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CO LLE G E O F D U PAG E S T U D EN T N EW S PA P ER // 0 9 N OV EM B ER 2 0 1 6 / / VO LU M E 5 1 – I S S U E 1 1
F E AT U R E S
Inside College of Dupage’s Fall Fusion Dance event p7
NEWS
More money for comfy guinea pigs and rabbits liners p3
OPINION
Companies have opinions too p12
SPORTS
Medical Marijuana should be allowed in Pro Sports p16
COURIER
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Editor-in-Chief Lucas Koprowski Opinion Editor Miranda Shelton Features Editor Caroline Broderick Photo Editor Bethany Berg Graphics Editor Joseph Molino Sports Editor Alex Garcia
INDEX FEATURES
SPORTS
5 Alum attempts to break hugging world record
16 Chaparrals dominate Hocking
OPINION
14 Yemen: A battle of five armies
MUSIC
18 “Cozy Tapes: Vol 1 Friends -” proves how unoriginal A$AP Mob has become
Reporter Vandy Manyeh Social Media Manager Alizay Rizvi Newsroom 630-942-2683 Adviser Jim Fuller fullerj103@cod.edu Advertising Christina Payton paytonc359@cod.edu The Courier is published every Wednesday when classes are in session during the fall and spring semester, except for the first and last Wednesday of each semester and the week of spring break as a public forum with content chosen by student editors. One copy free, additional copies available upon request. The Courier does not knowingly accept advertisement that discriminate on the basis of sex, creed, religion, color, handicapped status, veteran or sexual orientation, nor does it knowingly print ads that violate any local, state or federal laws. Deliver all correspondence to SSC 1220 between regular office hours or mail to the Courier, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL. 60137.
ON THE COVER
Students and Faculty participating in this year’s Fall Dance Fusion event. Cover photo by Bethany Berg.
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NEWS More money for comfy guinea pigs and rabbits liners Vandy Manyeh · Reporter
Elle Crawford first found her entrepreneurial spirit in the pain of losing her rabbit, Ashen. At the Emerging Entrepreneur Mentorship Program pitch contest last Thursday, that spirit took her all the way to a $1,000 first prize at a “Shark Tank”style competition at the College of DuPage. Crawford sewed together fleece for the bottom of Aspen’s cage when he got really sick in an attempt to do prevent him from dying. This was the prototype for a small company she owns and operates called Small Pets and Company. The Wheaton resident walked out like a business executive and handed custom and premade cage liners to judges and spoke for just five minutes. That was enough for her to take home a whopping $1,000 cash prize. Crawford is a second semester, early admissions student here at the College of DuPage. She’s on the way to pursuing a degree in business. And she’s only 16. Her business, Small Pets & Company, earned the winner’s prize that will allow her to produce more liners. Her company isn’t just interested in making liners and trying to maximize profits. Crawford is dedicated to environmentally-friendly business practices. Crawford makes these fleece cage liners to help owners of guinea pigs and rabbits save money
Elle Crawford and Peter James
on disposal beddings. Her product also has that absorbent layer that owners of guinea pigs and rabbits like. This layer prevents the animals from being uncomfortable when they spill water in their beds. Barely old enough to drive, Crawford already oversees five employees. Like many evolving entrepreneurs, jumpstarting her own business has been something she was passionate about since she began her business at the age of 14. Like many manufacturers who produce handmade or vintage items and supplies, Etsy has become a major e-commerce fo-
rum for her. Crawford started by spending hours exploring how successful her business will be using Etsy. “In May 2016, it really took off,” continued Crawford. “It grew to the point where I was working 40 hours a week just trying to keep up with orders. I knew that I would not be able to handle this workload as a full-time student. With the help of my dad, I started interviewing seamstresses to sew for Small Pets & Company. After just hiring my fifth employee, I am excited to be working on plans to expand to Amazon and selling my
Photo by: Vandy Manyeh/Courier
cage liners on Amazon Prime.” After her win at the competition, Crawford credited the opportunities provided here at COD for fueling her success. “I am so grateful and honored to win first place at COD’s business pitch contest,” Crawford continued. “It was such an amazing experience, and I enjoyed listening to the other contestant’s business plans, as well as meeting the judges. I absolutely love being an entrepreneur, and every minute I spend working on Small Pets & Company is so fun for me. I truly found my passion
as an entrepreneur, and I love working with a topic so close to my heart, animals, specifically rabbits. I would like to thank Peter James and the College of DuPage for this amazing opportunity.” The second place prize and $500 went to Stephen Schroeder from Device Fixer, a mobile iPhone repair company that seeks to fix the problems of slow repairs and a long wait list. Will Storm of Sharpening Service came in third and won $250 for a company that prioritizes quality sharpening and repairs of knives, garden tools and scissors.
Citing the importance of the Emerging Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program, Peter James, a professor of Business and Marketing, pointed out that there are other educational opportunities available at COD that should be of interest to students and community members who want to become an entrepreneur. “In the Business, Marketing, and Management Program here at COD, you will learn the skills to start or advance your career in the world of business,” said James. “As these topics touch every single industry in some form or fashion, career opportunities are endless, and you can apply business, marketing and management knowledge to whatever industry you are most passionate about. Or, you can start your own business or venture through the knowledge you gain from the Entrepreneurship Certificate, the Entrepreneurship Club, Emerging Entrepreneurs or The Center for Entrepreneurship. “ The Emerging Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program here at COD is open to students who have the zest to become an entrepreneur regardless of a student’s program of study. Students leaving this program will have great resources required for a business. A mentorship program is also a part of the pack and is slated to begin next semester.
09 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.
YOU BELONG HERE 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. We’ll help you identify your goals, discover your world and reach your potential. A TOP 10 COLLEGE Elmhurst is one of the top 10 colleges in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report. We’re a great value, too. Money and Forbes magazines rank Elmhurst among top colleges for your money. Plus all transfer students receive scholarship support. AN EASY COMMUTE Our campus is close to several major highways, and a few blocks away from the Elmhurst Metra station. A SMOOTH TRANSITION We’ll offer you credit for work you’ve already done. We can even evaluate your credits before you apply. FAST-TRACK OPTIONS Finish your degree on the fast track! Degree-completion programs in business administration, information technology and psychology help you reach your goals in less time. LEARN MORE Get started on your future by contacting us today! Office of Admission 190 Prospect Avenue Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
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(630) 617-3400 admit@elmhurst.edu www.elmhurst.edu/transfer
F E AT U R E S Alum attempts to break hugging world record Caroline Broderick · Features Editor
Shaped into a line along the perimeter of the atrium were 100 individuals, faculty and students, with arms spread wide. Running down this line, sweaty but smiling, was Tom Krieglstein, 2000 Outstanding Graduate of the college, sporting a shirt that read “Free hugs!” Krieglstein visited campus originally to speak about entrepreneurship to students, but he chose to make his visit to COD a lasting impression by
attempting to break the world record for most hugs in one minute on campus. The original record is held by Krishna Kumar of India, who hugged 79 people this March. With 100 community members gathered, they ran full speed at an excited Krieglstein, standing at the beginning of the line where he wrapped his arms around each individual as student affairs director, Chuck Steele, watched with two stopwatches and
a whistle. As each student ran into the arms of Krieglstein, their faces were lit with smiles. Choosing COD as the location for the world record attempt was easy for Krieglstein. The college was where Krieglstein grew as a student and an individual. Entering as a C-average student, he graduated a member of Phi Theta Kappa. COD was the same place that inspired him to start his organization, Swift Kick.
In 2004, Krieglstein launched Swift Kick, where he is a speaker that travels to hundreds of schools to meet thousands of student leaders and train them on creating an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion of all students. Since its creation, Swift Kick has traveled to over 500 schools and trained over 200,000 students to be leaders. Not only has Krieglstein worked on launching Swift Kick, but he has experience with
PHOTOS BY CAROLINE BRODERICK
online learning for student leaders through his creation of The Student Affairs Collective. He has also dedicated time to tech startups all based around assisting students. A piercing sound of a whistle halted students from their sprinting as the minute ran out, all of those involved quickly surrounded Steele and Krieglstein as they watched the video. The once loud atrium fell silent. Their eyes remained set on the iPhone screen
and their mouths mouthed each number, 79… 80… 81. “We think we got 100!” Announced Krieglstein with arms in the air. The atrium was then filled with cheers as he continued to explain that the final decision will be made by the Guinness World of Records. To watch the whole event, visit codcourier. org.
09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 5
”
F E AT U R E S
“
gives a new meaning to your ink Caroline Broderick · Features Editor
PHOTOS BY CAROLINE BRODERICK
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A piece of art, a trashy symbol, a meaningful memory. Tattoos mean varying things to each person, but behind each tattoo is a story, a piece of someone’s history. “Tattoo,” the latest exhibition at the Field Museum, which opened Oct. 21, explores this history and the incredible stories that have created the contemporary art of tattoos. Separated into different ideas, visitors are first welcomed to glass doors with a common dragon symbol often tattooed, projected over the doors. Visitors are open to the question, “What does a tattoo do?” as they overlook a dark room, with large photographs and silicone bodies spread over the gray walls. The exhibition provides two worlds for visitors: past and present. Through the representation of past and present, stigmas behind tattoos are slashed, and a new meaning is brought to the art. Tattoos now are choices by individuals and a part of culture, but visitors are shown various cultures, outside of our own, where
tattoos were one used for different meanings such as in theater, for solely women in China, in the gulags, and Japanese gang members. The exhibition helps put the tattoo artistry on a global scale as well, showing artwork for tattoo artists throughout the world. Much of the art shown is represented on silicone bodies. Whether it was a whole torso, a back, or just an arm or leg, each body part was modeled after a real person and then sent to artists to tattoo themselves. This exciting part of the exhibit was very unique, visitors were able to appreciate tattoos on raw, bare skin up close instead of viewing solely photographs. When photographs were presented, they stood out amongst the gray walls, lit and blown up so that visitors may see details in the tattoos the photographs showed, but also the individuals who were the canvas. Many other photographs were very small, contrasting the large
scale pictures. These were placed amongst clusters of other small photographs. This was because these were genuine, older pictures from times where sailors were tattooed, or even when heavily-tattooed women were seen as attractions in a circus. As you walk through the dark exhibit, ancient artifacts are scattered with modern pieces. Topics separated the pieces, ranging from stories behind tattoos to tools used, and even punishment. The exhibition ends with the most interactive and creative part: a live tattoo artist. In a museum-created tattoo shop, every visitor was able to look upon an artist as he began a back piece on his client. After learning about the art so intensely, it only makes sense to be shown how it is done in real time. Whether you have tattoos, hate tattoos, or have no opinion, “Tattoo” brings an incredible life and showcases a shocking timeline to the art that covers so many bodies today.
F E AT U R E S
COD Fall Dance Fusion 2016 Bethany Berg ¡ Photo Editor
College of DuPage students and faculty showcased their skills through a vibrant show at the Belushi Performance Hall in the McAninch Arts Center here at COD. Their fusion of jazz and ballet displayed a colorful blend of unique choreographic performances. For more photos from the event, check out codcourier.org
09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 7
E F I L NT
E 7 1 D 2 1 U ST SC S
(15 Minute Minimum)
Celebrate the diversity that makes America, America. Add your photo to the true portrait of America at lovehasnolabels.com
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F E AT U R E S
SCREENSHOTS PROVIDED BY STEAM
Game:
“Orwell”
GAME REVIEW:
Orwell Review: Who’s watching you? Bethany Berg · Photo Editor
Price:
$10.00
System: Windows PC
How private are you on social media? Is your Facebook profile available to everyone, or just friends of friends? Is your Twitter page locked? Is your Instagram private? When you Google your name, does a picture of yourself come up? When it comes to online activity, our millennial generation has always been the most literate and comfortable. But when talking about personal information stored online, everyone seems to get a little nervous. Corporate and government entities alike are surveying our histories, likes and dislikes, and personal opinions. No
matter if you support the situation or not, “Orwell” takes all of the Facebook stalking you do, and puts it to use. The game takes place in 2017, and a fictitious dystopia called “The Nation” has just suffered a terrorist attack. You play as a data analyst, someone outside The Nation who will sort through pieces of data to build a network of suspects. Orwell centers on the ethics of human-directed suspect profiling, where you work alongside with the Orwell Program that scans suspects’ personal, private and web information.
The atmosphere of Orwell was everything. From the music’s electronic swells to your administrator’s comments to the storyline advancements, it all draws you in. The writing is excellent, the art style’s polygon-like, block look was a perfect fit for a technological-centered take of Orwell's future. Gameplay wise, Orwell is all of the cool hacking bits shows like “Mr. Robot” and games like “Watch Dogs” miss out on. It’s a point-and-click, information-based scanning. You search targets’ social media timelines, go through text and phone
conversations, and even hack into computers. The Orwell system is the place where you put your found information. From basic to personal, there’s only one catch: the information you put in, you can’t take back out. Any heavily-opinionated statements that may portray a suspect in a bad light may totally contradict who they are today; so be careful of who you trust. Orwell is a native-driven thriller, in episodic fashion. Each episode only took me about an hour and a half to complete. If there are any major warnings I can give you before
playing, it would be to take it slow. Point-and-click games may seem like the easiest to rush through because there aren’t any boss battles or side quests, but the Orwell system isn’t all it’s proposed to be. It presents biased information, malicious to the profile that you're building. The information you put into Orwell counts and has serious consequences. With dire situations and consequences, this is a game that targets your moral standpoints. Is it worth it, to dig through private information if it may help the safety of a nation? The only downfall I
felt while playing was how much the game held my hand. You seem led through the story, where your only interaction is the biggest action you have: withholding certain information that may be invaluable to your case. It’s slow, more visual novel than a participative game, but one I enjoyed nonetheless. The first three episodes of Orwell are already released and available to play, while the last two will come out over the next two Thursdays. I hope you, along with the NSA, have enjoyed my review and try out the game!
09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 9
OPINION EDITORIAL
Free speech could fix the online world Imagine a world where social justice warriors and internet trolls run rampant throughout social media. You might say it’s already happening. We say it hasn’t happened enough. T h e world has become c o d dled. Pe o ple are quick to report social media accounts they don’t agree with. It’s not entirely their fault, however. We have been raised in a sensitive culture, and social media does nothing but enable that sensitivity. With just a few clicks of a mouse, you can take down Facebook groups and Twitter-famous profiles that make you upset. Oftentimes you don’t even have to give a reason why. Some social media platforms have now taken this matter into their own hands. YouTube has become embroiled in a huge scandal where they started to demonetize videos. The company’s reasoning stems from how many YouTubers make their money: advertisements. Many of these creators have been receiving emails from headquarters explaining that certain videos are not
“ad-friendly.” So how does YouTube decide if the videos are appropriate enough for a paycheck? They’ve created a set of seven rules that all videos must abide by. These rules range
from topics like profanity and vulgar language to “controversial” opinions. The main problem with the rules is the fact that they’re remarkably vague. There is no one box that a video can fall into to rule it “ad-unfriendly”, and thus it is the company itself making a biased decision. Many of these sites have become excessive with their banning policies, and in turn, they are affecting our basic human right to free speech. Free speech on the internet is a tricky thing, namely because many countries that have access to the internet do not have such a freedom. Therefore it is up to websites to create different policies for different countries. 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
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problem is, this has begun to infringe on our rights, as many websites just end up settling for the same rules for all countries. We believe websites, especially social media sites, must open up the floodgates for internet-based free speech in the U.S. T h e y
need to make their banning rule a simple one: you are banned if you incite violence. Otherwise, it’s a free for all. We realize how insane this sounds. None of us enjoy the hateful speech that is easily found online. But after a long discussion, we came to the conclusion that by allowing the freedom that enables such cruel words, it would eventually lead to its demise. Granted, for quite a while things would be pretty nasty. Political correctness and incorrectness would collide and cause discourse, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It would
cause mayhem online. However, through this insanity, we would witness the birth of a new era. One where people actually listen to each oth-
er's a r g u ments and even the nastiest of online fights would be more of a debate than a personal attack. This would mirror itself in our in-person and day-to-day relations. By opening up the channels of free speech online, we would have a happier, more loving and far more accepting society than we do today. So how exactly would this occur? A huge factor in this equation is simply the internet population as a whole. In other words: subscribers or followers. If you are on a social media platform, you rely on your audience to get your message across through re-sharing the information. Therefore, the bigger your audience is, the bigger the impact. If you were to go to
Twitter, for example, you could find a neo-nazi posting truly awful content in about 10 seconds. However, if you look at their follower count, chances are this person would only have a few hundred followers, if that. This is because, thankfully, most
peop l e on the internet don’t agree with these views. If you were to look at a popular Twitter user’s account, they’re most likely sharing progressive and inclusive content to millions of people. With our idea of complete freedom of speech online, this situation would only increase tenfold. Furthermore, it would make your average user feel more comfortable with calling out the neo-nazi, as there is no chance of being banned unreasonably. By opening up communication, we could learn ways to express our opinions in a way that actually contributes to the conver-
sation. Instead of calling someone something profane because we disagree with their beliefs, we could learn to explain our side and know that the other person would most likely listen and respond effectively. While these positive and helpful responses would initially be done because of the threat of people reacting n e g atively to them if they did otherwise, we hope that over time people would figure out it is the best way to go about disagreements and debates. Learning this through experience could better the world. We understand the prospect of completely free speech can be nerve wracking. It’s no secret that for a few years, people would be downright nasty. The trick is, we would have to remind ourselves that we are transitioning. Every great social change has a rough start. If we were to just embrace it, we believe it could lead to the progression of society and communication as a whole.
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.
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09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 11
OPINION
Companies have opinions too Miranda Shelton · Opinion Editor
Achieve More. Together. • 80 undergraduate majors • Adult accelerated degree completion programs • Counselors on-site to make the transfer process easy Our most popular transfer majors include computer science, criminal/ social justice, education, nursing, healthcare leadership, business and aviation.
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lewisu.edu/transfers 12 // codcourier.org // 09 November 2016
When I think people can’t surprise me anymore, they get unreasonably upset about a coffee cup. Starbucks released its election week cup last Tuesday. It features over 100 people all drawn together in a single line. According to the press release, it's supposed to represent the theme “unity,” and it is in response to the upcoming election. Because we live in America, the country where the customer is always right and companies are expected to remain unbiased, the release of this “opinionated” cup created an uproar in the Starbucks-drinking community. All week people have been speculating what exactly this cup might mean. Some believe it’s Starbucks’ unofficial vote for Hillary, while others believe it’s just the company’s way of saying “can’t we all just get along?” Starbucks has chosen to make a statement and an open-ended one at that. People overreacted, and they need to get over it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a company choosing to express an opinion. In fact, it’s a very good thing. Openly opinionated companies are beneficial to the consumer and the employee. When a business expressesd itstheir beliefs, it can determine
whether or not you decide to shop there. When it came out that Hobby Lobby does not cover birth control through their employee’s health insurance because of their fundamentally Christian views against it, I chose not to shop there anymore. I don’t feel comfortable giving my money to a company whose views are so strongly against mine. That being said, there are people out there who agree with
Hobby Lobby’s stance. Because of the company’s choice to voice that opinion, these people can choose to give their money to a company whose views they agree with. It also gives people a chance to look for a job with a company that stands for things they believe in, or one that can give them the support they need. Starbucks was once one of the only major companies that offered hormone therapy
LUCAS KOPROWSKI/COURIER
for transgender people in their insurance. People who may be needing such treatment knew they could work in a place that would not only support them through their transition financially but emotionally as well. That’s also not to say corporatempany opinions can’t change. When Chick-fil-a openly expressed their disapproval of gay marriage, I chose not to eat there anymore. However, this past summer when there was a shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Chick-fil-a actively assisted in the healing process by staying open on Sunday (when traditionally they remain closed) and preparing food for the first responders and people donating blood for the victims. After hearing about this I chose to start dining there again, as I felt it was a company that was more aligned with my views again. At the end of the day, companies are just large groups of people. People have opinions; that’s never going to change. Instead of asking them to oppress these opinions, we should have them embrace their views wholeheartedly. Not only will it lead to a happier shopping experience for everyone, but it will keep the public from reacting so strongly to such mundane things. At the end of the day, if you really don't like the cup, don't drink from it.
OPINION
Make election day accessible Miranda Shelton · Opinion Editor
Election day is one of the most important days in the United States. When you consider the fact that it determines who will be our President for the next four years, it seems like a no- brainer that we should make it a national holiday and give people the opportunity to vote. Yet it’s becoming harder and harder to vote in person on election day. Historically election day was held on Tuesdays to make life easier for a U.S. citizen. We were largely an agrarian society, and one with deep Christian ties. Before cars, it would take people roughly a day to travel to their polling station alone. The government decided to make life easier on its people and choose Tuesday as election day because it meant they wouldn’t have to travel on the Sabbath (Sundays) and they could be back home in time for market day, which was commonly held on Wednesdays. Jump forward a few hundred years, however, and Tuesday has merely become another day in the work week; one with painful commutes, long workdays and tired people. Thus, election day has become a stressor on many people who already have
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so much on their plate, and now they have to take the time to go out of their way and vote. tAccording to U.S. Census records from the past decade, one of the main reasons people choose not to vote is the “inconvenience” of it. By keeping election day the way it is, we are changing the outcome of the vote. V o t i n g s h o u l d n’t seem like a
allows you to vote and for that vote to matter. But we also need to change the tradition. The whole premise of voting on Tuesdays is supposed to be helpful, and it’s simply not anymore. There are three ways I can see
be to make election day a national holiday. Every citizen in the U.S. would benefit from this. There would be no excuse not to vote, as you would have the whole
election day to Monday, and made it a three-day weekend, we would most likely see the most results. No one would have an excuse not to vote, and most people would be in
NS
great spirits about it beIVE AT E cause it would CR be a long weekend. We would see genuine celebration about our right d a y to vote, and that’s already a to do so. We huge jump from what we could even replace this have now. There are systems in holiday with an outdated and unnecessary holiday place right now to alleviate like Columbus Day. This the unhappiness with votway businesses and schools ing on a Tuesday, but they could keep their students are more of a semi-soluor employees for the same tion than anything. It’s common knowlamount of days as they were planning to already. edge that you are able to There would be virtually vote early, whether it be by mail or in person. This no negative impact. However, the best option means you fill out your would be a combination ballot, sometimes weeks, of the two. If we moved in advance, and that you O MM
CO
chore. It’s an amazing privilege we take for granted. We are allowed to have a say in who rules our country. Other people around the world aren’t always as lucky. So how can we change this mindset? An important first step is to remind yourself of how lucky you are to live in a country that
this happening. We could move election day. Instead of making it the first Tuesday of November, we could make it a Saturday and Sunday, when more of the population has off. While this isn’t a perfect fix, it’s at least better than the system we have in place now. A better solution would
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are able to skip the polling places on election day. This might seem like a great idea, but it’s potentially problematic. This is because when you vote in advance, you could potentially cast your ballot before learning evidence that would change who you trust to be president. This year’s election is a perfect example. People were able to vote before Hillary Clinton was found not guilty of criminal activity in relation to her email scandal, and before Donald Trump was accused of numerous scandals. Many people may have voted for either person without knowledge, and then left unable to change their vote. While we may not be able to get the government to shift election day in the next four years, the only place we can start is with each of you. I challenge you all to speak with your teachers and employers. Explain why election day is an important day for people to have free. If enough places start to respect this, we might start to see some real change happening higher up. Be the change you want to see, so you, too, have every opportunity to vote.
COD Courier Student Newspaper 09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 13
OPINION
CREATIVE COMMONS
Yemen: A battle of five armies Alizay Rizvi · Social Media Manager
A single piece of bread falls upon the dirt road and three frail creatures race towards it. Their bones can be seen, their skin just barely holding on as they split the small piece of bread. Although fungus covers the bread with its green hide sticking out in parts of it, this is the only sustenance these people will get in the coming months. This is Yemen, a place where according to the United Nations Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 14.4 million are unable to meet the basic requirements of food (of those 7.6 million are severely food deprived). While everyone focuses on Syria or Iraq, Yemen is literally crushed beneath Saudi Arabia while backed into the Gulf of Aden. A country that has been torn apart by five armies. The first of these five are the Houthi rebels, better
known as Ansar Allah. These are Zaydi Shias that are born and raised in Yemen. The founder, Hussein Bader Addian al-Houthi, had originally started this out as a protest to try to get the government to straighten the economy. They then had to gain arms as a means of defense. The second of these is the Aden separatists who have basically requested that they are separated from the country. They have officially declared their independence. The third group is the Mansur Al-Hadi Group, or rather, the Anti-Houthi group. These are the Sunnis that live in Yemen that want to crush down the rebellion. The fourth of these are the Saudi’s. Saudi Arabia, majority “Sunni” country is one that is greatly afraid of Iran, and Iran is a very big influence on Ansar Allah. This also includes Al-Qaeda, some of which
were granted passage through Saudi Arabia. The Al-Qaeda has seemingly joined forces with Saudi Arabia. Now I’m sure you're wondering what we have to do with all this? We are the fifth battalion. All of the weaponry supplied to Saudi Arabia comes from the United States while they fill our pockets with cold hard cash. With all this coming down to one country, it is no wonder that it is falling apart. Thus far only Ansar Allah has requested that Yemen stay together and try to work through this. Mansur Al-Hadi, Yemen’s former President retreated to Riyadh, where he is receiving “sanctuary”. With Yemen no longer having a leader, Ansar Allah stepped up and announced, Ali Abdullah Saleh as a means to try to keep the country together. However, the war continued and the casualties were
beginning to skyrocket. Prince Abdullah AlSaud, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States was asked if they would stop using cluster weapons on Yemen. His response to this was: “This is like the question, ‘Will you stop beating your wife?’” Just off this response, it is easy to tell that Saudi Arabia simply wishes to crush Yemen beneath its feet. Mr. Saud went on to say that the Kingdom would continue bombing Ansar Allah in Yemen “no matter what it takes.” Saudi Arabia blames Ansar Allah for all of its problems. “If anyone attacks human lives, and disturbs the border, in whatever region, we’re going to continue hitting them, no matter what,” he said. However, all of the cluster ammunitions that Saudi Arabia has used thus far have been analyzed by humanitarian agencies. Their weaponry has been
Refugees and Migrants Assisted: 100,000 people
*3.5 million people out of the 13.6 million goal has been provided with health assistanceby humanitarian partners helping Yemen.
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Education Support: 360,000 people
deemed illegal by several humanitarian groups and has been banned under international law because of the indiscriminate damage they cause. Saudi military capabilities have been criticized as not being sophisticated enough to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure, causing unnecessary loss of life. Since the wars started 19 months ago, there has been an average of 113 casualties per day. Health facilities reported nearly 6,500 people killed and more than 31,400 injured. Over the same period, more than 848 children were forcibly recruited as child soldiers. Alongside that more than 600 health facilities and 1,600 schools remained closed due to conflict-related damages. Yemen was always one of the poorest Arab nations, however since the war started its economy has been completely eradicated. With importing
shut down, and Yemen heavily reliant on its imports, it is unable to supply the basic needs to its people. The capital of Yemen, Sanaa, has dried up and no longer has fresh water to supply to its own people let alone the rest of the country. However, all of this takes up money, money that neither the people have nor does the government. The United Nations Humanitarian Affairs have appealed for $1.8 billion dollars but so far only 25 percent has been received. At the rate that Yemen is going, it seems as though it will fall apart and neither the country nor the people will survive. Unable to provide for its basic needs and with only Ansar Allah as their basic fighters for the country, Yemen will be crushed not only by Saudi Arabia but also by the United States.
Nutrition Support: 250,000 people
Shelter and Non-food Items Support: 270,000 people
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09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 15
SPORTS Chaparrals dominate Hocking, 39-6 Alex Garcia · Sports Editor
The Chaparrals won their final home against Hocking College in a blowout victory. This was a necessary win for the Chaps because of it being the final home game of the season. This was important because now they will go into the next season with a two game win streak. They had an explosive last game and won in style. The Chaps won the game by putting up 39 points, and keeping the Hocks to only 6 points. The Chaps displayed
ALEX GARCIA/COURIER
what made them such a threat to play: like scoring coming from the defense, the run game was strong, and the teamwork the Chaps had gave them their biggest advantage. The Chaps started off the game with a touchdown drive that showed off the intensity and style the Chaps would play with all game. The steak in the heart came when Marcus Jester burst through the offensive line and broke free for a 48-yard rushing touchdown.
The offense was putting up points, racking up the yards, and picking on the defense on the ground and through the air. The would go on to score four of the five touchdowns the Chaps had. The other? A gift from the defense. The defense held the Hocks in place for the whole first half, getting two interceptions, and even stopping the Hocks twice on fourth down.. The other touchdown came from a interception by Troy Berlee that he ran
all the back for a touchdown. They weren't able to get the shutout victory, but keeping the team to only 6 points is an impressive feat. The win put the Chaps at 5-4 for the season with one game left on the schedule. . The Chaparrals came up big when it counted in their final home game and will go to finish the season playing against Iowa Western.
Medical Marijuana should be allowed in Pro Sports Alex Garcia · Sports Editor
When people think of marijuana they tend to think of stereotypes that have been assigned to the plant and its users; lazy, drowsy, unintelligent, or in simpler terms a pot head. However, I bet you don't think of professional athletes who smoke marijuana having those characteristics. Whether the sport is football, basketball, baseball, or any other professional or Olympic sport, athletes do use medicinal marijuana. Perhaps those negative connotations that are tied to marijuana prevent people from viewing athletes that way, but athletes are people too, and all they want is help with-
out getting addicted to a harmful painkiller. A poll was conducted by ESPN earlier this month. They asked about 31 percent of all starting
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NFL players, 226 players total, questions about medical marijuana in the NFL. They asked these players if they have known a teammate who used medical marijuana before games, and 22 percent of them said “yes.” That is 10 percent of the 226 players who participated, a surprising amount of real players admitting to knowing other players using marijuana before a game. Players can get away with this easier than one
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would expect. According to NFL drug test policy, players who aren't under suspicion of illegal performance enhancing drugs only get tested once a year. The players are told when that date will be, and they plan accordingly. It's one thing to expect people to use drugs, but knowing h o w N F L playe r s c a n g e t away with it is another. It's a l s o c l e a r NFL players not only agree on the overall benefits of marijuana but 71percent want it legalized in all 50 states. Wherever these players stand on the drug is irrelevant because the point of players using marijuana is to assist in easing pain
without having to worry about harmful effects from addiction. People can be addicted to marijuana but due to thousands of studies and evidence supporting the health benefits of marijuana, it isn't as life threatening as being addicted to painkillers. A devastating 58 percent of players have known a teammate in their careers to be addicted to painkillers. That Blackb err for gen y Kush eralized pain.
means that about 131 players know a teammate to be addicted, and that is 131 to many. While that might not seem like too many players out of the thousands listed in the NFL yearly, these are only a handful of
players who were selected. Imagine if it was the entire NFL, or crossing over into other sports like the NBA, MLB, NHL, or even the NCAA. With any painkiller there are harmful consequences to taking it, and with s o many a l ready a d dicte d , this could be a chance for athletic organizations to give players a healthier option. When people are addicted to painkillers they begin to form a dependence on the drug, and without it they go through heavy withdrawals. These withdrawals can give them extreme headaches, flu like symptoms, and not being able to
step away from the drug or wanting more after building up a tolerance. While people can also build a tolerance to marijuana, players would still be able to obtain the pain relief without the high. There are way too
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many people who suffer from these painkiller addictions, and while the NFL, or any other sporting organization, should not advocate marijuana, it is important that players get better options for their own health. This is a serious problem that real people face, and they should be able to have a choice of is used for their body. WEED PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ALLBUD.COM
SPORTS
NFL concussion policy isn’t working Alex Garcia · Sports Editor
Injuries in sports are unavoidable, people risking their health for a sport they love. However, organizations put many rules in place to protect the health of the players. One of the most dangerous injuries are concussions. Athletic organizations like the NFL, which is where most of the head injuries accrue, set up strict rules to do their best to limit the injuries. Yet the NFL still doesn’t have a good enough policy to prevent them. Many put blame on the helmets being the biggest issue, due to helmet to helmet contact, but these tackles and hits can be avoided without taking away an aspect of football that is equally as iconic as the ball. Others put blame on style of play defenders have when playing and bringing down offensive players, but the NFL already limits the defenders so much and make it more and more impossible to be a defender in today’s league. So if it isn’t the game itself, or helmets, than it is just how the NFL chooses to handle the policy for concussions. Up until 2009 the NFL had no policy in place for protocols of a concussion after they are initially tested. That means that if a player indeed had a concussion, the NFL had no policy for them to be held to the sideline. If they were well enough to walk and play they would go back in the game. That is someone who is risking brain damage to play football and nobody stopping. Obviously this was an issue the NFL fixed, but it is appalling that it took so long for it to be fixed. Upgrades have been made to the policy since 2009, now players are al-
ways evaluated and monitored in order to keep the players safe. While there is improvement in certain areas, there are still big issues. With 12 players that are unable to play the reminding of the season from head, neck, and concussion injuries, it is clear that players are still suffering from the lack of policy. Helmets have been apart of the NFL since its beginning. When they were first introduced they were just cheap leather hats that did their job. They have grown in size, stature, and in appel. At this point, it is one of the most iconic parts of football, who doesn’t love staring at helmets when you are sitting at the game and watching the players run out of the tunnel, and you see all of them run by. Looking at the helmets is like seeing the identity of the players, not just who they play for, but the pride that they take in being the embodiment of the logo they dawn. This is something that players and fans don’t want taken away. Another area of controversy is how the defense plays. Nowadays a defender can’t look at a offensive player the wrong way without being flagged for something. In an effort to protect its players, the NFL has added rules to keep the defense in check. However, this makes it almost impossible for them to play at the level they want to or that they could before these rule changes. While certain rules have been good ideas, like the unsportsmanlike conduct rule which states that if any player demonstrated
unsportsmanlike conduct, such as tackling someone harshly, intent of conflicting pain, starting fights, or offensive gestures, they are removed from the game. Why is it that people can’t realize that in any touch sport there will be injuries? While the NFL is aware of this they try to steer the blame on aspects of football that they have incorporated. Don’t blame the helmet for trying to give protection. If you are worried about helmet to helmet contact, then there shouldn’t have been helmets, at least that’s what they want you to think. Even if helmets are removed, there is still going to be chances of concussion, or now someone is exposed head to take damage. There are penalties and fines against players who are caught tackling helmet to helmet but, while it could be very costly, that is like a slap on the wrist, while the player is suffering. Don’t blame the defender for doing his job and doing what the position has been established to do for decades. Players are expected and paid to dish out and take hits, so this isn’t something that should shock anyone.
Unless the defender has done something deemed an illegal hit, or has broken the rules and it has been reviewed, then the defenders shouldn’t get their jobs diminished for the idea of the game being ‘unsafe’. If Roger Goodell feels that the NFL is still too unsafe to play, then that is an issue that will come back to him. That is something he and the owners need to solve. So if you can’t blame the players, can’t blame the helmets, and you can’t blame the rules, well who or what can you put blame on? The answer to that honestly is football. Football is a dangerous pass time, but it is a respected sport that many in America love, it is an American tradition. Officials can do their best to try to make the game as safe as possible but they won’t be able to do that if they are still too busy trying to find what is to blame and not educating the players, people, and coaches of these dilemmas and how they can do their best to avoid them. That is all anyone can really do. The N F L
needs to set a better example for these types of protocols because of how relevant they are. They need to stop beating around the bush and come up with better ways to educate and communicate the importances of safety to the teams, and make sure players are abiding by the rules as closely as they can so they don’t get injured. This is what they need to do a better job at regulating. Especially since other organizations look up to the NFL, like the NCAA, and closer to COD, the NJCAA. That dawns even more questions, if the professional league can’t get the policies right, then how could the N/JCAA? “The most important thing is we educated players and coaches on how to avoid concussions, make practices safer, and make sure people they understand protocol.” COD trainer Anne Hinley says about the most important way to avoid these injuries. Just like in the pro world, here at COD there is an extensive process for concussions. The trainers here make sure that the players are thoroughly evaluated,
from memory, to what their symptoms could be, making sure that everyone understands that it doesn’t matter how highly ranked symptoms might be, a concussion is a concussion end of story. This is the type of mentality that I think even the pro world can learn from. Sports are a give and take, no matter what you play, there will always be a risk of health. Players commit to the game and should be aware of these dangers. Everyone needs to stop trying to put blame on reasons why they happen, and focus on how we can TRY to prevent them and the best way they can do that. We will never see a world where injuries in sports aren’t a risk, but hopefully we will see the world evolve and have better policies in place to keep them as safe as possible.in sports are unavoidable, people risking their health for a sport they love. However, organizations put many rules in place to protect the health of the players. One of the most dangerous injuries are concussions. That is the number one injury that is attempted to prevent, but like I said earlier, they can’t be.
CREATIVE COMMONS 09 November 2016 // codcourier.org // 17
MUSIC MUSIC REVIEW:
“Cozy Tapes: Vol 1 Friends -” proves how unoriginal A$AP Mob has become Lucas Koprowski · Editor-in-Chief
PROVIDED BY SPOTIFY
A$AP Mob’s newest mixtape, “Cozy Tapes: Vol. 1 Friends -” is one of the most boring and repetitive albums I’ve heard in a long time. I appreciate experimenting with style and demo-sounding tracks if it shows how far an artist has progressed in his craft, but this mixtape is a stagnation and possibly a degeneration of quality coming from A$AP Mob. There isn’t anything to make me listen to this album ever again, and it’s deafeningly frustrating. Every single track has the same exact ambiance. All 12 songs have
distant, boring and awful lyricism, coupled with triplet hi-tops and basic bass lines, leaving nothing to be desired. The two breakout stars of the group, A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg, are the only people in the group with any semblance of clear skill, while everyone else lags behind significantly. They all follow archetypal gangster rap cadences. The distant mixing of their performances paired with their deliverance held back the final product. The only song that has any sort of unique sound is the final track and second single of the album, “Tele-
phone Calls.” The song uses a phone’s ringtone to separate verses from the chorus, and provides an interesting format. However, A$AP Rocky’s first verse going back and forth with another A$AP Mob member dragged and blended in with the terrible beat in the back of the track. Additionally, Tyler, the Creator’s cameo on the second verse made the song sound cheesy and bland. His deep, angry voice was muffled by the dual-toned baseline jumping back and forth,
which made the track feel like a rushed mix of unimpressive sounds. “Telephone Calls” had potential, but the horrible mixing provided nothing to be salvaged. The major problem with this entire album is the obvious lack of inspiration. A$AP Rocky’s debut album was punchy, had real fire behind the lyrics and put the entire A$AP Mob on the map. Ever since the group's debut success behind Rocky’s debut, every album released by any
member, including Rocky himself, has been below par and uninspired. The group has obviously given up on being experimental, which was what made them so exciting to listen to in the first place. A$AP stands for “Always Strive and Prosper,” and the group has obviously forgotten the meaning behind their motto. Before this release, A$AP Ferg’s debut release, “ALWAYS STRIVE AND PROSPER” was a collection of boring and unenthused hip hop. It was absolutely forgettable and lacked any luster. A$AP Rocky’s
last release, “AT.LONG. LAST.A$AP,” had a few punchy tracks like “L$D” and “Everyday,” but the overall collection left me starving for his previous caliber. The drop in quality could be due to the passing of A$AP Yams in 2015, who assisted in crafting A$AP Rocky’s debut album “LONG. LIVE.A$AP,” or it could be due to the group being cozy in their current limelight. Nonetheless, either reason doesn’t excuse their poor lyricism and tiresome sound. Don’t bother listening to this mixtape.
PROVIDED BY VICE
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Superfast Jellyfish – Gorillaz Genre: Alternative Rock/Electronica Similar to: Gnarls Barkley, Muse This track is the embodiment of why I can’t wait for Gorillaz new album coming out next year after a seven year drought. The funky, smooth rap on top of the playful beat melts my eardrums and send me into a euphoric trance, helping me forget my surroundings. The commentary pulls you back into reality, however, with the content reflecting on our repulsive and over consuming nature as a society. The entire album this song resides on, “Plastic Beach,” is in the same style and is definitely worth a listen. —Lucas
Do You Miss Me At All – Bridgit Mendler Genre: R&B / Sounds Like: Selena Gomez, Zendaya I’m not going to lie: “Lemonade Mouth” was and still is one of my all time favorite Disney Channel movies. It may be because I’m a sap when it comes to nostalgia, but the album from the 2011 film is still one of my favorites to play on a slow day. Throughout this year, Mendler has made a comeback with a whole different musical sound in both “Atlantis,” and recently released “Do You Miss Me At All.” Less teenage pop and more R&B and electronic focused, the track offers a soft and smooth approach to usual stereotype of slow and solemn breakup music. It’s a catchy and chill tune that you enjoy on repeat. —Beth
Hollywood – The Runaways Genre: Rock Sounds like: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Heart With the election stress amount me up as much as it is, I’ve been trying to listen to angry music that with pump me up. This area of music is where the Runaways thrive. The vocals of Joan Jett and Cherie Curie fully epitomize young teenage rebellion and frustration, and are still soothing to the ears. The song “Hollywood” is one of exploration, and reminds me of a happier time when I lived in LA. The nostalgia and amped up vibe of this song is the only thing keeping me sane. —Andie
Told You So – Young Monks Genre: Indie psych pop, Sounds like: Lost Triibe, Super Groupie I have written about the Young Monks before, and I will continue to until everybody knows about them. This band from Australia creates a mellow, yet complex sound. “Told You So” isn’t a song based on lyrics or voice, the unique sound comes from the instruments. The beginning starts with an eerie radio broadcaster, then the groovy tune comes in, as if you’re whipped away from the real world into a different universe. The band mixes in natural sounds too, like birds chirping, and bits of the song sound like they dive into water. With little lyrics, the song leaves itself up for interpretation, allowing the listener to imagine any journey they’d like.—Caroline
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2016 Distinguished Alumni Awards Reception Thursday, Nov. 10 5:30 p.m. Reception 6:30 p.m. Program Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 2000
Congratulations to our 2016 honorees
2017 Nominations Open Submission Deadline: Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 Online Application: alumni.cod.edu/alumniawards Spread the word and nominate a deserving alumnus or alumna today! Check out our new award for recent honorees. alumni.cod.edu • (630) 942-2462 • alumni@cod.edu
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