The Courier | Volume 56 Issue 1

COD Board of Trustees to Vote on Updating COVID-19 Policy Plus: • Campus Map • "The Handmaid's Tale" Season 4 Review • Bulls Offseason Moves Have Fans Excited for the Future

VOLUME

Jessica Tapia

ISSUE NO.

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IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS

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COD Board of Trustees To Vote On Updating COVID-19 Policy What possibly lies ahead for COD in the wake of the governor’s latest executive order

OPINION

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Greetings Chaparrals!

Welcome to fall semester from The Courier’s new staff

MAP

Campus Map With more inperson classes this semester, we have a lot of ground to cover

THE TEAM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF·············································· Brenton Russo MANAGING EDITOR········································· John Moore MULTIMEDIA EDITOR······································ Danny Olivares GRAPHICS EDITOR··········································· Zainab Imam PHOTO EDITOR·················································· Alexia Lukose SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR·································· John Chirayil STAFF WRITER···················································· Haley Battle STAFF WRITER···················································· Bee Bishop STAFF WRITER···················································· Eva Koureta STAFF WRITER···················································· Devin Oommen STAFF WRITER···················································· Katie Toolan STAFF WRITER···················································· Cody Wagner ADVISER································································· Jim Fuller

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FEATURES

OPINION

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The Handmaid’s Tale Season 4 Review -- What It Says About Current Society See the similarities between “The Handmaid’s Tale” and current day events

The Courier (SRC 1220) 425 Fawell Blvd.

Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Disastrous Wildfires are Demolishing Greece: “A Burning Ship With No Captain.”

Devastating wildfires in Greece leave permanent scars

@codcourier

editor@cod.edu • (630) 942-2679 • codcourier.org We publish both print and digital versions of The Courier weekly during spring and fall semesters, with the digital version published Tuesday and the print version on Wednesday. Exceptions include the first and last Wednesday of each semester, as well as the week of spring break.

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SPORTS

MUSIC

WATCH LIST

MUSIC

COFFEE BREAK

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Bulls Offseason Moves Have Fans Excited for the Future The Chicago Bulls add five players and lose seven

The Black Crowes 2021 Tinley Park Review The Robinson brothers returned to the stage with a wholesome and powerful performance

New TV Originals Watch List View a list of our favorite new originals on Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, Netflix and more

Trusting our Journalism It is crucial for all journalists to approach every story with integrity and a desire for the truth, and it's no different here.

Learn more at codcourier.org/ethics The Courier is committed to creating and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the newsroom and at College of DuPage.

Learn more at codcourier.org/diversity

In Remembrance: Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts, 1941-2021 Rolling Stone’s drummer Charlie Watts succumbs to throat cancer at the age of 80

Crossword Puzzle and Sudoku Think you know your television couples? Put your knowledge to the test!

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NEWS COD BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO VOTE ON UPDATING COVID-19 POLICY Bee Bishop, Staff Writer

College of Dupage’s board of trustees have yet to vote on whether the school will be adopting a vaccine mandate meaning COD will not be in immediate compliance with the latest gubernatorial executive order. On Aug. 31, the board called a special meeting to discuss the protocol for how to comply with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order 87. Vice President Jim Bente, chief COVID-19 officer for COD, proposed the framework of a potential plan to the board that met the requirements of the executive order, then opened the floor to discussion.

The executive order was issued on Aug. 26 and detailed the procedure for businesses and organizations, including colleges, on bringing staff and students back to campus.

As per Pritzker’s order, staff and students must either provide proof of vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing to remain on campus for classes or activities. Additionally, the order required students and faculty have at least the first shot of a two-shot vaccine, or a singledose vaccine, within 10 days of the executive order’s release.

In response to the order, Bente proposed a plan to the board that satisfied the executive order’s requirements. The plan includes a system to collect and store data from vaccinated students and staff, as well as a system to administer weekly testing for those who are not vaccinated. When pressed about

the time frame of the executive order, COD President Brian Caputo said COD officials are working with the Illinois Community College Board to work around the 10-day deadline, which was Sept. 5.

“If we’re exercising a good-faith effort to implement as expeditiously as reasonably possible, that would satisfy [the college board], and they will advocate for us,” Caputo said.

When presenting to the board, Bente brought up the climbing number of COVID-19 cases among the age range of 20- to 39-year-olds.

“This is important to us, from my perspective, because this age demographic represents the vast number of COD students,” Bente said.

He also noted the growing number of cases under the age of 20, stating that the idea of herd immunity from vaccinating a majority of DuPage County residents never took children into account, and how the rise in hospitalizations of children with COVID-19 reflects that.

The entire meeting was spent discussing the latest executive order, the proposed plan, and how it would affect the college community.

Trustees stood both for and against the order, most noticeably Trustee Daniel Markwell headed the argument supporting the order and Trustee Annette K. Corrigan spoke in opposition. Regardless of stance, the board unanimously agreed to postpone the vote until a later time.

When asked how much he could elaborate on the specifics in a personal interview, Bente was unable to provide any further details regarding the timing or longevity of any plans to follow the executive order.

“If the board had said, ‘Yeah, this is administrative, go ahead and do this,’ I could have given a lot more details. But we’re in a holding pattern.” Regardless of how the board votes, Bente wanted to make one matter clear, “Our main interest is the safety of our staff, faculty and students.”

The board has postponed the vote until their next meeting in September, unless a special meeting is called before then. For more details about the board’s proposed plans, you can go to cod.edu/board.

Data collected from Illinois Dept. of Public Heath and represents cases from April 11, 2020 - Septmeber 2, 2021 See more at dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics

Stay current with the latest COVID-19 updates at cod.edu/coronavirus

Jessica Tapia

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STAFF EDITORIAL GREETINGS CHAPARRALS! Courier Staff, Fall 2021

Welcome to the College of DuPage 2021 fall semester. Here at The Courier, we’re gearing up for an eventful fall as COVID-19 continues to warrant near-constant attention and our world continues to change rapidly. This is a challenging time for many of our fellow students, staff members and local communities.

You all deserve a lot of credit for your courage in continuing your education during these trying times.

For new students, The Courier is your source for campus news and journalism. The Courier is a student-run newspaper that offers both digital and print versions for our 30,000 readers. Our staff is composed entirely of students, and we’re advised by a 20-year senior writer at the Daily Herald. Heading into the fall semester we have a lot of new staff, and we all look forward to learning and growing with you as you begin your journey here at COD. For returning students, thanks for joining us for another semester! You most likely already know about The Courier, and we certainly appreciate your support, readership and feedback. We hope you’ll continue to view us as a trusted source for unbiased coverage of everything COD, as well as the best source

for student perspectives regarding pressing current events.

As we start the fall 2021 semester, we would love to hear from you, the people we write for, about what interests you most. We’d enjoy your feedback on our work and would appreciate any suggestions on stories that would be of interest to you and our fellow students and staff.

You can engage with us online at codcourier. org and by emailing us at editor@cod.edu.

Finally, we plan on having a weekly editorial feature to let our fellow students know our thoughts and feelings on the most pressing current topic(s) from a student perspective.

We’d enjoy your feedback on our work and would appreciate any suggestions on stories that would be of interest to you and our fellow students and staff

Have a great fall semester!

The Courier Staff

@codcourier

View the Fall 2021 New Student Orientation Guide at codcourier.org/nso

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CAMPUS MAP

We have a lot of ground to cover.

FROM BLANCHARD ROAD

FROM ROOSEVELT ROAD (ROUTE 38)

FROM BLANCHARD ROAD

FROM ROOSEVELT ROAD (ROUTE 38)

TO RTO R OOSOOS EVEE LTVERLT R OADOAD

View the full campus map, COD center maps and building floor plans at cod.edu/maps.

FAWELL BOULEVARD

TEC TEC

HTC HTC

Fawell D Fawell D

Fawell C Fawell C

FAWELL BOULEVARD

SRC SRC

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SSC SSC BIC BIC

Reda Pond Reda Pond

College College 7 7

CHC CHC FAWELL BOULEVARD

HSC HSC

V V

IRC IRC

Fawell A Fawell A

V V

GH GH

Russell R. Kirt Prairie Russell R. Kirt Prairie

MAC MAC

PEC PEC

SCC SCC

Ecological Study Area Ecological Study Area

DeShane Pond DeShane Pond

College 1A College 1A

Softball Field Softball Field

College 4 College 4

Tennis Courts Tennis Courts

Baseball Field Baseball Field College 6 College 6

College 3 College 3

College 2 College 2

College 1 College 1

EAST COLLEGE ROAD

Stadium Stadium

College College 5 5

EAST COLLEGE ROAD

WDCB-FM Transmitter B.J.Hoddinott WDCB-FM Tower Transmitter Wildlife Sanctuary B.J.Hoddinott Tower Wildlife Sanctuary From Butterfield Road (Route 56) From Butterfield Road (Route 56)

Soccer Fields Soccer Fields

Buildings Buildings 425 Fawell Boulevard 425 GlenFawell Ellyn, Boulevard Illinois Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137-6599 60137-6599 (630) 942-2800 (630) 942-2800 www.cod.edu www.cod.edu

Practice Field Practice Field

TO BTO B UTTU TTER ER FIELFIEL D RO D RO AD AD

CMC CMC

Fawell B Fawell B

PARPAR K BO K BO ULEU LEVA VA RD RD

Fawell E Fawell E

LAMBERT LAMBERT ROAD ROAD

WEST WEST COLLEGE COLLEGE ROAD ROAD

FAWELL BOULEVARD

HEC HEC

BIC BIC

CHC CHC GH GH HEC HEC HSC HSC HTC HTC

Rodney K. Berg Instructional Rodney K. Berg Instructional Center Center Culinary & Hospitality Center Culinary & Hospitality Center Greenhouse Greenhouse Robert J. Miller Homeland Robert J. Miller Homeland Security Education Center Security Education Center Health and Science Center Health and Science Center Homeland Security Training Homeland Security Training Center Center

Produced by mapformation for College of DuPage. Last updated Aug. 2019/COD. Produced by mapformation for College of DuPage. Last updated Aug. 2019/COD.

IRC IRC MAC MAC PEC PEC SCC SCC SRC SRC SSC SSC TEC TEC

College of DuPage is Tobacco Free College prohibits the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco Collegeof ofDuPage DuPage is Tobacco Free and electronic cigarettes on the College of all DuPage campus and satellite addition to all buildings,tobacco it College of DuPage prohibits use of tobacco products, includingcampuses. cigarettes,Incigars, pipes, smokeless applies to all outside property and grounds andcampus College and owned vehicles. and electronic cigarettes on College of DuPage satellite campuses. In addition to all buildings, it

Institutional Resource Center Institutional Resource Center Harold D. McAninch Arts Center Harold D. McAninch Arts Center Physical Education and Physical Education and Community Recreation Center Community Recreation Center Seaton Computing Center Seaton Computing Center Student Resource Center Student Resource Center Student Services Center Student Services Center Technical Education Center Technical Education Center

Parking Parking

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Accessible Accessible Bus Stop Bus Stop Employee Employee Guest/30-Minute Guest/30-Minute Motorcycle Motorcycle Shipping and Receiving Shipping and Receiving Electric Car Charging Station Electric Car Charging Station

applies to all outside property and grounds and College owned vehicles.

Individuals may smoke inside their own vehicles as long as the doors and windows of the vehicle remain closed.

Individuals may smoke inside their own vehicles as long as the doors and windows of the vehicle remain closed.

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NAVIGATING THE HALLS

By Nicole Littlefield

Now that the COD campus has reopened to the public after a year of being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many new students are coming on campus for the first time. Here are some tips to help navigate around the main campus:

Many of the Buildings are Connected

Although they have different names, the Student Resource Center (SRC), Student Services Center (SSC) and Berg Instructional Center (BIC) are actually one interconnected building. If you are walking in the SRC, it only takes one turn for you to now be in the SSC, which then can take you to the BIC. The McAninch Arts Center (MAC) and the Physical Education Center (PEC) can be accessed through tunnels on opposite sides of the BIC hallways. These tunnels are only accessible on the first floor of the BIC. The Health and Science Center (HSC) can be accessed with the pedestrian bridge that goes over Prairie Drive. This hallway is only accessible on the second floor of the SRC. If you are ever lost, ask someone! Most people are more than happy to give directions and if they don’t know, they can direct you to someone who does.

Bathroom Placement

Throughout the COD campus there are a lot of bathrooms, but their placement doesn't always make sense. Instead of having one bathroom for women and one bathroom for men right next to each other, most of the time both bathrooms are for the same gender, although this pattern is not always followed. However, there is usually a bathroom of the opposite gender just a hallway away, but the easiest way to find a bathroom is to follow the signs.

There are gender neutral bathrooms in the BIC, HSC, and PEC. BIC2520 is located in the long hallway facing College Road (near BIC8). HSC1207 is located to the right of the Dental Clinic and HSC3315 and HSC3317 are located opposite of the east elevators. PEC126 and PEC139 are located across from the PE welcome desk and need a staff member to unlock.

The Library

The COD library is an amazing resource for students and community members. Located in the SRC, the library is on two floors. The bookstore (located on the ground floor) is right below the library.

Throughout the library, there are plenty of study areas to choose from. However, each section is marked with a different volume. There are open talk zones, quiet zones and silent zones, so make sure you are aware of which zone you are in.

Photo by Alexia Lukose

Center of Campus

Campus Central and Starbucks are located in the SSC and are considered the middle of campus because this is where most administrative offices are located. Campus Central is a circle desk with staff there to answer any questions. Across from Starbucks is the Financial Aid office, which is also next to the Registration office, the Specialized Admissions office and the police walk-up desk. Counseling and Career Services are located above Campus Central on the third floor, and the Student Life Lounge and Student Life office are located below Campus Central on the ground floor.

Before the COD campus closed and faculty, staff and students began working remotely, many events and social gatherings were hosted in the open area next to Campus Central or in the Student Life Lounge.

The technology and media lab is located on the first floor as well as the reference desk and the printing and scanning station.

The second floor is currently closed to the public, but there are more study areas as well as study rooms that can be reserved.

Photo by Alexia Lukose

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FEATURES OPINION - THE HANDMAID’S TALE SEASON 4 REVIEW -- WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT CURRENT SOCIETY Haley Battle, Staff Writer

On Sunday, June 20th, Hulu released its fourth installation of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Spoilers ahead! The fourth season of the Handmaid’s Tale was dismal, but still had me asking more questions.

I honestly felt bad for Mrs. Keys. It wasn’t her fault she was put into her current situation, considering how young she is. But I also still think June is a bad influence on her and on many other characters.

As much as she rebels and does things to survive, she always ends up getting someone killed. At this point in the series, at least 12 people have died in association with June. I don’t know why people keep helping her at this point. I felt June was teaching Mrs. Keys the wrong way to handle her situation.

Especially engaging in actions that would get Mrs. Keys executed in Gilead. Mrs. Keys needs a therapist, not advice from June.

I won’t lie. The first four seasons of “The Handmaid’s Tale” have left me scared and frightened. What makes the show so petrifying yet addictive is how the themes correlate to both history and the present. When watching the show in its entirety, viewers can be thankful they don’t live in the fictional world of Gilead. But the trials and tribulations that the handmaids and other members of Gilead encounter are similar to the suffering other people endure globally today.

Not every viewer of “The Handmaid’s Tale” agrees with Atwood’s depiction of a dystopian future, as it erases the plights of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), who have been historically marginalized, and only highlights feminism. There are plenty of BIPOC characters in the TV series like Moria and Luke. But their race was set aside to follow a feminist storyline. Moria would have a different experience being a handmaid compared to June. And because of this, I feel that a big gap was left in the story-building process.

The story feels unfinished since Atwood addresses issues such as climate change, gender, class and sexuality but not race. Race doesn’t play an underlying function in Gilead, yet it’s a glaring issue that affects people in modern times. I liked Moria and Junes’ friendship throughout the series. But I felt that Moria would have had a harder time getting out of Gilead, because she is black, a member of the LGBTQ community, and a woman.

Like the struggles of BIPOC, the lack of women’s rights is another issue Atwood depicts in her story that correlates to modern society. In fictional Gilead, as in Saudi Arabia today, women’s rights are severely restricted. They aren’t allowed to read, write, own property or leave home without

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permission. Punishment includes public hanging, drowning, stoning and body mutilation. Women who have children out of wedlock are beaten and can be imprisoned. Abortion and contraception are banned. What scares me the most is how “The Handmaid’s Tale” was able to depict future world events. More recently, Texas passed a new abortion law prohibiting women from getting an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Women seeking an abortion after six weeks can be criminally charged.

People who help women obtain abortions will be charged for breaking the law as well, including rideshare drivers.

I think Atwood does a great job with storytelling and effectively getting her messages across to her audience. But I can see where many women felt that their voices were not heard. Atwood writes this chronicle as a warning to Western society, but the narratives portrayed in “The Handmaid’s Tale” are a direct result of the social and racial tensions gripping the world today. And when viewers look back at former seasons, some experience a vivid sense of déjà vu due to the horrid realism it portrays about the current state of our society.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” does a great job at putting forth the message, “If we don’t learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.” And by having these plot-lines correlate to future events, it shows a lot about how our current society corporates.

The thought of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a complete nightmare. But I’m glad viewers and readers are using this show to draw critical comparisons to today’s world. By having these thoughtful discussions with each other, we may be better able to see past our biases, notice negative trends happening in our society, and call them out.

Shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale” are great for starting open conversations and asking questions about our society. Knowledge, understanding, and research are vitally important as well.

There are a lot of things “The Handmaid’s Tale” opened my mind to, and I noticed things I was oblivious to in my own life. There were also things I noticed about the show that I ended up disliking, and wanted to call out as well. I’m starting to like having conversations about these types of shows, and I hope more people do too. Overall, season four was just like the rest of the previous seasons. The storylines were strong and suspenseful. And I don’t see any sign of it slowing down in season five.

Watch the new season on Hulu

Hulu

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WiFi hotspots and laptops are available for semester-long checkouts at the COD Library Reserve at library.cod.edu

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OPINION DISASTROUS WILDFIRES ARE DEMOLISHING GREECE: “A BURNING SHIP WITH NO CAPTAIN.” Eva Koureta, Staff Writer

In the last month of summer, Greece was placed in a devastating situation as citizens were trying to defeat the ginormous wildfires caused by the intolerable temperature of August. While doing everything they could to defend their lives and properties from the massive fires, the government actions were merely not enough to help the situation.

As if the summer of 2021 wasn’t catastrophic enough because of the pandemic, Greece has dealt not only with COVID-19 precautions but also with disastrous waves of wildfires that covered most of the northeastern part of Greece. However, this isn’t the first time that Greek citizens have been face-to-face with conflagration.

In 2019, massive waves of fire damaged and destroyed hundreds of acres and took a terrible toll on wildlife. This year, the August heat reached an unbearable 47.1C (116.8 F), fueling unbeatable fires that destroyed 120,000 acres of forest, cost millions of euros in economic loss and led to the evacuation of numerous coastal villages and outlying islands, as it was reported by “protothema.gr”. Unfortunately, Greece wasn’t the only Balkan-European country that was affected by the intolerable heat. Turkey and Italy were also affected, since the strong winds helped the fire travel quickly and spread around to neighboring countries.

As a proud Greek-American who watched these tragic events unfold from afar, I can’t help but wonder where the government was when my native country was in flames. While I live in the United States, I stay connected to my roots and informed on the most current news and topics in my home country. When I heard another massive wave of flames was threatening Greece, the most immediate questions that came to my mind were: What is the government doing about it? And how is the government acting?

Sadly enough, I discovered the government is nowhere to be found, and fire fighters, volunteers, celebrities and modest people are doing everything they can to stop the fires without necessary and expected help from the government. While I live overseas and don’t have a local perspective, I have done enough

research to know this is a recurring problem that the government seems unwilling or unable to solve.

On Aug. 3, one of the hottest days of summer, Euboea, the second largest island of Greece, was roasting under the incessantly hot sun when wildfires quickly began spreading. The 191,000 citizens of Euboea faced the fire with their own “weapons,” using buckets and water hoses to battle the flames. Firefighters and volunteers across the country did their best to help, but unfortunately the weather conditions and the strong winds were too much for them to handle, causing the fires to spread rapidly across other areas of the Attica peninsula.

When the situation was far out of control, and many people were already injured and suffering, the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said the government was doing everything they could to stop the fires and help those in need, emphasizing that everything was under control. However, it seems that almost nothing was under control.

While the government of Greece was paralyzed with indecision over Euboea, the actions of volunteers donating their money, time and energy ultimately saved the island’s residents.When numerous trucks with donations and necessities from all around the country tried to cross the toll lines to get to Euboea, they were stopped by toll services because they could not or would not pay the toll fee (11,30 euros). Perhaps collecting an overly priced toll fee is more important than helping citizens who are fighting on the first line with the pyrini kolasi,

or flaming hell.

After Euboea, next in the burning line of fire was Macedonia, Epirus, Athens, Peloponnesus and Crete. By this time, Greek firefighters were desperate and helpless and had requested more firefighting aircraft, but the government failed to provide them.

After days battling the flames without rest, many volunteer firefighters ended up falling asleep on the streets as they were taking breaks, illustrated in the picture from “protothema. gr”, and once again the government was unable to help. Luckily for Greece, help came from neighboring countries. According to “crisismonitor.gr”, Romania sent 112 fire fighters along with 23 fire trucks. Cyprus provided 40 firefighters and two aircraft. France sent 83 firemen and two Canadair. Sweden donated two aircraft, and Switzerland offered three helicopters.

The help from these neighboring countries is undeniably what Greece needed to finally start to gain control over these wildfires. The lack of government efficiency has made the situation even worse. Nevertheless, Greece has finally stopped the spread of the fires. This fight isn’t over yet, but everyone is hoping that with much-needed help from other countries, and more rain, Greece will eventually defeat these devastating wildfires. Let’s hope that next summer Prometheus will be able to control his fire and not burn his creations.

If you are a Greek-American student, let me know how you feel about the August wildfires.

NASA

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SPORTS OPINION - BULLS OFFSEASON MOVES HAVE FANS EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE Devin Oommen, Staff Writer

Chicago sports fans are buzzing after offseason moves brought many new high-profile players to the Bulls. The team lost seven players from the previous roster and added five new players through various league transactions. Analysts, such as Sam Quinn of CBS Sports, have branded the transactions as part of an aggressive, win-now strategy. The new players on the Bulls roster are Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, Tony Bradley, and Derrick Jones Jr. The players lost this offseason include Lauri Markkanen, Thaddeus Young, Tomáš Satoranský, Daniel Theis, Garrett Temple, Al-Farouq Aminu and Cristiano Felicio.

The addition of DeRozan and Ball are exciting purely for what it means for the entertainment value and high scoring games we are likely to see this season. Ball’s flashy assists combined with Zach LaVine, known for his high flying dunks, is sure to generate many highlights. DeRozan’s 21.6 points per game make him the second highest scorer on the team behind LaVine, who’s career points per game reads 27.4, just ahead of Vučević, who has a career 23.4 points per game. Games against teams with poor defense at the guard position like the Magic, Cavaliers, and Thunder should be high scoring shutouts with potential for these players to score new career highs. Whether or not they do blow out teams with poor defense, an exciting game to look forward to will be on Jan. 21 when the Bulls play the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. According to basketball.realgm. com, DeRozan scored his career high against the Bucks on Jan. 1, 2018, dropping 52 points.

Of the new players acquired in the offseason,

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of note are Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso. ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported the details of all three deals. According to Wojnarowski, Lonzo Ball was acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans in a four-year, $85 million sign-and-trade agreement, DeMar DeRozan was acquired in a three-year, $85 million sign-andtrade agreement with the San Antonio Spurs, and free agent Alex Caruso was signed to a four-year, $37 million deal. The Bulls issued official releases for the deals involving Ball and DeRozan on Aug. 8, and officially announced the signing of free agent Alex Caruso on Aug. 10.

In an article posted on NBC Sports, staff writers shared fan reactions. Many credit the recent transactions to the efforts of new General Manager Marc Eversley and new Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas. The Bulls announced the hiring of Karnišovas and Eversley in April and May 2020, respectively. In an interview on “Waddle and Silvy” on ESPN 1000, and as reported by Chris Rosvoglou of thespun. com, NBA Hall of Famer and analyst Charles Barkley rated the Bulls as having the best offseason of all teams in the NBA, with similar reviews coming from popular sports media outlets such as Bleacher Report and Barstool Sports. Barkley and other analysts have speculated the Bulls will be definite playoff contenders this season.

Many sports media analysts have speculated on the strengths and weaknesses of the Bulls’ new roster. According to Kevin O’Connor, staff writer for The Ringer, the backcourt scoring load placed on Zach LaVine in previous seasons will now

be shared between LaVine, Ball and DeRozan.

O’Connor writes the new additions complement LaVine, a high-volume three-point shooter who gets to the basket frequently. O’Connor and others note DeRozan is known for his mid-range offense, while Ball is recognized for his spot-up shooting and ability to facilitate offense. Bulls analyst and freelance writer Stephen Noh writes on his website stephnoh.substack.com that the team has potential defensive gaps, going so far as to say that DeRozan is the worst defensively at his position. Noh and O’Connor both write that Caruso’s defensive ability and high basketball IQ make him a valuable addition. According to analysts including O’Connor and Noh, the projected starting lineup is Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vucevic. The raw scoring ability of this lineup alone is expected to be enough for the team to simply out-score opponents and make the team’s playoff hopes almost certain.

This new-look team brings needed excitement and big-name talent to Bulls basketball. The Chicago Bulls are a big market team, and they are finally making moves that reflect that. The team’s offseason moves are seen by many as part of a strategy to keep all-star Zach LaVine by building a winning team around him. Many speculate LaVine now has added incentive to sign an extension this off-season, or accept an extension from the Bulls when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer. However, great teams aren’t based solely on name recognition of players. I look forward to watching how this team performs under head coach Billy Donovan, who was hired as head coach in September 2020.

Over four seasons in the NBA, Ball is scoring 14.6 points per game, grabbing 4.8 rebounds per game, and dishing out 5.7 assists per game.

Over twelve seasons, DeRozan’s stats read 21.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 6.9 assists per game. Through four seasons, Caruso’s stats read 6.4 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game. All statistics were obtained from the official website of the NBA. The Bulls play their first pre-season game vs the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 5. The first regularseason game is against the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 20 and the first home game is Oct. 22 vs. the New Orleans Pelicans.

What is your opinion? Do you have a deeper analysis? Leave comments and let us know!

Check your inbox every Tuesday for up-to-date COD and community news from The Courier.

View past stories online at

codcourier.org

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MUSIC OPINION - THE BLACK CROWES 2021 TINLEY PARK REVIEW Cody Wagner, Staff Writer

The concert was meant as a Father’s Day gift to my dad as I surprised him with both the purchase of the tickets and even invited some of his friends as an addition. Alongside my father and friends I enjoy much of the Crowes’ music but only knew their hit singles.

The concert itself was a reintegration of largescale concerts that I haven’t been accustomed to compared to the previous performances of tribute bands I was exposed to earlier this year because of COVID-19. Despite this issue, It was relieving to see the concertgoers and musicians together again as the night sought out to remind fans of the connection of music in a time where we have never been more divided.

The Black Crowes formed in Marietta, Ga. in 1984, but the group didn’t gain fame till the early 90s, creating a sound that combined classic rock with elements of blues that departed from the heavy influence of their grunge contemporaries. The two big influencers, and founders of the band, are the Robinson brothers Chris and Rich. Despite having a love and appreciation for music, the brothers constantly fought throughout their early days, both on and off stage.

The continuous conflict between the brothers eventually became their overall downfall as the band broke up in 2015 and both musicians followed other creative paths.

However, in 2020 the brothers decided to put their petty rivalry aside and announced they would once again return to the stage. This triumph was unfortunately delayed by the rise of COVID-19, forcing the band to reschedule dates to 2021. Nonetheless, The Black Crowes kicked off their 2021 “Shake Your Money Maker” tour at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album that ignited their career as rock superstars.

At 9 p.m. the lights dimmed down.The crowd went nuts, as guitarist Rich Robinson played the opening riff to “Twice as Hard” instantly reintroducing the audience to the thrilling, exciting and connective experience of concerts.

As they played “Twice as Hard” I sang to my heart’s content with my father and his friends,

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and we all shared our love and admiration for the Crowes. The lineup consisted of the founding Robinson brothers, as well as their original bassist Sven Pipien, followed by newly incorporated drummer Raj Ojha and keyboardist Joel Robinow. The band performed the entirety of their debut album, “Shake Your Money Maker,” that consisted of timeless singles such as “Twice as Hard,” “Jealous Again,” “She Talks To Angels” and their cover of blues artist Otis Redding’s 1968 classic “Hard to Handle,” a tribute that further supported their influential blues sound. Ojha’s steady hands while on the drums, provided soldity for both the band’s sound and style while never deferring from the audience’s interaction.

Robinow’s keyboard brought both diversity and stylishness, as his sound deferred from the heavily admired distortion of rock ‘n’ roll guitar style, while also reminding fans of the upbeat tempo that came with the blues. It made the audience want to dance the night away Then there are the Robinson brothers. I was pleased to witness that their goal of civility with one another was still intact. Watching them work together on stage again carried promise for the band’s future rather than the disruptive decay that they had encountered years past.

Rich’s integration of distorted riffs and steady chords resemble the band’s rock ‘n’roll style. The opening riff to their singles instilled nostalgia, especially for those who have followed the band since their formation, such as my father. Chris Robinson’s vocals were amazing, despite his age. Even at 54, the

frontman maintained his vocal range and level while continuously interacting with the crowd.

He also danced and grooved his way through the tracks that required it, allowing for the appropriate mood to be set. The backup singers dressed up as angels injecting gospel into the band’s blues sound.

The performance reminded me of some of the best reasons why concerts are so great and fulfilling. The fact that you get to share your love for similar artists with like-minded individuals, brings a sense of connection and purpose that is one of the biggest impacts concerts have on our culture. The night provided much more than just the enthusiasm of seeing a popular band perform live. The greatest part personally aside from attending the performance with my dad, I was once again integrated back into the world of live music while also connecting with a highly influential and iconic rock band.

Ultimately, the event was well worth it, two hours of classic crowes singles was met with fairly priced lawn tickets at $30 plus tax. From attending this performance I not only shared yet another invigorating musical experience with my father but can also conclude as a music journalist that The Black Crowes’ kickoff to their 2021 “Shake Your Money Maker” reintroduced fans to a newer and much more civilized Crowes that showed the band still has more to give to its fans and its future.

View dates for the Crowes 2021 Tour at theblackcrowes.com

Photo by: Cody Wagner

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MUSIC IN REMEMBRANCE: ROLLING STONES DRUMMER CHARLIE WATTS, 1941-2021 Cody Wagner, Staff Writer

Tragedy struck the world of rock and roll on Aug. 24 as Rolling Stone’s drummer Charlie Watts died from throat cancer at the age of 80. Watts was one of the biggest names in drumming as both his inspiration and influence paved the way for the Rolling Stones’ longterm success. Guitarist Brian May of Queen posted on Instagram saying, “He was the nicest gent you could ever meet. And such a pillar of strength for the Rolling Stones – to whom he brought a touch of Jazz and a mountain of pure Class.”

Despite being in one of the biggest rock bands of all time, Watts had little interest in the genre of rock ‘n roll. Instead, Watts found solace and passion for Jazz from listening to Chico Hamilton play brushes on walking shoes. He admired the soft yet intricate sounds that were blended to create a unified and moderately tempoed beat. This admiration and respect for the genre motivated Watts to start playing the drums. Throughout London in the mid 50s, Watts formed his first band named “Blues Incorporated,” which also dove into elements of Blues, Jazz and R&B. “I went into rhythm and blues,” Watts recalled in a 2012 interview in The New Yorker. “When they asked me to play, I didn’t know what it was. I thought it meant Charlie Parker, played slow.”

His lack of interest for rock ‘n’ roll would soon change when he met three fellow musicians who were on their way to forming one of rock’s biggest acts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones. Watts eventually joined the band in 1963 as the birth of The Rolling Stones started with a single recorded in July of that year called “Come On” by rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry.

Soon after Watts joined the band, they shook the world of rock, earning status as the co-kings of the British rock invasion, alongside The Beatles. Watt’s sound evolved with his improvisation on the cowbell for the song “Honky Tonk Women,” and correlatedyet-intricate groove for “Gimme Shelter,” provided key ingredients that improved the band’s sound and style. Watts also helped in recording even bigger tracks such as “(I Can’t

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Get No) Satisfaction,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Get Off My Cloud” and “Sympathy for the Devil.” Alongside the Stones, Watts developed other acts such as the “Charlie Watts Orchestra,” “Two with Green,” “The Charlie Watts Quintet” and “The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie.”

Unlike his contemporaries, who engaged in every form of superstar excess, Watts was reportedly one of those people who stuck to the shadows with a quiet and subtle personality.

Stanley Booth’s book, “The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones,” described Watts as “the world’s politest man” as they embarked on their 1969 America tour. Nonetheless Watts’s drumming paved the way to musical greatness that would be reflected upon in the years that would come Bill Wyman, the Stones’ longtime bassist, told The New York Times, Watt’s playing was “a byproduct of the group’s unusual chemistry.” While in most rock bands the guitarist follows the lead of the drummer, the Stones flipped that relationship — Richards, the guitarist, led the attack, with Watts (and all others) following along. Watts was

heartbreakingly diagnosed with throat cancer in 2004 and received treatment through that year. Sadly, undisclosed medical complications forced the drummer to drop out of the Stones’ U.S. 2021 tour just weeks before passing.

Fans and musicians alike have expressed heartfelt messages of appreciation and remembrance on social media, as they mourned for one of their own. Drummer Roger Taylor of Duran Duran tweeted, “His simple style was a lesson to us all. When weheard Charlie play we realised there was never a need to over perform. It was all about the groove serving the band and, of course, the song. Most of all despite being in the greatest rock and roll band of all time, his self-effacing manner and humility was a shining light for all of us in the world to follow.

Thank you, Charlie.

Joan Jett tweeted, “He was the most elegant and dignified drummer in rock and roll,” who “played exactly what was needed – no more – no less.” Charlie, you will be forever missed.

R.I.P

CHARLIE WATTS 1941 - 2021

Photo by: Michael Conen

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COFFEE BREAK Theme: TV Couples

View solution: 18

ACROSS 1. Sweeney Todd's weapon 6. It's in the hole?

9. Plural of #6 Across 13. Soft palate dangler 14. Each one for himself?

15. Red Cross supply 16. Short skirts 17. Flightless bird 18. Wavelike patterned silk 19. *Philip Banks' wife 21. *Dre Johnson's wife on "Black-ish" and occasional site around rain storm 23. 31st of the month, e.g.

24. E-mailed 25. Digital audio workstation 28. Essence of idea 30. Mouth infection 35. Fusses 37. Burden or load 39. Official language of Lesotho 40. Choose politically 41. Sashay 43. Thailand, formerly 44. All worked up 46. One assigned menial work 47. Rancher's unit 48. Blue jeans 50. Famous Scottish lake 52. A cause of inflation 53. Number one 55. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's guitar 57. *Stars Hollow Luke's love interest 61. *Louise Jefferson's husband 64. Like a solitaire player 65. Government Printing Office 67. Home to BYU 69. Request to Geico 70. Calendar mo.

71. Gladdened 72. 36 inches 73. *Jake and ____ of "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" 74. Rub off

DOWN 1. Cuba Libre ingredient 2. Tel ____, Israel 3. Pueblo tribesman 4. Good will branch 5. Leveling to the ground 6. Congregation's echo 7. *Mitch's husband in "Modern Family" 8. Accustom 9. Long, long time 10. Baby container 11. German currency 12. Old World duck 15. The ____, an English rock band from the '80s 20. Goodbye to amiga 22. Marching insect 24. Classroom attendee 25. *Patrick's fiance on "Schitt's Creek" 26. Dig, so to speak 27. King of the gods in Wagner's "Das Rheingold" 29. Barber shop sound 31. Civil Rights icon 32. Ancient city in Africa 33. *Javen's companion on "Temptation Island" or Lamb Chops' puppeteer 34. *Marge Simpson's husband 36. Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence 38. Kind of gin 42. Follow as a consequence 45. Bald Eagle to Americans, e.g.

49. Old Man's turf, according to Hemingway 51. Capital of the Republic of Macedonia 54. Fraternity letter 56. Trial's partner 57. Like a doily 58. Paella pot 59. Big cat sound 60. Blyton or Bagnold 61. Like a bloody horror movie 62. Romantic painter Francisco ____ 63. December 24 and 31, e.g.

66. *Jim's co-worker and wife on "The Office" 68. Type of poem

DOODLE AWAY

...or you can use it for your math homework

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