The Courier | Volume 56 Issue 6

COD’s Latest Show Came to Life on Oct. 7 Plus: • The Best School Tech Under $50 • Riot Fest 2021 in a Nutshell

VOLUME

ISSUE NO.

56 06

IN THIS ISSUE

NEWS

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COD’s Latest Show Came to Life on Oct. 7 COD’s Theater’s “The Living” runs through October 24

OPINION

MUSIC

OPINION

FEATURES

The Best School Tech Under $50 These five essential pieces of tech are useful during school and great for both online and in-person classes.

Riot Fest 2021 In A Nutshell Riot Fest reminded fans why they love outdoor musis fests so much

Guest Opinion: Myles Gozos | Students and Food Service

College of DuPage Runs on Starbucks America may run on Dunkin’, but COD doesn’t

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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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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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COFFEE MUSIC BREAK

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Crossword Puzzle and Sudoku It’s October, Chaps!

Halloween is coming soon!

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

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NEWS COD’S LATEST SHOW CAME TO LIFE ON OCT. 7 Bee Bishop, Staff Writer

College of DuPage Theater is putting on a showing of “The Living,” a play about London during the bubonic plague in the 1660s and the struggles of finding a community during a time of crisis. The show is an engaging evening for viewers with a dynamic and passionate cast and impressive visuals.

“The Living” was written by Anthony Clarvoe in 1991 and follows a group of Londoners as they try to navigate through a deadly plague sweeping through the city.

Though the circumstances are similar to that of the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve endured for the past year and a half, director Connie Canaday Howard said the play was picked for more than its relevance to today’s events. In her director’s note, she said, “To me, (the show) poignantly dramatizes the need, and growth, of community in the midst of much desperation, pain and fear.”

The play follows the relatively small cast of characters as they struggle to keep their community intact as it is ravaged by the bubonic plague. Among this cast is the mayor, a doctor, a shopkeeper’s wife, a reverend and a scientist who is the narrator throughout the play. With this combination of upper and lower class characters, the audience sees the struggle of leaders to direct the community, both in selfish and selfless ways, and the struggle of the common people who lose faith and are dying rapidly.

While the topic is rather glum and depressing, there are moments where the audience will find themselves chuckling at the dry wit in the dialogue. Combined with a spirited and polished cast and a charming and thoughtful set design, the production is overall a pleasant experience for viewers.

Everyone from cast to crew to director mentioned how they drew from their experience from the pandemic to put into this play, everything from set design to the performance of the actors. And for many members of the crew, this is one of the biggest selling points of the play. Actor Elmeka Elma talked about her admiration for the script.

“It’s so well written,” she said in a personal interview. “I feel like people would be able to

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relate in some way. From the first scene to the “If you listen closely to the sound or what the end.” characters are saying or their reactions, you’ll be able to see what we’re going for,” he said.

Actor Olivia Reamer agreed.

“You should come see the show because it’s “There’s a lot of really cool little things like cathartic,” she said. “It’s the emotions and that.”

The play opened on Oct. 7 and will run experiences that we’ve all been having for this past year and a half, but in a different time through Oct. 24. Because of limited seating, people looking to attend are encouraged to buy period.”

“The Living” is being shown in COD’s studio their tickets ahead of time. Tickets are $16 for theater, the school’s blackbox theater. Blackbox adults and $14 for students and seniors. Masks theater is a special stage where the audience are required in the theater. surrounds the stage on three sides, meaning when the actor is on stage, they must be hyper aware of their action because the audience is so close.

“It’s a stage unlike any stage I’ve ever seen,” actor Vaughan Beyer said in an interview.

The show runs fairly fast, coming in at about two hours, but audience members are sure to be captivated with the members of the ensemble maintaining the urgency of each scene.

The show also incorporates an auditory factor to fully immerse the audience into the show.

Actor Luke Hernandez commented about his admiration for the sound design.

Get your tickets now at atthemac.org/the-living.

OPINION THE BEST SCHOOL TECH UNDER $50 Eva Koureta, Staff Writer

Razer Seiren Mini Microphone Looking to pair your webcam with an excellent yet affordable microphone? Luckily for students on a budget, Razer introduced a great quality, portable microphone for $50.

The Razer Seiren Mini microphone is one of the best sounding mics on the market. If you need a mic for your online classes or your gaming setup, Razer Seiren Mini is one to look for. The mic’s cardioid pickup pattern creates great audio quality. With its lightweight and compact look, it’s easy to carry around. It comes in three different colors -- black, white and pink. In addition, the Razer Seiren Mini can be used on a boom arm.

View links to products on our website.

As a college student, gadgets and tech supplies are the most important things that make my assignments and school life easier and less stressful. With online and in-person classes, there are a few pieces of essential tech every student should own. This list includes the five most important, useful and necessary gadgets I’ve found for use on a daily basis.

AirTags When we think of Apple products, the first thing that comes to our minds is “expensive.”

Unlike other Apple products, AirTags cost only $29, which makes them one of the cheapest Apple products that ever existed. As a student who always forgets where her belongings are, AirTags have helped me save precious time looking around the house trying to find my keys or wallet. AirTags are a super easy way to keep track of your stuff. They are easy to attach to your keys, wallet or backpack. Once they are attached, you can track your belongings in the Find My app, where you can also track down your Apple devices. The starting price of $29 is just what cash-strapped students need -- low-price for great quality and purpose. In addition, you can engrave, customize or even accessorize your AirTags with colorful loops.

Taotronics BH-085 ANC Headphones Headphones have become a necessity for many, but not everybody can afford to spend hundreds of dollars. Taotronics BH-085 Active Noise-Cancelling headphones are just right for students on a budget. With only $37, you can purchase a pair of great headphones worth your money. The Taotronics headphones provide excellent audio quality, great wireless battery life (40 hours of playback), USB charging and soft, comfortable padding. On a busy day, when you don’t have enough time to charge your headphones, Taotronics offers two hours of battery life with just five minutes of charging. Also, Taotronics headphones are great for gaming since they provide admirable noise-cancelling ability that comes in handy when playing your favorite video game.

Aideaz Power Origin Air Power Bank One of the worst issues students deal with is gadgets low on power with no outlet around.

The easiest way to prevent this issue is to buy a power bank. The Aideaz Power Origin Air is a wireless power bank portable charger.

Using a USB-C, the power bank provides fast charging with LCD lighting. It is compatible with iPhone, iPad and more. The connector types are USB, USB type C and A. The Aideaz power bank offers a battery capacity of 20.000 milliampere hours and 5 volts. With the reasonable price of $30 you can purchase a black or grey power bank that will fulfill most of your battery life needs.

Fifine HD Webcam 1080p During the pandemic, most students were introduced to a new learning method, the virtual class meetings, that could sometimes be stressful or even unpleasant due to the fact that people were mostly used to in-person classes.

A good quality, inexpensive web camera can make things a lot easier. The Fifine web camera is packed full of features, including full HD 1080p, 30 fps, dual built-in microphones for stereo audio capture, 360 degree motion and a USB 2.0 cable. With a unique design, Fifine camera is a useful and affordable webcam that costs only $37.

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FEATURES RIOT FEST 2021 IN A NUTSHELL Cody Wagner, Staff Writer

The weekend of Sept. 16-19 will forever be instilled within my memory. That weekend made up for 18 months waiting, canceling and skepticism. As I entered the gates of Riot Fest, I was required to provide proof of either COVID vaccination or a recent negative test because of the newest delta variant. But soon after, I was again accustomed to the attributes of a typical music fest such as sweat, piss, booze and weed. I was also able to take a moment to collect myself while glancing vividly around, trying to comprehend that once again fests had returned. Hopefully, they’re here to stay.

better than the last as the crowds grew bigger and bigger ensuring the promise of interactive and entertaining performances for fans who desperately needed to hear the sounds of distorted guitars, intricate basslines, unifying beats and outgoing vocals.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly The Good: The act Sublime with Rome was one of my top three favorite performances, as they continued to celebrate the original band’s success 13 years after the death of their former singer, Bradley Nowell. Rome Ramirez stepped in to take the dearly departed singer’s place.

Their act consisted of an hour-long set that integrated newer tracks such as “Panic,” “You Better Listen,” and” “Wicked Heart,” while also adhering to the roots of Sublime with classics such as “Wrong Way,” “Date Rape,” and “What I Got.” This was followed by trippy visuals that matched perfectly with the band’s lenient and moderate sound that combined influences of both punk and reggae to create a cosmic performance.

COVID was shamed throughout the entire weekend, as artists and bands gave a big, middle finger to the virus while reminding everyone of the impact this festival had on everyone after a year of no live performances. Everything was fair game, and if someone didn’t want to wear a mask, they didn’t have to, although masks were strongly recommended for attendees.

Some fans wore masks during performances, others did not, and there was no issue with either decision. During the time I spent there, Vic Mensa was another act that sparked I didn’t encounter a single time where anyone my attention, as I was only a few feet away was confronted about their masking choice. from the stage, standing right along the Everybody knew the potential peaks and barricade with my older brother. We waited 90 valleys of attending fests. The huddling and minutes for Vic’s act, and it was worth every formation of large-scale crowds did little to scare second. He displayed a powerful and poetic people away. Being compacted and squished in performance with tracks such as “Didn’t I (Say between fans is one of the most uncomfortable, I Didn’t),” “U Mad,” and the hard-balling yet yet amazing, experiences I encountered in a controversial “16 Shots.” This was followed up very long time, as the idea of community and with a complete performance of Vic’s 2013 togetherness through music reminded me just album “Innanetape” along with two covers of how powerful fests impact people, as they get “Fistfight” by 93PUNX and “Cocoa Butter to share their love and appreciation to some of Kisses,” a collaboration he did with Chicagoan their favorite bands and artists with like-minded Chance the Rapper that instantly resulted in individuals. It doesn’t get any better than that. success. Sadly, Chance did not show up, but The structure of the fest was set up similar to Vic’s performance did not disappoint. Vic’s previous years, with five stages scattered around energy fueled the crowd as he interacted with Douglas Park named Riot, Roots, Rise, Radical audience members from the left, right, and and Rebel, with the Riot and Radical stages center of the stage, providing an intermediate evenly distanced. connection between artist and audience.

The lineup consisted of acts such as Morrisey, Smashing Pumpkins, Rise Against, Run the Jewels, Machine Gun Kelly and Slipknot, to name just a few of the many gratifying acts I was exposed to that weekend. Each day seemed

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Run The Jewels (RTJ) provided a similar experience. For their performance I once again found myself in the same area I had been in for Vic, as I was introduced to other wellknown artists to whom I had not been very

Did you attend? us your thoughts comments.

? Tell s in the

accustomed. As with Vic, RTJ’s performance provided another level of connection between me and the two older performers that stood before me. My initial drive to witness their act was related to the fact that I only knew a few of their songs. They proved two middle-aged men could still rap and look good while doing it. They brought out wholesome and powerful performances, from tracks such as “Ooo La La,” “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry,” “Walking in the Snow” and more. I was a bit shocked and disappointed that they didn’t play their hit single “Nobody Speak,” which is considered to be an instant classic that contributed to much of their success. But besides this minor flaw, their act was my favorite despite having much anticipation for Slipknot. The whole scenario of being up close and personal just made RTJ my No. 1 as their act only heightened my experience, drawing me closer into their world while drifting away from mine.

Nevertheless, I was able to catch the start of his set as he played my favorite song from “The Smiths,” “How Soon Is Now.” Despite his wacky character, his performance of the track was flawless, as it reminded everyone of his musical creativity rather than his emotional instability.

The Ugly: Despite the minor technical difficulties, compacted crowds, and the selfishness of Morrisey, the weekend also had some drama that would soon spark a rivalry between two acts. The final night I watched Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) with my cousin, who eagerly awaited his appearance. I am personally not a big fan of MGK, but the night was more about my cousin’s first experience at Riot Fest, rather than my second. Slipknot performed their set right alongside MGK, with both artists starting around the same time.

About a half an hour into MGK’s performance, the artist made a discerning and bitter comment toward Slipknot, saying “Hey, you wanna know what I’m really happy that I’m not doing? Being 50 years old, wearing a fucking weird mask on a fucking stage. Talkin shit.” Once I heard those words, my skepticism turned to anger and disappointment. I was shocked to hear this comment, as I wondered what did Slipknot ever do to warrant such disrespect? The comment was made so abruptly and randomly within his set. I understand the idea of free speech, and band feuds, but this was just ridiculous, as divisive words were used to degrade one of metal’s most beloved acts that specialized in the genre before MGK was even conceived. This apparently stemmed from Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor refusing to include vocals he recorded for MGK’s most recent top-selling album, “Tickets to my Downfall,” which was released in September 2020.

The Bad: With the expansive lineup along with attendance, I can safely say that I only encountered minor issues. One of them was exposure to large crowds of people waiting for one specific act to commence. This is no surprise to any music fest-goer and is one that everyone should keep in mind. But even being fully vaccinated, there is still a lingering fear that being so closely compacted with other people could be a cause for concern, especially during a pandemic. Nevertheless my brother and I were fully aware of the situation and did everything we could to be safe and healthy while still having a good time. Another drawback would be some performances sounding quieter than others from the first day. My brother was the first to notice this while watching Alkaline Trio play their set. He noted that the sound just wasn’t right and was almost muffled and toned down at some points. I soon noticed this as well, Riot Fest 2021 reintroduced large-scale music but it did little to interfere with the experience. festivals to the public after a year of fans just In addition to the large crowds and sound sitting on their asses, listening to vinyl albums issues, Morrisey performed but this came at a or Spotify playlists, yearning for their prayers ridiculous price. Because of his vegan philosophy of the revitalization of live music to be heard. and strong stance against the slaughter of Riot Fest was that answer. Riot Fest was truly a animals, almost all of the food vendors did not riot, and one can only wonder what will unfold serve any form of meat. Despite being one of in 2022 with the lineup already consisting of alt-rock’s most innovative frontmen, Morrisey announced acts The Original Misfits and My can be quite difficult, as it has been known that Chemical Romance. if venues sell meat throughout his performance, he will refuse to play. This has been done many times in the past, making him one of rock’s most questionable and controversial icons.

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OPINION

GUEST OPINION

Opinion - Students and Food Service

by Myles Gozos, COD Student On February 9th 2018, a psychiatry professor covered issues students face with their daily lives that contribute to stress and anxiety, mentioning work status briefly. The concept of this paper was sparked through my involvement in a known discourse community; Potbelly Sandwich Shop. As a college student working a job that has been stigmatized for years, I can’t help but add to that idea.

With the strike of the coronavirus pandemic and even prior, jobs whose main purpose is to provide service in the food setting haven’t been entirely discussed. In a 2021 journal published

by Sciencedirect, Diogo Thimeoteo da Cunha touched on how working in food causes human fatigue.

“The mean personal burnout score of food service employees...was similar to those found in nurses…,” de Cunha wrote, conveying that the level of hospitality seen here can be contrasted with hospitality of a higher paying job. Keeping up with school at this level and working a demanding job leads to jadedness due to having to exceed expectations in both fields that are a must to be met.

If you think back to personal experiences when you have decided to dine in at restaurants, you can identify that the majority of the community

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is mixed with novices and experts. Keeping in mind the time frame we experience in our daily lives, an 2021 article published on Taylor & Francis Online points out the “mental toll of the pandemic on the general population,” wrote author Marie-Anne Rosemberg. It was stated that “jobs in hospitality, food service...dropped significantly by April 2020” at the brink of this prevalent transition, causing many traumatic effects to those who have worked and are working in the food industry; one of the many reasons why people don’t return to their jobs here. Though many of the participants were in their early 20’s, mid 30’s, community college unleashes people of diverse backgrounds that could relate to these issues and are relevant.

Moreover to combat worker shortages, some drive-thrus experiment with technological communication. Springer Link’s Jarinah Mohd Ali explains the current utilization of artificial intelligence in the food industry, finding that machines have been of great use, just behind closed doors. With its emerging role, there is no doubt that computer operated systems could potentially replace us food servers. Although, the only thing that holds us back from that is its intricacy and limitations that just might be best left for people to carry out.

Previously mentioning the pandemic, a new perspective can give us a better understanding on why food service is draining, especially for young adults. Jihye Min, an assistant professor with a background in hospitality, pushed forth alternative team building concepts.

Generational differences in coping with COVID-19,’ 18-60 year olds carry experiences that play a role in how they behave. Together, generation x and z members “[revealed] differences in the effect of self-efficacy on participation,” Min wrote. Those differences all funnel to whether or not society complies with social distancing efforts when in public; a challenging task seen today.

Understanding why food service is no easier feat than what is stigmatized by the community, many do face a breaking point in motivation especially when they have a lot on their plate in their lives already. How people feel in their given work setting translates into their performance, and has potential to bleed over on academic work. That is an issue that should not be quieted and reconsidered. I am letting us workers get the respect we deserve for what we do outside of school as well; providing assistance.

FEATURES COLLEGE OF DUPAGE RUNS ON STARBUCKS Haley Battle, Staff Writer

Image by Alexia Lukose

“America runs on Dunkin’”? That’s nice, but according to just about everyone on campus, College of DuPage runs on Starbucks.

It’s officially fall at COD! More importantly, Oct. 1 marked National Coffee Day. And in an honorary fashion, I went around campus and interviewed COD students to document their favorite coffee orders and their thoughts on the Starbucks on campus.

Kimber Smith HB: What is your favorite drink or item from Starbucks?

Smith: I always love the pumpkin spice latte or the chai latte. I also like their ham and cheese croissants. Those are really good for a snack.

HB: Do you enjoy coffee on a regular basis?

Smith: I usually enjoy all types of coffee, but Starbucks is usually my main go-to because it’s the most convenient. I also enjoy coffee at home and at Dunkin’.

HB: Do you think having a Starbucks on campus is beneficial or inconvenient to students?

Smith: I think it wakes people up, so I don’t think it really impacts them negatively.

Sarah Altab HB: Would you like to see COD do anything different with their options in Starbucks, coffee shops or other food options?

Altab: Yeah, the incorporation of oat milk or almond milk would be great because regular milk doesn't have that many dietary benefits compared to vegan milk. But other than that I'm leaving, so it doesn't matter to me anymore.

HB: Do you think having a Starbucks on this campus is beneficial or inconvenient to students?

Altab: Yeah, of course! And I think there has to be a way the line should get through faster because I know it can get pretty hefty.

Brandon Zima HB: Do you drink coffee on a regular basis?

Zima: I do enjoy coffee. I usually have it a couple times a week. Sometimes instead of Starbucks I would get a caramel iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts or from McDonald’s. In the morning I would have a brew of hot coffee from home.

HB: How much do you spend at Starbucks - you don’t have to answer that.

Zima: $5 or $6 depending on the average coffee. I spend $2 or $4 at Dunkin’ Donuts depending on the size of [the] coffee.

HB: Would you want to see COD do anything different with their choice in coffee shops or fast food establishments?

Do you want to see healthier options?

Zima: Possibly. They could add Dunkin’ Donuts, because a lot of people like Dunkin’ as well. They sell coffee, and they are cheaper as well for students who don’t want to spend so much.

HB: Do you think caffeine affects students' mental and physical health in a positive or negative way?

Zima: I think it impacts them in a positive way because it wakes them up.

But it’s not always as healthy because Starbucks drinks tend to have a lot of calories and sugar. So it can impact students in a negative way as well.

Read the full interviews online at codcourier.org.

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COFFEE BREAK Theme: Halloween

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ACROSS 1. *Hitchcock's 1963 movie, with The 6. Bad-mouth 9. H or O in H2O, e.g.

13. France's longest river 14. Bauxite, e.g.

15. Opposite of adore 16. Proprietor 17. Quaker Man's cereal 18. Oozes 19. *Corpse 21. *Bobbing for what?, pl.

23. One time around 24. Bébé's mother 25. General Post Office 28. Actuary's concern 30. Named, in bygone era 35. Not easy 37. Accepted behavior 39. Kitchen floor layer?

40. Northern European capital 41. *Overly consumed on Halloween?

43. Actress Spelling 44. Nature's rage 46. Bangladeshi currency 47. Colossal 48. Bowling prop 50. Famous Himalayan 52. Bugling ungulate 53. Valedictorian's spot 55. Possessive of "it" 57. *Pennywise and Joker, e.g.

60. *Traditional Halloween garb 64. Honolulu greeting 65. Costa del ____ 67. Plant fungus 68. Mild and pleasant, weather-wise 69. E.T. transporter 70. Popular spring flower 71. Hole-making tools 72. Young newt 73. Country singer ____ Hill

DOWN 1. Coalition 2. Corn Belt state 3. Drink garnish 4. Cheerlessness 5. Offered on a platter 6. *Door-to-____ 7. George Gershwin's brother 8. Plural of seta 9. Cain's biblical brother 10. You, in bygone era 11. Uh-oh 12. Wife's title 15. Facet 20. Actress Linda of "Dynasty" fame 22. Be nosy 24. South American wild cats 25. *Bedsheet with holes?

26. Command that follows "cut" 27. Acrylic fiber 29. Show off 31. Low-cal 32. Skip the wedding hoopla 33. State of danger 34. *As opposed to treat 36. Small town or hamlet 38. Manufacture 42. 2:3, e.g.

45. Carnie's domain 49. Grandmother, for short 51. Reflexive of "it" 54. Question in dispute 56. Parallel grooves 57. *Raven's grabber 58. Take it easy 59. Electrical resistance units 60. Blood-related problem 61. Tangerine grapefruit hybrid 62. Castle protector 63. Carve, as in stone 64. Lawyers' league 66. "____ with their head!"

DOODLE AWAY

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

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Talking openly and knowledgeably about race is a critical competency that students are expected to develop to be career ready. That is why College of DuPage is offering the SpeakOut and SHIFT created "Race, Power, & Privilege" E-Course. This powerfully-packaged experience helps students tap into their imaginations to grow and thrive in a diverse campus setting.

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