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MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL
VOL. XLVI, NO. 6
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
February 25, 2011
Honors classes face influx of students By Vishal Bajpai Staff Writer A new policy on honors requirements will go into effect for the 2011-12 school year. The new policy is designed to open up honors to more students by also allowing students who achieve As in their non-honors classes to apply for honors classes regardless of their Standardized Testing And Reporting (STAR) test scores. It seems obvious that here at MSJ when more students are able to take honors classes, more will. There is concern, however, that this new policy will lead to negative results for students who are simply not ready for honors classes. Vice Principal Zack Larsen said that the new policy is designed to
open up student choice. He says, “I am a firm advocate of student choice, which means students should be able to take classes they feel they are ready for, regardless of their scores. If someone has a strong burning desire to take an honors class, they should be able to do that if they really want to. But they have to understand that this class will be a lot more challenging and the teacher won’t make the courses easier. Students will be in the class the whole year and shouldn’t expect to always earn A’s.” The office is trying to help students understand that honors classes are more difficult by counseling them away from overloaded schedules.
See HONORS, NEWS Page 3
courtesy venice longinetti-scherer, news editor megan mclaughlin
courtesy jo melville
From left to right: Top Row: Lewis Chen 9, Allan Ko 11, Siddarth Sen 11, Coach Peter Geschke, Adi Jung, 10, Mo Luo 11, Coach Julie Raymond. Bottom Row: Raymond Liu 10, Audrey Huang 10, Jonathan Melville 11, Margaret Shen 10, and Jeffrey Sun 11, pose with their trophies.
Victories at Science Bowl By Sloka Gundala Staff Writer On Jan. 24, 2011, MSJ teams placed first and third at the Regional Science Bowl at Las Positas College in Livermore. The MSJ A team, which placed first and will go on to nationals, was composed of Junior Captain Jonathan Melville, Junior Mo Luo, and Sophomores Audrey Huang, Adi Jung, and Raymond Liu. The MSJ B team, composed of Freshman Captain Lewis Chen, Juniors Jeffrey Sun, Siddarth Sen, and Sophomores Allan Ko and Margaret Shen, placed third and just missed the cut for nationals. The teams started preparing in
June 2010 for this intense science competition, which had questions in a wide variety of topics, ranging from standard subjects such as biology, physics, and chemistry to more obscure ones like astronomy and energy. Melville said “The experience as a whole was extremely harrowing. Several teams, like Monte Vista and Bellarmine, that had previously gone to nationals in their own region decided that they would rather compete in our division than their own, and as a result we had to face them as well.” The competition started off with a round robin, where each of the teams competed against the other
teams in their group, after which the top two with the best record would move on to double elimination rounds. Both MSJ teams went undefeated in the round robin portion and placed first in their division. The MSJ A team continued their winning streak in the doubleelimination rounds, defeating teams from Foothill and Monte Vista. The MSJ B team, on the other hand, had an early loss to Bellarmine, but continued to fight its way through the other bracket. In the end, there were three
If selected, Google sends the tester a Cr-48 Chrome notebook computer (designed by Google); the recipient is then expected to “use it regularly and send us detailed feedback,” according to the Chrome OS informational website at www. google.com/chromeos. As of now, the Cr-48 laptops are not commercially available. Google states that “Chrome notebooks will be available for sale from Acer and Samsung in the first half of 2012, with other manufacturers to follow.” The main difference between Chrome OS and current operating systems (Mac OS, Windows 7, etc) is that Chrome OS is completely “cloud-based,” or contained in the Internet. The entire system is run inside the Chrome web browser. Once the user logs into the laptop, he or she is automatically logged in to all his or her Google applications – Gmail, Google Docs, and so on. Instead of installing programs, the user downloads applications, or “apps,” from Google’s web store. A variety of apps are available, some free and some not, ranging from documentcreating to social networking to games to e-books.
All data is stored on the Internet, so the user can access his or her system (with personal apps, documents, and settings) from any computer running Chrome OS, simply by logging in with his or her account. This also allows for almost instant recovery of data from the Internet (with no need for external backing up) if a laptop crashes or is physically destroyed or lost. Chrome OS and the Cr-48 laptop are designed with speed and portability in mind. 3G and Wi-Fi are built into the laptop, ensuring maximum access to the Internet (so if the local Internet crashes, 3G
See BOWL, NEWS Page 2
Holocaust survivors share experiences Google Chrome on campus By Alice Zalan Staff Writer On Feb. 2, 2011, two Holocaust survivors, Dora Sorell and Louis de Groot, arrived at MSJ
staff writer matt farberov
Sorell describes her time at Auschwitz.
to tell their stories of survival to a crowd of sophomore students. This marks the third year that English Teachers Katherine Geers and Jennifer Moore have invited Holocaust survivors to share their stories with their English students.
Dora Sorell was the first to tell her tale that happened over 50 years ago. She was born in the town of Sighet, Romania in 1921. Her childhood was filled with adventures, yet many difficulties as well. In April of 1944, Sorell’s and other Jewish families were moved to a ghetto in the center of town, where they lived in a small house with 10 other families. About 12,000 Jews went through this process, more than one-third of Sighet’s total population. She stayed for two to three weeks and was eventually put on a cattle train that contained thousands of Jews and no bathrooms, only buckets. Eventually, Sorell disembarked at Auschwitz, a deadly concentration and death camp located in Poland. Dora showered, shaved, and dressed in uniform, slept with 11 other girls
See SURVIVORS, NEWS Page 3 March 5 Crab Feed at Newark Pavilion, 6-10 pm
March 8-9 CAHSEE Testing
By Allan Ko Staff Writer
graphics editor cassie zhang
Vaishaal Shankar, 12, tests the system on his Google-issued netbook.
Internet leader Google is currently beta testing its first operating system, Chrome OS, through a pilot program open to applicants at least 18 years old. Individuals, businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, and US-based developers may apply.
March 11 Sadies, 7-10 pm
March 18 Minimum Day, 11:55 am release
See GOOGLE, NEWS Page 2
graphics editor cassie zhang
Shankar must provide Google with feedback as he tests the beta version of Chrome OS.
2 News
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News in Brief GOOGLE | New OS is cloud-based continued from page 1
Robot to be sent to space to help astronauts Astronauts on the International Space Station may soon be expecting a Japanese android friend. This new innovation is a talking humanoid robot designed to watch the mission while astronauts are asleep, monitor their vital signs, and even help them stay connected to Earth through Twitter. The robot, which is being developed by advertising and communications company Dentsu Inc and a team at Tokyo University, intends to provide a communicative companion for lonely astronauts.
mitiemisteri.com
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is the main developer of the robot.
City raises $50,000 for statue The city of Detroit, Michigan was able to raise $50,000 in six days in order to build a seven-foot-tall statue of the 1987 science-fiction film RoboCop’s eponymous hero. More than 1,600 people agreed to chip in an average of $17 through a website, and half of the target amount was matched by Omni Consumer Products, which makes products seen in movies into reality. Jerry Paffendorf, who helped organize the campaign, said, “My hope is that it sets an example and puts this kind of funding on the map, so when people see big problems, they can think, ‘If crazy people raised $50,000 for a RoboCop statue, we can certainly raise more to take on something bigger.’ ”
superstreetonline.com
Robocop is a superhero who fights crime in Detroit in a movie of the same name.
Borders files for Chapter 11 Yet another Bay Area bookstore chain is closing its doors. Borders, one of the biggest bookstore businesses in the nation, is planning on closing 20 Bay Area locations, including the ones in Fremont, Union City, and Alameda. The chain filed for bankruptcyprotection, closing many locations nationwide. The news comes after the loss of another major bookstore, Barnes and Noble, in late December. Locations that will remain open nearby are Milpitas, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto.
stays connected). Physically, the Cr-48 has a 12-inch LCD screen and weighs roughly 3.8 pounds. Its battery supports eight hours of active use and lasts a week on standby mode. Google adds, “It’s ready when you are, booting in about 10 seconds [from off mode] and resuming from sleep instantly.” Chrome OS’s cloudbased format also allows for reductions in hardware (such as the hard drive), meaning that Chrome OS laptops can be made more cheaply. Smoke Signal Technology Manager Vaishaal Shankar applied for and received a Cr-48 laptop from Google, and has spent the last few weeks working with Chrome OS. “…I’m honestly satisfied with the experience,” he says. “The ridiculously long battery life and the instant wake feature make it a handy tool. I bring it to school almost every day.” However, there are still some kinks that need to be worked out. “It is in beta, so things do crash sometimes. Flash [a browser application for, among other things, videos and
animations] seems to be the weakest point of Chrome OS – it loads, but often extremely slow … and since Chrome is the only browser … in the [operating system], if you run across a site that doesn’t support Chrome, you are out of luck.” Nevertheless, it is possible that Chrome OS and Google’s computers will soon be useful educational tools in schools across the country. Low price, ease of use, speed, and portability make the laptops very appealing to students. It’s also convenient that projects and data are easily recoverable from multiple computers. For these reasons, the Smoke Signal has applied to the pilot program for 35 Cr-48 laptops to beta test. Shankar says, “I think this is an excellent beta version of a futuristic product. If Google prices the product right [and] gives the users a little more flexibility, it can be a surefire hit and a good replacement for today’s netbooks.” ▪
Google CEO Eric Schmidt talks about the new operating system.
socialmediaseo.net
BOWL | Victory for MSJ teams continued from page 1 teams left: the MSJ A team which was undefeated, and the Bellarmine and MSJ B teams with one loss apiece. MSJ B and Bellarmine then squared off, resulting in a close round, but unfortunately Bellarmine pulled off a victory in the final minutes. The final round between MSJ A and Bellarmine determined the winner of the competition. To clarify, in a double-elimination tournament, each team that scored first place in its division has to be defeated twice to be eliminated. MSJ A, and Bel-
larmine had both placed first, but Bellarmine had already lost once. To win, MSJ A would only have to win one game out of two. In the first round Bellarmine took off to an early lead, and clinched a tight victory. In the second and final round, MSJ took off to a comfortable lead in the first half and, after a hard fight in the second half, won the tournament. Huang, a member of the A team, said “We hope that we can reach double eliminations at nationals and beat some of our traditional rivals.” ▪
staff writer angie wang
Top row from left to right: Margaret Shen, 10, Jeffrey Sun, 11, Siddarth Sen, 11, Lewis Chen, 9, Allan Ko, 10. Bottom Row, left to right: Mo Luo, 11, Raymond Liu, 10, Audrey Huang, 10, and Adi Jung, 10 pose after winning. Not pictured: Jonathan Melville, 11.
The Smoke Signal
Friday, February 25, 2011
news editor megan mclaughlin
Junior Cindy Tieu, Senior Minahil Khan, and Sophomore Connie Voong join the demonstration.
Egypt rising
By Rebecca Dutta Staff Writer On Egypt’s National Police Day ( Jan. 25, 2010), almost 40,000 protestors across several major cities successfully spurred a fifteen-day battle against their political leaders in hopes of introducing democracy to a historically unjust government. Demonstrators protested political corruption, police brutality, lack of free elections and free speech, as well as various economic problems in Egypt. On February 11, after endless speculation, President Hosni Mubarak officially resigned, ending a thirty year regime of corruption and violence against civilians. The 2011 Egyptian Protests have ignited alarm in many Western countries, and the presence of discontent at the fighting is even felt here at MSJ. The Egyptian crisis began just weeks after the Tunisian Revolt, a series of street revolts and uprisings by Tunisians fighting for similar conditions, and has been seen as the inspiration for violence across the Arab world. In Egypt, it was a chance to express grievances against one of the longest regimes in Egyptian history. Demonstrators armed with stones and other makeshift weapons fought tirelessly against the Emergency Law, enacted in 1958, that allowed government to extend police rights, suspend constitutional rights, and legalize censorship. Life changed radically for many who were caught in Egypt during the past month. Friend of the Smoke Signal, Farah Mokhtar is a junior at Schutz American School in Egypt. She explains, “School was canceled, no one could go out, cell phones and the Internet were disconnected. We were coming back from a school trip … and we got stranded in the airport in Cairo and none of us could call our parents to let them know … if we’d arrived safely. We finally got to Alexandria and our parents had to dodge looters and thugs to come get us from the airport. The police had gone, so all the men ... had to go stand downstairs guarding the buildings all night, with sticks or golf clubs or pipes, any weapons they could find …. Daily life has been pretty different since the pro-
tests began.” Amidst all the chaos, Mubarak initially had asserted that he would not dissolve his regime but had promised not to run for reelection. However, after continuous unrest between anti-Mubarak and proMubarak groups and pressure from several Western countries, Mubarak resigned, leaving the military in charge. The new leaders include Mubarak’s former vice president, Omar Suleiman. Egyptians are still demanding democratization, but it is unclear whether the military leaders will carry out the transition to democracy that protestors have been demanding. They have, however, promised to hand over power to a civilian-elected government after elections that have been planned for September. MSJ showed support for democracy in Egypt on the morning of February 4 when, at a rally organized by Senior Ramsey Fisher, students held signs and chanted along the horseshoe to promote awareness of the anti-Mubarak plight for democracy. Around 30 students and teachers held banners reading, “Honk for peace in Egypt!” and chanted messages to the oncoming traffic. All of them spoke of wanting MSJ students to be aware of the importance of promoting democracy in countries such as Egypt. English Teacher Kathy Mattingly said while holding up her sign, “I am a big supporter of democracy and political awareness. We can’t change the story, but if we can have people aware, maybe we can get something to happen.” Local news stations KRON4, KTVU, and KCBS 740 am radio covered the student-led demonstration, making the event quite successful. Although Egypt’s future still remains uncertain, a general hopefulness for peacetime has begun to permeate. President Barack Obama has made it clear that the number one concern is preventing more deaths in Egypt. He believes that Egypt is headed in the right direction and hopes that the replacement military government will be able to peacefully transition Egypt to free elections and universal rights. ▪
for the january 21, 2011 issue
digitaltrends.com
Borders Group, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy-protection. COMPILED BY STAFF WRITERS DITHA BALAJI, ANDREW HAN, AND KEVIN ZHAI
• On News page 1, Sophomore Priya Sundaresan’s name was misspelled. • On News page 1, Michael Liu is a freshman. • On News page 2, Aaron Liu is a sophomore. • On Feature page 5, Staff Writer Connor Williams’ name was misspelled. • On Centerspread page 11, former teacher Bud Finley and Senior Garrett Jee’s names were misspelled. • On Photo page 12, Adriana Aboumrad is a senior. • On Sports page 18, Lor-shing Hsu’s name was misspelled.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Smoke Signal
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News 3
HONORS | Pre-registration changes SURVIVORS | Visitors share Holocaust stories continued from page 1 Next year’s pre-registration forms will be accompanied by a table that counts up the amount of time a student spends doing various activities throughout the day (e.g. attending school, doing homework, participating in extra-curricular activities, sleeping, and relaxing). The total elapsed time of those activi-
suddenly rushing to take that class. I think a lot of kids know their limits and will self select.” Science Department Chair Nathania Chaney-Aiello, however, disagrees. When asked to predict what would happen next year, Chaney-Aiello responded, “We will see some lower grades in honors classes. By making it easier
“If someone has a strong burning
desire to take an honors class, they should be able to do that if they really want to.” -Z L ,V P ack
arsen
ice
rincipal
ties can then be compared to the 24 that exist in a day. To aid in creating a more accurate representation of homework time, each course will now have a predicted amount of time that represents the amount of time you can expect to work at home for the class. Larsen predicts that with proper counseling and an accurate representation of the work honors entails, students will make a more informed choice. Larsen points out the example of AP English. He said, “When eleventh grade English kids go to twelfth grade they have two choices, college prep or AP. There are no prerequisites for AP; someone could have gotten two D’s in eleventh grade and they could take AP English if they wanted to, but we don’t see a huge number of people
to get into honors you allow a lot more students to enroll in honors. They may be very bright and many of them will be moving up because they got A’s in college prep level classes, but some may think that honors is just as easy and we will see a lot of kids who expected to get A’s getting B’s or C’s.” Without the option of transferring, due to budget cuts in recent years, those students would be forced to continue under an academic burden they were not prepared for. The class of 2015 will be the first to go through the changes here at MSJ The new policy will allow more students to enroll for honors level classes than earlier classes could. At the same time, this new policy could allow many students to sign up for classes that they just cannot handle. ▪
By Savina Khangura Staff Writer
lakes in many different parts of CA. The most recent superstorm occurred in 1861-1862 and damaged much of the Central Valley, leaving behind damaged crops. During that time, the state capital was temporarily moved from Sacramento to San Francisco due to the heavy flooding during this superstorm. The Central Valley is the most susceptible to heavy flooding due to its elevation, and officials would have to take many safety precautions to protect the people and land. As most of the agricultural production in CA occurs in the Central Valley, a superstorm could severely damage the state’s agricultural production and watersupply system, which diverts water to Southern California. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has issued warnings of a potential superstorm to prepare residents and emergency personnel for a worst-case scenario. The USGS also hopes to improve national flood management through the National Real-Time Flood Mapping initiative. Under this program, CA would have to hire statewide emergency management officials to deal with any potential storms that bring heavy rainfall, flooding, and extensive damage to the state. Timing of such a superstorm is merely speculation at this moment, but recent records have shown that CA is experiencing dramatic weather this winter. This past December, a week-long storm dropped 5-20 inches of rain on a large part of the state as well as 16 feet of snow in the high Sierra mountain range. Only time will tell when and if a superstorm will occur during our generation. ▪
Bring on the rain
As if the threat of earthquakes weren’t enough, California could be facing an Arkstorm, also known as a superstorm, in the future. On Jan. 14, 2011, a conference consisting of federal and state officials was held to consider the chances of such an Arkstorm heading our way. Most storms that occur in the world correlate with El Niño, a climate change that warms the cold water on the western coast of South America and cools the water in the Pacific. It often results in unseasonable weather in many parts of the world, including CA, where it intensifies storms heading towards the state. These storms are more commonly known as the “Pineapple Express,” where moisture originating in the tropical regions near Hawaii travels with the storm. However, severe storms can also develop in the absence of El Niño. If the storm were to occur, it would bring tropical moisture from the South Pacific to CA and could potentially drop up to 10 feet of rain across the state. The extreme weather would result in excessive low-elevation rainfall and mountain snow in a state prone to mudslides and flash flooding. Such a storm could leave CA with up to $300 billion dollars in damage and with a quarter of its homes damaged by floods. Geological records indicate that there have been six “superstorms” during the past 1,800 years. At this time, scientists are not completely sure in what frequency they occur and why. The storms lasted, on average, for 45 days and left
continued from page 1 on a single bunk. Each day, she was served a bowl of a green soup for lunch and dinner, along with a single slice of bread. There was no comfort, no sign of humanity. At any given moment, Sorell could be beaten by a guard for moving, looking up, or simply breathing. Nine weeks after her arrival at Auschwitz, Sorell was taking part in a sorting to decide who would live and who would die. She was taken aside and told to wait in a hall. She was soon brought into a dimly lit room, and tattooed with the number A-7603, so that anyone could identify her, and to prove that she was German property. To this day, Sorell still has her tattoo, a part of her identity. In December 1944, she was transferred to work in a factory in Czechoslovakia, where the living conditions and food were slightly more humane. Finally, on May 6, 1945, she woke up to find the German guards missing; they had run away from the factory as soon as
historyplace.com
The entrance to Auschwitz is pictured above; the sign reads “Work Sets You Free.”
they heard that Hitler’s regime was falling. She was free. It took her two weeks to get home, but she found her boyfriend waiting. She had spent seven months in Auschwitz. Louis de Groot shared his own harrowing story. He was a normal child, but soon laws prevented him from socializing with non-Jews, and he was forced to wear the yellow Star of David. In November 1942, at the age of 13, his parents arranged for him to be taken to Amsterdam to hide from the Nazis. De Groot’s first family was kind to him, but their neighbors told the police that there was a Jewish boy living illegally. The police ignored German orders and transferred him to a new family. However, this experience was not kind to him and the foster family treated him cruelly. They took money from his parents to house him, although other families did this for free, withheld food from him, just like in a labor camp, and denied him basic necessities. He didn’t wash himself or clean his teeth. One day, de Groot couldn’t handle the abuse anymore and yelled back at his foster mother. She immediately contacted the family that was holding his parents and told them that de Groot had to go. When he was at his parents’ hiding place, he told them how cruelly he was being treated. They sent him to Fischland, a community with many Nazi Resistance leaders. De Groot lived there with a kind family who had already helped many Jewish children. The foster father went back to Amster-
staff writer matt farberov
De Groot talks about his experience as a hidden child.
dam to collect de Groot’s family, but he found that the woman who had aided the family in hiding and in providing them necessities had turned them in to the Nazis; they had been transported to Auschwitz three days earlier. He never saw them again. De Groot was then adopted by his foster family, and eventually they came to the United States. The single object that he owned after the war was a hidden magnifying glass. Every time he moved to a new home, he wasn’t allowed to bring along anything, because there was fear that certain objects would lead the Nazis to them. He did not bring along any family photos, any mementos, or anything that reminded him of his life before the war. After almost four hours in C-120, the presentations were over and the students headed home. Sorell and de Groot showed them the importance of remembering the past, as philosopher George Santayana said that “those who cannot learn history are doomed to repeat it.” ▪
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Friday, February 25, 2011
MSJ says ‘nihao’ to visiting students By Frank Chen Staff Writer On February 1, 40 students from Si Zhong and Shou Shi Da Fu Zhong, the top middle school and high school in Beijing, visited the MSJ campus. Of all the high schools in the Bay Area, they chose MSJ because, as they put it, “Mission is the best!” L2 students acted as tour guides and led a variety of activities for the Beijing students. The teacher from Si Zhong (the middle school), Xiao Xia You, explained that the goal of the overseas field trip was to give her students the opportunity to visit the western world. The 15-day trip included destinations such as Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Boston. During their stay in Hawaii, the students lived in the homes of the Hawaiians. Living in these Hawaiian homes promoted the students’ cultural learning as well as English practice. While the main focus of the trip was to visit universities and schools, the Beijing students also enjoyed themselves at Disneyland and Universal Studios while in Los Angeles. Xiong
staff writer nihar parikh
The visiting students performed traditional Chinese dances for MSJ.
The visiting students pose for a group picture with their Leadership 2 guides.
said that the middle school, Si Zhong, and the high school, Shou Shi Da Fu Zhong, work together to host this program every year. L2 had many activities planned for the foreign guests. In the morning, the Beijing students were separated into smaller groups, each led by two or three L2 students who gave them a tour of MSJ campus. When asked about her first reaction to MSJ, seventh grade student Xin Kan Jia said, “MSJ is a larger, and prettier school. Everyone here is more open.” Eleventh grade student Xiao Yu Wang, who had never traveled out of China before, said, “The air is a lot cleaner in Fremont than in Beijing.” While looking at the football field and the basketball courts behind MSJ, seventh grade student Li Yuan Qi said, “The environment here is very green, and there is a lot of room … in China, the schools are multiple stories high and there is not a lot of space.” The students also had a chance to experience the classes of MSJ. After listening to some classes, eighth grade student
staff writer omar el-sadany
Liu Jia Biu said, “The teachers here are very humorous, but I am intrigued by the AP program; China doesn’t offer anything similar.” From the responses of the Beijing students, it seems that the teaching styles of China and America are very different. “The classrooms here are much more involved, and less strict. We have 40 to 50 students in our classes.” seventh grade student Wang Si Ting said. After the tours, L2 prepared something special for the Beijing students: student performances that reflected the cultures and pride of MSJ students. Baton twirlers Freshman Andrea Brandle and Junior Melissa Brandle as well as MSJ a capella group, the Syncopasians, awed and charmed the visitors with amazing performances. The Beijing students returned the favor by presenting a slideshow and explaining it using perfect English. To conclude the visit, MSJ parents brought delicious food and created a potluck for the guests before they departed to continue their foreign excursion. ▪
news editor megan mclaughlin
Green energy hits rough patch By Nihar Parikh Staff Writer The green energy movement has been steadily on the rise, influencing politics, economics, and even foreign policy. The Obama administration has backed the expansion of the alternative energy technology industry, claiming it will not only reduce environmental damage and decrease the dependence on oil in the US, but also create thousands of jobs and boost the economy. Unfortunately, the green industry has not lived up to expectations in economic regard. Alternative energy technology companies all have one thing in common: their products are only economically viable to customers looking decades into the future. Most solar panels, wind turbines, and biofuels are extremely expensive to manufacture and implement, counteracting any long-term economic advantages, thus dissuading customers from these technologies. Governments around the world are trying to mitigate this problem by offering subsidies, or government grants, to alternative energy companies, allowing them to sell their products for lower prices. This has prompted an increase in alternative energy technologies, creating a surplus in a market that was small to begin with. It is estimated that the subsidized solar industry will produce 26 percent more products than it can sell through 2013. The end impact of this scenario is the loss of innovation created by an uncompetitive industry. Companies are relying on government subsidies and therefore not striving to create the greatest products. This, coupled with the long-term returns on investment of alternative energy technologies, has weakened this industry. An example of this dilemma is Fremont’s own solar technology innovator Solyndra Incorporated. The company received a $535 million subsidy from the US government to develop its solar panel technology and was branded Obama’s “poster child” for his energy overhaul and a key recipient of his stimulus
money after his visit last May. They were the first clean technology company to receive a Department of Energy loan. After the grant, the company was expected to create 1000 American jobs; instead, it laid off 175 employees because of their expansion to a new factory and general economic difficulties in the subsequent months. Analysts, such as semiconductor and solar energy analyst Ramesh Misra from Brigantine Advisors, feel that reliance on government subsidies has hindered Solyndra from creating a product that has an ample demand. Misra explained to the San Jose Mercury News that at the end of the day, customers pay the bills, and Solyndra’s current product is not attractive to them. According to CEO Brian Harrison, Solyndra manufactures its cells at about $3 per watt produced, while companies in Arizona and manufacturers in China have lowered their costs to as little as 75 cents per watt. Solyndra, like other alternative energy technology companies such as Evergreen Solar in Devin, MA, seem to be riding government money instead of innovating for a cheaper, more competitive product. The alternative energy technology industry seems to have taken the wrong path in the last few years. The combined effects of a small market, a hard-to-sell product, and government dependence are proving to be a large hurdle for these companies to overcome. The future of alternative energy technologies lies in whether the industry can recover and prosper. ▪
solyndra.com
President Obama visited Solyndra in May 2010, touting the future of clean energy.
Friday, February 25, 2011
the
Smoke Signal
Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 46, No. 6 | February 25, 2010 www.thesmokesignal.org
41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600 Editors-in-Chief Alissa Gwynn, Elisa Ting News Gurleen Chadha, Megan McLaughlin Opinion Roger Chen, Arthur Jeng Feature Sonia Dhawan, Audrey Wu Centerspread Aileen Lu, Tina Tseng A&E Vishal Yadav, Jordan Zhang Sports Grace Han, Amit Patankar Graphics Sarah Li, Cassie Zhang Web Mary Lan, Richie Zeng Tech Vaishaal Shankar, Kevin Zhai Business Ravneet Kaur Circulation Matt Farberov Fundraising Stephenie Yuan Marketing Jamie Lin Ads Rebecca Dutta, Joy Xu Events Chelsea Dass, Mekala Neelakantan, Diya Roy
Writers & Photographers
Vishal Bajpai, Ditha Balaji, Leland Bernstein, Anthony Chen, Frank Chen, Sloka Gundala, Andrew Han, Savina Khangura, Allan Ko, Sida Lu, Edward Nguyen, Nihar Parikh, Alekya Rajanala, Maya Ramachandran, Omar El Sadany, Sanjna Shukla, Courtney Tam, Jonathon Teng, Aishwarya Thakur, Angie Wang, Ginger Werner, Connor Williams, Ellie Wong, Michael Wu, Alice Zalan
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Roger That Falling Behind
There’s a Chinese saying that comes to mind when I think about the state of education in the United States: you draw out a war on a piece of paper, everything works in theory with your movement arrows and defense lines, but when you take the war into real life, nothing works out as envisioned. We may not be fighting a war with troop movements and physi‑ cal weapons, but we are facing a very real conflict with countries that are poised to race ahead of the United States (aka China). The United States is falling far behind in global education, ranking 14th out of 34 Organization for Eco‑ nomic Co-operation and Develop‑ ment (OECD) countries in reading skills, 17th for science, and 25th for mathematics. Despite the con‑ tinuing excellence of postsecond‑ ary education on an international scale (many native Chinese can roll the eight Ivy League members off their tongue without a beat despite a minimal English vocabulary), our secondary education system is clearly in a sorry state. Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom served not only as an interesting insight into the ways of the Asian mom but also as the Sput‑ nik for our generation, prompting people to think about education. Some claim that like for everything else, money can be used to solve all problems. But even if we take the entire military budget and sink it into education, there’s no guaran‑ tee that it could solve the problem. Our problem with education right now is that we are taking a very
5
get Jengky with it PSA:
Chill Pills Recommended
By Roger Chen Opinion Editor
Opinion
By Arthur Jeng concept-based approach to learn‑ ing, with students being taught how to do things but not how to utilize what they have learned. You can do the quadratic formula, find the xintercepts of a quartic function, in‑ tegrate a function in two variables, but so what? We become guilty of stereotyp‑ ing the concepts that we learn into specialties, then using that as jus‑ tification to blow off subjects. We assume that we’ll never see calculus again unless we become rocket sci‑ entists, but calculus shows up in ev‑ erything from economics to archi‑ tecture. The math in itself doesn’t change much; students can still study concepts of geometry from a copy of Euclid’s Elements. It’s how to use the math that’s changing. Science is changing a lot, with advances being made as this col‑ umn is being written. The minute a textbook comes out, it’s outdated already. However, the way things are being taught hasn’t changed much at all. We still go about do‑ ing busy work, mindlessly plugging things into equations or writing formulaic essays. Teachers need to not only teach the concepts but also the real life applications of what has been taught, creating an amalgam of curricula that allows students to stay more in touch with what sometimes seems like a very remote world. A more practical approach to teaching is needed in secondary school education for the United States to hold its own against the looming threat of China. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org
Opinion Editor
High school has been an endless series of high tides washing away at me, and I sympathize with the dis‑ heartened juniors who have yet to reach the crest of this wave. One of the things that kept me sane through those long 4 am nights was remind‑ ing myself that everyone else is in the same boat. Luckily, I no longer have to worry about these hydro/ hyper woes, and my extended day‑ time nap consisting of six 52 minute intervals has done my health some good. With my spare time, I’ve also had time to reflect back on the chal‑ lenges of high school and what I did to get past it all. Everything is better when you’re on a chill pill. Taking tests, especially those standardized ones, always draws a sense of anxiety and frankly, gross overreactions. I’ve never been one to worry too much about impend‑ ing work, and throughout my years at MSJ, I’ve only been progressing down the path of nonchalance and perfunctory. All for the better. Many students are too caught up in worrying about which SAT book to use and the secret studying tech‑ niques, worrying about the ideal class schedule, and even social outings. In‑ stead of being people of action, they are in trivial contemplation. Instead of progress, they procrastinate. And to continue the parallel structure, in‑ stead of concentrating they are con‑ stipating. Wait, no, that didn’t make sense. But seriously the last one can really cut into your schedule and be detrimental to progress, just like worrying too much. The idea isn’t to be indifferent about school and work: these are
necessary and important. But the time spent worrying, complaining, or drowning in self-pity about the eight tests you have in six classes next Monday could be used to ac‑ complish the tasks at hand. The anx‑ iety only comes from some need to ace everything or go down the path of failure. Chill down ‘cause every little thing gonna be all right. What’s most important about the chill pill mentality is to accept all outcomes, for the successes and fail‑ ures. It’s important to put yourself out there, knowing that the experi‑ ence regardless of what ultimately happens, is newfound knowledge. College applications is a true testament to this. You pour months of time and thought thinking about your entire life: the challenges you faced, your family, your happiest moments. Spilling those feelings into words often doesn’t feel right, but you have to do it anyway. Show‑ casing your life to a faceless entity you might spend your next few years with is actually quite emotional. And once you hit the submit button, you almost have to convince yourself to not think about its significance. Then, college interviews begin; the same anxiousness and anxiety ar‑ rives. This is Life. The worries and regrets will always be there; perhaps you had a grammar mistake in your college application or misspoke dur‑ ing your interview. Take a chill pill. Embrace the outcome and learn from it all. Hakuna matata. As a senior, though, I’d also advise you to not overdose on the chill pill. I’m society’s problem now. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org
6
Opinion
www.thesmokesignal.org
EDITORIAL: Closure of book-
Following up on the closure of local Barnes and Noble at the end of last year, the Borders in the Fremont Hub, along with ten other Borders in the Bay Area, is shutting their doors in the coming weeks as part of a bankruptcy filing, leaving no major book stores in Fremont. It’s another case of survival of the fit‑ test. The mom and pop bookstores were displaced by superstores like Borders and Barnes and Noble, and now the superstores themselves are falling victim to the grow‑ ing popularity of eBook readers and on‑ line retailers like Amazon. The superstores failed to evolve quickly enough to meet the changing times, and as a result, fell behind in the brutal war between tradition and technology. So why should we care? It’s not like we buy books very much; that’s why these bookstores are closing down in the first place. But bookstores are more than just a place to buy books; over the years, they have transformed into popular meeting places, with coffee shops nearby or coffee shops of their own, where people can bring books and laptops, sit down at a table, and relax. There’s something about the book‑ store atmosphere that can’t be replaced or even replicated by Target or Walmart and certainly not by eBook readers. Reading for hours on end on the carpet, curled up near a bookshelf with a warm latte handy... that’s what bookstores have brought to this area, and its not something that can figure quantitatively in the book store shutdown. Books. The feel of paper to the touch, the smell of a book, all qualities that just
can’t be replicated by even the best eBook readers. They are much more personal, from the way we dog ear the pages as bookmarks to the annotations and Postit notes that we cram in the margins of our Iliads. Even at the low end, an eBook reader runs for $130, a price that cannot be justified unless the user is already a heavy reader. And that’s without the ex‑ tra cost of purchasing the actual eBooks. Then you have to worry about battery life, charging, licensing fees, all the problems associated with personal digital readers. eBook readers may store several hundred books, but, like physical books, they won’t survive an episode with spilled water. All new technology has its share of bugs and frustrations, a new problem in the move‑ ment away from physical books. Sure we can retreat to libraries, but li‑ braries, as another government-run insti‑ tution, are sorely in need of funding, and as a result are often unable to meet the demand of their cardholders (when the last Harry Potter was released, there were over seven hundred holds on the Alameda County system for ten copies of the book). The county library system takes weeks and even months to stock new releases, and oftentimes only do so if there is sufficient interest in the book from readers. In ad‑ dition, we all remember those times when we’ve had to desperately get our hands on a book, only to find that the book was checked out at the library and the three to five days it would take for the book to arrive from Amazon was far too long of a wait. Maybe we’re fighting a lost cause here. But really, bookstores have proven them‑ selves to be an essential part of our com‑ munity. We, for one, are sad to see them go, and hope they might one day open their doors once again. ▪
staff writer connor williams
staff writer mary lan
Friday, February 25, 2011
Quit Studying: Taking Tests to Learn
stores huge loss to community The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board
The Smoke Signal
By Edward Nguyen Staff Writer
You may disagree with the results, but tests have always been the mechanism used to assess how much you know. Research from the journal, Science, has found that stu‑ dents who read passages and take tests after‑ wards to see how much they retained are able to recall 50 percent more information than students who used other methods. Students are very familiar with some techniques, like cramming the night before a test. Some students do very well under pressure and remember materials that are fresh in their mind. Teachers on the other hand, support drawing detailed diagrams documenting what students learn. However, when students in the experiment were asked to predict how much of the passage they would remember afterwards, students taking tests to practice predicted that they would remember less information– but the results were exactly opposite. Cognitive scientists and education experts said that the results were significant. Students who took these recall tests can recognize the gaps in their knowledge. This allows them to revisit ideas in the back of their mind. When
science
asked later what they had learned, students can more easily retrieve and make sense of the information. ‑‑Why retrieval practice is so effective is still unknown. Perhaps the reason is that our brains are already adept at making connections that are there, but hid‑ den subconsciously. Normally, students complain about fail‑ ing tests and how it affects their future goals. They get upset about disappointing parents and afterwards, their test taking experience is not a positive one. This may have been why the students taking recall tests were less con‑ fident about how they would perform. “The struggle helps you learn, but it makes you feel like you’re not learning,” Nate Kornell, Wil‑ liams College psychologist noted. The strug‑ gle involved in recalling something actually helps reinforce it in our brains. Testing is a controversial issue in educa‑ tion, criticism about how it swallows up valu‑ able time for learning new things and the un‑ necessary anxiety it places on students. In the short term, even though it seems like a waste of time, retrieval practice makes things stick in a way that may not be used in classrooms. This is a different type of learning opportu‑ nity that may change the way students study, potentially for the rest of their lives. ▪
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Smoke Signal
TIGER MOMS
www.thesmokesignal.org
By Angie Wang
Opinion 7
me, Mr. Brooks: Does a sleepover with teenage girls get you into Carnegie Hall, where Sophia, Chua’s older daughter, played at in 2007? And to what extent are you qualified to conclude the cognitive demand of adolescent sleepovers? Chua, like many MSJ parents, is intimate‑
difficult social challenges. Parents and educators face the tough challenge of informing students Staff Writer about the darker side of life in order to prepare them for more independent futures in college We’ve all heard of Amy Chua, Ms. Crazy and beyond. However, the vast majority of “Tiger Mom”. The Wall Street Journal portrays MSJ’s student population is well-adjusted, and her as insane, heartless, and selfish, but is there most if not all students a method behind her mad‑ have excellent social ness? Chua believes that rais‑ They know when their child is doing well, and when their child ing her daughters to be disci‑ needs extra help. They have the motivation and commitment to skills. They demonstrate plined and independent will provide that help, even when a major intervention is necessary. a solid understanding of social problems like sex, get them far in life. Psychologist Nancy Darling believes that ly involved in her children’s education. This drugs, gangs, and crime. But most importantly, good parenting takes a good amount of time. hands-on approach means that parents are they make informed decisions to avoid these Chua definitely spends plenty of time with aware of their child’s progress. They know when risks and hazards. Needless to say, “apathy” is not in the vo‑ her daughters, supervising their piano lessons their child is doing well, and when their child and schoolwork, at the very least. Darling and needs extra help. They have the motivation and cabulary of a true “Tiger Mom”. “Tiger Moms” Chua both agree that a child feels more loved commitment to provide that help, even when a really do care about their kids. They expect their kids to give 110 percent, 110 percent of the through their parents’ actions, not simply what major intervention is necessary. “Tiger Moms” also enroll their children time. MSJ is proof that the strategy works. A their parents say. Because Chua wants the best for her daughters, she shows it rather than just in many approved extracurricular activities, so huge population of academically outstanding their children are busy with these extracurricu‑ students competes for and earns admission to telling them to try. There’s also the argument that Amy Chua lars and therefore have no time to get involved the best colleges in the country. Every student is coddling her daughters because she’s shield‑ in gangs, drugs, and other mischief. The whole complains from time to time about the weight ing them from the troubles of being a teenager. community then benefits from lower crime thrust upon his shoulders, but, at the end of the day, few students would have it any other way. Columnist David Brooks of the New York rates and a general feeling of security. Some have expressed concern that Chua’s So the next time your tiger mother threatens to Times says, “Practicing a piece of music for four hours requires focused attention, but it is approach is overprotective and may leave chil‑ burn your stuffed animals, try to see eye-to-eye nowhere near as cognitively demanding as a dren unprepared to deal with some of the more before you pounce. ▪ sleepover with 14-year-old girls.” Yet tell
good for the cubs?
Amy Chua, a law professor at Yale University, released her parenting memior, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, in January 2011. The book details her experience as a strict mother and has generated controversy in tough-love parenting. By Aishwarya Thakur
Parents should recognize their children’s strengths and weaknesses, what makes them Staff Writer succeed and what doesn’t, and what pushes them but doesn’t break them. Each child is dif‑ The hysteria that self-proclaimed “Tiger ferent and each deserves to be treated in the way Mom” Amy Chua has succeeded in creat‑ that benefits them the most. Chua noticed this ing has not only helped the sales of her book, between her own kids. She came to the very Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, soar but also upsetting and shameful realiza‑ has many Western and Asian par‑ tion, in her eyes, that her Chi‑ ents reconsidering their parenting Understand your child and learn what works for them. styles. Western parents are wor‑ Some need to be pushed, but others need to be inspired. nese parenting didn’t work on her youngest daughter. Some‑ ried that they may be getting it all wrong when it comes to educating children, is taken away, how will they have the skill set times children are much more likely to listen to with China well on its way to becoming the needed to compete with other people of their their parents if their parents would simply ex‑ world’s top economic superpower. On the other generation? Westerners are among the most plain the issue and talk to them. Not everybody hand, Asian parents are wondering if they are charismatic and eloquent speakers, a skill oth‑ gets motivated after a screaming competition actually doing more harm than good to their ers should pick up on. In the end, however, it and a declaration of whose way goes. Lulu, Chua’s youngest daughter, felt im‑ won’t matter how smart you are, but how well kids. “Tiger Moms” always want the best for their you present yourself and convince people of mense pressure from her mother, and she didn’t want that looming over her head constantly. children—even if that means sacrificing affec‑ your abilities. The future of America is promoting new MSJ has a reputation for having a relatively tion. Chua defended her type of demeaning parenting style by arguing that it encouraged ideas, creativity, and boldness. When Chua’s high cheating rate. Why? Nobody wants to feel the child to work harder and not give up. She children did not play a musical piece the way the wrath of their parents for getting an “A-” on mentioned that Asian kids have an inner confi‑ she wanted it, she would yell at them until the their AP Chemistry test, after already being in dence that others don’t have. But what will hap‑ result was acceptable to her. But what if these trouble for being on Facebook for too long and pen to these children, who have been raised to kids had a different view about the piece or missing a note of Tchaikovsky. If parents would always succeed, when they fail? Failure crosses felt different emotions when playing the piece? understand that this pressure is making their everybody’s path, but learning to deal with that “Tiger Moms” are trying to follow customs children succumb to cheating, and whatever fruitfully is vital. “Tiger parenting” fails to teach that were acceptable in China, but America is values they are instilling in their children, aren’t a child that sometimes all you can do is try your a highly individualistic country. They need to reaching them, then there would be happy faces best, but if it wasn’t your day, then all your hard prepare their children to step out of the norm all around. Understand your child and learn work could go down the drain and there’s noth‑ and discover themselves. There are many ways what works for them. Some need to be pushed, to solve a mathematical word problem, right? but others need to be inspired. Children should ing one can do about it. Many “Tiger Moms” believe that sleepovers Why are there not many acceptable ways to not want to be successful to appease their par‑ ents, but rather to fulfill their own dreams. ▪ and playdates are a waste of time. In today’s parent one’s kids? America, networking is imperative in the work environment. One needs to be able to express their opinion and form relations with their colleagues and supervisors. When such an im‑ portant part of one’s childhood, where kids can make friends, explore the dynamics of a friend‑ ship, and interact with kids other than at school,
“American education emphasizes on loving, tender care and personal creativity. But without a solid foundation of discipline, nothing can be built on top of it.” Katy Kuei, Science Teacher “How [Chua] defines success is limited. She defines it to be high grades, but I define success by living a good life...I see kids like [Chua’s] here, and I don’t think they are successful.” Jack Fendell, Science Teacher
MOMMA BEARS
“While teens may complain 24/7 about their parents’ strict rules and constant supervision, they will eventually thank them for helping them live up to the stereotypical successful, wealthy, high class Asian adult.” Kevin Wu, 11 “‘Tiger Moms’ are good because kids need to be disciplined. If kids are disciplined, they will succeed in life. Rohan Mathuria, 9
“[‘Tiger Moms’] are bad. My mom doesn’t allow me to do anything. I have to stay at home and watch paint dry.” Brian Wu, 9
layout by centerspread editor tina tseng, graphics by staffwriter allan ko, photos by nihar parikh, aishwarya thakur, and angie wang
8 Feature
www.thesmokesignal.org
The Smoke Signal
Friday, February 25, 2011
Behind the scenes YEARBOOK - LEADERSHIP 2 - PEER RESOURCE - SMOKE SIGNAL By Diya Roy & Ellie Wong Staff Writers
A Typical Day Throughout the year, MSJ Yearbook works tirelessly to produce one eagerly awaited publication. While this may seem like an easy, low stress task, it is anything but. The making of the yearbook is a complex process that involves photographers, section editors, copy editors, managers, and more. Each page of the yearbook goes through a tedious process of first being produced as a sort of “rough draft” of a page. These pages are due at various times throughout the year, depending on when the featured event occurs. After the rough draft is made, the page goes to the copy editors, who make a story come alive with the captions. The page then goes to the section editor for edits, then to the layout editors for further edits. After the page passes through those rounds of tests, the Editorsin-Chief look at the pages, followed by the advisor. Finally, the page is sent off to the Yearbook - Location: E1B - Advisor: John Boegman printer for a final check. However, before the members of the staff are allowed to take photographs on their own or design their own pages, they shadow a senior member of the staff for a few cycles. Through this experience they learn the different aspects of building a page, and when Application available on msjyearbook.tumblr.com they are ready, they are put in charge of their own page. Opportunities for second year on February 11 Yearbook staff members include editor positions such as Layout and Copy Editors, as Due to E1B on March 18 well as section editors such as Events and Student Life, Athletics, and People. Besides the obvious need for photographers and graphic designers, Yearbook is also looking for marketing and advertisement managers and writers. They want people who are sociable and are able to “go out there” and conduct interviews with complete strangers. The Yearbook staff has about 25 members per year. On average, Yearbook receives 20-30 applicants, but the number chosen depends on the graduating class and the talent of the applicants. So if you love any of the above tasks, pick up an application and see if Yearbook is for you!
Being in Leadership 1 does not guarantee an acceptance to Leadership 2 the next year. The newly elected ASB Officers choose the next year’s L2 class.
Yearbook
Application process
Leadership 2 - Location: N7 and N8 - Advisor: Ben Breazeale You can’t be in Yearbook and Journalism at the same time. Assignments overlap too often, and both require an immense amount of time and energy.
Journalism 1 \ Smoke Signal - Location: N9 - Advisor: Sandra Cohen
A Typical Day
The Smoke Signal produces 9 issues per school year and goes through one cycle per issue. On Day One, all journalism students report on updates from their beats along with a few story ideas for the upcoming edition of The Smoke Signal. Beats are particular news sources, such as the Social Science department, Boys’ Basketball, etc., that all journalism students are assigned to. The following day, after section editors have chosen what stories to feature in their sections, staff writers pick the five stories that interest them most. On Day Three, stories are assigned to writers who then meet with editors to discuss story angles and ask questions. Writers are given time to finish a first draft, second draft, and a final draft. During Work Week, section editors put together their page layouts and copy editors make final edits. At the end of Work Week, an electronic copy of The Smoke Signal is sent to the printer, and a few days later the paper copy of The Smoke Signal is delivered to N9. The staff then adds ad inserts and the next day, the paper is delivered to each classroom. On the final day of the cycle, the whole class does a Macro Critique, in which staff members make suggestions and corrections regarding the entire paper. While these events don’t take place on a typical day, Smokies also take part in fieldtrips, fundraisers, and many potlucks.
Smoke Signal Application Process
Applications available at thesmokesignal.org/apply on February 25 Due to N9 on March 14
A Typical Day
Application Process
Peer Resource - Location: B33 - Advisor: Jaime Richards
A Typical Day
Application Process
L2
L2 doesn’t have a strict agenda, but on an average day, announcements are made at the beginning of class and committees break off to discuss their upcoming events. In L2 there are a total of 11 committees, each of which are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing their own events and activities. The 11 committees include: Community and Charity Fashion Show, A-Team, Student-Teacher Relations, Sports, Publicity, Homecoming and Multicultural, Student Store, Elections, Family Festival, Campus Beautification, and Tech. The Community and Charity Fashion Show Committee has the responsibility of organizing fundraisers and multiple drives like the Blood Drives and the Canned Food Drive, and of course, the Charity Fashion Show. A-Team, one of the better known committees, is the backbone of the Friday lunchtime activities. Student-Teacher Relations, on the other hand, plays a behind-the-scenes role in coordinating teacher luncheons, the Aloha Dance, and a barbeque on the last day of summer for faculty members. The Sports Committee is in charge of the seasonal sport assemblies and promoting game days of MSJ’s many athletic teams. Publicity runs MSJ’s Facebook page and announces upcoming events. The Homecoming and Multicultural Week, Student Store, and Family Festival Committees all coordinate their respective events and aspects of L2. The Elections Committee, which is currently busy at work, makes sure class and Associated Student Body Officer (ASBO) elections run smoothly along with the ASBO debate assembly. In case you’ve ever wondered what lies inside the storage sheds by the soccer field, the Campus Beautification Committee will be able to fill you in. They are in charge of the storage sheds’ content along with keeping our campus b-e-autiful. Last but not least the Tech committee brings music, microphones, and slideshow presentations to our assemblies. The Smoke Signal invites MSJ students who demonstrate an There is an immense amount of time outside of school that L2 students must interest in writing, reporting, and photography to apply to the be willing to dedicate. Although L2 can be time consuming, students in the class Smoke Signal and the Journalism class. To apply for Journalism, have many unique experiences running school-wide events. each applicant must first submit a written application. Based on the submissions, the applicant may be asked to attend an interview conducted by one Editor-in-Chief and multiple section Applications available at the mandatory meeting on March 1 (Loeditors. Last year, approximately 75 students applied and 26 cation will be announced) were accepted. If you choose to apply, be ready to talk about the Due to N7 on March 15 paper, current events, and unique talents that you can bring to L2 has very high applicant competition. Last year about 100 applicants apthe Smoke Signal plied but only 28 were accepted (in addition to class officers and ASB Officers who are required to take L2). All applicants submit a written application and have one interview with the ASBOs. It’s a definite plus if you’re hard working, passionate, confident, and can lead by example.
Peer Resource is a seventh period class (all others meet during periods 1-6) dedicated to giving aid to students around school going through academic stress, issues with friends. and personal problems. Along with counseling students throughout the year, Peer Resource also holds many events such as Red Ribbon Week, and most recently, Post Secret. An average day of Peer Resource varies widely. One of the major focuses is counseling students around the school. Each Peer Counselor is paired up with a student in need, called a “buddy.” The counselors are first trained in how to help these students through a variety of lessons by Social Studies Teacher Jaime Richards and through guest speakers. Counselors meet with their buddies at various times throughout the week and encourage them to talk about anything and everything. Every week or so, all the students in the class give reports on the progress of their buddies and come up with new and innovative ideas to help them. Two to three times a week Richards teaches “Life Lessons,” which serve to help students gain a better understanding of themselves and those around them. After each lesson, students usually engage in an open forum, in which they share their thoughts. Second year opportunities for the class include five officer positions as well as numerous committee heads such as Red Ribbon Week and Peer Talk Thursday heads.
Peer
Applications available in B33 in MID-mARCH Due to B33 in late April If this sounds appealing to you, Peer Resource is accepting applications soon. Applications will be available in B33 in mid-March. Peer Resource is looking for a wide variety of people in the class. There’s no set list of must-haves to get in the class, but all applicants should come with a willingness to help people and an eagerness to learn. Applications involve a written portion as well as interviews, teacher recommendations, and a mandatory meeting 2 days after applications are due. Last year, there were about 60 applicants and only 21 people were chosen to be in the class of 2010-2011. While Peer Resource is a 7th period class, all other organizations meet for one period in the regular six-period schedule. courtesy yearbook, leadership
2,
the smoke signal
&
peer resource
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Smoke Signal
www.thesmokesignal.org
Unknown Snacks By Ginger Werner Staff Writer
DEAR DIARY... forever alone By Michael Wu
Staff Writer February 14, 2011 9:40 am 9:51 am Dear Diary, Dear Diary, Happy Singles Awareness Day! The She wanted help to ask him! And Sadie Hawkins dance is next month. then he rejected her! I feel so betrayed. I will not be alone this year! I hope I’ve decided that during lunch I’ll tell my Winter Ball date is going to ask her my honest feelings. Right after she me. After all, I did pay for everything accepts my stunning confession of love, (somehow she wandered off during the she’ll ask me to Sadie’s. dance though). During lunch today I’ll give her a bouquet of roses and a box 5:13 pm of chocolate to subtly compel her to ask Dear Diary, me. I got shot down. She just thinks of me as a friend and only went with me 11:59 pm to Winter Ball because she felt bad for Dear Diary, me. Great. Hello, friend zone. PopulaI didn’t even get to see her once. Not tion: Me. even a friendly text? I think she just went home sick. March 11, 2011 1:51 pm February 22, 2011 Dear Diary, 12:03 pm Walking by HER during passing Dear Diary, period was so awkward. However, her I just saw her get in a car with my best friend looked quite beautiful today. best friend. I think they’re going out for Maybe I should try asking her as a last lunch. Still no worries here. After all, minute date. Now to pull out my phone her true love is me! and text her without being caught. Message sent. 12:17 pm Dear Diary, 1:52 pm Coincidentally I had a sudden crav- Dear Diary, ing for smoothies and followed his car Rejected. Ouch. to Jamba Juice. And guess who I saw sharing a smoothie together? They must 9:17 pm be low on money so they need to share. Dear Diary, Darn it. Another Sadie Hawkins February 28, 2011 dance missed and I’m here home alone. 7:46 am Hmm, while browsing Facebook I saw Dear Diary, my ex-girlfriend. Wow she’s looking so I just saw HER with flowers. I guess much cuter now. Maybe I should try today is going to be my lucky day! Is it to… going to be public?! Yes! She just texted Wait. What am I thinking!?! I’ll just me and asked to talk to me after first sit here and patiently wait for all my period. friends. Meh. Forever Alone. ▪
blogspot.com
Venture into the land of unknown foods at your local grocery store or Asian market. Here are a few unique snacks from a variety of places to help you satisfy those munchies.
Apple Sidra is a sweet Taiwanese drink with the unique flavor of–you guessed it – apples. Not to be confused with apple cider, Apple Sidra is a light carbonated soda similar to 7-up or Sprite. It is reasonably cheaper than the leading brands of soda and can be found at any Asian market, including Marina Foods and Lion Market.
flickr.com
Honey sticks are all-natural snacks that can be eaten alone or emptied into tea as a healthy alternative to sugar. The honey is contained in small plastic tubes and comes in a wide variety of flavors including blackberry, peach, and caramel. They can be purchased at the local Irvington farmers market Sunday mornings located on Bay St. from 9-1 PM.
mummydeals.org flickr.com
Little Prince snack noodles are savory, dried ramen sold in small individual packs. Like most ramen noodles, they are an inexpensive and convenient on-the-go snack. But unlike the ramen you may cook at home, this crunchy snack eliminates the use of water. They can also be found at any Asian market.
blogspot.com
If you love macaroni and cheese, you will be a fan of Trader Joes’ Macaroni and Cheese Bites. These deep fried balls of breaded macaroni and cheese may be a little greasy, but they can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Pop them in the microwave for a quick snack, or put them in the oven for a crispier texture. They can be found at most Trader Joe’s stores worldwide.
Feature 9
sgweddingfavors.com
Snyder’s of Hanover Honey Mustard and Onion Pieces are flavorful, bite sized pretzel pieces. This delectable snack comes in other flavors including Ranch, Jalepeno, Buffalo Wild Wings, and even light seasoning. You can buy them at almost any grocery store, including Safeway and Raley’s. ▪
5 steps to a 5... By Sida Lu Staff Writer
Starred Girl
Did you pass APUSH with flying colors? Was AP Chemistry a walk in the park? Did you destroy AP Physics? But is AP Love stumping you? Never fear, for the Smoke Signal’s Five Steps to a Five will get you that five...starred girl in no time!
“Everything is a sign/Sometimes a tree is not just a tree.” Has English class taught you nothing? If you have to think about it twice, it's probably a sign. Eye contact? Sign. “Random” bump in the hallway? Sign. Asking you for a pencil? Sign sign sign! Are you crazy? She's totally into you! Make your move.
“Brevity is the soul of wit.” Communication is overrated. Say more with less and go for the silent mysterious look by saying absolutely nothing around the girl of your dreams. She will be drawn in by your mystique and become yours in no time! If James Bond and Batman can do it, you can too.
“Know thyself, but know her better.” This is an AP course. Doing your homework is a given. Once you identify the girl of your dreams, take initiative and begin your research. Girls find it incredibly cute when you finish their sentences, so be sure to study her Facebook as if you were expecting a pop-quiz on it. Then, as an icebreaker, approach her and begin talking about the shade of pink she wore in her third profile picture and what you think of her crazy grandmother. Don’t worry, it’s not creepy—it’s attentive!
“Give her a 24 ‘Carrot’ Present.” Tradition says flowers are almost a must when instigating romance with females, but LoveGuru Lu disagrees. Why risk getting the wrong kind of flower? Why give her an allergy time bomb? Why destroy the home of insects and the livelihood of bees? Simply visit your local grocery store and pick up some vegetables. She will love the gesture, ooh and ahh over the innovation, and go home and eat them. Score for sure!
“Clingy thingy, let’s go flingy.” Girls find koala bears to be the cutest things ever and love hugs, so it’s in your best interests to do both. Be sure to maintain physical contact with her at all times and latch onto her whenever possible—surprise her! Offer to carry her books while latched on and double as her backpack. What a useful guy to have around!
“One more for additional help: Small things matter.” Everyone knows the cliché that girls like sensitive guys who notice things easily. Take this one step further and reassure her that you notice the little things. Compliment her robust wrists and serenade her pinkie toes to show just how much you really care. For added effect, get all up in her ‘grill’ before speaking to make sure she’s paying attention.
Parting Keys Remember, if these tips work for you, be sure to remember who got you that far and recommend any cute friends of your five starred girl over to LoveGuru Lu. LoveGurus need some lovin’ too! Someone out there will want to be my girlfriend... right? Right?! ▪ staff writer frank chen
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Those nice projectors and expensive chemicals we come across everyday in our classes don’t just pop out of nowhere. To take a look at the fiscal side of MSJ, the Smoke Signal asked the heads of each department about the sources of funds and what these funds are used for:
DEPARTMENT
FUND SOURCES
FUNDS FOR classroom supplies
student donations, fundraisers
supplies (sketchbooks, tube paints, canvases, scissors, etc.)
Mission Possible, Chevron
technology (LCD projectors, laptop, etc), workshops
Health
Mission Possible, parent donations
supplies, technology (i.e. LCD projector bulbs)
Math
Ohlone College, parent donations
supplies, technology (ie. tablet PC’s)
Physical Education
parent donations, sales from PE clothes, cut from vending machines
offsetting costs for athletics (i.e. equipment for sports teams)
Science
student donations, grants
chemicals, biological specimens
parent donations
netbooks
Mission Possible, donations, federal & state resources
technology (desktop computer, copy machine, etc)
English Fine Arts Foreign Languages
Social Studies Special Education
We can see from this table that one of the major contributors to our school is Mission Possible. We interviewed Mission Possible President Martha Kreeger to learn more about this generous group. The Mission Possible Parent and Faculty Association income draws from sources such as membership donations and corporate matching. MSJ Parent Lori Cronland has connected Mission Possible to fundraising opportunities from Amazon, eScrip, Scrip, Jamba Juice, Safeway, and Raley’s, among others. Funding requests are made at the beginning of the year using the same form for every department and committee, and submissions must meet the same late September deadline. The push for a better campus has led to new gym lockers, approval for landscaping projects, community campus clean up days, benches, new floors in C-120, contributions to the gym floors, and a working copier for students in the library. ▪
learn about the library
A safe haven for many MSJ scholars, our school library provides more than just books. For one, the printers are true lifesavers. Library Media Teacher Maile Ferreira says that the printing cartridges in the library are replaced two to three times per year. Donations are requested for printing over three pages or printing in color, but most students print fewer than this number. Donations are also accepted at any time. The library recently received new netbooks in addition to a set from September. The netbooks can be checked out to teachers and taken to their classrooms. If teachers would like help from the library staff, they can also sign up to use them in the library. ▪
Most Popular Books:
The Smoke Signal
Fund Sources: Mission Possible, Save Fremont Students, state resources Funds For: books, replacing supplies Requests for New Books: 5 per week
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By Omar El-Sadany, Allan Ko, Mekala Neelakantan, Maya Ramachandran, Courtney Tam & Kevin Zhai Staff Writers
How thankful are MSJ students? Do we sleep as much or as little as we think we do? How many cars illegally drop off students on Mission Blvd.? In this issue, the Smoke Signal aimed to answer these intriguing questions and more through various interviews, carefully-tabulated surveys, and some eagle-eyed observations. Join us in analyzing our thought-provoking data.
“How many hours do you think the average MSJ student sleeps?”
know your sports Making the team:
Number of Responses
68%
*
10
0
4
6
Hours of sleep
8
10
“How many hours do you sleep?”
40
Number of Responses
2
chance of making the team
Going varsity:
32% *
30 20
chance of making a varsity team
10
0
2
4
6
Hours of sleep
8
10
Monday, Feb. 7 Tuesday, Feb. 8
20
Friday, Feb. 11
15 10
5 7:20-7:23
7:24-7:27
7:28-7:31 7:32-7:35
*percentages do not account for no-cut sports: Badminton, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Track and Field, and Wrestling
Often times, many students are reluctant to try out for a certain sport because they are afraid they will not even make the team. The Smoke Signal contacted Athletic Director Tom Thomsen for the results for athletic tryouts over the past few years. The averaged data reveals that students interested in pursuing a sport should go for it because there is a high chance they will make the team. The numbers varied throughout the sports. Some maintained a “nocut” policy, meaning all interested participants were guaranteed a spot on either JV or Varsity. Other teams were more competitive in selecting the team members, such as Boys’ Tennis taking in about 60 percent of students at tryouts. Overall, the numbers show that the chances an individual will make a team are good, and all individuals should be encouraged to try out. ▪
As shown by the data, there seems to be a trend behind illegal student dropoffs along Mission Blvd. Earlier in the week, drivers seemed more eager to stop their cars in safe, legal zones. However, as the week progressed, they became more impatient, stopping in the bike lane at a much earlier time of 7:23 AM. Throughout the week, the threat of being late never fails to significantly increase the number of illegal drop-offs. Beginning roughly around 7:30 AM, this “rush hour” is definitely something to watch out for. ▪
Time interval
percentage of each class who said they heard the morning announcements:
Survey Results
20
25
The Smoke Signal conducted surveys on February 4, 7, 9, and 11 to see exactly how much of the student body listens to morning announcements. The survey consisted of a quiz portion to test how intently students listened to the bulletins. Questions included: Where do you sign up for the Biology Olympiad? What presentations are coming up in the Career Center? What was at least one club that was mentioned in the announcements? In what room do you sign up for AP tests? More than half of the surveyed students did not hear the announcements. Many said they could not hear it in their classrooms. The freshmen tended to be more attentive than any of the other classes; the seniors tended to be the least attentive of all the classes. ▪
For this survey, the Smoke Signal asked 100 random MSJ students what they thought was the average amount of sleep on a school night for MSJ students, yielding an average of 5.8 hours. We also asked how much sleep they received on an typical school night, and this averaged out to be 6.6 hours of sleep per night for MSJ students— roughly an hour more than the perceived amount. Sophomores report getting the most sleep, with an average 6.9 hours per night, followed by freshmen (with 6.8 hours per night) and juniors (with 6.6 hours per night). Seniors got the least amount of sleep, averaging 6.3 hours per night. ▪
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Survey Results
morning announcements Survey Results
sleeping in
40
To investigate the frequency of illegal drop-offs during school morning traffic, the Smoke Signal collected data for three days, tallying the number of parents who illegally drop off their children along Mission Blvd.’s bike lane. The data was recorded at 3-minute intervals, beginning at 7:20 AM and ending at 7:35 AM.
on average, each MSJ student borrows book per month
E N E C S e h t G N I
Centerspread 11
mission blvd. follies
Quick Facts:
Digital Fortress by Dan Brown Brisingr by Christopher Paolini The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Y E V R SU
www.thesmokesignal.org
KEY
Mission Possible, Save Fremont Students, student donations
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
crosswalk gratitude
Survey Results
Location: crosswalk next to the horseshoe from 7:10 to 7:33 AM
KEY
# of students who thank parent volunteers, say “good morning,” or smile # of students not acknowledging volunteers at all
Crossing guards have the vital job of safely sending students across Palm Ave., a dangerous place around 7:30 AM. The Smoke Signal attempted to discover whether these important people receive any thanks by observing the students using the crosswalk over the course of three days. Our data reveals that gratitude is a rare commodity even when we also count “good mornings” and smiles. When asked how many times she was thanked, a crossing guard responded, “I work Monday mornings, so never.” Based on our data, Monday had the least thank-yous, with the percentage increasing over the course of the week. Our observations revealed that students are more likely to thank the crossing guards if they cross the street alone rather than in a large group. The behavior of the crossing guards matters as well; friendlier adults who initiate contact and know the students are more likely to be thanked. Remember to thank the crossing guard the next time he or she ushers you safely across the street; a simple “thank you” goes a long way. ▪
Monday, Feb. 7 Wednesday, Feb. 9
“Did you hear the morning announcements?” students
students who answered in the affirmative were quizzed with a question based on the morning announcements
reasons why not didn’t care freshmen sophomores
juniors
67% 37% 42% 32%
The Smoke Signal asked 100 random MSJ students what they thought the average SAT Reasoning Test score (out of 2400) was among MSJ students. Our data reveal a mean perceived average MSJ SAT score of 2102, and a median of 2050. Based on MSJ’s 201011 School Profile, the true average SAT score, from the 2009-10 school year, was 1958. This is almost 150 points less than the perceived average. Seniors thought the average SAT score was highest (2152), followed by freshmen (2151), then juniors (2080), and finally sophomores, who 30 on average thought The median the average score was perceived 2023 (still 65 points SAT score at above the true aver24 MSJ is 2050. age). ▪
Survey Results
“What do you think the average SAT score at MSJ is?”
18
The true average SAT score (from 2009-10) is 1958.
12 6
Friday, Feb. 11
seniors
the SAT situation
Number of Responses
money matters
The Smoke Signal
Frequency of cars stopping
10 Centerspread
1800
1900
2000
2100
SAT Score
2200
2300
Note: a 10% trimmed mean was used to remove outlier answers (i.e. 400 or 2400)
layout and graphics by centerspread editors aileen lu & tina tseng
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The Smoke Signal
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
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Photo 13
Reid Saw a Ghost (Juniors Cole Berggren, Alex Lefkort, and Sophomore Reid Riegelsberger of American High School) perform “Spacey Stacy” and “Halloween.”
Seniors Carl Gao and Robert Wang read poetry and sing “Happy Birthday” to Senior Will Gu. Spade (Senior Joey Cantrell) and Senior Conrad Etemadi (not pictured) perform “Beautiful Struggles” and “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Feel It.”
Senior Allen Leiyoung accompanies Senior Austin Jackson and Junior Priya Vijaykumar as they sing Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day.”
Sophomore Rahul Sengupta “proposes” to Senior Priyanka Singh in a contest to win her affections.
Closing the Foreign Language Talent Show for second period, Chinese students welcome the lunar new year with their own dragon parade.
Left-to-right: Sophomore Vishal Shaw, Freshman Simran Gulati, Ishita Shah, and Sophomore Vinay Pathania sing a Spanish version of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.”
Chinese students wave their brightly-colored fans in a traditional Chinese fan dance. photos by staff writers ditha balaji, alekya rajanala, courtney tam, aishwarya thakur, angie wang, and graphics editor sarah li.
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Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
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Singles Awareness By Anthony Chen Staff Writer
“Under Cover of Darkness” by The Strokes This highly anticipated single is part of the upcoming album Angles and is the first piece of music released after a hiatus of five years. The song retains the distinctive garage band sound of their earlier work, but this track is much more refined and sounds more commercial, professional, or mainstream, depending on your viewpoint. The song is catchy and upbeat, and the guitars actually have their own little melodies, unlike more mainstream rock where the guitarists mostly play boring and repetitive chords. Rating: A+
The Strokes
‘Eagle’ Fails to Soar
instant club hit. The mixing of the audio is excellent; the sound is balanced, especially concerning the cymbals, which sometimes tend to be extremely piercing with many club tracks. Overall, the background music fits well with the vocals. There is an element of repetitiveness, which is only exacerbated by how common Rihanna’s songs are. Rating: A“Where I’m Going” by Cut Copy Cut Copy’s distinctive synthpop sound comes through in one of the catchiest songs on their new album Zonoscope. Although the lyrics are a tad repetitive, the singing is very rich and smooth and blends in perfectly with the string instruments and somewhat heavy drumbeats. There is a lot of humming and periodic shouts of “Yeah!” which, although annoying in other songs, melds smoothly with the overall vibe of this song. Rating: B+
new.thestrokes.com
“Pass Me By” by J. Cole ft. B.o.B. This song has a very relaxed aura and sends the message that some days are bad, but you should just relax and live. The piano chords and the chiming of the xylophone contribute to the chill beat, and the lyrics discuss problems that everyone can relate to like owing money or getting pulled over. Rating: B+
jcolemusic.com
J. Cole
“S&M (Dave Aude Radio Edit)” by Rihanna The main attraction of this song is arguably Grammy-nominee Dave Aude’s skillful use of synth and a driving drumbeat to create an
Cut Copy
nytimes.com
“Hero” by Kid Ink Kid Ink is an up-and-coming rapper whose single “Hero” also has an epic feel to it. Kid Ink’s voice is smooth, unlike the harshness of Busta Rhymes’, and he doesn’t do the ridiculous off-tune half singing, half rapping that some rappers like Wiz Khalifa do. The track is also produced by Kid Ink, and although not perfect, the sampling is crisp, and the drums have decent reverb. Some of the more sudden transitions need to be smoothed out, but this is not much of a problem. The lyrics, like most rap songs, mainly pertain to the clichéd message of “being the best,” but that’s what pump-up songs are all about. ▪ Rating: A-
‘B’ for the Biebs
justinbieberneversaynever.com
Justin Bieber sings at a concert in his documentary Never Say Never.
By Richie Zeng Staff Writer
An artist has “made it” when he is able to sell out Madison Square Garden, one of the biggest concert venues in the country. Justin Bieber did it in 22 minutes, only a year and a half after the release of his first single. Never Say Never is a documentary detailing Bieber’s inspirational rise to fame. The film counts down the days before Bieber’s milestone performance at Madison Square Garden, cutting in with glimpses of his childhood and footage from several concert performances. Director Jon Chu portrays the young Bieber’s musical development very well. Playing meticulous drumbeats at age 8, he is clearly a
Arts & Entertainment 15
talented musician, but the glimpses of his exhaustion after a performance truly show how hard he tries to please his fans. The film portrays him as a gifted, but hard working teenager who reached this level of fame through his strong work ethic. Never Say Never tells Bieber’s story very effectively through the use of strong cinematography and editing, particularly in the concert performance scenes. The film does, however, try to employ certain creative storytelling methods that end up being confusing. For example, it constantly jumps between Bieber’s past and present lives, which, at many points, is unsettling and incohesive. Part of the reason why the film seems this way is because of the gratuitous scenes. One could care less about how much preteen girls love his hair, but sadly the screaming female fans make up a large part of the movie. As if that weren’t enough, the film does a wonderful job with “fan service,” occasionally showing off a shirtless Bieber, clearly a gimmick to satisfy the crazy fangirls in the audience. Despite the gratuitous scenes, Never Say Never still manages to deliver in the most important part: telling Bieber’s inspirational story. Bieber comes across as a very likable, though sometimes cocky, kid. His rapid rise to stardom seems too good to be true, but he worked for it every step of the way. The film is definitely worth a watch just to learn about one of the most talked about people in the country today. Fans will love the portrayal of Bieber and haters will, at the very least, develop a new sense of respect for him. ▪ Rating: B
Channing Tatum as the Roman Centurion Marcus Flavius Aquila.
By Ravneet Kaur Staff Writer
In most cases, Roman men clad in armor and American accents do not mix, but in The Eagle, director Kevin Macdonald attempts to juxtapose the two seemingly contrasting typecasts. This latest take on the Roman Empire offers a somewhat contemporary view on the 2nd century drama following Marcus Flavius Aquila (Channing Tatum) as he seeks to restore his father’s tainted reputation. Based on the 1954 novel by Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Eagle follows Marcus as he vows to return the sacred emblem of the Eagle lost by his father as he led the Ninth legion into unconquered lands. In the opening scene, Marcus arrives at his station in Northern Britain where twenty years prior his father disappeared with 5,000 men of the Ninth legion taking the Golden Eagle as its standard into the untamed region of present day Scotland. The powerful character of Marcus played by Channing Tatum sets the tone of the movie with his colloquial American accent which at times distracts from his role as a Roman commander. Tatum is convincing, however, as he fiercely clashes with intruding Britons and is forced to discharge when he is injured on the battlefield. After his discharge, Marcus attends a gladiator duel in which he spares the life of an enslaved man – Esca ( Jamie Bell). The plot of the movie begins to pick up here as we are introduced to
Adele Delights By Chelsea Dass Staff Writer
Adele has done it once again. The twentytwo year old English singer songwriter’s second album, 21, is a graceful masterpiece. It is no wonder her new album is so critically acclaimed, as Adele has won numerous awards, including Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance in 2009. During its first week of release in the U.K. 21 has already sold over 208,000 copies, setting the record for the fastest selling January album in five years. The success of Adele’s album can in part be attributed to the talented songwriters and producers she collaborated with: Paul Epworth who has previously worked with Florence and the Machine, Rick Rubin from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ryan Tedder from One Republic are several who helped bring about some new empowering sounds. “Rolling in the Deep,” co-written and produced with Epworth, is the first song on the album as well as a chart-topping single. Laced with an infectious heel-tapping beat, the fiery number was written as a reaction to an insult, pouring out words in the heat of the moment. Adele describes “Rolling in the Deep” as a “dark bluesy gospel disco tune” where “there’s notes that I hit in that song that I never knew I could hit.” Adele’s voice is three-dimensional; her accented pronunciation of words and layers of warmth and rasp add all the more to her unique chords. The album is infused with vibes of blues, gospel, soul, jazz, and pop with subtle country twines sewn through the back. The piano and guitar are the simplest, yet strongest instruments heard, and perfectly accompany the ever-
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the more complex character of Esca who was previously a prince in Northern Britain but is now indebted to the Romans. Esca vows to serve Marcus for saving his life and reluctantly joins him on his quest to retrieve the Eagle. The two characters form a complicated bond as they use each other’s strengths to navigate through the wild native lands of the North in an attempt to redeem Marcus’ father’s reputation. Esca reverses the master and slave relationship once they enter the Northern lands and his familiarity with the region gives him the upper hand. As they seek to find the Eagle, the pairing meets the “Seal People” who detest Romans. Bell’s finest acting is portrayed in this part of the film as he convinces the viewer that he is betraying the man that saved his life. Marcus condemns himself for trusting him, but Esca remains noble in the fight to find the Eagle. The ensuing dialogues among the two are mostly predictable, but the battles scenes against the Seal People overpower the awkwardness. Following the predictability of the rest of the movie, the end restores the reputation his Marcus’ father and the Golden Eagle is returned to Rome. The Eagle falls flat in terms of the traditional Roman epic, but is moderately successful in offering a 21st century perspective of the Roman empire. The natural scenery and warfare parallels to modern day are commendable, but fail to be compelling enough for a glorious film. ▪ Rating: C+ present steady beats. Through her songs, Adele shows attitude and spunk, pleads and cries, reassures her independence, surrenders, vows to self-improvement, croons to a long-time love, and finally recovers. 21 is about the ups and downs of a relationship with a boy, summed up in the last song “Someone Like You.” In her beautifully poignant album, she learns that grudges can’t be held forever and moves on to a happier and more accepting note. ▪ Rating: A
Music Picks from the Editorial Board
This Month: Duets
Aileen: Promiscuous by Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland Alissa: Starstruck by Lady Gaga feat. Space Cowboy Amit: Pyramid by Charice feat. Iyaz Arthur: Windows by Clemm Rishad feat. Adrian Audrey : Words by Anthony David feat. India.Arie Cassie: Summer Nights by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John Elisa: Lucky by Jason Mraz feat. Colbie Caillat Grace: Superhuman by Chris Brown feat. Keri Hilson You Can Do, I Can do Better Gurleen: Anything by Doris Day feat. Robert Goulet Jordan: Anyone Else but You covered by Michael Cera & Ellen Page Megan: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John & Kiki Dee Roger: One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey ft. Boys II Men Ain’t No Mountain High Enough Sarah: by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Sonia: You Don’t Know Me by Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor Tina: Somewhere by Josh Groban & Charlotte Church Vishal: Words I Never Said by Lupe Fiasco feat. Skylar Grey Mrs. Cohen: Unforgettable by Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole Listen to the playlist at www.thesmokesignal.org
16 Arts & Entertainment
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The Smoke Signal
The 83rd Academy Awards
Friday, February 25, 2011
Predictions By Sarah Li & Jamie Lin Graphics Editor & Staff Writer
The King’s Speech
Black Swan
Best Picture: The King’s Speech For a film about a British king, The King’s Speech shows surprisingly little pretension, and for a film about stuttering, it shouldn’t be a surprise that its magic lies more in what isn’t said than what is. Continuing an excellent marathon through a slew of awards, The King’s Speech owes as much to its deeply personal storyline as to its actors. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush have an onscreen chemistry as Bertie (King George VI) and Lionel (his speech therapist) that transcends the film, and Helena Bonham Carter’s nuanced performance is a delightful contrast from her more recent roles. Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech For those of us not afflicted with stuttering, we can only imagine how difficult it must be to imitate it faithfully onscreen. Colin Firth has won (and rightly deserved) praise for his accurate depiction of stuttering in The King’s Speech, and most audiences can’t help but feel the frustration, persistence, and insecurity that pervades his character. Firth carried the role of King George VI exceedingly well with honor, humility, and just the right amount of regal self-importance. Besides, it’s about time this long-beloved actor gets his Oscar. Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan Natalie Portman has never been better than as delicate, deranged, destructive, perfect ballerina Nina Sayers. She’s eerily fragile and creepy in her girlishness, but her determination to be the ultimate Swan Queen both completes and ruins her. It’s a bold, compelling performance, and for Portman to lose this award would be a tragedy. The other nominees may have been great, but, well, just like Nina with her rivals, Portman was simply greater.
The Social Network
Best Director: David Fincher, The Social Network Best Director and Best Picture usually go hand-in-hand, but both categories have been a tight race between Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech and David Fincher’s The Social
Network so far. In the end, though, the prized statue is going to Fincher, who already has the Satellite, Critics’ Choice, Golden Globe and even BAFTA awards. While Hooper undeniably was masterful, he was working with established actors, whereas Fincher gets points for coaxing intense performances out of, though talented, relatively new and unknown actors.
The Fighter
Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter Christian Bale is known for his method acting, and his portrayal of Dicky Eklund in The Fighter is no exception. Besides giving yet another powerful performance, native Brit Bale even managed to pull off a Boston accent. As strong as the other nominees are (particularly Geoffrey Rush as Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech), Bale swept all major pre-Oscar awards, so there’s no doubt he’ll take this statue home as well. Best Supporting Actress: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit Melissa Leo had this one in the bag. She has the Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics’ Choice Awards all for her stellar depiction of Alice Ward. Then she decided to release a controversial ad campaign to improve her Oscar chances, but the ads seem to celebrate cleavage and fur more than promote acting abilities. Therefore, since the Oscars undoubtedly take public image into consideration, our bet’s on newcomer Hailee Steinfeld, who showed true grit indeed as Mattie Ross, a fourteen-yearold girl hellbent on revenge. Best Animated Feature: Toy Story 3 Pixar: need we say more? This year, though, the Emeryville-based studio deserves this award more than ever with Toy Story 3, a film which was equal parts hilarious, heartwarming, and terrifying (Big Baby and the Cymbal-banging monkey, anyone?). Toy Story 3 is also up for Best Picture, so although How to Train Your Dragon and The Illusionist are both terrific films, they’re hardly competitors in this category. ▪
Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit
Toy Story 3
amazon.com, baltimoresun.com, kingsspeech.com, nytimes.com, thefightermovie.com, truegrit.com
Friday, February 25, 2011
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Arts & Entertainment 17
Interview: DJ Earworm
Ever heard of the “United State of Pop”? Every year, mashup artist DJ Earworm takes the top 25 hits in the music industry and creates a single mix, highlighting the best of each year’s tracks.The Smoke Signal had the opportunity to interview him.
Smoke Signal: What got you into the music industry and DJing? DJ Earworm: I’ve been making music for a long time. I was doing original music, songwriting, and original production, and I kind of wandered into DJ-ing. I was making mix tapes back in late ‘03 for like a road trip or something, and I started using [Sony] Acid, which is still a tool a lot of mashup artists use. So I said, “Oh I’ll make a mix tape on Acid,” and I just started cutting up some songs and rearranging [them], just for the fun of it. I played it for my friends, and they said, “You should make some more of those,” and so I just started making more, and then I gave them to DJ Adrian over at Club Bootie, and this is back in Club Bootie’s first year, and he said, “You should put these mashups online and give yourself a name and an identity.” So I said “Okay well, it’s a good idea,” and I came up with the name DJ Earworm, even though I had never DJed. Before long, I was getting invited to gigs, I got some software so I could learn how to spin, and then it kind of just grew from there. So it was sort of accidental that I ended up a DJ. It was because I started making music with other people’s music, and that’s what DJs do, so I guess I’m a DJ. SS: Most people know you for your annual remixes. When and why did you decide to start putting together these remixes? DJE: Well, I started in 2007. I was experimenting with multi-song mashups and seeing if I could do three songs, four songs, sevens songs, and get this twenty-two song mashup, which kind of took different bits of random songs and old songs, and I thought that was kind of cool. So I thought, what if I did a mash-up of all current songs? I saw the billboard charts come out. They had actually come out a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn’t paying at-
By Andrew Han Staff Writer
Jordan Roseman, better known as DJ Earworm.
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tention. So I looked at them and I was like “Oh, you know, a lot of the songs on the year-end chart were in this mashup I’m working on.” So I wondered what would happen if I added a few and cut out some of the lower-ranked ones, and maybe I could make this a solid block of the top of the charts, so yeah, that’s kind of what I did. My manager suggested that I do it with a nicer number, because I had the top twenty-two songs, and he said “That doesn’t make any sense, you’ve got to make it twenty or twenty-five.” Finally he convinced me and it ended up being twenty-five songs, and I called it the “United State of Pop” because I felt like it was all of pop united into one state, and so I put it out, got some radio play in Philadelphia and on Open House party. People by that time were really expecting it. And then 2009 just flew up beyond what had happened before. You know, each year it has gotten bigger but 2009 just flew up, crazy.
DJE: Well, I do think pop goes through stylistic bottlenecks, where everything kind of converges. And it happens repeatedly, though… [Radio] back in like 1978, [was] like “Oh my God, it all sounds exactly the same.” It’s exactly the same disco vibe, you know? So I don’t think it’s worse than it used to be, it’s just that pop changes and what happens is that people like the music that they were accustomed to, you know. If anyone is older than 20, they always think “Oh, the music from high school was the best, this music nowadays sucks!” And you know, when they’re 30 they say that, when they’re 40 they say that. You ask, you know, a 50-year old, “What is your favorite music?”They’ll be like “Oh, this music sucks.The ‘70s, that’s where it’s at.” Whatever you grew up with is going to be the best. I guarantee you that people who grew up today in ten years are going to be like “Music today sucks! You go back to 2010, that’s music! Remember Ke$ha, remember Katy Perry?”
SS: A lot of people nowadays have negative things to say about pop music, such as “Oh, it all sounds the same” or “It’s all about the same few topics.” How do you respond to this?
SS: What are the technical and mental processes that you go through when you make one of your end-of-year remixes or video compilations? DJE: Well, I first listen to everything, and say,
“What does this all mean? If it’s a single artist, what’s their story? If it’s the end of the year, what’s the common theme?” So for 2009, there was a lot of talk about being down. There was a feeling of falling down and getting back up again. Whereas 2010, it felt more like – well, pretty much as soon as I heard that “Tik Tok” song it really struck me as the sequel of 2009, where we were down and we got back up again. Now we’re up and we got to party. I kept on hearing that message, with Usher’s “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” and [Katy Perry’s] “Teenage Dream” and Enrique Iglesias’ “I Like It” and they were all talking about living like it’s the last day of your life, [like] we’re going to run away and never look back. That’s from a lyrical point of view, and then I figure out what key everything is going to be in. I put it all in a spreadsheet and look at each key and try to figure out which of my choices is going to do the least amount of damage to the most songs. If you transpose vocals too far, it kind of starts to sound weird. I figure out the tempo and the key by almost averaging it all together and seeing what’s going to work best. Once I make that choice, I transpose everything into that key and get everything to the right tempo and then start playing around with the words to accentuate the central theme.This year I started with “pop” … “Don’t stop the pop” had internal rhyme and I sort of built on that. SS: You began remixing with Sony Acid Pro and now you use Ableton Live. Any words of advice for beginners? DJE: Well, you could buy my book [Music Mashups], if you want to. It kind of guides you through the whole process of using [Sony] Acid to make mashups. I would start off real simple, maybe start off with trying to find a rap acapella. You don’t have to deal with the idea of key, you can start with just the timing. Get a nice rap acapella, get an instrumental you like, and try to fix them together and get the groove right. That’s a great way to start. ▪
Interview: Alex Pettyfer
The Smoke Signal received the opportunity to participate in an exclusive roundtable interview with up and coming movie star Alex Pettyfer, who has starred in the films Alex Rider: Operation Stormbreaker and Beastly. He spoke with us about his recent film I Am Number Four, which premiered February 18. The movie, based on the novel of the same name, follows the story of John Smith (also known as Number Four), one of nine chosen alien children with superhuman abilities from the Lorien planet. The evil Mogadorians are seeking to destroy these nine children in number order, and John is the next victim. Pettyfer shared with the Smoke Signal his thoughts on the movie, his role in the film, and what he is working on now.
Smoke Signal: I Am Number Four was created as a part of an intended franchise, and was being written at the same time as filming. What made you take this risk? Alex Pettyfer: I just thought the story was amazing. [ John Smith] is a reluctant hero. My favorite heroes are the guys you can relate to like Batman, but John is just a very vulnerable character. I just loved the fact that John was like that. He was this young guy who didn’t really want to be a hero, but that unfortunately was his destiny. He ended up having to believe in what his destiny was, and having to fight for it. SS: What is your dream movie? If you could choose a movie to act in, what would it be? AP: Well, I Am Number Four. (laughs) I just did a movie called Now, and I played the bad guy, which is interesting because it’s a different route for me. In the film everyone stops aging at the age of 25. There’s no such thing as money; currency is all run by time. We all had these clocks that run out, and when they run out, you die. When you hit 25, you only get a year; you can end up with a million years or you could end up with 23 hours.
little bit. Basically John’s not in high school anymore, and—I can tell you because it’s in the first one—the rock is a tracking device and we find out where all the other Numbers are. The second movie is about finding where [the other Numbers] are. As you may have noticed, the resemblance with Twilight is that there is a love triangle, and John is torn between Number Six and Sarah.
By Jamie Lin & Alekya Rajanala Staff Writers
beastlythemovie.com, findnumberfour.com
Alex Pettyfer as John Smith in I Am Number Four (left) and Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly (right).
SS: How hard was it to train for the film? I know you already did the Alex Rider movie and did some training for that, but this movie looked pretty intense as well. AP: It was a hard experience; we started training two months before. Something I’m most proud of in the movie: I don’t like heights very much, and I had to jump off a cliff eight feet in the air backwards, which was kind of scary. SS: What makes this film enjoyable is the fact that the audience can relate to the experiences that John faces in high school—being pushed around and bullied. Did you relive any of these experiences while filiming? AP: Yeah, there was a scene where Sam ( John’s sidekick) basically gets upset when [the bullies] ruin a picture of him and his father. You know, Sam’s not a stereotypical victim; he’s not geeky, he’s just a guy who believes in UFOs and believes his dad is his hero, but they make fun of him for that, and [in the movie] I step in. I can’t say that I relived any moments while filming,
but I really think that people should stand up for people who are victims. If you don’t stand up, you’re as cowardly as the people who are bullying. We’ve really got to stop all this insecurity, because at the end of the day, bullies are insecure, and they probably feel worse than the victims. SS: Were there any changes between the book and the movie? AP: Yes, there were some significant changes. A big change is that in the film, John is not as aware of where he’s from. We just tried to make the best possible movie we could make, because I think that’s all you can do. I think the last Harry Potter did justice to the book; it stayed on the guidelines but it wasn’t “t for t”. We’ve got changes in there, but I think we made a good movie, I hope. SS: Can you tell us anything about the sequel? AP: Yeah…if you go see this movie, then we’ll make one. (laughs) It’s good; I can give you a
SS: What was the hardest part of filming? AP: I think it was the fact that I had to go back to high school. I always found school a bit boring, but I was dyslexic, so I found it hard to learn. It’s weird, high school is such a complicated thing. I remember going back and we shot there the first day. I couldn’t believe it, it was literally like watching an American movie. We had all the jocks on one side, and all the cheerleaders, and you had all these cliques. And when we were trying to organize the extras, they wouldn’t leave each other. It was like, wow, it really does flow like that. So I was an outsider to them, and they’re outsiders to me. It shows you that we are all outsiders to each other, and I think that’s a big message in the movie. SS: If you could give advice to teenagers today, what would it be? AP: Fight for what you believe in. Stay true to who you are as a person, don’t be a sheep. Don’t be a sheep and just follow the crowd, because as Sam says, “Those [popular high school] guys are in the best four years of their lives.” I would advise you that…I’m really not the best person to give you advice, but if I were to give you advice: school is a miniature version of the world. Who you are in school doesn’t become who you are in the real world, but the smaller factors are that you are sheltered. Just be who you are. ▪
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Friday, February 25, 2011
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GIRLS’ BASKETBALL | Lady Warriors win first
league title since 1995
continued from page 1
By Ditha Balaji & Maya Ramachandran Staff Writers
By Grace Han & Amit Patankar Sports Editors
Take Six: “Blame the Coach” There is nothing more frustrating to a franchise owner than having to watch their team miss the playoffs year after year and disappoint home fans with loss after loss. Desperate for change, most of the staff and players band together to find someone to blame: the coach. Whenever a team’s performance seems to be an eternal cycle of mediocrity, managers always take it as an opportunity to fire a coach under a false pretense of change. Although there are some notable
therealtimer.com
Sloan’s constant bickering with guard Deron Williams on his coaching style was one of the reasons that he chose to retire.
Warrior Wrestling
cases where the coach was the reason behind the team’s disparity, most dismissals are just outright absurd. Both managers and players must realize that coaches in general have very little impact on the record of a losing team in comparison to the impact of players and management. Although NBA coaching legend Jerry Sloan wasn’t dismissed, pressure from star point guard Deron Williams on his predictable coaching style and the constant undermining of his actions by management effectively forced his resignation. After 23 seasons with the Jazz and 1,127 wins under his belt, Sloan’s legacy ended with an
emotional press conference where he announced his retirement. With a record of 31-23 and seventh place in the league, the Jazz did not have much to complain about. If the team really did seek to improve their standing in the Western Conference, Williams should have demanded that the front office bring in a new center or power forward to fill the void in the paint after the departure of forward Carlos Boozer and injury absence of center Mehmet Okur, because new center Al Jefferson’s presence isn’t cutting it. Similarly, Mike Brown was fired after the Cavalier’s failed to make the Finals for the second year in a row while losing to the Celtics. In a ploy to make a return to Cleveland seem more appealing, the Cavalier organization fired Brown. This did not seem to appease LeBron James, who went to Miami, while the Cavaliers were stuck with a terrible rotation, a new coach, and no superstar for the players to rally around. The past season, the NFL also saw four coaches who were let go for dismal regular seasons. Mike Singletary (San Francisco 49ers), Wade Phillips (Dallas Cowboys), Brad Childress (Minnesota Vikings) and Josh McDaniels (Denver Broncos) all lost their jobs after their teams failed to live up to their expectations coming into the season. Even being four of the highest profile coaches in the league couldn’t prevent them from being the scapegoats of frustrated fans and players. At the end of the day, coaches don’t suit up to play alongside their players and cannot have a solid impact on the game directly. The purpose of a coach lies off the court in making game time decisions, drawing plays, and providing support and advice to the team. A band-aid solution will actually hurt the team in the long run in case the new coach clashes with the players. Coaches are the heart of a team, but ousting them just to placate fans is not only a mistake, it’s a step backward on the road to improvement. ▪
It has been sixteen long years, but the girls have finally done it: they are MVAL League Champions. This year the varsity team finished with a league record of 11-1, the best record in MSJ girls’ basketball history.
two games. The unforgiving postseason is “win or go home,” but the team’s successful season suggests that they will go far in the playoffs, especially after being ranked in the top 8 teams in all divisions of NCS for nearly the whole season. ▪
Boys’ basketball shocks Logan By Grace Han Sports Editor
On Friday, Feb 18, the Boys’ Basketball team put on a Senior Night to remember against James Logan. Coming in without a sportswurlz.com The Lady Warriors celebrate their league title and automatic bid league win, they didn’t let their record hold to NCS. them back from playing an inspiring game. A laudable preseason with only one loss Although they were without some players due was the perfect set up for the Lady War- to suspension, Logan came in as huge favorriors to win their league. With a relative size ites after upsetting top seeded Kennedy a few disadvantage, the team utilized sound fun- weeks before. But led by Senior Sunny Rupani, damentals and specific game plans in order who finished with a game high 19 points, the to crush their opponents. The team’s success Warriors came back from a six point half time was attributed to their unfaltering chemistry deficit to tie the game at 39 after three quarters. from playing basketball together since junior In the final minutes, Senior Eric Yai drained high, along with the dedicated encourage- his second three pointer of the game to put ment they received from head coach Doug MSJ on top and take the lead for good. RuSakomoto and assistant coaches Chris Joo pani would ice the game from the free throw and Erica Fong. The team’s experience, with line, where he finished 10-11. When the final eight seniors and nine returning varsity play- buzzer sounded, the Warriors won 55-52 and ers, also aided the winning season. the fans rushed the court in celebration. After Aside from the team as a whole, individual the game, Senior Captain Eugene Chen said, players were acknowledged for their outstand- “Our team was confident we were going to ing play. Senior Jessica Woo and Junior Ilene win, so I’m guessing we overlooked our other Tsao, both team captains and leading scorers, games.” ▪ were named First Team All-League, and Junior Maya Ramachandran earned an Honorable Mention. Woo was also NCS Athlete of the Week and Athlete of the Season at MSJ. The team’s triumphant season, with an overall record of 25-2, is promising for their postseason. Seeded as number four in the North Coast Section playoffs, the girls restaff writer maya ramachandran ceieved home-court advantage for their first MSJ students rush the court after the win.
By Sanjna Shukla Staff Writer
On February 4-5, MSJ held its annual MSJ Invitational wrestling tournament. As usual, this event attracted various schools from all over California and even Nevada. In the end, Clovis High School went home with the team championship, and De La Salle High claimed the second place title. The Warriors, led by Senior Captains Leo Yang, Zannain Shafi, Wei Kuo, and Michael Lee, fared relatively well as they garnered 25th place overall. With a total of 70 teams competing in the tournament, MSJ placed in the top percentage and tied at 40 points with Dublin High School. The Warriors’ top performances came from Juniors Corbin Lee and Will Booth, who each advanced at least three rounds in their respective weight classes. Other Fremont teams, such as James Logan High and Newark Memorial High, did well across the various weight classes. Overall, Logan took 6th place at 69 points, just 29 points over MSJ. Newark Memorial was neck in neck with MSJ as they came in 11th place. Nolen
2011 MSJ Invitational staff writer ginger werner
Senior Wei Kuo pins down his opponent.
Kajiwera of James Logan was the only Fremont wrestler to place in the top 3 of any weight class. Overall, this season has been a successful one for the wrestling team. Coming off some outstanding performances in preseason tournaments, the team was expected to deliver during the season, and they haven’t failed. At the Newark-Ironman Tournament, which
hosted 12 teams, MSJ took 4th overall and Booth earned first place in his weight class. The Newark Tournament was just a glimpse of the team’s upcoming success. At the Healdsburg Dual Meet Tournament, five out of eight Mission wrestlers took first place. At the Madera South Tournament, which included a total of 36 teams, MSJ placed 8th overall, and Lee finished in second place. ▪
By the Numbers 70 40
teams in attendance points the Warriors scored as a team
25th place MSJ finished overall
Wrestling Standouts: Corbin Lee and Michael Lee Corbin Lee
staff writer ellie wong
Sophomore Corbin Lee has had another remarkable season after making it to the state championships last year. He was the only MSJ wrestler to be seeded in the tournament, at seventh in his weight class. Lee made it to the third round in the championship bracket, and was eliminated in the fifth round of the consolation bracket. In the last four tournaments Mission has participated in before the MSJ Invitational, Lee has placed either first or second in his weight class. He also placed first at MVALs and is headed to NCS.
Michael Lee
staff writer ditha balaji
Senior Captain Michael Lee, coming off a 6-0 run in the regular season, has played a pivotal role in the team’s success. Lee, a four year wrestler, was one win away from getting a medal at the Asics tournament, the fourth most competitive tournament in California. Although the team has done well this season, Lee says they haven’t peaked and has high expectations for the post season. Lee says, “We expect 7 out of 10 Varsity wrestlers to place in NCS, so we’re going to have an exceptional showing in the post season this year.”
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Friday, February 25, 2011
Winter Sports Recap By Vaishaal Shankar & Jonathon Teng Staff Writers
Boys’ Basketball
Girls’ Basketball
After losing five talented seniors last year, the Girls’ Basketball team was not sure what to expect at the beginning of the season. However they quickly rose to the challenge. With Captains Seniors Jessica Woo, Megan McLaughlin, and Carolyn Chan and Junior Ilene Tsao leading the way, the team marched on to an astounding 25-2 season (including 11-1 in league) and is headed to NCS as the fourth seed. In addition, they brought home the school’s first MVAL title since 1995. Much of their success can be attributed to strong communication between the players, which let the team to work together much more than usual. This allowed them to play cohesively on the court, which translated into creating a powerhouse team. Says Chan, “We take pride in being one of the strongest defensive teams in NCS and our closeness as a team enables us to play as one unit.”
With the loss of six seniors from last year and addition of new head coach Mike Kenney, the Boys’ Basketball team experienced a rebuilding season this year. Even with these significant changes, they placed second in the Valley Christian Tournament early in the season. But unfortunately, the team has been plagued with serious injuries the entire season. With a constant shortage of players, they have suffered throughout the season by coming up short in many games and were only able to win one league game. However, they look forward to learning from this season to build a promising team next year. Senior Captain Bryan Nakasako said, “Record aside we competed day in and day out whether it was a practice or a game. We started the season as friends and ended it as family. Best of luck to the teams in the years to come.”
Boys’ Soccer
Girls’ Soccer
Boys’ soccer had a strong start to the season with preseason wins against good teams like Granada and D ublin. Lead by Senior Captains Neil Marion, Zaki Sar war y, and Jake Seubert, the team finished with a 1-2-6 season record. Despite problems imposed by MVAL rules that made some players unavailable for a part of the season, the team was able to play through this and keep their spirit strong. The entire team had good chemistr y and was able to move the ball around ver y well. Marion said, “ We just need to work on getting a hard shot into the back of the net, that was the only thing we were lacking this year.”
The Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team faced a hard season, emerging with a record of 4-7-1. Highlights of the season include defeating Newark on their home field after three years of consecutive losses and beating Kennedy, an undefeated team during preseason. “This year was tougher than our last season. We had to rebuild half of our team since we lost a lot of our starting seniors last year,” says Senior Captain Frances Petersen. The team also added two new assistant coaches/trainers (Maile Mccoy and Vanessa Miskella) and Stephanie Cockrill, a former assistant coach, filled the head coach position. Petersen said, “Although our season was tough, we worked extremely hard and had our successes both on and off the field. We’d like to wish the girls luck next year and to keep the Warrior spirit strong!”
Wrestling Wrestling at Mission has been always known as a tough sport. The long hours dedicated year round and the intensity of their practices have allowed for a successful season this year. Ending this season with a record of 4-2, the team experienced narrow losses to Newark and Logan, but is hoping to defeat their rival schools and place at least in top 8 at NCS this year. Senior Captain Michael Lee said, “This year we faced a lot of problems with tough matches against our section opponents and injuries. However, in the great words of Coach Thomsen, “It is what it is, and take that and use it to push you to wrestle better at NCS. Do you [wrestlers] know my expectations for the end of this season? To have all you seniors place in NCS.” Hopefully, the team’s hard work will pay off and fulfill the high expectations placed on them.
photos by staff writers stephenie yuan and ginger werner, courtesy dennis cochran, ron wong, and yearbook layout by staff writers jamie lin, diya roy, centerspread editor tina tseng, and graphics editor cassie zhang