Feb. 6, 2019

COLLEGE OF DUPAGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER — 6 FEBRUARY

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2019

VO L U M E 5 3

KICKING OFF BLACK HISTORY MONTH NEWS COLUMN

FEATURES

OPINION

Ralph Northam Needs to Resign

Fyre Festival Documentaries Review

Is American Intervention in Venezuela Justified?

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COLLEGE OF DUPAGE WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST Made Possible by the COD Meteorology Department WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

39°F 30°F

CLOUDY

70% FREEZING RAIN (PM)

46°F 12°F

80%

CLOUDY RAIN CHANCE OF PM SNOW

16°F 6°F

0%

PARTLY SUNNY

25°F 14°F

0%

PARTLY SUNNY

SUNDAY - TUESDAY RECAP Heading into the upcoming weekend, colder temperatures will return to the Midwest as they advect in behind the cold frontal passage on Thursday night. Also along with colder temperatures, the pattern will turn quiet for a good chunk of the weekend thanks to an area of high pressure moving into the region. This will lead to dry weather through at least Saturday evening and into Sunday morning. The next system or threat of precipitation comes on Sunday. A period of warm advection could lead to some snow developing across portions of the Midwest by Sunday afternoon, possibly across northern Illinois. Beyond Sunday, the pattern going forward into next week leading to potentially several more rounds of precipitation.

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INDEX

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NEWS······················ 04

Board of Trustees Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi Resigns

FEATURES··············· 06

Fyre Festival: Which Documentary did it Best?

OPINION·················· 10

Reading is a Skill

COFFEE BREAK······ 18

Crossword and Sudoku Puzzles

COD Courier Student Newspaper

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ON THE COVER

THE TEAM

SRC 1220 • 630-942-2689

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF···························· Tessa Morton ASSIGNMENT REPORTER················· Joey Weslo

Afrikan dance at opening ceremony

Lindsay Piotter

NEWS EDITOR································· Madison Venckus NEWS CORRESPONDENT················· Karla Villegas Pineda OPINION EDITOR····························· Kimberly Wilson HEAD PHOTO EDITOR······················· Alison Pfaff ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR·············· Lindsay Piotter GRAPHICS EDITOR··························· Brandon Beckwith ASSISTANT GRAPHICS EDITOR········· John Noonan STAFF WRITER································ Miguel Contreras III STAFF WRITER································ DeAnte Washington ADVISER - Jim Fuller fullerj103@cod.edu

ABOUT US The Courier is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters, except for the first and last Wednesday of each semester and the week of spring break as a public forum with content chosen by student editors. One copy free, additional copies available upon request.

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Deliver all correspondence to SSC 1220 between regular office hours or mail to the Courier, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL. 60137.

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NEWS

COD Newsroom Flickr

Board of Trustees Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi Resigns Madison Venckus, News Editor College of DuPage Board of Trustees Chairman Deanne Mazzochi was recently elected to the 47th seat in the House of Representatives. Mazzochi won the district that includes parts Elmhurst, Oak Brook, Hinsdale and Westmont over Democrat competitor Jim Caffrey.

Mazzochi, who is an Elmhurst resident, was chosen to fill Patti Bellock’s state representative seat when it was left vacant in July 2018. She was than officially elected to the seat this past November.

Mazzochi resigned as board chairman on Jan. 17. She will continue to serve as a trustee for the im-

mediate future and Vice Chairman Frank Napolitano will complete her term as board chairman until the next organizational meeting which is set for April or May 2019.

Mazzochi was unanimously voted in to serve as the chairwoman her third consecutive year by fellow board of trustee members.

She filled the position in December 2018 after the resignation of former chairwoman Kathy Hamilton.

As chairwoman, Mazzochi has voted against raising the property tax fees and balanced the college’s budget during the state’s budget disagreement. Mazzochi has also been credited for a series of reform

that eventually led to the Higher Learning Commission probation lift in November 2017.

"It has been my great honor and privilege to serve as your Chairman of this Board through a very historical period of governance at this wonderful College," Mazzochi said. "I have been in consultation on this process with Vice Chairman Frank Napolitano, and I look forward to working with him through the transition. I am glad he will continue our excellent progress on the strategic plans that we, as a Board, have worked on together and refined over the past planning and budgeting years."

Napolitano is currently serving a six-year term and chairs the board’s budget committee. Napolitano praised Mazzochi’s work while on the board saying she met the challenges of leadership with grit and determination.

"Your leadership helped us continue to move the College forward during a very divided time on this Board. I truly appreciate the Board's trust in me as vice chairman and for the opportunity to serve out your term as Board chairman,” Napolitano said.

NEWS COLUMN

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RALPH NORTHAM NEEDS TO RESIGN FROM OFFICE Madison Venckus, News Editor

Photos from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s medical school yearbook resurfaced after 35 years on Friday. One photo in particular featured himself and another student— one wearing blackface and the other dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood. Northam did not state which one was him but did apologize for his decision to appear in the photo. Following that apology, Northam changed his story and claimed he was not in the photo at all. Elected officials and activists groups are calling for his resignation.

Following his apology, Northam announced via Twitter that he spent the past year “fighting for a Virginia that works better for all people,” and he would continue to do so throughout the rest of his term, which ends in January 2022.

I don’t consider Northam to be irredeemable, but I also don’t find it fair for him to tell Virginians he’s chosen to stay in the governor's position following his acknowledgment of his loss of their trust.

Although I’m disgusted that

two men found it acceptable to dress that way, I am most in awe of Northam lying and changing his story following his apology for the photo. I Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia think people begiving Inaugural address come more indeciFlickr user Craigsive when it comes to Northam holding other accountable changed his stofor action in the past. But what ry during Saturdays press conI find the most concerning are ference. He originally admitthe decisions he’s making now. ted to being in the photo and Northam's apology video apologized, but following that posted to Twitter on Friday he claimed he had never seen night seemed sincere. “The the photo before. The Huffingracist and offensive attitudes it ton post stated that The Virrepresents does not reflect the ginia Legislative Black Caucus person I am today, or the way (VLBC) released a statement that I have conducted myself as saying it was continuing to a soldier, a doctor and a public call for Northam’s resignation. servant,” he said. “I am deeply “The caucus said that the govsorry. I cannot change the deciernor changing his story damsions I made, nor can I undo the aged his ability to regain the harm that my behavior caused public’s trust.” then and today, but I accept reHe may believe he is making sponsibility for my past actions the right decision to remain in and I am ready to do the hard his position, but I don’t believe work of regaining your trust.” he needs to remain in office in order to regain Virginians trust.

I think people become more indecisive He should resign in a way that will emphasize the stigma surwhen it comes to holding other accountable rounding racism. A powerful for action in the past. But what I find the most gesture like this can give him concerning are the decisions he’s making now. a boost towards regaining the trust in him.

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6

FEATURES

LIAR LIAR, PANTS ON FYRE WHICH DOCUMENTARY DID IT BEST? Alison Pfaff, Head Photo Editor

Flickr user John Klos

From the memes surfacing on Twitter and the hype surrounding the Fyre Festival documentaries that had just come out on Hulu and Netflix, I decided to deep dive into the world of the most epic party that never happened. I started by watching the Netflix documentary: “Fyre: the Greatest Party that Never Happened.” Entertaining to say the least, I learned of the insanity that ensued when rapper Ja Rule and entrepreneur/scammer Billy McFarland created Fyre Festival, a supposed luxury music festival in the Bahamas, to take place during two weekends in April and May of 2017. With social media influencers promoting the project, beginning with a single orange square on

their Instagram and a picture-perfect commercial with recognizable models, this was destined to be the greatest festival of all time right?

Wrong.

With only months to prepare, oversold tickets, a suspicious amount of money pouring in from Billy’s side of things, workers not being paid, it was a disaster. Guests arrived to find their “luxury experience,” was a mass of unstable tents, no running water and lack luster food.

The internet turned the event into a joke, laughing over millennials being scammed out of thousands of dollars. Performers such as Blink 182, G.O.O.D Music and Major Lazer pulled out of the event last minute, and guests were stranded.

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While the Netflix documentary had me puzzled why someone would throw such an extravagant music festival on such a short time frame, one thing was missing: Billy himself. McFarland’s voice was not present in the Netflix documentary, which is a crucial side to the story that people must hear.

Employees of the company spoke out against the insanity, but I wish Billy could have explained himself.

Even if he is a fraud, what would have made it better is interviewing the creator himself.

Hulu’s Documentary “Fyre Fraud” expressed multiple points of views, including McFarland and those who worked for him. That aspect had me more interested. At

• • • •

this point, I knew the basic timeline of how things occurred, but Hulu did a great job of giving McFarland a chance to speak for himself. ou could tell he was either lying or just plain delusional, and that somehow made it both interesting and sad to watch. He appeared so caught up in his own lies he couldn’t even really defend himself from the damage he caused.

Overall, while both documentaries have their high points, Hulu’s “Fyre Fraud” reigns superior in the interview area, as well as background on McFarland, while Netflix’ was engaging and hilarious entertainment wise. I highly recommend both.

FEATURES EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR FREELANCE ARTIST

EMAIL EDITOR@COD.EDU FOR MORE DETAILS

Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series The Phillips Collection Washington (DC) October 2016

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African Americans from the South heading North during World War I.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH February 2019

A Teaching and Learning Celebration

National Theme:

Black Migrations

A movement that shaped history.

Black Migrations emphasizes the movement of people of African descent to new destinations and subsequently to new social realities. It has resulted in a more diverse and stratified interracial and intra-racial urban population amid a changing social milieu. It is rich in culture that has influenced industry, business, art, religion, politics and more.

For more information, visit cod.edu/csdi.

For ADA accommodations, call (630) 942-2141 (voice) or (630) 858-9692 (TDD). Please call two weeks in advance. Š2019 College of DuPage. All rights reserved. CSDI-19-18810(1/19)

8

FEATURES NEWS

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SCHEDULE “Tell Them We Are Rising” film presented by Living Leadership in Collaboration With the Black Student Alliance Thursday, Feb. 7 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM Student Services Center (SSC), Room 3245

College of DuPage Entrepreneurship Club From Black Migration to Black Businesses and Beyond Tuesday, Feb. 12 and 26 from 3:00 PM to 4:30PM Student Services Center (SSC), Room 3245

‘Migration from Then to Now’ Talk by Special Guest Dr. Fredrick Douglas Dixon Thursday, Feb. 14 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Health and Science Center (HSC), Room 1234

Global Flicks’ ‘The African Doctor’

Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM MAC Playhouse

Black Student Alliance (BSA) Club Panel Discussion Thursday, Feb. 21 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Student Services Center (SSC), Room 1200

College of DuPage Africa and African Diaspora Committee Ivory Coast Discussion Monday, Feb. 25 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM TBD

The Inaugural College of DuPage Hip Hop Summit Monday April 29 to Thursday May 2

Black History Month 2019 Closing Ceremony‘A Taste of History’ Featuring the Indika Reggae Band Feb. 28 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Cafeteria

TRANSFER TO NIU

OPEN HOUSE FEBRUARY 15

REGISTER NOW go.niu.edu/COD

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10

OPINION

Photo by Lindsay Piotter

READING IS A SKILL Kimberly Wilson, Opinion Editor

For many college students, “doing the reading” is often seen as a complete drag and avoided whenever possible. In this current age of technological advances and social media, taking the time to sit still and read for a significant period of time isn’t stimulating enough for many of us.

It’s easy to get frustrated and give up on reading difficult texts, but the benefits of reading, including improved writing ability and better memory retention, are worth the effort. We must realize reading is an important skill we have to develop if we want to be efficient at it.

Many of us don’t think of reading as something we should work at. We think once we learn how to do it, reading should come naturally. Any book that doesn’t immediately grab our attention isn’t worth our effort.

Resulting from this mindset, many of us abstain from completing the assigned reading for our classes. Readings in college should be challenging, but if we don’t

make the effort, it will always seem like a hurdle we can’t jump.

Today’s society values instant gratification and our attention spans have suffered because of it. From Instagram to rewatching ‘Friends’ on Netflix, there are so many things that are capable of drawing our attention away from class readings.

Much of the media breaks the information we receive into palatable and exciting pieces. This has made us too lazy to read anything that challenges us to think deeply and really pay attention. We can now download an ebook or look up summaries for our class materials, and it is causing us to lose sight of how important reading really is.

To improve our reading skills, we must get into the habit of blocking out distractions. Doing things like switching off your

phone while studying and turning the wifi off on your laptop while completing an assignment can aid in staying focused.

It will be difficult at first, but the more we do it, the easier and more enjoyable reading challenging pieces will become. When we refrain from doing the reading, we cheat ourselves out of much of the college experience. Doing the minimum amount of work required to pass a class is the wrong way to approach college.

Yes, we’re here to obtain a degree in order to land our desired job.

But expanding our knowledge is a crucial part of gaining a college education. We will only be able to do that to a limited extent if we don’t read the assigned texts.

We don’t want to look back on our college experience years from now and think we didn’t learn as

When we refrain from doing the reading, we cheat ourselves out of much of the college experience.

much as we should have. We are paying a lot of money to attend college; get your money’s worth out of the experience.

Many of us have other responsibilities, and it may seem impossible to find the time to read multiple books for multiple classes. Much of college is about developing competent time management skills. Balancing our school work with the rest of our lives is something we have to learn to do. It isn’t going to get any less hectic once we graduate college. We might as well learn to multitask now.

From making us more well-rounded individuals to improving critical thinking skills, the benefits of reading must not be taken for granted.

We need to make it a point to read more inside and outside the classroom. Not only should we be reading books we like, but we should read pieces that are going to challenge us as well. Like honing any skill, the process of honing our reading skills may be arduous, but it will be well worth it in the end.

OPINION OPINION

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HOW TO SUCCEED IN DEMOCRACY WITHOUT REALLY TRYING IS AMERICAN INTERVENTION IN VENEZUELA JUSTIFIED? Joey Weslo, Assignment Reporter Imperialism is how Americans learn geography.

As President Donald Trump prepares a national emergency declaration to appropriate border wall funds, the real migration crisis in the Americas is unfolding in Venezuela.

Over 3 million people have fled the oil-rich nation, once boasting the strongest economy in Latin America. Since oil revenues plummeted in 2014, the authoritarian regime of President Nicolas Maduro has invited 1.3 million percent inflation, power cuts and shortages in food and medicine upon a desperate public.

“To be neutral, is to be on the side of the regime that has condemned hundreds of thousands of human beings in misery, hunger and exile – including death,” said opposition leader Juan Guaido, urging world leaders to support his challenge to Maduro’s authority.

Guaido said a fraudulent election marred by opposition boycott and politically-motivated imprisonment makes him, as leader of the National Assembly, the constitutional leader.

David Goldberg, professor of political science at the College of DuPage, warns of the American impulse to sabre-rattle in the name of democracy, while forgetting the lessons of our interventionist past.

“Even Latin Americans who hate Maduro are scared of U.S. interventionism,” said Goldberg.

“Nothing unifies people stronger than the threat of U.S. military action. People never forget the past interventions and covert opera-

Nicolás Maduro Photo by Gobierno de Venezuela

tions, and it’s easy to blame anything, whether warranted or not, on U.S. imperialism.”

Goldberg believes the Trump Administration should rely on diplomacy and cooperation with international organizations to inspire a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The further threat of military action or forceful tactics only serves to unite people behind the dictators America endeavors to remove.

The question remains, how does America usher in democratic change without rehashing the old imperialistic haunts? What’s the point in speaking softly and carrying a big stick, if you never get to swing it around?

Following the spirit of ex-Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s 1999 Bolivarian socialist revolution, Maduro has painted Ameri-

cans as diabolical imperialists intent on staging a coup to profit off Venezuela’s oil.

“If the aim of the United States is to invade, they’ll have a Vietnam worse than can be imagined,” said Maduro to cheering supporters.

Enraging Maduro, the United States, European Union and most Latin American nations have officially recognized Guaido as rightful president. Authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, Cuba and Turkey continue to support Maduro.

Anti-Maduro demonstrations have been responded to with brutality from security forces. Forty protestors have been killed since Jan. 21, and almost 1,000 opposition supporters have been imprisoned, with many subject to torture. According to the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, 43

extrajudicial killings and systematic torture by security forces have shaken Venezuela’s poorest slums.

The pro-government supreme court has barred Guaido from leaving Venezuela and froze his financial assets. U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton warned Maduro will face, “serious consequences” if Guaido is harmed.

Fervent pro-government rallies demonstrate the fractured conscious of the nation, heightening tensions of violence.

To aid Guaido’s efforts to establish a transitional government, the U.S. State Department gave him access to all Venezuelan bank accounts held in the U.S. They also assured $20 million from the international community in food and continued on page 12

OPINION

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Millions of Venezuelans marching on May 20, 2017 during the We Are Millions march

continued from page 11

medical aid would be provided for the opposition to disseminate.

The U.S. has also sanctioned Maduro’s regime, depriving them of $11 billion in oil export revenues over the next year. The sanctions restrict foreign entities from conducting business with Maduro using the U.S. financial system.

The Trump Administration also blocked Venezuela out of credit markets, handicapping the ability to restructure their massive debts.

Oil provides more than 90 percent of Venezuela’s foreign revenue. Preceding the nation’s economic crisis was Chavez and Maduro’s failure to diversify their economy. Short-sighted policies were coupled with corruption, cronyism, mismanagement and reckless social spending.

Goldberg believes the economic insecurity bares multi-faceted responsibility.

“One can be critical of Chavez and Maduro’s policies for what they’ve done to the Venezuelan people and economy, while also recognizing U.S. interventionism has stunted economic and political development in Latin America for over 150 years,” said Goldberg.

Goldberg explained Chavez repeatedly humiliated U.S. presidents face-to-face by referring to 500 years of American imperialism in Latin America.

Chavez referenced America’s complicity in the 1973 Chilean coup against democratically-elected socialist President Salvador Allende, replaced by military dictator Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet’s brutal regime would go on to murder thousands and torture tens of thousands of Chileans.

During the cold war, the CIA sponsored the systematic assassination and repression of socialist leaders, further empowering Latin American dictators under the clandestine Operation Condor.

According to the New York Times, an estimated 60,000 political opponents were killed in far-right, American-supported efforts to eradicate communism.

President Ronald Reagan resurrected the mantra of the Monroe Doctrine, saying the Roosevelt Corollary justified American intervention at the behest of providing regional security. The Reagan Doctrine was used to justify anti-communist actions like the invasion of Grenada and the support of the right-wing terrorist Con-

tras. The Contras’ guerilla efforts to topple the Sandinista government of Nicaragua resulted with tens of thousands being killed.

Goldberg said, in 2011 Chavez was temporarily forced from power under American-inspired actions. He believes intervention just fuels the malicious public narrative of the CIA. “Brutal dictators should be challenged on their humanitarian abuses, but it’s a profound mistake to continue the missteps of twentieth-century U.S. foreign policy in Latin America,” said Goldberg.

Goldberg believes the Organization of American States (OAS) has credibility in the hemisphere and will be crucial to inspiring democratic reform. Actions through the OAS are perceived less as violations of sovereignty than when the U.S. chooses to act unilaterally.

However, Goldberg warns believing they can easily bring democracy to any nation is a foolish mentality for the OAS and the US to posit.

“Chavez and Maduro have taken 20 years to tear apart the democratic institutions of the constitution, electoral system, the free press, labor unions and business confederations,” said Goldberg.

“It’s going to take a long time

to redevelop all that’s been lost; there’s no quick solution.”

Imperative to dismantling the regime is corroding support for Maduro among the military. Chavez purged the military and rewarded loyalty with lucrative cabinet posts and positions in the oil industry.

Maduro has continued Chavez’s practices and doles out pay raises for loyalty.

Guaido has offered amnesty to any members who switch allegiance to the opposition. Such defections are met with accusations of treason.

Amnesty would be offered for the rampant lesser crimes of embezzlement, drug trafficking and money laundering. However, Goldberg said those guilty of killing civilians in a systematic way would not be offered amnesty.

These military members see little benefit in giving up their guns and support for Maduro.

“Traditionally in Latin America, when civilians cannot maintain the democratic institutions, the military intervenes to save the security of the nation,” said Goldberg.

“However, as long as the military continues to support Maduro, any change will involve bloodshed.”

Before Chavez, Venezuela experienced high corruption and economic inequality, but was prosperous under a two-party political system.

Unlike regional nations who succumbed to military dictatorships, Venezuela remained stable throughout the twentieth century.

Goldberg believes Chavez could have accomplished his socialist goals of helping the poor without reverting to authoritarianism.

“Chavez, and leaders like Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, are more like traditional Latin American strongmen Caduillos than ideological socialists,” said Goldberg. “Fundamentally, they carry the veneer of socialism while representing the resurgence of authoritarianism.

OPINION By using the socialist ideology as a weapon, they embolden their selfrule by deconstructing the institutions of democracy.

Trump has capitalized on the chaos in Venezuela to paint all socialist nations or politicians who support democratic socialism with a broad brush.

However, socialism ideologically means the country’s wealth is disseminated more equally amongst its people. The citizens control the means of production and the distribution of goods. Socialism can be used under any form of government from communism, democracy, authoritarianism, to the result of outcomes as diverse as the USSR and modern democratic socialist governments in Scandinavia.

Goldberg believes simplifying policies down to politically-moti-

13

Brutal dictators should be challenged on their humanitarian abuses, but it’s a profound mistake to continue the missteps of twentieth-century U.S. foreign policy in Latin America

-David Goldberg

vated labels dangers delegitimizing the seriousness and complexity of political issues.

He believes instead of continuing to paint foreign policy with ideological brushes, we should focus on the humanitarian severity of the situation.

With inflation causing Venezuelan food prices to double every 19 days, Trump’s efforts should be concentrated on humanitarian re-

lief. Lack of medicine has contributed to over 600,000 cases of malaria in 2017, a 50 percent increase from the previous year. The impoverished and hungry Venezuelans fleeing their country have been met with anti-immigrant resistance from neighboring countries.

The strain on each nation’s social services has resulted in a nationalistic anger unseen on the continent for many decades.

Nationalism fuels anti-American sentiment and provides ripe situations for further un-democratic regimes to consolidate power.

Goldberg believes the OAS and the UN should work to provide a peaceful exit strategy for Maduro, amnesty for military members, and lay the groundwork for future free and fair elections.

“All over the world, forces of nationalism and economic populism are symptoms of dissatisfaction with the political and economic institutions no longer serving all of society,” said Goldberg. “The solutions the world has been coming up with have been more dysfunctional than the problems they have been trying to replace. Unless all voices are heard, democracy will never have the chance to flourish.”

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14

OPINION

THE INSOMNIAC SPECIAL: 5 SUREFIRE WAYS TO HATE YOUR COD EXPERIENCE Miguel An gel Contrer as

III

Staff Writer

Thoughts, feelings, or spontaneous schemes for world domination?

Let me know! macontrerasiii@gm ail.com

In my first semester of higher education, I attended Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio. I was on athletic scholarship to competitively play the popular MOBA (Multi-player online battle arena) and video game League of Legends with their newly christened Esports program. In doing so, I achieved a bit of a dream.

Although I achieved a successful GPA in high school, playing League of Legends was my passion. As is the nature of passion, mine was swift to flip upon its head.

While attending Lourdes I enjoyed a wonderful broadening of academic horizons, intricate social dilemmas and, for the first time, authentic independence.

Once again, it was a successful year. The League of Legends team reached the playoffs with its star-studded roster only falling to the tournament favorites. My name appeared on the dean’s list, and I was invited to become an upperclassman adviser to incoming freshman.

Despite the team’s success, many of us were unhappy. I no longer

loved the game the same way I had before. It wasn’t only because of events that transpired directly with League of Legends and my teammates. When something consumes a life and becomes its centerpiece it affects everything else, and everything affects it.

As many inexperienced hopeless romantics do, I began at Lourdes University at the same time my relationship became long distance.

Although she remained in Illinois while I studied in Ohio, I loved her unequivocally. But sometimes when two people both say, “I love you,” they don’t mean the same thing. In a perfect cascade of heartbreak she called me the same night I earned the starting Varsity position I had aspired to for so long.

“I don’t think we’re growing together; I think we’re growing apart,” she said.

I almost wish I could’ve believed her. But when she attended a homecoming dance the next night with a “platonic date” it left little to the imagination as to why I felt emotionally clobbered. Video Games have no emotions, and whether I was pretending not to be coping with the latest round of pitiful, post-breakup love loss or not, League was going to remain frustrating. The negativity of those emotions compounded with one another.

I wouldn’t lose my passion simply by the loss of that love though. It would take a year of personality conflicts and poor program management to snuff it out. Even amongst THE other skilled and talented teammates I was amongst the hardest of grinders.

My teammates didn’t always echo that sentiment.

When they did it was often through a toxic megaphone. It was enough to disillusion me with what it might be like to work with other League of Legends players further up the ladder. Some of those same teammates I had watched play at the collegiate level for years while I worked my way through high school. Before attending Lourdes, knowing I would play with them was surreal. Playing alongside them was a tragic way to watch your heroes die.

Although I suffered in other relationships, all my professors at Lourdes University were wonderful. The two I forged with my ethics professor, Mark Christensen, and one of my psychology professors, Bob Campbell, were some of the most influential in liberating me. I was fortunate enough to not only learn from these remarkable teachers in class, but also to spend hours in the university's window-filled dining hall overlooking Lourdes’ nature-filled campus inquiring into whatever curiosity met me during our conversations. Through our discussions exploring the abstract, the scientific, and the personal, they assisted in unearthing a zest for life in all its facets. I spent years trying to escape a mundane lifestyle, starting as a little kid playing a vid-

BAD BOYS

OF

eogame that never wanted to grow up. I now know I don’t have to.

I’d spent the last five years in single-minded and steadfast determination to become a professional League of Legends player. That goal was the primary reason I chose Lourdes University. After it fell out of its place as the centerpiece in my life, I was forced to reconsider what career I wanted and where I wanted to study it. Although I had studied Psychology as a surprisingly enjoyable plan B for that year, I decided not to return. Instead, I came to the College of DuPage to reevaluate things.

It’s safe to say that, although a growing experience, I’ve struggled in my time at the College of Dupage. On top of an abysmal GPA, dropping several thousand rankings in League of Legends’ and consistently missing weekly deadlines, the counselor’s office was suggested to me almost daily. (I’m doing better now- promise.)

Nonetheless, my short-term juxtaposition of experiences could help YOU understand what steps you should take if you, too, would like to soar, spiral, burn and start anew in such spectacular fashion.

LOURDES UNIVERSITY

OPINION

1

Desync Your Circadian Rhythm “Sleep is for the weak.” False. Sleep is for the week. Don’t get me wrong. I get that if we didn’t have to spend 8 hours a night sleeping we would get ⅓ of our lives back, but try to think of it as paying the time forward to double your return.

However, If you’d like a fast track to suffering with withering mental stability, be sure to never go to sleep at the same time, and make sure it’s 6 hours or less before, “if I wake up now, I can get ready, drive to COD, and walk in the minute class starts!”

For those of you less inclined and looking to make a change: Let your memes rest. They’ll be there in the morning.

3

It’s All About the GPA A fellow classmate once said to me, “I hate these nursing classes, but I can’t wait to be a nurse!”

As intriguing as forcing myself through courses I don’t enjoy for the sake of a grade so I can land myself in a career field I suddenly discover I have no interest in sounds, I’ll take the scenic route.

Many students at COD maintain other academic aspirations, and consequently envision themselves requiring a specific grade point average to get there.

Where looking ahead certainly can be useful at times, rigidly confining yourself to numerical mandates could mean driving straight when life’s inevitably winding path turns left.

Classes, their credits aside, represent a stop in lifelong learning, including outside the classroom. Even classes of relative disinterest can be sources of inspiration, given the opportunity, and can lead to great discovery on a path that doesn't have to be so straight and narrow.

But I digress, if I see or hear about one more “quadratic equation” I might throw up.

5

Listen To Me “Who is more foolish? The fool, or the one who follows the fool?” Let’s be honest, I don’t really know what I’m talking about. I’ve admitted my shortcomings for good reason: I’m just figuring things out as I go. But for better or for worse, I’m OK with that.

Your first semester, or returning semester, at COD, and perhaps beyond, is about your personal adventure and endeavors. So do it your way. Stay true to your passion, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

In the meantime, if you’re able to mine even a nugget from what I’ve written, it makes every uncertain and restless evening consuming a gluttonous quantity of waffle fries with a pen in my hand worth it.

Good luck, don’t suck, and don’t forget to keep reading!

15

2

Don’t socialize— EVER “Trust no one, not even yourself. Everyone sucks. I’m tired of people hurting me.” If you find yourself toiling in similar social cynicism: Bravo. You’ve discovered the imperfection in humanity. If not, you may find yourself in the camp of, “I want to say hello, but my crippling social anxiety says otherwise.”

In either case, allowing cynicism or fear to dictate your relationships is a great way to find yourself in lonely, paralyzing introspection and circular thinking.

There’s a lot to do on campus. Too much really. Not to mention a comprehensive palette of personalities that can accomodate most interests, quirks, and mannerisms. Sadly, it's not taken advantage of nearly enough.

Even if you take a chance to find your niche and miss, just remember: It’s a commuter campus the size of a small town.

You can disappear and try again somewhere else.

4

Only Move Your Body to Retrieve Food From the Kitchen “I’m not lazy; I’m energy efficient.” I can appreciate practicing stillness, but when the monks did it I don’t think it was in front of a screen. In fact, for those of you unaware, if I attempted most of what they do while moving I’d find more than just my pride wounded.

This is at least in part because COD has a wonderful food court where I regularly indulge in generous servings of waffle fries and secret grilled cheese sandwiches from Subway (you didn’t hear it from me).

But I found something else while exploring the range of the domain, something terrifying- the gym. Ironic to hear from a vacating sports editor I know.

I can’t claim to be a gym rat or have regularly taken advantage of the facility, but it’s what made me realize that, with such pristine equipment at my disposal, I really had no excuse.

Exercising doesn't have to mean trying to look like a greek Adonis or sculpt a summer six pack. Very modest amounts of activity does wonders for the mood, body and psyche. Not to mention it’s an exceptional way to manage stress.

I’ll shamelessly plug here: The entire athletic facility is free to students after being registered for 12 credit hours. Do yourself a favor.

Or, if you’re more like me and gyms aren’t your thing, doing something physically exerting but fun keeps it interesting. I’m a whirlwind of hazardous flailing limbs when I dance in my basement- but at least it makes me sweat.

16

Concordia University Chicago

YOUR WORLD OPENS UP FROM HERE

See your for self!

Why transfer to Concordia–Chicago?

Q Strong academic programs in the arts and sciences, business, education and health sciences

Q Successful outcomes, with 90% of students employed or enrolled

in graduate programs in their fields within six months of graduation

Q Affordable cost through transfer student scholarships of up to

$16,000 per year — and Phi Theta Kappa students can earn an additional scholarship of $2,000 per year

Q A simple transfer process, with your personal admission counselor guiding you through every step

CAMPUS VISIT DAYS Monday, February 18

Saturday, April 6 (Admitted Student Day)

WALK-IN WEDNESDAYS AT CUC Take advantage of our instant admission option, available just for transfer students: 1 – 6 p.m. every Wednesday in APRIL and JUNE

LEARN MORE at CUChicago.edu/transfer Inspiring faith, learning and leadership

7400 Augusta Street, River Forest, IL 60305-1499 • 877-CUChicago (877-282-4422) • Admission@CUChicago.edu

North Central will be at College of DuPage on: January 31, 2019 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

February 14, 2019 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

February 6, 2019 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

February 19, 2019 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Transfer and

Be central

at North Central College.

VISIT OPPORTUNITIES Friday, February 15 - High-Achieving Transfer Students Saturday, March 9 - Transfer Information Session Friday, March 22 - Transfer Information Session northcentralcollege.edu/transfer-visit-registration Transferring into North Central College means helpful planning with knowledgeable counselors, generous academic scholarships and financial aid, and customized campus visits.

Join the conversation and use #BeCentral and #WeAreNC

CALL

EMAIL

LEARN

630-637-5800

admission@noctrl.edu

northcentralcollege.edu/transfer

NEWS NEWS MUSIC

17 Toxic Britney Spears

STAFF PICKS

GUILTY s

e ur s a e Pl

Mine Bazzi

The smooth bassline to “Mine” compliments its cheesy lyrics in way that makes me smile every time the chorus hits. Because most of the lines end in added ninth chords, the flow from the verse to the chorus is not only seamless, but also easily puts listeners in a good mood. Not only has this song become a great meme reaction, it’s become the song I blast through my car’s speakers as I drive home from a good night out with friends.

Karla Villegas Pineda

Peanut Butter Galantis

With a stumbling, incoherent gait I sifted through the throngs of arriving highschool students enroute to my usual crash site. Invariably it was surrounded by similarly sleep deprived friends and flanked by history teachers numbed to the regular early morning demonstrations of our withering mental health. I ricochet off the final turn in the hall and locked onto my fleshy target desperately deluding himself in a doze. Haphazardly, I flopped onto his unaware body with the absent self awareness of a Great Dane. I swapped out his earplugs for my own while he groaned and cursed at me and before he could plant a volleyball spike on my face. I peered through the glare of his pitch sunglasses with feigned innocence and slurred, “Look what I found last night…”. The unthematic music and repetitious lyrics blared in his ears as his grimace recovered. As the second chorus finished playing he remove the earplugs and lower his sunglasses, locking eyes with me with exasperation, but also calm. I had thought the music’s tempo exhilarated him.

“Your taste in music is rapidly declining.”

Miguel Angel Contreras III

Arguably one of Spears’ best records, this sultry pop hit slowly takes over me every time I listen. If you’re ever in search of a fire quote for your next mean muggin’ Instagram post, look no further. And did I mention the iconic violin solo is my absolute fav’? (sorry, Vivaldi). This hit is definitely every bit of a “toxic” guilty pleasure, indeed.

Kimberly Wilson

Believe Cher

I don a pair of scandalous trousers so tight, they create audible gasps as I strut through the bar. If you got it, flaunt it. After careful consideration, I AM too good for you. All the money in the world won’t make the sex with him any better. – Do you believe in life after love?

– Tonight, the dance floor is sultry and stained with sweat-soaked bodies grinding to a hypnotic pulse. “I don’t need you anymore!”

Joey Weslo

This Kiss Carly Rae Jepsen

A lot of music is formulaic, the pop genre more so than others. If you have all the right pieces in the right sequence, with an infectious beat, you could, in theory, make the most mathematically perfect pop song.

That said, it’s really just another song about a scandalous night at a club.

Brandon Beckwith

Take Me Higher A.C.E.

This is a guilty pleasure because I never thought I would publicly admit that I like a Kpop song. I lived in South Korea for five years, and during that time I heard Kpop everyday and wherever I went. At the time I was less inclined to look into the artists that I heard because the music was so far removed from the kind of music I traditionally listened to. Now that I have left Korea, I feel like Kpop followed me here. One of the biggest boy groups in the world is from South Korea and I see students on campus wearing kpop branded hats, bags and hoodies. Motivated by a coworker who was interested in learning about more Korean artists, I did some research of my own and discovered this gem. I truly feel like the Backstreet Boy loving, bubble pop loving, middle school version of myself has reemerged. This song is a bop and the music video is even better. I honestly can play this on repeat and it always makes me smile.

Tessa Morton

YOU CAN FIND THE COURIER SPOTIFY PLAYLIST AT CODCOURIER.ORG

18

COFFEE BREAK

VALENTINE'S DAY ACROSS 1. Indian black tea 6. Elmer to Bugs 9. Glorify 13. Head of a mosque 14. E.T. transporter 15. This was his name-o 16. Mental portrait 17. Chlorofluorocarbon, abbr.

18. French novelist Zola 19. *Related to puzzle theme 21. Way to absorb 23. Lobe locale 24. H. H. Munro's pseudonym 25. Rap sheet abbr.

28. Hungarian bagpipe 30. Deeply hidden within self 35. Initiation ceremony, e.g.

37. Made with stitches 39. Venus neighbor 40. Crucifix 41. Cerberus' domain 43. Petri dish filler 44. Young hooter 46. Fraternity recruitment season 47. Type of shark 48. ____ Grove, MN 50. Corset rod 52. Animal's nose 53. Number one 55. Second solfa syllable, pl.

57. *Flowery Valentine's gift 61. *Between girlfriend and wife 65. Liquid drug container 66. Planet ruler in the movies 68. *Blast from Harry's past, movie 69. Caterpillar hairs 70. Easter lead-in 71. Human social group 72. *Tied upon marriage 73. Kith partner 74. Wild plums

DOWN 1. Gulf V.I.P. 2. Clash of heavyweights 3. NBA action 4. Lake scum 5. Dionysus' follower 6. Mussolini, with Il 7. On vacation 8. Cuckoo for what puffs?

9. *Romantic ride 10. Anisette, for short 11. Tangerine plus grapefruit 12. "Easy ____ it" 15. *Kind of wish 20. *Puppy love 22. Do biathlon 24. Woodworker's byproduct 25. *Cupid's ammo 26. Native of American Great Plains 27. Circular island of coral 29. *First word 31. Hat-tipper's word 32. Donated life-saver 33. Interest in a venture 34. *Heart____ 36. "Harper Valley PTA" star 38. Hatchling's home 42. Harry Belafonte's daughter 45. Tiny tube 49. Tiger's launch point 51. Leavening agent, pl.

54. Smelled offensively 56. Angry growl 57. Lounge, like in the sun 58. A sign 59. "____ ____ no good" 60. African tea 61. Shade-loving plant 62. Greek muse of history 63. River in Bohemia 64. *"Can't take my ____ off you..."

67. Hawaiian dish

COFFEE BREAK

r e v o c s i D Easy transfer of credit to finish your degree quickly

19

Aurora University

Academic advisors partner with you to chart a path and keep graduation in sight

40% of our undergraduate students transferred to AU

COLLEGE OF DUPAGE VISITS Meet with an AU counselor to learn more about admission, academics, and financial aid.

February 7 | February 19 | February 27 | March 14 March 20 | April 9 | April 17 | April 25 | May 8 For more information, visit aurora.edu/admissionevents.

Office of Admission 630-844-5533 | admission@aurora.edu aurora.edu/transfer

NOT ANYMORE

Get the knowledge and power to make your campus safer.

Not Anymore is an online training program designed to help students deal with the issues of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, bullying and alcohol and drug abuse.

Visit the student portal to find a button for the Not Anymore site to complete the training “Preventing Sexual Violence.”

COLLEGE OF DUPAGE’S ANSWER TO INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE.

©2019 College of DuPage. All rights reserved. DS-19-17679(1/19)

Your participation in this training equips you with the knowledge you need to promote safety for yourself and others.

Visit cod.edu/notanymore to learn more.