Cody Ko announced as Chapman’s fall guest speaker

Youtuber and content creator Cody Ko will visit Chapman University Nov. 16 to speak to students about his illustrious career. WikiCommons

Lyssy Salvador has been a devout fan of YouTuber and content creator Cody Kolodziejzyk — better known as “Cody Ko” — since the early stages of high school. The diversity of his content, the comedy of his editing style and the consistency of his quality always piqued Salvador’s interest. 

So, naturally, the sophomore dance major was elated to hear Ko would be coming to Chapman’s Musco Center for the Arts this Tuesday from 8-9 p.m. as the University Program Board’s (UPB) fall speaker. But excitement soon manifested into heartbreak when, within an hour of the event announcement Nov. 8, tickets were entirely sold out.

Cody Ko flyer, courtesy of Chapman University

“Those who didn’t get a ticket are begging to get in, and I feel so bad because I want everyone to see the show, but seeing the positive feedback makes it all that much more exciting,” said UPB Special Events and Traditions Director Isabella Capri, a junior communications major in charge of organizing the event.

Salvador found herself in a position similar to that of many other Ko fans; as word spread rapidly, over 1,000 tickets were sold, and even the waitlist had filled up for the event. But what hurt the most, Salvador said, was that Ko was set to speak on her birthday.

Luckily, Salvador didn’t have to blow out the candles for her birthday wish to come true; She took her chances on a UPB raffle by reposting their Instagram announcement of Ko’s arrival for the event with the caption, “This would be a great birthday gift.” 

Not long after, her wish was granted, and Salvador was deemed the recipient of a front row seat to see Ko speak. As soon as she found out, she burst into a fit of happy screams and didn’t stop smiling for an hour.

“The universe did its work and the stars aligned,” Salvador said. “The fact I have the chance to see (Ko) is amazing. I’m just excited to be in the same room as him.”

The YouTuber first made a name for himself on Vine for his short skits. After graduating from Duke University in 2012 with a degree in computer science, he developed his own successful app called “I’d Cap That,” allowing users to add captions to photos. He later worked as an iOS developer for Fullscreen. In addition to his 5.76 million subscriber Youtube channel, Ko hosts a podcast and is part of a comedy-rap duo signed to Arista records.

For students like Salvador, winning one of 10 front row tickets offered by Chapman UPB’s marketing team was their only chance at seeing Cody Ko in person. In addition to reposting Instagram content, which won Salvador her seat, the team had set up tabling events in the piazza and hosted TikTok scavenger hunts. 

Capri told The Panther the positive reception from students to Ko’s anticipated arrival has been overwhelming. She hopes members of the Chapman community will walk away from the event with inspiration from hearing Ko speak about how he balanced his schooling and creative hobbies.

“A defining factor for me wanting to bring (Ko) to Chapman’s campus (was) because he has so many wonderful tips on how students can navigate their studies but also pursue their passions on the side,” Capri said.

Capri will also be moderating the event with co-host Alicia Nijjar, a sophomore business administration major and UPB committee member. During the first 30 minutes, Capri and Nijjar will be asking Ko questions they wrote pertaining to his career and the balance of school and personal passions. In the next 30 minutes, the duo will move on to questions submitted by students.

“I like to think I’m not nervous, but I really am,” Capri said. “This year, there’s an extra level of excitement but also pressure, because you want to be able to put on a really good show. A lot of students are expecting a good show, and they deserve that for being remote for so long.”

Olivia Janicek, a sophomore screenwriting major, has been a fan of  Ko’s work since 2015, when she discovered the creator on Vine. She said his content, and the work of other comedians she found through Ko, have shaped her sense of humor. 

“I audibly gasped in the dining hall line when I heard (Ko) was coming to Chapman,” Janicek said. “Having watched his videos and listened to his podcast with Noel Miller, I jumped at the opportunity to see him in person.”

Luckily, Janicek was able to acquire tickets through her roommate, who bought an extra. Now, Janicek is ready to attend the event Nov. 16, which she expects to be surreal.

“Cody is very popular with our generation,” Janicek said. “Although he’s quite successful, he seems relatively down to earth, which is why I think he’ll be a good guest speaker. I think it’ll be a fun atmosphere, and I’m excited to see the crowd. I’m also excited just to see the guy in person.”