Vol. LVII, No. 4

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 55, NO. 4

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

December 17, 2021

American High School hosts

“

On Saturday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., American High School (AHS) held their 16th Annual “BELIEVE” Holiday Boutique. The event featured more than 70 local artists and crafters hosting stalls and selling items including woodworking, ceramics, jewelry, accessories, and more. This highly anticipated event also featured a raffle and Bake Sale, a fundraiser for AHS Class of 2022’s Grad Nite event.

As the popularity of this event has grown every year it has been held since 2005, the “BELIEVE” Holiday Boutique is now Fremont’s largest holiday boutique and features a never-ending list of vendors. While newer vendors participated in the event this year, the boutique has also curated a dedicated list of vendors who return year after year because of how large the event is and how many customers they gain

16TH” ANNUAL

BELIEVE Holiday Boutique

By Ayushi Kashyap, Hannah Shen & Aaryan Suri Staff Writers

from it. “[The boutique] is amazing. I love it. It’s one of the best boutiques of the year.

I look forward to it all year long.” Shawnie Ledbetter, owner of A Crafter’s Love, a business that sells signs made from recycled fence boards, said.

In the main selling area of the event, the Rotunda, vendors set up stalls displaying their products, each designed to catch the eye of the attendees. There was no shortage of diversity in these vendors’ products, with stalls selling Crocs to stalls selling dreamcatchers. The Rotunda was also decorated with festive balloons, posters, and decorations. However, there was much more to the event than the stalls in

the Rotunda. Through Candy Cane Lane, a hallway decked out with more Christmas-themed decorations, shoppers could access the Eagle Rock Cafe where even more vendors were set up.

Because of the abundance of vendors and shoppers at this event, many COVID-19 precautions were also put in place. “We did have people at the entrance ensuring that masks are put on as they enter, and we spread signs out ... around every corridor and around the rotunda,” AHS Senior Class Vice President Jimmy Ying said. The senior class officers mainly assisted the AHS Parent Teacher Student Association in setting up the event and making the eye-catching signs that say masks displayed all around the school.

The event was a major success this year and has “become a hallmark of winter here at AHS,” Ying said.

The boutique has not only

become a great way for local vendors to advertise their products, it has also become a great way to build community around the Fremont area. “We meet all kinds of families and friends and you get to see people that you haven’t seen for a while, so it’s really nice to see all the community to come out and support AHS,” Jessica Baker, a parent volunteer at AHS Class of 2022’s Grad Nite Bake Sale, said. ▪

“ The event

has become a hallmark of winter here at AHS. ” — AHS Senior Class Vice

President Jimmy Ying PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER HANNAH SHEN

L2 Partners with USAgain TO HOST

CLOTHING DRIVE

By Amelie Wu & Elton Yu have partnered Staff Writers mittee Member with USAgain.

Junior Jackie Wang said.

In the past, the L2 Community ComUSAgain reached out Activities Director mittee has hosted similar events including Ben Breazeale via email, who forwarded the canned food and blood drives for various message to the L2 Community Committee. organizations to benefit the underprivi- USAgain hopes to remove the stigma surleged and support the community. Some rounding secondhand clothing while supof their most recognized events include the porting student sustainability. “The intent fall and spring blood drives; however, these was pretty straightforward, to divert reusable drives were cancelled due to COVID-19. clothes and shoes from landfills to the reuse “We decided to go with a clothing drive cycle, and to keep clothes and shoes that are because as the seasons are changing, the perfectly fine in people’s closets, but just difweather is getting colder. A lot of people ferent people’s closets than they were origidon’t have the [necessary] clothes to wear, nally,” USAgain Business Development Conespecially since winter is coming around. So tent Creator Jacob Rayburn said. we decided to host a clothing drive to help A complication they faced throughout this those people that are drive was limited publicity. Despite members in need,” L2 Com- of L2 reposting and sharing on social media munity Com- about the drive, the committee was unsure if their posts reached a wide audience. Another complication that arose was limited supply of TreeMachines. “The boxes were low in supply, and it took an extra week to get here.

So we had to extend the drive, limiting the “ Many students are blessed and we time we originally had,” should give back ... There is always a L2 Member Senior need and always people who are in Kevin Chen said.

Through hosting need, so we should help out. ” PHOTO BY STAFF WRITER AMELIE WU events such as canned — Activities Director Ben Breazeale From left to right: L2’s Community Committee members Seniors Aditi Morumganti, Aashi Khandelwal, food and blood drives, Kevin Chen, Community Committee Head Senior Irene Seo, and Community Committee Member Junior In honor of America Recycles Day on November 15, MSJ’s L2 Community Committee collaborated with USAgain to run a clothing drive from November 12 to December 22.

According to USAgain, as of December 8, the drive has collected 110 pounds of clothes.

USAgain is an organization that recycles excess clothing, shoes, and other household textiles via donation boxes called TreeMachines.

Three of these TreeMachine drop boxes were placed around campus to encourage students and staff to donate and support their cause.

MSJ is currently one of more than 650 schools that

According to USAgain,

110

pounds of clothes were donated through the drive

Jackie Wang.

L2 hopes to encourage students at MSJ to give back to the community while also recognizing the financial privileges of living in the Bay Area, as oftentimes, students fail to recognize the support they are provided in comparison to other communities. “[Many] students are blessed and we should give back ... There’s always a need and always people who are in need, so we should help out,” Breazeale said.

According to USAgain, 50-80% of the collected clothes can be reworn. Additional applications of donated clothing include being recycled into rags or being used to make new clothing. “The clothes are sent to Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador ... Some clothes also go to Texas, where we have some partners, but the great majority of the clothes go to those “ The clothes are sent to Central AmeriGuatemala, Belize, Honduras, can countries,” Rayburn said. ▪ and El Salvador ... the great

majority of the clothes go to those Central American countries. ” —

USAgain Business

Development Content Creator Jacob Rayburn

2 News

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, December 17, 2021

Career Technical Education MSJ

AT

AND

MVROP

By Esther Lau, Sarina Li, Maryam Naseer & Bryan Xiong Staff Writers Despite providing students with valuable hands-on industry experience, Career Technical Education (CTE) classes still remain a mystery to most of the MSJ community. To provide students with more insight into these course offerings, the Smoke Signal interviewed students and staff about their expectations and experiences regarding CTE classes.

THE Mission Valley ROP Cente

r

Constructed in 2007, the Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program (MVROP) Center is adjacent to John F. Kennedy High School and consists of a 45,000 square foot, two-story, building home to nearly 4,000 adult and high school students. The center provides career technical training that helps prepare students for successful medical, business, and technological careers. In a partnership with the New Haven and Newark Unified School Districts and FUSD, the MVROP Center works to give high school students the opportunity to explore their future interests with the help of industry-standard resources and education. “They have bigger classrooms with more equipment that’s tailored specifically to the program that the student is studying, and there are also times where the teachers were in the industries ... I would say they have a really good hold on making sure they connect students with the industry,” MSJ College and Career Specialist Catherine Castillou said.

CAreer Technical Education COURSES

Popular CTE Courses AT MVROP

According to Castillou, the most popular CTE courses are:

PRINCIPLES OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE/ HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES/DIGITAL ELECTRONICS CAREERS IN EDUCATION

CTE Courses At MSJ

Current CTE courses offered on the MSJ campus are Digital Photography, Digital Imaging, and Entrepreneurship, all of which have been growing more popular in recent years.

In particular, Entrepreneurship has experienced a tremendous amount of growth, due to its relationship with the popular business competition program DECA. “We started out as two classes, and now there’s four of them. Each class is completely full, and I probably could have a fifth,” Entrepreneurship Teacher Belinda Eugster said. Between MSJ and the MVROP Center, CTE course selections differ greatly. 54 of the 318 MSJ students taking CTE courses are enrolled in courses held at the MVROP center.

Popular courses amongst these students include Principles of Biomedical Science/Human Body Systems, Computer Science Principles/Digital Electronics, and Careers in Education.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

AT MSJ

CTE courses are unique course options that students can take to gain hands-on learning experience in select career fields by gaining expertise in the field and networking with established professionals. In FUSD, the MVROP center serves as the district’s hub for CTE courses. MSJ students may enroll in CTE courses at MSJ or at MVROP, although the latter option takes up two class periods and requires students to arrange their own transportation or take the designated MVROP bus.

This is part of the difficulty of taking a CTE course off campus, but some students still opt to do so for the sake of diversifying their course options. “As a teacher, I just saw [CTE courses] change so many lives. When you’re in a classroom and everybody is jazzed up — they didn’t just get stuck in that room, they chose it — everybody gets more excited about what they’re doing,” MVROP Program Coordinator Peggy Nutz said.

DIGITAL IMAGINING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

College and Career CTE courses also allow students to explore their own passions while gaining knowledge in fields that are not typically found in high school courses. “It sets students apart from others, because less students tend to take these MVROP classes. So, the ones that do can really showcase how they’ve gone down a different path than the course offerings that are available to other students here at school… that’s a good thing for colleges to look at because it makes them stand out,” Counselor Jitin Sharma said.

Additionally, the unique career experiences that MVROP classes provide are highly beneficial. “[Students] can see if they want to start [down that career path] before they get out of high school, because you don’t know what you want until you try it.” Nutz said.

16% of total MSJ Students are taking CTE Courses

318

1645

NOT TAKING A CTE COURSE

83% of CTE Students take on-campus courses and 17% of CTE Students take courses at MVROP

54

264

TAKING A CTE COURSE

ON CAMPUS MVROP

Student Satisfaction

FUNDING AND RESOURCES

Students are offered many hands-on and real life experiences in their CTE courses. “My class in particular, Automotive Technology 1 (ATEC-1), helps us achieve basic automotive technician certifications, teaches us safety regulations, and everything fundamental to automotive technology that we’ll need in the future.” Automotive Technology 1 Student Senior Nathan Nguyen said.

Moreover, the MVROP center provides a valuable learning environment, allowing students to connect with other students who are passionate about the same career, in addition to teachers who have experience in the industry. “You have a lot of support from your teacher as well as your peers in all the hands-on activities ... and it’s definitely a closer connection that you develop with your teacher, because everybody in that class is passionate about the same exact thing,” Medical Assisting Student Junior Maryam Kauther said.

Like those offered at the MVROP Center, CTE classes offered at MSJ are also provided with additional funding and resources. For the Digital Photography class, all students are given access to a class set of digital cameras, a professional-grade color printer, and the latest photo editing softwares on powerful computers; Digital Imaging students are also given access to a class set of drawing tablets. Even though students taking the class are not working in the MVROP Center, the materials they are provided with are still invaluable. “We always have the most current software that is used at a professional level ... we have up-to-date hardware, camera, gear, lenses, lights, so we always want to make sure that the students are not using or working with outdated equipment,” Digital Photography and Digital Imaging Teacher Paul Taglianetti said. “They have a good program, a great website, [and] excellent teachers who have worked in the field,” Castillou said.

Friday, December 17, 2021

The Smoke Signal

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News 3

Winterball Cancelled Due to Coronavirus Concerns

NEWS IN

BRIEF Compiled by Anandita Devata, Sahas Goli & Jennie Wang Staff Writers

LOCAL cnbc.com While 12 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant were discovered so far, health officials believe that this is just the start.

12 cases of Omicron coronavirus variant identified in Alameda County As of Devember 9, 12 cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant were detected in Alameda County. Health officials believe the cases are linked to a Wisconsin wedding on November 27, as one of its attendees had recently returned from international travel. All affected individuals, ages ranging from 18-49, were vaccinated prior to the wedding and have reported mild symptoms.

None of the infected are currently hospitalized.

These cases are still under investigation by health officials across the state.

NATIONAL weather.com With heavy storm warnings in sight, the state of Hawaii takes shelter and prepares for severe damage.

Kona Low storm lasts for days over Hawaii While the contiguous US is facing warmer winters than usual this year, Hawaii is seeing heavy precipitation and flooding as it moves into winter. On December 6, almost one foot of rain fell on Kula, a town on the island of Maui.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Big Island lasting from December 3 to December 5 due to the large amounts of snow and rain. The Kona Low storm, a cyclone of low pressure that brings winds from the southwest region, is expected to be slow-moving and will last until mid-December.

INTERNATIONAL bbc.com

The US has faced increasing pressure to respond to controversial actions the People’s Republic of China has taken.

The US will not send a diplomatic delegation to the Olympics over alleged human rights violations The White House has announced a diplomatic “boycott” of the 2022 Winter Olympics, saying no official delegation will be sent to Beijing. but athletes may still attend. The statement for the decision is to send a message against alleged human rights abuse by the People’s Republic of China. Support for the diplomatic boycott is expected to grow in the next few weeks. “US diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as usual in the face of the PCR’s egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang, and we simply can’t do that” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Traditionally in December, Winterball will be replaced with a Spring Fling before Spring Break.

By Jason Tang & Aditya Patil Staff Writers

On November 19, the senior class officers announced the Winterball would be cancelled and replaced with a Spring Fling estimated to take place a few weeks before Spring Break. The dance was cancelled because of FUSD COVID-19 safety measures regarding indoor events. Instead, the Spring Fling will be an outdoor spring themed event which will tentatively take place in second semester before spring break begins on April 16.

Winterball, traditionally held one week before Winter Break begins, is a formal indoor dance and is typically the last school dance that underclassmen are able to attend.

In 2019, the most recent time MSJ held Winterball, the dance featured a DJ, a photo booth, and a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament. The majority of the event was held indoors, with the only outdoor section being the heat lamps and large decorative tarps and posters in the Gym Quad. In 2021, the CA Department of Public Health According to the CA Department of Public Health’s K-12 Schools Guidance for the 2021-22 school year, schools should host school dances, large assemblies, and other school-based crowded events outdoors whenever possible.

(CDPH) advises against all indoor events due to the coronavirus pandemic and requires vaccinations for events with more than 1000 people, which has forced the cancellation of Winterball.

Winterball has been replaced with a Spring Fling in second semester, which will be held outdoors on the amphitheater and the N-wing similar to Homecoming Extrav“The main thing we’re going for is we’re trying to make the Spring Fling a more formal event like Winterball compared to HCX.” — Senior Class President Ethan Yuan

aganza (HCX). The new event will feature spring themed decorations and activities for students before going to spring break. Additionally, the event will also have many of the same traditions as Winterball, such as the ask contest, date auction, and song request “Many of the same traditions will continue at Spring Fling, including the ask contest, date auction, and song request form.”

— Senior Class Officers

form according to the Senior Class Officers.

“The main thing we’re going for is we’re trying to make the Spring Fling a more formal event like Winterball compared to HCX,” Senior Class President Ethan Yuan said. All profits made in this event will go towards

MSJ Chess Team Takes the World Stage at Dubai Expo After their valiant efforts, the team placed 9th out of 12 qualifying teams.

By Daphne He, Jason Tang & Bryan Xiong Staff Writers

From November 25-29, the MSJ Chess team competed overseas at the Dubai World Expo, an event that showcases culture, art, technology, and innovations from around the world, run by the Spain Pavilion. The team consists of Sophomores Kevin Pan, Maurya Palusa, Stephen He, and Nicholas Jiang and Freshmen Ashley Pang, Aghilan Nachiappan, Yesun Lee, and Atul Kamath, who qualified while they were still in Hopkins Junior High School. After winning Chess24’s World Online School Chess Tournament, which ran from April 2020 to March 2021, the MSJ chess team was selected to represent the US to face 11 other teams from across the globe. Placing ninth overall, the team agreed that they learned a lot from the experience, looking forward to improved performances in the future. “We’re just proud to represent the school and do a good job,” Palusa said.

Introduced in 2020, the World Online School Chess Tournament, organized by the Spain Pavilion, aimed to educate students

From left to right: MSJ Chess team members Sophomores Kevin Pan, Nicholas Jiang, and Maurya Palusa (front row), and Freshmen Atul Kamath, Sophomore Stephen He, Freshmen Yesun Lee, Ashley Pang, and Aghilan Niachiappan (back row).

through chess. These two online phases of the tournament preceding the Dubai World Expo featured other prestigious high school chess teams, including chess powerhouse The Dalton School from New York and Bay Area rival the Harker School. With nearly 300 teams from more than 50 countries across the world, the odds were stacked against the MSJ team. After persevering through 19 fierce rounds in Preliminary and Semi-Final phases, the MSJ team emerged victorious

corrections for the NOV. 19, 2021 issue News Pg. 2: Astroworld Festival had 10 casualties.

News Pg. 2: The Astroworld Festival security officer was struck on the head.

News Pg. 3: Sophomore Shameet Sharma is misspelled.

News Pg. 3: John Edie Holiday Debates hosted by The Blake School start on December 18.

Opinion Pg. 5: Tony Bellotti is misspelled.

Opinion Pg. 5: GENup is misspelled.

Centerspread Pg. 10: Lockheed Martin is misspelled.

A&E Pg. 14: Dune’s overall rating is 6.4/10.

Sports Pg. 15: Senior Rupin Kumar should be spelled as such.

Graphics Pg. 20: Bun Appétit Donuts’ previous indoor seating arrangement has been replaced by an online order pickup area, but shaded outdoor seating remains.

Graphics Pg. 20: Philz Coffee was founded in 2003.

the funding of this year’s Senior Prom.

A major priority of this dance is to keep the event as similar to Winterball as possible. The senior class officers aim to preserve the formal yet festive feel that Winterball is known for, using heat lamps and a DJ. Additionally, gym decorations will now be spread over the amphitheater, akin to the HCX. To address COVID-19 concerns, the Spring Fling will be restricted to MSJ students. Security and fencing similar to the types at HCX will be present in order to prevent students from arriving too late or leaving too early. Participants will arrive from the N-wing and be let in from the booths from a single entrance. “We will take what HCX did and work that into the Spring Fling,” Yuan said.

The last time MSJ held a spring event was the Sadie Hawkins dance that took place for Valentine’s Day in 2012. The Sadie Hawkins dance flipped the script on a traditional dance by having women ask their partners to the dance, instead of the other way around.

Since the Spring Fling is a new event, the senior class officers are asking for student suggestions on what they would like to see for this dance. Since the event is still months away, many decisions are not set in stone.

Students who have suggestions can submit them at tinyurl.com/msjspringflingsurvey. ▪

Sophomore Kevin Pan competes against Velammal Nexus School.

and received an invitation to compete at the Dubai World Expo. “I think we were all really excited because we didn’t think that we’d get this far ... everyone was just really excited to play in the tournament,” Woman Candidate Master Freshman Ashley Pang said.

At the Dubai World Expo, the 12 qualifying teams were divided into two pools and competed in a round-robin event, which required every player to face all the other players on the opposing team at least once. All teams continued to the final round, where the top two teams from each pool competed for 1st-4th place, 3rd and 4th place of each pool for 5th-8th place, and the last two places of each pool for 9th-12th place. The MSJ Chess team faced other elite youth chess players, including several Grandmasters, the highest title a chess player can attain awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). After their best efforts, the MSJ team placed 9th after facing a tough first bracket and losing many close rounds with a score of 2-3.

The MSJ team will continue to compete at more tournaments going forward, including the much anticipated 2022 National High School (K-12) Championship in April. ▪ PHOTOS COURTESY KEVIN PAN

4 Opinion

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THE SMOKE SIGNAL Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 57, No. 4 | December 17, 2021 www.thesmokesignal.org 41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 510-657-3600, ext. 37088 MISSION STATEMENT The Smoke Signal’s mission is to represent the voices of the MSJ community and serve the public by providing accurate, meaningful, and engaging information presented through print and digital mediums.

SCHOOL POPULATION 1968 students EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Megh Basu, Amanda Pang NEWS Larry Shi, Alina Zeng OPINION Isabella He, Sakshi Umrotkar FEATURE Lily Oh, Nithika Valluri CENTERSPREAD Naveed Shakoor, Jackie Wong A&E Joanne Park, Helen Tian SPORTS Anvi Kalucha, Jerry Yuan GRAPHICS Mingxin Wang WEB Tanisha Srivatsa, Jessica Yu TECH Bryan Xiong BUSINESS Jennie Wang CIRCULATION Angela Xiong ADVERTISING Rohan Bhagat, Steffi Zhou EVENTS Esther Lau WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Sanah Bhardwaj Pratham Bhashyakarla Ruhani Chhabra Charlize Chiu Shaily Desai Anandita Devata Chloe Gao Sahas Goli Jiyun Guo Chahak Gupta Jacob Han Karina Han Daphne He Christy Huang Selina Kao Ayushi Kashyap Elaheh Khazi Vedesh Kodnani Sarina Li Shelley Li Waylon Li Amy Luo Andria Luo Maryam Naseer Aditya Patil Julia Peng Esha Potharaju Daphne Senecal Priyanka Shah Hannah Shen Annika Singh Aaryan Suri Jason Tang Darshan Thirumala Nessa Tong Kaitlyn Wang Kaylee Wei Amelie Wu Annie Xu Elton Yu Aaron Zhou ADVISER Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@ thesmokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

For a chance for your artwork to be featured in The Smoke Signal, send graphic opinions to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to modify graphics for publication.

To advertise in the Smoke Signal, email ads@ thesmokesignal.org. Advertising that is included on the pages of, or carried within, the Smoke Signal, is paid advertising, and as such is independent of the news and feature content.

The Smoke Signal’s right to freedom of speech and press is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

To stay updated with our online content, see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ msjsmokesignal.

CORRECTIONS POLICY When factual and spelling mistakes are found or brought to the attention of the staff, corrections will be printed in the next issue’s corrections box.

See the example below for styling.

Centerspread Pg. 10: The California Youth Crisis Line should be the Crisis Text Line.

DISTRIBUTION POLICY The Smoke Signal is distributed to all students during Read period on the publication date for no cost. Subscriptions are $30 for 9 issues (US). To subscribe, email circulation@thesmokesignal.org.

BYLINE POLICY All writers who contributed to the article will be listed in the byline in alphabetical order. All photographers or artists will be credited in the text below the photograph or spread.

Friday, December 17, 2021

The Smoke Signal

Isabella's InterpretatIons

sakshI's solIloquy

The benefits of embracing new environments

Work habits should work for you

By Isabella He Opinion Editor

By Sakshi Umrotkar Opinion Editor

So far in my seventeen years of life, I have moved seven times and have been the new girl in school eight times. Each time my parents told me about a move, the thought of leaving behind the comfort of my friends, familiar environment, and beloved school culture — what felt like my entire life — was undeniably nerve-wracking. But, I’ve come to realize that experiencing new circumstances, despite the initially overwhelming adjustments, allowed me to gain invaluable perspectives that have shaped who I am today.

Facing new schools and environments is challenging — as a shy person by nature, I often struggled with my fear of meeting new people and making new friends. However, I’ve found that embracing challenges has allowed me to overcome these fears. No matter how many times I move, I will always feel a little nervous walking up to a stranger and saying “hi.” And yet, with every move, with every change, my confidence has increased tenfold.

Before starting high school, I had always been searching for a passion, a sport, a hobby to call my own. When I joined the wrestling team in freshman year, I had no prior experience. Similarly, when I joined the Smoke Signal, I was new to journalism, interviews, and breaking news deadlines. Through taking advantage of new opportunities, I’ve now

found passions and sports to call my own.

While jumping into these new experiences felt initially daunting, I’m immensely grateful for pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Whether it’s moving to Hong Kong with no background in Cantonese, the native language of the region, or joining organizations like the Smoke Signal that delve into assignments foreign to me, reaching for the new instead of staying in the familiar has led to countless opportunities. I’ve discovered the importance of pushing myself beyond my boundaries to develop personal growth; I find myself growing new interests and skills when I embrace opportunities, especially those unrelated to my academic or career goals.

Looking forward to my upcoming change as I apply to colleges and prepare to live independently, I feel both nervous and excited. Whenever I feel anxious about such a major shift in my life, I remind myself to see college as an amazing opportunity to explore interests, overcome challenges, and experience growth. Whether it’s seeing changes in your life such as attending college or moving around as opportunities or jumping on the chance to try something new, don’t be afraid to embrace the unfamiliar and push your boundaries. ▪

For me, high school can be characterized as perhaps the most personal growth I have experienced, and most likely will experience, in my entire life. Beyond formal education, I’ve learned the value of being in touch with my tastes and knowing how to use them as I tackle my workload.

Although the content of my education at school played a crucial role in making sure I passed state-mandated tests and kept up with others in my grade level, learning about myself and my habits had the most impact on me as I tried to improve my work ethic and productivity through the years.

Countless studies have proven that the diversity we display as a species isn’t just limited to broad categories like our genomes and cultures. We vary in our preferences even down to the smallest aspects of life, and I discovered that we are the most diverse when it comes to our productivity.

I’ve always seen research and reassuring headlines stating that people feel most productive at different times and in different conditions, but in my attempt to mimic the learning styles and patterns of those around me, I mostly ignored this message and continued forcing myself to build a schedule that was simply unsuitable for me.

When I heard from someone that they regularly listened to music while doing homework, I made myself do the same for quite a few months before finally relenting to the fact that listening to music while writing an essay just wasn’t for me. Looking back, I realize that pushing myself through months of “study hacks” that were incompatible with me only damaged my existing habits and wasted my time when I sat down to prepare for the next day of school. It wasn’t even that I was trying out new learning styles based on my existing patterns; I actively ignored my intuition and chased after others’ ideal learning environments thinking it would make a better student. I often chalked up people’s intelligence in class discussions and their seemingly impeccable work ethics to their specific learning styles and schedules, and in an attempt to be more like them, I boxed myself into habits that both slowed me down and brought down my morale.

Over time, I realized that I had to acknowledge the proclivities inherent to myself and work with them to be a better student.

As we try to find better ways to be productive in all aspects of life, we should aim to recognize our personal preferences in the process, harnessing them to create habits more attuned to ourselves. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

It’s Okay to be a Kid For many of us, ice cream trucks, sand castles, and four-square defined our youth.

Nothing beats the carefree and fun-filled childhoods that most of us grew up with.

As high school students, however, we’re not able to enjoy the same passions and activities that we frequented as children.

While studying for AP courses and cramming college essays before the deadline, we tend to sacrifice opportunities to have whimsical, childlike fun for the opportunity to review one last flashcard or take one more AP Classroom practice exam.

We’ve all been in situations where we’ve reminisced about our childhoods, free from the stress of school, work, and extracurricular activities. The years that we once enjoyed playing outside with

Even something as simple as a fun team-based game fosters teamwork and camaraderie, allowing us to develop soft skills that, in the real world, are just as valuable as academic excellence. our friends and spending time with our families have long passed as we’ve traded coloring books for the Iliad and crayons for TI-84s.

As we grow older, the desire to engage in childlike fun diminishes as a result of an increased workload and societal pressures to grow up. But who said students should feel embarrassed about indulging in such activities? Our childhood comforts, as juvenile as they may seem, shouldn’t make us feel guilty. Taking time to do what makes us happy should be a priority just as much as studying and preparing for our careers.

The countless leisure stories and novels that we read as children offer a sense of creativity and imagination, which is unrivaled by the current high school literature curriculum that few students have time to expand beyond. Even something as simple as a fun team-based game fosters teamwork and camaraderie, allowing

At the end of the day, we should try to not get too caught up in the “Mission grind” — doing what makes us happy ultimately matters more in the long run. us to develop soft skills that, in the real world, are just as valuable as academic excellence.

Modern society and the schooling system have forced students into growing up rapidly. As we’ve prioritized schoolwork, extracurriculars, and familial responsibilities, we’ve had to abandon the carefree whimsy of our childhoods. In just a few short years, all of us will face the adult world, leaving the comforts of home to become productive members of society. But, while we’re still here in high school, we can still maintain that same childlike wonder at heart. After graduation, many of us will be burdened with newfound responsibilities, including college coursework and internships, so we should try our best to appreciate childlike comforts while we still can.

At the end of the day, we should try to not get too caught up in the “Mission grind” — doing what makes us happy ultimately matters more in the long run.

Not being afraid to carve out a few minutes of our week to revisit nostalgic activities from our childhoods — playing lighthearted board games, making crafts, or simply exploring the outdoors — can help us maintain the spirit of playfulness that we often lose in the pursuit of success. Our time outside of the adult world is short-lived, and going back to our old memories is the best way to stay grounded and not get caught up in the rat race. ▪

By Anandita Devata & Kaylee Wei Staff Writers

STAFF WRITER ANANDITA DEVATA

STAFF WRITER KAYLEE WEI

Friday, December 17, 2021 The Smoke Signal

UC HOUSING CRISIS EXACERBATES WITH MUNGER HALL PLANS

By Pratham Bhashyakarla, Anandita Devata, Shelley Li & Steffi Zhou Staff Writers After University of California (UC) students returned to campus this past fall after more than a year of distance learning, a deeply rooted issue surfaced once more with an unprecedented fervor — the UC housing crisis. Due to increasing difficulties with constructing new housing, students are struggling to obtain affordable and comfortable residential units both on-campus and off-campus. Attempting to address the shortage, the UC colleges have resorted to band-aid solutions: UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) agreed to construct a windowless dorm, Munger Hall, and other UC colleges have proceeded to accommodate students in hotels. In doing so, these institutions have placed students’ well-being on the backburner — instead, prioritizing the unreasonable agendas of billionaires and delaying actions that could relieve urgent housing, traffic, and communication issues.

BACKGROUND ON THE CRISIS Since the 1970s, CA has faced a critical housing shortage due to skyrocketing prices that are becoming unaffordable for many. In recent years, this issue has become increasingly persistent, subsequently forcing thousands into the streets: according to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of homeless students rose by approxiamately 50% in the last decade. The issue has also bled into the educational sector as many college students find themselves without access to stable housing.

According to a memo of the Subcommittee on Education Finance of the Legislative Analyst's Office, currently, more than 7,500 students across the nine UC campuses are on the waitlist for housing. Additionally, it’s predicted that at some point in an academic year, 1 out of every 20 UC students will be homeless.

Confronted with the shortage, some students’ only option is to book a room in a hotel until housing is secured. Although most universities, like UCSB, offer hotel vouchers that cover the excess cost of a hotel room to waitlisted students, UC San Diego has instead chosen to make discounted deals with local hotels. However, even with the financial aid, hotel life is expensive and unsustainable for many students — for low-income students, it’s not even a plausible option.

BACKGROUND ON MUNGER HALL

In 2016, Charles T. Munger, business partner of Warren Buffet and Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, donated $200 million to UCSB student housing under the condition that his proposed design for a student dorm — Munger Hall — is followed exactly. The plan features an 11-story building with windowless rooms, providing housing for up to 4,500 students by the fall of 2025 and thus, becoming the eighth densest building in the world. After a meeting with the UCSB’s Design Review Committee on October 5 to review the Munger Hall Project, Dennis McFadden, a member of UCSB’s Design Review Board, subsequently resigned in opposition to the design. “The basic concept of Munger Hall as a place for students to live is unsupportable from my perspective as an architect, a parent, and a human being,” McFadden said in his resignation letter.

HOW THE CRISIS RELATES TO MSJ

THE SMOKE SIGNAL'S PERSPECTIVE Although a solution is desperately needed for the UC housing crisis, it doesn’t justify the implementation of cheap and easy solutions that hurt students’ wellbeing.

A closer look at another one of Munger’s housing designs — the Munger Graduate Residence Hall at the University of Michigan (UMich) — foreshadows a grim fate for UCSB’s Munger Hall. According to CNN Business, although Munger claims that he “never saw a happier bunch of students” at the university, UMich Ph.D. student Louis Batta asserts the opposite: “[Not having windows has] completely thrown off my circadian rhythm. It's hard to get up in the morning ... because I never know what time it is.” The disparity between Munger’s view of student happiness and the reality of students’ feelings underscores an alarming lack of awareness and communication. By implying that his architectural designs are well-liked, Munger is ignoring the very consumers of his products.

Munger’s plan also contradicts the UC Sustainable Practices Policy, as it relies strongly on artificial lighting to compensate for the inexistence of natural light for most of its units. Virtual windows, proposed alternatives for the windowless dorms, lack adequate scientific research to guarantee their efficacy. In response to this criticism, Munger mentioned that his design was inspired by Disney cruise ships, which have TVs in place of windows. However, Disney cruises run for approximately two weeks and are not meant to be long-term residences like college dorms are. Moreover, according to the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, fake windows can lead to both physical health issues such as disturbances in sleep and mental health problems. Additionally, Munger Hall’s high density makes it difficult for residents to escape fires and control diseases such as COVID-19. Ultimately, Munger Hall ignores important medical research that must be considered for students’ well-being.

Despite having some experience in architecture, Munger never formally studied or, as he told the Wall Street Journal in 2019, even read a book on the subject. By deciding to implement the designs of an amateur architect and shun the expert advice of professionals like McFadden, UCSB is resorting to cheap solutions for pressing issues rather than truly evaluating the long-term impacts of such housing.

Furthermore, in the decision to enact Munger’s plans and decide the distribution of housing, UCSB and other UCs neglected to listen to students or inform them early on of their ideas, revealing another major blunder in the UC system: the UCs’ lack of action and transparency regarding their future plans.

For example, UCSB is constantly delaying its 2010 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), which as listed by UC Santa Barbara Office of Strategic Asset Management promised to construct housing for 5,000 students and limit its admission to less than 25,000 students by the 2025-26 school year. This goal is just but a flimsy commitment on paper — to date, according to The Santa Barbara Independent, UCSB has only built housing for 1,500 students with no solid plans for future construction, and since 2017, has continuously sustained its 25,000 student admission rate.

The other factor, an absence of fluid communication and understanding between UC leaders and the student body, is another major barrier that often postpones the implementation of tangible solutions. According to the Daily Californian, in an attempt to resolve the housing shortage and provide locations for students who couldn’t afford Berkeley’s housing prices, administrators at UC Berkeley proposed the construction of dorms at the historically rich People’s Park. Known as a center of conflict between the UC system and the city residents, the area’s significance was glossed over when the university promoted its decision for construction there. Unfortunately, when students pointed this out, they were met with only silence. Failing to incorporate student input in their planning process, the administration further ignored students when they pointed out the equally costly housing prices that UC Berkeley had slated for People’s Park and other city housing. Rather than resolving the student housing crisis, the administrators’ lack of engagement with their community ignited hostility that will likely discourage future collaboration between the college’s administration and their student body.

Evidently, billionaires, with their financial capability to grant inexpensive solutions, are not the right people to look at when attempting to solve issues such as the UC housing crisis.

While the LRDP and the desire to construct more housing at People’s Park were steps in the right direction, the decisions to build Munger Hall and ignore students’ opinions stray from the universities’ ultimate goal to serve and prioritize the student community’s comfort and health.

To truly enact long-term benefits, UCs need to communicate openly with the student body and confront their duties to resolve crises.

MSJ’s status as a feeder school into the UC system means many students will end up attending those schools. As shown in 2020 by the UC’s admission data, 368 out of 410 MSJ applicants to the system were admitted. However, given the current housing crisis, UCs will likely be forced to close their doors to many qualified applicants as the amount of available housing falls steeply compared to the number of matriculants, drastically impacting MSJ high school students. In addition, even if admitted, many high school students will soon witness the housing crisis turn from side news to personal experiences as they too face the brutal scramble for a permanent roof above their head.

STUDENTS: TAKE ACTION The MSJ student body should take initiative in equipping themselves with knowledge on issues such as the UC housing crisis to build public support for more affordable housing and pressure the UC institutions to push for reform. Taking a moment to sign a petition or publicize a protest are simple yet crucial ways to inform school officials and sponsors about the desires of the student body. For example, students can sign petitions on change.org created by UCSB student Tommy Young and UCSB’s Architectural Historians Group to support the halt of Munger Hall’s construction. As of December 5, these petitions have amassed more than 13,900 and 3,500 signatures, respectively.

When faced with a mass shortage of housing, fellow students should unite, supporting peers through student-run houses. The success of such shelters — UC Davis’s Aggie House and UC Los Angeles’ Bruin Shelter — pave a hopeful path forward as students join hands to fight the challenging but not insurmountable housing crisis.

Opinion 5

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Munger Hall Proposed Building

UC SYSTEM: TAKE ACTION Instead of passively witnessing students’ struggles, UC colleges should provide detailed and easily accessible information on where to find housing off-campus. In addition, according to the Brookings Institution, if UCs implement more online or hybrid options, they could possibly help students reduce tuition costs and increase their budgets for housing.

Nevertheless, to address the root of the problem, UC colleges must seek to find a balance in their admission rates. Although faced with a housing crisis, they have continuously wavered in decisions to amend their traditional ways. Historically, the UC system and other colleges tend to admit more people than they can hold in consideration of students that enroll at other universities. However, if more people than expected do accept the offer, on-campus housing will not be enough to supply the large influx of students.

Equally important, the UC system must start improving its transparency and communication with its student bodies. Starting steps may be as simple as placing a focus on an advisory council in each UC with students in which issues of the student body are voiced so that instead of hearing about these problems through the news, the campus staff is directly informed of students’ desires and needs.

Monthly meetings between college heads and student government or organizations could also increase communication and help get students involved in decisions pertaining to them.

To reach out to students, surveys can be conducted through university websites and social media or even made mandatory to complete during general subject classes to increase participation. They should be structured with a couple of questions and a free-response area for students to elaborate on their experiences. At the same time, UCs should strive to promote an inclusive campus environment, encouraging all its students to voice their opinions about housing issues.

PHOTOS BY AGGIEHOUSE.ORG, BRUINSHELTER.ORG, NEWSPRESS.COM, NOOZHAWK.COM, NYTIMES.COM, SAM.UCSB.EDU, THEBOTTOMLINE.AS.UCSB.EDU. GRAPHICS BY OPINION EDITOR ISABELLA HE.

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Friday, December 17, 2021

Friday, December 17, 2021 The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 7

The Importance of Finding a Solution to Misinformation in Asian American Communities

By Chahak Gupta, Elaheh Khazi & Jennie Wang Staff Writers A common joke amongst Asian American teenagers today is the laughable nature of inaccurate infographics and fake articles that are spread across networking platforms like WeChat or WhatsApp. The concern behind this joke is, however, not unfounded.

According to a study by the Harvard Kennedy School, 13% of all images circulating on WhatsApp contain false information, from hilariously erroneous cancer prevention strategies to very consequential political misinformation.

As popular apps among Asian Americans, WeChat, Viber, and WhatsApp have more than 3.2 billion monthly users. Thanks to the unregulated content and closed-messaging system of these apps, these platforms have become hot spots for fast-paced conspiracy theories, radical views, and charged divisive messages, often fueling racist sentiments against other minority groups.

End-to-end encryption, a feature that protects the confidentiality of messages on Viber, a messaging application owned by Japanese multinational company Rakuten, and WhatsApp, further facilitates the circulation of false information by preventing moderators from fact-checking forwarded messages. Additionally, the vast majority of Asian Americans prefer to consume media in their native language, according to a 2017 study by the Asian American Advertising Federation.

For instance, Chinese Americans primarily use WeChat, Korean Americans tend to use the app KaKao Talk, and most Indian Americans may communicate through WhatsApp. This causes problems for misinformation researchers, who typically specialize in only one language. The wide variety of languages that are spoken across the Asian American diaspora, in addition to the sheer diversity of communication platforms used by different Asian subgroups, makes the spread of misinformation across these social media platforms frustratingly difficult to track. The unsettlingly large body of misinformation shared on Asian social media platforms restricts Asian Americans’ political participation and damages their relationship with other minority

communities, which is why it must be actively regulated and dispelled by users and tech companies alike.

The unregulated bombardment of false information on Asian platforms prevents Asian Americans from having an informed say in politics. According to Foreign Policy Magazine, after the 2020 Presidential Election, fear-mongering conspiracy theories were spread across thousands of group chats on WeChat and WhatsApp. According to KQED, a flyer circulating on WeChat aimed to deter Chinese Americans from voting by claiming that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is “preparing to mobilize” the National Guard and “dispatch” the military to quell impending riots. Other posts claimed that the election was a fraud, with Former President Donald Trump being the rightful winner, while still others called President Joe Biden a socialist. Pro-Trump messages that paint Biden as a radical socialist especially resonate with first-generation Asian immigrants who have witnessed the horrors of radically communist governments and are reasonably suspicious of socialist governments. These communities are consequently prone to falling down conspiratorial rabbit holes which confirm deep-rooted distrust of left-wing governments. Unsurprisingly, data published by the 2020 Asian American Voter Survey revealed that 48% of Vietnamese voters, many of whom have fled communist regimes and are consequently skeptical of the Democratic Party’s socialist image, claimed to support Trump despite his anti-Asian rhetoric.

Besides restraining Asian American political participation, misinformation also marginalizes Asian communities by propagating Anti-Asian sentiments and harming the relationships between Asians and other minority groups. According to University of Maryland Professor of American Studies Janelle Wong, Black people were overrepresented as perpetrators for Asian hate crimes. When videos of Black people committing Asian hate crimes began circulating on the Internet, many Asian Americans attributed Asian hate to a solely Black and Asian conflict. On the contrary, Sam Houston State University Professor Yang Zhang’s research used data from 1992-2014 to show that 75% of offenders in anti-Asian crimes are white. Especially after

many individuals pointed the blame towards Asian Americans for causing the coronavirus pandemic, these racist conspiracy theories and right-wing ideologies targeted the Asian American community’s anxieties about hate crimes. This misinformation does nothing except stoke flames of hatred between oppressed communities.

Relations between the Black and Asian American communities converge on the issue of affirmative action, which is focused on eliminating discrimination. Fear-mongering via misinformation circulating on Asian platforms has long urged members of the Asian community to oppose affirmative action. For instance, the 2018 UC Los Angeles Civil Rights Project reported that white affirmative action opponents exploited the exam-oriented and academic nature of Chinese American families to fuel distrust towards affirmative action. This, in turn, created anti-Black sentiment among Chinese American communities as many frustrated Chinese Americans blamed other minorities for making the college admissions process even harder.

people how to navigate digital information and steer away from false rumors.

Additionally, social media users should petition for companies like WeChat and WhatsApp to tag false information to prevent its spread into these apps. Fighting misinformation on one platform can pressure other social media platforms to enforce stricter regulation to curb the spread of misinformation. According to the American news website www.axios.com, once Reddit took action against misinformation campaigns as-

Fighting misinformation on one platform can pressure other social media platforms to enforce stricter regulation to curb the spread of misinformation. sociated with Former President Trump, Twitch, Meta, By allowing the spread of misinformation WhatsApp and WeChat have fueled this targeting of immigrant communities that often have members with limited English comprehensibility.

Misinformation might seem hopelessly pervasive on Asian platforms, but reform is possible. In stark contrast to a 7% nationwide Asian population, MSJ has a 95% Asian American student body according to data published by www.publicschoolreview.com. Therefore, students must educate their families on recognizing and dispelling misinformation. For instance, Crash Course, a popular YouTube channel with more than 12 million subscribers, partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on its campaign against misinformation in 2019 to create a playlist that teaches

Twitter, and others swiftly moved in to do the same.

If Asian-dominated communication platforms like WhatsApp and WeChat take concrete steps to combat misinformation, others would follow. This would, in turn, create a domino effect of stopping misinformation, making it imperative to take action.

With 2021 nearing an end, it’s time for the MSJ community and the rest of the world to recognize the long-lasting, damaging impacts that misinformation creates, both politically and socially. From educating friends and family members to petitioning against social media applications to take initiative against the harmful, false information spread on their platforms, students can retaliate against the spread of misinformation in order to make our society a safer and betterinformed place. ▪ GRAPHIC BY OPINION EDITOR ISABELLA HE.

The COP26, a global United Nations summit about climate change, recently took place in November with delegates from multiple countries in attendance. In light of ongoing alarm about climate change, do you believe the COP26 and climate change conferences are effective?

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" I don't know enough about the COP itself, but I think that all these committees are really useless. Unless there's actual action I would say the first thing to do is to stop subsidizing fossil fuels and oil so that they have to be pushed towards sustainable energy. That's the only way possible because if you let people have a way out and compromise on their morals for money, it's gonna happen. So I would say there should be some kind of international law. Stop subsidizing Big Oil."

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"I think the COP26 [conference] and other climate change control conferences are resourceful and helpful because they give leaders a chance to talk about their climate change policies and come to [an] agreement on certain courses of action. However, these meetings can be counterproductive because many politicians and leaders may want [to use the conferences] to further their own agenda."

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“I think they are effective in fulfilling their goals, because there have been [past] instances which were successful. One example is the Montreal Agreement, which banned chlorofluorocarbons hurting the ozone layer. Multiple countries came together to make an agreement to stop making products with chlorofluorocarbons, and replaced them with different types of chemicals [that] didn't harm the ozone layer as much. I feel like this is proof that ... when countries come together and political power is used to change how we're affecting the climate, we can actually start to fix climate change.”

"The COP Climate Change Conference effective because many countries ; + ) ' < ' wasn't :)0 couldn't attend the summit, and those ) '9 who did attend did not agree easily to a common front. There were heated discussions, and changes in the levels of commitment — particularly the changing from "phase out" to "phase-down," a less committed (and therefore accountable) wording. The richest countries in the world also pushed back the $100 billion a year promise back to 2023 from 2020 - in an economy rising at over $100 trillion a year, that's around 1% of the total increase. Instead of starting this year, they pushed it back showing the hesitance they had towards the entire cause."

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" I do not believe they are fulfilling their goals because they emphasize too much on the written and spoken action of these meetings, and instead they do not actually carry out the plans that they have set. Instead of acting as a playground for speech and debate the UN should take action as their decisions will directly affect our generations and the next."

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS CHAHAK GUPTA, NESSA TONG, ANGELA XIONG, ELTON YU & AARON ZHOU.

8 Feature

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‘Tis the season to be jolly.

Unless you’re Santa.

Chahak Gupta Staff Writer With the holiday season snowballing in, the Smoke Signal interviewed a mall Santa — or is he?

As the real Santa Claus undercover as a mall Santa, what does your typical workday look like?

Friday, December 17, 2021

What should children (and adults) consider while drafting their wish lists this Christmas?

Have you received any other unusual gift requests?

From avocado slicers and pop-its to a random Snorlax nightgown, I could go on for days about gift requests I can’t seem to wrap my head around. (See what I did there, haha.) Apparently, pop-its are the new fidget spinners, although I didn’t know that either existed until about a month ago. I mean, who am I to question what extreme stresses in life caused a three-year-old to ask for wannabe bubble wrap?

I wake up at the not-so-merry hour of 6 a.m. every morning and haul myself to my 12-hour mall Santa shift. Jolly, indeed! Typically, I pose while over-enthusiastic parents take 20 blurry photos of me fake-smiling with their hyperactive children.

After nibbling on gingerbread cookies for lunch and crying over my outrageously low wage, I hand out candy canes to children passing by the toy store as I rush to note down the names of those who don’t thank me. The complementary cookies (and my pay, which did I mention could be higher?) keep me from outright quitting.

The North Pole Factory was forced to reduce its labor force, and elf unemployment is on the rise. If you don’t want Santa to sell his house, clothes, and maybe his beard, please do not ask for an iPhone13.

How has the pandemic affected your job, both at the mall and in the North Pole?

I’m under a lot of fire from the Elf Rights Commission for having 60 elves work in a single definitely (not) ventilated room (again, Santa’s on a limited budget). But having dealt with disappointed and underwhelmed kids for centuries, I’m an expert at diplomacy. In conclusion, all’s merry.

Do you enjoy being Santa? Why or why not?

Ho, ho, no? Does the bright smile on a lonely child’s face upon receiving their Discord Nitro subscription dilute the pain of sitting on a wooden sleigh for 12 hours straight? Is sparking joy in the life of an eight-year-old who wants — I mean needs — a new polish set worth exploring a gazillion chic hues and trendy brands? With enough rum-rich eggnog, maybe.

Why did you decide to work as a mall Santa?

Speaking of cookies, do you have any favorites?

It was another one of Mrs. Claus’ totally foolproof ideas. “Connect more deeply with the children,” she said. “It will be fun,” she said. Anyways, more cash never hurts anyone. I also get to interact with children in the futile hopes of discovering the thought process behind their unconventional wishlists. Like that one weirdo who requested elbow-length leather gloves, 2 liters of bleach, and a shovel has to have a backstory. Oh, wait.

Hands-down, mint-chocolate ch—haha no. Imagine. I might give off sophisticated and intellectual grandpa vibes, but my soul is as basic as can be, and frosted sugar cookies have been my saving grace this holiday season. With 12-hour shifts, there’s not much to look forward to on my typical day, but these melt-in-your-mouth pink beauties never disappoint. I might struggle going down a few chimneys here and there, but still — 11/10 would recommend.

GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR LILY OH

Organization Spotlight: The Sole Mates

By Waylon Li & Aaron Zhou Staff Writers

runners. To compensate for this, workout intensities are modified accordingly. “Less experienced runners can hang out as a group, and we will have one or two experienced runners [guide] the less experienced ones,” Qian said.

Running and exercising isn’t the club’s only goal — friendship and encouragement is highly valued as well. TSMC Member Junior William Chen said, “There are a lot of friends to be with and it encourages me to exercise.” While the idea of running long distances with cross country athletes may seem daunting, the club’s ideals make up for

it it with with a mutual a mutualfeeling feelingofofrespect and and camaraderie all around. “We’re all equal … so no one is left out,” TSMC Member Sophomore Arnold He said.

With its passionate members, the Sole Mates Club is a perfect way to find a running buddy for beginners or students looking to start long distance running. Runs to local destinations, including Vasy's Donuts, Lake Elizabeth, and Canyon Heights, occur after school or before late start on Wednesdays. Going forward, the club hopes to see new enthusiastic runners and explore new destinations to run to.

PHOTO BY STAFF WRITER AARON ZHOU

Cross Country is one of the biggest sports teams at MSJ, and has created a large community of passionate students that enjoy long-distance running. However, during off-seasons, runners often long for the camaraderie that comes with races. The Sole Mates Club (TSMC) is a passionate running club outside of MSJ that upholds mutual interests of running while developing long-term friendships to ultimately find one’s “soulmates” in the sport.

Founded on November 8 by

Freshman Novak Chen and Sophomores Vincent Xiao and Hagen Qian, the club frequently runs to local snack shops, parks, and trails.

With roughly 40 members and counting, the club runs every other day and is recruiting new members. According to Chen, “There are no requirements to join this club, but we expect respect and dedication from our members.” The typical mileage for a run ranges from two to eight miles, which can be challenging especially for newer GRAPHIC BY FAYE LIN GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR NITHIKA VALLURI, STOCK.ADOBE.COM, ICONFINDER.COM & KISSCLIPART.COM

Friday, December 17, 2021

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Feature 9

DieHard TryHards:

Christmas C kie Decorating check out the web extension at www.thesmokesignal.org

By Sanah Bhardwaj, Chloe Gao, Vedesh Kodnani, Julia Peng, Annika Singh & Steffi Zhou Staff Writers

Decorative, bright, and absolutely mouth-watering, these “professionally-made” DieHard TryHards’ cookies will sleigh all expectations. After an intense round of MasterChef-level cookie decorating, which Smokie will emerge victorious?

I hate to rein on the other Smokies’ parades, but I accomplished exactly what I set out to do — clobber the competition.

Though I almost dropped my cookies a grand total of six times on the way to my final presentation, the two hours I spent meticulously decorating my creations were definitely worth it. This challenge taught me so many things: first, that red cookie icing does NOT come off your clothes, and secondly, to always have some elf-confidence.

Annika Singh

As a seasoned Ghirardelli brownie box mix baker, I’m sure that I will easily beat my fellow Smokies.

While decorating isn’t a word in my dictionary, I’ve spent hours binging The Great British Bake Off, picking up skills that would bring Duff Goldman’s cookies to shame. I’ve always gone for looks; let’s hope my cookies do too. It’s only a batter of time before my cookies steal first place.

I’ll never fir-get the soul-crushing disappointment of getting second place.

I spent hours decorating my cookies to perfection, topping them with sprinkles and glitter, yet I failed to make a fa-lala-la-lasting impression. Instead, I was rewarded with the consolation prize.

Despite the unrecoverable blow to my ego, I finally learned how to frost an almost-flawless Santa Claus, which will definitely help me secure a spot on the next season of The Great British Bake Off. Stay tuned.

Julia Peng

After 15 years of living in a house with a fully-functioning oven, I'm confident in my ability to bake and decorate cookies. Excluding the fact that the only attempt I've taken at decorating cookies yielded questionable results, I'm a well-versed baker.

In fact, just last week, I baked two pies (both of which were 100% edible)! My baking-filled TikTok feed, my creativity, and my eye for detail are sure to make the other Smokies’ dreams of winning crumb-le. These cookies and I are a batch made in heaven.

Okay. Third place. Not bad, considering the fact that first place was taken by the type of cookie that belongs in one of Tasty's "20 Creative Holiday Cookies'' videos. So maybe my cookies weren’t the most adorabell, but — like all my other failures in this challenge, I’m blaming it on the nauseating smell of butter (and the fact that I had to teach Chloe how to vacuum when she spilled sprinkles).

Perhaps my vanilla cookie decorating skills will earn me my own Hallmark movie: Average Cookie Decorator Meets Love at Frost Sight.

Vedesh Kodnani

With over a decade of cookie consumption under my belt, I have no shortage of experience. While I may have taken up baking over quarantine and managed to produce some “successful” treats (inedibly salty but still successful!), in all honesty, cookie decorating just isn’t my forte. I’m hoping to secure a strong fifth place. Who knows, maybe my MasterChef addiction will come in handy. Wish me luck because I’ll knead it.

It’s decided, I’m submitting my application for MasterChef. I'd like to thank everyone that allowed me to make it this far. Okay, I may have placed fourth, but I was up against some tough cookies and exceeded my expectations.

In retrospect, using black pepper to decorate my snowman wasn’t the best idea (points for creativity?). Still, this challenge gave me an excuse to bake cookies, so I’d say the mess of flour on my kitchen floor was worth it; this really baked my day.

Chloe Gao

Just a few weeks ago, I baked a batch of very successful cookies, if I do say so myself. We can just overlook the fact that I used cookie mix, got flour everywhere, and somehow melted together the cookies in the oven to form one big rectangular cookie.

Despite that, I think my professional design skills and I, having crafted a beautiful gingerbread house last year (which may or may not have collapsed within minutes), will emerge victorious in this competition.

Fortunately, I didn’t get sixth place.

Unfortunately, I did tie for last, but snow what? With my resilience and practice, I could climb up the ranks with fr-ease. The cause of my downfall is only to blame on Julia’s vacuum, which I couldn’t figure out how to use after I knocked sprinkles onto the carpet.

Learning how to use that cursed object threw me off my immaculate decorating flurry, and I had to rush my last two cookies. No ... who am I kidding ... I guess I’ll have to cross cookie decorator off my potential job list. If you need me, I’ll be thawing out in my refrigerator.

Steffi Zhou

I’m not going to sugarcoat it: I don’t have the best of luck with cookies.

However, with hours of Gordon Ramsay binge-watching and topnotch artistry skills up my sleeve, I have faith I will rise up against my opponents. Cookie decorating can’t be too hard, right? My pride and reputation are on the line here — the cookies have to be works of art, so beautiful that no one will be able to look away. Get ready fellow Smokies, because you are all going down.

Sleigh it isn’t so ... How did I get last place? I know my cookies weren’t bakery-level, but never in a million years did I imagine they would rank this low.

Unfortunately, the metallic sprinkles, intricate designs, and colorful plating weren’t able to win over the tough crowd of judges, and I am left to wallow in my misery. (Come to think of it, maybe it had to do with the fact that I was decorating my cookies at 3 a.m. as a sleep-deprived student.) In light of the terrible outcome, one thing’s for sure: I’ll definitely be having a resting Grinch face for the rest of this holiday season.

1st place

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — the time when I demolish the other Smokies, that is. As a self-proclaimed cookie connoisseur, I have no doubt that the other Smokies will be shaking in their winter boots at the sight of my beautifully crafted treats. I have watched hours of Food Network to prepare myself for this moment, and I will not stop until I present Michelin-quality cookies to the world.

5th place ( tie )

5th place ( tie )

4th place

3rd place

2nd place

Sanah Bhardwaj

PHOTOS COURTESY GRAPHICS EDITOR MINGXIN WANG, GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR NITHIKA VALLURI & DEVIANTART.COM

10 Centerspread

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The origins of mindfulness date back to more than 2500 years ago, with roots in Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. During the 1960s, thousands of Asians immigrated to America, bringing their cultural and spiritual beliefs. Amongst this group of immigrants were Tibetan monks who brought their ideas of mindfulness and Buddhism into the Western world.

One of the greatest influences on mindfulness in the West was Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., who developed the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program, incorporating the spiritual elements of the East and medical elements from the West. Previously, MBSR was used to treat both physical and mental illnesses, and today, the MBSR program is an eight-week program that teaches how to use mindfulness in daily life, medical institutions, schools, and more.

P rinciples Mindfulness is a lifestyle in which individuals acknowledge and accept every thought and feeling they experience. This helps create an open attitude about oneself and motivates individuals to stay in the present. To reduce judgmental feelings, individuals should strive to maintain a “beginner’s mind,” in which they perceive the world without any preconceived notions. This allows them to build trust within themselves and accept things the way they are without bias.

Individuals must also be open to change because it is the key to sustainable growth and healing. While this step is often the hardest for many to master, it is also the most rewarding and one of the key principles of mindfulness.

“It's hard to get started because you have every intention of wanting to do it, and then you just don't have the time … Or, the day just slips away and then you just don't have to. But if you can find a way to create a schedule for yourself, and I think that that would be important, like making sure from 7-7:30 p.m. or at night before I go to bed I'm going to do this. I'm going to practice mindfulness or self care; just making sure you're doing something that you enjoy every single day is really important.” — Counselor Lindsay Rotter

As the first semester comes to a close, many students may be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety. To share insight on how the MSJ community can handle this stress, the Smoke Signal compiled a variety of techniques and resources on the practice of mindfulness.

Setting Boundaries on Screen Time

“I think mindfulness, the term itself, is probably the opposite of what you actually want to practice in order to achieve it. Conscious living means when you're eating, or you're chewing, you interact with that experience. Or when you're taking out the garbage, you [acknowledge] that it's a household chore that all do. So rather than just wait for it to pass, you're involved in the moments that you're living, regardless of what the task is. So, mindfulness is just a way to remind ourselves that living as an experience is largely getting run over by our modern cognitive self.” — Physical Education Teacher Jack Marden

The negative effects of social media and the Internet have come into light in recent years. Research published in the NCBI has shown that too much screen time has adverse implications for people’s social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing, especially for adolescents. Taking small steps to set boundaries on screen time can prevent increased stress levels and information overload. Some places to start include keeping one’s phone in another room or tucking it away during work or socializing time, setting daily screen time limits on phone apps, or simply installing an extension that requires one to take short breaks while working. For instance, Google’s Mindful Break is a Chrome extension that offers mindfulness tips and guided breathing exercises for adequate mindfulness breaks during a busy workday.

Mindful Eating

Mindfulness can improve both physical and mental health by strengthening individuals’ mental resilience and stress reactivity. According to a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), mindfulness meditation increases neuroplasticity, the ability for a brain to change and adapt, which helps with memory retrieval, sensory processing, and increased attention span. The NCBI also reports that mindfulness can yield increased cardio“I think vascular health, a healthier body mass index, and lower blood pressure. Additionally, the mindfulness is important beAmerican Psychological Association indicates that this therapeutic practice increases cause students, especially compassion for others — following a mindfulness session, participants of a research study in the Bay Area and here in MSJ, were able to identify emotions better than those who had not done a mindfulness session. tend to put a lot of having a lot of This heightened emotional awareness enhances cognitive flexibility and communication pressure on school, whether it's skills. from their own views or those who they feel are helping them through life, whether it's their parents or teachers or their ideas of success. That can get relatively stressful. So I think having mindfulness helps people to get their priorities straight.” — US History Teacher Toby Remmers

Mindfulness is strongly encouraged and practiced among MSJ counselors. Especially in the stressful school environment and with the return to in-person learning, Counselor Ashley Sutcliffe stresses the importance of mindfulness for the student body. “I know it’s easy to be thinking about what you need to do for every single class, but really try to stay present in the moment and worry about what’s in front of you right now,” Sutcliffe said. Counselor Jitin Sharma weighed in with some advice on practicing mindfulness during school. “Before exams, maybe take a second to focus on your breath and try to tune everything else out,” Sharma said. Sharma also suggests breathing exercises and journaling as effective mindfulness techniques. Additionally, Counselor Lindsay Rotter encourages students to allocate time for themselves to simply relax. “I think that [students] definitely need to carve out time for themselves, whether it's 10 minutes a day or 30 minutes a day,” Rotter said. Sharma and Sutcliffe are also anticipating the opening of MSJ’s Wellness Center in the next semester, where they hope to share mindfulness tips and communicate openly about mental health to the MSJ community.

“I have been exposed to the idea of mindfulness through my family and school counselor. At MSJ, the idea of mindfulness is not really talked about so it's important to surround yourself with people who understand mental health and want you to live comfortably and happily. Only a small number of the teachers I've had at MSJ have brought up the topic of mindfulness in class. In the future, I wish for all teachers to discuss mindfulness with their students and emphasize the importance of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.”

— Jackie Wang, 11

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Centerspread 11

Headspace App Rohan Bhagat, Shaily Desai, Amy Luo & Jennie Wang Staff Writers

Benefits

“To me, mindfulness is being aware of your own emotions and your own actions at any given point.

When you get stressed or start to get really emotional, let’s say you got a bad test grade, it can be really easy to lose control of yourself, and in the heat of the moment, it’s pretty easy to say something awful. In the past, I have had experiences where I don’t think about what I say, and I end up saying something that damages me in the long run or is hurtful to someone else.” — Samuel Zhou, 11

The Smoke Signal

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Origins

MSJ References

Friday, December 17, 2021

Friday, December 17, 2021

Many consider eating an automatic or mindless action, rather than an intentional one, and lack the awareness to make distinctions between emotional and physical hunger. To counter this, a helpful practice is mindful eating: eating slowly without distractions, such as social media or Netflix, listening to physical hunger cues, engaging in senses such as smell and touch while eating, appreciating the food, and eating to maintain overall health and well-being.

Mindful Exercising

Mindful exercising is also a way to take care of physical health and a more spiritual and non-cosmetic approach to healthy living. A 2016 research study by Rutgers University found that directed meditation combined with running helped reduce symptoms of depression for depressed participants by almost 40%. Some ways to incorporate mindfulness into exercising are releasing oneself from external distractions and daily pressures, focusing on breathing through the nose, and listening to how one’s body is feeling instead of focusing on timing runs or beating personal records.

Mindful Sleeping

Clinical Sleep Psychologist Shelby Harris proposes mindfulness to patients who seek to quiet the brain and get a deeper sleep. One of the most significant problems her clients share is their growing anxiety about their ability to fall asleep and complete daily tasks without adequate sleep. Mindfulness can allow one to become aware of their thoughts and let go of anxieties before bed. To induce deeper and quicker sleep, one can encourage positive distractions such as imagining pleasant imagery, focusing on gratitude to evoke peaceful emotions, and directing one’s attention towards present happenings. Many apps, such as Ten Percent Happier and Calm, contain a wide variety of guided meditations for sleep. In addition, the app Reflectly is an intelligent journal that allows one to organize their thoughts before bed for a peaceful sleep.

One-minute Meditation

One-minute meditations are great alternatives for those who struggle to find the time for long meditations but are interested in its benefits. This practice allows individuals to take a short, 60-second break, in order to disengage from their fast-paced lives. One simple exercise that can be effective is the STOP exercise created by Elisha Goldstein, which helps combat the effects of a stressful experience. STOP consists of four steps that correspond with each letter. With this short exercise, one can check-in and assess their feelings, while allowing themself to become more present and intentional.

S

T

Stop what one is doing and put everything away

Take a few deep breaths

o Observe one’s experiences, including thoughts, feelings, and emotions

p Proceed with something that will benefit one in the moment

Headspace is a mindfulness app and online company that provides an extensive catalog of guided meditations and mindfulness techniques for beginners. With more than 70 million users from 190 countries, Headspace is one of the most popular mindfulness apps in the world. Its easy-to-use interface features progress tracking, different educational infographics, how-to videos, and more. Headspace offers a free program, which includes access to 10 Basics courses, three meditation workouts, and Sleepcasts, which are podcasts intended to induce restful sleep. Its paid subscription program Headspace Plus grants access to Headspace’s full library of content, which includes more than 400 meditations. It can be downloaded for free on the App Store and Google Play.

Palouse Mindfulness Online Course For individuals with busy schedules, the Palouse Mindfulness course is a great way to take a full-length MBSR course from home. The course contains many practices, user guides, tips, and online discussion meetings, similar to an actual MBSR course. It is taught by Dave Potter, a certified MBSR instructor taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Worcester (UMass Worcester), who created the university’s first mindfulness course. Based on testimonials from former students, Palouse Mindfulness is just as effective as an in-person course and is a useful resource for those who cannot attend an in-person course themselves, but still want to incorporate mindfulness in their daily lives. It is completely self-guided and there is no registration fee required. The course can be found at palousemindfulness.com.

Mindful.org The website mindfull.org breaks down mindfulness in a beginner-friendly way. With its accommodating and straightforward articles, infographics, and videos, the website teaches about the benefits that meditation has to offer the brain, as well as basic mindfulness practices and exercises to calm the body and mind. Additionally, the website features guided meditations and calming, instructional podcasts to educate individuals on how they can incorporate mindfulness in their day-to-day lives. The website is also affiliated with the official Mindful Magazine, which has released more than 51 published issues with helpful tips for individuals who may be struggling with anxiety, stress, and depression.

UMass Memorial Health Center for Mindfulness In the 1970s, UMass Worcester developed their Center for Mindfulness, which soon made its way to the UMass Chan Medical School. The center researches the negative impacts of chronic stress and anxiety and advocates for self care and mind and body awareness.

Starting in 2014, the program began offering its services online, making it easily accessible for anyone interested in learning more about mindfulness techniques and practices. Their virtual services include free, weekly group sessions and seasonal online courses to teach their global community about mindfulness skills, such as guided meditations and self reflections.

Breathing Exercises

“Over the summer I started meditating. Once every three or four days I'll take 30 minutes to sit down or lay down in a really dark room. I'll For those who want to spend less time on a screen, an engaging book or journal put on relaxing nature noises or about the basics of mindfulness is perfect for unwinding. These guides are easily accessible meditation music and I'll just focus at local bookstores, libraries, and online shops, and they range from funny, interactive journals for five minutes on my breathing. with coloring pages to detailed reports on useful relaxation techniques. For instance, the I'll focus on what I want to get done that week or what I want to popular book I Am Here Now: A Creative Mindfulness Guide and Journal is an illustrated mindfulaccomplish. I'll focus for 10 minutes Being intentional about one’s thoughts and feelings is a crucial component in the practice of mindfulness. ness project that includes guides to exercises, stretches, meditations, in addition to interacon nothing, just kind of relaxing.

Although there’s no exact way to feel, one bad thought can easily spiral into more negative feelings. This may tive journaling pages and habit breakers.

When I'm done meditating, I feel give way to a self-fulfilling prophecy, in which originally false beliefs lead individuals to act in ways that confirm healthier overall. I feel calmer. I feel those beliefs. The best way to prevent this downward spiral is to recognize when an irrational or negative thought like that day, a lot of times, runs a is occurring. In order to prevent further escalation, identify the emotional charges behind these thoughts and little bit smoother.” — consciously evaluate them. Acknowledging that feelings are not facts will allow individuals to develop a greater American Government stability of the mind.

Teacher Spenser Peterson

While breathing exercises can seem like clichés, they have demonstrated advantages that can help improve the health of one’s body and mind. For instance, the American Heart Association says mindful breathing can lower one’s blood pressure, stress levels, and likelihood of experiencing anxiety or depression. There are many beginner-friendly breathing exercises that are short and simple to learn. One popular exercise is the 4-7-8 breathing method, which is achieved by breathing in for four seconds, holding the breath for seven seconds, and exhaling for eight seconds. This method is recommended for up to four cycles, twice a day, in order to experience maximum benefits.

Books & Journals

Observing One’s Thoughts and Feelings

GRAPHICS BY CENTERSPREAD EDITORS NAVEED SHAKOOR & JACKIE WONG.

12 Arts & Entertainment

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, December 17, 2021

Arts & Entertainment Year in Review

By Chloe Gao, Selina Kao, Priyanka Shah & Annie Xu Staff Writers

With 2021 coming to an end, the Smoke Signal is taking the opportunity to recap the eventful highs and lows of the entertainment industry.

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1 March 14 - BTS at the Grammys

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony took place on March 14. BTS, a K-pop boy band that had reached immense international acclaim, was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with their hit single “Dynamite,” and was one of the most anticipated acts of the night. Despite alluding to a potential victory through countless teasers of BTS’s performance, the Grammy Awards announced “Rain on Me (with Ariana Grande)” by Lady Gaga, featuring Ariana Grande, as the winners of the category. After boycotts from the Weeknd and Zayn Malik in response to racism and voting corruption, the event sparked outrage and disbelief among the general public due to BTS’s fame and success with their single. By using BTS’s influence to attract viewers, the award show promoted the band’s appearance as a celebration of diversity in the music industry while contributing to the discourse around xenophobia and racism in the entertainment industry, leading to public protest over the fairness of award distributions.

July 29 - Scarlett Johansson Sues Disney

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Actress Scarlett Johansson, most well-known for her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sued Disney on July 29. She claimed that the movie’s simultaneous appearance on Disney+ diminished the potential of the film in theaters, despite Marvel’s contract promising the film to be theater-exclusive.

Disney opposed, saying that Johansson had allegedly been paid $20 million for the movie and was being insensitive to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though profit-participation lawsuits are common in the film industry, Johansson’s case was one of few brought to light because of her status and persistence, highlighting the business environment in the movie industry and opening doors for other actors to follow in her footsteps. Thus far, the general public is in support of Johansson, with the media arguing that Disney should not have breached the contract with Johansson and should have reached a compromise.

September 17 - “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” On March 26, Lil Nas X released the music video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” which sparked immense controversy due to its daring religious imagery. This included scenes where Lil Nas X gave a lap dance to the devil to highlight the social conflict between religious conservatives and the LGBTQ+ community. After widespread criticism, he posted a note he had written to his 14-year-old self on Instagram, mentioning that he had created the video in hopes of normalizing and accepting queerness.

The video, having amassed over 300 million views, brought about a wave of backlash towards the LGBTQ+ community.

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November 5 - Astroworld Tragedy

During Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival on November 5 in Houston, Texas, at least 10 people were killed and hundreds more injured after concertgoers surged towards the stage, trampling fans. The concert was sold out and reportedly overbooked, with ongoing investigations on the administration’s regulation of a safe attendee count.

Neglect and poor management were key reasons for the situation’s escalation, with an investigation by ABC 13 reporting that the head of risk management for security personnel is not a licensed private security officer or a licensed peace officer in Texas. The recent tragedy has sparked conversation about concert safety, with critics of Scott citing artists such as Linkin Park, who had stopped playing after noticing multiple audience members falling over during the Carnivores Tour on Aug. 15, 2014 in Camden, NJ, as examples of better responses to situations with rough crowds. This incident has spurred controversial discussions on promoting public safety at concerts, with examinations into the design of safety barriers, use of crowd control, and registration caps.

April 9 & November 12 Taylor’s Version Taylor Swift’s re-recordings received immense media attention since singer-songwriter Taylor Swift released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) on April 9 and November 12, respectively. After leaving Big Machine Records, Swift unsuccessfully negotiated to reclaim her first six albums, spurring her to begin re-recording and releasing her old records, renamed “Taylor’s Version.” Not only does she fully own her re-recordings of these albums, Swift has also brought discussion around exploitative artist contracts and intellectual property conflicts to a mainstream stage. The controversy has inspired artists to ensure that contracts specify intellectual property rights and ownership. For instance, teen star Olivia Rodrigo mentioned that she had retained control of her master recordings in an interview with The Guardian on May 7.

April 25 - Chloe Zhao’s Oscar Award On April 25, Chloé Zhao, director of Nomadland, won Best Director at the 2021 Oscars. She became the first woman of color, as well as the second woman, to win this award. This year also marked the first time ever that two women were nominated for Best Director, with Emerald Fennell being the other. With the Oscars’s notorious reputation of racism and sexism in their nominations — a tendency that gave rise to movements such as #OscarsSoWhite — Zhao’s win marks a potential turning point in the industry, as she was met with immense support from the general public and fellow artists after receiving her award.

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September 17 - Squid Game After its release on Netflix on September 17, South Korean drama Squid Game quickly rose to international success, subtitled in 31 languages and dubbed into 13. As of November 13, it was ranked first in 94 countries and reached over 111 million viewers through Netflix. The show features hundreds of indebted contestants competing in deadly children’s games for a cash prize while rich game hosts watch, conveying the horrors of capitalism in South Korean society through gruesome imagery. Despite its critique on the socioeconomic gap, the drama boosted Netflix’s stock market value by $19 billion, and influenced many trends such as “Squid Game in Real Life,” where Internet creators profited off of recreating games in the film.

However, Squid Game has also helped pave the way for international creators to bring their works to a worldwide audience.

October 21 - Alec Baldwin Shooting On Set

On October 21, on set for the movie Rust, Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza during a rehearsal for a gunfight scene. Investigation is underway, with evidence pointing to the failure of thoroughly checking the gun before giving it to Baldwin. This recent tragedy has raised questions over safety on film sets, pointing out the lack of security measures taken with handling such life threatening weapons, with Baldwin himself urging for their removal in response to backlash following the incident. In particular, American actor and filmmaker George Clooney criticized the carelessness of Baldwin and the crew, mentioning his own habit of making sure to check prop guns before each take.

November 12 - #FreeBritney Movement On November 12, after a 13-year-long guardianship, pop star Britney Spears was set free from the legal arrangement that gave her father Jamie Spears control over her estate and finances. The conservatorship was set up in 2008, after Spears’s hospitalization, rehab, and infamous breakdown twelve years ago. Over the past decade, the #FreeBritney movement has garnered massive support through physical protests and online posts. For example, a “Free Britney America” rally occurred on July 14 at the Lincoln Memorial in hopes of pressuring Congress into conservatorship reform.

The worldwide movement has brought attention to the abuse stars face publicly and privately, bringing cases such as that of actress Amanda Bynes, who faced immense scrutiny at the peak of her fame, to light.

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A year of notable incidents in the arts and entertainment sector, 2021 has certainly made its mark on the industry. After taking a quick stroll down memory lane, it’s time to flip to 2022 — sure to be filled with more memorable events.

GRAPHICS BY A&E EDITOR HELEN TIAN.

Friday, December 17, 2021

The Smoke Signal

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Arts & Entertainment 13

C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R

KEYS opens with bold am bit ion but moderate execut ion

By Kaylee Wei Staff Writer Released on December 10, Alicia Keys’s album KEYS cements the classically-trained pianist and singer-songwriter’s position as a top R&B artist. The album includes a whopping 26 songs, 14 of them “Originals” – songs produced by the artist herself with “laidback piano vibes” – and 12 of them “Unlocked” – songs produced by Grammy-winning DJ Mike WiLL Made-It with “level-up vibes.” Though welcomingly ambitious, KEYS in the end is lackluster compared to Keys’s previous works.

The Originals disc starts strong with “Plentiful (Originals) (feat.

Rapper Pusha T).” Jazzy piano, retro beats, and T’s rap verse unexpectedly enter into Keys’s signature piano melodies, contrasting with Keys’s smooth voice to add texture to the song. Moving forward into the album, however, songs intended to capture the artist’s typical soulful style instead begin to feel bland and forgettable as the same vocalizations and simple beats run through one too many songs. The lyrics remain as strong and powerful as ever – “We planted seeds inside / Now we’re dancing in the rain / Growing up slowly over the hills / Winter is over / Here come the daffodils,” Keys sings in “Daffodils (Originals)” – but listeners struggle to fully appreciate Keys’s messages after already listening to similar-sounding songs.

Despite some of the formulaic production, Keys still displays her versatile, nuanced, and emotionally raw voice. In the six-minute long “Is It Insane (Originals),” Keys laments about unrequited love, asking herself, “Is it insane? /

For horror fans looking for a scare, the newly released indie-horror game Poppy Playtime is a perfect quick fix for any fright craving. Developed and released by EnchantedMob on October 12, the game offers players the first chapter of a terror-filled story.

Players are first introduced as former employees of the toy company Playtime Co., investigating the toy factory after the mysterious disappearance of its workforce.

Throughout the game, players find VHS tapes that reveal the secrets of the factory. However, playing these tapes is optional, and players can clear the game while skipping the plot entirely.

Although described as a puzzle game by the developers, the mechanics in Poppy Playtime are elementary, with challenges including grabbing items, connecting electric currents, and running through a maze. Players spend more time exploring the toy factory than solving puzzles in this 40-80 minute game.

The game’s horror aesthetic is the true star of the show; the visual and sound effects come together to deliver a truly fright-filled experience for players. Starting with dark corridors, rundown equipment, and bloodied toy parts, the creepy atmosphere heightens as the game goes on. Combined with intense music and the few (but extremely terrifying) jump scares, Poppy Playtime will get the blood pumping through even the most fearless of thrill-seekers. By the climax, the game becomes pure chaos and adrenaline as players run from a monstrous, come-to-life toy. Overall, the game is a must-play for horror fanatics.

Poppy Playtime is only available on PC for $4.99. The game requires quite a bit of computer power, but can otherwise be played normally on lowered graphics settings. The second chapter is currently in development and is expected to release in early 2022.

WINTER WONDERS

ALICIAKEYS.COM

Thought you’d be my king, I’d be your queen … / Was that just me imagining?” Her voice rises and swells and sinks and fades with clear, powerful voice control, taking listeners on a voyage through her pain. Most notable is the song’s end, where Keys’s deep inhales and disquieting cries escalate into her acceptance of the unrequited love.

In “Nat King Cole (Originals),” Keys demonstrates a deeper, bolder voice, which is fitting for the song’s message to “be unforgettable / Like Nat King Cole,” a historical jazz artist and singer. Paying tribute to Cole, the song also features jazzy piano chords and an orchestra in the background, both of which compliment the singer’s deep vibrato.

The Unlocked disc only partially fulfills Keys’s intentions of fresh and upbeat feels. Not all Originals have an Unlocked version, and not all Unlocked versions have an Originals version, with certain remixes adding little to the album or sounding almost identical to their Originals versions, such as “Best Of Me (Unlocked).” This ordering leaves behind confusion as to why some songs had an Unlocked version while others did not.

However, many Unlocked songs

did provide the intended poppy feels, especially those with collaborations with Swae Lee, Lil Wayne, Khalid, and Lucky Daye, all of whom added exciting finishes to the album as a whole. Along with hard drums and record scratches instead of light drums and piano chords, the Unlocked versions were generally faster-paced. Like the Originals, they maintained impressive vocals and meaningful messages on loving relationships and on overcoming mistakes, even during the condensed four-minute “Is It Insane (Unlocked).” Overall, the Unlocked versions had more diverse sounds but were underwhelming.

KEYS’s concept was new and interesting, but it was not entirely well-executed, with some songs feeling repetitive and bland. However, Keys’s powerful vocals and lyrics, as well as Made-It’s rousing remixes, gave listeners an empowering and insightful journey into Keys’s humility and hope, setting similar expectations for the artist’s future work.

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Vocals: 9.5/10 Lyrics: 8.5/10 Production: 7/10 Overall: 8.3/10

MOVIE: Dune — Ujwala Nettam, 12 TV SHOW: Shameless — Nouha Hassani, 12 ALBUM: Divide by Ed Sheeran — Nandika Nambiar, 11 BOOK: It Ends With Us by Lathika Suresh, 11 GAME: VALORANT — Aakash Mandyam, 10

By Nessa Tong Staff Writer

SMOKIE PLAYLIST:

By Ruhani Chhabra Staff Writer

December 2021 Student Faves

GAMEBYTES: POPPY PLAYTIME

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Adele makes a flaw less return with 30 Grammy award-winning artist Adele has stunned millions of people with her vocal and lyrical abilities ever since she was a young adult. The singer went on a five-year hiatus after the release of 25, a record of critical acclaim that would be difficult for any professional to top. However, Adele has put out her strongest work in her most vulnerable, masterful, and diverse album yet.

Like Adele’s previous releases, 30 captures tumultuous emotions through her indomitable vocals and lyrics that leave lasting impressions.

This album in particular chronicles a very personal and heartfelt tale — “divorce, babes,” to quote Adele herself.

Indeed, the 11 stunning tracks detail the stages of a failed relationship.

In the sorrowful piano ballad “Easy On Me,” Adele expertly describes that: “I changed who I was to put you both first / But now I give up.”

The “both” in that line seems to refer to her ex and her young son.

Motherhood is another recurring topic in the album, especially in the song “My Little Love,” which features voice recordings of a candid and sweet conversation between Adele and her son.

The track also contains personal memos where she admits to being hungover, anxious, and lonely for the first time since the split. One can only applaud Adele’s willingness to be open with her audience.

A similar theme is expressed in “I Drink Wine,” where Adele laments on trying to appease the public as she heals from her divorce, singing “Why am I obsessin’ about the things I can’t control? / Why am I seekin’ approval from people I don’t even know?”

These authentic depictions of raising a child while being in the limelight are incredibly impactful artistic choices.

In addition to portraying the emotional story of her split, 30 incorporates more genres than Adele has before. With elements of R&B, jazz, and

ADELE.COM

folksy pop scattered throughout many songs, she ventures into a new direction, as most of her tracks in previous albums have been slow-paced ballads.

Besides the versatile melodies and beats, Adele displays her impressive vocal range—high pitch, low pitch, and everything in-between. The sheer power of her voice is most apparent in “Stranger By Nature,” where her Disney princess-style falsetto creates a dreamy quality, and in “To Be Loved” and “Hold On,” where she doesn’t hold back in her ability to belt notes that can break glass. And there’s no forgetting the seductive baritone in “Woman Like Me,” a fiery anthem where Adele temporarily sheds her insecurities — “Complacency is the worst trait to have, are you crazy? / You ain’t never had, ain’t never had a woman like me.”

Over the course of 30, Adele takes the listener on a poignant journey through top-notch instrumentals, vocals, and poetic rawness. She sings about how she’s not flawless, but she’s trying. That relatable message is reiterated in the final track, “Love Is A Game,” where she admits she would fall in love with her ex all over again, despite the hurt that followed. So yes, maybe Adele isn’t perfect… but 30 is a perfect album.

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Vocals: 10/10 Lyrics: 10/10 Production: 10/10 Overall: 10/10

West Side Story T rails i n the Right Direct ion

By Charlize Chiu Staff Writer Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated adaptation of West Side Story was released in theaters on December 10 after a year-long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spielberg’s take on this Romeo and Juliet-inspired classic transforms the original 1961 film adaptation of the original Broadway show and challenges the boundaries of the movie musical.

The audience is first introduced to a feud in the Upper West Side of Manhattan between two New York gangs: the white Jets led by Riff (Mike Faist) and the Puerto Rican Sharks led by Bernardo (David Alvarez). A chaotic opening number features Jets vandalizing a Puerto Rican mural, which escalates into a fight with the Sharks. Their battle to control the streets intensifies as ex-Jet Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Bernardo’s sister María (Rachel Zegler) fall in love at first sight at a dance, fueling tension between the gangs and leading to a cataclysmic chain of

disastrous events for both sides.

With consultation from John Williams, David Newman’s arrangement and adaptation of Leonard Bernstein’s original score purposefully underscores music’s vital importance to the plot and complements the action within the scene.

In scenes spoken in Spanish or in the absence of dialogue, music evokes desired moods through trumpets blaring jazz motifs or strings swelling into a passionate crescendo.

Although Spanish dialogue is not subtitled since Spielberg wanted to “respect the language enough not to subtitle it,” as he stated in an interview with Imagine Games Network, the nature of the scenes implies the dialogue’s meaning and encapsulates the story without the need for translation.

In combination with sound, the aesthetic execution reimagines original movie scenes and creates a cohesive atmosphere. Moving shots track the characters at various angles and immerse the audience into the captivating dance numbers and set design. At times, however, these shots

become disorienting in combination with the inconsistent lighting. For example, many Latinx actors could’ve been lit better, as their facial structures were often distorted or flooded in darkness. Additionally, the signature lens flares of the film are often overdone throughout the film and blow out certain facial structures or create unwanted refractions of light in the sensor. Regardless, the majority of the film was captured beautifully through soft lens flares and varied composition.

However, the cinematography fails to salvage the rapid, irregular pacing of the plot, which prevents the audience from processing the events and halts complex themes from developing. A sense of dissatisfaction and lack of closure lingers in the abrupt, unresolved final scene. The film also suffers from the typical movie musical struggle of translating a play’s universe to the big screen, especially as it condenses the two-days-long plot to span over two and a half hours.

Despite the pacing, the overall execution of the choreography and staging was highly impressive with

IMDB.COM

their coordination and precision.

Rachel Zegler provides a phenomenal performance for her feature film debut and belts high notes with supported strength and vibrato. In “A Boy Like That / I Have a Love,” Zegler and Ariana DeBose, who plays Bernardo’s girlfriend Anita, exchange powerful countermelodies in an emotional duet. However, Zegler outshines in her duets with Ansel Elgort, as their ranges and styles refuse to blend in “One Hand, One Heart.” Elgort’s performance pales in comparison to Zegler; Tony lacks a charismatic charm, and his inconsistent New York accent fluctuates between a modern American and a New Jersey accent.

Despite its few shortcomings, Spielberg’s West Side Story sonically and visually advances the legacy of the Broadway musical’s 1961 film adaptation.

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Acting: 8/10 Cinematography: 8.5/10 Plot: 7/10 Setting: 9/10 Overall: 8.1/10

MEGH: “Someday At Christmas” by The Jackson 5 | AMANDA: “Winter Things” by Ariana Grande | LARRY: “Snowman” by Sia | ALINA: “White Christmas” by Pentatonix | ISABELLA: “Back To December” by Taylor Swift | SAKSHI: “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Dean Martin | Lily: “Sing For You” by EXO | NITHIKA: “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber | JACKIE: “Snow In California” by Ariana Grande | NAVEED: “Santa Baby” by Taylor Swift | HELEN: “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms JOANNE: “Last Christmas” by WHAM! | ANVI: “Sleigh Ride” by The Ronettes | JERRY: “Been Through” by EXO | MINGXIN: “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift | JESSICA: “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande | TANISHA: “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber | MRS. COHEN: “Christmas in San Francisco” by Russ Lorenson

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2022 www.asdrp.org WHO WE ARE The Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program (ASDRP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private research institution in Fremont, California.

ASDRP is the Bay Area's premier precollegiate research & development institution, run by a consortium of highly skilled scientists, engineers, and researchers with years of academic and industry experience who collectively seek to push forward the current frontiers in biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, cognitive science, medicine, engineering, and more.

We mentor high school students - budding scientists in 9th through 12th grade - who come from every corner of the greater Bay Area, California, and across the United States. We seek student researchers who are passionate, who are unafraid of a steep learning curve, and who want to be involved in real science that has real impact on society.

WHAT WE DO Quite simply, we do research. Our investigators and student researchers strive to make impact in fields ranging from cancer biology, drug discovery, and computer-guided drug design to radioastronomy, machine learning, and urban sustainability.

As in any other R&D establishment, we publish papers, present work at conferences, and generate intellectual property. Our scientists are involved in developing novel therapies against cancer, using data science to understand the impact of climate change on society, synthesizing the next generation of antibiotics, developing machine learning platforms for drug discovery, understanding mechanisms of memory acquisition, probing the universe for ultrafast radioburst signals, and much, much more.

Why should students apply to ASDRP? Researchers at ASDRP are exposed to genuine scientific research while they are still in high school. They get direct, hands-on experience running experiments, designing research, reading and writing scientific papers, presenting their work, and working in a research team.

Importantly, students are not doing research in science experiments, like in school, where the results are known a priori. Rather, students embark on an intellectual journey in which they pursue new knowledge in their particular field of research.

Interested in joining us? Apply online at www.asdrp.org/apply.

Application Details Spring 2022 Priority Deadline: December 15, 2021 Applications Due: January 15, 2022

Summer 2022 Priority Deadline 1: February 1, 2022 Priority Deadline 2: March 1, 2022 Applications Due: April 15, 2022 11:59 PM PST Admissions are competitive, and each term, ASDRP receives far more applicants than there are open research positions. Apply online at www.asdrp.org/apply.

Interested in finding out more?

RSVP for an informational webinar at www.asdrp.org/rsvp.

Friday, December 17, 2021

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Arts & Entertainment & Sports 15

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C h ris t m as at t h e M is si o n : A c o n c e r t o f c o m m u n i t y, h o p e , a n d s t r e n g t h

By Sahas Goli & Kaitlyn Wang Staff Writers On December 4 and 5 at the Mission San José Church, the East Bay People’s Choir (EBPC) and the Mission Peak Chamber Singers (MPCS) raised their voices in harmony at the 35th annual “Christmas at the Mission” concert. Titled “The Storm is Passing: A Concert of Community, Hope & Strength in the Wake of COVID,” the program featured a heartfelt message of unity and healing amidst the chaos of the pandemic through a repertoire consisting of both traditional and newly-written works.

Established as the Ohlone Chamber Singers, the MPCS became an independent nonprofit in 2014 following the withdrawal of community college support for choral arts.

Last August, the MPCS community established the EPBC as a non-auditioned, fee-free open ensemble for people of all ages and backgrounds. The two choirs presented a multi-generational performance group that reflected the solidarity of the members’ passions for singing.

“The chaos that COVID has brought ... [is] passing over, and we [want] to carry that hope forward,” EBPC Director Sid Quinsaat said.

In preparation for the choirs’ first in-person performance after two years of quarantine, the singers coordinated over Zoom to prepare a dual performance. Singing both individually as separate choirs and together as one, the alternation offered an element of uniqueness to the show. To minimize concerns of COVID-19 spread within the close-packed au-

East Bay People’s Choir (EBPC) and the Mission Peak Chamber Singers (MPCS) perform at the Mission San José Church

dience and choir, all attendees and performers were required to be fully vaccinated and masked.

The program began with Artistic Director Ofar dal Lal directing the Mission Peak Chamber Singers’s

opening songs, “In Meeting We Are Bound” and “Serenity.” A fitting start, the two pieces introduced the theme with their slow, wistful melodies that would remain throughout the rest of the concert’s repertoire:

collectiveness and the pursuit of peace. The rest of the program featured Christmas songs familiar to many, such as “Still, Still, Still,” as well as lesser-known pieces such as “In the Bleak Midwinter.”

Under the additional guidance of Quinsaat and Assistant Director Corie Brown, the choirs led the audience through a diverse series of songs celebrating the aspirations that the future reveals. “The Storm is Passing Over,” which was the inspiration behind the program’s name, presented the central message of the program – a message of courage and transcendence to everyone fighting the countless setbacks of this tumultuous time period.

The highlight of the performance was an original song composed and performed by the directors and members of both choirs: “Our World is Big Enough.” Performed without the help of instruments, the beat was maintained through stomps, claps, and snaps from the singers and the audience.

“The thing about the song is that everybody came and shared their ideas; it’s a message of ‘everyone is welcome.’ We’re big enough [in our confidence]. Let’s try again,” said Quinsaat. The song featured lines reminiscent of challenges posed by the pandemic as well as hope for a future in which everyone can be joyful and, as the lyrics stated, “hand in hand.”

Bringing people together to appreciate the enduring harmony that lies in the community, the concert was a reminder to all: the storm really is passing after all. “The fact that we’re together a little bit, that’s such a good feeling ... there’s still hope because we are at least together,” Quinsaat said.

▪

(From left to right} Ofar dal Lal, Sid Quinsaat & Corie Brown

EBPC Director Sid Quinsaat PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS SAHAS GOLI & KAITLYN WANG

Compiled by Chahak Gupta, Selina Kao & Ayushi Kashyap Staff Writers

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Golden State Warriors crush Phoenix Suns’ winning streak

Antonio Brown and Mike Edwards suspended after COVID-19 vaccine falsification

WTA demands a “full and transparent investigation” into the Peng Shuai scandal

On December 3, the Golden State Warriors won against the Phoenix Suns at Chase Center in a highly-anticipated matchup. The Suns were previously running on an 18-game long win streak after beating the Warriors on November 30 by eight points. However, the Warriors climbed back to the top of the Western Conference standings and avenged their loss by beating the Suns 118-96. Warriors Point Guard Stephen Curry led the game with 23 points total, while Center Deandre Ayton led the Suns also with 23 points. While the Suns were lacking Shooting Guard Devin Booker, a key player, both teams are amping up the heat for the Christmas Day matchup, which is set to welcome both Warriors Shooting Guard Klay Thompson and Booker back on the court.

On December 2, the NFL suspended Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Wide Receiver Antonio Brown and Safety Mike Edwards without pay for falsifying their COVID-19 vaccination status.

Brown and Edwards reportedly acquired fake vaccination cards, which led the NFL and the player’s union to conclude that the falsification compromised the health and safety of other players, thus warranting their suspensions for the next three games. This violation comes after a series of breaches since the past two seasons, to which the NFL docked Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and fined the Green Bay Packers $300,000. Although the NFL has not mandated COVID-19 vaccinations, they have cracked down with harsh penalties such as fines, game forfeitures, and expulsions for falsifications and failures to adhere to mask mandates in order address the ever-looming concern over the virus.

Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Chairman and CEO Steve Simon announced the suspension of all WTA tournaments in China on December 1 over concern about the Chinese government’s treatment of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai’s sexual assault scandal. Shuai accused Former Vice Premier of the State Council Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a since-deleted Weibo post dated November 2. Chinese state officials released photos and videos of Shuai after her twoweek disappearance, followed by a video call between Shuai and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on November 21. Simon described the call between the IOC and Peng Shuai as “very much orchestrated” in a CNN interview. Simon called for “a full and transparent investigation — without censorship” which the Chinese government is yet to deliver.

GRAPHICS BY SPORTS EDITOR ANVI KALUCHA

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Sports 17

The Distasteful Truth About Cheat Day Culture

By Andria Luo & Angela Xiong Staff Writers Due to the ever-rising popularity of social media, it is not uncommon to come across pictures or videos of people excitedly sharing their workout or diet plans with their followers.

A commonly seen addition in people’s workout and diet plans are cheat days, or breaks in diet regimens during which people allow themselves to eat whatever they desire with the intention of “working it off ” later. Upon first glance, this practice may seem like an effective way through which an individual may reach a satisfactory compromise within their diet.

However, this persistent rhetoric is far from true. Despite the hashtag’s 4.3 million Instagram cheat day posts, no amount of perfectly positioned food and vivid filters can obscure the restrictive and counterproductive nature of cheat days. Seen as a prevalent practice within the sports world, media, and beyond, this appealing practice hides a sea of negative consequences.

A commonly overlooked aspect of cheat day culture is the inherently pessimistic im-

plication of the term “cheat day,” and the impact of this on mental health and body image.

Right off the bat, the word “cheat” harbors a negative connotation. Similar to common diet-culture vocabulary including “guilt-free” and “clean” food, words like “cheat” assign an immediate moral judgment on the concept and imply that cheat days are dishonest or shameful. This can easily affect a person’s self-perception of themselves, leading to a prevailing belief that they are weak or bad because they “cheated” on their diet. According to Pennington Biomedical Research Center Clinical Psychologist and Ingestive Behavior Laboratory Researcher Corby K. Martin, cheat days can be especially dangerous for individuals who suffer from anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders as they may induce anxiety or exacerbate their current health conditions.

Connotative terms aside, the ubiquitous nature of cheat days can be observed through the millions of Instagram posts under its hashtag and thousands of cheat day vlogs uploaded to YouTube on a regular basis. Even world-renowned athletes, like basketball player Lebron James and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, have admitted to participating in cheat days.

Ex-professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson is well known for both his incredible workout regime and his dramatic cheat day meal combinations, which go as far as eating four pizzas and 21 brownies in one sitting.

When influencers post images and videos of their extravagant cheat day meals, they perpetuate the false narrative that cheat days have negligible consequences. Professionals like Johnson, who follow rigorous fitness routines and have meticulously managed diets, can afford to have cheat days without experiencing serious consequences on their overall health management. Similarly, other celebrities who have the means and resources to hire personal dietitians and trainers may not have to worry about the effects of cheat days as much as the impressionable viewers and consumers of their content and social media. People like professional athletes and fitness gurus are extremely experienced and understand how to let go every once in a while without much risk. This is why it is important to be mindful of such content in the media, as there is a resource disparity present between professional athletes and their normal, impressionable au-

diences. As a result, the abundance of health influencers and athletes who have regular cheat days should not serve as a go-signal for everyone to pursue such a course of action.

Diet and food consumption are not a onesize-fits-all matter. Every diet is unique and should be reflective of a combination of foods that the individual not only enjoys but provides sufficient nutrients and sustenance for their body. “It is encouraged for us to eat a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods from each food group and subgroup, in the appropriate amounts for our individual energy needs. What counts is how everything in your eating pattern adds up over time, not what’s on the latest good food/bad food list” Dietitian Nutritionist Robyn Flipse said. Cheat days are pursued in an attempt to strike a compromise and promote long-term diet sustainability; however, in the end, it is up to the individual to decide what is sustainable for themselves. By focusing on personal dietary needs independent of those portrayed in the media, individuals will come to realize that they don’t have to ‘cheat’ in order to be healthy. ▪ GRAPHICS BY STAFF WRITER KARINA HAN

Girls Tennis Win NCS for the First Time Since 2009

By Sanah Bhardwaj & Waylon Li Staff Writers After an undefeated 15-0 season, the Girls Tennis Team’s efforts paid off as they won the NCS Champions title for the first time in 12 years. Led by Girls Tennis Coach Michael Jan, the team continued their historic run into the NorCal Championships, receiving third out of the region.

As the coach for both the Girls and Boys Tennis Team, Jan’s experience mentoring the athletes played a large role in their victory. “I think our team is really smart … they know how to study their opponents well, and I’m really impressed by their performance this year,” Jan said. During the regular season, the team worked together to become MVAL champions, facing tough matchups such as Amador

Valley and American High School. Nonetheless, the team was able to prove their potential, with several players playing exceptionally well throughout the season. “Sandhya Balaji … she was the workforce, but Megha Hegde and Erin Ta, they were the deciding match… I’m glad they had the mental fortitude to win,” Jan said.

The team’s NCS victory didn’t come easy; seeded in seventh place, they had to play the first, second, and third highest seeds at NCS — the best teams at the tournament. Nonetheless, the girls learned from their prior matches and persevered. “Because we had such good competition in the regular season, we were able to defeat those teams and use a strategic lineup [at NCS],” Co-Captain Senior Ria Kolala said.

Following their celebrated win at NCS, the girls powered their way through the NorCal Championships, ranking third out of all the teams. In the first round, the girls beat the Oak Ridge High School Trojans with a solid 5-2 victory, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament with both the second and third rounds.

In the semifinal round, MSJ played The Harker School Eagles. Despite their best efforts, they fell short in the attempt to reach the NorCal Championship finals and lost 0-7.

“Placing third at NorCals was an accomplishment for our entire team. Every player worked extremely hard to get to this point and I’m so proud of all of them.”

— CO-CAPTAIN SENIOR LINDSEY WEN Seniors Erin Ta, Sandhya Balaji, Ria Kolala, Lindsey Wen lead their team to win first at Girls Tennis NCS

Despite their loss to Harker, the players came together as a team through their experience at the NorCal Championships. Sopho-

The Girls Tennis Team win NCS. Front Row (Left to Right): Sophomore Megha Hegde, Coach Michael Jan, Freshman Moksha Rawlani, Freshman Samhita Bathina, Sophomore Himani Malur Back Row (Left to Right): Senior Erin Ta, Senior Sandhya Balaji, Senior Lindsey Wen, Senior Ria Kolala, Sophomore Siran Wang, Sophomore Anushri Polamuri, Junior Natasha Chang, Junior Harshita Bathina

more Megha Hegde said, “We all really focused on having a good time and doing our best because we knew that the tournament would be our team’s last time playing a match together and we wanted to end on a good note. We all had a lot of fun, and it was a great way to end the season.”

When asked what she would like to tell her teammates, Kolala said,

“I’m so proud of everyone. Every single person on the team has put in the commitment, hours, and practice and I’m so grateful that it paid off. We’re like a family.”

— CO-CAPTAIN SENIOR RIA KOLALA

PHOTOS COURTESY MICHAEL JAN, RIA KOLALA

18 Sports

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, December 17, 2021

MSJ Places Third at Annual JV Basketball Hardwood Classic Tournament MSJ faced off against the Valley Christian High School Warriors following their victory against the Falcons. MSJ trailed behind Valley Christian from the start, with a score of 1724 by halftime. The third quarter saw Valley Christian gain a massive lead on MSJ, during which they continued to rack up points with their consistent three-pointers and aggressive offense. Despite MSJ’s best efforts, they were unable to break through Valley Christian’s defense for the rest of the match. The game ended with a score of 37-60, sending MSJ to fight for the third place spot in their last match.

The Warriors used their loss as motivation for the final game against the Washington High School Huskies, with a score of 16-2 at the end of the first quarter. MSJ continued their strong offense, and Co-Captain Sophomore Shivani Kyadhari elicited enthusiastic cheers from the crowd as she scored multiple

three-pointers. The Warriors’ continuous scoring carried them through the second quarter, and they scored 14 more points by halftime.

Although the Warriors missed a few shots occasionally, the support from their teammates and the audience kept the players determined.

They slowed down in the second half, earning only six points in the third quarter, but were able to maintain their lead, securing a win and the third place spot with a final score of 4511. After the match, Kyadhari and Marimuthu were awarded the All-Tournament Award and Sportsmanship Award respectively.

The Warriors’ win at the tournament marks the fifth consecutive time that they’ve placed at a tournament this year. Girls Basketball Coach Tan Tran hopes to continue their winning streak into the rest of the season. “That is our team goal, to be the league champion again, so we can have a back-to-back,” Tran said. ▪

Freshman Patricia Wu jumps and shoots a layup.

By Karina Han & Julia Peng Staff Writers This year’s annual Junior Varsity (JV) Girls Basketball Hardwood Classic Tournament took place from December 2-4 at MSJ. Teams from Aragon, Washington, Campolindo, San Ramon Valley, Valley Christian, Dublin, Foothill, and MSJ competed in an elimination tournament, in which MSJ placed third overall.

Going into the tournament, the team faced many challenges. They were missing three of their key players, who were out because of marching band. There was also no JV team last year thanks to the pandemic, which raised concerns about the basketball experience of the freshman and sophomore players. “A lot of the girls are new and haven’t been in the program

before,” Co-Captain Sophomore Anushree Marimuthu said.

Despite the setbacks, the Warriors started off strong in their first match of the tournament against the Foothill High School Falcons.

The Warriors took the lead almost immediately, maintaining their advantage by continuously scoring throughout the four quarters. Ending the first half with a solid lead of 27-8, the Warriors kept up their clear communication and teamwork, assisting their teammates as they made basket after basket. Finishing their first game with a score of 46-13, the Warriors felt a boost of motivation for the remainder of their games. “We played amazingly [during the game], and I hope that [our success] continues throughout the rest of the tournament and season,” Marimuthu said.

Freshman Dhanushka Jalagam scores against the Foothill High School Falcons.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS KARINA HAN & JULIA PENG

Boys Soccer

Boys Basketball

Record: 0-2 12/8 vs. Newark Memorial: 1-3 (L) 12/10 vs. American: 2-3 (L) Upcoming Games: 12/15 vs. Kennedy 12/17 vs. Moreau Catholic 1/12 vs. James Logan 1/14 vs. Washington 1/19 vs. Irvington 1/21 vs. Newark Memorial 1/26 vs. American 1/28 vs. Kennedy 2/2 vs. Moreau Catholic 2/4 vs. James Logan 2/9 vs. Washington ...

Girls Soccer Record: 0-2 12/7 vs. Newark Memorial: 0-10 (L) 12/9 vs. American: 2-6 (L) Upcoming Games: 12/14 vs. Kennedy 12/16 vs. Moreau Catholic 1/11 vs. James Logan 1/13 vs. Washington 1/18 vs. Irvington 1/20 vs. Newark Memorial 1/25 vs. American 1/27 vs. Kennedy 2/1 vs. Moreau Catholic 2/3 vs. James Logan 2/8 vs. Washington 2/10 vs. Irvington

Record: 1-3 11/16 vs. Mt. Eden: 41-66 (L) 11/26 vs. Livermore: 65-58 (W) 11/30 vs. Gunn: 31-64 (L) 12/7 vs. Milpitas: 46-72 (L) 12/9-11 Washington Tournament: 1-2

By Elaheh Khazi, Andria Luo, Priyanka Shah, Hannah Shen & Nessa Tong Staff Writers Disclaimer: Some records listed are non indicative of the official MVAL record but rather based on all games played by the teams, including during the preseason.

Boys Wrestling

Girls Wrestling

Record: 0-2 12/1 vs. American: 27-37 (L) 12/8 vs. Newark Memorial: 24-42 (L)

Record: 1-1 12/1 vs. American: 24-33 (L) 12/8 vs. Newark Memorial: 60-6 (W)

Upcoming Games: 12/15 vs. Washington 1/15 Mat Classic 1/18 vs. Irvington 1/22 Puma Classic 1/26 vs. Kennedy 1/28-29 MSJ Invitational 2/2 vs. James Logan

Upcoming Games: 12/15 vs. Washington 12/18 Castro Valley Girls Classic 1/15 Lady Grizzly Classic 1/18 vs. Irvington 1/22 Puma Classic 1/26 vs. Kennedy 1/28-29 MSJ Invitational 2/2 vs. James Logan

Upcoming Games: 12/14 vs. James Logan 12/17 vs. Kennedy 12/23 vs. Redwood Christian 12/28-30 N. Salinas Tournament 1/4 vs. San Lorenzo 1/10 vs. Washington 1/12 vs. Moreau Catholic 1/14 vs. American ...

Girls Basketball Record: 3-3 11/23 vs. Lynbrook: 45-25 (W) 11/27 vs. Clayton Valley Charter: 45-50 (L) 12/2 vs. Foothill: 55-48 (W) 12/7 vs. Liberty: 35-39 (L) 12/9 vs. Milpitas: 57-18 (W) 12/11 vs. Granada: 44-46 (L) Upcoming Games: 12/21 vs. Kennedy 1/10 vs. Washington 1/12 vs. Moreau Catholic 1/14 vs. American 1/19 vs. Irvington 1/21 vs. Newark Memorial 1/22 vs. Miramonte ...

GRAPHICS BY STAFF WRITER HANNAH SHEN

Friday, December 17, 2021

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Sports 19

FAMOUS ALUMNI WARRIORS

By Christy Huang, Esha Potharaju, Hannah Shen & Darshan Thirumala Staff Writers While MSJ has established itself as an academically dominated high school, the strides its alumni have made in the national and international sports worlds are not to be overlooked. To shed light on some professional athletes whose roots came from MSJ, the Smoke Signal highlights the careers of five outstanding athletes.

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Former Winnipeg Blue Bombers Kicker Justin Medlock has a storied career in football. A highly self-motivated student who graduated from MSJ in 2002, Medlock played several sports growing up, including baseball, basketball, and soccer, which he played for MSJ’s Junior Varsity team. Medlock found that kicking a ball was something he enjoyed, coming intuitively to him. Medlock wanted to play as a kicker for MSJ, but the coach at the time wouldn’t allow him to do so. It wasn’t until Former English Teacher Kevin Lydon took over the role of football coach that Medlock got to play at his desired position, in his junior year. After a successful two years of football at MSJ, Medlock eventually received a scholarship to play football for UC Los Angeles, where he was a two-time All Top 10 player. The call up to the professional level came quickly for Medlock as he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL in his senior year. Since then, Medlock played as a kicker for several other teams, including the Oakland Raiders of the NFL and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Highlights of Medlock’s football career include being named a CFL All-Star in 2016 and winning the 2019 CFL with Winnipeg.

Today, Medlock works at Newfront where he explores the field of life science. Medlock believes hard work is universal, having applied to his football career and continuing to do so at his current job. For advice to upcoming student athletes at MSJ, Medlock recommends that they surround themselves with hard working students to draw inspiration and develop good habits from a competitive environment. “Set a goal.

Trust the process throughout. Work hard and achieve it. Aim high, miss low,” Medlock said.

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A graduate of MSJ’s Class of 1987 and a 2001 nominee to the school’s Hall of Fame, Lev Kirshner is a true allaround athlete, having participated in a wide array of sports such as soccer, badminton, and track and field in high school. After his time at MSJ, Kirshner attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, from which he received a bachelor's degree in communication in 1991. While enrolled at Rutgers, Kirshner went a long way in the NCAA Championships in 1987 and 1989, finishing in the quarterfinals and semifinals in the respective years for soccer, leading to an induction into the Rutgers Hall of Fame in 2015. Having already taken up coaching while he was an active soccer player, Kirshner became both assistant coach and head coach of the mens and womens soccer teams at Cañada College in Redwood City, leading the women to a quarterfinal finish in 1994. After a few more years of coaching at Canada College, Kirshner became an assistant coach at San Diego State University (SDSU) in 1997. Within two years, he was then promoted to head coach, a position he would hold for the next two decades. The highlight of Kirshner’s coaching career came in 2016 when the SDSU team achieved a national top 10 ranking and went on to defeat the then number one ranked team in the nation, the Akron Zips. Kirshner parted ways with SDSU in 2019 and has since served as executive director of the Poway Vaqueros Soccer Club, a youth soccer club.

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Born in San Jose, CA, Scott Fisher graduated from MSJ in 1981 and played basketball for UC Santa Barbara. However, he is best known for his time playing professionally in Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL), where he won the league’s MVP award in 1989 and in 1992 and had a Hall of Fame career for almost two decades. After his professional career as a player in the NBL, he went on to be the Head Coach for a professional Australian basketball team, the Perth Wildcats, where he led the Wildcats to the NBL Finals every season he coached. Fisher returned to America as the University of Hawaii’s assistant coach where he mentored All-Conference Center Vander Joaquim and Big West Conference Co-Freshman of the Year Isaac Fotu, both of whom flourished under his guidance. Joaquim became one of two players in the history of the school to finish with more than 1,200 points and 800 rebounds in a single career while Fotu is now a New Zealand professional basketball player. Fisher returned to CA in May 2014 as the men’s basketball head coach for the Ohlone College Renegades.

After a successful career in professional basketball playing and coaching, Fisher is currently retired, but he no doubt left his mark on the basketball community.

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After graduating from MSJ in 2000, Kevin Tan went on to leave a vibrant collegiate legacy in Pennsylvania State University’s men’s gymnastics team. Between 2003 and 2004, he won three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships back-to-back in still rings, an event where performers grip a gymnastics apparatus to precisely control their body movements. From 2005 to 2006, Tan continued his streamlined proficiency by becoming a three-time US national champion in still rings at the World Gymnastics Championships. In 2006, Tan joined Penn State’s coaching staff full-time, helping lead the men’s gymnastics team to their 12th NCAA team championship. Two years later, Tan was not only nomi- nated for the 2008 US Summer Olympic Team for men’s gymnastics but was also given the honor of being named captain. At the Olympics, Tan helped lead his team to win a bronze medal. Simultaneously, Tan also won his third consecutive US still ring title at the 2008 Visa Championships in August. From his graduation in 2000, Tan eventually became a champion representing the entire country with a legacy in gymnastics that will last forever. Not only that, Tan is an example of the impact MSJ alumni can have in the world of athletics.

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Born and raised in the Bay Area, Former Olympic Figure Skater Kristi Yamaguchi was homeschooled for her first two years of high school, to accommodate for her intense training schedule, before attending and graduating from MSJ in the Class of 1989. After seeing her older sister on the ice, Yamaguchi began taking skating lessons at age 6 as physical therapy for her club feet. She slowly developed a love for the sport and started skating competitively, winning her first US championship as a pairs skater with Rudy Galindo in 1986.

Later on, she decided to focus solely on singles rather than pairs skating and, in 1992, became the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in a Winter Olympic competition. After her historic win, Yamaguchi toured with Stars on Ice, a figure skating show, from 1992 to 2 0 0 2 .

During this time, she was inducted into the US Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1998 and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1999. In addition, Yamaguchi and her partner, Mark Ballas, won the sixth season of Dancing with the Stars in 2008, achieving the highest score in the show’s history at the time. Nowadays, Yamaguchi still makes frequent appearances in the skating world as a mentor to young skaters and enjoys giving back to the community through her nonprofit organization, Always Dream, which ensures that children from low-income families have access to enriching books at home.

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Friday, December 17, 2021

Niles Festival of Lights

By Jiyun Guo & Daphne Senecal Staff Writers

On November 26, thousands of people flocked to the streets of downtown Niles to celebrate the start of the holiday season with the annual Niles Festival of Lights parade. Because last year’s Festival of Lights was held virtually, the crowds were especially excited to be attending the event in-person again.

The Christmas tree lighting in Niles Town Plaza kicked off the event. Rainbow lights lit up along the 60-foot tree, leading towards the shining star at the top, while onlookers cheered as the night’s festivities began.

Donned in string lights and blow-up Snoopy figures, vintage cars paraded through the streets, filling the air with the smell of gasoline and good-natured honks. Lowrider owners proudly adjusted the heights of their cars, bouncing up and down to the crowd’s delight.

Individuals dressed up as popular silent film actor Charlie Chaplin, who is known for making silent films for Essanay Studios in Niles, marched down the street past the laughing crowd. Another group cosplayed as various characters from Star Wars, brandishing multi-colored lightsabers and Stormtrooper masks. A group of elderly men dressed up as an overweight navy crew using pool tubes to appear large and round while singing sea shanties.

Small children wearing snowmen tutus pranced around to “Frosty the Snowman,” and performers dressed as sequined Christmas trees tap-danced to jazz music. Also scattered throughout the procession were Boy Scouts, neighborhood charities, and high school marching bands.

In the distance, the Train of Lights, a 14-car steam train draped in holiday lights, meandered through Niles canyon, shining brilliantly against the black silhouettes of the surrounding hilltops. Every compartment in the steam train flashed a unique holiday pattern, with lights bright enough to reflect onto the road 100 feet away.

The festival culminated in a special appearance by Santa Claus himself, heartily wishing onlookers a Merry Christmas from a red fire truck.

PHOTOS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR MINGXIN WANG. STAFF WRITERS JIYUN GUO & DAPHNE SENECAL