The Courier - March 4, 2015

THE

COURIER COLLEGE OF DUPAGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER \\ 4 MARCH 2015 \\ VOLUME 48, ISSUE 21

What do all of the associate degrees mean?

A study guide to your future IN FEATURES | PAGE 7 >

NEWS

SPORTS

Key parties make trustee endorsements

Men’s basketball suffer early playoff exit

PAGE 4 >

PAGE 12 >

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Elmhurst College welcomes more than 300 transfer students every year.

We know what transfer students want and need—and we’re committed to your success.

OUTSTANDING VALUE Elmhurst offers the best scholarships around—up to 50% of tuition or more! As U.S. News & World Report puts it, Elmhurst is “a great school at a great price.”

Learn about these majors on our beautiful campus.

Chemistry, Biology and Physics March 12, 1:00 p.m.

To RSVP for these events, go to www.elmhurst.edu/cod

JUST 11 MILES FROM COD Our campus is close to several major highways, and just a block away from the Elmhurst Metra station.

A SMOOTH TRANSITION We’ll help make sure you get credit for all the work you’ve already done.

We can even evaluate your transcript before you apply!

LEARN MORE Start your Elmhurst Experience by contacting us today!

Elmhurst is coming to COD! Wednesday, March 11 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

2nd floor, near Starbucks

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(630) 617-3400 admit@elmhurst.edu www.elmhurst.edu/cod

Office of Admission 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, Illinois 60126

THE

COURIER

EDITOR IN CHIEF Joash Mencias NEWS EDITOR Taira Alabi OPINION EDITOR Maggie Curran FEATURES EDITOR Kelly Wynne SPORTS EDITOR James Kay COPY & DESIGN EDITOR Ashlee Berner PHOTO EDITOR Lucas Koprowski

INDEX NEWS

OPINION

4 Parties endorse board candidates

10 Student leaders need more say

FEATURES

SPORTS

7 Breaking down associate degrees

12 Men’s basketball suffer early playoff exit

9 What The Dress says about us

COFFEE BREAK

14 Five tips and more

Sports Reporter Ben Grote

C O R R E C T I O N S & C L A R I F I C AT I O N S NEWSROOM 630-942-2683 ADVISER Jim Fuller fullerj103@cod.edu

Catch an error we didn’t see? Tell us about it. Send an email to editor@cod.edu.

ADVERTISING Christina Payton paytonc359@cod.edu

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ON THE COVER Above: Associate degree photo by Lucas Koprowski. Left: Candidate photo provided by Clean Slate. Right: Basketball photo by Lucas Koprowski.

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4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 3

NEWS BOARD ELECTION 2015

Key parties make their picks

Faculty, vice chairwoman endorse trustee candidates TAIRA ALABI NEWS EDITOR

As the board of trustees election draws closer, key college stakeholders have decided to back candidates they feel will change College of DuPage.

Last month, the college’s faculty association endorsed three candidates: Sandra Pihos, Deanne Mazzochi and Dan Bailey.

The full-time faculty union used a democratic process in selecting their candidates, according to Bob Hazard, the chairman of the faculty political action committee.

“We invited all the candidates to fill out questionnaires and come in for in-

terviews,” Hazard said.

After the interviews, Hazard says the committee decided which candidates would best represent the college.

“They are all strong in their own way,” Hazard said.

The endorsements came in light of the faculty association’s release of their 14-page resolution, which detailed the reasons for the association’s vote of no confidence in college President Robert Breuder.

Breuder responded days later with a 34-page document highlighting his achievements at the college.

“Change is going to

happen whether it is good change or bad change,” Hazard said. “We believe that [the faculty-endorsed candidates] are the best for a positive change.”

The committee decided not to rally around incumbent candidates Nancy Svoboda and Kim Savage, two trustees they have previously endorsed.

“It was a very difficult not endorse them both,” Hazard said. “I know them both and like them, but we need a change.”

Deanne Mazzochi was also endorsed by current Trustee Kathy Hamilton.

Hamilton, who has been censured by her fellow board members, endorsed

three candidates in what has been branded as the “Clean Slate.”

The Clean Slate also features candidates Frank Napolitano and Charles Bernstein.

“By endorsing these fine individuals, each with stellar qualifications to contribute to COD’s repair, I am giving our district a solution to the current problem,” the vice chairwoman said in a news release.

Aside from the endorsed candidates, there are six other candidates running for election: Matt Gambs of Naperville, Claire Ball of Addison, Roger Kempa of Darien, Joseph M.

PROVIDED BY CLEAN SLATE

From left: Frank Napolitano, Deanne Mazzochi, Vice Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton, and Charles Bernstein.

Wozniak of Naperville, and open to registered voters in David Carlin of Naperville. community college district COD trustee elections 502. will be held April 7 and

Trustees forum canceled by administration TAIRA ALABI NEWS EDITOR

The College of DuPage administration has cancelled a trustees candidate forum that was supposed to take place March 11, due to its violation of board policy.

The forum, organized by COD’s adjunct association, was intended to be a way for the COD community to access candidates for the election.

Joseph Moore, vice president of marketing and communications, said the college’s attorney advised COD not to allow the event.

“On the advice of the

college’s attorney, we advised CODAA that the event would be in conflict with board policy and state statute,” Moore said in a statement.

College Attorney Kenneth Florey believed the event violated a board policy outlining the use of facilities for a political activity.

“It is in my opinion that the college should not allow college facilities to hold political events even if the event describes itself as a candidate forum,” Florey said in his opinion.

Cheryl Baunbach-Ca-

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plan, president of the adjunct association, felt the administration had closed a chance for the COD community chance to connect with the candidates.

“The role of every community college is to reach out and touch the lives of the broader community, and candidate forums are one effective way of doing this.

Baunbach-Caplan said. “This opportunity has now been lost in 2015.”

The Student Leadership Council, which represents the student body, had previously encouraged students to get involved in

the democratic process by attending this forum.

Stephanie Torres, student body president, was looking forward to having students get to know the candidates.

“It is very surprising,” Torres said of the decision.

“It would have been a really nice opportunity.”

While the event was organized by the adjunct association, Torres and other SLC members planned to get the word out to students about the event.

“CODAA’s efforts are greatly appreciated,” Tor-

res said.

The upcoming trustees election comes in light of criticism of several of the board decisions, most notably awarding President Robert Breuder a $763,000 severance package. For Baunbach-Caplan, this was why holding this event on campus was so important in 2015.

“Since the relationship between the college community and the faculty with the administration and the board of trustees has been troubled due to the retirement package for President Breuder...

this should be the time to expand opportunities for dialogue and information sharing, not truncate them,” Baunbach-Caplan said.

Torres still believes students should get the chance to engage with trustee candidates.

“I do hope some kind of opportunity is provided where students can meet the candidates,” Torres said. “They will be running the school and will be making vital decisions for the college.”

NEWS

TAIRA’S TRENDS

The Dress, Derrick Rose, and other topics

#

LUCAS KOPROWSKI/COURIER

Too busy studying to keep up with the top trends this week? Join Courier News Editor Taira Alabi as she rounds up the week’s hot topics from both far and near in Taira’s Trends.

#TheDress Officemates, roommates, classmates clashed last weekend over the color of a dress. The picture of the lace dress, which was originally posted by a Tumblr user, appeared as blue and black to some individuals, and white and gold to others. In reality, the dress was actually blue and black, but due to the picture that circulated being taken with a low quality cellphone camera, the photo appeared different colors depending on the set of eyes.

#RihannaAndLeo Hollywood may have a new ‘it’ couple. Pop sensation Rihanna and Academy Award nominated actor Leonardo DiCaprio have been spotted out several times together.

DiCaprio recently threw Rihanna a birthday party.

Pictures from the event have circulated online.

#DRose Chicago’s very own Derrick Rose injured his knee last week. This is the third time the point guard has injured his knee. While Chicago fans were upset to see that their star player had yet again been injured, Rose has underwent knee surgery and is expected to be able to play again in four to six weeks.

#IReallyLikeYou Almost three years after her defining song, “Call Me Maybe,” Carly Rae Jepsen has released a brand new song, “I Really Like You.” She has now temporarily disabled the Internet from doing anything but jamming out to the bubblegum pop song.

#TamirRice The city of Cleveland suggested the death of Tamir Rice, a 12-year-boy shot to death by police in November, was the fault of Rice’s parents and Rice himself. The video of Rice’s death went viral in November, due to the fact he was playing with a toy gun. Rice’s parents have been criticized for letting their child play in the park alone.

4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 5

NEWS

POLICE REPORTS

College of DuPage Board of Trustees Candidates’ Forum Wednesday, March 11, 2015 Turner Conference Center

SRC 2800 3:00–6:00 p.m.

Car bumped in parking lot A car accident occurred the morning of Feb. 24 in parking lot D5. The driver of a Ford Taurus reported her vehicle was struck. The driver explained that when she returned to her car after class, she noticed an unknown vehicle had rammed into her front bumper. The accident unhinged the front license plate. Police were able to locate the car that struck the Taurus at noon on the same day.

Lost wallet

Parking pass stolen

A student reported his wallet missing at 12 p.m. on Feb. 26.

The male student contacted police in parking lot 3. The student explained he had searched his pants pocket and could not find his wallet. He stated he checked lost and found, who told him that they had not received his wallet. He also told authorities that the wallet contained an Illinois identification card and a U.S. Bank debit card with no money in the account linked to it. The student explained he had canceled the card and wanted to file a report, just in case someone wanted to open accounts using his identification card.

A premium parking pass was stolen on the afternoon of Feb. 27 from a vehicle parked in the southeast corner of parking lot D5. A student reported that after he returned to his car, he noticed his premium parking pass was gone, and his car’s doors were unlocked. Police arrived at the scene. After checking security footage, police were able to identify a female suspect. The suspect was seen entering the driver’s side of the car, removing an unknown object. Using this footage, police were later able to find a tan Buick where a parking pass was seen hanging in the window. The suspect, in question, has been contacted but, at the date of printing, has yet to respond.

Open to students, faculty, staff, and/or interested citizens in District 502.

COLUMN

Meet the Candidates!

Ask your Questions!

Non-partisan!

No Endorsements!

Brought to you by: CODAA (COLLEGE OF DUPAGE ADJUNCTS ASSOCIATION) Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres available during the event.

“Urban Monk” educates, intrigues campus in exploration of Hinduism BEN GROTE SPORTS REPORTER

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa, author of the book “Urban Monk,” visited College of DuPage as the keynote speaker of the Conscious Mind Fest hosted by the Living Leadership Program. His speeches varied in content, from stress management tips to Hinduism’s similarities to the hit movie “The Matrix.” The wide range of topics that Dasa touched on offered unlimited knowledge to anyone who attended the free presentations.

“Exploring Hinduism,” Dasa’s presentation on Feb. 25, covered his religious affiliation. While it’s impossible to truly explore one of the oldest religions of mankind in a one night lecture, Dasa was able to cover a plethora of information in the short timespan he had.

Breaking down his presentation into six sections, Dasa presented monotheistic and polytheistic beliefs in Hinduism, the concept of time, “ahimsa,” or the practice of doing no harm to others, reincarnation, Hindu

practices, and Hinduism in America.

Spending about 10 minutes per subcategory, Dasa explained the main concepts behind each Hindu idea. He talked in a manner that was able to intimately engage the audience during his whole lecture, keeping listeners attentive even with fast-moving information.

We learned quickly about key components that make up the religion. Dasa started off by showing the audience the names and pictures representing just a few

of the many Hindu gods.

He asked the audience what we thought Hinduism was: a polytheistic religion or a monotheistic religion?

Many people jumped to the conclusion that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, considering Dasa had just explained there are believed to be as many as 330 million Hindu gods and goddesses. However, Dasa explained there are more views than just that of the polytheistic nature in the religion. Many people, including himself, believe continued on page 8

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F E AT U R E S

CHEAT SHEET

What’s the difference between all the associate degrees?

KELLY WYNNE FEATURES EDITOR

College of DuPage offers a variety of associate degrees. It can be easy to overlook the fact that, yes, you must choose one, or a few if you qualify for multiple. Many students find themselves picking classes without their sights set on the degree they may apply for. The Courier has pulled together an overview of each degree to help you decide which is right for you. Make sure to check the requirements yourself on www.cod.edu to make sure your classes are adding up.

1) Associate in Arts (A.A.) So you don’t have the perfect picture in your head of where you want to go, and what you want to do. The only thing you know for sure is that you would like to continue on to get your bachelor degree at a four-year college or university. By applying for an associate degree in arts, you will receive a diploma that does not necessarily apply to a specific area. It serves as a reminder that you have completed the requirements of an associate degree and plan on transferring to a university.

Requirements:

-General education courses and select class-

es to equal a total of 64 credits

2) Associate in Science (A.S.) If you have your sights set on a career in science, an associate degree in science will prepare you to transfer into a science-based program at a four-year school. This degree’s requirements are heavy in science-related classes. Don’t choose this major unless you know that a science-related bachelor’s degree is in your future, or you will be taking classes that will not help you get to your chosen degree any faster.

Requirements:

-General education courses and additional math and science classes

3) Associate in Engineering Science (A.E.S.) As many students know, COD has a pretty great transfer rate when it comes to engineering.

With connections to University of Illinois, it is easy for engineering students to make their way into larger universities to help build their futures.

By applying for an A.E.S. degree, a student declares their interest in engineer-

ing. This major should not be chosen by anyone not looking to pursue engineering, as many of the class requirements are course specific.

Requirements:

-General education courses, prerequisites to the program (physics, chemistry, math, and computer informational systems) and engineering-specific classes.

4) Associate in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) When studying to receive an A.A.S. degree, COD students will pick an area of study that interests them. This can be anything from Interior Design to Fire Science.

These career specific majors will be taught in extent so that all who receive an A.A.S. degree can continue straight into their field of work, or can transfer easily to a four-year school with connections to the COD program of their choice.

This is a logical choice for those hoping to be a part of the 3+1 program.

Requirements:

- General education courses, classes specific to your program of study: see your major choice for details

5) Associate in General Studies (A.G.S) This category allows students to build a degree based on their personal interests. Typical general education classes must be completed but that student can design the rest of the coursework. There are some set restrictions that help to round out the degree. If no other degree option appeals to you, an A.G.S. degree may be the perfect way to gain experience in multiple areas that otherwise might not be related.

Requirements:

- General education courses, courses specific to your possible career

6) Associate in Fine Arts degree in Art (A.F.A.)

The A.F.A. degree is perfect for anyone looking to continue on in art at a four-year school. The degree requirements are heavy in art classes.

Don’t choose this major unless you are planning on pursuing a degree in art, as many of the classes will have trouble transferring to your other degree options.

Requirements:

- General Education courses, Art history classes, Art Core classes, Media-Specific Studio Electives

7) Associate in Fine Arts degree in Music (A.F.A.) This degree is the same as the A.F.A. dedicated to art, except that the classes are heavy in music-related courses. If music is not what you plan to continue on with, majoring in this will set you back, as most of the courses are designed with a music major in mind.

Requirements:

- General education courses, Music Core classes, Music Literature and History course, Music ensemble courses, Applied instruction courses. All who apply for this degree must also demonstrate their keyboard ability either through classes or instructors.

8) Associate in Arts in Teaching Secondary Mathematics (A.A.T.) This degree is the perfect path for anyone wishing to become a teacher, with a heavy emphasis on math and science courses. The framework of this degree

is based around getting a well-rounded view of classes, so students will find themselves with a larger amount of math special credits and science credits.

Requirements:

- General education courses (one fulfilling state requirements for global diversity), Education 1100, math special courses, education special courses

9) Associate in Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Education (A.A.T.) This degree is very similar to the A.A.T. degree in Teaching Secondary Mathematics, except some of the specific requirements differ. In order to qualify for this degree, students must explore specific Early Childhood Education courses. This degree will fit anyone hoping to continue on in education, particularly those hoping to work with younger students.

Requirements:

- General education courses, Education 1100, Professional education courses, Early Childhood Education specialty courses.

4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 7

F E AT U R E S

continued on from page 6

that Hinduism can be a monotheistic religion.

He continued on by explaining that George Harrison, a member of The Beatles, believed in a monotheistic version of Hinduism. Harrison’s belief not only helped to spread Hinduism in America, but also made the idea of a monotheistic version rise to popularity to the common eye.

One point that intrigued many audience members was the impact Hinduism has made on the fitness industry. This may sound strange, but many forget that yoga is derived from Hinduism. Originally used mainly as a method of prayer, yoga is practiced by many people for health benefits.

As the presentation went on, Dasa presented a video

that illustrated why his belief in reincarnation is so strong. The video showcased people remembering their past lives, each with accounts that testify to the validity of their claims.

At the end of his presentation, Dasa took questions from the audience and was able to further explain any misconceptions about the religion. I was able to ask him to expand on a point he had brought up earlier in the night. Dasa believes everyone should be a vegetarian. I was happy with the well-thought-out response explaining the pain eating meat causes to animals. Dasa was also kind enough to sign copies of his books for students and attendees, and was very sincere when thanking the audience for listening so attentively. Both of

these genuine acts proved that Dasa had no agenda other than sharing his knowledge for the members of the Glen Ellyn community in a completely non-judgmental way.

Dasa’s “Exploring Hinduism” lecture was eye-opening for those who attended, and the audience’s facial expression spoke for the overall interest in the topic.

This lecture, as well as the remaining three events that Dasa and the Conscious Mind Fest hosted, were recorded by the Living Leadership Program. If you could not attend the events but wish to see a specific lecture, you can do so by speaking with Student Life in SSC 1217.

REVIEW

Big Sean finds new home in ‘Dark Sky Paradise’ TAIRA ALABI NEWS EDITOR

As rap encroaches into the forefront of popular music, room now exists for more rap gods and goddesses. With the release of his brand new album, “Dark Sky Paradise,” Big Sean has finally catapulted his way into the heavens of millennial rap culture.

“Dark Sky Paradise” is exactly, as its’ name suggests, a deep moody escape into the paradise that is fame.

The first words said on the album are, “Sean, it’s good to be home isn’t,” as Boi-1da’s loomy bass heavy production is overshadowed by the sound of a thunderstorm forming.

“I see the skyscrapers in

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the back/the s--- is official/ I got a lot on mind,” Sean howls as his album begins with “Dark Sky (Skyscrapers).”

The initial track is showcases his best rapping on the entire album and is perhaps the biggest answer to his two previous albums aptly titled “Finally Famous” and “Hall of Fame.”

“It took me ten years to become an overnight success,” Sean tells listeners.

“Dark Sky Paradise” is an album that shines hard when it decides to shine, but unfortunately can be unmemorable when it does not really aim to achieve anything.

This album is his homecoming ceremony,

technically, as the album proves with each song.

Sean realizes though he had moderate hits with songs “Beware,” “My Last,” and “Dance” in the past, nobody cared about him or his success, until he started dating pop stars and screaming he doesn’t mess with his exes on the radio.

“Blessings,” the second single released from the album, features new school rap demi-gods Kanye West and Drake.

The Canadian rapper acknowledges the brevity of fame on the hook singing with heavy autotune, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time.”

Themes of finding fame and perhaps not continued on page 9

F E AT U R E S

COLUMN

What a dress says about us We live in a world so connected by technology we don’t even realize the This past week, the instant gratification conInternet blew up with stantly surrounding us. It’s frustration over a picture second nature to log onto of a dress. I’m sure you all a device and see what our know exactly which one friends are doing at that I’m talking about. Was it exact moment. It doesn’t white and gold? Blue and even surprise us when a black? Apparently science person, or in this case, an has an explanation, but all object, gains instant fame I really care about is how just because the right peothe blowup showcased ple hit “reblog” at the right the potential of the online time. This tells so much community. about our generation.

The dress was posted on I’m sure a lot of you Tumblr by some debating have heard your parents friends and was instanand teachers say, as young taneously featured all people, we rely too heavily over the Internet. It only on technology. They argue took a few hours until we have become overly obthe debate was feuded on sessive and dependent on every app, from Twitter to things other than our own BuzzFeed, pointed out by minds. I have always been celebrities, and even made a bit turned off by the idea its way onto national news of technology due to the stations. All of that just overload I am bombarded because one person posted with every day, but recently a simple picture.

I have come to realize this

KELLY WYNNE FEATURES EDITOR

is what defines us. This is our generation.

Social media has generated such a bad reputation just because of the excessive use teenagers around the world have displayed.

But what is so bad about that? We have the luxury of being constantly connected unlike past generations. We grew up in the trial era of modern technology, and it wasn’t considered damaging until we learned how to use it.

Sure there are downfalls and loopholes, and too much exposure may not be in our best interest. Constant typing will probably cast us into a worldwide diagnosis of carpal tunnel by the time we turn 50 years old. Even so, lack of understanding from those who criticize technological advancement shouldn’t stop us from enjoying the wave of the future we

happen to be in prime time for.

I don’t think it’s right for anyone to become overly dependent on his or her devices, but what’s wrong with building our future businesses and connecting with others via digital social platforms? We have new ways of communicating, and we shouldn’t let anyone tell us not to overindulge in the defining advancements of our lifetime.

“The Dress” was just another Internet phenomena that should demonstrate how fortunate we are to have the resources we do.

We can be confident our friend, the basement-studio music producer, has a chance of being discovered overnight. That article you posted on your blog could receive thousands of hits just because the right person shares it. If that doesn’t

scream endless opportunity, I don’t know what does.

We should be proud of the online community we have helped develop and continued to support.

It has become a location where mainstream celebrities can communicate with undecided college majors, and people who have never met can exchange

ideas and start companies.

The unending network of connected people should be an inspiration to all of us, and we can rest easy that success might be a little bit closer due to the constant waves of trending information.

messy break-up, blends in perfectly with the entire scheme of the album.

Through this track it becomes apparent that while Sean is pleased with the perks of fame, he still wants to strive to achieve more.

“Ya, I got a lot but I want a lot more,” Sean raps.

The next two tracks “Play No Games” featuring Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign and “Paradise” feature the type of sweet Southern California production that have become popular on urban radio, do not do much to push Sean’s storyline on the album. In fact, both songs talk so excessively about women and sex to the point that it becomes

repetitive.

Sean redeems himself on the Jhene Aiko assisted “Win Some, Lose Some,” where Sean contemplates why he has been able to make it to where he is and questions the messages he sends to his fans.

“Is this the example/I’m trying to set/are these the people I will forget?”, Sean raps as the dreamy T-Minus produced beat flows in the background.

On “Stay Down,” Sean proves that while he can sound very good on a excellently produced beat, he still raps about the same tiresome tales of women attempting to steal his money and him staying the same throughout fame.

The final songs of the

album veer slightly from the main theme. Notably, John Legend sings on the trying-too-hard-to-provea-point track, “One Man Can Change The World.”

“Deserve It,” which features vocals and production from Drake’s new protege PARTYNEXTDOOR, is another track that while solid, sounds like it could have almost been a stellar track. Here, Sean tells the tale of seeing one his high school sweethearts in strip club, and how far he has come, from hanging out with her in the backseat of his car to riding in the backseat in of a car in Hollywood.

The Ariana Grande assisted track “Research,” is an interesting pop-rap

crossover. Its lyrics are ironic considering the relationship between the song’s performers.

“These girls be doing research,” Sean raps as he details about the stories of Hollywood groupies.

As the storm over “Dark Sky Paradise” starts, Sean drives his brand new Lamborghini full circle down 8-Mile Road as he ends the album with “Platinum and Wood.”

The last seconds of the song feature the same stormy thunder heard in the beginning of the album and the words, “Sean it’s good to be home.”

Perhaps, Big Sean has found his home under the dark skies of stardom.

COURTESY OF TUMBLR

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COURTESY OF DEFJAM RECORDS

being happy with what was found in it, run heavy through the “Dark Sky Paradise” Sean has created.

This is reaffirmed on the rather sleepy and slightly

overproduced track “All Your Fault,” which features Sean’s frequent collaborator and G.O.O.D music boss Kanye West.

“I Don’t F--- With U,” the anthem to every

4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 9

OPINION

Say what they want to say

Student leaders need more voice, better platform We have a Student Leadership Council, or SLC for short, here at College of DuPage. If this is news to you, you are not alone. Many students are unaware of its existence. On March 17 and 18, we will be electing new student officials to represent our student body and give us a voice in decision-making. Last year however, only about 500 out of the nearly 30,000 students at COD voted, barely 2 percent of the student population.

It isn’t necessarily shocking that the large majority of students don’t vote in the election. Aside from a lack of publicity, some students might not care or even know about the SLC. Why? Because the elected student officials are given next to no impactful voice.

Take, for example, Student Trustee Omar Escamilla. He was named a Certified Student Leader at the National Center for Student Leadership Conference, and consistently voices opinions at board of trustees meetings.

Just to qualify as a student

trustee, Escamilla needed eight credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA, and is required to attend every board meeting, workshop, and retreat on top of many other college functions.

For his dedication, he is allowed a vote in decisions along with other board of trustee members. The catch is that his vote doesn’t count. He can state his ideas and express his opinions, but the point seems moot when no one listens.

We can never know for sure what goes on behind closed doors with the board and Escamilla. It could be very civil and professional, with everyone respecting each other’s ideas and taking into account Escamilla as a valid voice of the student body.

However, by the way the trustees drown out other members’ opinions in their monthly meetings, we can infer that he, merely a student, doesn’t get much say either.

Meanwhile, Escamilla isn’t the only student official who deserves more responsibility than he’s given.

The other members of the

Student Leadership Council, including the student trustee, student body president, and student body vice president, are also cut short of the impact they should be making. SLC’s official mission statement states that it “facilitates values-based opportunities for leadership development to enhance citizenship at our college and in our communities.” While this sounds like a noble cause, what it really means is that COD gives good students the opportunity to learn to be leaders to make our college and community better. Nowhere in the mission statement does it state what sort of leading these students will actually be allowed to do.

SLC states under its vision that the elected officials will collaborate with the college and provide service and representation, yet it’s still blurry as to what that really means.

As far as we can tell, SLC holds meetings where these bright, educated, thoughtful, and innovative students can come together, discuss ways to

THE

COURIER EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR IN CHIEF Joash Mencias OPINION EDITOR Maggie Curran DESIGN EDITOR Ashlee Berner 10 // codcourier.org // 4 March 2015

LUCAS KOPROWSKI/COURIER

improve the college, and then have no real platform to campaign their ideas.

This is a tricky issue to address, mostly because it involves the persuasion of the board of trustees and administration to make a change during a time when they already have more on their plate than they can swallow. Despite this, the vote of a student trustee could greatly impact future decisions of the college, actually benefitting students and board members alike.

Until that day comes, there are other ways to give student officials the voice they

need. The obvious solution is to give them a bigger and better platform. Give them more interviews, speeches, and meetings with college officials that are laser-focused on what the students want to implement. And no, that isn’t the same thing as Pizza with the President. These students worked hard and continue to work hard to hold their positions. The least we can do is hear them out.

This isn’t a battle of students versus college. It isn’t a battle at all. But it is clear that SLC is not given

credit where credit is due, by both school officials and students. COD needs to offer more opportunities for student leaders to not only learn about leadership, but also implement it.

Students need to be more aware and concerned about what goes on with our student officials in order to help them represent us better. With support on both sides, our student leaders can finally influence the school the way they deserve to.

Views expressed in The Courier represent opinions of majority of editorial board. The Courier encourages all students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members to voice their opinions on all the topics concerning them both in and out of school.

Writers can express their views in a “Letter to the Editor”.” All correspondence and letters for publication must be typed and signed with the author’s contact information and full name.

Letters can be sent via e-mail to editor@cod.edu. The subject heading to the message must read “Letter to the Editor.” The writer’s first and last names, major (if student) or occupation title, street address, city, state and complete phone number with area code must be included for identity verification by the Courier. Deadline for letters meant for publication is noon on Fridays. Letters are subject to editing for grammar, style, language, length and libel. All letters represent the views of the author, not the editorial board.

OPINION

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Pizza with the President With a college of almost 30,000 traditional and non-traditional students, each with different obligations, it becomes quite difficult to stay updated with current College of DuPage happenings.

With this understanding, the Student Leadership Council is hosting Pizza with the President on March 11 from 2 to 3

p.m. in SSC 2201. This event is open to all current College of DuPage students. Dr. Robert Breuder, president of the college, will join us to facilitate discussion and answer your questions.

We truly hope that you take advantage of this opportunity to engage in effective communication.

This is merely a platform

to exchange ideas, listen to different perspectives, be impactful in the community, and express your points of view in a courteous manner. This is our college; it our responsibility to stay informed, and it is our right to be heard.

We hope you join us on March 11!

Scholarships

FUND YOUR FUTURE Apply now

-Stephanie Torres Student Leadership Council, President

For more information and to apply: cod.edu/ scholarships

Contribute to the conversation. Write a letter to the editor via email: editor@cod.edu.

LEARNING COMMONS One-Stop Academic Support Center

A variety of academic support services are available for all College of DuPage students in one convenient location.

These services include drop-in and appointment-based assistance for: • Tutoring for online, classroom and hybrid courses • Help with Blackboard, myACCESS, and the Student Portal • COMPASS Placement Text preparation

Drop-in assistance in: • Math

• Reading

• Writing

• Speech

COMPASS Placement Test Preparation

Stop in our office or visit the Learning Commons website to find out about workshops, MyMathTest, and many other resources to help students prepare for their placement tests.

Online Assistance for Writing

For login information: cod.mywconline.com

“Ask a Peer Tutor” by email at bb.cod.edu Where to Find Us

The Learning Commons is located on the south side of the second floor in the Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 2102.

(630) 942-3941 | cod.edu/learningcommons 4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 11

SPORTS BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Check out the upcoming Chaparral Baseball games in March:

11a.m., Mar. 14 at Spoon River 12 p.m., Mar. 15 at Spoon River 2:30 p.m., Mar. 17 Robert Morris 3:30 p.m., Mar. 19 at Lake County 12:00 p.m., Mar. 21 at Black Hawk-Moline

12 // codcourier.org // 4 March 2015

Men’s basketball season ends with early playoff exit JAMES KAY SPORTS EDITOR

After winning their first game of the Regional Playoff against Joliet, the Chaparrals lost in a one-sided game against the number one seeded Rock Valley Golden Eagles.

The Chaparrals struggled to produce offensively and committed eight turnovers in the first half alone. They showed great ball movement but Rock Valley’s tight man-to-man defense was too overbearing for them to find open shots.

Rock Valley’s formula of pressuring the back court and double teaming anyone who went near the basketball, worked out brilliantly. This strategy forced COD to settle for long range shots as there weren’t any openings in the paint. COD didn’t make a shot until 4 minutes and 30 seconds into the game and they missed their first three shots.

On the other side of the ball, there wasn’t much COD could do to stop the Rock Valley offense. They established an inside presence early on and forced the issue in the post. Even when they weren’t focusing on high percentage shots, the Golden Eagles were connecting with most of their outside shots. COD did a good job with contesting Rock Valley’s long range shots but it seemed like everything was falling for them.

At halftime, the score was 43-27 Rock Valley.

When it was time to resume the game, COD

LUCAS KOPROWSKI/COURIER

Chaparral Basketball Guard #12 Anthony Taylor being guarded by Rock Valley College players #22 Jared Mayes and #4 Isaiah Box at Joliet Junior College during the 2015 Region IV Division III Mens Basketball Tournament on Feb. 28.

looked like a completely different team. Head coach Ed Reed must have said something to his players, since they exuded more energy and confidence on defense in the second half.

The defense looked sharper as the Chaparrals didn’t allow many uncontested layups or daylight inside.

They pulled the game to within eight before Rock Valley took over once more.

The score was 49-41 with 12 minutes remaining when Rock Valley’s point guard, Mo Jackson, hit a 3-pointer to get the lead back into double digits.

COD didn’t recover as they shot just 37 percent from midrange in the second half. It wasn’t pretty for them shooting the ball down low either as they went 6-12 shooting in the paint.

After the Golden Eagles shot an abysmal 28 percent

to start the half, they were able to get hot as they made five of their last six shots, two of them being 3-pointers.

Each team pulled their starters with 2 minutes and 20 seconds left in regulation. Sophomores Paris Dunlap and Jonny Wolf both got standing ovations from the crowd as they walked back to the bench.

It was a nice moment in a night where the Chaparrals didn’t play the way they had in mind going into the game.

COD didn’t quit until the final buzzer sounded.

The second team forced two turnovers and created six points in the last 2 minutes of the game. Rock Valley tried to dribble the ball up the court and drain the clock but the Chaparrals refused to give in even though it was clear that the game was penciled in as a Golden Eagles’ victory.

Throughout the game, Coach Reed looked frustrated with his team’s execution on both sides of the ball as he frequently changed the lineup, trying to find an answer for the Golden Eagles. His words at the end of the game matched his gestures from the sideline.

“I don’t think we played as well as we should have played or could have played,” said Reed. “We didn’t execute very well offensively and we didn’t play defense very well.”

He did admit, however, that Rock Valley is a strong team and a tough foe to go up against.

“Rock Valley’s a good team, and they are the number one team in the country and they did what they needed to do to win. I give a lot of credit to Rock Valley and they did a great job of executing offensively.”

SPORTS

Track athlete preps for outdoor season BEN GROTE SPORTS REPORTER

LUCAS KOPROWSKI/COURIER

Nkemjika Nwosu, a freshman at College of DuPage shared his training experiences and preparation for the upcoming outdoor season of track and field. He also discussed how he got involved in the sport, and his drive to further progress his events.

Starting his freshman year of high school, Nkemjika began participating in track and field at Hinsdale Central. During his sophomore year of high school, Nkemjika was one

of three underclassmen in the state to participate in the Illinois State track and field finals. Nkemjika has been motivated by his talent on the track and plans to pursue it with the hopes of attaining a scholarship for his athletics.

College of DuPage’s track team began training for their indoor season in December. The Chaparrals track and field team practices six days a week for around three hours a day. The Chaparrals have competed in three meets so far in the indoor season.

With the outdoor season coming soon, this means that athletes are going to be pushed as hard as they can mentally and physically, so that they can perform their best, come the start of the outdoor season.

Upping the performance of athletes from their indoor season is crucial for having a successful time during the outdoor season. “Based on my years of experience in the sport,

getting the whole team in routine on a challenging regime that pushes everyone is really the key way for us to get better,�

Nwosu said.

Despite the importance of having a great start for track and field athletes, Nkemjika felt that the Chaparrals had a slow start to their training, in terms of both intensity and the start date of practice. From COD’s performance in the three meets that the team had, he inferred that other schools performed well because of the fact that they started their training earlier than COD’s track and field program.

Nwosu says that while the practices were not as challenging as he wished in the beginning of their training, he says that after assistant coach Ivan Tamba, who was recently employed at Iowa State University, the practices began to flow much better. “He really helped bring the team together,

and since his arrival our practices have been much more challenging, in my opinion.� Nwosu says that this has helped progress his training further, and he feels that it’s been a great help for the team.

When asked about makeup of the average practice, Nwosu says a big help is that Track and Field teammates are split up in groups. By splitting teammates into groups, the athletes are able to get more individual attention from the coaching staff, and receive critical help on their form and other mechanics essential to improving their performance. “Learning from coaches first-hand on what needs to be worked on long-term is very important for us to know what we’ll be focusing on during the season,�

Nwosu said.

College of DuPage’s track team will compete in their first outdoor meet of the season on March 27, at Augustana College.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Achieve More.

Together. ΄ d]QRaUaMQdMcR \MX^ab ΄ 2QdZc MPPRZRaMcRQ QRUaRR P^\_ZRcW^] _a^UaM\b ΄ 4^d]bRZ^ab ^]͚bWcR c^ \MYR cVR caM]bSRa _a^PRbb RMbh We seek to develop strong, capable graduates who build successful careers.

Our most popular transfer majors include aviation, criminal/ social justice, education, nursing, healthcare leadership, and business.

College of DuPage transfer credit is pre-approved through existing agreements

Learn more about our on-site undergraduate program: Î&#x201E; ÎŽ 4^\_dcRa EPWR]PR QRUaRR Î&#x201E; ÎŽ 4aW\W]MZΧE^PWMZ <dbcWPR QRUaRR Î&#x201E; 6]VM]PRQ ÎŽ FRMPVRa 6QdPMcW^] QRUaRRb Í&#x2C6;6MaZh 4VWZQV^^Q 6QdPMcW^]Í&#x153; 6ZR\R]cMahÍ&#x153; E_RPWMZÍ&#x153; M]Q 4^\OW]RQ 6ZR\R]cMahΧE_RPWMZ 6QdPMcW^]Í&#x2030;

lewisu.edu/transfers Watch the athlete of the week, Christian Mathis, on codcourier.org

(815) 836-5250

Scheduled On-Site 3+1 Advising Sessions: www.cod.edu/academics/transfer_ programs/3plus1_advising_sessions.aspx

COURIER TV

4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 13

COFFEE BREAK

1 School First

5 TIPS FOR MANAGING LIFE Get ahead in your life with these five super helpful tips.

ASHLEE BERNER DESIGN EDITOR

School first. I understand many community college students have one, two or even three jobs on top of our schoolwork. That is a lot to take on for an average student. I have two jobs, and this week I realized it was starting to be too much to handle.

Because of that, I cut down my hours at one of my jobs. I understand that we need money, but school is so much more important to focus on. If you are also in this situation, consider cutting back. You don’t want to take classes twice, and grades are permanent.

You also need time for yourself to not do homework but to relax.

2 Four Eyes

I recently had to turn in an assignment for my sociology class that could only be one page in length.

That sounds weird that I would be complaining about one-page papers, but the context in which it had to be written was hard to to accomplish in just one page. My suggestion for assignments would be to have two or more people you trust to read it over before you turn it in. Ask them if they understood the point of the essay. Also ask them to pay attention to grammar. As the writer, it is easy to overlook silly grammatical errors. With short assignments like these, you only have so much room to make your point clearly.

COMICS

Mike Keefe, Cagle Cartoons

14 // codcourier.org // 4 March 2015

3 Can’t Focus?

I always find myself trying to study after I get home from school or after work, and for some reason I just can’t focus. There are just times in the day where you aren’t going to get work done. If this applies to you, just stop trying to do work. You are going to find yourself re-reading what you “read” already.

If you are taking notes, you will look at them the next day and have no idea what you even wrote the night before. Save yourself some frustration. If you can’t focus, just stop. Take a break, relax, and get to it the next day.

4 Baby Steps

For my history class we have to choose from a list of novels to read and report on at the end of the semester. It is already March, and we end classes in May. The end of the semester is right around the corner. These types of assignments can sneak up on you, especially if they are reading assignments.

My advice would be to read 20 minutes each night. That way you read each night, and eat away at it slowly. Make a schedule for yourself and stick to it.

5 Discounts

There are lots of perks of being a college student, especially student discounts.

I know a lot of us try to save money. To help you save even more money, ask places if they offer student discounts. By places, I mean restaurants, movie theaters, shopping stores, museums and even online services like Spotify. A lot of these offer student discounts so take advantage of that because you won’t be a student forever. Most places request that you have a student ID to prove that you actually are a student.

If you don’t have a student ID, look into getting one.

They are worth it.

COFFEE BREAK

PUZZLES AND MORE

SUDOKU

No. 219

Tough

Previous solution - Medium

9 5

1 2 3

1 4

6

6 5 7

4 9 7 1 2 4

7

You can find more help, tips and hints at www.str8ts.com

© 2011 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

5

2 3 1 4 7 8 5 6 9

1 2 8 5 7 6 7 5 4 3 4 8

7 6 9 5 8 7 6 7 5 4 8 6 1 4 5 3 2 6 4 2 3 1 7 3 2 8 2 3 4 5

3 2

8 7 6

No. 219

Easy

8 7 5 1 6 5 1 6 7 2 9 3

THIS IS WHERE THEY MEET

4 1 9 7 8 3 2 6 5

9 6

2

7 7 2

5 6 8 3 8 4 3 8 2 1 4 3

How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These need to be filled in with numbers that complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.

TRADITION / INNOVATION

Previous solution - Very Hard

© 2011 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

STR8TS

8 2 6 5 4 9 7 1 3

5 3 7 6 1 2 9 8 4

3 7 8 1 2 5 6 4 9

2 9 4 8 7 6 3 5 1

6 5 1 9 3 4 8 2 7

7 6 5 2 9 1 4 3 8

1 8 3 4 6 7 5 9 2

9 4 2 3 5 8 1 7 6

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.

Discover what matters.

And build your life around it.

It’s not too late.

Still accepting applications for fall 2015. » Complete your bachelor’s degree » Receive one-on-one academic advising » Traditional undergraduate and adult degree completion (eight-week modules) formats available

X is the intersection.

It's the fusion of scholarly tradition and innovative spirit fostering a community of academic inquiry, discussion and debate.

www.sxu.edu

» Learn more at aurora.edu/transfer Office of Admission and Financial Aid 347 S. Gladstone Ave. | Aurora, IL 60506 630-844-5533 | admission@aurora.edu

4 March 2015 // codcourier.org // 15

BE SOCIAL MEDIA READY SPRING 2015 CHAPARRAL CAREER ADVANTAGE

How can you get employers to learn more about you as a professional? Social media is your answer. Just as job seekers research companies, employers research candidates. Discover how social media can help you stand out. For more information, please contact the Career Services Center, (630) 942-2230 or csc@cod.edu.

INSTABRAND YOUR CAREER Thursday, Feb. 26

2 to 3 p.m.

BIC 3534

noon to 1:30 p.m.

5 to 6:30 p.m.

5 to 6:30 p.m. noon to 1:30 p.m.

5 to 6:30 p.m.

BIC 3528 BIC 3528 BIC 3528 BIC 3630 BIC 3528

LINKEDIN™ 101 Thursday, Feb. 12 Tuesday, Feb. 24 Thursday, March 19 Wednesday, April 8 Tuesday, May 5

LINKEDIN™ ADVANCED Wednesday, Feb. 18 Tuesday, March 24 Thursday, April 30 Tuesday, May 19

5 to 6:30 p.m. noon to 1:30 p.m.

5 to 6:30 p.m. noon to 1:30 p.m.

BIC 3528 BIC 3808 BIC 3532 BIC 3532

Registration is encouraged: www.cod.edu/careerservices_workshops

NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE Recognized nationally as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report.

Ranked among Forbes magazine’s “America’s Top Colleges.”

Transfer to North Central College and ... Be

central.

North Central College offers: s More than 55 majors s Excellent location for internships and jobs s Great support for COD students s Academic scholarships and needbased grants s Smooth transfer of credit s Exciting study abroad opportunities To learn more about how you, too, can be central, call us to set up an individual appointment at 630-637-5800 or visit us at northcentralcollege.edu/transfer.

16 // codcourier.org // 4 March 2015

s NCAA Division III athletics

NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE WILL BE AT COLLEGE OF DUPAGE ON: March 5, 10-1 March 11, 10-1 March 19, 10-1 March 25, 10-1 These visits are located on the second floor of the SRC near Campus Central.