Vol. LVIII, No. 4

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FEATURE FEATURE

DHTH:

Wrapping makeGift scented candles

CENTERSPREAD CENTERSPREAD

7 A&E 10-11 A&E

Universal Human National novel Rights Month writing month

8-915 SPORTS GRAPHICS

2022 Arts & Entertainment Recap

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

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Guidefall to Niles Antique sports Stores recap

December 16, 2022

MSJ Students in 2022 Aerovaganza

A PeEk Inside --------------

By Anandita Devata & Aaryan Suri Staff Writers

Biocom California hosts panel for life science in Fremont

From 3-7 p.m. on December 10, Aerodance Academy hosted Aerovaganza 2022, the academy’s annual dance show, in the Performing Arts Center at Chabot College in Hayward. Many MSJ students performed at the event, and Senior Diya Chatwani graduated, becoming an Aerograduate, after going through all seven levels of the school.

Aerodance Academy, founded by Ranjani Avijit in 1999, is a dance school where students learn many different styles of dancing, such as Lambadi folk, Bhangra, and many more. With many of the performers returning after previous appearances at Aerovaganza, the dancers and coordinators have become accustomed to the resources that go into live performances, making the planning and execution for this year’s show much smoother than before.

As people entered the lobby of the auditorium, they walked by pictures of the dance school’s previous competitions, giving them a glimpse of the school’s journey throughout the years. The program then kicked off with a heartwarming performance from some of Aerodance Academy’s youngest members, and audience members were brought to their feet as they clapped along to the fast tempo of the song. As the performance ended, the lights were cut, making the entire theater turn dark. This was short-lived, however, as another group of performers including MSJ Sophomores Vihas Uppalapati and Arnav Singh took the stage, performing a fast-paced dance to “Naatu Naatu” (From “Rrr”) by M. M. Keeravani, Rahul Sipligunj, Kala Bhairava. The group was rewarded with a standing ovation from the audience as the performance concluded. “I’m especially

Fremont partnered with Biocom California on December 7 to discuss the life science industry, initiatives to enhance the talent pipeline, and how high schoolers can get involved. Read about this event on pg 2.

Twitter’s Takeover may be Elon Musk’s Worst Decision Yet On October 31, Elon Musk finalized a deal to acquire Twitter for approximetly $44 billion.

Since then, he has restructured the company through disruptive policies. Read more about the Smoke Signal’s opinion of this issue on pg 5.

proud of the first segment [of our performance] since it’s something that I was able to choreograph myself,” Uppalapati said.

As the audience returned to their seats after an intermission, the theater buzzed with energy as seven dancers performed “Ilahi” by Pritam Chakraborty and Arijit Singh, a conceptual dance that depicted the journey of a mother-daughter bond. Other teams performed different styles of dance, such as kuthu, a form of South Indian folk dance based on percussion, and semi-classical fusion, which combines elements of Indian classical dance and Bollywood. UC San Diego’s premier Bollywood fusion team, UCSD Zor, also performed in the second half of the show, astonishing the audience with their sparkling outfits and graceful movements.

After three hours full of performances, the graduation ceremony began. The ceremony highlighted two Honor Roll artists and Chatwani for their success in the academy. After Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday and Seva International Member Anurag Mehra congratulated Chatwani for her dedication to dance, she gave a heartwarming speech about her experiences. “My favorite part of my journey with Aerodance has been the shows and the teammates that I’ve built strong bonds with,” Chatwani said.

Having been a member of Aerodance Academy for more than seven years, Chatwani expressed great gratitude and appreciation for her journey with the academy. “Standing on stage, I felt that [I’m] able to express myself and truly thank everyone that has shaped my journey with Aerodance,” she said.

Following a performance by the more experienced, senior Aerodance Academy team to “Pranavalaya” by Anurag Kulkarni and Mickey J. Meyer, the show closed with an award ceremony where performers received recognition and acclaim for their efforts. ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS ANANDITA DEVATA & AARYAN SURI, COURTESY DIYA CHATWANI. GRAPHICS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR SARINA LI

Deer Diary: Cupid the Reindeer Everyone’s second favorite reindeer, Cupid, is getting fed up.

From not receiving any of the appreciation of Rudolph or the romance of Cupid the Angel, he truly just can’t win. Check out this Deer Diary where Cupid reveals his inner feelings on pg 7.

Over-Interpreting Music Taylor Swift’s 10th studio album, Midnights, released on October 21, brought theories and conspiracies on who or what in Swift’s life each song could be attributed to. Read more about the Smoke Signal’s opinion of this issue on pg 12.

MSJ Marching Band performs at Redwood City’s Hometown Holiday Parade

By Daphne Senecal & Vidyuth Sridhar Staff Writers On December 10, MSJ Marching Band performed in Redwood City’s 16th annual Hometown Holidays Parade Extravaganza, entertaining spectators among the rain with festive songs.

Despite previously frequenting other celebrations such as Oakland’s America’s Children’s Holiday Parade, the band transitioned to Hometown Holidays in 2014 and has been an active participant since then.

“We chose it at first because the date was good. And then we kept going back because it’s so cute,” Band Director Monica Kraft said.

The band practiced extensively during the month leading up to the parade, and replaced their usual pop and march songs with “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Christmas on the March” in order to better fit the holiday theme. “We constantly did performance runs, whether it was playing our two [new] songs or preparing for all the left turns we had to do during the parade,” Drum Major Senior Jerry Chang said. In addition, the band also held several fundraisers, including a pancake breakfast and a collaboration with See’s Candies, to cover the cost of

Smoke Signal Applications Interested in joining the Smoke Signal? Check out pg. 8 to learn more.

MSJ Marching Band performs with seasonal decorations and ponchos rather than their traditional signature helmets.

attending the parade. “There’s a ton of things that go on behind the scenes, including ordering the buses, parade maps, getting information out to people ... it’s not always just getting the music ready,” Kraft said.

However, the band faced several challenges whilst preparing for Hometown Holidays — largely because of bad weather. Due to recent rains flooding the band’s normal practice area on the track, “we had to make do with practicing in the parking lot, which caused interruptions during the practices such as cars leaving and having to re-adjust due to the small space,” Clarinet Junior Thomas Du said. The band also had to forgo many of their decorations, such as placing glittering bows and tinsel on each instrument, due to the risk of rain damage. In the final performance, the band’s seasonal appearance only consisted of swapping their signature white and gold helmets for more seasonal santa and elf hats, with the percussion section also sporting multicolored lights on their instruments.

Nevertheless, many performers were left with fond memories. “I think that this parade is definitely the most fun one that we do, because ... there’s a ton of people on the sides watching you, and [the lights] look really cool,” Drum Captain Senior Alton Gu said.

Met with cheers and smiles from the audience after every song, the sense of meaning behind the performance was not lost on its members. “It’s important for the band to get out and play for people – especially the little kids who are watching ... and they’re looking at the instruments and listening to the sounds,” Kraft said. “I think that kind of experience, even though [it] only lasts a few seconds, can make really lasting memories and ... inspire kids to play music.”

Though the event marks the end of the marching season, MSJ Marching Band hopes to continue its strong parade tradition with performances throughout the Bay Area next year — including Hometown Holidays. ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS DAPHNE SENECAL & LUCY YAO. GRAPHICS BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HELEN TIAN & FEATURE EDITOR JULIA PENG

ONLINE

THIS MONTH

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HOMSJ SPOTIFY WRAPPED

AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER REVIEW

Released in December, Spotify Wrapped is an annual compilation of listeners’ favorite records and artists. Learn more about MSJ’s listening habits in the Smoke Signal’s latest HOMSJ episode.

Released on December 16, Avatar: The Way of Water is the highly anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time. Check out the Smoke Signal’s full review online

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, December 16, 2022

Biocom California hosts industry panel for life science in Fremont At the Spotlight on Fremont event, panelists disccused the growth of the life science industry in Fremont as well as the importance of outreach efforts to the rising workforce of high school students.

By Novak Chen & Sahas Goli Staff Writers On December 7 from 10 a.m.

- 12 p.m., Biocom California collaborated with the City of Fremont to hold a Spotlight on Fremont event.

Located at the Fremont Downtown Event Center, the event highlighted the life science industry in Fremont and the future growth of the sector. The event featured prominent industry leader panelists such as Alexza Pharmaceuticals President & Chief Operating Officer Tatjana Naranda and Boehringer Ingelheim US Biopharma President & Site Head Lars Dreesmann. Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Fremont Economic Development Director Donovan Lazaro, and Fremont District 5 Councilmember Raj Salwan were also in attendance.

Founded in San Diego in 1995, Biocom California is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing its members in the life science industry. Through various collaborations, events, and programs, they work to build a network of industry leaders, increase project funds, and introduce STEM in high schools through programs like Generation STEAM. According to Biocom California’s Economic Impact Report, Alameda County has an estimated $57.4 billion in economic impact in the life science industry and employs more

than 36,000 people in the sector. With this much investment in life sciences in Fremont, this event would be a great way to bring the companies together. “[Spotlight on Fremont] was a great opportunity to showcase all the exciting life science companies that are located here in Fremont, and [why] Fremont is the ideal place to scale biomedical operations,” Fremont Economic Development Coordinator Nikki Inamine said.

The event kicked off with a fireside chat with Biocom California Bay Area Executive Director Michelle Nemits and Biomedical Manufacturing Network Program Director Gregory Theyel, who discussed topics like new records set by life science ventures and the migration of tech companies away from the Bay Area. According to Theyel’s data, 62% of the companies that supposedly left the Bay Area actually moved to a different suburb in the Bay Area, either to obtain more office space or get closer to their venture capital and manufacturing centers. With Fremont’s base of tech employees and appealing land guidelines, especially for biological labs that must meet strict standards set by the

Food & Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control, Fremont was a very appealing choice. “We’re really pleased to be able to make that connection between having the workforce and the companies so that we [can] help foster this growth and development within our city,” Mei said.

The event then moved to an industry panel featuring Biolytic Lab Performance, Inc. Senior VP of Marketing and Director of Operations James Demmitt, Lincoln Property Company Executive Vice President Brandon Wang, along with the aforementioned Naranda and Dreesmann. The panelists discussed current investments in Fremont and the potential for long-term growth in the future. While both Alexza Pharmaceuticals and Boehringer Ingelheim are in the biomedical sector, they offered differing viewpoints from research and manufacturing, respectively, and Wang showed a real estate view by explaining Fremont’s company-friendly land and zoning policies. “Ohlone has just one of a handful of biotechnology programs in the California community college system, and we’re lucky to have them right here in our backyard,” Lazaro said.

Those programs have a 100% placement rate at Fremont companies according to Lazaro.

The panelists also mentioned their outreach to the rising workforce, specifically college and high school students. Programs like the Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program allow students to visit laboratories and facilities.

MSJ students interested in this sector can take classes such as Principles of BioMedical Science/Human Body Systems, Medical Interven-

tions/Biomedical Innovation Honors to experience industry working environ ments in-person and hear lectures from profe ss ion a l speakers.

“For students who are interested in a career in the biosciences, it’s a wonderful program to get exposure to what people do,” Ohlone Biotechnology Professor Laurie Issel-Tarver said.

The event concluded with the panelists sharing their hopes and predictions for the future of healthcare.

“Now, there’s never been a better time to get into life science, and there are so many more opportunities to find well-paying, fulfilling jobs that affect millions of patients’ lives,” Inamine said.

The event concluded with the panelists sharing their hopes and predictions for the future of healthcare.

“Now, there’s never been a better time to get into life science, and there are so many more opportunities to find well-paying, fulfilling jobs that affect millions of patients’ lives,” Inamine said.▪

“For students who are interested in a career in the biosciences, it’s a wonderful program to get exposure to what people do.”

-Ohlone Biotechnology Professor Dr. Laurie Issel-Tarver

PHOTOS COURTESY STAFF WRITERS NOVAK CHEN & SAHAS GOLI

News in brief

Compiled by Ruhani Chhabra, Tushara Devapatla, Vedesh Kodnani & Vidyuth Sridhar Staff Writers

MSJ Recent Story: Marcel Sharma Courtesy of Counselor Jitin Sharma

Community

LOCAL jfkcougars.org

guide.michelin.com

Marcel finds a home with Sharma.

With the urging of SURFBoardE, the Modernization Project has accelerated with additional funds.

In the 2022 CA Michelin Star awards, four new Bay Area restaurants entered the Michelin guide.

The adoption journey of Marcel On November 17, a kitty was found in Physics Teacher Sai Kumar’s classroom, trapped in the room during parent teacher conferences the previous day. When Kumar arrived that morning, she found cat feces over the ground, and so her classes moved to the library for the day. Later that night at around 7 p.m., the kitty was safely evacuated

by Campus Supervisor Brandi Bailey-Speier and adopted by Counselor Jitin Sharma. It now resides in his care, fondly named Marcel Sharma after Marcel the Shell.

FUSD Board approves modernization project for Kennedy High School At a Special Board Meeting on November 15, the FUSD Board of Education unanimously approved a public construction bid, effectively accelerating the John F. Kennedy High Comprehensive Modernization Project. After district staff previously recommended to reject all three bids, SURFBoardE and Kennedy community members expressed their frustration with the outdated facilities during public comment. The board ultimately accepted the lowest bid and allocated $15.8 million towards the project which is estimated to be completed by the end of 2024.

New Michelin Stars awarded to four Bay Area restaurants On December 5, Michelin Star, a French organization that offers “Michelin Stars” to excellent food establishments, added four San Francisco Bay Area restaurants to their list. These include Nisei (a Japanese restaurant), Osito (which features a live fire tasting menu), San Ho Won (a Korean BBQ restaurant), and Ssal (a Korean restaurant). This decision reveals Michelin’s gradual shift from solely offering European cuisines their honorable award and a transformation from a focus on French cuisine to more personal cooking, which those four restaurants engage in.

corrections for the NOV. 18, 2022 issue News Pg. 1: Staple should be spelled as such Opinion Pg. 5: Heatwave temperatures only went over 100 degrees on September 5 and 6 Feature Pg. 7: Holiday Baking Championship aired on November 7 Feature Pg. 8: Bellotti should be spelled as such Feature Pg. 8: Principal Jeffrey Evans should be spelled as such Sports Pg. 15: Waylon Li isn’t the article’s writer Sports Pg. 16: Girls Basketball Co-Captain Senior Reina Shimomura should be written as such Sports Pg. 20: Ryan Ma a received a bye in the individual doubles championships Sports Pg. 20: Garri Ter-Karapetyan should be spelled as such.

Graphics Pg. 20: Starfish article written by Jiyun Guo

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agnency via Getty Images

Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Rev. Warnock’s victory gives the Democrats outright control of the Senate.

The “White Paper” protests against China’s COVID-19 polices were triggered after a fire in Ürümqi.

Rev. Warnock defeats Herschel Walker in Georgia Senate runoff Incumbent Democratic Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock defeated Republican candidate Herschel Walker in Georgia’s Senate runoff election on December 6, granting Democrats a 51 - 49 majority and outright control of the Senate. Though wins in battleground states such as Nevada and Pennsylvania had already secured a Senate majority for Democrats during the midterm elections, the additional seat gives them full control of the chamber’s committees and judicial tools such issuing subpoenas and nominating, potentially influencing what legislation is voted on and passed by the nation’s Congress.

China pulls away from zero-COVID Policy amidst mass protests Starting on November 25, waves of protests have spread through China as protesters fought against lengthy coronavirus policies and restrictions, making it one of the largest acts of public dissent in China in years.

Demonstrators held up blank pieces of paper to circumvent the Chinese censorship, and some have even asked for Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China to resign. With pressure from these protests, China has rolled back rules on isolating people with COVID-19 starting from December 7. For example, people with mild cases will be isolated at home rather than quarantine centers, a major grievance that protesters fought against.

Friday, December 16, 2022

THE SMOKE SIGNAL Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 58, No. 4 | December 16, 2022 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 1877 students EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Helen Tian, Jerry Yuan NEWS Rohan Bhagat, Shelley Li OPINION Esther Lau, Annika Singh FEATURE Julia Peng, Elton Yu CENTERSPREAD Christy Huang, Angela Xiong A&E Sanah Bhardwaj, Joanne Park SPORTS Karina Han, Kaitlyn Wang GRAPHICS Sarina Li, Hannah Shen WEB Jennie Wang, Bryan Xiong TECH Chahak Gupta, Jason Tang BUSINESS Chloe Gao, Sahas Goli CIRCULATION Elaheh Khazi, Amy Luo ADVERTISING Annie Xu, Aaron Zhou EVENTS Andria Luo, Nessa Tong WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Goonja Basu, Angelina Chen, Novak Chen, Ruhani Chhabra, Tanvi Deshmukh, Tushara Devapatla, Anandita Devata, Jiyun Guo, Jacob Han, Sally Han, Sarah Hu, Shuhan Jin, Ayushi Kashyap, Vedesh Kodnani, Keerti Koya, Abha Kulkarni, Waylon Li, Kaylee Liu, Maryam Naseer, Ashley Pang, Daphne Senecal, Priyanka Shah, Vidyuth Sridhar, Praamesh Siva, Aaryan Suri, Katie Tang, Anushka Vasudev, Amelie Wu, Lucy Yao, Callie Yuan ADVISER Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org.

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AnnikA's Angle

Opinion 3

esther's edition

A holidate with reality

Only go where you're valued

By Annika Singh Opinion Editor

By Esther Lau Opinion Editor

Every holiday season, my mom and I enjoy sitting on the couch with some hot tea, looping the cheesiest Christmas movies to exist. Our selection, throughout the years, has included The Princess Switch, Love Hard, and A Christmas Prince. We laugh at the cringey lines and overused tropes, and groan over the small misunderstandings that drastically change the course of the film. When I was young, these stories seemed authentic and exciting. But, as I get older and watch these movies without rose-colored glasses, I’ve realized that they lack the most crucial factor: reality. Christmas isn’t singing and baking cookies for everyone — many people have to work or deal with family conflicts. And let’s face it: relationships in real life are not solved with a dramatic monologue in the middle of a mall. (I’m looking at you, Holidate.)

The simple solutions to all the stressors in life and predictability of each story arc make Hallmark films a great tool for escapism. It’s easy to get lost in a world that exudes happiness and boasts of conflicts that are resolved in a mere 15 minutes. But, at the same time, this creates unrealistic expectations for real life. When I entered high school, I really hoped my life story would mirror a Hallmark movie — the love at first sight, cliché happily-ever-afters, and angelic, white snow was all I needed. At

the time, I thought I was asking for the bare minimum, but in reality, I failed to see how unreasonable I was being. I’ve experienced some positive moments, but at the same time, I’ve faced obstacles that definitely weren’t in A Christmas Detour.

These movies don’t show the pressure of academics or the fear of what the future holds. Obsessing over Hallmark movies and letting them become our life’s vision board may lead to disappointment — the life we’re accustomed to is much messier than a heartfelt movie, but it’s what teaches us perseverance, compassion, and patience. That’s not to say that Hallmark films are not worth watching. They showcase genuine moments between people who love each other and promote a sense of community. The cute moments of self-realization at the end of the movies bring a feeling of warmth in you.

It’s okay to vicariously live a dreamy lifestyle through these films — enjoy the relaxing, sweet moments, but at the same time, it’s important to strike a balance between fantasy and real life. Trust me, personally, I don’t think I’ll ever stop watching cheesy holiday movies with my mom. But, I finally understand the importance of acknowledging that my life won’t always look like a Hallmark movie, and that’s okay, because it’s over-the-top cheesy in its own way. ▪

Last New Year’s Eve, as I leaned against the rock wall at Carmel Beach and watched the sun set for the last time in 2021, I made a single New Year’s resolution: to only go where I’m valued.

Almost a year later, I’m pretty satisfied with the progress I’ve made. Of course, I’ve had my low moments — progress isn’t linear, after all — but looking back, I can say with confidence that I’ve come a long way in regards to my resolution, from work environments to the relationships I deeply cherish. Here’s what I learned throughout my journey.

One, know what you’re looking for. For me, this manifests the most in my work environments and professional experiences, for which I have two conditions: the company must prioritize social impact and pay for my work. I place significant importance on a company’s commitment to its community and social change because I believe it speaks volumes about its culture and how closely it aligns with my core values.

Moreover, it’s intuitive to draw a connection between a company paying its student workers and genuinely valuing them, and my paid professional experiences have been formative in shaping my standards for how my work and presence are valued. Every-

one’s conditions are different, but what’s important is that you know what works best for you and settle for nothing less.

Two, set boundaries. Situations out of our comfort zone undeniably challenge us to grow and understand ourselves, but recognizing when to separate that from situations that cause harm to our mental or emotional wellbeing is equally as crucial. For example, if you find yourself in a hostile or discriminatory environment, the wisest choice isn’t always to endure the situation and fight against it in the name of virtue; rather, it can be to exit it. Or, if you’re in a relationship where you feel as if you’re not being appreciated for who you are as a whole or the energy exchange is negative and draining, communicate your feelings. If they’re not met with understanding, know that it’s absolutely okay to take a step back and give yourself space to reevaluate the relationship.

At the end of the day, understanding and honoring your selfworth is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself.

As 2022 comes to a close, let’s reflect on our relationships and environments, and in 2023, give ourselves the appreciation we deserve, only going where we’re valued. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Don't let consumerism consume your holiday It’s impossible to ignore the holiday season: the sky turns grayer, the weather gets colder, and targeted holiday gift ads grow more enticing. For decades, the holiday season has been synonymous with materialistic giftgiving — overwhelming Black Friday lines at department stores, appealing holiday discounts, and gifting games such as White Elephant and Secret Santa have only upheld this practice. According to Investopedia, Americans are projected to spend nearly $960 billion this holiday season. As a result of increasing consumerism, the media has started dismissing holiday gifting as shallow and materialistic, claiming that it concentrates the thoughtfulness of the holiday season into meaningless presents — but we still continue to spend.

However, this criticism is too harsh in its dismissal of gift giving and ignores that for some people, giving gifts is their love language. A material gift has the potential to communicate feelings that might be difficult to verbalize, such as “I love you” or “I care.” For example, giving your mom a purse she’s wanted for years shows her that you’ve taken extra care to notice her favorite items. While buying the purse is consistent with consumerist ideals, it doesn’t make the gift any less meaningful. The process of

finding the perfect gift for a loved one is intimate, and conveys a connection that words may lack.

This isn’t to say that material gifts are the be-all and end-all of human connection. With some merit, critics feel that consumerism displaces more worthwhile priorities, such as family or friends. Moreover, there’s no denying that the holiday season’s growing materialistic culture puts an expensive spin on giftgiving and receiving. It makes us feel unsatisfied with ‘normal’ material items, such as department store gifts that may manifest themselves as superficial ruses of care. But, at the end of the day, the true significance of gift-giving for most people isn’t opulence — it’s sentiment.

It’s important to know that gift-giving or receiving isn’t always surface-level; gifts honor a moment or experience that not only reflect our values but also the long-cherished, deep-rooted connections we’ve fostered with the people we love. Gift-giving is an act of altruism — though it may have monetary value, it still expresses care for the happiness and comfort of others. Giving gifts to those you love also serves as a form of self-gratitude, for it acts as an outlet of emotional expression and helps you show your appreciation for your loved ones.

At the same time, it’s impor-

tant to remember that gift-giving isn’t everyone’s love language.

Physical objects, though they may have sentimental value, aren’t as meaningful to individuals who have different love languages, such as quality time or words of affirmation. Recognizing and becoming familiar with the love languages of those around you might mean adapting to different methods of displaying your love, but it doesn’t change the genuinity of your actions. We shouldn’t hate on gift-giving, but we also shouldn’t fully encourage consumerist ideals.

By fixating on the increasing prevalence of consumerism and materialism in today’s world, we lose sight of what the holidays are truly about. They’re about festivity, family, expressing love, and spending time with the people you care about. Gifts have been a method of expressing love for centuries, and increasing consumerism shouldn’t devalue a heartfelt holiday practice. By appreciating the sentimental value of presents from our loved ones, we can transform the materialistic aspect of gift-giving into memories we will forever cherish. ▪

By Kaitlyn Wang & Nessa Tong Sports Editor & Staff Writer

SPORTS EDITOR KAITLYN WANG

STAFF WRITER NESSA TONG

4 Opinion

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Twitter's takeover may be elon musk's worst decision yet

By Angelina Chen, Tushara Devapatla, Abha Kulkarni & Lucy Yao Staff Writers

“Let that sink in!” Elon Musk captioned a video of him entering Twitter headquarters carrying a shiny, porcelain sink — signaling the start of his era as Twitter’s new CEO. On October 31, it was official: Musk finalized a deal to acquire Twitter for an approximate cost of $44 billion. Within the next week, Musk immediately began restructuring the company and its online presence through disruptive policies. He not only fired more than 50% of Twitter’s workforce, but also implemented a monthly eight dollar fee for a verification check mark and dissolved Twitter’s misleading information policy, directly affecting the discourse that takes place on the app. In our ever-changing world of social media, students must stay vigilant to how they could be affected by drastic changes like these, as well as their media literacy.

Prior to Twitter’s acquisition, Musk, an avid user, repeatedly voiced the need for access to free speech and debate without censorship. But, with recent reforms, many are concerned that Twitter will become a breeding ground for extremist political arguments, affecting the language that people use regularly by encouraging unhealthy compromising habits and destructive insults going forward. To avoid this, Musk’s first order of business was supposed to be creating a content moderation council with diverse viewpoints.

According to his personal Twitter account, content moderation policies currently in place wouldn’t be changed; moving forward, Musk ensures that major decisions regarding banning and reinstating accounts for hate speech will be made with the council — except this council is yet to be formed. Meanwhile, Musk has already gone ahead and reinstated users like Jordan Peterson and Babylon Bee, who were previously banned for egregious content against the LGBTQ+ community. If drastic decisions like these continue to be made without regulation, there will be a devastating impact on marginalized communities such as Native American and transgender people, setting a dangerous precedent by allowing previously banned users to run rampant in the name of “free speech.”

However, in order to establish these factors, Musk needed to rework Twitter’s internal structure

to suit his goals. Within his first day of ownership, Musk fired all the top executives and began laying off roughly half of the employees without prior notice. In a telling act of how Twitter views its employees, Musk gave employees two options: commit to intense hours or leave with three months of severance pay.

His behavior is reflected in his other company, Tesla, where factory workers have complained of fatigue and injury caused by long work hours. His actions have resulted in a lawsuit from the state of CA for violating the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, a law stating that a person is required a certain time of notice before a mass layoff.

Musk’s second implementation is Twitter Blue, an eight dollar per month subscription program to gain the app’s verified check mark along with user interface benefits like priority in replies, searches, and mentions. Instead of offering a separate premium service like other corporations, Musk decided to combine it with Twitter’s verification check mark which was previously used to mark only authentic accounts of corporations and influencers. Now, according to Twitter Help Center, anyone can simply pay the eight dollars and become “verified,” defeating the check mark's original purpose, as impersonation and spreading misinformation are now much more viable.

Additionally, these changes have negated his selfproclaimed goal of making Twitter “a common digital town square where a wide range of beliefs can be debated.” With the verification mark also comes priority in broadcasting their opinion, meaning that those who paid have larger exposure to be seen and influence the public sphere. The price for an improved experience only furthers the gap between the rich and the poor, allowing the rich to have a larger voice.

However, Musk didn’t stop there; through the use of public polls, he has been making significant decisions that have major ripple effects, such as reinstating the account of former President Donald Trump, despite his previous misinformative tweets.

For his third and most recent altercation, Musk removed Twitter’s misleading information policy, which previously suspended 11,230 accounts and removed nearly 100,000 misinformative tweets worldwide for content that goes directly against health regulations in the pandemic. As Musk continues to make these severe platform changes, not only has it begun to hurt the general public, but also his own business.

In the first week of Musk’s acquisition alone, Twitter lost 1.3 million users. This is double the regular number of deactivations, according to a study done

by Bot Sentinel, a tool used to track inauthentic behavior on Twitter. As the app loses users, it also loses advertisers; according to Media Matters for America, half of Twitter’s top 100 advertisers ended their

Friday, December 16, 2022

campaigns, which has been detrimental to the app’s finan-

cial stability. Twitter has always had a low profit margin, with its first profitable year being 11 years after their initial launch.

As Musk invests more money into this dying platform, there may be an increase in layoffs, ultimately hurting workers. Beyond the company’s finances, Musk’s irrational actions affect app users too, from celebrities who have deactivated their accounts to fans who use Twitter as their main platform of interaction.

On the contrary, politicians like Sen. Ted Cruz have supported the app’s reformation, vocalizing the need for an unrestricted platform and calling this acquisition “one of the most significant developments for free speech in modern times.” Many others have also congratulated Musk on his new ownership of the app and the reforms he has made, all while failing to recognize the harm these changes can bring. With private powers like Twitter come economic and societal changes. Sole proprietors such as Musk gain the ability to influence large numbers of people with their individual political views and ideals. These companies also exacerbate socioeconomic differences, an example being Musk’s recently implemented Twitter Blue.

In an age where fake news is so readily available, it’s easy to fall for false truths online. It's possible that most teens get their news from social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter, and with the prevalence of misinformation, students need to be cautious of the media they consume. Doing research and cross-checking information with safe news sites, such as The New York Times and The Associated Press, can ensure a decrease in misinformation, hate speech, and other extremist content. Resources such as www.snopes.com and WordProof can also help students identify and become more aware of fake news.

Collectively, we should aim to create a safe space for everyone by taking the initiative to advocate for ourselves and others around us when we see unfair effects of misinformation and malicious content. ▪

MSJ VOICES

GRAPHICS BY OPINION EDITOR ANNIKA SINGH

Friday, December 16, 2022

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Opinion 5

Swift fans know unchecked monopolies All Too Well

By Chloe Gao, Keerti Koya & Kaylee Liu Staff Writers It takes five excruciating hours for there to be less than 2,000 people in front of you. Two hours later, the screen says “The Queue Has Been Temporarily Paused.” While attempting to buy tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, roughly 14 million Swift fans faced mixed messages, long wait times, exorbitant fees, and temporary outages on Ticketmaster’s website.

As Swift’s first tour since 2018, it is no surprise that The Eras Tour garnered unprecedented demand, forcing Ticketmaster to cancel general sales because they failed to meet the demand. The Ticketmaster’s controversy with Taylor Swift thrust the company into public attention, bringing ticket presale market abuses to light. Unchecked monopolies, like Ticketmaster, get away with terrible service conditions with no proposed improvements. Such monopolies only serve to harm consumers and should be abolished.

Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation, together known as Live Nation Entertainment, dominate the music industry with around 70% of the concert ticket market and as the world’s largest concert promotion company, respectively. As a result, they do not face any pressure to innovate or improve. Furthermore, Live Nation Entertainment has connections with many major venues and can leverage one part of its business to benefit another, making it difficult for artists to work with any other company in the market. “Ticketmaster’s exclusive deals with the vast majority of venues on The Eras Tour required us to ticket through their system,” Anschutz Entertainment Group Presents, the company in charge of handling Swift’s tour, said.

When Live Nation acquired Ticketmaster in 2010, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) set a series of rules the companies had to follow until 2020 in an effort to prevent them from becoming a monopoly. Ticketmaster had to sell Paciolan, a ticketing company it owned, to Comcast-Spectacor or another rival firm, and Live Nation signed a consent decree that said it would refrain from monopolistic practices.

Yet, in 2019, the DOJ identified violations

of the consent decree in which Live Nation withheld shows from venues to force them to use Ticketmaster for ticketing services. In response, the DOJ extended the decree to last until 2025 and gave additional responsibilities to Live Nation, such as reimbursing the government for costs spent on enforcing regulations and paying a $1 million fine for each violation of the agreement.

Despite the DOJ’s efforts to regulate the merger, Ticketmaster and Live Nation still remain largely uncontrolled, leading to a damaging monopoly. An investigative report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) found that Ticketmaster had been facilitating scalping through TradeDesk, its web-based professional reseller system. Blocked behind a registration page, Ticketmaster's TradeDesk allows scalpers to upload large amounts of tickets and quickly resell them. Each year, millions of Ticketmaster’s tickets are resold through the system. By charging higher secondary market transaction fees, found in a CBC News/Toronto Star investigation to be twice the amount of a normal ticket, Ticketmaster is able to make profits even greater than those from regular sales.

This year, the DOJ opened another antitrust investigation focusing on Live Nation’s potential abuse of market power in the music industry. In a statement regarding the investigation, Ticketmaster said that the reason it continues to have a significant share of the market is due to the large gap between the quality of its own system and that of its competitors. In addition, Live Nation claims to split excess fees with concert promoters, but because the company frequently handles its own promotions, the money stays within Live Nation.

Despite Ticketmaster’s claim of not being a monopoly, the DOJ investigation has attracted negative attention from many prominent political figures. “I’m supporting unwinding that merger. I don’t believe it should’ve been approved in the first place,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said. Politicians have also directly contacted the company to call attention to concerns about the lack of competition and how consumers are affected. In an open letter to Live Nation Entertainment CEO Michael

Rapino, Sen. Amy Klobuchar wrote, “Ticketmaster’s power in the primary ticket market insulates it from the competitive pressures that typically push companies to innovate and improve their services. That can result in the types of dramatic service failures where consumers are the ones that pay the price.”

Klobuchar’s concerns reflect the impact of poor service conditions on Swift fans. Dynamic pricing plays an additional role in this concern, as it caused prices to increase with demand. When coupled with Ticketmaster’s inability to manage the demand, this prompted a huge amount of resales, leading to a loselose scenario for customers. For example, tickets for Swift’s Santa Clara performance on July 28 are selling for up to $18,000 on StubHub. These excessively high prices have caused many people to rally for the split-up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

Conversely, some believe that Ticketmaster’s centralization of ticket sales provides easier access for customers since nearly all purchases can be made through the same site. They argue that breaking up the company would lead to the formation of many small companies, resulting in even higher costs due to price competition. Theoretically, economies of scale allow large companies to lower prices because mass production drastically decreases operation costs, but without prominent competitors that provide viable alternatives, monopolies can overcharge consumers without any repercussions. Monopolies’ power over the industry creates high barriers to entry because mass production drives costs down, making it extremely difficult for competing companies to overcome the large initial investment new businesses face and achieve identical low costs. This lack of competition fuels monopolies to act in their own self-interest, such as overcharging to gain even more profits.

Possible ways to reduce Ticketmaster’s power over the music industry include outsourcing to other ticket companies and breaking up Live Nation Entertainment, both of which have been strongly urged by US Senators. “[Breaking up the company] may be the only way to truly protect consumers, artists, and venue operators and to restore competition in the ticketing market,” Senators Rich-

ard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Edward Markey wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter. In addition, laws in place to manage excess fees help relieve consumers’ burdens. For example, in October, President Joe Biden announced a reduction in overdraft and deposit fees, which currently cost ticket purchasers more than $1 billion each year.

Moreover, the Consumer Financial Protection Act allows the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect consumers from unfair practices, including excessive fees.

Unchecked monopolies lack a desire for innovation and improvement, significantly impacting consumers’ everyday lives. For instance, in the entertainment industry, companies that dominate the market limit artists’ choices and force fans to pay absurd prices.

In order to prevent these damaging practices, students can educate themselves on monopolies to make educated buying decisions, such as looking towards supporting small businesses that may offer better services instead of continuously turning to large corporations solely because of convenience and reputation.

In addition, students can contact senators to advocate for the enforcement of antitrust laws and for the Federal Trade Commission and the DOJ to be more cautious in making impactful decisions in situations such as the Live Nation and Ticketmaster merger. Although current regulations on Live Nation Entertainment, like the Prohibiting Anticompetitive Mergers Act of 2022, reduce some monopolistic behavior, better weighing the pros and cons before allowing this merger could have produced more successful results. Bringing light to unchecked monopolies can gradually persuade lawmakers to abolish them and protect more customers from being harmed. ▪ GRAPHICS BY OPINION EDITOR ANNIKA SINGH

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Unchecked Monopolies

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"I think unchecked monopolies like Ticketmaster should be prohibited. Artists are left with no choice but to work with Ticketmaster and Live Nation if they don’t want to risk losing revenue. But, through their monopoly, they take advantage of their market power and do not prioritize consumer needs. The government should break up the monopoly in any way they can."

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"I think unchecked monopolies are tricky to deal with because you want to protect consumers, but does that responsibility lie with the Justice Department? Putting a government agency in charge of regulating a private company like Ticketmaster goes against American free market capitalism, because what's stopping them from having full control over other markets? But, unchecked monopolies ultimately harm the general public, and the government needs to intervene, whether that be directly or indirectly with new legislation."

"Monopolies such as Ticketmaster have already reached the limit of control, and it’s impossible for them to be receded unless new companies are created. I think that some monopolies can be used for good, but more often than not, they steer towards doing things for their own profit and overlooking customer needs. Instead of taking advantage of people, these monopolies should use their resources to provide customers with better and more accessible services, and be more transparent about their actions."

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"Earlier last month, Ticketmaster’s Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Presale caused significant controversy, leading to an investigation from the US Department of Justice. While this brought Ticketmaster’s market abuses to light, it is only one of many examples of monopolies that harm citizens to an egregious extent. What are your thoughts on unchecked monopolies such as Ticketmaster, and how do you think they should be dealt with?"

"In capitalist America, the free market gives way for opportunity, but with every fresh opportunity can come a monopoly. I think this is a normal occurrence in American business, and the best way to challenge it is to boycott. Through boycotting Ticketmaster, the public can show them that at the end of the day, pleasing their customers should be their top priority."

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"I [think] these unchecked monopolies have way too much power. It's very clear that they only care about making profits and not about the average consumer, limiting people's options and wasting their hardearned time and money. To deal with this issue, the government needs to control the prices these companies charge and closely monitor monopolies' operations. There should be punishments for violating these rules, such as large fines."

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS KAYLEE LIU, AMY LUO, ANDRIA LUO, PRAAMESH SIVA & ANNIE XU

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News & Feature 7

MSJ Leadership 2 attends FUSD’s League of Leaders At the annual League of Leaders, MSJ Leadership 2 students exchanged valuable leadership experience with other FUSD schools.

By Katie Tang Staff Writer On November 28, MSJ’s Leadership 2 (L2) class attended the League of Leaders (LOL), FUSD’s annual student leadership conference.

Held at Washington High School, there were more than 250 attendees from six high schools in the area, including Newark Memorial High School which attended for the first time.

FUSD has been hosting LOL for more than 10 years. Through activities and workshops held throughout the day, students across schools collaborated to brainstorm ideas for new projects and events. “Kids are

able to take away important tips and lessons from the workshops, and apply it to benefit their own schools,” Irvington High School ASB Vice President Michelle Nguyen said.

Over the course of three months, LOL was planned and directed by the ASB executives from all the schools. They communicated with school administration to borrow facilities and process student excusals. In coordinating the event, the executives “wanted to allot more time to the leadership aspect of LOL while retaining its fun activities,” MSJ ASB Secretary Senior Peter Chen said. This year, LOL’s primary focus was the school specialty workshops. Each of the six partic-

ipating schools chose an area of expertise from their respective schools to present. For instance, MSJ workshopped about school decorations and Newark Memorial about social media marketing. The workshops each had a mini activity for groups to apply leadership skills to different tasks and scenarios.

“The workshops were super insightful and inspiring. It’s cool to see how each school has their unique traditions,” L2 STAR Committee Member Junior Brandon Peng said.

“Kids are able to take away important tips and lessons from the workshops, and apply it to benefit their own schools.”

-Irvington High School ASB Vice President

Michelle Nguyen

MSJ L2 students attend League of Leaders, sporting school colors, to share leadership experiences and school events.

In addition to the educational workshops, the executives also successfully planned activities, such as a singing competition and a bonding in which participants traded stickers. The activities got students excited for the day and fostered school spirit. Students also participated in committee connections, in which they grouped themselves by their respective leadership committees (Fundraising, Community, Activities, etc.) to exchange project ideas and advice with students from different schools with the same role. “The most memorable moment for me was meeting the other activities/rallies committees from other schools because it was

a great opportunity to see how we could improve our own activities,” L2 Activities Committee Member Junior Trisha Hsu said.

For future LOL’s, ASB executives hope to create and incorporate new activities, like an opening video ceremony, while still educating students on valuable leadership skills. “I really enjoyed getting to work with executive councils from other schools ... I hope to improve on committee connections for future LOL’s,” Nguyen said.▪

PHOTOS COURTESY MSJ LEADERSHIP 2

Deer Diary: Cupid the Reindeer

By Annie Xu Staff Writer

Everyone knows Rudolph, Dasher, Donner, Prancer, Blitzen, and the whole rest of the pack. There are eight billion people on this earth, and I can count the number of people who know me on one hoof. Since birth, I have been overshadowed. When I was brought into this world, the first thing I saw was red and the first thing I felt was warm, slimy snot. That’s right — my brother Rudolph’s snotty nose has shone over me since before I could stand. Worse yet, he’s even become world-famous. To uphold my civic duty as a member of the world’s community, I’ve composed my own version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”— one that I believe reflects the truth: “Rudolph the snot-nosed reindeer, Had a very slimy nose, And if you ever saw it, You would even say it’s gross.”

December 1

Today, my brother Rudolph was voted to be TIME magazine’s Most Influential Person of 2022. Also today, I failed my math test on triangles. There are two fundamental issues with this. First of all, Rudolph isn’t even a person — he’s a slobbering Christmas moose with a perpetually red nose. You might as well honk it because he looks like a clown dressing up for a threeyear-old’s birthday party. Second of all, do triangles really matter? With my hopeless task of keeping Rudolph running in a straight line on Christmas Eve, I definitely won’t be thinking about the similarity of Santa Claus’s triangular nostril and a knockoff Target Christmas tree. The things I do to make sure Mr. Ho Ho Ho! can deliver Discord Nitro to a lifeless, lonely pre-teen who has never made contact with grass...

org, the ninth most important method of self-improvement is exercise. Starting today, I’ll be completing Chloe Ting’s 2 Weeks Shred Challenge. No longer, will I have to hang up a picture of The Rock in front of my mirror to feel buff. It’s all about self-love now. As my cousin Sven up in Arendelle said, “I’m him. RAHHH!”

December 16

December 7

For the first time in my 300 years of existence, someone slid into my DMs. @ Cowboy4Lyfe asked me to meet them at some random address in Texas. Strange?

Yes. But believe me, I’ve seen stranger things in life. After years of opening Rudolph’s fan mail, I can confirm that humanity is going downhill. People are indeed interested in some rather eccentric activities. Well, as any normal deer would, I showed up. I’d hate to disappoint any fans.

And per usual, it turns out that I was once again mistaken for my namesake. It’s ridiculous how often I get compared to some curly haired thousand year-old manchild who not only has not learned how to wear proper clothes, but has violence and anger issues. Does it get more insulting than this?

December 10

My girl T Swizzle once said, “Change,” so change I will. No longer will I live in the shadow of a glowing nose nor that of an overgrown baby. Today, I will step out into the world as a changed deer.

RAHH! According to www.lifehack.

“Let me tell you about my crush, Vixen.

I can’t believe I haven’t gotten her attention yet with my swift-hoofed W rizz. She’s right in front of me in our sled lineup. I think I might really have a chance this year.

I might be centuries old, but this year, the lucky 2022, I’m feeling bejeweled — so bejeweled that maybe my idol Ms. Swizzle would write a song about me. Or at least, she won’t repeat last year, re-recording the album Red, dedicated to my brother’s nose.”

That’s what I wrote last month. But guess what? Rudolph always has to have everything. I had it all planned out. It was perfect. I collected the most delectable stacks of hay, with a beautiful candy cane bouquet. But I was stopped in my tracks when I turned and saw Rudolph stealing my girl.

What happened to bros over hooves? The bro code? The deer supporting deer?

December 21

This morning, when I walked into the bathroom for my 22-step antler skincare routine, Rudolph the narcissist was polishing his nose for his photoshoot as a Star-Bucks ambassador. Just as I got to exfoliating, the most important step, Rudolph had the audacity to sneeze right onto my racks. Now, Rudolph does not merely sneeze. He trumpets snot. This has gone too far. From preventing the century’s

cutest couple from dating to completely messing up my poreless smooth antlers, Rudolph has never been my friend. He is no longer my brother. I can’t do this anymore. In fact, I can’t even stand the sight of him. Our reindeer formation has been set for centuries, but I simply cannot spend one more second staring at his behind while Mr. Claus breaks the deadly sin of gluttony. It’s time I forged my own path.

My own identity.

December 25

Did I mention that Rudolph is stupid?

No? Well, I’ll say it now. Rudolph is stupid.

Even after centuries of delivering gifts, he still can’t tell the difference between chimneys and other architectural disasters that humanity created. Usually, nothing happens, because I bear the common skill of spotting chimneys and stop the fluorescent moose from rocketing into every building possible before it’s too late. Today, however, it was too late. So much Discord Nitro nearly left undelivered. Key word: nearly.

Because, I, Cupid, took charge. I took the initiative and guided the sleigh on December 25, 2022. Today, I went down in history —- not as Rudolph’s brother, not as the Baby of Love’s namesake, but as Cupid the Reindeer. I even modified the song for myself: “Cupid the Smartest Reindeer.”

“Then one rocky Christmas Eve Santa came to say ‘Cupid, with your mind so bright Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?’

Then how the reindeer loved him As they shouted out with glee “Cupid the Smartest Reindeer You’ll go down in history”

GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR JULIA PENG

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Club Spotlight: Swab4MSJ

By Sarah Hu & Kaylee Liu Staff Writers

On November 30, Swab4MSJ was approved as an official MSJ club. Swab4MSJ operates as a branch of Swab4USA, a student-run nonprofit organization that works to spread awareness about blood cancer. Swab4MSJ aims to inform and encourage members of the local community to become registries for Be The Match, a national nonprofit bone marrow donation organization. Their goal is to help blood cancer patients find matches with registries for blood marrow transplants. Registries are swabbed, and their samples are analyzed in a lab to match patients in need of specific bone marrow with potential donors.

Once registries are matched with a blood cancer patient, they are encouraged to donate bone marrow because these transplants give patients new stem cells that multiply and develop into healthy blood cells. Transplants can also help patients regenerate a new immune system that can fight cancers such as leukemia. According to Be The Match, a bone marrow transplant is many blood cancer patients’ best hope for a cure. Yet, 70% of patients who need a transplant do not have a viable match in their family and rely on Be The Match for one. Through different events, Swab4MSJ encourages local residents to donate by informing them about the Be The Match program and the huge impact of a simple blood marrow donation. “[People] could save a life by just simply swabbing the sides of their cheeks,” Swab4MSJ Vice President Junior Ashley Lin said.

Despite its recent founding, the officers and members of Swab4MSJ have already volunteered at four events held by Be The

Swab4MSJ at the Water Lantern Festival

“[People] could save a life by just simply swabbing the sides of their cheeks.”

— Swab4MSJ Vice President Junior Ashley Lin

Match as an independent organization: the 626 Night Market from July 29-31, Foodieland Night Market on September 23-25, Water Lantern Festival on October 22, and the San Francisco Coffee Festival on November 12-13. Currently, the club is co-hosting a registration drive with MSJ Interact at Christmas in the Park until December 18.

At these events, the officers set up information booths to help inform passersby on different types of blood cancer and treat

ment methods. “I think the San Francisco Coffee Festival and Foodieland were themost successful events. We had around 250 registries each,” Swab4MSJ Outreach Director Aretha Lee said. “This shows us that for events, a lot of it depends on not just the amount of volunteers we have, but the demographic of the festivals themselves.”

In the future, Swab4MSJ’s officer team intends to organize their own events near Fremont. “At school, we’re also planning to do a swab-kit making event to register the potential donors,” Swab4MSJ President Junior Colleen Yu said. “That’s a chance for people who aren’t able to attend events on the weekend to do something and support the cause here at school.” Moreover, after being official

ly registered as a club, Swab4MSJ is now able to fundraise for blood cancer charities at the Bell Tower Quad. In addition to campus-wide events, the officers also plan to organize collaborative fundraisers with stores such as Jamba Juice.

Although Swab4MSJ just launched a few months ago, it has already seen a lot of success. The club’s goal is to reach a total of 2,000 registries by the end of the year. “I think it’s a reachable goal because we already have 770 [registries],” Lee said.

Swab4MSJ hopes to further increase this number by encouraging students at MSJ to participate in its events. “It’s a good way to learn more about ... communicating with strangers you don’t know and just putting yourself out there,” Yu said.

Water Lantern Festival

PHOTOS COURTESY COLLEEN YU. GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR JULIA PENG

Friday, December 16, 2022

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Feature 9

DieHard TryHards:

Gift - Wrapping

By Tanvi Deshmukh, Shuhan Jin, Ashley Pang & Anushka Vasudev Staff Writers In preparation for this holiday season’s heartfelt gift-giving, the Smoke Signal challenges this month’s DieHard TryHards to gift wrapping — but with a pepperminty twist. Evaluated on their speed, cleanliness, and efficiency, four festive Smokies compete in wrapping Santa’s funkiest-shaped presents to be crowned as the head elf.

While my gift-giving mostly consists of throwing together random items I find around my house, I make up for this with my tree-mendous wrapping skills.

From star-shaped chocolate boxes to peppermint scented candles, I can pack all kinds of gifts neatly and at a (w)rapid pace. The speed, technique, and precision that I’ve picked up from throwing together last-minute Secret Santa presents will definitely put me in first place. Since I’ve already been named the head wrapper of my family, I know I’m ready to sleigh this competition and take what is rightfully mine: position as head elf.

Anushka 3rd

Bah Humbug! One broken tape dispenser and poorly wrapped claw clip later, I realized that my gift-wrapping skills have a long way to go.

Turns out my fellow Smokies are snow much better at gift-wrapping than they claimed to be. And clearly, I am not nearly as good at it as I thought I was. Wrapping things that aren’t simple rectangular boxes proved to be a lot more difficult than I expected. It will definitely take some time for me to get my elf-esteem back up, but I did learn a lot about speed-wrapping oddly shaped presents with limited materials— especially when it comes to wrapping desks.

I don’t want to brag, but I’m the perfect candidate to take the firstplace title in this challenge, if I do say so myself. Every year, my totally tubular presents and award-winning gift-wrapping skills never fail to sleigh the day away, and I expect nothing less from myself in this competition. Sure, the only things I’ve ever wrapped came in the form of perfectly shaped 4x4 boxes, but what I lack in experience will be made up for with my natural gift in gift-wrapping. It’s like they say, it’s the most wonderful time of the year — the time when I finally get a chance to shine.

Okay, let me be honest here. My experience with actually wrapping gifts is pretty much nonexistent.

I’m more of a “throw it in a bag with some tissue paper and a card” kind of person, but still — don’t underestimate my inexperience. Throughout elementary school, I’ve accumulated years of training cutting, taping, and gluing construction paper to make whimsical designs and structures. Since this challenge involves pretty much the same three materials — paper, scissors, and tape — how hard can it be? With my elementary school diploma backing me up, these judges won’t be able to wrap their heads around how breathtaking my creations will be.

Shuhan

Ashley

Although my spirit has been utterly crushed by the fact that I have to share the position of head elf with Tanvi, I’m not going to let this tiny inconvenience reign on my parade. To be honest, I’m just relieved that my previous boasting didn’t jinx me in the long run. I do have to admit that while I went into this competition filled with confidence, I was quite intimidated after seeing my fellow competitors’ work. But if we just completely disregard my wrapping job in the last round (which looked like something Santa might’ve thrown up), I would say that overall this was a success. It saddens me to say this, but I guess that’s a wrap to this competition.

After seeing all my competitors’ perfectly wrapped gifts — Anushka’s gift bags, Tanvi’s wrapped shoe, and Shuhan’s headphones — I quickly realized my subpar elementary-level creasing job and unfinished “tube” design were far from their advanced skill sets. Following round one, I already braced myself mentally for a fourth-place finish.

The competition seemed unsalvageable, but as everyone reiterates time and time again, never gift up, so I used the most of my cutting and taping abilities to produce three more atrocious designs. Ultimately, I think my gifts have more personality than those of my fellow Smokies, and I was able to wrap up the competition nicely with a second place finish.

1st

2nd

My habit of throwing presents into Hallmark bags and calling it a day may put me at a disadvantage in the realm of wrapping funky shapes. But this won’t hinder my ambitions to win the title of Santa’s head elf — the other Smokies need to prepare because they’re going all the way down to the South Pole. The only issue is that I am really rusty on the gift-wrapping part. So given that this is basically the entire challenge, I’m screwed — and for clarification, that does not mean I want to wrap a power drill. I guess I’ll just have to try my best …

Tanvi So, it turns out that I wasn’t entirely screwed after all! In the time preceding the competition, I built up top-notch strategies by practicing wrapping the Graphics cameras with copies of previous editions of the Smoke Signal. My spontaneous burst of confidence right before this wrapping frenzy had foreshadowed my current honor of co-head elf with Shuhan! Competing with her definitely motivated me because I really, really wanted to beat her, and now I feel absolutely spectacular about taking a W on my first DieHard TryHard. And thankfully for the other Smokies, we can still be friends because I didn’t lose! If you ever need to wrap a shoe or a table ( p re f e r a b l y without a chair), I’m your girl!

1st

PHOTOS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR HANNAH SHEN. GRAPHICS BY FEATURE EDITOR ELTON YU

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Friday, December 16, 2022

UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONTH

Women’s Studies

MSJ clubs and classes

By Vedesh Kodnani, Ashley Pang, Anushka Vasudev, Amelie Wu & Callie Yuan Staff Writers

December marks the start of Universal Human Rights Month, commemorating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The Smoke Signal outlined some historic human rights milestones, modern issues, civil rights activists, and explored ways MSJ students can get involved in sustaining rights on a larger scale.

Eleanor Roosevelt is a women’s rights activist who worked tirelessly to promote women’s political engagement and enforce legislative protection. She directed a number of women’s groups, notably the League of Women Voters’ national-legislation committee, where she advocated for women voting rights and gender equality. Roosevelt went on to become the first Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, playing a pivotal role in drafting the UDHR.

voices

Refugee Crises

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AP Human Geography teacher Bill Jeffers’ class includes discussions of human rights and race relations, within the broader concepts of politics, religion, and language, to provide context for humanitarian issues. Students examine the gender inequality index and other methods of measuring social disparities while learning about the causes of such issues.

AP Human Geography Service clubs such as

MSJ Interact, MSJ Key Club, Taught by Stephanie Kearns, the Women’s Studies class and MSJ LEO provide members with the deconstructs social, economic, and political hierarchies opportunity to combat human rights issues. In addition to local service events like donating clothes to homeless that are grounded in gender, with units including Gender shelters and canned food drives, some clubs use their and Feminist Theory and Violence Against Women. At profits towards international projects. Interact’s 2023 the end of the year, students choose a research project project, for example, is funding related to women’s rights to enhance their the water infrastructure in Honduras. understanding of inequities.

After the Parkland shooting in 2018, Bay Area Student Activists (BAStA) was founded to encourage youth civic engagement and bring about change on a social and legislative level.

The organization posts educational Model United Nations (MUN) features infographics about human rights issues on discussions and debates regarding international relations social media platforms in addition to as students simulate different member states. With extensive hosting fundraisers and drives. In the past, research prior to competitions and topics ranging from human the MSJ chapter focused on water justice rights in the Congo to nuclearization in Russia, MUN competitions for minorities. can promote awareness about global issues. “Competitions [are] a really great foundation-building opportunity for people to create concrete change when they ... go out into the real world,” MSJ MUN Co-President Senior Esther Lau said.

Service Clubs

Model United Nations

BAStA

Gender Inequality

modern human rights issues

Refugee crises and mass The Convention on displacement have been on the the Elimination of All Forms of rise for the past decade due to Discrimination Against Women was war, human rights violations, and ratified by more than 180 countries in economic hardship out of the 1979 and serves as an international individuals’ control. As a result, treaty that protects women’s rights “As a society refugees are five times more likely according to Amnesty International. and as human beings, to have mental health needs than the However, the United Nations The rise of the fast fashion Due to a history of racial we can only hope to learn general public, according to the Development Programme found that industry and overconsumption d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , from our mistakes in the past, Mental Health Foundation. This is due 90% of the world’s population holds comes with an increasing inadequate laws that to the great amount of stress inflicted prejudices against women. Despite how demand for quick and low-cost cause unjust targetting, and in the present, take actionable upon these asylum seekers during much progress has been made, the labor. This results in a large and judicial inequity, steps to prevent them from their migration journey — such as United Nations reports that a woman number of people laboring for Black and Latinx people happening again. So looking at being kidnapped, extorted, or killed earns 77 cents for every dollar a man hours on end in sweatshops are disproportionately human rights through that lens, I by criminals and border police — makes and that it will take 257 more under terrible working incarcerated and face think that everything that happens and a lack of support after settling in years to close the global gender pay conditions. According to The police brutality at a much on the day-to-day affects how another land. As of 2022, 103 gap. Though preferences have shifted World Counts, “250 million higher rate than other human rights will pan out in the million people have been forcibly since China removed its decades-old children between [ages] 5 populations. According future.” — Model United Nations displaced from their homes one-child policy in 2016, its population and 14 are forced to work in to The Washington Post, Co-President Esther Lau, 12 worldwide, according to the United still shows the aftereffects of the policy in sweatshops for up to 16 “[Black Americans] Nations High Commissioner for combination with a bias for sons, hours per day.” After the account for roughly 14% Refugees. Some of the largest “The reason I became an activist and resulting in there being 34.9 million more United Auto Workers (UAW) of the US population, but refugee crises are occurring in [why] I'm now the head of various males than females in a census by the began their strike across are killed by police at Syria and Ukraine. Conflicts in activist [groups] is [to] make sure the National Bureau of Statistics of China in all 10 UC campuses to more than twice the rate Syria date back to 2011 when its 2020. A lack of access to education for raise the minimum salary of White Americans.” In student voice is heard and that civil war first began, and since their academic the past few years, the women in India is also prevalent, where for everyone's rights are respected ... then, civil unrest and economic workers on November deaths of George Floyd, there is an 84.7% rate of male literacy The work that we [oftentimes] do is instability have resulted in 14, they reached an Ahmaud Arbery, A key leader in the Civil Rights Movement, versus a 70.3% rate of female literacy that we go to our state legislators ... “[nearly] 7 million Syrians Growing up under Taliban agreement with the Breonna Taylor, Jaheim Martin Luther King Jr. used peaceful protest to according to the National Family Health It's awesome to see that your local internally displaced, and 6.6 rule, Malala Yousafzai had University of California advocate against racial discrimination. King McMillan, and more million ... forced [into] refuge,” Survey. This difference can be attributed rallies, lobbying, and Zoom meetings limited access to education.

15 days later. As a successfully led the Montgomery Bus Boycott have sparked calls to to an emphasis on stereotypically according to the United can really turn into actual law.” — Because of these result of their in 1955 and delivered the historical “I Have a action across the domestic work for women, leading to As one of the early activists in the Nations World Food experiences, Yousafzai BAStA Co-President Elaheh Khazi, 12 Dream” speech in 1963. These efforts negotiations, a country. It is important encouragement to drop out of school and gay rights movement, Marsha P. Johnson Programme. After the war began campaigning across encouraged President Lyndon Johnson to majority of the to recognize the was an American gay liberation activist between Ukraine and Russia get married at a young age instead, the Pakistan for the right of push for key legislative changes — the Civil academic workers “A way that human rights could intersectionality of Borgen Project finds.

Protests in Iran first and self-identified drag queen. In officially began in 2022, more education In 1994, the South African 1969, Johnson participated in protests Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights will receive 20-23% these matters and the definitely be improved [is] through erupted after the death of 22-year-old than 13 million people have for girls, National Congress elected Act of 1965, salary increases by violation of the human in the Stonewall riots, one of the first scenes education. A lot of people don't have the forcibly become refugees. Iranian Mahsa Amini, who was beaten by seeking to Nelson Mandela to be the first of LGBTQ+ political activism and the catalyst behind the Immigration and rights stipulated in morality police in custody for wearing her October 2023. “It proper resources to obtain the This forced displacement is overturn the Black President of South Nationality Act of just shows the Article 7 of UDHR — formation of multiple gay rights organizations. In addition hijab “inappropriately.”

However, issues knowledge ... about human rights ... an ever-present human misogynistic educational system. In Africa, making him a key figure to fighting for gay and transgender rights, she advocated 1965, and the Fair power of a union that “All are equal surrounding women’s rights in Iran had rights issue because people which is why it's very important for 2013, Yousafzai established the in the anti-apartheid for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and those affected by H.I.V. Housing Act of and the power of before the law and are been brewing in the years prior, and in a deserve to live fulfilling lives schools and education systems to Malala Fund, helping more than 10 movement. He fought against 1968 — that entitled without any and AIDS. report to the Human Rights Council, workers coming — especially those million girls worldwide by organizing prioritize educating children from young the racist system by using drastically changed together,” UAW discrimination to “Women and girls continue to be treated affected by systemic educational programs, repairing ages about that kind of topic.” — Key nonviolent defiance, ultimately the future for African Local 5810 equal protection of as second-class citizens in Iran,” UN issues like war they did not classrooms, providing psychological negotiating with the state president to bring about an Americans.

Club President Ariel Kim, 12 the law.”

Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in President Neal choose to participate in. support, and increasing enrollment. end to the apartheid and a peaceful Iran Javaid Sweeney transition into democratic Members of the United said.

Rehman said.

“We're looking at a lot of places in the The Supreme Court society.

Nations sign the Sweden allows

NOTABLE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Women win the right to vote in the US 72 years after Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott held the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, the 19th Amendment is passed, granting women the right to vote in the US.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Fair Labor Standards Act This measure establishes a minimum wage, outlaws severe child labor, and states that the maximum workweek is 44 hours, all of which help improve working conditions in the US.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is created

After the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust, the United Nations adopts a comprehensive code of conduct that outlines unalienable human rights, such as the right to privacy, the right to trial, and the right to peaceful assembly and association.

makes segregation illegal in public schools The Brown v. Board of Education case removes the “separate but equal” principle that ruled the US previously, cementing that racial segregation is unconstitutional and furthering the Civil Rights Movement.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ends lawful segregation in the US Following many protests and an era of Jim Crow laws and de facto discrimination, President Lyndon Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits segregation based on color, race, or religion in public forums and in employment.

1920 1938 1948 1954 1964 AUG 18 JUNE 25 DEC 10 MAY 17 JULY 02

Worker Rights

world where women are discriminated against [or] minorities are discriminated against ... I think by talking, you're sharing these things with students and hopefully bringing awareness to things that are happening around the world.” — AP Human Geography Teacher Bill Jeffers

get involved The battle for human rights advocacy is far from won, and student involvement is crucial to this fight.

As part of younger generations, students can educate themselves and their peers about these issues, developing their own beliefs on how to fight for human rights. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International allow volunteers to spread awareness about human rights. Students can also become politically involved, encouraging local politicians to fight for human rights on a government level.

Centerspread 11

President Johnson signs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 This act outlaws voter discrimination due to race, allowing minorities, who had previously been prevented from voting with literacy tests and poll taxes in some states, to have voting rights.

transgender individuals to legally change their gender Sweden becomes the first country to grant individuals the right to undergo gender change surgery, but is also among the first nations to destigmatize and declassify homosexuality as an illness.

Apartheid ends in South Africa After a decades-long rule of apartheid in South Africa, which was a system of racial segregation under an all-white government, Nelson Mandela is sworn in as president and officially ends apartheid.

Xenophobia

Police Brutality

Countries like the US were built on immigrant labor, though xenophobia still persists and seeps through the cracks of the US’s history of colonialism. Due to racial hysteria after the attacks on 9/11 by al-Qaeda terrorists, Islamophobia continues to besiege Muslims around the world. Hate crimes against Muslims rose by 1617% from 2000 to 2001 according to reports by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A similar pattern of scapegoating was also repeated since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, in which hate crimes against Asian people have increased by 339% in 2021 compared to 2020 according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism due to xenophobic and sinophobic beliefs. “ ... Dangerous scapegoating and widespread ignorance ... have fomented racism and overt acts of harassment and violence against Asian Americans,” Deputy Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Cecillia Wang said. This racist rhetoric erupted worldwide, with Human Rights Watch reporting “Asians ... around the world have been subjected to attacks and beatings, violent bullying, threats, racist abuse, and discrimination.”

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples This declaration addresses the cultural, educational, and employment rights of Indigenous people across the world and outlaws discrimination against them.

This declaration was initially opposed by the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

The Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage in the US The Supreme Court removes the ban on same-sex marriages across the entire country. While some places had already granted this as a state right, this ruling ensured that all couples in all 50 states were guaranteed the same rights.

1965 1972 1994 2007 2015

AUG 06 APRIL 21 APRIL 27 SEPT 13 JUNE 26 PHOTOS BY BRITANNICA.COM, CNN.COM, GETTY IMAGES, & HISTORY.COM. GRAPHICS BY CENTERSPREAD EDITOR CHRISTY HUANG

12 Arts & Entertainment

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, December 16, 2022

C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R

what’s on The menu?

indigo: A flowery journey of youth

By Sally Han Staff Writer

By Aaron Zhou Staff Writer South Korean musician and rapper Kim Nam-joon, better known as RM of BTS, released his highly anticipated studio album, Indigo, on December 2. Following the release of his second mixtape in 2018, mono., which peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard 200, Indigo marks RM’s first official solo album.

Garnished with masterful production and heartfelt lyricism, Indigo passionately speaks RM’s journey as an artist and the final years of his youthful twenties.

“F*** the trendsetter / I’ma turn back the time,” RM proclaims as he opens the album with “Yun (with Erykah Badu),” informing the listener that his reflective journey spills genuine and abstract perspectives.

The song sets the album’s high production standards with a lo-fi-style beat paired with ambient melodies and chord progressions. RM wastes no time diving into the deepest topics of youth in “Still Life (with Anderson .Paak),” an upbeat and melodic track that justifies the act of living. Both RM and .Paak stress the importance of persisting in the face of all troubles, and .Paak dynamically reminds the listener of this message with the iconic line, “Life is better than the death, I’ll prove it.”

The album progresses by offering a soothing contrast to its more powerful tracks with “Forg_tful (with Kim Sawol),” featuring simple yet nostalgic guitar melodies that convey a tranquility similar to a cozy fireplace. RM and Sawol deliver their appreciation for youthful independence in the song as they sing to-

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gether in the last chorus, “In my own way / I’m gonna anesthetize myself ...” Furthermore, “Closer (with Paul Blanco, Mahalia)” serves as an unexpected and sensual song where RM expresses his desire for love, another essential aspect of youth. With relatable passion that vividly describes inner impulses for romantic interactions, the song delivers fascinating lyrics with Blanco singing, “But the time gon’ stop / When you and I make our lips lock baby.”

Though a majority of the album contains collaborative tracks, RM demonstrates his prowess as a solo artist in “Change pt.2,” the only fully English song in the album. As the sequel to RM and Wale’s 2017 collaboration “Change,” “Change pt.2” provides unique beat switches that reflect RM’s interpretation of a constantly shifting society. RM futhers his individual talent in “Lonely,” revealing that even world-class idols relate to adolescent depression, proclaiming, “Uh, yeah, guess I’m wasted / ... / YouTube and Netflix all day.” The song also contains a bedroom pop-style beat with an addictive and repeated layered melody, reflecting the confinement young

people experience today.

RM consolidates the musical diversity of the album in “Hectic (with Colde),” speaking of busy days through a disco-style instrumental.

The song’s chorus offers a perfect dynamic between RM’s deep voice and Colde’s pleasant background vocals.

However, the album’s peak vocals reside in “Wild Flower (with youjeen),” as youjeen delivers high and powerful notes in the chorus, singing “Gonna scatter across that sky / Light a flower, flowerwork.” RM also conveys his vision of an ideal youth with “an end where I could applaud and smile / That’s what I wished for,” which corresponds to a universal desire of humans.

In the album’s concluding track, “No. 2 (with parkjiyoon),” RM reminds himself and the listener that “Even if countless things bother you / You will protect yourself now.”

Throughout more than a decade as a musician and international idol, RM spectacularly reflects his youth through top-tier lyricism, production, and musical versatility in Indigo.

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Grade: A+

December 2022 MSJ Faves

BOOKBYTES

By Katie Tang Staff Writer Student Recommendation Title: Crazy Rich Asians Author: Kevin Kwan Suggested Reading Level: Grade 9 Genre: Domestic Fiction The affluent Nick Young brings his Chinese American middle-class girlfriend, Rachel Chu, to visit his childhood home. However, Nick fails to warn Rachel about his scheming, pretentious family who turns the couple’s relaxed vacation into an obstacle course of old versus new money, nosy relatives, and social elitists.

“I recommend Crazy Rich Asians because it is full of culture and identity. It is interesting to see how stereotypes differ based on social class and upbringing.”— Adam Tay, 11 Staff Recommendation Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea Author: T.J. Klune Suggested Reading Level: Grade 11 Genre: Fantasy Linus, a caseworker in charge of magical youth, breaks free from his solitary life when he is summoned to an orphanage to examine six dangerous children. Secrets are exposed, and Linus must choose between his world and the orphanage, discovering an unlikely family along the way.

“I agree with the quote that ‘it’s a heartwarming story that involves fantastical characters with special powers … It’s like being wrapped in a big gay blanket.’” — English Teacher Nina LaRosa Smokie Recommendation Title: Malibu Rising Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid Suggested Reading Level: Grade 10 Genre: Historical Fiction, Saga When the four famous Riva siblings decide to throw a party to celebrate the end of summer, their lives spiral into chaos. Each with their own hidden agendas, the four test their relationships with each other.

“I like how the characters were written and how [the story] took place over multiple years … Each character discovers themselves and the end was really nice because it all tied together.”

— Annika Singh, 11

MOVIE: She’s the Man — Meghna Goswami, 10 TV SHOW: Gilmore Girls — Saranya Singh, 11 ALBUM: Invitation to Her’s by Her’s — Brittany Lu, 9 BOOK: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner — Kaylee Wei, 12 GAME: OMORI — Jack Wang, 12

Satirical and filled to the brim with dark comedy, director Mark Mylod’s The Menu, released on November 18, is a hilarious commentary on the culinary world and its excessive extravagance. Despite a few underdeveloped characters, The Menu’s unnerving plot, snappy dialogue, and amazing audio and visuals combine to create a beautiful yet horrifying story.

Set in present day, the viewers are introduced to a couple, Tyler (Nicholas Hoult) and Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy), who make their way to an private island off the coast to experience the famed menu made by Chef Slowik (Ralph Fiennes), the head chef and owner of a very exclusive restaurant. As the meal goes on, however, Margot slowly realizes that the end of the course is not just the end of the meal.

Despite The Menu being commercialized as a horror film and the tense plot line suggesting as such, the movie lacks the expected gore and murder, as even the violent hunting scenes are skimmed over it and moved on without any impact.

Though the horror aspect is mediocre in its own right, the comedy of the movie was easily the best part of the movie. From Tyler’s emotional crying over Chef Slowik’s explanation of the food to the “breadless” bread plate, the comedy appears unexpectedly and is a nice respite from the suspense of the film.

In addition to the excellent comedy, The Menu’s cinematography and sound design is a feast for the eyes and ears. The composition of the film is in the same style that is reminiscent of food documentaries. Each dish is accompanied with captions and close-up overhead shots, a nod to the classic Netflix cooking documentary Chef ’s Table. The sound design of the film offers the viewers a perfect accompaniment to the plot, music and effects rising in crescendo to match the buildup of action. The tension is notched up even further as each course is accompanied by an

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ear-piercing clap from Chef Slowik, heightened skillfully with a sudden silence as all surrounding noises disappear.

As each course is finished, The Menu’s social commentary becomes more and more obvious. While it can be a little heavy-handed at times, it ultimately does bring something new to the table. With each scene, The Menu implies the same point repeatedly — not so discreetly. Like almost all movies with people from the upper crust, it points to the ageold message: money and power corrupt people. The movie’s twist on this message is notable, however, as the staff sacrifice themself along with the guests. The reflective depiction of the service industry’s culture in sacrificing oneself as a martyr separates The Menu from other horror movies.

It speaks to the overly-committed service industry whose fear of the customers becomes borderline obsessive.

The Menu’s characters are not as expanded upon as its message. Many characters are underdeveloped and only a little more than basic character tropes. Margot stays static all throughout the entire film as her character is constantly the same smoking, leather jacket-wearing rebellious girl she’s first shown as.

Overall, The Menu is complete with well-integrated comedy, cinematography, sound, and satire, and it resists being dragged down by its bland characters. It’s a breath of fresh air for the horror-comedy genre and represents a new era of horror-comedy filmmaking to come.

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Grade: B+

glass onion breaks the ice

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By Ayushi Kashyap Staff Writer The highly anticipated sequel to director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was released in theaters on November 23, featuring a witty plot accompanied by multifaceted characters.

Taking place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) on tech billionaire Miles Bron’s (Edward Norton) private island named the Glass Onion during a murder mystery party. Along with Bron’s close celebrity friends such as Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), and Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), nicknamed the “Disruptors,” Blanc attempts to investigate the supposed suicide of Helen Brand, Andi Brand’s twin sister (Janelle Monáe).

However, the fun murder mystery party getaway soon turns sinister as two guests are actually found dead.

Featuring a star-studded cast with Bond-veteran Craig reprising his role as Benoit Blanc accompanied by

Monáe and Hudson, Johnson and the cast deliver a movie filled with frequent comedic quips and wellpaced plot progression. The hilarity rests in the excessive island that Bron has outfitted with useless, gimmicky features such as robot dogs to carry the luggage and the actual Mona Lisa on display from the Louvre. In addition, despite its high predictability due to carefully placed easter eggs like an upside down Rothko painting throughout the film, the wellpaced and hilariously-delivered lines accentuate the film’s commentary on superficiality, making the plot and characters unforgettable.

Johnson uses this film to satirize the excessive debauchery of the rich.

With the unlikely group of clearly successful people having a debt to Bron in common, the film pushes into exploring more behind the motives of the murders rather than the result, akin to other similar movies in the mystery genre. Still, it continues a logical plot progression, paying a clear homage to the Agatha Christie novels that inspired the series.

As another well done feature,

Johnson manipulates the plot by not delving instantly into the murder mystery but allowing time for the characters to display their own unique traits, like Debella’s superficiality and single-track obsession with her campaign for Massachusetts governor, upping the tension within the island. By doing so, viewers understand the characters’ stories more, like empathizing with Toussaint’s inability to retaliate against Bron, improving the experience overall.

As one of the most important characters, Craig brings a notable performance to the movie, unfortunately, accompanied by his questionable Southern accent that has deteriorated since Knives Out. With the immense success of his James Bond films, his foray into the mystery genre with Knives Out and its sequential films shows the embracement of a new character, one that allows him to let loose from the role of 007. However, he does provide an excellent balance between the hilarious delivery of Monáe and Hudson’s lines with a wry seriousness which leaves the watcher feeling fulfilled.

The movie also features beautiful views of the island of Spetses, Greece where the entire murder mystery party takes place. As a result, the cinematography and views of the film are a clear contrast to the Massachusetts mansion setting of the previous film which appeals well to viewers. The breathtaking setting is utilized effectively with the excellent cinematography, especially with the darkness of the lighthouse scene which is also highlighted by multiple well-done flashbacks. Johnson’s unique directing style resides in slow build-ups that utilize movement within a scene through panning rather than sitting still. This ultimately underscores the message Johnson delivers about the excessive indulgences of the elite contrasting with the villainous acts that happen at the Glass Onion.

Overall, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was a classic homage to the whodunit film genre that skillfully monopolized the comedic relief to create a well-developed film.

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Grade: A-

ANGELA: “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift | ANNIKA: “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson | BRYAN: “The Christmas Waltz” by Laufey | CHRISTY: “Grown-Up

SMOKIE PLAYLIST: Christmas List” by Amy Grant | ELTON: “Little Drummer Boy” by Pentatonix | ESTHER: “Day After Tomorrow” by Phoebe Bridgers | HANNAH: “X-MAS” by Xdinary Heroes

Oh Deer! December

HELEN: “Back To December” by Taylor Swift | JENNIE: “Winter Falls” by Stray Kids | JERRY: “HWAA” by (G)I-DLE | JOANNE: “Last Christmas” by Wham! | JULIA: “Doughnut” by TWICE | KAITLYN: “Snowman” by Sia | KARINA: “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes | ROHAN: “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande | SANAH: “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber | SARINA: “Cindy Lou’s Wish” by Tyler, The Creator | SHELLEY: “This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway | MRS. COHEN: “Home For The Holidays” by Pentatonix

Friday, December 16, 2022

Arts & Entertainment 13

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Enjoy the music, not the gossip

By Ruhani Chhabra & Lucy Yao Staff Writers Behind every song is an artist trying to convey a special message. Oftentimes, these messages stem from the artist’s life experiences and struggles. However when lyricists embed personal anecdotes in their music, there are fans who readily use them as a means to investigate the artist’s personal life, speculating about their private relationships and business. Although people are free to consume art in any way they want, it’s unhealthy to try and fit a celebrity’s art into one’s own perceptions and assumptions.

Music and song lyrics are personal to both the singer and the listener. For some fans, consuming art may be as simple as just enjoying a song; but for others, they choose to closely analyze all aspects of a piece — though mainly the lyrics — for a wide range of reasons. This practice is a function of parasocial relationships — extreme attachment to celebrities — where fans want to feel “closer” to the celebrity by dissecting their music to understand their life. Listeners then have the tendency to project these lyrics and hidden meanings onto themselves, almost as if to embody the idol. Though it’s perfectly normal to apply relatable lyrics to one’s own life, an artist (or their persona) shouldn’t become one’s entire personality. These attachments to celebrities can be all-consuming, as fans believe that they know the artist personally, despite only listening to the information given in a song’s lyrics. Not only does this negatively affect the fans, as they disregard their values and personal well-being for their obsession with these celebrities, but it also creates paths of misunderstandings and destructive behavior towards the recipients of such songs. For example, after Olivia Rodrigo released SOUR, an album that is speculated to be about her ex-boyfriend, Joshua Bassett, many fans were quick to hate Bassett. In fact, when Bassett was sent to hospital for a heart issue

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Fans record BTS member SUGA at his performance.

a few days after Rodrigo’s song “drivers license” was released, many people on Twitter commented that he “deserved” it for their conceived notion of his relationship with Rodrigo.

Such invasive behavior is not just reserved for established relationships. Fans also resort to “shipping culture,” in which people romantically pair two celebrities together, usually involving speculation of sexuality. Listeners who ship artists twist lyrics to follow their misguided views of the celebrities’ relationship, which is an incredibly problematic behavior. “Larries,” obsessive shippers of singers Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, have been around since One Direction’s formation in 2010. The then16-year-old Styles and 18-year-old Tomlinson were thrust into a pervasive limelight in which their every action was used as a way to prove their supposed romantic relationship, which still continues today. Despite One Direction disbanding in 2015, fans insist that Styles and Tomlinson are being closeted by their managements — which they allegedly communicate about through their music — so they’ve been overly vocal

about the topic to “help” them come out.

Styles and Tomlinson have both spoken out about how uncomfortable “Larries” have made them and their actual partners, but some fans persist in dissecting their music to prove a decade-long theory.

However, the line gets blurred when artists actually encourage their fans to look into every detail behind a song. Instead of explicit personal information, some artists incorporate “easter eggs,” hidden clues or connections to a message the artist is trying to put out. Searching for them adds another layer of mystery to songs; specific lyrics may reference certain people, places, or events that served as inspirations. As seen in Ariana Grande’s hit song, “thank u, next,” she builds on the central theme of self-growth following a breakup by directly referring to her past relationships, claiming “One taught me love / One taught me patience / And one taught me pain.” These easter eggs become a fun game of Where’s Waldo for the fans, forcing them to pay attention to the lyrics and song as a whole to catch the examples. But not every artist is trying to attract speculation about their personal lives, and even the

ones who do are merely using them as tidbits of personal references, not encouraging conspiracies.

Some argue that if these artists put out personal music, they should already be aware of these risks of fan behavior — or may even be the artist’s intention. Taylor Swift in particular markets the diary-like structure of her songs, which, according to the fans, essentially welcomes them into her personal life. For artists who follow her example, their listeners then believe that this should apply to them as well.

For example, in Conan Gray’s song, “Heather,” he distinctly uses a fake name to avoid fans from prying into his personal life. But not only did fans speculate who this “Heather” was, they even went to question and pressure him to reveal his sexuality, just as people did to Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson.

When artists’ personal lives are the only thing one can think about when listening to a song, it ruins the experience of properly appreciating the music. At the end of the day, the singer is a stranger and shouldn’t be consuming the majority of people’s thoughts.

Of course, there’s no reason to stop analyzing song lyrics if it adds insight into a piece, just as how people shouldn’t stop breaking down TV shows, movies, or other forms of entertainment. The distinction comes when one stops viewing the song as something to enjoy, but rather a form of celebrity tabloids.

There are different ways to interpret art, but to dissect people’s music to the point where one is delving deep into the artist’s personal life is harmful for both parties. Real art grows overshadowed by the inspiration and gossip surrounding a song or album. People should keep the artist’s feelings separate from their own and respect the other aspects of a song the artist put work into as well, such as the production or vocal technique. Instead of promoting gossip culture, encourage others to step back and simply value the experience.

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Wednesday is a disappointment to the Addams family

By Goonja Basu Staff Writer Between the perils of teenagehood and being the subject of a prophecy foreshadowing the end of the world, Wednesday features a sixteen year old Wednesday Addams of the celebrated Addams Family (Jenna Ortega) as she navigates staying alive while being entangled in a supernatural murder mystery and thriving at her new boarding school, Nevermore. The school proves to be an obstacle for Wednesday’s stout stoicism and she finds herself troubled with something she’s never had before — friends. Released on November 23 on Netflix, Wednesday quickly broke past Stranger Things season 4’s record of most hours viewed in a week for an English-language series at 341.2 million hours. Well over a week after its release, Wednesday is trending at number 1 on Netflix in 83 countries, a spot it does not deserve because of the farcical storylines it features.

Wednesday as a character draws away from the past portrayals, such as in the 1991 hit The Addams Family where she was a ten-yearold. As an adolescent in this show, Wednesday still holds her deadpan and detached demeanor, but now experiences classic teenage problems, such as issues with her mother and arguments with her friends. At the beginning of the season, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) tells her daughter that “[she’s] a brilliant girl … but sometimes [she] gets in [her] own way.” De-

Nevermore Academy, Wednesday’s new boarding school.

NETFLIX.COM

Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) and Thing (Victor Dorobantu) in Wednesday

spite insisting that she is the same cold-hearted person who initially arrived at Nevermore, Wednesday proves otherwise through her care for characters such as her friends Eugene (Moosa Mostafa) and Enid (Emma Myers).

At the beginning, Wednesday strives to be nothing like her mother and is extremely apathetic to students’ attempts to be her friend. However, by the end of the season, she mends things with Morticia and grows to care for her friends, all while uncovering who is behind the town Jericho’s killing spree. Her growth throughout the season is evident and one of the most consistent things about the show, despite a fast-paced murder mystery simultaneously occuring.

Ortega’s acting shines the brightest out of anyone in the cast. Having put a lot of effort and time into perfecting Wednesday’s inexpressive behavior, Ortega manages to hit the nail on the head during moments that called for her impassive character to be vulnerable.

In a moment when Wednesday looks dejected for the first time in the show, Ortega perfectly delivers, “Maybe it’s inevitable [that I’m destined to be alone]. But for the first time in my life, it doesn’t feel good.” Another actor who may have even beat out Ortega’s performance is Victor Dorobantu as Thing, Wednesday’s companion that is a disembod-

IMDB.COM

ied hand. Instead of choosing to use CGI for the hand, Dorobantu contorts himself into increasingly difficult poses under tables and around furniture in a blue suit to position Thing where he needs to be. The hardship clearly pays off, with Thing delivering one of the strongest performances without words or facial expressions. His emotions are very easy to read and gather how he feels despite being simply a hand. When he is disappointed, his fingers slump the way a person’s shoulders would. When he is ignoring someone, he taps his fingers to signify he is not paying attention to them. The small details are what make Dorobantu such an amazing performer. Unfortunately, next to Ortega’s and Dorobantu’s acting, the rest of the cast is novice at best.

The acting was just one highlight of Wednesday. Wednesday’s dance in episode four to “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps, which Ortega choreographed herself, is the best part of the show. With the eccentric moves inspired by 80s dances, it captures Wednesday’s eccentricity perfectly. Episode five in particular was memorable; featuring Wednesday’s strongest relationships with her family, the episode humanizes and makes her relatable to the audience. Along with Wednesday’s characterization, the show ben-

efits from the distinct aesthetic that can only be attributed to Tim Burton’s directing. Between the cinematography, the score, and the appearance of the monster, Wednesday has the classic Burton gothic touch as seen in The Nightmare Before Christmas or Edward Scissorhands. In his modernization of the character, Wednesday no longer has the singular black dress with the white collar, instead wearing designer brands that are up to date on today’s teen fashion, which adds contemporary appeal to viewers.

In particular, Wednesday’s dress to the dance, a vintage Alaïa prom dress, has grown to be one of the defining frames of Wednesday because of the traction it has gained online.

Despite the positive aspects of the show, the negatives of the show set the precedent of the show, leading to an overall weak performance.

Its aesthetic does not present the same way it was marketed: dark and morbid in classic Wednesday Addams style. By taking out the macabre aspect of it, Wednesday is nothing more than a show about a saturated New England town with a deadpan teenage sociopath living in it. Plot-wise, Wednesday could have improved by removing unnecessary plots in place of spotlighting side characters whose storylines are barely brought up, such as Bianca (Joy Sunday), whose sirenic background was explored for a fleeting episode before never being mentioned again. In addition to this, more of Morticia, Gomez (Luis Guzmán), and Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) — the actual Addams family — would have been fruitful because not only would it induce nostalgia for viewers, but more importantly, it would have provided Wednesday with the background she so desperately needs.

Ultimately, Wednesday did not live up to the expectations surrounding it, compared to previous Addams family remakes and how it was advertised and eagerly awaited for. While there were some standout moments, such as Ortega’s acting, they were not enough to diminish the disappointment of the comically over-dramatic plot and the utilization of all the wrong characters.

▪

Rating: B-

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Arts & Entertainment 15

Arts & Entertainment

year in review!

By Shuhan Jin, Priyanka Shah, Nessa Tong & Callie Yuan Staff Writers From movie releases to celebrity shenanigans, the Smoke Signal has compiled the most notable moments of 2022 in the arts and entertainment field to recap.

will smith at the oscars - march 27 The 94th Academy Awards was one that surprised people all over the world. Chris Rock, the host for this year’s Oscars, was greeted with a slap from Will Smith after insulting Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock made a remark towards Jada’s shaved head while comparing it to a famous movie character, G.I. Jane. Hoping for a better response, “Jada, G.I. Jane 2, I can’t wait to see it,” Rock said. Jada has publicly shared that she suffers from alopecia, and Will Smith infuriated with the remark. After the infamous slap, Smith proceeded to come back to his seat and yell “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.” This incident flooded social media posts and ended up being the most talked about event in 2022. Will Smith faced great public scrutiny for his actions, and people began to question why many other white men who have previously hosted the Oscars have gotten away with making racist remarks.

kim kardashian at the met - may 2

Early 2022 - the wordle craze Josh Wardle created a game that would change lives on May 16, 2019: Wordle. However, this game only became popular in December of 2021. People all around the world took time out of their day to play this mind-twisting word game where the objective is to guess a five-letter word in only six tries. However, depending on the positioning and letter that one gets correct, the color of the tile changes in response. Wordle became a staple in people’s daily lives, and many began sharing their attempts on social media. After Wordle became popular, many different versions of the game began to emerge. With the New York Times purchasing Wordle for a price in the seven figures, fans began to doubt that access to the game would be free. Though Wordle has dwindled in popularity, it still remains a staple in many people’s daily routines.

april 1 - morbius Directed by Daniel Espinosa, the film Morbius follows biochemist Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) as he descends into vampirism and fights with his surrogate brother Milo Morbius (Matt Smith). Upon its opening weekend, Morbius grossed $39 million at the box office compared to its budget of $75 million.

Despite the movie’s poor performance, Morbius memes became a worldwide craze — including those poking fun at its ticket sales by saying the film made a “Morbillion dollars” — which caused entertainment company Sony to bring Morbius back to theaters in the hopes that internet popularity would translate into actual ticket sales. However, that did not prove to be true, and Morbius flopped in the theaters for a second time by recouping only $300,000, doing even worse than the first opening week.

At the 2022 Met Gala, media personality and socialite Kim Kardashian wore actress Marilyn Monroe’s famed “Happy Birthday” dress. Monroe’s custom dress — valued at $10 million according to its owner, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum — was worn when she sang the song “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to 35th US President John F. Kennedy in 1962. People were angered over Kardashian wearing the iconic dress because she had allegedly damaged it during fitting, destroying its historical value. Additionally, Monroe fans took an ethical stance, pointing to Kardashian’s publicity stunt as falling into the pattern of the glamorization and exploitation of Monroe’s tragic life and image even after her death.

july 1 - minions: the rise of gru

the downfall of ye - october 7 On October 7, best-selling rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, posted a highly controversial tweet criticized for its antisemitism, causing his account to be locked. It was soon revealed that Ye had made similarly antisemitic statements on unaired television, and his remarks led to numerous neo-Nazi and white supremacist demonstrations in his support. As a result, companies such as Vogue, Balenciaga, and Adidas terminated their brand deals with Ye, reducing his net worth by billions. Although Ye has previously been through similar controversies, including referring to slavery as a “choice” in 2018 and wearing a White Lives Matter shirt in October, this event marks a major change in how brands react to his behavior.

On July 1, thousands of suit-wearing teeens flooded theaters to watch the media-breaking, Internet trend-making Minions sequel, Minions; The Rise of Gru. Blasting “Rich Minion” by American rapper Yeat, these hordes of young “Gentleminions” filmed themselves cheering and being disruptive before and during the movie, with some causing minor property damage and vandalism.

Nevertheless, the film managed to rake in a worldwide total of $939 million at the box office, as well as a surprisingly positive 89% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

october 21 - midnights On October 21, Taylor Swift released her 10th studio album Midnights, taking the music industry by storm as it made record-breaking history. The 13 songs, with seven bonus tracks that make up the album, tell Swift’s story of “13 sleepless nights scattered throughout [her] life” as she opens up about her biggest insecurities and struggles with fame. Midnights broke 73 records in just one week, according to the magazine Consequence Sound. Among these include being the first artist in history to take all top 10 places on the Billboard Hot 100 at once, hitting 357 million streams in a week, making the album the third-highest streamed in a week in history, and becoming Spotify’s most-streamed artist and album in a single day.

From record-breaking albums to pop-culture-defining celebrity interactions, these were only a couple of the many memorable moments that happened in 2022. These pop culture moments, along with many more, helped shape the year of 2022. As unusual as this year has been, the world of arts and entertainment has never failed to keep the excitement going.

GRAPHICS BY A&E EDITOR SANAH BHARDWAJ

16 Sports

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Friday, December 16, 2022

sports graphic opinions I stayed up until 4 AM watching the World Cup Why? It was just interesting, I couldn’t stop watching for some reason...

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sports editor kaitlyn wang

Sports as a neutral playing field for political views

By Anandita Devata, Jacob Han & Keerti Koya Staff Writers The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 2022 is projected to amass a total of five billion views, making it the most-watched in the tournament’s history.

The tournament is being held in Qatar, a country steeped in political controversies and human rights violations, especially regarding the LGBTQ+ community. Seven European nations participating in the tournament planned to wear “OneLove” armbands to show their support for LGBTQ+ rights since homosexuality is illegal in the nation. However, FIFA warned the teams that it could result in penalization, forcing the teams to cancel their plans.

In the past, the international soccer community has been a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of sexuality, race, or other characteristics. The recent World Cup controversies highlight that the influence the sports industry has on the public should be used as a platform to bring attention to social movements while creating real impacts for marginalized groups.

Politics impacts industries of all kinds, including sports, and blending politics and sports constructively can have lasting effects on society. For example, The National Basketball Players Association established a foundation and committed $300 million in funding over

the next 10 years to facilitate skill development, employment, and career advancement among Black youth in the US and Canada. Additionally, the International Olympic Committee opened Pride House Tokyo, a permanent hub for the LGBTQ+ community, as part of its plans for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The committee’s creation of a long-term show of support towards the same community shunned

by Qatar proves that it is indeed possible for the sports and politics worlds to intertwine, as shown by the countless professional sports organizations that have dedicated time and money to help minorities.

Athletes can also use their large fan bases to gain widespread support and create a positive environment for minority groups. For example, NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeled as the national anthem played during a pregame in 2016 to bring light to police brutality and systemic racism against Black citizens. Despite risking significant consequences on his career, he was able to bring major media attention to the issue through to his large fan base.

Another case of athletic activism is when Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James founded More Than A Vote, a nonprofit group that partnered with The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense Fund for the 2020 general election and recruited more than 10,000 volunteers to help as poll workers. The nonprofit deployed

Eight European countries planned to wear “OneLove” armbands during the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Germany’s players cover their mouths to protest FIFA’s ban on “OneLove” armbands.

ads to educate minority voters about how to register and vote by mail, giving them a larger voice in the government. His actions reached not only his fans but also the rest of the basketball industry and the general public, which pushes for necessary change. By publicly showing support for minority groups, athletes with large followings encourage fans to do so as well even in the face of opposition.

While athletes can bring support for positive change, some oppose this idea by saying separating politics from sports prevents the latter from being corrupted by athletes’ or organizations’ biased views regarding political or social issues. Sports is one of the few fields where judgment is quite objective, such as whether a ball went into a goal or not, making it a common place for people to take their minds off of opinionated topics like politics.

However, sports, as an avenue that reaches millions if not billions, is an excellent way to gather support for people that need it. Athletics is one of the few platforms that transcends cultural, ethnic, and social boundaries, making it an exceptional space for civil discourse. As a

result, combining sports and politics is a great way of providing an equal platform for all to share their views on society’s issues.

Attracting millions to support minorities is far from possible for most people, but we must still actively seek out ways to create a positive impact in the smaller sphere of our community. By showing support for public condemnations of human rights violations, we can bring issues to the attention of those with the power to create tangible and long-lasting change, helping minority groups. Additionally, by boycotting games that intentionally prohibit these issues from coming to light, people can spread awareness regarding problems such as human rights violations and LGBTQ+ discrimination ongoing in Qatar. Those who attended the World Cup games could have protested the penalization of teams for wearing armbands simply by wearing it themselves. Politics and sports will continue to be intertwined well into the future. As a result, athletes and the public have equal responsibility in utilizing sports platforms to create an impact. ▪ photos by cnn.com

Friday, December 16, 2022

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Winter Freshmen Varsity Athletes

Sports 17

er

Boys S o c c

By Jason Tang Staff Writer

With the winter sports season now underway, The Smoke Signal would like to congratulate the Freshman who made the varsity teams. To showcase MSJ’s budding athletic talent, the Smoke Signal spotlights the 11 freshmen varsity athletes who will represent MSJ in the winter edition of the Freshmen Varsity Spotlight series. Sports featured include Girls and Boys Varsity Soccer and Girls Basketball.

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PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER JASON TANG. GRAPHICS BY SPORTS EDITOR KAITLYN WANG.

Boys Basketball take tough 46-72 loss to Kennedy

Power Forward Junior Sathvik Yetukuri shoots a basket.

By Jiyun Guo & Aaryan Suri Staff Writers On December 8, Boys Basketball went head-to-head against the Kennedy High School Titans. In a fast-paced match filled with excellent passes, flashy plays, and skilled defense, the Titans were in control of the game from the start, outscoring the Warriors in each quarter. In the end, the Titans led by 26 points, finishing 46-72 and defeating the Warriors in their first MVAL game of the season.

Heading into the game, the Warriors knew they’d be facing a tough opponent. “We kind of researched the other team. … we were a little worried since they were taller than us, … stronger than us, more physical than us,” Bao said. However, the team was not discouraged and maintained their confidence as they faced off against the Titans.

As the game kicked off, the teams remained neck and neck, with the teams being tied early in the first quarter at 7-7. However, after an early lineup change from the Titans, they were able to quickly turn the tide of the game. Scoring three lay-ups in consecutive possessions, the Titans gave the Warriors no breathing room as they rounded out the quarter 7-13. The Titans maintained this energy as they easily shut down the Warrior’s offense in nearly every play and had a lock on defense. “Some things we need to work on are definitely getting rebounds and making sure the defense isn’t pressuring us,” Co-Captain Junior Brandon Bao said.

Despite the Titans’ significant lead heading into the rest of the game, the Warriors still managed to execute several impressive plays.

In the second quarter, the Warriors scored two half-court shots, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from spectators, alongside a stellar performance from Power Forward Junior Saket Mu-

rali, who put up 14 points for the team. “[O]ur bench started lifting up in terms of spirit. We were still going on, and we still tried to fight for the game,” Bao said. By the end of the third quarter, the Warriors ended with a score of 33 to the Titans’ 50.

With the Titans having a whopping 17-point lead in the third quarter, the teams headed into the final stretch of the game, with the fourth quarter serving as a victory lap for the Titans.

Pulling out showy and bold moves, such as layups off the backboard to impress the spectators, players from the Titans loosened up. In a last-minute effort, the Warriors began playing a much rougher defense. Unfortunately, this strategy backfired as the Titans were able to draw seven fouls in the fourth quarter alone.

In the end, the Titans expanded their lead even

Co-Captain Junior Brandon Bao makes an overhead pass.

further as they left the Warriors in the dust, finishing the game 46-72.

After the game, the team felt disappointed by the result but made note of areas that could use improvement. Specifically, they planned on improving their defense by implementing tactics from practice into games. “On defense, we had a lot of mistakes. We’re usually not making those mistakes, but I think, first game, we had some things that we didn’t figure out,” Co-Captain Senior David Lin said.

For the rest of the season, the team aims to improve their win ratio through rigorous training and an emphasis on team dynamics.

“Compared to last year, we’re hoping to win more games, and the only way to do that is to improve our team chemistry and work hard in practice,” Bao said. ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS JIYUN GUO & AARYAN SURI

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Sports & Photo 19

Athletes Spotlight: Harshita & Samhita Bathina

By Tanvi Deshmukh & Andria Luo Staff Writers perform within it, motivating us to continually get better,” Harshita Bathina said.

In addition to bowling, the two are doubles partners on the MSJ Varsity Girls Tennis Team, which won MVAL and NCS league titles earlier this year. “Playing together, we learned to never give up because in tennis when you’re down, you can still turn around the score and make a comeback,” Samhita Bathina said.

With the amount of time spent together enhancing their athletic abilities, the two developed into each other’s motivation. The time and effort they both put into their sports have helped to strengthen their relationship as well as their athletic performance. “I think just working with any partner is really good because you can feed off their energy,” Harshita Bathina said.

Siblings Senior Harshita Bathina and Sophomore Samhita Bathina began their bowling careers at ages seven and five, respectively.

They initially bowled with friends for fun, but once their soon-to-be coach encouraged them to join a Saturday league team at Cloverleaf Family Bowl, they gave competitive bowling a shot. Since then, the sisters have become three-time NorCal Youth Bowling Association (YBA) All-Stars and have won numerous scholarships for tournaments in CA. For their bowling careers to reach this impressive point, the Bathina sisters devotedly trained to improve their technique and strategies. They started their training at Cloverleaf Family Bowl and later on moved to Earl Anthony’s Dublin Bowl after Cloverleaf shut down. Now, they stop by the alley whenever

they have time to hone their techniques and practice bowling strategies. “Bowling is a sport all about precision and repetition ... it’s more slow-paced, relaxing, and a mental game,” Samhita Bathina said. “Many people think you just throw a ball down a lane, but it’s really intricate with the different oil patterns and arm swing approaches.”

The sisters first became All-Stars in 2018 after years of competing. In order to qualify, they had to bowl in three state-wide tournaments and perform well in each one. The award is also given based on factors such as their performance compared with other bowlers in their age group, league average, and involvement within the bowling community. “[Becoming All-Stars] definitely made us appreciate the sport and recognize our abilities to

“Working with my sister is really nice because we have that bond that also makes us closer as we win and lose together.”

— HARSHITA BATHINA, 12

Although balancing athletics and academics was initially a challenge, the sisters’ involvement in two sports has taught them much about consistently maintaining organization and motivation. With the enjoyment and personal growth they pursue in bowling and tennis, the sisters hope to continue their athletic careers into college. Regardless of the sport, they recommend beginners to be patient with themselves because athletic progress and skill perfection often take time. “Surround yourself with people who support your growth every step of the way,” Harshita Bathina said. ▪ PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS TANVI DESHMUKH & ANDRIA LUO, COURTESY HARSHITA BATHINA & SAMHITA BATHINA.

Holiday Festivities Bright Up the Night

By Elaheh Khazi & Praamesh Siva Staff Writers On December 2 from 6-8 p.m., Fremont Hub and KIMCO Realty hosted Bright Up the Night, a joint holiday event at Fremont Hub’s courtyard. Attendees enjoyed two spectacular laser light shows, live holiday music, and selfies with Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, the Nutcracker, and more.

The live band kicked off the event at 6 pm with holiday classics such as “Frosty the Snowman” by Michael Bublé and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams. While enjoying the music, attendees explored the plaza and photo booths. A large line quickly formed as families rushed to take photos with Santa Claus. Children laughed as the adorable Frosty the Snowman gave highfives and hugs to attendees. Parents in particular enjoyed themselves while seeing their kids having fun. “We came for the kids, especially because my sons love Christmas,” Attendee Sakshi Pathak said.

The main event was the laser light show which began at 6:30 pm. Blue, green, purple, and red lights decorated the nighttime sky. The crowd shouted excitedly as they watched the shifting color combinations. Children jumped up and down in excitement at the quick transitions and changing colors. Parents rushed to take pictures. It was the most eye-catching part of the event that had onlookers fascinated.

Overall, Bright Up the Night was a fun holiday-themed festival that attracted many families. “Coming out of the pandemic, it is helpful to have such gatherings where people feel safe going to, especially during the holidays,” Attendee Matthew Teng said.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS ELAHEH KHAZI & PRAAMESH SIVA, GRAPHICS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR SARINA LI

20 Photo

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Friday, December 16, 2022

Guide to Niles Antique Stores

By Waylon Li & Maryam Naseer Staff Writers

While many often get caught up in modern online shopping sprees, the idea of old-fashioned aesthetics and browsing stores still pleases many. Niles, a culturally rich and quaint part of Fremont, has been a go-to destination. Along the bustling street, anyone can enjoy a beautiful, orange sunset while strolling through a variety of small businesses. To show that the rustic aesthetic of vintage items is still appreciated, the Smoke Signal has highlighted some notable antique shops in the Niles area.

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Memory Lane Situated in the heart of Niles on 375 65 Niles Blvd, Memory Lane provides a 1900s themed store.

Upon entry into the shop, decorat ive lamps, pottery, and dishes are arranged nea tly, waiting to be examined. “Some people wan t antiques and some people want vintage, and we also have collectibles,” Memory Lane employe e Don said. The store provides an abundant sele ction of twentieth-century comic books and Life Magazines, casting the room in a flurry of vibrant colors. Various collectibles such as figurines and statues can be found in the rows of sectioned shel ves, and almost anything you can think of is sold here. “Everybody [can find] the items they ’re looking for,” Don said.

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PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS WAYLON LI & MARYAM NASEER. GRAPHICS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR HANNAH SHEN