The Courier - Nov. 2, 2016

THE COURIER // COLLEGE OF DUPAGE STUDENT NEWSPAPER // 02 NOVEMBER 2016 // VOLUME 51 – ISSUE 10

E D I TO R I A L P A G E S 10 - 11

NEWS

Damon Williams talk on COD’s diversity and inclusion series p3

FEATURES

SPORTS

“The Magic Play” explores deep emotion p6

Chaps fall to Anoka in District Championship p15

COURIER

THE

C

Editor-in-Chief Lucas Koprowski Opinion Editor Miranda Shelton Features Editor Caroline Broderick Photo Editor Bethany Berg Graphics Editor Joseph Molino

INDEX NEWS

OPINION

5 Dakota Access Pipeline causing uproar in tribal lands

13 There is nothing weird about mental health

FEATURES

MUSIC

7 Native American symposium at COD

16 Jon Bellion at the Riviera Theater

Sports Editor Alex Garcia Reporter Vandy Manyeh Social Media Manager Alizay Rizvi Newsroom 630-942-2683 Adviser Jim Fuller fullerj103@cod.edu Advertising Christina Payton paytonc359@cod.edu

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NEWS

Damon Williams’ visit climaxes COD’s diversity and inclusion series Vandy Manyeh · Reporter

Photo by: Vandy Manyeh/Courier

Damon Williams at the Diversity and Inclusion Series Talk

A nationally-respected diversity expert challenged College of DuPage faculty and administrators to push the college's melting pot beyond enrollment last Monday.

Diversity at an institution like COD brings students and administrators from all walks of life together regardless of their race or gender. But this diversity goes hand in hand with leadership, equity, and inclusiveness.

During his presentation, Williams appreciated the diverse nature of the college and urged members of the administration here to put on an innovative posture by asking the questions related to the population at COD. His innovative approach to a diversity and inclusion agenda takes into consideration all facets of a diverse background and not just the usual issues of race and gender.

“Innovators always

question the world,” said Williams. “They wonder why? Why does our institution look the way it does at the students’ level, in terms of race-ethnicity and gender, but maybe it doesn’t look that way at the executive level? Why are all the black kids sitting together at the cafeteria table? Why some of our students grouped together in this way and others are grouped together in that way? Why do we have so many more men in this disciplinary area than women? Why does that faculty member seem so eager to mentor a young woman but seem not so eager to mentor someone of another gender?”

These were points reechoed by Damon Williams when he lectured the college and provided some thoughts about diversity and inclusion in higher education. From a meeting with the college’s President Ann Rondeau,

spending a time with students in the gaming room, lunch and lectures with members of the faculty, to a time spent in the atrium getting to know students, Williams, an expert diversity and inclusion planner as it relates to higher education brought his wealth of experience from about 400 universities he has visited globally. His visit will help the college to have a complete diversity and inclusion agenda.

He believes asking unique, mind-blowing questions from observation and available data will stop a college like COD from what he termed as the “strategy by mimicry.”

This strategy according to Williams has prevented colleges in the nation from finding solutions to where the problems exist, rather than trying to work with what they believe is a validated strategy. “Innovation is about finding solutions where the problem exists,” continued

Williams.

Williams appealed to the college to get ready for the “perfect storm of variables.” These variables are considered the ever-changing environment from more female students in the STEM fields to a complete diverse nature of universities.

Members of the administration were touched and appeared ready to carry out Williams’ suggestions here at COD. “There is another dimension of his work that has challenged us,” said Emmanuel Awuah, associate vice president for academic affairs when making comments about William’s visit. “The question of leadership, the question of institutional transformation, that will lead to a long-term, sustained effort at COD has been on our mind in ensuring that we move beyond diversity, which is everyone is welcomed to come to this institution,

to creating an inclusive environment in which everyone who comes will surely feel welcomed and will like to stay in achieving their personal educational goals.”

Williams currently serves as the senior vice president of program, training, and youth development services of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. He is respected nationally as one of the nation’s brightest minds when it comes to diversity and inclusion, writing two books on cutting edge leadership strategies. He previously served as associate vice chancellor, vice provost, and chief diversity officer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The diversity and inclusion team here at COD is already fired up to build on what they have learned from the entire series. In a partnership with the office of student life, the diversity and inclusion department has launched

a crucial conversations forum led by students where they received training from the Center for Civic Reflections that is affiliated with Valparaiso University.

“Now students can begin to share and exchange on diversity leadership and provide documented perspectives for better curricular and co-curricular experiences,” said David Swope, COD’s manager for diversity and inclusion. “Most importantly we look to continue our dialogue with President Rondeau and the cabinet and in measured ways be a part of further developing a campus community that reflects the rich diversity of learners and strengthens our relationships with a diverse community population.”

The college will now continue to build on its multicultural agenda.

02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 3

KNOW YOURSELF. KNOW YOUR WORLD.

REACH YOUR POTENTIAL

OPEN HOUSE

November 12

To RSVP for the open house, go to www.elmhurst.edu/openhouse Elmhurst is coming to COD! 2nd floor, near Starbucks Wednesday, November 16 Tuesday, November 29 Tuesday, December 6 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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NEWS

Dakota Access Pipeline causing uproar in tribal lands Miranda Shelton · Opinion Editor

What was once a quiet project created to funnel crude oil under a large chunk of the US has now become the hot social justice topic of the past two months. The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) PROVIDE

D BY WIL

DUTOPIA

has been seen all over the n e w s l a t e l y, and is causing civil uproar in Native American communities in North Dakota.

According to its government page, the DAPL is, “a new approximate 1,172-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline that will connect the rapidly expanding Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, IL.” It is suppose to assist in relocating domestically produced crude oil to the refining markets found around the Illinois area.

The idea behind the pipeline is to localize our oil production. As of right now the US is third in the world for oil production, but first in oil consumption. By closing this gap

the government believes it will further our independence from the middle east, and boost our local economy. The pipeline advertises itself as an environmentally friendly and efficient way to domesticate our oil.

This is where .COM

citizens have started to disagree.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and supporters have taken it upon themselves to fight the government and the oil giants from creating the DAPL. These self proclaimed “water protectors” fear that the pipeline causes a potential for an oil spill into the Missouri River, which is the Sioux Tribe’s main source of clean water.

Protesters are also upset because the pipeline was once planned to go through Bismarck, ND, but after many complaints the government rerouted it through native land. While

this land is suppose to be protected by treaty there are loopholes written in which allow this pipeline to be built under them.

Until recently, the protests were successful in getting the government's attention.

President Obama and Congress went so

far as to temporarily stop construction on the pipeline so as to reevaluate the political and social impact.

Things were looking up until the riot police arrived on the scene. Within the past two months people have been arrested for peaceful protest.

Among them is Hollywood actress and social figure Shailene Woodley, who was charged with criminal trespassing and engaging in a riot. She wrote a lengthy statement for TIME Magazine after her release from jail.

She explains, “I was in

North Dakota, standing side by side with Native Americans. You know, those who were here before us. Well, guess what, America? They’re still here.

And they are still fighting the good fight. A fight that serves each and every one of us. They are still putting their lives on the line to protect the roots that feed our existence.”

“And, guess

what else, d e a r America?” she c o n tinues.

“They are still being ignored.

W e are still throwing them in jail.

We are still silencing their dedication to protect us from the planetary consequences that will catastrophically bleed from our ignorance.”

Many people have found her words encouraging and the number of protesters in Standing Rock are growing day by day. As of right now, it is still unclear if the pipeline will be halted for good.

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F E AT U R E S PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GOODMAN THEATRE

“The Magic Play” explores deep, connectable emotion Caroline Broderick · Features Editor

The stage remains lit as audience members walk in.

The small theater is filled through the balcony, floor and mezzanine. An ace of spades is projected behind a wooden stage, completed with three tables: one with a pyramid of cards, the other empty, and the third with four brown bags.

A man enters, immediately breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the audience. Brett Schneider, who plays the Magician, and a real magician himself, showcases the classic magician’s card tricks we all remember from childhood: cards disappear, reappearing, an impressive shuffling of the deck.

He seems like an average man, a normal magician playing through a show he has performed 100 times, yet the show takes a quick, confusing turn as audience members are shown the torment running through this magician’s mind, provided by his ex-boyfriend, played by Sean Parris. The audience becomes a part of the magician’s life, learning about his childhood with his father who abandoned him, as played by Francis Guinan, and the continual loss in his life.

Schneider moves the play forward, with the

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bulk of the show being his own monologues, he impressively makes the show seem natural and completely unscripted.

“In order to truly amaze an audience, and create a sense of intimacy and true human connection, you must have complete control,” narrates Schneider.

“But offstage, if you can’t relinquish that control, and simply give in to all the spontaneity and magic of real life, everything can come crashing down.”

The play deeply dissects the magician, narrowing him down to solely a person with issues of control.

Suddenly, from being at a magic show, audience members are thrusted into the magician’s mind. An argument breaks out between the magician and his boyfriend, the boyfriend stating that it’s all perspective when looking at a relationship. Sure, it may seem cute he wants to know about his boyfriend’s whereabouts, cute that he brings him lunch during every diving practice, but the real issue was the magician having no trust. He brings the lunches, asks the questions, all so that he knows who his boyfriend is talking to, knows what he is doing.

The two love each oth-

er, make each other feel as if they are flying, but the issues beneath it all are shown to the audience through their arguments.

The show began and ended with the familiar magic show, but in between a story unraveled behind the magic presented in front of you. You discover why the magician is a magician, you witness him reliving his heart being broken, and you are introduced to the most troubled and vulnerable parts of his life. You don’t learn any of the techniques or tricks behind the magic, but you learn the truth behind the magician.

What is the most intriguing and exciting part of the show is audience.

Taking four audience members as volunteers for different acts and continually talking to the audience.

The magic was an exciting, fun aspect. The script was powerful and emotional. Attending a show that I thought would be based around trivial magic, I found my eyes welling with tears. The cast of three made me feel connected to the magic.

The theme is a familiar one: love and the magic behind it. In the end, every audience member

is brought together, the magic moves past the fourth wall and the audience is asked to wish for something that only magic could grant. These wishes, sent by a girl with bright pink hair, elderly couples with matching glasses, mothers, fathers, students, who all filled with theater, are projected for all to see.

Audience members gasped and had no words when they found the exact thing they wished for: “Irene to be blonde,” “Pearl to live forever,” “Forgiveness,” “Happiness.” Proving, in the end, that we all wish for a little magic. As I left the Goodman, I could not hide a smile. The wishes from the audience were on display, written on playing cards, for all to read.

The reminder that we all have wants and needs and hope for a bit of magic in our lives left each audience member feeling united and with a feeling of universality.

“The Magic Play” runs through Nov. 20 at the Goodman Theatre, only $10 on Wednesdays for college students with a valid ID.

F E AT U R E S

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COD

Native American symposium to celebrate past and present Caroline Broderick · Features Editor

The Native American Studies Committee, along with Global Education Department has detected a flaw in COD’s community: the lack of awareness and visibility of Native Americans.

“There is a general and deeply flawed perception amongst many non-Native peoples that Native people, culture and issues generally reside in the past,” said Native American Studies Committee chair, John Paris.

For the past year, Paris, along with Global Studies committees, faculty and students have worked towards creating a Native American symposium at the college titled “Native American Identities in a Global Era.” Beginning Nov. 2 and running until Nov. 4, students are able to view doc-

umentaries, visit panel discussions, listen to Native American-inspired music and even attend a hip hop performance amongst other things. This is all in honor to Native American Heritage Month and to expand the already diverse campus.

“As the Native American Studies Committee [we] are dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of Native American people, culture, and issues to the entire COD community,” said Paris. “We have detected a certain lack of awareness of these issues in our district and wish to help address that need with this symposium.”

The symposium has a goal to reflect the history of Native Americans and real issues happening in the world today through

native eyes.

In order to maintain the authenticity of the event and to ensure every attendee walk away with a more sound awareness of the Native American voice, native voices are what drives each event. Native Americans will tell their own stories and present their own culture to the community.

“Attendees can expect to gain knowledge, enlightenment, and hopefully the development of a more Native-oriented perspective on global events, issues and the world in general,” said Paris.

The event is funded through a Funding Global Education Initiatives Grant awarded by the Global Education Department. Because of this grant, Paris and the rest of the creators were able to fi-

nance every event they had wished for the symposium Events include: a performance from Tall Paul, a native hip-hop artist; introduction from the community organizer from the American Indian Center of Chicago, David Bender; a COD Chamber Singers performance, and scholars from North Central College, University of Wyoming and Oakton Community College.

Screenings of various documentaries include “Altars by the Lake” and “Dream People of the Amazon,” which is followed by an interview with the director himself via Skype.

To find out more about the Native American Symposium and other COD events and their times, visit codcourier.org

02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 7

F E AT U R E S

SCREENSHOTS BY BETH BERG/COUIER

Game:

GAME REVIEW:

“Virginia”

Virginia Review: defining the line between movies and video games

Price:

$10.00

System:

Bethany Berg · Photo Editor

Mac, PC & PS4

Imagine going into a movie theater and becoming the main character. Living the story through t h e i r eyes, feeling the mixed cauldrons of emotion as they do, never knowing the full story. It’s an interesting concept, and one that describes Virginia – not full game, but not full movie, either. A mix of both, testing the bounds between cinema and gaming.

Virginia’s story is a mysterious, sometimes incomprehensible tale that intrigues you from the beginning, and keeps that interest throughout its two-hour playtime. In the

game, you play as a recently graduated FBI agent, Anne, who is assigned a new partner and an investigation of a disappearance of a young boy in the small town of Kingdom, VA. But at the same time, she has been assigned another case to juggle: investigating her new partner.

Anne is an unreliable narrator – linear story is blurred and out of order – time jumps forwards, backwards, side-to-side through dreams, drug trips, and the occasional guess at what actually is reality.

Scenes jump suddenly and

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quickly, only giving you as much context as you need to piece a spotty timeline together.

Gameplay is simple, you

search for select items or the right door to walk through to progress the story. Virginia’s 3D, polygon-styled art really made this tolerable, with its

dusty colors and eye-level shot style that made it feel like walking through an actual television show or movie. It’s a walking pointand-click simulator, which may be an immediate turn-off for some gamers, but for those who enjoy less action

and more s e l f - i n t e r p re t e d story, you may find yourself enjoying this style of gameplay.

Virginia is filled with style references to popular cult television – “Twin Peaks”, “The X-Files”,

“Stranger Things”, with the gritty modern aesthetics of “True Detective” make it one that strikes a nostalgic chord. The story is entirely based on your interpretation of what you think is going on – there is no dialogue and nothing to read other than a few case files and signs. It’s up to you to read body language, use items and files you find to piece together the multiple mysteries hidden within t h e game.

I ’ v e n e v e r had a gaming experience quite like the one I had while playing Virginia. It rattled my whole infrastructure on what gaming is;

morphed it into a broader aspect of what art in video games could be developing into. You never get answers. You never fully understand what’s going on at any current moment. It’s a cinematic masterpiece, every scene stunning, but you have no control over what happens in the story.

You have no idea who you and everyone else becomes as it progresses. As I play, it feels like I’m constantly missing something huge right i n front o f m y face, a n d because of that, I’m going to be replaying it again and again.

See your for self!

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GRAPHIC BY JOSEPH MOLINO

OPINION EDITORIAL

We refuse to dance with the Devils Why we’re not endorsing anyone this election Who would you rather vote for: A Giant Douche?

Or a Turd Sandwich?

Although a South Park reference, this hyperbole rings true in romanticising the vulgarity of this election season. Between the raunchy poster boy for the alt-right and the blue devil herself, we cannot decide who is worse. This is why we refuse to endorse either candidate this election year.

Hillary Clinton has proven herself to be unreliable.

She has made it clear that she will voice whatever opinion will get her what she wants, and what she wants right now is the presidency.

As she continues her campaign against Donald Trump, she has been preaching about climate change and how we as a world have to learn to rely on green energy. Yet when faced with the decision to pass the proposal of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is the largest environmental concern in the U.S. as of late, she was in total support of the fossil fuel industry.

At first we thought this

wishy-washy nature of hers could be from her learning new information, but when you look at the facts it’s clear it’s just her doing

whatever she can to get what she wants.

According to Greenpeace, “Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Super PAC supporting her have received more than $6.9 million from the fossil fuel industry.” When she needed big business funders she wasn’t afraid to appease these oil giants. However, now that she and Trump are getting closer to the

EDITORIAL BOARD OPINION EDITOR MIRANDA SHELTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCAS KOPROWSKI PHOTO EDITOR BETHANY BERG GRAPHICS EDITOR JOSEPH MOLINO FEATURES EDITOR CAROLINE BRODERICK SPORTS EDITOR ALEX GARCIA

election, her best bet at winning is swinging the millennial voters. It’s no secret that one of the issues we millennials care about most is climate change, because we will be the people who have to fight it most.

So here she is, hypocritically preaching in her debates and speeches that climate change is a beast that we all have to tackle together, when some of the biggest causes of climate change are the reason she’s able to stand at that podium in the first place.

Unfortunately, her running mate is no better.

Trump has proven himself to be unapologetically racist, sexist and xenophobic.

His questionable past and plans of the future make it clear to us that he is amazingly unfit for the presidential office.

Trump often boasts that he wants to run America like he would a business, with little outside influence and a focus on internal affairs. He uses his net worth as a marker of his preparedness for office.

However, we believe the best qualification is one of political experience.

Gautam Mukunda, a professor at Harvard Business School, explained in an interview with the Huffington Post, “[Business] Skills are far less transferable than we think they are. Even when you move from one company to another, you may not be successful.

When y o u move from a company to the gove r n m e n t , that’s a larger leap.”

While success in business is no easy feat, it takes a certain set of skills that aren’t always cut out for other positions, even those in other fields of business. Assuming that Trump’s 31 years of success (the amount of time he has been successful without the aid of his father) would be equivalent to that of someone who’s been successful in politics

is naive. Yet it’s a thought process we have been seeing in a large amount of Trump supporters.

Our issue isn’t just with the candidates, but also with the counter culture sur-

rounding each campaign.

Both sides of our political infrastructure have morphed campaign rhetoric into hate speech. This dangerous game only serves to separate, divide and devour our society into an abyss of discontent.

People no longer take serious time to learn about their potential candidates.

They listen to biased media blindly without forming their own opinions. People should not rely on any one media source, including us, for all their facts. No matter how these publications and news shows try, there will always be a spin.

That being said, that’s not entirely the people’s fault. For many people, mainstream media is their only source of information. It should be their job to share all information about both candidates. We’ve noticed that most rightwing biased stations and papers have focused on Clinton scandals while generally avoiding discussion of Trump, while left-wing media does exactly the opposite.

By doing so, they’ve let the country down.

We believe the entire election process has been poorly handled, and we hold the country accountable. By not endorsing a major party candidate, we are actively not condoning the behavior that has come with the election. We refuse to play into our outdated system.

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. We encourage readers to submit a “Letter to the Editor” voicing their opinions on topics discussed in the editorial. See page 12 for more details on submitting a letter.

MASKS PROVIDED BY PARTYCITY.COM 02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 11

OPINION

PHOTO POLL: Miranda Shelton · Opinion Editor

This past week, we asked students “Who do you think is going to win the presidential election and why?” Here are their responses:

Fouad Agha - Year 2 I believe Hillary [Clinton] will win. Trump made a lot of enemies around him in the United States, especially with people not from America. He’s trying to get them out. This is a mistake, it makes many Americans dislike him. There are a lot of things I dislike about Trump, but there are also a lot of things I dislike about Hillary. But between Hillary and Trump I would go for Hillary.

Ana Pina - Year 1

Diego Vargas - Year 1

I think it’s going to be Mr. Donald Trump. A lot of people from this country hate immigrants and don’t want immigrants here. I think they have been waiting for this time, for a person who will stand up for their version of this country. I feel like he’s gonna win for that reason.

I have no clue. I think Hillary might take it. Obviously there are a lot of people who won’t vote for her, and people are giving a lot of crap to Donald. He’s not the brightest guy in the box, he doesn’t say the smartest things and he does offend a lot of people.

But overall I think Hillary might take it this year.

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OPINION

Kill the Stigma

There is nothing weird about mental health

Miranda Shelton · Opinion Editor

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MOLINO

In high school, people called me “crazy.” Word had gotten out that I was bipolar, and that I had pretty severe anxiety. Kids were cruel. People would see me in the halls and would start to pretend to cry. They would pantomime popping pills. They would call me “psycho” and “mental” and “basket case.”

Then they would laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

When I was first diagnosed I was so ashamed.

I believed my peers. I believed I was crazy. I believed the stigma that there was something wrong with me.

If you don’t personally struggle with mental illness you might wonder what the big deal is. We all have bad days, right? And in all honestly, I’m happy for those of you who can ask this question. It means you haven’t had days where getting out of bed

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is physically impossible. It means you haven’t had to convince yourself that the breath-taking pain in your chest is just your anxiety and not a heart attack. It means you haven’t verbally attacked the people you love most in a fit of manic rage.

For the rest of us, however, these problems and more could be as often as a daily occurrence. And it’s more people than you might think. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a quarter of the US population is living with a mental illness.

Anyone dealing with this can tell you that the physical side effects are often not the worst part of having a mental illness. It’s the stigma attached to it.

In this country (and much of the world) there is a sense of shame in taking care of yourself when

your illness isn’t one that’s physically clear. There is a sense of shame that accompanies taking medication and going to therapy.

There is a sense of shame in having your illness.

It took years of therapy, medication and practicing self-love to come to terms with myself. Even now, I actively try to avoid conversations about mental illness because I fear that it will come out that I deal with such issues.

The problem with the world is that mental illness is so remarkably misunderstood. Until very recently people with mental illnesses, even as common as postpartum depression, were locked away in mental hospitals and sanitariums. They were given mind-numbing drugs and electroshock therapy. In some truly horrific cases, doctors went so far as to give patients lobotomies.

@CODCourier

People think that when you have a mental illness that you’re crazy or unstable. This can be dangerous because it discourages people who could really benefit from getting help.

But left untreated, it could be fatal.

That being said, when people do try to receive the treatment they’re often turned away because most insurance plans don’t include mental health coverage.. Therapy and medication are not cheap. A therapist can easily charge upwards of $200 an hour.

Pharmaceuticals are not cheap. Prozac, a common anti-depressant, costs $1,225 for 100 pills of the lowest dose.

There’s a simple way to fix this. If people start to realize how normal and acceptable it is to live with a mental illness the stigma will slowly and surely soften its grip on

@codcourier

society. If you know someone living with one, offer your love and support if they so need it. But most importantly, don’t judge them. Don’t act cautiously around them. Treat them as you would any human being.

Once the stigma vanishes it may push the pharmaceutical companies to lower medication prices. It may push insurance companies to cover depression like they would a broken leg. Most importantly, it could push people who struggle with mental illness to look for help if they need it. Lifting the stigma could lift up the world, and we need to start that today.

The kids from my high school have changed in my eyes. While they made my life utterly miserable, it’s come out over time that a lot of them were dealing with similar issues.

They have started sharing their stories on facebook and reaching out to others who may need help. I use to think they were mean, but now I realize they were hurting too. It doesn’t excuse their actions, but I understand. Mental illness is scary. It’s deep and it’s dark. It’s bone shaking. It’s life-changing.

If someone treated me the same way I was treated years ago, I wouldn’t shrink in the shadows anymore. I would stand up for myself and explain that I am a human being just like them. But I would also keep in mind that they might be hurting too. I would come across as kind and strong, and hope that my simple reaction would help them understand it’s okay to be okay with your mental illness. It’s okay to be proud of who you are.

COD Courier Student Newspaper 02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 13

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14 // codcourier.org // 02 November 2016

SPORTS

Chaps fall to Anoka in District Championship Lucas Koprowski · Editor-in-Chief

The Chaparral women’s soccer team fought hard at their district championship game against Anoka-Ramsey, only to be defeated in a shootout. Although the Chaps took an early lead with a header by Chaparral Defender Antoinette Zaffino in the first 10 minutes of the game, their defensive line was breached in the 75th minute and allowed Anoka’s Rochelle Perez to capture an even

score with an unassisted goal. After two overtime periods, the two teams battled in a shootout. Anoka took the gold, winning 4-3.

“I thought we played hard,” said Head Coach of Chaparral Women’s Soccer Willie Fajkus. “It was a very difficult game.

We made a mistake in the back, and they punished us. Unfortunately it came down to penalties, and that just essentially a coin flip.”

PHOTOS BY LUCAS KOPROWSKI/COURIER 02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 15

MUSIC

Jon Bellion at the Riviera Theater Caroline Broderick · Features Editor

Jon Bellion has provided lyrics that distinguish themselves from other popular artists these days.

Speaking about topics usually ignored with rapping and remixes like no other, his connection proved to be strong to his fans through the line that began at Riviera’s doors and spanned down for two and a half blocks.

The excited fans were all looking for the same thing: an incredible musical experience as provided

by Bellion’s music. They were provided with much more.

To open for Bellion, Travis Mendes and Blaque Keyz were scheduled.

Typically, the audience does not care for openers; the same went for this show. Mendes and Blaque Keyz are two artists that are featured in Bellion’s

music. Their presence added to the main performance, allowing for live artists to sing their parts of songs instead of recordings, but their opening performances were disappointing.

To rally the audience, Mendes called for everybody to “Make some noise!” “Hands up!” This would have been a great tactic, but when it is asked for five times every minute, it becomes annoying, almost begging, and takes away from the act.

An aspect that was admirable for the openers was their attempt to connect personally with the audience. Mendes and Blaque Keyz were aware that the audience was not familiar with them, but they shared some of their own stories behind songs, such as chasing a girl, or

Mendes expressing how the song “Ten Years,” represents the 10 years it took for Mendes to move on from a relationship. The stories showed everybody who they were beyond musical artists.

After waiting an almost unnecessary hour and a half for the main act, lights went black. The audience went crazy. Screams and cheers and phones flew up, everybody was ready for Bellion.

A black theater was pierced with a bright light, matched with the first note of “He is the Same,” the first song on Bellion’s album “The Human Condition.” The lights went out and returned again with the next note. Every fan knew this note, and the excitement for Bellion to appear on stage grew.

Bellion appeared and

continued with the lyrics, the entire theater singing along. Bellion brought forth an energy I have not seen in a live performance in years. It was easy to see how much he appreciated every fan for attending, providing us with all he’s got. He ran from each side of the theater, making sure every section was accounted for.

As he began with an opening statement, Bellion was stopped when he saw a familiar audience member. Breaking from song, Bellion asked the theater to cheer for a fan who had been traveling to Bellion’s last show, and ended up in a hospital after a car accident, being told that she would never walk again. “But here she is, standing right in front of me!”

Bellion remastered

many of his most popular tracks, like “Guillotine,” making them initially seem unrecognizable, but it added to the excitement and proved his talents.

Bellion shared his appreciation and shared messages he wanted each person to bring forth into the world. That we don’t stop chasing the impossible until our last breath, that we accept every person in this world, no matter the skin color, and that we not stand for the injustice in the world. Bellion united the crowd of 2,500 asking us to high five, hug and to look around. We were not a crowd of people; we were individuals who could do anything, and we were connected.

Once Bellion finished with “Hand of God,” he left the stage. Every audience member continued

the concert on their own, singing the chorus, and becoming the show.

Lights went out, but that was no end for everybody in the theater. The cries for “One more song!” made my ears feel numb, unable to hear anything besides screams. The audience wasn’t ready for the night to end.

Bellion bursted out representing Chicago with a Cubs jersey on and stayed out for another 20 minutes, sharing messages and thanking the audience.

Bellion is set to return to Chicago this January touring with twenty one pilots for their Emotional Roadshow tour. If he’s anything like he was at Riviera, it would be a disservice to yourself to miss him this time.

PHOTOS BY CAROLINE BRODERICK

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MUSIC

MUSIC REVIEW:

“Scavenger” showcases why Fleece deserves your attention Lucas Koprowski · Editor-in-Chief

I would have never expected to find such musical prowess behind a band whose largest accomplishment is an improvised satirical song about putting things up their butt.

Fleece, a small indie-alt band from Montreal, has swept me off my feet like a prepubescent girl drooling over the latest boy band craze.

Their experimental style, connecting jazz and rock with a relaxing ambiance, absorbed my full attention from beginning to end of their 35 minute album, Scavenger.

Although having no direction whatsoever, the album finds meaning in each song individually.

The album could have been called Scavenger due to its eclectic range of meaning and seriousness, as well could be due to the entire album having a distant, yet still obtainable sound scattered across a range of genres. Nonetheless, each song owns a unique sound which differs from the next, with alternating tones a n d styles of the in-

dependent scene.

The introduction track, “Aliens,” contains a soft, yet punchy, guitar riff which mends smoothly with the light piano. The effortless vocal performance allows the song to transduce your senses into a relaxed state, and leaves enough space for the powerful guitar riff in the following track “Wake and Bake” to take control of your attention.

“Wake and Bake” is the first out of the nine tracks on this album which feels like a standalone single.

The song’s powerful guitar and drumming performance con-

trols the scene, with bass riffs linked intermittently with the confusing stoner-like vocal performance.

After that is “Demanding,” a distant jazz song which is the weakest point of the album.

Although a beautiful and soft ballad, it doesn’t have a punch or memorable imprint to leave you with any satisfaction at the end. “DLXII” is an upbeat, unique interlude which displays Fleece’s distinct sound in a punchy fashion.

Up to this point in the album, Fleece has presented its indie alternative ambiance with a heavy

rock influence sprinkled atop the band’s less serious and mysterious tones.

Their style completely

changes, however, with the next track: “Gabe’s Song.” The powerful jazz performance tantalized my expectations and exceeded what I was hoping to receive from this album. The swift yet heavy bass and catchy drumming blends well with the effortless, disconnected and garbled vocal performance seen throughout the song to create a modern masterpiece. The track stood to baffle me as I was completely controlled by their flow of energy constantly changing between the chorus and verses.

Following “Gabe’s Song” is “Rise,” a romantic rock piece which takes you through a fusion of folk-lore styled storytelling and sharp guitar riffs.

The song is beautiful, however disconnects

even further from any of the other tracks on the album. The lyrics are clear and constant throughout this song, compared to the muddled vocal performance of “Gabe’s Song” and the reverberating stanzas of “Wake and Bake.”

The final three tracks on this album are also completely different from anything else on the collection, however, all stand on their own as fantastic pieces.

“CIA” screams in a mellow manner at the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency to get out of the world’s business. The song generalizes Americans to be drum-beating nationalists who only listen with their steel-toed boots.

“Chocolate Milk” had potential with its dark undertones and absorbing melody, however loses its se-

riousness after the first line, “Chocolate milk and Adderall get me through the week.”

The final track, “Narcozep,” is a sporadic and gritty garage band composition. It served as a unique way to close the album, but left nothing to tie Scavenger together as a collective work with meaning.

This album is more of a compilation of the band’s more successful sounds and singles than an actual orchestrated collection with direction. Nonetheless, the music production was absolutely stellar, and the album does leave the band with a lot of leeway in terms of how to mature their sound. The album served to showcase Fleece as one of the most powerful up-and-coming alternative bands emerging from the depths of garbage music scattered across the internet.

Musical dexterity is Fleece’s strongest quality.

Although I discount the album for its loss of direct meaning, Fleece makes up for it with a surprisingly clear and powerful performance which left me speechless track after track.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FLEECE 02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 17

Before We Fade – Tristam Genre: Electronic Sounds Like: Televisor, Varien There is an unbound freedom to any kind of music. Especially when listening for the first time: an unexpected beat drop, an extra added-in chorus, a guitar solo. The possibilities are endless, and that’s exactly what thrilled me about “Before We Fade.” It’s chaotic in a way that keeps you enthralled and expectant on the edge of your seat. Tristam doesn’t disappoint, with a mix of electro and light vocals that seem to reach back into an arcade-themed nostalgia. This track feels timeless, which is why I know it’ll be one of my favorites for a long, long time. —Beth

A Toast – Braves Genre: Alternative Similar To: .gif, TWINKIDS Braves has a way of making all of their music feel incredibly personal, no matter the surrounding soundtrack. “A Toast,” one of the songs on Braves’ 5-song EP, “III,” feels especially raw, portraying beauty in an almost minimalistic way. Blending soft electronic and haunting lyrics make this one of the many confident and ambitious tracks on Braves’ EP. The coolest aspect? It’s versatile, fitting both day and night themed playlists that’ll keep this trendy track on repeat. — ­ Joseph

Fake ID – Joyce Manor Genre: Punk Rock Similar to: Tigers Jaw, Seahaven Their sound has remained solid and consistent throughout the years: grungy, raw and rough. What makes their sound so different is that the vocals are not 100 percent clear like one would normally hear. The drums, guitar and bass are all on the same level, forcing you to pay equal attention to all aspects of the song. Sometimes it even appears like the drums are clearer than everything else, which may seem unusual and takes some getting used to. The drum makes you tap a finger, stomp a foot or nod your head. The garage sounding rock makes you feel like the song belongs in the 90’s, giving it a timeless rock feel. —Caroline

Telephone Calls – A$AP Mob Genre: Rap Similar to: ScHoolboy Q, Riff Raff Although an unoriginal concept, the production of this track is absolutely one of a kind. The song’s design is based around multiple phone calls, with the chorus being the person’s ringtone. The constant tempo changes between verses and silent breaks in the instrumentals pulls this song from your run of the mill rap banger to a unique sounding piece of experimental beauty.

The entire new A$AP Mob mixtape is absolutely astounding, with the entire compilation being an ode to the unknown side of creativity such as this track. —Lucas

Painkiller – Three Days Grace Genre: post-grunge, hard rock, alternative rock, alternative metal and nu metal Similar to: Skillet, Breaking Benjamin, Three Doors Down Humans, Three Days Grace’s newest album is slightly different than their older music turning them over to the “nu metal” genre. Painkiller, one of their songs on the album is an old reminder to the younger days when songs like Home and Riot ruled your world. Three Days Grace allowed for an outlet to all the rageful years of middle school. Painkiller is very similar to their old song Animal I’ve Become, and perhaps is the thing that attracts people to it. Despite their leads new sound, it allows for a bit of reminiscence to sink in. —Alizay

18 // codcourier.org // 02 November 2016

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02 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 19

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