May 22, 2019 (Summer Guide)

SUMMER 2019 22 MAY 2019 VOLUME 53

Talk to Animals! p8

Take a Gap Year p11

The Most Entertaining Player in Baseball p13

C

THE COURIER

STUDENT NEWSPAPER

2

THEME:

U.S. TRIVIA

ACROSS 1. First notation on musical staff 5. Took a load off 8. Wharton degree 11. *Skylab ____ to Earth in 1979 12. Delhi wrap 13. Same as vial 15. FBI assignment 16. Campus hangout 17. More than one iamb 18. *Location of longest cave system in the world 20. *First Nation nation 21. What a spooked horse does, with away 22. *.____ domain 23. Post-graduate “journey” 26. *Military College of South Carolina, with The 30. *Beehive State native 31. Expect to be true 34. *RBG’s garb 35. Tax of one tenth

37. *Rockefeller’s industry 38. Type of digital storage 39. Pelvic bones 40. Caribbean rattle 42. *Anna Jarvis’ honoree 43. Reusable pattern painting device 45. *State with longest coastline 47. Popular white fish 48. Winchester 30-30, e.g.

50. Country alliance 52. *World’s largest office building 55. The Commodores’ “____ House” 56. Indian music 57. Enthusiasm 59. “____ Business,” movie 60. In Tiger’s bag 61. Aquarium organism 62. Electric guitar hookup 63. Greenwich time 64. Tandoori bread

DOWN 1. Olden-day aerosol can propellant 2. Julian Assange’s announcement?

3. Other than what’s implied 4. Strip fat like a whaler 5. Impertinence 6. Middle Eastern vodka, pl.

7. Not a slob, adj.

8. Play charades 9. *George Herman Ruth’s nickname 10. *Boxer and conscientious objector 12. Knight in training

13. Lace loop 14. *First university in the U.S. 19. “And Then ____ Were None” 22. What Tom Collins and Gibson have in common 23. Skin, anatomically speaking 24. Like Tower of Pisa 25. Change shoelace knot, e.g.

26. Soda jerk’s offering 27. Boarding school dwellings 28. Book on a NOOK 29. Helping theorem 32. *U.S. has the world’s largest reserves of this 33. ____ Royale

36. *First to sign Declaration of Independence 38. Type of lily 40. Prefix for central 41. Type of tunic 44. Overly self-confident 46. Thessaloniki sea 48. Give new guns 49. Gold bar 50. Panama part 51. Pronounce s sound like th 52. Arrogant snob 53. Paella pot 54. Half human, half cobra in Hinduism 55. Lingerie staple 58. A Bobbsey twin

INDEX INDEX

3

NEWS······················ 04

Diana Martinez continues success with the MAC

FEATURES··············· 07

“It’s [never] just about a Duck on a Pond”

OPINION·················· 11

Take a Gap Year

SPORTS··················· 13

Javy Baez: The Most Entertaining Player in Baseball

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Flower Power

Lindsay Piotter

4

NEWS NEWS

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl at last November’s Frida Kahlo celebration.

Photo by Alison Pfaff

DIANA MARTINEZ CONTINUES SUCCESS WITH THE MAC Alison Pfaff, Features Editor pfaffa72@dupage.edu

In Diana Martinez’ career, she has worked with acts ranging from Jay Leno and Reba Macintyre to Michael Buble, before he was THE Michael Buble. Despite all the success in her 31-year career of creating events people talk about long after the curtain falls, her most rewarding and challenging performance may be in the job she landed 10 minutes from her house. As the Director of the Macinch Arts Center, Martinez is on the verge of pulling off arguably the biggest and most famous art exhibit in the history of DuPage County.

Martinez began her career as the director of entertainment and marketing for the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. After directing dinner theater shows, Pheasant Run expanded its entertainment

options by opening the Mega Center. The 3300-seat venue proved to be a bigger stage for both the resort and Martinez.

“While I was at Pheasant Run, I produced and did all the marketing for the shows and oversaw the whole department.” Martinez said. “I learned a lot. We started doing big concerts and booking in big names.”

Those names included George Strait and Dana Carvey.

Martinez’ enthusiasm for the arts and being project oriented helped her land those higher-profile acts.

“That was really exciting, to figure all of that out,” Martinez said.

Martinez also directed and produced Kenny Rogers’ Christmas Tour for over 10 years, completing six seasons.

Despite reservations about leaving the job at Pheasant Run, when Martinez was given the opportunity to apply for a position at the Aurora Civic Center Authority, she took it.

“It’s a lot more focused than directing, producing and marketing, which was a lot,” Martinez said. “It was a big opportunity “As hard as it was to leave directing, I did it.”

Working in Aurora, Martinez and the Civic Center board ran a capital campaign to raise $6.5 million for an expanded lobby at the Paramount Theater. She envisioned an events center with a cafe, a gallery and more bathrooms, where people could have events, including post and pre-show events.

They did just that.

Diana Martinez at Second City

Provided by Diana Martinez

“I loved it. I loved working in a community, and I loved working with the city,” Martinez said. “It was about how can you stimulate economic development and bring people into the town and build that.”

NEWS After eight years in Aurora, Martinez was offered a position at Second City. Founded in 1959, The Second City launched careers of various comedic icons, from Stephen Colbert to Bill Murray.

After meeting with the owner Andrew Alexander, a fellow member of the League of Chicago Theaters, he asked her to help plan and produce the 50th anniversary gala for the company. All Second City Alumni were invited. Martinez and the team were overwhelmed by the response, with over 2,000 former Second City members attending.

“From Stephen Colbert, all the way to Martin Short and Alan Arkin. All those people who have gone through there over the years,” Martinez said.

The gala expanded to three days worth of festivities, including speakers, reunion shows and red carpet events.

“It was the most incredible experience because the people that you are working with are creative and collaborative, and then the stars that you are helping coordinate this event for are exciting and fun and unique,” Martinez said. “It was just such an incredible opportunity. I was just really immersed in the culture after doing that event.”

After the anniversary event, Martinez was promoted to the president of Second City, where she worked for four years. She immediately started work on new ideas and business plans, one of which was working to make a new brand for Second City, creating the “Up Comedy Club” and incorporating improv comedy.

“It’s funny how life takes you from one opportunity to the next and what you learn from that,” Martinez said.

That next opportunity was right in Martinez’ backyard. The College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center needed a fresh start. Not many people even knew the MAC

existed, a problem exacerbated by a 16-month period of dormancy to allow for a major renovation.

College officials believed Martinez, a Glen Ellyn native, was just the right catalyst to put the MAC on the entertainment map.

“

5 people talk about for years. But it’s not the popular, easy sell.”

Mike Rezendez, from the Spotlight Team at the Boston Globe who broke the story of sex-abuse cover ups in the Catholic church, gave a lecture at the MAC in

It’s funny how life takes you from one opportunity to the next and what you learn from that”

-Diana Martinez

“It was reopening this new space after they did this $35 million construction project and helping to reopen, rebrand and develop the MAC,” she said.

Her goal is to give the community diverse programming with an educational flair.

While some programs do better than others, she wants smaller audiences who attend lectures to experience something memorable. Her goal is to create a deep connection between audience members and the artists performing and presenting.

“It’s a constant worry as a presenter because it’s all about ticket sales and finding the market.” Martinez said. “Some of the most quality programming, which is really good for the community, maybe doesn’t have the name recognition or the mass appeal, but it is a show that

2017. The year before, the movie based on this, “Spotlight” won best picture at the Oscars.

“He came and talked about being a journalist. How do you verify and research and it was an incredible story for journalism students and an opportunity for the public to meet him and ask questions.”

Martinez said. “ And yet, it was a hard sell even though the movie was a number one hit.

But the people who came to the show left thinking it was fascinating to find out what a writer and a reporter goes through.”

As the director of the MAC, Martinez now faces the task of her biggest feat yet. A Frida Kahlo exhibit, displaying 26 original paintings at the College of DuPage in the summer of 2020. The paintings are worth over $100 million.

Like so many of her prior accomplishments, Martinez landed the show after making personal connection with a key person. She had lunch with Alan Peterson, a regular patron of the MAC who embraced Martinez’ efforts. Peterson has his own personal connection, Carlos Philips, the son of Dolores Olmedo and long time friend who has the artwork.

While the artwork is owned by the Mexican Government, Philips still runs the foundation. Alan Peterson knows Philips from running a homeowners association for the past 35 years.

“I was like, is this even possible?

I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation,” Martinez said.

“I thought, we have to play it out.

It’s such an extraordinary opportunity.”

Peterson’s son, Mark, and his wife Marcie have helped with the logistics of making sure the project follows through. He praises Martinez for her passion for this project.

“I knew from the start that Diana was almost the perfect person to do this, just from knowing her and working with her over time on MAC events and I think both my wife and I would say the same thing,” Mark Peterson said.

With the popularity of the event and value of the art, the Cleve Carney art gallery will undergo an expansion to accommodate the highly anticipated event. Community members, as well as the College of DuPage Board trust Martinez with the “Diana just jumped on it, and she, her excitement I said well okay, yeah we can do this.. Sure! So were pushing forward and I think it’s an interesting thing because the logistics of this is it’s almost like everything Carlos always told us first continued on page 6

Frida Cake made by the COD Culinary Department

NEWS

6

continued from page 5

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of all said “well it’s very expensive to have this, and it also brings in in major cities a half a million visitors in 90 days. And I just started to go *COUGH COUGH* you can’t put half a million visitors through the Cleve Carney in 90 days!” Mark Peterson said.

While the Cleve Carney gallery will not be able to house that many people, College of DuPage Board members approved the $1.9 million northern expansion of the Cleve Carney art gallery for this exhibit in January.

“The trustees trust Diana implicently and she had this whole slide deck ready to go to justify this whole thing she got like 3 slides in and they started asking questions and they were totally on board,” Mark Peterson said.

Justin Whitte, the Director and Curator of the Cleve Carney Art Gallery, says this expansion opens up the gallery to doing larger scale shows in the future.

“It is obviously a type of show that is definitely different than what we have traditionally done with the space and that we’ve done… [most of the] shows have been contemporary art, this is very much a museum show,” Whitte said. “Because of the scale of this show, we’ve

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Fashion Students recreate famous Frida Kahlo dress

had to use all the resources and the staff of the MAC so you know, there’s a great staff there, a really hard working with a really positive attitude about approaching challenges like this, that includes Diana. I think there’s been on everybody’s part a learning curve.”

Mark Peterson remembers fondly the launch event that took place in November 2018, as happy attendees listened intently about the new exhibit.

“One thing when we were on the stage at the kick off launch party, you looked out at the people in the seats, and everyone was smiling,” Peterson said.

Martinez hopes her time at the MAC is remembered by helping others to find their passion in the arts. In the future, her dream performances at the MAC include Michael Buble and Sting.

“I guess I want to be remembered as someone who was very passionate about what I did, but I think more so I want people to feel as though they got more connected to the arts because of the work I was involved in. That they found a love of music or theater, and the love of the arts carries on.”

Photos by Alison Pfaff

FEATURES NEWS

7

“IT’S [NEVER] JUST ABOUT A DUCK ON A POND” Kimberly Wilson, Opinion Editor wilsonk767@dupage.edu

I

n the past I was one of the many who found poetry to be entirely overdramatic.

For me, poetry was simply not worth the effort it takes to truly understand its significance. An English class I took in my third semester at College of DuPage opened my eyes to the beauty of the art form. I’ve since come to truly value poetry’s ability to convey human life and emotion.

In my quest to continue to broaden my appreciation for poetry, I visited the Poetry Foundation in Chicago. Opened in 2011 and free to the public, the Poetry Foundation boasts a 30,000-volume library that consists solely of poems. It is also home to an exhibition gallery and a performance space used for various public events hosted by the Foundation.

One particular poet whose work I was excited to explore at the Poetry Foundation is Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). Commonly referred to as just Dante, the famous Italian is widely regarded as one of the greatest western poets who ever lived. His most wellknown piece, the famed “Divine Comedy,” is a long, narrative poem considered to be a literary masterpiece.

“I want to focus on what he can teach us about the nature of living a life that is truly happy, flourishing, satisfying, rich; a life worth living, a life lived well,” Wolf said.

Wolf believes there is much knowledge about human psychology to be gained by anyone who decides to study the “Divine Comedy.”

“I want to analyse Dante’s conception of what it means to be human,” he said. “I want to analyse his conception of mental health. I want to analyse his conception of virtue, wisdom, rationality of emotion, and how all of this relates to relationships and community. So much of Dante’s poem, it’s really all about salvation. Dante wrote that poem because he wanted to save his reader.”

Along with building critical thinking skills and developing a greater appreciation for beauty, Wolf believes reading poetry can help increase thoughtfulness and enable us to recognize what is truly important in our lives. “[Poetry] is great for helping people to appreciate the richness of the human in all

its beauty and all its ugliness, the good and the bad, and to get people to start paying attention to things that really matter, things of real substance, things of real value. I think the humanities are great for all of it, but I think poetry especially is such a great vehicle for that.”

The Poetry Foundation strives to present poetry to as wide an audience as possible.

Home to multiple genres of poetry and the work of many of the most influential poets in history, the Poetry Foundation is the ideal space for anyone wishing to check out Dante’s work, learn more about poetry in general, or anyone who is already captivated by the artform.

When you’re finished immersing yourself in the wide array of poetry the foundation has to offer, you’ll even have the opportunity to make a wish, write it down and add it to the many wishes adorning the trees decorating the entrance of their building. It’s a cheerful way to end an inspiring visit on a bright, summer day.

Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” originally entitled “La Commedia,” will be studied in depth in an honors humanities course for the upcoming fall semester here at COD. The course, which will be taught by COD Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Leslie Wolf, will focus on various themes presented in the “Divine Comedy,” including Dante’s ideas on society and theology.

Wolf said although Dante’s Catholicism must be taken seriously in studying the “Divine Comedy,” Dante’s personal religious convictions will not prevent students who are secular, atheist or of a different religion from benefiting from his class. Wolf will adapt the piece to a “modern readership,” and one of the main goals of the class will be to examine how the “Divine Comedy” can help us all live better lives.

Photo by Kimberly Wilson

To find out more about Professor Wolf’s humanities course, contact him at wolfl214@cod.edu. For more information on the Poetry Foundation visit poetryfoundation.org.

8

NEWS FEATURES

BECOME ONE WITH THE BEASTS

UNDERSTANDING SPEECH THROUGH ANIMAL COMMUNICATION Joey Weslo, Assignment Reporter wesloj@dupage.edu All across the animal kingdom, an unspoken language commands relationships and dictates species’ behavior. How can we study this behavior to better appreciate the interpersonal and group communication dynamics in our own lives?

For the third year, College of DuPage Speech Professor Jude Geiger will immerse students in nonverbal communication techniques between animals and humans. By studying the barriers animals and humans overcome in facilitating dialogue, Geiger’s summer-term Speech 1100 course inspires students to overcome their personal barriers to healthy communication.

Students will give speeches on animals, learn about trainer etiquette and rehabilitation at Willowbrook Wildlife Center, study horse communication at Galusha Farm, study human and dog interaction at Consummate Canines and explore group dynamics in a visit to Brookfield Zoo. Geiger believes the field studies class makes learning speech fundamentals more interactive and exciting for students.

“It’s a unique experience because we get out of the classroom and learn to explore the interplay of communication through different animal behavior,” said Geiger.

Geiger said, while on nature walks, or on a scavenger hunt exercise at Brookfield Zoo, students practice interpersonal and small group communication with other students. While learning about animal communication, students face tasks with a common objective. The exercise helps each stu-

Photo by Lindsay Piotter dent’s natural role in the group become established and understood.

“With interpersonal communication, we focus on how you initiate an open dialogue with someone you’ve never met before,” said Geiger. “Small group communication is similar, where we examine who in the relationship displays leadership and what type of leadership they express.

Functional leadership is someone who gets things done. Transformational leadership is one who inspires others. Students reflect on the individual roles they play in their relationships. Who was the note-taker? Who kept everyone on track? Who kept everyone’s spirits up?”

By observing animal interac-

tion, students identify how each individual role influences the effectiveness of the attempted communication. Just as humans, the personality of each species dictates their strategy for communicating.

At Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, students observe how healthy communication between trainer and animal can expedite rehabilitation for the animal. Students watch how trainers nonverbally communicate during feeding sessions or when moving animals into different enclosures.

By witnessing persuasive techniques that don’t involve negative reinforcement, students explore what cooperation is necessary between the messenger and the receiver. Where can interference oc-

cur, and how does one overcome these obstacles to ensure mutual success?

Students will study similar ways nonverbal communication helps overcome interference by witnessing dog and trainer interaction at Consummate Canines in Roselle.

By observing how trainers get dogs to perform advanced tricks by communicating through a series of hand signals, students focus on the importance of clarity in messaging and complete attention in receiving directions.

Geiger said one of the most important breakdowns to overcome in communication is when members perceive the world differently.

To study this relationship, students visit Galusha Farm in Warrenville to observe how horses communi-

NEWS FEATURES cate with each other and with human interaction.

The students will learn from Joyce DeZutti, a nurse educator at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, who provides horse time and riding lessons at Galusha Farm.

DeZutti teaches students how to build a trusting relationship with the horse by approaching with slow movements, respecting its space and speaking in a calm voice. Direct eye contact should be avoided because horses are prey animals, and it could trigger a fear response.

“Horses are very congruent with emotions,” said DeZutti. “If I pretend I’m not afraid of approaching, the horse will be able to sense my inner-fear. They naturally want to avoid incongruent behavior. People who are in abusive relationships can relate to the horse’s instinct to recognize and avoid incongruent actions. For safety, one must properly read and understand the situation. This involves appreciating more than just verbal communication.”

DeZutti said a therapist she knows used horses to help a young man with a chemical dependency.

When they were surrounded by horses, the man told the therapist he had been clean all week. At this moment, all the horses left his vicinity. The horses felt the tension created by his incongruent lie.

Studying horses also highlights the importance of empathy in healthy communication.

DeZutti said some horses will show immense sympathy, allowing a grieving person to embrace them in an attempt to console their pain. She described a relationship between a Shetland pony and a mule involving the mule hoisting the severely arthritic pony to its feet when the pony could no longer rise using its own strength.

Geiger said establishing empa-

thy is crucial to overcoming any barrier in communication. This empathy allows us to appreciate how horses perceive the world and how that influences their interactions with people.

“

9 thinking. However, if it’s not blinking, the horse may be ready to bolt. Also, a strong whip of the tail shows aggression. However, a gentler swish of the tail may be just to get flies away.”

Through observing the interaction between horses, students can explore the social dynamics of interpersonal and group communication.

“Students develop confidence in their communication skills by interacting with the horses,” said Geiger. “Appreciating our differences helps students break through their fear of interaction. We focus on establishing confidence and clarity to ensure the horse can be comfortable with us.”

Once this trust is established, students participate in an exercise to help the horse overcome its own fears through desensitization.

Horses are often frightened by objects such as helium balloons, plastic bags and tarps. Because horses’ eyes are positioned to either side, they don’t see well straight ahead, resulting in impaired depth perception.

To explore the communication necessary to overcome this fear, students attempt to lead a pony across a dark tarp. The pony’s resistance can only be desensitized by building trust with a student who slowly walks the pony around the tarp. Horses show nonverbal communication through their ears, eyes and tail.

“If the ears are pointed towards the student, the horse’s full attention is on them,” said DeZutti. “Also, if the horse’s eyes are blinking, it’s

In being perceptive to all the nonverbal cues, students eventually succeed in walking the pony across the tarp it was once afraid of.

Through observing the interaction between horses, students can explore the social dynamics of interpersonal and group communication. Horses maintain a dominance hierarchy involving individuals pinning their ears straight back and moving on, and driving other horses out of their way.

By witnessing the relationships within the herd, patients of equine-facilitated therapists can identify and open up about the relationships impacting their own lives. DeZutti said teenage patients once witnessed one horse shy in the corner, two rearing up together, and one standing back.

The one standing back walked forcefully forward, and the two stopped rearing up and immediately began to behave.

“Teenage patients often find it hard to open up, but after witnessing the horses, they told the therapist how people in their families and friendships related to the actions and personality of each individual horse,” said DeZutti. “One patient said, ‘that’s me and my brother fighting, and my father forcefully breaking us up.’ Each patient has their own metaphorical interpretations helping them better explore and appreciate the conflicts and relationships in their own lives.”

DeZutti said students who are going into physical or occupational therapy should be aware of the amazing potential horses have in interacting with patients. She said young children with cerebral palsy often have their tightened muscles relaxed by the warmth and movement of being on a horse. Speech therapists can also utilize horses to ease the anxiety of a child. She’s heard success stories of therapists getting a child to speak their first words upon a horse.

DeZutti said experiencing the communication techniques of animals can help us fully appreciate the complexities of our interactions with others.

“Every time you have the opportunity to do experiential learning instead of lectures, the interacting and observations impacts you differently,” said DeZutti. “Being able to immerse yourself in actual animal communication instead of a textbook, helps make the education powerful and real.”

Deep Conversation

Brandon Beckwith

10

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OPINION

11

TAKE A GAP YEAR Lindsay Piotter, Photo Editor piotterl@dupage.edu

U

pon graduating high school, I was constantly asked, “What do you want to do next?” My teachers, my family and my peers expect the name of some university to roll off my tongue. They want to congratulate me and hear me perform the scripted answers to the typical questions: “What are you studying? Will you join a sorority? Did you receive any scholarships?”

I know the “right” answer to those questions.

But neither the questions, nor the answers, appealed to me as much as, “Where to next?”

I dreamt of answering with street photography in Europe, backpacking South America, taking a roadtrip across the United States or volunteering on a farm in Hawaii. I’ve spent a large amount of my time in an educational institution, expanding my knowledge in multiple subjects. It’s time to learn more about myself.

“The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost,” a memoir by Rachel Friedman, became a safe haven each time I opened it. Among the pages was a life similar to the one I dreamt of. When Rachel completed undergrad school she explained the pull within her to go on the adventure of a lifetime while her friends settled into their new career.

She makes her way to Ireland for nine months.

During her time there, she meets an Australian named Carly, and they became best friends.

My favorite part of the book was when Rachel made her way to Australia to stay with Carly

and her family for one year. She inspired me so much, three months ago I purchased a oneway ticket to Melbourne, Australia and will be arriving there in four months, by myself.

There are moments I am paralyzed with fear, but more than anything, I am exhilarated with excitement. I can put as much time as I want into planning, but there is no way one can prepare being without everything familiar and comfortable. I will have no one to depend on but myself, and I find this absolutely liberating.

Students all across the globe participate in something known as a “gap year.” A gap year is an amount of time taken off school to work, travel and/or simply explore one’s interests prior to entering a new era of schooling. In Australia, I will devote my time to a road trip or two (or three), exploring cities, beach hopping, volunteering on a farm, and hopefully I’ll eventually land a job with my Working Holiday Visa which allows foreign travellers to stay for up to one year if approved.

Not one gap year looks the same. One person may choose to join a gap year organization, specifically for those looking to travel during their gap year, while others may choose to spend their free time investing themselves in a creative endeavor they’ve put off for awhile.

When making the next steps, whether from high school to college, undergraduate school to graduate school, or school to a career, it is incredibly beneficial to take time off.

In my case, I simply am not entirely sure what studies I want to pursue quite yet. Not only do students deserve a break after devoting a handful of time and focus to school, but there are also numerous ways we can learn that do not include enrolling in school. There is much to be learned from walking the streets of a new city, visiting a library in a different country or falling asleep under the stars.

On the farm in Victoria, Australia, I will learn how to sow vegetables and care for chickens and calves. Everything we eat will be fresh from the garden. During my entire stay, I will remain open to the Australian culture and allow my perception to change because of it. These experiences come along with an immense depth to them that school cannot teach us, and they are full of experiences and lessons one can take along with them in every aspect of life.

Students may come back from a gap year filled to brim with motivation to go back to school, or maybe they don’t. Either way, they’ve taken the time to get to know themselves and the world a little better. A handful of us feel pressured to pick a path as quickly as we can just to get done with school. I believe in the power of creating your own path. If you are sitting in class daydreaming about what the world has to show you, I suggest asking yourself, “What do I want to do next?”

Mt. Evans, Colo. - Lindsay Piotter

OPINION NEWS

12

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE PETTY Alison Pfaff, Photo Editor pfaffa72@dupage.edu

I have been watching various YouTube influencers and channels for a long time. The idea of a real person giving their honest opinion about something without the use of a big team of producers and directors appealed to me as a kid. Afterall, YouTube’s original slogan was “Broadcast Yourself.”

Through this community, I have seen it go from teenagers sitting in their bedrooms, connecting with an online audience, to money hungry, greedy social climbers.

This is not what the beauty community should be. This is not what the community was. No matter who you side with, the beauty community is a place for artistry, honesty and the love of makeup.

Social media fame and money have drastically changed the community, and it is a sad thing to see.

Money, fame and influence have clouded people’s judgement. It is an unfortunate reality we live in where young people are now idolizing influencers who may not be the most genuine.

Throughout my time as a viewer, I have seen many changes within the beauty community. Influencers coming and going, losing the hype they once had on the platform. More recently, I have noticed a more toxic element that has invaded the internet: cancel culture. Scroll through Twitter, and you may see a hashtag saying some person is “cancelled.” Cancelling refers to no longer supporting or following an influencer or celebrity after that person exhibited problematic behavior. An example of this could be a racist past, or a person being caught in a lie.

An incident picked up by mainstream media and drama channels

Cat Fight

Jessica Tapia

alike has been the Tati Westbrook and James Charles drama. Westbrook is a beauty influencer who has been creating content since 2010. James Charles is a 19-yearold influencer who shot to fame in 2016 after becoming the first male spokesperson for CoverGirl.

Westbrook owns a company, called Halo Beauty, that sells hair/nail vitamins, with its direct competitor being called SugarBear Hair.

Charles, who has been friends with Westbrook for years, promoted SugarBear Hair on his Instagram story after their team reportedly helping him with security at Coachella.

Following this, Westbrook posted Instagram stories saying how upset she was and disappointed in the community. Fans figured it was about Charles’ post, and they were correct.

Westbrook, who is reported to have helped James in many aspects during the beginning of his career, released a video entitled “Bye Sister.” This 40-minute video goes into her relationship with Charles and accusations against him about his relationships he has pursued with straight men. Charles has since responded to the accusations with his side of the story.

I will be honest. Following Charles’ response video, which was also about 41 minutes long, I don’t know what to believe. Perhaps time will tell. I do feel like this incident could have been avoided if it were talked about in private. The feud being public has sensationalized it, and I think it has done more harm than good.

In terms of the beauty community as a whole, this is a huge example of “cancelling” someone until

they are proven innocent. It is one thing to not like a person, or not believe what they are saying, but it is another to consistently harass them, saying horrible things. Following Westbrook’s video, Charles lost 3 million subscribers and consistently received hate, with viewers picking “teams” to support.

Other influences have expressed their opinions, threatening to “expose the truth.” Only time will tell who is innocent here.

While this is the latest in beauty community drama, it is not the first. Throughout the years, various influencers have had public arguments.

While the community may seem superficial, the underlying pettiness and greed is disheartening. I hope that the community will return to the artistry and love of makeup it once had, without the drama.

SPORTS

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THE MOST ENTERTAINING PLAYER IN BASEBAL Vijay Kavuri, Sports Editor kavuriv@dupage.edu

It’s not easy to walk the streets or have a meal with budding Chicago Cubs star Javier Baez. He has risen from a piece in the Cubs puzzle to an All-Star who is must-watch at the plate, on the bases and in the field.

The rest of the baseball world will finally get to see what Cubs fans do every day: Baez is the most entertaining player in the game. There’s a reason they call him El Mago aka The Magician No player on the Cubs roster gets the reaction Baez does when he walks onto the field or just sticks his neck out from the dug-

out. And when he’s at the plate?

Fans chant his name as if he’s in his home park.

Baez’s fans got their money’s worth. It’s not a big secret why they love him so much. In a game with little emotion and sometimes even less entertainment value these days, Baez brings both.

On a team of rock stars, Baez might be the lead singer. Arguably, he has overtaken Bryant and Rizzo as the most popular Cub. His manager couldn’t disagree with that assessment.

He has that rock-star feel with his teammates. For people who

come to enjoy baseball, he’s the guy you come watch.

It has been well documented that some in the game still prefer an old-school approach and aren’t fans of Baez flamboyance.

But there is no doubt he is the most entertaining player in Major League Baseball.

Wikimedia Commons

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MUSIC

STAFF PICKS

ROLL

YOUR

WINDOWS DOWN!

Come On Eileen Dexys Midnight Runners

Roll your windows down, turn up the speakers, this song is one that has the be blasted. In the ranks with “Piano Man” and “Benny and the Jets,” this song is one of those timeless pieces that really does get better with age. “Come On Eileen” is the anthem for having fun with friends.

Karla

Mama Clean Bandit feat. Ellie Goulding

“Somebody pass me the water, cause I’m burning.” This sweltering collaboration between Clean Bandit and Ellie Goulding has the perfect feel for summer. The song explores the happy anxiety that surrounds coming to terms with all our experiences and emotions, and does it with a light and easy confidence and catchy beat that is sure to get you moving and uplift your mood.

Kimberly

Ready to Go (Get Me out of My Mind) Panic! at the Disco

From Panic’s album Vice and Virtues released in 2011, this song is an upbeat song ideal for blasting in your car on a summer day. It is not only catchy, but hypes you up as well! “Ready to Go” is an ideal summer song for me.

Alison

I Believe in a Thing Called Love The Darkness

The worse you are at singing, the better this song gets! It’s the perfect amount of rock jams and falsetto nonsense. The point is to sound as ridiculous as possible, so crank it up and don’t you dare turn it down at that red light.

Brandon

Dancing Queen ABBA

Things will never be as perfect as they are now. If you try to slow down life, it tears apart at the seams. Every scene composed of a million effervescent moments. Each smile, a memory rushing past the open window. Never forget to dance. The world is full of music; let it awaken your soul. Each path less traveled is waiting for the imprint of your bare feet. Beneath each unturned stone lies a secret untold.

No two sunsets are the same. Let rays of a different sun fall upon you wherever you go. Constellations are not only in the night sky, there are stars to be found everyday all around us. Let their aurora breathe within you. Bathe in their starlight…

Love You Rachie!!! LYM

Joey

YOU CAN FIND THE FULL COURIER SPOTIFY PLAYLIST AT CODCOURIER.ORG

15

NOT ANYMORE

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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.

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

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