COLLEGE OF DUPAGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER — 31 OCTOBER 2018
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VO L U M E 5 3
NEWS
FEATURES
OPINION
Your Candidates p6
Interview with Lauren Underwood
Comedian in Political Exile p16
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INDEX
NEWS FEATURES OPINION SPORTS COFFEE BREAK
Know your voting rights
Congressional candidate Lauren Underwood (D-14)
ON THE COVER
Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef COD denies FOIA request Puzzles and COD Weather Forecast
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF................................... Tessa Morton ASSIGNMENT REPORTER....................... Joey Weslo NEWS EDITOR....................................... Madison Venckus FEATURES EDITOR................................. Reanna Comiso OPINION EDITOR................................... Kimberly Wilson SPORTS EDITOR.................................... Miguel Contreras The Courier does not knowingly accept HEAD PHOTO EDITOR............................. Alison Pfaff advertisement that discriminate on the basis of sex, ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR.................... Lindsay Piotter creed, religion, color, handicapped status, veteran GRAPHICS EDITOR................................. Brandon Beckwith or sexual orientation, nor does it knowingly print ads that violate any local, state or federal laws. ASSISTANT GRAPHICS EDITOR............... John Noonan SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER...................... Trinity Jefferson Deliver all correspondence to SSC 1220 between regular office hours or mail to the Courier, College ADVISER - Jim Fuller of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL. 60137. fullerj103@cod.edu The Courier is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters, except for the first and last Wednesday of each semester and the week of spring break as a public forum with content chosen by student editors. One copy free, additional copies available upon request.
10/31/18
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NEWS
Voting is your Right. Don’t Let Anyone Take it from You Reanna Comiso, Features Editor The United States has an unfortunate history of voter suppression. It did not die with the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965 like Americans hoped. In 2018, voter suppression looks like malfunctioning voting machines, blocking 53,000 voter registration applications in Georgia and signature-matching laws. United States citizens have a right to vote; knowing your rights protects voters from further suppression. The Voting Rights Act, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, was presumed to be the answer to voting discrimination and suppression. The Act made literacy tests illegal. Federal overview of voter registration was provided as part of the law, and poll taxes could be investigated by the U.S. Attorney General. Poll taxes became illegal on both the state and federal level by 1966. "When the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965, my grandmother had a new way to speak, nearly 70 years into her life," said Gabrielle Starr, president of Pomona College, in her open letter to college students as 4
published in the Washington Post. Voting is a chance for individuals to speak their concerns and use their voices. A single vote has the ability to shape the future of the country. Many states have found ways around the Voting Rights Act. Voter rolls are being purged in states like Indiana, deleting voter registration status. Rural Native Americans are being turned away at the polls for lack of proper identification proving their address, despite no requirement to have street addresses on reservations. In states like Florida and Kentucky, citizens with past convictions are prohibited from voting until granted a full pardon and restoration of their civil rights by the governor. In Florida, a five to seven year waiting period is required and some crimes remove the chance of rights ever being restored. In order to combat voter suppression, voters are encouraged to know their rights to avoid confrontation at the polls. When asked in a short questionnaire, several College of Dupage students said
March on Washington, 1963
US Library of Congress
they will not vote in the upcoming election because they did not register. Members of the Student Leadership Council spent several weeks on campus trying to encourage people to register to vote, a key focus in their agenda for this semester. Voters in Illinois have same-day registration. Even if you did not meet pre-registration deadlines, voters can go to their respective polling place, register and cast their vote. This can also be done to change out-dated voter records. For example, if you recently moved
and have a new street address, voter registration can be updated on the day of the election. Vote-by-mail and absentee voting is also available. For those unable to vote physically at their polling place, Illinois allows for votes to be sent through the mail. Absentee ballots are sometimes sent to voters by election candidates, but can also be obtained online at anytime at https://absentee.vote.org. Absentee ballots must be sent out before the election day. Illinois also does not have voter identification laws. If you are
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turned away at the polls due to insufficient documentation, that is illegal. Illinois residents do not need to provide forms of identification in order to receive their ballot or to register. Convicted felons in Illinois are also able to submit a vote. While imprisoned, citizens cannot cast a vote. Voting rights are immediately restored upon release. Each state has varying laws in regards to felons casting a vote, but ex-offenders in Illinois are encouraged to re-register to vote once their rights have been restored.
If at any point you are turned away from the polls, you should not walk away. All prospective voters are allowed to ask for a provisional ballot. By law, one must be provided to you. A provisional ballot is a way to vote when any questions of eligibility exist. Actual eligibility must be resolved before provisional votes can be counted to determine the result of an election. “Each of us who has the privilege to speak our loudest voice — to vote — must do so,” said Starr.
NEWS
Understanding Your Ballot Madison Venckus, News Editor Come election day Nov. 6, voters have a much more intricate decision to make rather than just choosing Democrat or Republican. All Illinois voters will have the choice between Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner and his Democratic challenger, JB Pritzker, in the statewide race. Independent candidate, William McCann and Libertarian candidate, Grayson “Kash�
Jackson, are also in the running. Likewise, the Illinois Secretary of State race between Republican candidate, Jason Helland; Libertarian candidate, Steve Dutner and current Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, who is a Democrat, will be on voters ballots statewide. Lieutenant governor, Illinois attorney general, treasurer and comptroller candidates all run at a statewide
level and appear on all Illinois ballots. At the state level, there are a total of 118 seats in the Illinois House of Representatives. All seats in the Illinois House of Representatives are up for election or re-election every two years. Those 118 seats are what voters will see on ballots depending on the Illinois House of Representative District a voter lives in. A House district is
formed by splitting a senate district in half, which forms 59 Senate districts in Illinois. Each House member represents an average of 105,000 residents, according to ballotpedia.com, and Senate districts represent over 200,000 residents. At the federal level, there are 18 U.S. Congressional districts dividing the Illinois population amongst them. College of DuPage students general-
ly live within districts 3, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 14, which include parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Lake counties. With President Donald Trump in office, the U.S. House of Representatives currently has more Republican candidates than Democratic. In the upcoming election, Matt Flegenheimer, Grant Gold and Umi Syam said in a New York Times article that
if Republican candidates continue to have more people in the House, people may see more tax cuts and another attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act. On the other hand, if Democratic candidates gain a majority in the House, Flegenheimer said people may see impeachment proceedings along with a return to divided government.
Sample Ballot
Flickr user Brendan C
10/31/18
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NEWS
Who's on Your Ballot? Madison Venckus, News Editor
Illinois Gubernatorial Candidates: Viewpoints on Healthcare, Drugs, Education and Civil Rights JB Pritzker - Democratic candidate JB Pritzker is the Democratic candidate running for Illinois governor. On the issue of healthcare, Pritzker proposed an option for all Illinois residents to buy lowcost insurance. According to Ballotpedia, Pritzker said he will work on lowering costs at no disadvantage to the taxpayer. Pritzker believes that marijuana should be legalized and taxed. “I will invest in a public education system that improves the well-being of every child and prepares them for the jobs of tomorrow. I will oppose school vouchers and charter school expansion and will work to construct a stronger birth-to-five system of early childhood education,” Pritzker said on his 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website, JBPritzker.com On the issue of civil rights, Pritzker believes transgender individuals should be welcome to serve as state troopers and he stands up against LGBTQ intolerance in schools.
J.B. Pritzker
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Wikimedia user Chi Hack Night
Bruce Rauner - Republican candidate Bruce Rauner is the Republican candidate running for Illinois governor. Rauner has not taken LGBT-supportive actions but said he would not try to undo marriage equality in the state which is now a moot point following the 2015 Supreme Court decision. On the issue of drugs, Rauner takes a pro-drug reform stance. Rauner hopes to close the gap between high and low income schools in Chicago.
Bruce Rauner
US Air National Guard
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William “Sam” McCann - Conservative candidate William “Sam” McCann is the Conservative candidate running for Illinois governor. McCann is a current Republican member of the Illinois State Senate, representing District 50 after being elected in 2012. He will serve until January 2019 and did not file for re-election. Grayson “Kash” Jackson - Libertarian candidate Grayson “Kash” Jackson is the Libertarian candidate running for Illinois governor. As of 2018, Johnson was attending Columbia College of Missouri to receive a bachelor’s degree criminal justice. Jackson served in the Navy for 20 years from 1996 to 2016 and was a reserve sheriff deputy for Lake County, Illinois.
Grayson "Kash" Jackson
Wikimedia
NEWS Congressional Districts: These Congressional Districts include parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, McHenry and Lake Counties. District 3: Art Jones - Republican Art Jones is running in the 2018 U.S. House election as a Republican candidate. Jones was a 2016 and 2012 candidate for the 3rd district prior to his defeat by Richard Grabowski in the Republican primary. Daniel Lipinski - Democrat Daniel Lipinski is running in the 2018 U.S. House election as a Democratic candidate. Prior to running in 2018, Lipinski was elected in the 3rd Congressional District in 2004 and won re-election in 2016. District 5: Tom Hanson - Republican Tom Hanson is running in the 2018 U.S. House election as a Republican candidate. Michael Quigley - Democratic Michael Quigley is running in the 2018 U.S. House election as a Democratic candidate. Quigley is already a Democratic member of the U.S. House after being elected in 2009 and than re-elected in 2016. District 6: Sean Casten - Democrat Sean Casten is running in the 2018 U.S. House election as a Democratic candidate. After advancing from the primaries, Peter Roskam - Republican Peter Roskam is running in the 2018 U.S. House election as a Republican candidate. He was first elected 2006, after serving on the Illinois State Senate from 2000 to 2007 and the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 1998.
U.S. House election as a Democratic candidate. Krishnamoorthi previously ran in 2012 but was defeated by Tammy Duckworth in the Democratic primary. District 11: Bill Foster - Democrat Bill Foster is running for the 2018 U.S. House election as a Democratic candidate. Foster won re-election in the 11th district in 2016. Nick Stella - Republican Nick Stella is running for the 2018 U.S. House election as a Republican candidate. Stella sought election in the 2016 election but was defeated by Tonia Khouri in the primary. District 14: Randy Hultgren - Republican Randall Mark “Randy” Hultgran is running for the 2018 U.S. House election as a Republican candidate. He was first elected to the U.S. House in 2010 after serving in the Illinois State Senate from 2007 to 2011 and the House from 1998 to 2007. Lauren Underwood - Democrat Lauren Underwood is running for the 2018 U.S. House election as a Democratic candidate.
Attorney General
Kwame Raoul - Democrat Summary: Kwame Raoul is a Democratic District 8: candidate running for Attorney General of JD Diganvker - Republican Illinois. Raoul was first elected to the Illinois JD Diganvker is running in the 2018 U.S. State Senate in 2006 after being appointed to House election as a Republican candidate. fill a vacancy in 2004. Following Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi - Democrat Lisa Madigan, not following for re-election in Raja Krishnamoorthi is running in the 2018 10/31/18
2014, Raoul is the next Democratic candidate running for her seat. Democratic candidates have won seven of the ten previous attorney general elections. Erika Harold - Republican Summary: Erika Harold is a Republican candidate running for Attorney General of Illinois. Harold was previously a 2014 Republican candidate seeking election to the U.S. House of Representative to represent the 13th Congressional District of Illinois. The most recent Republican candidates to win an attorney general election was Jim Ryan in 1998. Victory for Harold in the Attorney General race would create a Republican triplex. Bubba Harsy - Libertarian Summary: Bubba Harsy is a Libertarian Party candidate running for Attorney General of Illinois. Harsy was previously an independent candidate for District 116 of the Illinois s House of Representatives in 2016. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, Harsy was removed from the ballot with the reasoning behind this removal was not being made clear. Secretary of State Steve Dutner - Libertarian Steve Dutner is a Libertarian Party candidate running for Illinois Secretary of State. Dunter has his bachelor's degree in management and leadership from Judson University and has worked in management and sales professionally. Jason Helland - Republican Jason Helland is a Republican candidate running for Illinois Secretary of State. Helland was elected Grudy County State’s Attorney in 2012 and is an assistant state’s attorney at the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office. Jesse White - Democrat Jesse White is the a Democratic candidate running for Illinois Secretary of State. He is currently the Democratic Illinois Secretary of State running for re-election. White served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 to 1991 and served as Recorder of Deeds for Cook County, Illinois from 1992 to 1999.
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NEWS
COD Students Speak Out: Why it's Important to Vote Photos by Alison Pfaff & Tessa Morton
When it comes to voting, if you have the access, you have the responsibility to fulfill that. It's the smart thing to do. Old people are ruining the country and young people need to take it back. They never really had it.-Luis McGuire
I simply think that a lot of millenials don't vote, but tend to complain about who gets elected. Older people are more likely to vote. -Ella Javorovac
It's more important for the younger people, especially now. We have more insight on the future." -Jared Huppert
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THE COURIER
NEWS ARE YOU VOTING THIS NOVEMBER?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT DISTRICT YOU’RE IN?
MAYBE
NO
DO YOU KNOW WHO IS RUNNING THIS NOVEMBER ?
YES YES
NO
NO
YES
DO YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION?
NO
YES
It's the midterms. So it's local, and it's more likely to effect me. -Miguel Gutierrez
My mom enforced in me the importance of voting. Everyone's vote matters. -Alyssa Berger
We need change
-Manuel Nartey
I want to be able to say I tried
-Ryan Moore
Left to Right: Manuel Nartey, Ryan Moore and Raven Dean
We need to vote so we don't get garbage presidents
-Raven Dean
10/31/18
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NEWS
Where to go? Who to vote for? What are the issues? Tessa Morton, Editor-in-Chief
www.rockthevote.org www.ballotready.org Ballotready.org offers more detailed information for users who want to quickly locate their polling location and learn about their ballot. Entering your address allows you to learn more about the candidates you will choose from on November 6th. Each office on the ballot is listed, and once a candidate is selected users can scroll down and learn more about their background and positions on specific issues. Users can then select who they want to vote for, print their sample ballot and take it with them to the polls.
Rock the Vote is a nonprofit organization that is focused on motivating young people to not only get out and vote, but also volunteer, engage, and learn more about their rights and the voting process. The website, like others, helps users find their polling locations, but it also explains the importance and history of U.S. voting rights. The website provides opportunities to take action, volunteer, sign petitions and contact elected officials.
www.dupagecounty.org/election/ The DuPage County website has all the vital information you need to find your polling location, sample ballots, candidate lists, propositions, and early voting information. For specific information about your district, head to www. dupageco.org/voterlookup/. Enter in your district information or address to find polling locations in your area, or enter in your personal details to find your voter registration status.
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www.gettothepolls.com For basic information on your ballot, polling locations and early voting sites, gettothepolls. com allows users to enter their address to find information specifically tailored for them. The site does not provide more detailed information about candidates or propositions, but is a helpful starting point. The polling locations are presented on a map of the area and operating hours and dates are included.
www.votesmart.org Vote Smart is dedicated to providing non-partisan, factual information on candidates and current officials. Vote smart helps users search specific politicians or candidates. Simply enter your zip code, to find biographies, voting history, positions, speeches and campaign finance information about candidates in your area. Users can also take a quiz at voteeasy.votesmart. org/map to find what candidate best matches their current positions and priorities.
GET OUT THE COURIER
NEWS
Learn More by Visiting These Non-partisan Websites
www.ontheissues.org
www.ballotpedia.org Ballotpedia.org also allows users to preview their ballot by entering the address. The website provides election related news coverage, voter guides, polls, and information on voting rights. Importantly, the website also provides more detailed information about specific candidates and ballot measures, as well as the contributions made both for and against these measures. Like ballotready.org, ballotpedia.org allows users to select their candidates, print their sample ballot and take it to the polls.
While not the most attractive website, ontheissues.org does offer users the ability to learn more about where candidates stand on specific issues that are important to them. Users can search by issue, candidate, or electoral race. Ontheissues.org specifically focuses on the senate and governor’s races taking place this November. Individual house races are not listed, however incumbent candidates can be searched and information on their record is included. The website provides not only the positions that candidates have publicly held, but also their quotes and voting history.
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FEATURES
U.S House Candidate (D-14th) Lauren Underwood on the Issues, her Time in the Obama Administration & More Kimberly Wilson, Opinion Editor
Lauren Underwood is running in the 14th Congressional District
Lauren Underwood's Press Assistant
Lauren Underwood is the democratic nominee for the 14th congressional district race in Illinois. From Naperville, IL, Underwood is a registered nurse and worked in the Obama Administration as senior advisor and special assistant, where she gained invaluable leadership experience. “As a leader, your desire to want to do the right thing is not enough. You have to have critical thinking ability, you have to have raw analytical skills, you have to be decisive, you have to have the inherent leadership ability, you have to be able to have a vision and execute operations.” Underwood got her start in politics early. At just 16 years old, she was appointed to the Naperville Fair Housing Advisory Committee, where she gained experience working on local government policies. At 32, Underwood is running for congress for the first time. She challenges republican congressman Randy Hultgren, who has held the seat since
10/31/18
2011. It was a promise Underwood says congressman Hultgren failed to keep that motivated her to run for office. At a 2017 Q&A hosted by the League of Women Voters, he pledged to protect healthcare coverage for people with preexisting conditions. “That kind of promise was really important to me. I’ve taken care of patients who rely on their coverage, as a nurse I worked on the Affordable Care Act, and then I also have a preexisting condition myself. So it was personal, and when he made that promise, I believed him.” Hultgren’s subsequent vote for the American Healthcare Act, which studies showed could have possibly hiked the price of insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions up by thousands of dollars, was the determining factor for Underwood. “I got really upset, and decided, 'You know what? It’s on. I’m gonna run.'” On Education Underwood argues
the lack of federal funding allocated to higher education has resulted in millions of students having to turn to high interest loans to be able to afford college. “I’m a millennial. Somebody in my generation, generation Z, can’t even think about retirement security, can’t even think about buying a home and saving for retirement because they can’t afford to pay their loan debt much less do anything else.” She contends a solution to this problem could come from making improvements to the Pell Grant Program, such as making it available year-round and not just for the Spring and Summer terms. Underwood also stated the grant has not kept up with increasing college tuition, which has forced students to resort to a “predatory” loan market. “It’s a priority and I’m really looking forward to at least making sure our federal financial aid system reflects the true cost continued on page 14
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FEATURES continued from page 13
of college for an average student.” On Gun Control Underwood argues “common sense reforms” such as universal background checks are what’s needed to curb the occurences of mass shootings in our schools and criticized congress for not calling a vote on the issue. “Ninety-seven percent of the country came out in support of universal background checks. It seems to me that the 3 percent of folks who don’t are the ones that are sitting on the congress.” She went on to crit-
icize her opponent for his close ties with the National Rifle Association, which she mentioned has donated thousands of dollars to his reelection campaign. “He is so busy trying to please them that he’s turned his back on us. He’s supported those like Concealed Carry Reciprocity, which weaken Illinois's tough gun laws. And it’s sort of like a race to the bottom to find the weakest gun law in the country and then make that the new federal standard.” On Jobs Increasing infra-
Randy Hultgren's PR Team did not respond to our request for comment Official Congressional Portrait
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structure investment would be a top priority for Underwood to increase jobs in IL-14. “If we brought commuter rail to counties that don’t have it, DeKalb County, where [Northern Illinois University] is and Kendall County, Yorkville and Oswego, it would create jobs, it would connect people to the jobs in the city and help encourage growth in those communities.” She also stressed the importance of entrepreneurs having adequate resources to start businesses. On DACA Underwood firmly believes DACA recipients should be provided a path to citizenship. To achieve this, she argues “a clean Dream Act” is required. “I didn't imagine that there would be a circumstance where I’d get sworn in to the 116th congress and have to do this, and that’s what it’s looking like, it’s not gonna happen this year. And that’s unacceptable. That has been a complete failure of congressional Republicans and it’s wrong.”
I got really upset and decided, 'You know what? It's on. I'm gonna run.'" Lauren Underwood On the Opioid Crisis Underwood argues mental health care reform is required to combat this epidemic. She talked about a lack of insurance coverage as a barrier to proper mental health care and contended that there needs to be an increase in investment in mental health services. "I would love to see clinics. Mental health clinics, therapists in every strip mall the way we have Massage Envys. Can you imagine if it was that culturally acceptable to go in and sit down and talk?” On Reproductive Health Services Underwood’s stance on this issue was to the point. “I believe that women have the unrestricted right to the full range of reproductive healthcare services.” On Climate Change Underwood made clear she believes climate change is a serious issue affecting
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our society. “We know it’s critically important to address climate change because it’s a major public health threat,” She alluded to the adverse effects of climate change such as increased pollutants and contaminants which can be detrimental to the health of millions of Americans. “That’s why it’s so important to have a robust Environmental Protection Agency that’s properly staffed, properly funded and resourced to do its critical monitoring and enforcement work.” Underwood encourages young people who may want to start a career in politics to get involved as early as possible. “Join a campaign and help them spread their message. Run their social media accounts or you know, help them come up with memes, whatever. Like it’s all helpful. Whatever your talent is, there’s room for you in politics and we need your voices.” To get more young
people to vote, she says campaigns need to know their audience and talk about the issues that are important to them. “I think it’s important to recognize the needs of different voters and how they consume information and making sure that we’re communicating with them in a way that they are interested in consuming.” Underwood thinks the fact that she’s an untraditional candidate will work in her favor this November. “I think that there’s a level of authenticity there and we’re bringing just that realness to the campaign, and I think that younger voters can recognize that.” Efforts to contact Congressman Randy Hultgren’s public relations team for a possible story went unanswered.
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15
OPINION Egyptian Satirist Bassem Youssef: A Comedian in Political Exile visits COD Joey Weslo, Reporter Turning his back to the laughter, Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef stepped into darkness. Positioned behind a solitary table, the stage was dimly lit to mimic the room where former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s regime interrogated the arrested comedian. Parsing the jovial atmosphere, a wave of silence and seriousness swept over the crowd. And suddenly, with his wry and characteristic, impish grin, Youssef brought back the light with humor. Performing before College of DuPage’s Belushi Performance Hall on Oct. 19, Youssef ’s material shed
light on his struggles as an Arab immigrant in America and his experiences in Egypt using a popular satirical show to unite people against tyranny following the 2011 Arab spring. Promoting his book, “Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring,” Youssef ’s raucous comedy remained persistent, yet his disposition for defiance seemed to come and go in waves. Behind every joke, behind every laugh, the reality of Egypt seemed to arrest his attention. Now living in the shadow of Saudi reporter Jamal Khashoggi’s murder by the Sau-
Jamal Khashoggi
Wikimedia user April Brady
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di regime he criticized, one can grasp the severity of Youssef ’s situation. His story represents the struggle for press freedom across the Middle East. His voice in Egypt was silenced. Youssef is a comedian in exile. “When I was arrested under the Muslim Brotherhood and brought to the interrogation room, I was the one in power,” replied Youssef to questions from the audience. “The power of the street was stronger than the regime. But now, the military regime is brutal. I’m scared to go back to Egypt. I fear if I step foot in an Egyptian airport, I would be arrested and nobody in the Western world would care.” Youssef, a former cardiac surgeon, rose to prominence using YouTube videos filmed from his laundry room. Combatting the state-controlled media narrative, Youssef showed millions the realities of the 2011 protests against Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s authoritarian rule. As power in Egypt shifted hands, one
form of media propaganda was exchanged for another. Youssef launched Al-Bernameg, a political satire show modeled after Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show.” Mocking Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood regime, the show became the most popular in Egyptian history. One-third of the country’s 90 million citizens became avid viewers. When Morsi was ousted by a military coup instigated by General Abdel el-Sisi, political pressure silenced Youssef ’s show. Guest speaker Maria Abadir spoke at COD’s Coptic Youth Fellowship a week after members attended Youssef ’s show. Copts are a persecuted minority in Northeast Africa. Bombings and attacks targeting them increased after the Muslim Brotherhood took power in Egypt. “Both Muslims and Christians suffered under Morsi’s regime,” she said. “For Sisi to step in was like a miracle for everyone. People were not living. The only thing that helped us survive under Morsi’s regime was Youssef ’s show.
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The satire unified us as families and unified us on social media. If it weren’t for his show, Morsi would still be president.” Member Anthony Saeed added, “Just by watching (Al-Bernameg), people felt empowered in fighting against the government. Obviously, other ways besides satire are more effective, but watching the show was enough to signify an uprising amongst the people.” Youssef told the audience the Muslim Brotherhood’s lack of mass support is what enabled him to get away with his show for so long. When he was arrested for insulting Morsi, he faced his captors with a triumphant, mocking spirit. “The military is revered by the public and more sacred than religion. It’s dangerous. The show would not be valid now. The regime bought weapons from all the Western powers, and now the democracy-loving countries are turning away from what’s happening. (If I was arrested), would they care about one person when the re-
gime is buying billions in arms?” In an interview after his performance, Youssef discussed America’s fear of a destabilizing power-vacuum if they end their intervention policies in the region. “When everyone wanted Bashar al-Assad out in Syria, he released the Kraken, the radical Islamists. Everyone felt they had to support the Assad regime or there would be a catastrophe. America has been supporting dictators for decades and now must deal with the consequences of their actions.” In the last column Khashoggi wrote for the Washington Post before he went missing, he decried the state of press freedom in the Middle East. On Oct. 2, his dismembered body was covertly removed from the Saudi consulate in Turkey after a premeditated murder forever silenced his voice of dissent. Hope for justice has been leveled by Trump’s preference to protect Saudi business interests at any cost. “A state-run narrative dominates the pub-
OPINION lic psyche, and while many do not believe it, a large majority of the population falls victim to this false narrative,” Khashoggi wrote. Youssef discussed with the crowd the demoralizing effects such propaganda carries. “One of the biggest myths dictatorships have indoctrinated people with is, democracy will lead to chaos because the country cannot deal with difference in opinion. Military dictatorships pose to the West as seculars opposed to radical Islamists, but most radical movements are allowed to exist by the military because they help kill out any liberal narrative or attempt at real democracy.” Youssef believes environments where religion is used as a suppressive tool naturally direct people into supporting strongmen and authoritarianism. Coptic Youth member Michael Halim said, “The (Egyptian) government controls the media and what they allow the people to see. It is highly censored. Often they give mandated stories to networks who must cover them without going off-script.” Saeed said many consider Sisi a hero for taking power from Morsi.
To Sisi’s supporters, the revolution did not fail. In his last column, Khashoggi described Arab regimes as surviving by suppressing free thought and manipulating public opinion. He described their silencing tactics as increasing with impunity. Depicting the hope of the Arab spring becoming asphyxiated, he detailed their aspirations of emancipation quickly dissipating into greater tyranny. Youssef embodied this disdainful spirit, telling the audience, “You had people coming in from off the street and watching (my) show. An exiled show online would lack the same energy. People think the show is their savior. They just want the show so they can feel better about themselves and feel they did their patriotic duty to support democracy. It doesn’t work that way. Now people can’t do anything, so why do you think a show can make a difference?” Youssef appeared defeated and distraught by the military’s suffocating regime. Often becoming pessimistic about Egypt’s future, he answered the ultimate question with an air of defiance. When asked what difference the failed revolution
made, Youssef said the democratic ideals hundreds died for live on in the hopes of the youth. “A revolution is not an event; it’s a longterm process. Now we have younger generations that are not like their parents; they are open and are questioning everything, especially religious and military authority. This is why I have hope. The seeds have been planted. It’s inevitable something will happen, the only question is when.”
Life In Exile
Arriving in America in the most prodigious time, Youssef explained his determined role as an Arab immigrant. “My concern is to get acknowledged and to have a foothold in the media to represent my people. Right now, more than ever, we need people to speak up for us.” Coptic Youth member Elzahraa Hussein believes figures like Youssef must combat the repeated discriminations Arabs face in America. “We’ve seen a lot of racism against immigrants who often have to learn a new language and are just trying to find a better
Bassem Youssef
Jennifer Kurz
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OPINION continued from page 17
life for themselves and their families. (Youssef) stressed stereotypes we face associated with terrorism. I don’t want people to feel like they are in danger around me just because I wear my headscarf.” Recounting his experiences in Egypt, Youssef discussed with me the responsibility the public has in holding media sources accountable. “In a free society, the public has the power to either improve or destroy media sales. If you find a source ceases to be credible, people should hurt them financially so they cannot survive.”
intimidation.” Endeavoring to break his perspective into the American audience, Youssef ran a show called “Democracy Handbook” on Fusion and has recently launched his “Remade in America” podcast. “Satire brings more people to the table to discuss ideas and issues that might otherwise be off-limits,” said Youssef. “This helps spread awareness of what’s really going on.” He has often paralleled his coverage of Egyptian politics with American tendencies to vote inspired by emotion rather than reason. “Some people don’t
He believes the entertainment-orientated programming exemplified during Trump’s presidential campaign is inevitable with a free media. He said business decisions to turn away from informative coverage hurts democracy. Addressing Trump’s attacks on the media, Youssef placed the president’s rhetoric in perspective. “You can worry when articles start being redacted, or when people start losing their jobs for saying what they believe in. We are currently seeing people lose their jobs more through public pressure than government
care about the facts, they will vote on ideologies and emotions no matter what. It’s a form of tribalism. We must try to show the facts as much as possible and spread awareness. You need to gather support to defeat this type of tribalism.” When covering the 2016 presidential election, Youssef detailed the increasing division between right and left politicians. He reported voters abandoning the common middle-ground. Echoing his sentiments, Coptic Youth member Ledia Bebawy stressed, “Because voters are choosing from polar opposites, people
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feel the need to only vote either Democratic or Republican. Nobody listens to all the policies because they feel they belong to only one side or the other.” After asking students about the midterm elections, a growing political indifference has been noted. Concern for policies like Trump’s travel ban has not translated into an inclination to vote. Those spoken to have conveyed skepticism their vote can make a difference. Picturing Youssef confined behind the stage’s darkness, you realize the courage it takes to face tyranny with a laugh. Satire is a
testament to the democratic responsibilities we have to ensure the freedoms of our next generation do not slip away. The life of Jamal Khashoggi shows us liberty is not to be taken lightly. It takes vigilance and constant determination to protect the rights of all those around us. “The freedom to make jokes isn’t going to change anything in this administration,” said Youssef, before erupting with his often yelled refrain. “If you want to make a real difference, go vote!
re o m e r a s rm e t d i M s? w n o o i n t k c e u l o e y l tia s year, Did n e d i s e r P n a e thi h c t ffi t o n o t a n t i r impo cials will be electedRepresentatives, 1/3 of the 80,000 offihe entire House of t including d 36 Governors. Senate, an
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SPORTS
COD Denies FOIA Request for more Information Regarding Athletic Probation Miguel Contreras, Sports Editor “Please be advised that your request is denied because it seeks documents exempt from production.” This was the reply given to the Courier newspaper after filing a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requesting the internal audits conducted by the College of Dupage on its athletic department from January 1, 2012 to September 20, 2018. On the Friday before Memorial Day of the 2018 Fall Semester, COD athletes were informed that as a result of mistakes committed by members of the athletic department fielding ineligible athletes, they would have no opportunity for postseason play. Student athletes who are focused on athletics might want to transfer to another institution that did have a postseason in this instance. However, COD student-athletes were informed about the athletic probation with less than two days before the transfer deadline for the 2018 fall semester. For most student athletes, an insufficient amount of time to viably find a new athletic program and 20
school to transfer to. Students voiced their disappointment of the unfortunate news but ultimately were powerless to do anything about the consequences levied on the school by the NJCAA. Even though there were no students still attending the institution who played while ineligible, innocent incoming and current student athletes were forced to reap the consequences for the institution’s actions. This was also the situation that new Athletic Director Greg Mcvey was set to inherent as he stepped into the vacated position. A year without a postseason is more than a disappointment for some student athletes. It’s a lost opportunity for them to show what they can do in a national setting and to scouts so that they’re eventually able to aspire to a larger institutions and participate in athletics there. “The second-years [players] as a whole team put in so much work, but now they do not get the payoff of going to the championships... we get no reward at the end.” said Courtney
COD football stadium under the weather
Brandon Beckwith
Kind, freshman basketball player. During events that significantly impact members of the public, the responsibility to understand the its repercussions and to inform others is a fundamental role of the press, said Courier Adviser James Fuller. "When things go wrong, particularly at a public institution, it is the duty of journalists to determine what happened, why it happened and hold people accountable to the pub-
lic for their actions," Fuller said. "As watchdogs of the College of DuPage, the student journalists at the Courier decided to take on that mission. It begins with collecting all the information available about the situation and the decisions made. I have advised the students about all the options available to them to obtain such information, including seeking the help of the Illinois Attorney General's office and the Student Press Law Center."
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The College of Dupage has, in their press releases and comments on the subject, conveyed that they have been forthright in what has occurred and has taken personal pride in their integrity when they self report the errors to the NJCAA. Ann Rondeau, the president College of Dupage, in her statement regarding the probation said that, “In our continued commitment to strengthen transparency throughout the College and
develop additional systems to increase internal controls, I am grateful for the hard work that many of you have done to further enhance these efforts.” The affected public has a general idea on how ineligible student-athletes were fielded by the school. Jennifer Duda, News Bureau Coordinator for the College of Dupage, during an interview with Mcvey described it as a “processing error.” The proper paperwork was
either not acquired or processed properly so that an unknown number of athletes were illegible. The college has not yet answered questions about who is responsible and how future errors will be avoided. During the same interview with Mcvey, the Courier asked about the involvement of former Athletic Director Paul Zakowski and what role he played in the school’s processing errors and whether or not it had to do with him no lon-
When things go wrong, particularly at a public institution, it is the duty of journalists to determine what happened, why it happened and hold people accountable... ger being employed at COD. Duda sat in the interview and answered the question for Mcvey by saying, “that’s a personal issue, and we do not comment on personal issues.” The answer provided no public informa-
tion about how those responsible for the violations have been reprimanded, if at all. The FOIA request filed by the Courier asked for the internal audits conducted on the institution’s athletic department to help provide that informa-
tion. COD has decided not to release their internal audits of the athletic department. The Freedom of Information Act allows for some limited exceptions to the release of public information. It does not require that such information is
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kept from the public. The Courier staff seeks the internal audits to help shine light on exactly what errors the institution found when they themselves conducted the internal audit. Perhaps more importantly, it could identify who might be
responsible for the errors so that the affected public could finally know who is responsible, or at the very least have confidence that this will never happen again. The Courier will now request the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor review COD’s decision to deny the FOIA. It also plans to file additional FOIA requests seeking alternate information pertaining to the overall subject of the athletic probation.
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COFFEE BREAK THEME: HALLOWEEN
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ACROSS 1. "An American in Paris" song "____-____-la" 6. Fitness venue 9. Five-star review 13. Desert wanderer's hope 14. Debtor's letters 15. Sweet potato, e.g. 16. Annoying tiny biters 17. Greyhound, e.g. 18. Lazybones 19. *It runs on iOS 21. *Swipe right, swipe left app 23. *21st century of Common ____ 24. *Update an iPod 25. Public health org. 28. Diplomat's forte 30. V.I.P. in Hawaii 35. *Hit TV show about plane crash survivors 37. Apple leftover 39. The N of U.S.N.A. 40. Egyptian hieroglyph for "life" 41. *Demoted planet 43. Mandolin's cousin 44. Curl one's lip 46. Sandler or Arkin 47. Seedy source of Omega-3s 48. *Kilauea Volcano location 50. River in Bohemia 52. In the manner of, French 53. Popular pickling herb 55. Sashimi-style 57. *Not Jong-un 60. *Duchess of Sussex 63. Wintour's favorite publication? 64. Form of "to be" 66. *Friends' approvals 68. Not odds 69. Cambridge university 70. High society 71. "Bee ____" 72. Bartender's concern 73. Past or present
DOWN 1. Clothe 2. Raja's wife 3. "Hurry!" acronym 4. Like a ballerina 5. Hang out with 6. Wisecrack 7. *____Tube 8. Moldy-smelling 9. "Ant-Man" leading actor 10. Having the know-how 11. Swerve 12. Go wrong 15. Diced tomatoes packaging 20. African American civil rights org. 22. Octopus' defense 24. Layered pastry of European descent 25. *Like modern mob 26. Fashion designer Karan 27. Off kilter 29. Float soda 31. 50 percent 32. Palate lobe 33. Birth-related 34. *Inanimate conversation partner 36. Short for Dorothea 38. Et alibi 42. Spaniard without "h" 45. Ruffles has them 49. Roman three 51. Aerie baby 54. South American domesticated animal 56. "____ You Were Sleeping" 57. "By ____, I think she's got it!" 58. S-shaped molding 59. Women in habits 60. Boundary line 61. Related 62. *This team moved to Brooklyn in 2012 63. Relax, with "out" 65. *Deepwater Horizon, e.g. 67. Get the picture
COLLEGE OF DUPAGE WEEKLY WEATHER FORCAST Made Possible by the COD Meteorology Department
WEDNESDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY UPPER 50'S
LOW 40'S
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY
MOSTLY SUNNY LOW 50'S
UPPER 30'S
CHANCE OF RAIN
UPPER 40'S
MID 30'S
SATURDAY
PARTLY CLOUDY LOW 50'S
LOW 40'S
SUNDAY - TUESDAY RECAP Heading into the latter half of the weekend, the pattern looks to remain fairly active with two possible weather systems affecting our area. The first will arrive Saturday night and into Sunday, bringing a greater chance of rain during that time-frame. After a break in the action on Monday, model guidance is hinting at the potential for a stronger system to arrive Tuesday with more rain chances. This second system bears watching though as it could be quite impressive somewhere in the Midwest.
LEVEL UP PODCAST WITH KENNETH MCKINNEY
FRIDAYS ON CODCOURIER.ORG 10/31/18
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Your Elmhurst Journey Starts Here. You’ll find a warm welcome and a supportive community at Elmhurst College. More than 500 students transfer to Elmhurst every year, so we understand your needs—and we’re committed to helping you reach your full potential. Money and Forbes magazines rank Elmhurst among the top colleges for your money. Plus all transfer students receive scholarship support.
OPEN HOUSE November 3
Check-in and scheduled events begin at 8:30 a.m.
Meet faculty and students, learn about admission and scholarships, and explore the campus! RSVP at elmhurst.edu/fallopenhouse
ELMHURST IS COMING TO THE COLLEGE OF DUPAGE! October 30 & November 8 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 2nd floor, near Starbucks
Ask about our Guaranteed Transfer Admission program. Individual appointments are available. Email brian.pollastrini@elmhurst.edu for further information.
Office of Admission | admit@elmhurst.edu | (630) 617-3400 | elmhurst.edu/transfer Join the Elmhurst College community on