outside and enjoying the fresh spring weather.
Graphic courtesy of Hope Pham
Weightlifting shown to lessen effects of depression Andrew Fine
Staff Reporter We all have heard the saying “Go blow off some steam,” and we all know that after we do instantly feel better. But why? How does it affect our brain? Weight lifting is anabolic, which means it is essentially building the body and producing testosterone. Weight lifting has also been proven to help ease depression and anxiety. According to a study published in “Sports Medicine” in 2017, it is found that lifting weights eases anxiety. The second study, published in “JAMA Psychiatry,” found that lifting weights can ease and prevent depression. Many people who are suffering from depression often take medications or go to therapy. The
goal for therapy is to understand and confront physical and emotional discomfort. That is what weightlifting does; it puts you through physical and even emotional discomfort which is the clinical goal for therapy. While strength training encourages to help mental illnesses, it is not necessarily a substitute to therapy or medication. It is just another tool in the toolbox. Lifting weights can be a form of meditation. When it comes to lifting weights, you are engaged in a positive mental state. You are almost in a presence where you have one mission and one goal where all of your energy and concentration is directed on lifting the weight. Many past studies have pointed to aerobic exercise, such as running, walking, or swimming,
as means to reduce symptoms of depression. However, there is new evidence stating that lifting weights, no matter how gloomy or melancholy you feel at first, will improve your mood. Strength training has the potential to be the new cognitive behavioral therapy. What is interesting about this new study from “JAMA Psychiatry” is that it doesn’t matter if the patient suffers from depression because those that were diagnosed with depression before the experiment felt better after weight lifting, and those not diagnosed were less likely to get depressed or have symptoms. Also, it didn’t matter how often one lifts weights, if it was once a week or five times a week, the results were consistent.
Image courtesy of Into the Gates
According to Brett Gordon, a graduate student at the University of Limerick who led the study, weight lifting changes aspects of the brain by the influx and various levels of neurochemicals that influence our mood. Lifting weights is not
only beneficial to your mental and physical health, but it gives us something to be proud of. It provides tangible and measurable achievements which on its own gives us confidence. So go ahead and “blow off some steam.”
Baseball Double Header VS. College of DuPage 3.24.19
lker le Wa an y K n sema Sherm irst ba of Dupage’s header on f r e c ble Lan g College ed a douke. ta y a o l t p s s a k sl am loo n Gray . The te Martin y, March 24 i Sunda
s s snag o r a J TJ e seman a b rst. Th t fi s r r o fi f ge es Dupa tz rac March e of , t e y S g a e t d l n cot Col on Su LC’s S r C e s d a a e ll eh the ba doubl a d e play . teams yslake a r G 24 in
Lynn Photos by m Dahlstro
c h w a it s Ryan Brou my ll a n d To m a b e h t r fo ) backs up R ig a li ( # 2 ’s of Dupage a s Co ll e g e r t in s li d e s a M n a m r She . cond base e s s d r a w to s p la y e d The team eader on a d o u b le h a r c h 2 4 in Sunday, M . G r a y s la k e
squal Pit c h e r Pa f ir e s D e F il ip p is in s t t h e o n e in a g a u Pa g e in D Co ll e g e o f eader on a d o u b le h r c h 2 4 in a Sunday, M . G r a y s la k e
Monday, April 8, 2019
Truth Conquers All Since 1969
VOL. 52, NO. 12
Student athletes tell all about time in CLC sports Jack Van Reck
Staff Reporter As CLC athletics are getting into full swing of their spring seasons, it can be difficult for athletes to balance the different aspects of their lives. With academics becoming evermore challenging as the semester comes to fruition, athletes have different ways of ensuring that they will meet their goals both in the classroom and on the field. Anthony Caldwell, 21, a freshman on the CLC Men’s Tennis team says that his motivation comes from thinking about the impact his grades will have on his ability to play. “I have to get all good grades because, basically, if you fail a class you just don’t play next year,” Caldwell said. “So that motivates me
to get my grades up.” Jillian Foote, 20, a sophomore on the CLC Softball team explains that time management is key to maintaining school and athletics. “[Athletics] have actually made me a stronger student because I know I need to get the homework done,” Foote said. “I need to set aside time for homework and studying for tests.” Every athlete knows what determination looks like from the field and in the classroom. Setbacks, no matter how minor, can affect an athlete’s ability to compete at his or her highest level. Collin Drake, 20, a sophomore on the CLC Baseball team explains what determination looks like. After suffering from a ruptured UCL in his thumb last season, Drake’s season
was limited to only 11 games. By coming back this season, he hopes to find the same stride he had the previous year. Drake said he finds his motivation to come back stronger than before in the love for the game. He relied on the support of his teammates, friends, and family to stay optimistic during the three month physical rehabilitation process after his injury. Having a job can add an unnecessary amount of stress to an athlete’s life, but there are ways to have income and compete in athletics at the college level. Finding a job that is flexible with the time commitment is a must, according to both Caldwell and Drake. Danny Yates, 20, a sophomore on the baseball team views his job as
CLC’s Baseball team, one of the college’s many hard-working teams Photo Courtesy of Richard Ray
something different than just working outside of his sport. “My job is to show up everyday and set an example for the younger guys, show them what it’s like to put on the CLC uniform and how to handle themselves on the field and in the classroom,”
Yates said. That being said, the hard work that CLC student athletes put in does not go unnoticed as they compete to reach their full athletic potential throughout their season-long grind to become champions.
CLC reflects on March Madness tournament Brandon Ferrara
Sports Editor
As March fades into the past, the number of college basketball teams in the NCAA March Madness tournament has reduced to four teams out of a grand total of 68. Millions of brackets were submitted, and none have remained perfect through the Elite 8. However, many participants reflect on their calculated and confident picks. The Final Four and NCAA Champion are still undecided, leaving CLC students and staff waiting to see if the dreams of their new favorites to win will be realized. With many upsets and Cinderella stories coming true, it is just a guessing game at this point–– a last minute glimmer of hope for those who follow the tournament. The teams that are currently still in contention for the
title are the University of Virginia, Auburn University, Texas Tech University, and Michigan State University. When the last buzzer in the Final Four sounds on April 6, the winners of each game will be welcomed to the NCAA March Madness Championship game, where they will square off in an intense matchup on April 8. CLC political science student Alexa Waheed, 18, was rooting Duke University to win the tournament. “That’s my dream school that I want to get into,” Waheed said. “They had that momentum that you kind of need in order to get to the Final Four and the championship, but they lost.” Duke University played in their final game of the tournament, in the Elite 8, against Michigan State University and lost with a score of 67 to 68. “If it gives someone else a chance to win, I’m rooting for Texas [Tech] because
I’m a Texas girl at heart,” Waheed said. Waheed believes that Texas Tech will face Virginia in the final game with the Red Raiders prevailing. CLC student Emaje Bristow-Motton, 18, has a different opinion on who will win. “All the way, first, I wanted Duke to win,” BristowMotton said. “I want new teams to advance, so I wasn’t mad about it.” “I want Auburn to win because they’re on a roll right now,” Bristow-Motton said. “I think if Auburn beats Virginia, then they’ll play Michigan State.” With that being said, there are numerous combinations of potential matchups and outcomes, but one fact that is known for certain is echoed by the Director of Student Activities at CLC, Jorge Tennin. “My bracket is busted now,” Tennin said. “Auburn and LSU messed up my
Sweet 16. I had 14 out of 16 teams picked correctly.” Contrary to the popular decision of picking Duke as the overall favorite to be crowned champions, Tennin picked a different team to win. “Duke kills me every year, but I had North Carolina going all the way against Michigan,” Tennin said. “I would like to see Virginia redeem themselves because they went out in the first round last year,” he said. “If not, I’d like to see Michigan State win it because I’m a huge Big Ten fan. I started off watching college basketball because of the Big Ten.” March Madness captivates such a large audience because of its unpredictability and the endless possibilities of matchups throughout, which creates fans with undying support and interest like Tennin. “I love March Madness because I got every TV on, and I’m switching back and
forth,” Tennin said. “I’ve been watching it since I was a kid.” The exciting and competitive nature of all 63 games in the main six rounds of the tournament allow fans to wonder what’s going to happen next, for good or for bad. “Statistically the number one seeds are supposed to be in the Final Four, but that’s why they call it Cinderella season because you never know what’s going to happen,” Tennin said. Once the Final Four brings the tournament one step closer to ending, it also brings some fans one step closer to bliss by having their favorite school crowned NCAA Champions. However, for Waheed, Bristow-Motton, Tennin, and many others, the madness will resume next March and continue for many exciting years to come.