Volume LIII, No. 6

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 53 NO. 6

March 2, 2018

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

MSJ Band hosts Northern California Band Association Review

By Joelle Chuang, Katherine Guo, Lucia Li & Shreya Srinivasan Staff Writers

Overview

Percussion

MSJ hosted its first ever Northern CA Band Association (NCBA) band review on February 10.

This was also the first NCBA competition to be held in Fremont. At band reviews, students can receive valuable feedback on their performances from professional judges, as well as learn from the hard work of others. This MSJ Winter Review and Critique offered Winter Guard, Winter Percussion, and Solo Drum Major competitions for a total of 18 attending schools. When a NCBA band review scheduled in Antioch was canceled, MSJ stepped up to host this public event.

Drum Major Junior Eddie Chang stands at ease with his mace.

Preparation

“I hoped hosting other see a

MSJ Winter Percussion performed a piece titled “CPU,” which they had been practicing since December. With silver bodysuits and facepaint, the performers incorporated spatial formations and a soundboard to simulate a malfunctioning computer. Percussionist Senior Emma Chang played the role of “the nerd” who wanders among the percussionists to dramatize a victim of a virusinfected computer system. Their performance was judged based on music execution, music general effect, and visuals. According to Percussion Section Leader Senior Andrew Kinoshita, their performance is still a work-in-progress. He said, “Preparation for the first show is always the most hectic; on top of memorizing music and developing choreography, we have to prepare our show floor and fix up the instruments.

From here on out it should be a little smoother running.” Although Winter Percussion has no conductor, he added, “The individuals in our section are strong musically and that always helps the ensemble as a whole.”

According to Organizer Harrison Cheng, MSJ spent eight months preparing for this review. Cheng, Senior Joshua Zeng, Band Teacher Monica Kraft, and a few other organizers planned and coordinated this event. In order to host a band review, organizers must submit an application to NCBA and begin the highly competitive wait for a date, due to NCBA’s restrictions on band review dates. Luckily, MSJ was able to get ahold of a date to host the review after a previously held review in Antioch was canceled. A panel of nine certified NCBA judges scored and critiqued the competitors, and the school with the highest combined scores for Percussion, Guard, and Drum Major sections was awarded a sweepstakes trophy.

A

D

A Senior Derek Xia prepares to play the xylophone.

C

“For the first time, because students compete here at home, their parents, friends, family, and people who are closer by can make it out and see their friends compete, and see what they’ve been working so hard for.” — Harrison Cheng, Organizer

B

C

Senior Emma “Overall, they [drum majors] Chang plays the role of performed some of the best a nerd stuck performances we’ve ever seen in a computer them do so far, so I’m really lookand wanders ing forward to watching them perthrough the form in their upcoming competitions percussionists. and seeing where they can grow from the critique that they gain at this review.”

that through this review, schools would MSJ as bit of powerhouse in NCBA.” — Senior Joshua Zeng, Organizer

B

From left: Seniors Andrew Kinoshita, Anna Pi, and Albert Stanley energetically drum to the beat.

D

The competition trophies, funded by MSJ Band, are prepared for the section winners.

Winter Guard

Drum Major Freshman MSJ Winter Guard Srilakshmi Palanikumar stands performed their dance, in place before marching.

— Drum Major Section Leader titled, “A Perfect Love” to Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect.” Winter Guard InSenior Alex Spencer structors Margaret Taylor and Jenessa Takagi choreographed the routine, which incorporated red flags, rifles, and sabres. They were judged based on their movement, execution, and general effect. Winter Guard CapDrum Major Junior tain Senior Athena Lim said, “Our show difficulty is a lot harder than Eddie Chang tosses his it usually is, so we’re spending more time on technique and filling in to mace in the air. help new members, so we haven’t gotten as far as we usually do at this point.” In spite of these difficulties, Winter Guard Captain Senior The Solo Drum Major competitions consist of two categories, Sweta Putreddi added, “Even though our show wasn’t finished yet, I think Field Conducting and “L” Pattern. Juniors Eddie Chang and they did pretty well. Everyone tried their best and it was a good exhibition.”

Nathan Zheng, who competed in the solo “L” Pattern competi-

Drum Majors

tion under the classification High School (HS) Mace Open, won first and fourth place respectively. Freshmen Kayla Chen, Srilakshmi Palanikumar, Gokul Ramapriyan, and Eashwar Sridharan competed in the HS Mace Novice classifications. The “L” Pattern competition is an individual event in which competitors twirl and toss a mace while marching in an L-shaped path to the beat of music. Competitors are judged based on their form, technique, timing, and execution of the routine. For Field Conducting, competitors have to simulate conducting a band for a preselected music piece. Judges observe competitors’ directing patterns, variety of conducting, and musical interpretation. In regards to preparation for the event, Zheng said, “We had trouble finding enough volunteers as well as getting the word out to other schools and convincing them to sign up [to compete in this section].” Despite these challenges, both Chang and Zheng placed well among many competitors from several different schools.

Conclusion The overall winner, American High School, was awarded the first place sweepstakes trophy. Although MSJ did not win the overall competition, they nonetheless organized a successful event. MSJ looks forward to hosting similar events in the future. While the band review may have started out small this year, Cheng said, “We actually ended up with a much higher than expected number of drum majors, so that was a very strong start for us this season.” In the future, Cheng and other organizers hope that the review will only continue to grow, attracting more and more competitors each year. Zeng drew comparison to the highly-esteemed, nearly 50-year-old Santa Cruz band review, saying, “If we could get MSJ’s winter review on the map, this could really turn around the band program.”

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS JOELLE CHUANG, LUCIA LI & SHREYA SRINIVASAN

2 News

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Friday, March 2, 2018

Author Marieke Nijkamp promotes new book Dutch author Marieke Nijkamp discusses her life, the writing process, and her new book, Before I Let Go

By Shivani Avasarala Staff Writer Marieke Nijkamp, author of #1 New York Times bestseller This Is Where It Ends, gave a book talk for her newest release, Before I Let Go, during third period on February 7 in C-120. Nijkamp discussed her background as a writer, presented a glimpse of Before I Let Go, and answered students’ questions at the end of the presentation.

Nijkamp was born and raised in the Netherlands and expressed an interest in writing and storytelling from a young age.

Throughout her childhood and teenage years, Nijkamp spent a significant amount of time reading and writing short stories, some of which she sent to publishers. Her debut book is This Is Where It Ends, a suspense story following the events of a school shooting from the perspectives of different students during the 54 minutes it occurs.

Currently, Nijkamp is promoting Before I Let Go, a young adult murder mystery set during a bitter Alaskan winter. A part of her diverse collection of short stories can be found in the pieces The Radical Element, Feral Youth, and Pilgrim Playwright Genie Guard. Nijkamp has also contributed to Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens, a compilation

of short stories written by disabled teens.

Nijkamp began the book talk with an interactive game of “three truths and a lie,” revealing her interest in exploring cultures and her hobbies of traveling and reading books. She then discussed the sources of inspiration for her stories, whether it be through other books, movies, or her personal experiences and interactions with others. The latter portion of the presentation focused on themes and concepts explored in Before I Let Go, following main character Corey after returning to her hometown of Lost Creek, AK after the ambiguous death of her friend, Kyra. The book’s setting is based off of her love for winter and her inclination to explore a story in an eerie, small town in Alaska. While narrating the journey of Corey to the audience, Nijkamp uncovered the book’s message of friendship and grief as well as the underlying consequences of a community that is slowly falling apart.

Regarding her passion for the dark thriller and mystery genres, Nijkamp said, “What intrigues me about these genres is that they show characters in the most extreme situations … As a writer, I can go to extremes in describing their reactions and emotions, but I think it also teaches us a lot about how we respond to stress-

Author Marieke Nijkamp discusses the production of her first book, Before I Let Go.

ful situations.” Many students were curious about why Nijkamp decided to become an author and what she enjoyed about writing. While answering these and other questions, Nijkamp illustrated the strenuous writing and editing process and educated students on her methods of overcoming procrastination and writer’s block.

In the future, Nijkamp hopes to continue telling stories that transport her

STAFF WRITER SHIVANI AVASARALA

readers through different perspectives and convey the message of hope despite adversities. Regarding advice for aspiring student writers, Nijkamp said, “First, don’t listen to advice. In the end, it’s so important to find what works for you …

Secondly, write about the things you are passionate about. Most stories have already been written, but the stories that only you can tell are where you find uniqueness.” ▪

MSJ students train to be TUPE peer educators Two TUPE trainers educate students on the effects of cigarettes

By Shiantel Chiang & Toshali Goel Staff Writers The Alameda County Office of Education’s Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) program hosted a TUPE training in the Flex Room on February 9 from lunch to sixth period. Attended by nine students from MSJ’s TUPE 12-student team, the training focused on educating the team on the health impacts of tobacco and electronic

cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, and teaching them how to be peer-educators themselves.

After volunteering to be the TUPE organization adviser for MSJ, Activities Director Ben Breazeale organized this half-day training since many students from the TUPE team were unable to attend the previous full-day training at the FUSD district office on November 9. Nine students — seven freshmen, one sophomore, and one junior — signed up to attend by emailing Breazeale.

STAFF WRITER TOSHALI GOEL

Anti-Tobacco Consultant Ira Sachnoff uses an enlarged tobacco prop to discuss the harmful chemicals in cigarettes with Freshman Kate Zhang.

Students began the training by learning skills for effective communication when giving TUPE presentations. Peer Resource Trainer and Anti-Tobacco Consultant Ira Sachnoff, assisted by Youth Development Specialist Kristy Ross, led a warm-up activity in which students introduced themselves to each other, role-playing three different personalities to demonstrate which presenting manner would persuasively convey their message during a presentation.

Students then participated in a scavenger hunt, in which they asked each other tobacco-related questions before Sachnoff explained the answers. He encouraged students to use similar recreational games that allow audience members to consider the answers rather than have the facts listed to them. Subsequently, he conducted a team question-and-answer activity that allowed students to analyze how tobacco companies strategically target children, placing their products next to the candy in convenience stores or using brightly colored packaging.

Sachnoff said the goal of these activities is to “teach [students] new and important information regarding tobacco and vaping … and make learning about this deadly problem as fun and interactive as possible.”

To further inform them as peer-educators, Sachnoff emphasized that the smoke inside an e-cigarette is an aerosol that has chemicals similar to tobacco cigarettes’ contents, not water vapor. He demonstrated how spraying hairspray, which contains aerosol, on his head hardens his hair due to the toxins, while spraying water vapor on his head would dry quickly. Toward the end of the training, Sachnoff brought out an enlarged, fake cigarette, pulling out the cloth that represented the smoke, which listed the chemicals that are inhaled in one breath. Students learned how to use both props and demonstrations to enhance interactive engagement. Reflecting on this experience, Freshman Elaine Leiyoung said, “The information was not just given to us through a lecture but presented in a way that was easy to remember.”

Following this training, the TUPE team plans to give their own TUPE presentations in health classes. They will also work with Breazeale on organizing more campus-wide events like the previous Red Ribbon Week hosted by the TUPE team and the Leadership 2 Activities Team in October. Freshman Priyansha Sharma said, “I will be a step closer to helping our community, and this thought drew me towards TUPE.” ▪

corrections

for the Feb. 2, 2018 issue News Pg. 2: Marketing is offered as a sixth and seventh period class.

News Pg. 2: Mother Jones is a magazine.

News Pg. 4: Senior Shvethaa Jayakumar is misspelled.

Opinion Pg. 7: Grand Staircase-Escalante is a national monument.

Centerspread Pg. 13: Social Studies Teacher Spenser Peterson is misspelled.

Centerspread Pg. 13: Photos are also by Staff Writer Jennifer Xiang.

A&E Pg. 17: SoundCloud artist JABS is misspelled.

A&E Pg. 17: David Grann is a journalist for The New Yorker.

A&E Pg. 17: “for him.” is by Troye Sivan featuring Allday.

Sports Pg. 19: Treasurer Senior Richard Liu is not pictured.

Sports Pg. 21: Raul Parungao is an associate superintendent.

Photo Pg. 23: Girls’ Basketball played vs. Newark Memorial High School.

NEWS IN

brief

KTVU.COM A border patrol officer stands guard along the US-Mexico border in San Ysidro, CA.

NYTIMES.COM Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High watch as the Florida House voted against a ban on assault weapons.

AP.ORG Children displaced by Boko Haram attacks on their villages receive lectures in a school in Maiduguri, Nigeria in 2015.

Construction of CA border wall begins The federal government began working in Calexico, Mexico on February 21 to replace the border wall in CA. The barrier built in the 1990s from recycled metal scraps and landing mat will be torn down for bollard-style barriers that are 30 feet high. It will extend more than two miles long. This work is the first wall contract awarded in the Trump Compiled by Rishi Chillara, Riya administration outside of eight proChopra & Samir Jain totypes built in San Diego. The adStaff Writers ministration is seeking $18 billion to further extend the wall.

Florida legislature faces pressure for gun reform Republican state leaders are facing pressure from citizens to pass legislation against gun violence. This is following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 student and staff members were killed. Student protestors traveled overnight by bus on February 20 to the state capital to directly address state legislators and to advocate for new gun restrictions, expanded background checks, and a ban on military style firearms. Students met with 70 elected officials and lawmakers from both parties.

Islamic terrorist group attacks a girls’ boarding school in Nigeria On February 19, the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram attacked a village named Dapchi in northern Nigeria that is home to a well-respected girls’ boarding school, with more than 50 girls reportedly missing after being forced to flee into the bushes following the attack. Many fear the girls have been kidnapped like those from the Chibok, Nigeria in April 2014, with more than 100 girls from this prior incident still being kept hostage by their captors.

Friday, March 2, 2018

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News & Opinion 3

Students use new technology and create innovations at Make-a-thon Students collaborate to create innovative product ideas at MSJ’s second Make-a-thon

By Karen Li & Shray Vaidya Staff Writers MSJ held its second annual Make-a-thon on February 3 in the Flex Room. The event, led by AP Computer Science Teacher Charlie Brucker, featured student projects and hosted a friendly competition. Students were introduced to a variety of technology, including virtual reality, robotics, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence.

The 2018 event, which partnered with Innovation Minds, was open to all grade levels, unlike last year’s Make-a-thon, in which only Brucker’s AP Computer Science senior students were allowed to participate. Shortly after the doors opened, students gathered together to listen to opening speeches by Brucker, Keynote Speaker Robin Davies, and FUSD Superintendent Kim Wallace. Davies, who helped pick the top six of the featured technology, said, “I want them to understand that anything we are doing to add value to society is innovative.”

After the opening, students broke off into their predetermined teams to learn about different kinds of up-and-coming technology, ranging from gesture control to 3D printing.

Junior Rohit Ganti said, “I learned quite a lot about new technologies which will change the world tomorrow, and it was fun to try out different types of technologies.” Each station spotlighted different machines, headsets, and wearables, all led by experienced specialists, local companies like STEMLand which offer programming classes, or MSJ clubs such as MSJ Virtual Reality Club. Brucker watched students experiment at each station and said, “Nowhere else can students see so many hardware technologies. It’s the chance for students to get their hands on some of these rare pieces of tech, especially the virtual reality and the augmented reality.”

The competition portion was centered around team presentations, in which teams described their vision to a specialized panel of judges which included event sponsor and (ISC)2 Director of Education & Career Devel-

Juniors Rohit Ganti and Srikar Voleti display their prototype during their product pitch.

opment Jing Zhang-Lee. Guided by a specialized team from Stanford, students received the opportunity to create their own 30-second theme music using an online tool. They also participated in a workshop designed to help them learn about the product design process.

Some teams focused more on current medical problems, like prosthetics or medical aid in rural areas, while others created solutions for issues regarding renewable energy, integrating solar cells into everyday curtains and blinds.

Judges voted the Magnetic Accelerating Current as first place, awarding Ganti and Junior Srikar Voleti for their practical solution of incorporating magnetic fields into a possible alternative energy source. Sophomores Abhinav Buddhavaram, Arnav Ghai, Jason Raj, and Jonathan Rajkumar innovated MIXT, which combined virtual reality and traditional textbook style education, winning silver. Raj said, “The Make-a-thon taught me how to create and execute an idea in a very short period of time. This experience also taught me

how important it is to have a good team working by your side and helping you throughout the process.” Freshman Ashley Wong, Junior Zahira Ghazali, and Senior Anna Pi came up with the Safety Pins project, which incorporated safety devices into wearable accessories.

VR Emergency, which is a stress simulator and stressor created by Seniors Salaj Ganesh, Savvy Gupta, Alan Wang, and Brian Zhao received the (ISC)2 Invitational, hand-picked by Zhang-Lee. Moving forward, Brucker and his team of organizers and sponsors are considering expanding the Make-a-thon into a district-wide event and even creating a Make-a-thon club.

They were all pleased with the success of the event, in which they invest a huge amount of time and effort to plan. Event Coordinator Chitra Arunachalam shared her reflection and said, “It’s a homegrown Make-a-thon ... it’s truly innovative because the kids are coming up with their own ideas on the spot, and the ideas were really good.” ▪

AP Computer Science Teacher Charlie Brucker starts off the event.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS KAREN LI & SHRAY VAIDYA

do you think msj students, on average, have an adequate grasp of practical skills?

Life Skills

nn

“I think only a select few students know basic everyday life skills. However, these life skills aren’t hard to learn, so it won't take long for them to catch up. Once they get to college, they will be grateful that they have these abilities, because they will see them put to use more.”

“I don't know about other people, but I know I barely know how to do my own laundry. I can cook rice with a rice cooker if it says 'Start Here' and 'Put in this much water.' I can follow instructions. But now, with the whole online database, you can Google anything. If I said 'I have eggs and I have rice, what can I make?' they'll find stuff for you, and they'll give you step by step directions. When you live in an era where they have step by step instructions on a Pop-Tart, you know it's okay not to have any life skills.”

vesetti, 11 “In my opinion, I think it’s a good idea to get adapted De to these skills early on. High schoolers should get a head start on learning these skills. If students learned the rules earlier, they could avoid mistakes when paying taxes and balancing checkbooks later. By the time that they are adults they will have mastered these skills and that will ultimately allow them to handle their lives much more efficiently.”

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"You'll have to learn it sometime. Part of being in high school is developing the skills necessary to succeed in college and the future, so I feel like developing life skills like doing taxes or something is really important because we're going to need it in the future eventually. If we don't learn it right now ,it's going to make our college life much harder, so it's just a matter of how far into the future you're looking. In the end, while it might not be important right now, it'll definitely be important in the future."

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“I think while life skills are important to develop in high school, one can easily learn them just as well later in life when they become more important.”

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how important do you think it is to have/ develop life skills in high school, and why?

Elaine Leiy ou

“Yes. I feel like as they go through high school, they learn to become more independent and learn to rely on themselves more. Like, they learn to cook, they leave the house more, and they spend more money, and it’s these things that make them more mature.”

“I believe that [at MSJ], it's more of a 50/50 situation ...

It really just depends on the parents, whether they teach their kids early on and give them chores, jobs, etc. Like some of the kids I know have always had specific roles in their house, like doing the laundry on a specific day, or washing dishes every night, ... that routine really helps them learn skills that will help them in the future. However, some parents don't require this. Most of the time I think it's because they believe that this extra responsibility will get in the way of their studying, which I don't necessarily agree with.”

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS RISHI CHILLARA, SAMIR JAIN, SHRAY VAIDYA & JENNIFER XIANG

4 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 2, 2018

Protecting childhood innocence obstructs education

By Christine Dong & Karen Li Staff Writers In 2014, FUSD faced parental outrage against plans to introduce a new Health textbook, which featured content that parents perceived as inappropriate and overly sexual. More than 600 parents protested against the book to protect freshmen from learning about what they deemed were sensitive topics. Incidents like this are understandable; families want to preserve their children’s innocence. However, efforts to delay exposure to mature topics can interfere with children’s education and development.

Childhood innocence is considered a precious privilege, a blissful ignorance of youth that can never be regained once lost.

However, growing up is inevitable, and with adulthood comes the political, social, sexual, and racial realities of life. As children grow, they will experience or witness unhealthy relationships and intolerant vitriol no matter what. Failing to prepare children for the future by prioritizing their innocence over their education leaves them in a sink-or-swim situation when they come face-to-face with the real world. For instance, it would be harder for them to cope with injustices and microaggressions in the workplace if they had not received any guidance on them as children. An early exposure would equip children with skills strong enough to deal with complex situations. Instead of shielding children, parents and schools should teach students about truths and flaws of society. It is the responsibility of adults to gradually prepare youth for the future.

Although it is widely considered every parent’s duty, about 70 percent of parents do not properly teach their children about

sex and puberty, topics that pose a threat to perceived childhood purity, according to a study by Planned Parenthood. Schools should also theoretically supplement children’s sex education, but programs across the nation fall short of doing so. Educators often sanitize the learning material to avoid offending parents and religious beliefs. As a result of schools’ attempts to keep content “age appropriate,” many Health programs emphasize abstaining from sexual acts altogether and avoid talking about birth control methods and sexually transmitted infections. However, a 2005 study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that states with abstinencefocused sexual education programs experienced more teen pregnancies than states that didn’t. By failing to provide students with all the information, schools inadvertently led teenagers to develop more reckless habits regarding sex and their bodies.

However, growing up is inevitable, and with adulthood comes the political, social, sexual, and racial realities of life.

In-depth discussions of race and racism are also rare at lower grade levels. At MSJ, the World History textbook focuses little on non-European countries and the history of people of color. When teaching African-American history at elementary and middle school levels, educators often minimize the severity of antiblack racism and the anger of civil rights leaders in order to avoid unsettling children. For example, schools celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day every year to honor his work in the civil rights movement, but the curriculum often teaches King’s narrative in a way

that strips out many of his more controversial opinions, including his opposition to capitalism and the Vietnam War, in attempt to make him appear more loving and palatable to young students. Doing so affects children negatively. “Covering up and co-opting Dr. King’s message muddies the examples our children need to see. Stories of resistance are empowering and liberating,” New Jersey Teacher Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price said in an interview with The Atlantic. By presenting a cleaner version of history to students, educators make it more difficult for children to connect historical events to real ones. Moreover, learning history teaches students to analyze historical figures and past events, which helps them gain a better understanding of people and the world today, which is useful for children and adults.

Despite the historical and modern relevance of social movements, many adults don’t consider it important or appropriate for children to learn about in schools. In fact, according to an article on the Huffington Post, adults are concerned that teachers push their own beliefs upon children too forcefully and that they may punish students for disagreeing with their political views. “It’s time for it to end and for so called ‘child safety experts’ to demand an end to political bullying in our nation’s schools,” said Julie Gunlock, the author of the article. Rethinking Schools Curriculum Editor Bill Bigelow of Milwaukee, WI, disagrees, saying that teaching children about social justice is about “teaching kids to question whomever happens to hold the reins of power at a particular moment. It’s about seeing yourself not just as a consumer [of information], but as an actor-critic.”

Learning about controversial social move-

ments such as Black Lives Matter provides children with opportunities to think critically about the world around them and develop nuanced, individual perspectives of their own. A deeper understanding of current events and hazards in the world can also encourage children to act with caution.

Adults frequently give advice to children without explaining the dangers that can occur from ignoring safeguards. Parents often tell their children not to talk to strangers

Failing to prepare children for the future by prioritizing their innocence over their education leaves them in a sink-or-swim situation when they come face-to-face with the real world. without elaborating about how a stranger may kidnap or assault them. If adults inform children of the possible consequences, then they are more likely to take warnings seriously.

As MSJ students, we live in a community that’s economically homogeneous, mostly politically liberal, and composed mainly of racial minorities; we are sheltered from the multitude of issues that plague other communities. The “Mission Bubble” protects us from issues such as severe racism and police brutality, but it is crucial for us to be aware of reality’s injustices nonetheless. Parents and schools play an important role in helping children grow and mature.

Rather than neglect that responsibility and avoid sensitive topics for the sake of our innocence, they should provide us with the tools we need to swim, not sink, in the future as capable adults with the knowledge and understanding to navigate the churning waters of the real world. ▪

Friday, March 2, 2018

The Smoke Signal

The Smoke Signal Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 53, No. 6 | March 2, 2018 www.thesmokesignal.org

amy's approach Freedom of speech is not a license to be stupid

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VIC KI’S VOICE College Board be damned

By Amy Chen Opinion Editor

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 2020 students EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Carolyn Ge, Mallika Gupta NEWS Gloria Chang, Andrew Kan OPINION Amy Chen, Vicki Xu FEATURE Heather Gan, Helen Wang CENTERSPREAD Zen Thumparkkul, Richard Chenyu Zhou A&E Stephanie Dutra, Hana Sheikh SPORTS Hannah Chou, Cindy Yuan GRAPHICS Evangeline Chang, Victor Zhou WEB Ishika Chawla, Jonathan Ko TECH Julia Park, Michael Ren BUSINESS Ian Hsu CIRCULATION Anagha Mandayam ADVERTISING Shivani Avasarala, Katherine Guo EVENTS Evie Sun, Maggie Zhao SPECIAL PROJECTS Joelle Chuang WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Shiantel Chiang, Rishi Chillara, Riya Chopra, Christine Dong, Arpita Gaggar, Toshali Goel, Kikue Higuchi, Samir Jain, Anisa Kundu, Karen Li, Lucia Li, Ashni Mathuria, Praveen Nair, Sahana Sridhar, Shreya Sridhar, Shreya Srinivasan, Shray Vaidya, Tylor Wu, Jennifer Xiang, Kelly Yang ADVISER Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@ thesmokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

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

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A magnet on my refrigerator reads “The freedom of speech is not a license to be stupid.” As citizens of a democratic country, we are fortunate to have the freedom to say whatever we want without fear of government censorship, but with this privilege comes influence and great responsibility that we must not neglect.

The consequences of irresponsible speech are especially magnified for social media influencers and celebrities, with YouTuber Logan Paul perfectly embodying this concept. The 22-year-old, with a devoted following of 16.7 million subscribers on YouTube, outraged many with his disrespectful video footage of a man who had recently committed suicide in a Japanese forest. At one point, a petition on www.change.org called "Delete Logan Paul's Youtube Channel" accumulated more than 600,000 signatures.

Although Paul quickly uploaded an apology video, there has been little action on the part of YouTube to prevent future transgressions.

The problem with this content lies with its negative influence on Paul’s target audience: teenagers and millennials.

In short, us. This specific demographic is especially vulnerable to peer pressure and social media influences. For the same gullible teens who commit to dangerous Internet Challenges like the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge, the Ghost Pepper Challenge, and even the Hot Coil Challenge, Paul’s promotion of disrespectful video footage gives the false impression that insensitive, mocking behavior is acceptable, even trendy.

Unfortunately, the production of this

kind of harmful content cannot be legally censored, and it doesn’t help that online platforms continue to sponsor their production. After all, there isn’t a defined limit to the freedom of speech. It is a necessary component of any democratic society. Thus it is up to us, the wielders of this power, to work against its abuse. As content consumers who have the power to promote certain messages over others through our support, we should prudently choose what content we endorse, consume, and share, especially when others repeatedly fail to recognize distasteful content.

The concept of responsibility in speech applies outside of social media and published content. At MSJ Peer Resource’s Benefit Show in early February, speakers described how a few offhandedly harmful words can take a severe toll on the mental health of another person. In our daily lives, it is essential that we consider the impact our words and actions have on the people around us. Certainly, no one can legally prevent us from calling someone stupid or irrelevant, but just because you we say something doesn’t mean we should. This may seem like common sense, but evidently, many of us abuse or forget the power of this crucial right.

We each have an individual responsibility to use our freedoms of speech and expression wisely. So think before you publish, before you post, and even before you speak. Freedom of expression isn’t an invitation to abandon common decency. Instead, it’s an important responsibility that should involve thoroughly understanding the power of our words. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Tangible change for cheating NOTE: This editorial solely seeks to address

cheating on tests.

In last year’s Stanford Survey of Adolescent Experiences, a mere 10 percent of students reported that they never cheated on tests, quizzes, or homework. The faculty and student body are well aware of the issues of cheating at MSJ, but academic dishonesty still runs rampant.

Though causes of cheating mainly stem from student corruption and school culture, both students and teachers can make efforts to reduce academic dishonesty in the long term.

Even though students sign an honor code, many still forgo moral standards for available shortcuts. The MSJ honor code forbids plagiarism as well as outside help on tests. But students continue to cheat due to overloaded schedules and pressure to get good grades. Ideally, students would take faculty advice and truly dedicate themselves to understanding the course material. There’s no question that following the advice would lead to a more enriching school experience, yet year after year, these words simply fall on deaf ears as students continue to propagate a toxic academic culture, pushing themselves to their limits. The need to maintain a competitive, well-rounded college profile essentially overwhelms the voice of righteousness.

Students must reexamine their roles in order to reduce cheating. For example, passing test information to students in other periods unfairly benefits later periods, eventually harming all parties. In the long term, cheating also prevents us from

developing necessary time management and studying skills.

Another direct solution is making tests original. Creating unique tests for each period would prevent students from passing information between classes. On the other hand, pulling questions directly from collections of test questions, also known as test banks, and reusing the same test across periods make it easier for students to locate and memorize online answer keys or pass information between periods.

Continuing this ineffective test method despite knowing of student academic dishonesty only enables continued cheating.

Completely eliminating cheating is nearly impossible, even with adjustments like different tests across periods. However, our goal should be to make studying more worthwhile than cheating for most students. Faced with much stricter preventative measures, students and staff should expect a sharp drop in scores. Because cheaters are motivated largely by their sense of a risk-reward tradeoff, only then will they recognize changes and adjust their behavior accordingly. If our school can endure this period of low grades, perhaps our student body will begin to make the most out of their education. ▪

Opinion 5

By Vicki Xu Opinion Editor “I wish College Board didn’t exist,” I wistfully muttered as I dished out $315 for this year’s AP tests.

With AP registration season recently passed, the SAT summer bootcamps are opening enrollment. Sophomores tremble as they anticipate scantron-bubbling their summers away. Freshmen quake at thinking of three more years in standardized-testing hell. Third graders, haunted by the specter of Gifted and Talented Exams, attend prep classes to become more gifted and talented.

Standardized testing is essential to high school culture. US classrooms in general see no shortage of it. Indeed, the frenzy of assessments spawned by Congressional legislation such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Race to the Top Fund are part of a larger societal movemen t to quantify ability and achievement. And the next two to four years of college-aspiring kids’ lives partly depend on it.

It’s understandable why this is a consensus. After all, the tests seem like a fair, objective way to measure aptitude. Since school grading systems vary, they’re a useful metric for admissions officers when comparing students nationally. Good SAT scores correlate with good grades. Standardized tests are also easy and cheap to carry out when compared with alternate methods of assessing students.

Contrary to what the current education administration believes, however, standardized testing doesn’t actually provide accurate or effective assessments of ability. In reality, they measure how much the kid can afford to prepare for the test. For instance, people who take expensive SAT bootcamps obviously have an advantage over those who

don’t. Within those classes, however, more emphasis is placed on test-taking strategies than material itself. Students effectively get good at taking the test instead of showcasing their mastery of skills, which takes away from the purpose of the test.

Fortunately, a successful, non-testing-centered culture is possible to achieve. Finland shows us as much. Raised in a school culture that only lightly emphasizes homework and testing, Finnish students still consistently outperform their counterparts around the world.

Their country often ranks near the top on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a recurring study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that evaluates education systems worldwide. Yet Finnish students only take one standardized test throughout their entire primary and secondary school career.

Critics may argue that Finland’s high academic performance can’t just be attributed to a lack of standardized testing; perhaps its small and homogeneous population is a substantial factor. Yet Norway, a country of similar size and homogeneity to Finland, lags far behind in the same PISA rankings. Moreover, Norway’s educational policies reveal a testing-centered system that’s similar to the US’s. Thus, ultimately the policy makes more of a difference than any population quality might. In addition, having a culture based on standardized tests may do more harm than good.

So it’s time to reevaluate. Standardized testing doesn’t even come close to assessing a student’s ability; after all, numbers don’t make the student. A substantial cultural shift in the way we view education is long overdue. ▪

By Lucia Li & Kelly Yang Staff Writers

STAFF WRITER LUCIA LI

Stay tuned for our special coverage on cheating, which will continue to explore the many nuances and motivations behind academic dishonesty.

STAFF WRITER KELLY YANG

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The Smoke Signal

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TAKING A LOOK AT

ASSISTED SUICIDE

By Anisa Kundu & Praveen Nair Staff Writers

FOR

Opinion 7

Assisted suicide is the process in which someone commits suicide with help from a doctor who consents to and supervises the act. Assisted suicide is only seen in terminally ill or extremely mentally ill patients with months left to live. Patients are given a dose of lethal medication by a doctor, which is then usually self-administered. Physician-assisted suicide is legal in six US states and was legalized in CA in 2016. In this article, the Smoke Signal addresses the arguments both for and against assisted suicide to summarize the heated ethical debate over these laws.

AGAINST

By Anisa Kundu

Today, assisted suicide for terminally ill patients is legal in six states in the US, but with a better understanding of its benefits, assisted suicide should be made legal throughout our country.

Although no one should be pressured into choosing assisted suicide, those with terminal illnesses should enjoy the freedom of having a choice. With this freedom, they not only get to control how they die, but they also choose when or with whom they die.

This is especially significant because many with terminal illnesses may face physical and mental deterioration as a side effect of their illness or medications. For example, if the patient has cancer and undergoes chemotherapy, they would likely have to endure loss of hair, first degree burns, easy bruising, and overall fatigue which sometimes leads to depression. For many loved ones, it can be hard to witness the patient change so drastically. If death is inevitable, why shouldn’t these patients be allowed to make the decision to die in a way that causes the least amount of heartbreak amongst those around them?

Although no one should be pressured into choosing assisted suicide, those with terminal illnesses should enjoy the freedom of having a choice.

As a young woman diagnosed with terminal cancer and a leader of the Right to Die Movement, Brittany Maynard said, “I do not want to die. But I am dying. And I want to die on my own terms,” according to CNN’s account of her story. With this statement, we see a terminally ill woman who is not suicidal but only wishes for control over her life and her means of death. Everyone has the right to life as well as death and a right to pursue the highest standard of living. The phrase “death with dignity,” first used in Oregon’s 1997 “Death with Dignity” Act legalizing assisted suicide, clearly emphasizes that assisted suicide stands to reinforce both of these rights.

While opponents of assisted suicide may claim this procedure will force doctors to abandon the Hippocratic Oath, the oath supports assisted suicide: “I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism. I will remember that there is an art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife.” This quote indicates that a doctor’s primary responsibility is to take whatever action the patient may benefit from. They must use their moral

Everyone has the right to life as well as death and a right to pursue the highest standard of living. judgement and empathy to understand that the terminally ill may want to go through with the procedure of assisted suicide and respect their request. This is not to say that every doctor must oblige to the patient’s wishes to assist in committing assisted suicide, but if they refuse, they must respectfully refer the patient to another doctor who will provide the patient with those services.

When there is no other way to escape, assisted suicide provides a terminally ill patient with the opportunity to break free of the slave-like existence their illness holds them in. Assisted suicide allows rational humans to preserve their sanity and dignity by giving them complete control over how they leave this world. In the end, both the family and the patient have the opportunity to leave each other in peace, rather than in pain. ▪

By Praveen Nair Jeanette Hall was given six months to live. She had been diagnosed with an inoperable colon cancer and asked for a barbiturate injection.

Her doctor told her to reconsider and that she wouldn’t see her son graduate the police academy. So she turned down the injection. Fifteen years later, Hall is cured and celebrating her 70th birthday. “It’s great to be alive,” she said.

Our view of assisted suicide is too often an idealized one, in which a fully consenting individual approves a lethal injection that gives them a peaceful, dignified death. But in practice, assisted suicide often fails to meet this expectation.

Our view of assisted suicide is too often an idealized one, in which a fully consenting individual approves a lethal injection that gives them a peaceful, dignified death.

Oregon has had assisted suicide laws on the books since 1997. A study conducted on the history of assisted suicide patients by Oregon Health & Science University shows that only five percent had received a psychological evaluation. This is worrying, since most medical literature finds that rates of major depression among terminally ill patients is up to 25 percent. If suicide caused by depression is illegal, then depression shouldn’t be allowed to be a factor in a patient’s decision to end their life. “[Outside] pressures may be more difficult to pick up ... coercion can be subtle — the costs of care, life insurance about to expire, or just caregiver fatigue,” former Royal Society of Medicine President Baroness Ilora Finlay said. Furthermore, three percent of patients in the Oregon study chose assisted suicide since chemotherapy was too expensive, and 25 percent chose assisted suicide because they were experiencing too much pain. Both factors are preventable, and neither should be the reason a patient ends their own life.

The speed of medical breakthroughs is constantly increasing, and a medical impossibility today might not be one tomorrow. By choosing assisted suicide, patients disqualify themselves from any future treatments or even cures that would drastically improve their quality of life.

“Even the [best] expert has a 50/50 chance of being wrong about a life expectancy of six months,” Finlay said. Assisted suicide requires informed decisions, but there is far less certainty in these situations than there should be.

Any assisted suicide requires a determination of whether a person’s quality of life has deteriorated enough for it to be an option. But this poses an ethical crisis for the doctor-patient relationship. Doctors are incentivized and trained to, at all costs, protect a patient’s life and health. But with the advent of assisted suicide laws, doctors may be pressured to not consider all treatment options before agreeing to a

By choosing assisted suicide, patients disqualify themselves from any future treatments or even cures that would drastically improve their quality of life. patient’s request to end their life. This fundamentally changes the duty of doctors and could lead to the recommendation of assisted suicide when it is not the most prudent option.

If we really want to support those with terminal illnesses or those with painful ailments, we should turn instead to improved palliative care, easier access to pain treatments, and a healthcare system that will never make a patient think that their death will financially benefit their family. Assisted suicide is unwarranted unless there is zero margin for error, and that’s a point we are far from reaching. ▪

Legal

(WA; OR; CA; CO; VT; Washington, D.C.)

Going through state legislature (NV; TN; NY; CT; NJ; MD)

Legal with a court order (MT)

Illegal

(all other states)

GRAPHICS BY WWW.BOSTONHERALD.COM, MAPCHARTS.NET

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Interview with The Thinker

The Smoke Signal: Hi Thinker! Can you tell us a little about yourself ?

The Thinker: Well, I am but a mere rendition of the great French sculptor Auguste Rodin’s creation. The original version of myself sits in Paris, France. I sit at MSJ across the C-Wing, so I think it’s clear which one of us got the better treatment.

SS: What is everyday life like watching over MSJ students?

TT: Well, as my job entails watching you all, I have gotten very good at remembering your daily routines. The day starts as soon as the bell rings for first period, when I see hundreds of sleep-deprived students walking to class. Sometimes their movements are so sluggish that I feel like the zombie apocalypse has finally arrived! They tend to perk up a little during second and third; maybe the caffeine finally begins to kick in. I dread break and lunch, however. I’m simply so sick of students touching me and taking pictures around me. And the comments from immature freshmen! I know I’m naked, thank you very much. I was handcrafted to look this way, and dare I say,

I look devilishly handsome. Fifth and sixth period are always my favorite because students tend to slowly lose energy, and they become a little less pesky. See, I told you: I know every detail of your day. I’ve gotten so good at observing you children, in fact, that I can identify every student by grade with just one look.

SS: Can you tell me a little more about that? How you identify students by grade?

TT: The freshmen always have the most light in their eyes and energy in their step; they haven’t yet gotten accustomed to the high school course load. They’re also the most immature. They tend to take pictures of themselves climbing on top of me, touching my face and beard, imitating my position, the list goes on. The sophomores are a little less annoying, although they too, seem to have an endless reservoir of energy. The dread of SAT boot camps will soon set in, and they will conform with the upperclassmen’s drained, caffeine-driven demeanor. The juniors tend to scare me a little, primarily because I have never seen a group of people look more lifeless than myself. And I am made of metal. As for the seniors, their nearly contagious stress during college application season tends to wear off around second semester. I, myself, have never witnessed a transformation so dramatic and sudden as that of seniors

between first and second semester. Despite their differences, the students all seem to connect with each other during spirit weeks.

SS: Speaking of spirit week, it’s become a tradition for the seniors to dress you up during Homecoming Week. What’s that been like?

TT: They insist on clothing me, as if I am but a measly civilian. Their hideous red shirts try to cover my biceps, but they were obviously not built to be covered. Do you see these muscles?! The seniors won’t take me seriously! I will admit, however, that I

Feature 9

By Sahana Sridhar Staff Writer

do get rather jealous of the totem pole over by the library sometimes; he gets to watch over the students in the amphitheater the only time they ever let loose and relax a little.

SS: Is there anything you enjoy about Homecoming Week?

TT: Well, I do get some peace and quiet on my side of the school during lunch.

Although, I do begin to miss the company after the first few days. It gets boring, staring at C-14 for too long.

SS: To wrap up, what are some things you like about students and the environment in general?

TT: As much as I hate to admit it, you little humans are rather fun to be around.

Your tiny statures make me feel so much better about my own, and although the seniors do get a little rowdy around second semester, I always miss them when they go.

The juniors’ constant stress and moodiness can get repetitive, but I sometimes do feel pity for them. I always enjoy watching the freshmen and sophomores grow and find their place in the MSJ community. I might just be a statue, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without you pesky little children.

Although, I can do without the constant touching. ▪ GRAPHICS BY STAFF WRITER LUCIA LI

Organization Spotlight: MSJ Math Club

By Ian Hsu & Julia Park Staff Writers MSJ Math is a popular student-run organization that has been on campus since the early 2000s. Its mission is to foster a math community at MSJ and encourage students to pursue competitive math at a higher level.

"We try to build up from the bottom level. We try to give you every definition, every step you need to understand."

– PRESIDENT SENIOR CRYSTAL SU The organization’s regular meetings are lectures on Thursdays in AP Statistics Teacher David Lau’s room, C-4. Lecture topics can range from more complex Markov chains and Galois theory to relatively

simpler general number theory and general geometry. However, they are all presented in a manner such that a high school student with an understanding of algebra and trigonometry may easily grasp the core concepts. “We try to build up from the bottom level. We try to give you every definition, every step you need to understand,” said President Senior Crystal Su. All lecturers are students on the officer team who prepare handouts every week and compile practice problems from past math competitions, such as the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). “We also do a few fun ones every year, like a card game lecture, where we teach everyone to play poker,” said Vice President Senior Mich Song. On occasion, MSJ Math organizes special events, such as the annual lecture from visiting Carnegie Mellon University Professor Po-Shen Loh. MSJ Math also organizes several math

MSJ Math Club Officers (left to right): Seniors President Crystal Su and Vice President Mich Song and Juniors Treasurer Thomas Chen, Activities Coordinator Andrew Chen, and Secretary Michael Ren

MSJ Math Club at the Stanford Math Tournament

competitions at school. The most popular competition is the American Mathematics Competition (AMC), a multiple-choice test of 25 questions with nearly 100 MSJ participants every year. Those who score in the top 2.5 percent of the AMC 10 and top 5 percent of the AMC 12 qualify to take the AIME. Despite the high standard for AIME qualification, MSJ boasts nearly 30 AIME qualifiers every year. Last year, current Sophomore Brent Liu advanced to the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad (USAJMO) while Senior Mich Song and Class of 2017 Alumnus Chris Wang advanced further to USA Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). High scorers on the USAMO and the USAJMO may even be invited to the US Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program, which is used to select and train the high school students who represent the US at the International Mathematical Olympiad. The CA Math League is another competition held every two months. Around 50 MSJ students attempt to solve the six problems; the sum of the five highest scores in

a school is the school score. Currently, MSJ has a near perfect score.

MSJ Math also hosts the Mission Math Tournament (MMT) in November, which the officers use to choose teams for the Berkeley Math Tournament (BMT) and the Stanford Math Tournament (SMT).

The structure of the MMT is modeled after BMT’s individual and team rounds, and problems are written entirely by the officers. Only individual rounds count for tournament team placement, but in the team competition, students can compete for cash prizes. This year, 40 students participated in the MMT. MSJ Math sent three teams to SMT on February 17 and will send teams to BMT on March 18.

MSJ Math isn’t looking to expand its activities right now; the organization is already extremely active and busy. But Su encourages all interested students to attend meetings. “It’s pretty tight-knit, everyone knows each other, we have a lot of fun during the club meetings,” she said. ▪ PHOOS BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CAROLYN GE & STAFF WRITER IAN HSU

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The Smoke Signal

THE

DIEHARD TRYHARDS play Quidditch RISHI Ever since I was a young boy, I fantasized about becoming a wizard. At age 11, I eagerly waited for my letter to Hogwarts, which unfortunately never came. After practicing spells for hours in front of the mirror, I accepted my reality. Ever since then, I have been trying to cope with my disappointment, and I have finally found the perfect solution. If I can't play actual Quidditch, this is the next best thing. While I do know my way around a broom from hours of chores, I’m sure my athletic ability and magically given talent can carry my team to victory.

By Rishi Chillara, Ashni Mathura, Michael Ren & Evie Sun Staff Writers The sport of Muggle Quidditch, based on the iconic game in the Harry Potter world, has grown immensely in popularity.

It is now a staple on college campuses, attracting all types of people. Because players can’t fly, athletes run around the Quidditch pitch holding a broom between their legs. They can win points by shooting the Quaffle into their opponents’ three hoops or by catching the Snitch, a neutral runner. The Smoke Signal picked four diehard Harry Potter fans to experience the magic of Muggle Quidditch.

MICHAEL

ASHNI

EVIE

Friday, March 2, 2018

I first delved into the magic of the Harry Potter series in the fifth grade, when I discovered a dust-covered copy of The Sorcerer’s Stone on my bookshelf. I have since reread the novels eight times, and there is no doubt that I am stepping into this game of Quidditch fully armed with my knowledge of flying broomsticks and enchanted balls. I expecto to send my opponents Rowling on the ground as my teammate and I Ravenclaw our way to victory. However, regardless of the results, playing Quidditch will be an experience I have Neville had before, and I am owl-ready for a fun game!

As a girl who refused to be addressed by anything other than “Hermione Granger” or “That One Harry Potter Girl” in elementary school, I’m clearly the most quaffle-ified Smokie to play Muggle Quidditch. With my experience Chasing an A in all my classes — and perhaps a well-placed Confundus charm — I’ll leave my opponents Hufflepuffing on the pitch as I lead our team to a Slyther-win. Despite my Sirius lack of stamina and my riddikulusly undersized wizard’s robes that last fit me in third grade, I’m going to catch the Snitch faster than Draco Malfoy can say, “My father will hear about this!”

Our hula hoops attached to chairs and duct-taped brooms may have appeared goofy to spectators watching our game, but I have got to say — our match of Quidditch was intense. Although I managed to drop almost every single ball that Rishi tossed to me, we thankfully developed efficient communication and were able to score six goals in a row. Unfortunately, our stamina and defense drive began lacking in the second half of the match and the other team quickly stepped up the game to win with a tie breaking score of 120-110.

As a volleyball player, I had figured my athletic experience would help me keep up with the game. However, Michael and I immediately struggled with speed and communication, allowing Rishi and Evie to score six goals in quick succession. With the score 60-10, it seemed impossible to catch up. However, once we got our bearings, Michael and I began to see the holes in our opponent’s defense. We developed an efficient method of guarding our opponents, stealing the Quaffle when we got an opportunity, and passing it back and forth to score. Our newfound cohesion allowed us to barely scrape a win.

Although I’ve had no real experience with Muggle Quidditch before, I’m still pretty confident in myself as my athleticism should hold me in good stead. Moreover, armed with my seven rereadings of the Harry Potter series, I’ll be able to draw some solid inspiration from the likes of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team. My only fear is that running with a broom wedged between my legs will be a decidedly uncomfortable experience, but we’ll see from the results.

Hopefully that’ll be enough for me to F irebolt my way to victory!

THE COMPETITION

In the beginning, we led by a considerable amount by scoring six goals, leading us to think that we had the game in the bag, but our energy quickly drained. Running enough is hard, but running with a broom between your legs is plain awkward. As I lumbered back and forth over the 36-yard field, I was soon begging for water. My mind flashed back to all the times I walked my miles during PE and felt instant regret.

Even though we played hard defense, our competitors were able to score on us with quick passes and fastbreak aways, allowing them to win an intense overtime.

After watching videos of Quidditch before playing, I thought this would be a breeze, but the game is more intense than I thought. It requires serious stamina, athleticism, and raw skill, all things which I do not have. Whenever our opponents got the ball and started to sprint down the field, I filled with dread, while my legs pleaded with me not to chase after them. While it might sound simple, complex strategy and planning can transform the game, leading to some exciting plays and quick breakaways. While we might not have followed all the rules, I would love to play again, exploring everything this game has to offer.

LOSERS

THOUGHTS AFTER Running with a broom between your legs and catching a Quaffle with one hand is no joke — it takes some serious skills. If only my fellow Diehard Tryhards and I could have hopped onto our brooms and flown instead of huffing and puffing around the field. Regardless, I enjoyed the challenging nature of the game, the fun of racing across the field with the Quaffle, and the thrill of launching the ball through the hoops. Playing Quidditch was a unique experience that I would love to partake in again — the memory is a definite Keeper.

Quidditch was much more difficult than the Harry Potter characters made it seem.

But when Michael and I won, I felt like Oliver Wood after winning the Cup. Quidditch is a game I would definitely enjoy for more than the endless Harry Potter puns I could make. Even though the premise of the game might sound Le-strange, I liked getting to explore elements from so many Muggle games — basketball, volleyball, and dodgeball, to name a few — in one sport. All in all, it would be Ron to say that I don’t Expecto play again.

RANKINGS

110 - 120

Not even 10 minutes after tip off, I found myself completely gassed. Running with a broomstick between my legs was definitely an awkward experience. While Ashni and I struggled greatly in the beginning, we found our rhythm right before it was too late. Even though we didn’t have any set strategies, our offense was still extremely productive, as we managed to break away multiple times and lead the way to the goalposts. Our defense, on the other hand, was suboptimal, but luckily our offense was able to keep up, and we pulled off an amazing comeback.

Getting to play Quidditch was an experience like no other. Although we played in very unorthodox circumstances, the appeal of the game was definitely clear.

With the right number of people and appropriate rules, this game definitely has potential to be spectacular. If anyone was interested, I’d definitely encourage them to try it out. Every position has its merits, and the nature of the game allows for a lot of playstyles to be successful. Overall, it was definitely a charming experience that I’d be up for again.

WINNERS

PHOTOS BY FEATURE EDITOR HELEN WANG & GRAPHICS EDITOR VICTOR CHENGXING ZHOU

Friday, March 2, 2018

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Feature 11

Green Eggs and Ham

By Shiantel Chiang, Arpita Gaggar, Tylor Wu & Kelly Yang Staff Writers

Spinach Muffins

Start to finish: 35 minutes (15 minutes active) Servings: 12 3/4 cup of cooked and puréed spinach 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup oil 1 cup applesauce 2 cups flour 3/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a non-stick muffin tin.

Add the puréed spinach to a blender along with the vanilla, oil, and applesauce.

Blend until mixed together.

In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add the ingredients from the blender into the bowl and mix them until a batter forms. Pour into muffin tins until each container is 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Green Machine Smoothie Start to finish: 5 minutes (5 minutes active) Servings: 2 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup milk 2 cups chopped spinach 1.5 cups chopped pineapple 1/2 cup ice 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 1 chopped banana Optional: 1/2 avocado (for extra creaminess) 1 slice lemon (for garnish) 1.

2.

Combine the water, milk, spinach, pineapple, ice, yogurt, banana, and (optional) avocado in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more water to reach desired consistency.

Add a slice of lemon for garnish.

When you're in a good mood In this month of green food, Nothing can beat these unique treats to eat.

To know what to cook, I suggest you just look, At this list of green snacks, which does nothing lack Don't wait 'fore you bake — it's for your own sake.

It's time to purée For Seuss' birthday!

Pesto Pasta Start to finish: 30 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 4 2 cups loosely packed basil leaves 1/2 cup walnuts 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese 2 cloves minced garlic 1/2 cup olive oil 1 potato, peeled and diced 8 ounces penne pasta 1 tablespoon salt 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Start by making the pesto sauce: place the basil leaves and walnuts into a food processor and pulse several times.

Add Parmesan cheese and garlic and pulse several times more.

Scrape down the sides of the food processor.

While the food processor is running, slowly add the oil in a steady small stream. Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor before pulsing.

Next, start making the pasta: immerse the diced potato in a large pot of water until the water boils.

Add the penne pasta and salt; check for tenderness in the pasta and potatoes until it reaches desired consistency. This will take approximately 6 minutes.

Drain and toss with pesto sauce.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER SHIANTEL CHIANG, GRAPHICS BY SEUSSVILLE.COM

Student Spotlight: Danielle Hsieh

By Riya Chopra Staff Writer

Sophomore Danielle Hsieh has been dancing for more than 10 years and has various achievements as both a soloist and group dancer. Hsieh is trained in classical ballet and has invested countless hours in her dance career to become the skilled and accomplished dancer she is today.

Hsieh began dancing at the age of five.

She said, “I started ballet, and I didn’t know anything about it at all. My friend just asked me if I wanted to try it, and slowly I developed a deep interest in ballet.” She has also taken classes in contemporary and jazz, but her dance career has been mainly focused on ballet. “Ballet is the base of almost all other dance forms, and it requires a lot of determination and persistence. In ballet,

you want everything to be perfect, and I think that’s why I like it. I’m a perfectionist, and I like working towards that perfection in dance,” said Hsieh.

Hsieh spends around 15 hours dancing each week and attends dance class almost every day. Because of all the hours she has spent on dance, she learned over the years to manage her time efficiently. The majority of her free time is dedicated to completing her school work so that she can be a good student as well as good dancer. “I just try and stay focused because I know I don’t have a lot of time, and I need to finish everything. It can get very hard and stressful at times, but I love to dance and when you love something, you make time for it,” said Hsieh. Because of her intense schedule, she has not been able to spend as much time with her friends and family

Hsieh competes at the Onstage New York Competition, placing first.

Hsieh performs at the Ballet Petit's showcase of the Nutcracker as the snow queen.

as she would like, but she always cherishes the time she does have with them. Hsieh feels lucky to have a supportive circle of friends and family that she is inspired by.

“The people I dance with are all so hardworking and encouraging. They really motivate me to keep improving. My family is also very supportive of me. And they come to my competitions and are always cheering me on,” she said.

Hsieh attends several dance competitions each year that are usually held from February to May. She competes at local competitions in San Jose, San Mateo, and Hayward, and she has also traveled to places like Las Vegas and New York for larger, national competitions. She has also attended the world’s largest international student dance competition, Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). Hsieh said, “YAGP is where the best ballet dancers compete. It’s very stressful because you have all these amazing dancers there, but I just try to focus on what I know and what I can do and try my best.” She has also attended national competitions and danced with the top

ballet dancers in the country. Hsieh said, “Nationals are very stressful and I have a hard time controlling my nerves. But you also get to watch all the other dancers, and they are so amazing, and they inspire me to be better.” She has not placed at a national competition, but she has received countless first and second overall awards for regional competitions such as StarQuest, Onstage New York, and Starbound.

Hsieh dances for the rush of emotions and uses dance as a form of expression.

“My experiences in life give me something to dance for. As I dance, I feel thrill because I’m taking a risk out there. Mistakes can happen, but when you do well it’s just a feeling you can’t describe,” said Hsieh.

As for future plans and goals, Hsieh hopes to place at a national competition this year. Hsieh also wants to maintain her balanced lifestyle while still continuing to dance throughout high school. ▪

PHOTOS COURTESY DANIELLE HSIEH

12 Centerspread

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ASB & CLASS ELECTIONS

Friday, March 2, 2018

The ASB Officer Board consists of a president, a vice president, a secretary, a treasurer, and an activities coordinator, who all serve different roles in organizing school events and running club functions. Class officer boards consist of all the above roles, with the exception of an activities coordinator.

President

Both the ASB and class president are required to lead the officers and represent their student body. In the case of class presidents, this may entail keeping track of Homecoming events, and organizing events such as fundraisers and dances. Additionally, the ASB president is required to host club council and cabinet meetings with class officers. The ASB president also coordinates with L2 to plan out major student-run events of the year such as Homecoming and Multicultural Week.

VOTING AND POINT SYSTEM

At the beginning of the election cycle, potential candidates receive the ASB election packet. Candidates need to gather 200 student signatures, grade level administrator approval, and parent approval. Two teachers must also sign their approval.

Signatures Due

BERNICE YU

Week 1 Friday 3 p.m.

CO-CHAIR

ASHMITA GUHA

The vice president is the secondary leader of the officers and takes on a variety of responsibilities. The ASB vice president is in charge of overseeing, maintaining the activity of, and possibly dissolving clubs on campus, as well as maintaining the locker system and locker sign-ups. Class vice presidents are responsible for taking over in the president's absence, coordinating with other class officers, and mediating class discussions.

SCHOOL ELECTIONS

CO-CHAIR

By Rishi Chillara, Michael Ren, Shreya Sridhar & Jennifer Xiang Staff Writers

ASB CLASS

The voting process for both ASB and class elections has two rounds. In the preliminary vote, the student body chooses from all candidates of an officer position. In the final election, students may only choose between the two candidates who won the preliminaries. Vote counts between the two rounds are completely independent of each other.

CHERIN KOH ASB SECRETARY The Smoke Signal: What struggles or obstacles did you have to overcome?

Cherin Koh: As a candidate, putting yourself out there for the whole school to see (and judge whether you are the “preferred” candidate), you naturally become extremely self-conscious during election season. I am sure many who have run for office before can agree with me that, many times, it feels like everyone’s eyes are on you — on how you behave, on what you say, and what you do. The greatest struggle for me has been blocking out all the negative things people are saying about me and my campaign (unless it is constructive criticism) and focusing on the bright side instead.

SS: What advice do you have for students who want to run for student government?

CK: Whether you are running for sophomore class, junior class, senior class, or ASB office, make sure you make your voice heard and put into action the vision you have for our school. If you do get elected, remember your peers elected you for a reason. So don’t let them down!

WENHAN FANG ASB TREASURER The Smoke Signal: What makes your job rewarding?

Wenhan Fang: I think the most rewarding aspect of the job is the breadth of responsibilities I have and the variety of experiences that I am able to attain. As ASB Treasurer I'm able to manage ASB Finances, direct the reimbursement process, and operate the Student Store. It's rewarding because it gives me a chance to take part in a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that most students don't know [is] taking place at the school.

It's also rewarding because I'm able to see tangible improvements made to the school from my actions as Treasurer, such as a new product or a new tech upgrade at the student store.

ANUJA KONDA ASB ACTIVITIES COORDINATOR

SS: What advice do you have for students who want to run for student government?

The Smoke Signal: What makes your job rewarding?

AC: My advice to people is to find one concrete goal or improvement that you plan to achieve. Although it sounds cliché, it helps maintain a leader’s purpose and serves as a reminder to constantly be better.

Anuja Konda: The experience has been very rewarding especially after Friday activities; hearing from one person that they enjoyed the activity or just having one person smile at the activity and laugh can take their mind off of everything that is going on in their school day. One person saying that [they enjoyed it] makes my day better. It makes me realize what I am doing is pretty important, and people are being affected by it. It just reminds you why you are doing what you do.

When does your election process start?

CLUB ELECTIONS

How are officers chosen?

74%

What are requirements for being an officer? (*)

20%

Spring

Summer

Application

Club Vote

Autumn

Winter

Senior Officers

Adviser Selection

The Smoke Signal recently gathered data from club officers on the election process that each club uses. Surveys were distributed on February 14 to 40 club representatives at council. * Mark all that apply

Week 3 Friday 3 p.m.

Final Voting

Austin Chang: I knew that L2 was responsible for many of the activities/organizations that benefit the student body: Homecoming, Multicultural, dances, clubs, etc. I wanted to play a bigger role in the management aspect, so I ran for ASB, which is responsible for overseeing the leadership class.

72.5% 52.5% 15%

Week 3 Tuesday Lunch Amphitheater

Final Posters Up

The Smoke Signal: Why did you choose to run?

13%

Week 2 Saturday 11:59 p.m.

Eliminated Posters Down

ASB VICE PRESIDENT

8%

Week 2 Thursday Advisory

Preliminary Voting

AUSTIN CHANG

5%

Week 2 Monday & Tuesday Read Period

Preliminary Posters Up

– Candidate meeting 2 (5 points) – Overall campaign behavior (15 points) *Same criteria as above

doing things at ASB, not making the most money at fundraisers. It boils down to bringing joy to the school community. Seeing the smiles of people's faces. What makes my job rewarding is what can come out of my position.

Final Posters Down

Informational Meeting

Final Voting (+20 possible points)

The activities coordinator is a position that exists only in ASB and some clubs, but not within classes. The ASB AC oversees events like RAYMOND YIN the Friday Activities, ASB PRESIDENT the L2 Homecoming Skit, Town Hall, Spirit The Smoke Signal: What makes Week, and other ASB your job rewarding? events throughout the school year, working in Raymond Yin: It is not about achieving the greattandem with specific L2 est things [like] pulling off the greatest homecommittees assigned to coming or selling the most dance tickets. It's not each event. about making the greatest shift in how we’re

Final Speeches

Week 3 Friday English Classes

*Clean campaign (5 points), respecting school property (5 points), no personal attacks (5 points)

Activities Coordinator (AC)

Campaign Video Due

Week 3 Monday

*Must have 3.0 unweighted GPA with no failures in the past semester to receive approval

The treasurer is in charge of the upkeep of the finances of the organization, including Homecoming merchandise sales and fundraisers for each class. Class treasurers are also responsible for repaying penalizations and requesting money from ASB for class purchases, such as Homecoming materials or class apparel. On the other hand, the ASB treasurer is in charge of the Student Store and reimbursements for clubs and classes, which involves processing checks during council and cabinet meetings.

Final Candidate Debate

Week 2 Friday 3 p.m.

– Teacher signatures (10 points) – Overall campaign behavior (15 points)

Treasurer

Intercom Introductions

Week 2 Wednesday English Classes

– Candidate meeting 1 (5 points) – 200 student signatures (5 points) – Administrator and parent approval (5 points)

The position of secretary generally involves maintaining a record of meetings and events organized by the class or ASB. The ASB secretary is also in charge of announcements, the school marquee, minutes for council and cabinet meetings, and maintenance of the ASB website. The class secretary has a similar role of taking meeting minutes, planning events, and managing logistics of the class.

Each candidate is given 30 seconds to speak about their campaign during intercom introductions, which are completed over two days during Read period. Speeches must pre-written and submitted as part of their ASB packet.

Week 2 Monday

Preliminary Voting (+40 possible points)

Secretary

Centerspread 13

Week 1 Tuesday

In addition to student votes, candidates are also awarded points by the Election Committee for appropriate behavior, which includes respecting school property and not attacking opponents.

The remaining points are awarded for meeting requirements such as attending the ASB informational meeting and acquiring signatures. The final position is awarded to the candidate with the highest combined student votes and committee- awarded point total.

Vice President

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L2 ELECTION COMMITTEE

The L2 Election Committee, co-chaired by Senior Bernice Yu and Junior Ashmita Gupta, is responsible for holding all elections at MSJ and Hopkins Junior High, including Homecoming Court, ASB, and class elections. Before the election season begins, the committee coordinates with staff, teachers, and other L2 students to set voting dates that do not conflict with other events such as teacher activities and assemblies. In order to aid the vote-counting process, candidates are assigned numbers on a scantron, by which votes are summed and processed electronically.

The committee is also responsible for making sure candidates adhere to the rules set in place by the election contract, which each candidate signs before running. To enforce these rules, the committee utilizes a point system where infractions of the rules, such as not attending the first informational meeting, result in a loss of points that correspond to votes.

OFFICER POSITIONS

A variety of officer teams represents MSJ’s student body, be it in the ASB, class, or club election system. In spring, students begin to elect their officers for the next school year. This issue, the Smoke Signal delivers a rundown of the election process and anecdotes from the 2017-18 ASB officers.

Friday, March 2, 2018

79.5% 69.2% 23.1% 12.8% Application Attendance/ Involvement

Years in Club

What positions does your club have? (*) President 100% Vice President 76.9% Secretary 89.7% Treasurer 92.3%

Activities Coordinator 48.7%

Publicity Officer 56.4% Other 30.8%

Other

OFFICER POSITIONS

When clubs are created or renewed, they are responsible for creating a club constitution, which then must be approved by council in order for the club to be formed. In the constitution, clubs must specify the organization of the officer team. A typical club hierarchy includes a five-person officer team comprising a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and activities coordinator, but many larger clubs have co-presidents, board members, and grade representatives, which are all considered officers. Other variations include captains and editors.

ELECTION PROCESS In the case of clubs, the responsibility of electing officers is left to the individual discretion of each organization or officer team. Clubs utilize a variety of decisions processes and most commonly employ written applications. For clubs with large numbers of applications, such as DECA or Key Club, an additional interview may be held. Other forms of elections include a nomination and election process, where officers are appointed in a democratic fashion based on the amounts of votes received. In order to renew the club near the end of the year, the newly elected officers register on a contact sheet.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS RISHI CHILLARA & SHREYA SRIDHAR

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 2, 2018

From hippies to hypebeasts: The EVOLUTION OF TEENAGE CULTURE

By Samir Jain, Anisa Kundu, Sahana Sridhar & Maggie Zhao Staff Writers

From fashion to technology, the characteristics of past decades in US history give way to the trends of rising generations today. Each decade’s distinct trademarks forges its own unique personality, each one influenced by the current events of the corresponding era. From the hippie microbuses of the 1960s to the Internet’s novelty in the 1990s, adolescent generations form the ever-changing personality of our country. In this coverage, the Smoke Signal explores evolving trends through time and the events that shaped them.

1960s

1970s

Much of the 1960s was shaped by the ongoing Vietnam War. The free-flowing, hippie movement of the era originated from the youth, who established their anti-war stance in the early 1960s. This “flower power” integrated itself into the different aspects of the youth movement, from the peasant, paisley-printed skirts to loose, tiedye silhouettes. Freedom riders and flower children populated cities, creating seas of color. Simultaneously, civil rights protests led by Martin Luther King Jr. took the liberal streets of America by storm, leading to the emergence of protest music. The 60s gave way to soul and gospel musicians like Aretha Franklin, who wrote songs like “Respect” to call attention to the raging riots against segregation. Music made its way from the heart of London to American stereos. The Beatles and Rolling Stones grew enormously in popularity, until their music was played in every part of the US. The first video game console, the Brown Box, and compact audio cassettes were invented in the 60s, serving as pastimes for America’s youth.

The 1970s was a decade marked by keystone political reform and the emergence of iconic popular media that have survived into the present. The disbanding of the Beatles and the death of Elvis Presley, whose hippie rock and roll characterized the 1960s music industry, allowed for the development of the renowned genre of disco that could be found in music, movies, and TV shows of the 1970s, including the acclaimed Saturday Night Live. The 1970s gave life to the new wave of sitcoms focusing on the struggles of the everyday, middle-class American, as seen in The Brady Bunch. There were also new themes in traditional art, such as feminist art and funk art highlighting the new dance sensation of the era. Movies such as Jaws and Star Wars, regarded as some of the greatest films of all time, embodied an interest in the unknown. This was brought on by developments in the science industry, such as the production of the first mobile phone. As is often noted in films and television programs in the 1970s, men and women replaced their tie-dye for polyester clothing, complete with tight pants and platform shoes.

1990s

1980s The 1980s, with the residual progression in science and technology from the 1970s and new marvels such as the first MacBook computer and Windows processing system, saw a new obsession with science fiction, extraterrestrial life, and gaming, shown by the NASA launch of the Galileo spacecraft. Movies such as E.T. and Back to the Future along with a new trend of arcade gaming with the release of Space Invaders and Pacman set a precedent for the sci-fi and fiction media that is familiar to us today. The peak of Michael Jackson’s career, with singles such as “Thriller” and “Man in the Mirror,” and a new rave culture at parties and social gatherings led to the prominence of hip hop, synthetic pop, and metal rock, music that was fun and easy to dance to. This also led to developments in fashion with more colorful clothing with high waistlines and a hip-hop and rap subculture characterized by gold chains, printed hats, and Air Jordans.

Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment arose from the AIDS scare of the early to mid-1980s.

2000s

Although tainted by the Twin Towers terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, the 2000’s were a time in which teens focused on making an important choice between allowing or preventing technology from being a part of their lives. Those who appreciated new technology rejoiced at the invention of pagers and MySpace.

These new social media websites allowed the growth of the emo subculture, which represented rebellious teens influenced by punk rock music of decades past. But during this time there was also a newfound love for powerful ballads by singers such as Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Céline Dion, and Whitney Houston. Another subculture that emerged during this time period was “Scene,” which evolved from the emo culture, but distinguished itself with brightly colored clothes and hair, and an abundance of accessories, such as hair bows and chokers. Other than these bold fashion trends, the 2000’s were also known for having progressive ideology and electing the first African American president of the US, Barack Obama, as well as the deep economic recession of 2008.

With the creation of the Internet and the emerging grunge culture, the 1990s were really “the bomb” for most teens. Key trends for teens included overalls, butterfly clips, fanny packs, mood rings, chokers, and denim, a few of which have come back into style today. The grunge look of the 90s, accompanied by the rise of artists such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, included dark cropped tops, graphic tees, and ripped jeans. Although the 1990s saw the beginnings of the Internet, teens in this age still preferred to communicate via telephones. The common theme between the most popular TV shows of the time was a strong but comedic family dynamic as seen in 1990s classics such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House or the Simpsons. Overall, the nation at this time was progressing towards maintaining a more accepting environment for immigrants and LGBTQ+, until President Bill Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law that prevented LGBTQ+ members from embracing their identity in the army.

2010s This last decade has been shaped by progressivism on social justice issues, like the legalization of same-sex marriage, and movements such as #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo. However, global terrorism and the Pulse nightclub attack have also triggered nationalist and nativist sentiments. New technology, most notably smart phones, have transformed the ways in which teenagers socialize and communicate. The influence of previous generations can still be seen today in fashion trends; bomber jackets, crop tops, chokers, and Bohemian style are all trends from the 70s to 90s resurfacing today. Other fashion trends are new, such as the popularity of athleisure brands like Lululemon. Brands like Supreme or Bape are categorized as hypebeast fashion, which evolved from sneakerheads streetwear in the 2000s.

In film, the 2010s saw the completion of the Harry Potter series, as well as a large influx of Marvel movies.

As the world becomes more globally interconnected, music from other countries, such as K-pop and Latino music, has risen in popularity.

There has also been a wave of popular hip-hop and rap artists, such as Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

PHOTOS BY ART-SHEEP.COM, BIO.COM, IMDB.COM, PEXELS.COM, USMAGAZINE.COM. GRAPHICS BY GRAPHICSTOCK.COM, HOW DESIGN.COM, PAISLEY.ORG, PHOTOWALL.CO.UK.

Friday, March 2, 2018

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Arts & Entertainment 15

C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R MusiC: milk & Bone, Rich Brian | Film: The 15:17 to Paris, Peter Rabbit

Under the radar

The 15:17 to paris Mis s e s its t arge t

Rich Brian

Milk & Bone

By Toshali Goel Staff Writer Montreal-based electro-pop duo Milk & Bone made a splash in the music industry after their debut album Little Mourning came out in March 2015. After spending two years on their latest venture, the two singers have finally returned with their latest album, Deception Bay, which was released on February 2.

Laurence Lafond-Beaulne and Camille Poliquin came together early in 2013 after meeting as music students at Cégep de SaintLaurent, a public French-language college in Montreal. They performed with David Giguère’s touring band later that year and formally established their duo soon after. Their first album Little Mourning, released under the record label Bonsound, featured eight tracks, all of which showcase their unique sound. Little Mourning is distinctively alternative, featuring eerie vocals and music coupled with tortured romantic lyrics to create an unusual, dream-like tone.

The standout track “New York,” initially released as a single in 2014, conveyed a haunting theme and distinctly new quality despite simplistic lyrics.

Milk & Bone received a fair amount of recognition and accolades for their first musical venture, winning the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada Breakout Award in 2015 and a nomination for a Juno award in 2016 for Breakthrough Group of the Year.

Their new 14-track album Deception Bay features many of the same unique qualities that launched Milk & Bone into success. The duo is currently on a 35-show tour and will be holding a show in San Francisco at Swedish American Hall on March 22. ▪

B AY A R E A EVENTS

WARNERBROS.COM

By Anagha Mandayam Staff Writer Clint Eastwood’s latest release, The 15:17 to Paris, is a poor portrayal of the real-life story of the 2015 terrorist attack on the train traveling from Paris to Amsterdam. The film is based on the Thalys train attack by terrorist Ayoub El Khazzani, as well as the biography on the attack written by the three American heroes themselves — Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone, and Alek Skarlatos, who fought the attacker and put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of other passengers.

The events of the actual attack were awe-inspiring, with all three men displaying extreme courage and bravery; however, none of these attributes were translated onto the big screen. Unlike previous Eastwood hit films such as American Sniper and Sully, The 15:17 to Paris is a major let down to audiences.

Like the biography, the movie’s plot was advertised to focus on the three men’s friendship and bravery.

In reality, the movie emphasized their friendship and bond to an unnecessary amount, and only displayed the actual terrorist attack for a total of 20 minutes on screen.

Eastwood highlights the origin of their friendship in order to give the audience background on what led the three of them to stand up and act courageously in that moment

on the train. However, the audience ends up witnessing a boring account of how Sadler, Stone, and Skarlatos first became friends in middle school.

Even this friendship storyline deviates from the bond between the three of them, and about 30 minutes in, turns into an account of how Stone became infatuated with the military.

It seems as though the purpose of the plot is to focus in on Stone’s journey, and the hardships he went through in order to become an Air Force Staff Sergeant. This portion of the movie turns into an advertisement for why one should join the military via Stone’s life story. Another 30 minutes later, the plot line deviates once again, and after Stone, Sadler, and Skarlatos meet up in Europe, the movie becomes a vlog about their travels.

The actual terrorist attack is introduced in two minute clips, dispersed throughout the first two-thirds of the movie. These interjecting shots are refreshing to the audience, as they provide some variation in cinematography and add suspense to the film.

The clips lead up to the final scene of the attack, which, sadly, was anticlimactic as the actors were expressionless while carrying out the action sequence.

Though Eastwood had a good story to tell, his biggest mistake with this film was casting the reallife American heroes themselves

— Sadler, Stone, and Skarlatos all play themselves in the film. With no prior acting experience, the three of them provide us with monotonous dialogue delivery, creating for a movie that seems to drag on endlessly.

In addition, the poor acting leads to no character development and Stone, Sadler, and Skarlatos remain static characters throughout the movie. The only two notable characters were Joyce Stone (Judy Greer) and Heidi Skarlatos (Jenna Fischer), due to their moving portrayal of single mothers, who are witnesses to their sons’ heroic journeys.

One positive aspect of the film was the background score by Christian Jacob and Thomas Newman.

The low suspenseful music kept the audience engaged during flash forward scenes of the train attack, while the upbeat tunes during the childhood sequences enhanced the budding friendship. In addition, during the final train scene where the terrorist attacks, there was absolutely no background music which, although unusual, helped to bring out the rawness and reality of the scene.

The 15:17 to Paris had a good story to tell, with the main characters displaying a true act of courage. However, with poor acting and a weak storyline, the movie fails to leave the intended mark on the audience. ▪ Rating: D+

the beloved Peter Rabbit reaches the big screen

By Jennifer Xiang Staff Writer Worlds Fair Nano SF: March 10 to 11 The San Francisco iteration of the Worlds Nano Fair at Pier 48 from March 10 to 11 will feature interactive exhibits, food trucks, and a series of talks on the future of technology-related topics ranging from internet freedom to unbiased hiring.

CounterPulse Festival: March 14 to 18 Hosted by SFMOMA and CounterPulse, the inaugural CounterPulse Festival will celebrate performance art and hold drag and burlesque shows, art installations, and talks. The festival will be held in the CounterPulse event space in San Francisco from March 14 to 18.

California Artisan Cheese Festival: March 23 to 25 The 12th annual California Artisan Cheese Festival will take place in the Sonoma County Event Center in Santa Rosa, from March 23 to 25.

The festival will highlight a variety of artisan cheese and the cheesemaking processes with tours of farms and creameries with a special marketplace on March 25.

SEF Festival of Colors: March 31 The Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) Festival of Colors, which will be held in the Alameda County Fairgrounds on March 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrates the festival of Holi. All of the event’s proceeds will go towards the SEF nonprofit’s cause of eradicating curable blindness in India.▪

Music review

By Shreya Srinivasan Staff Writer Director Will Gluck’s rendition of Beatrix Potter’s beloved Peter Rabbit features several well-known entertainers in a heart-warming and enjoyable film with an appropriately upbeat soundtrack and stunning animation. The actors’ interaction with the animated rabbits is done masterfully, and by the film’s end, each of the characters finds a home in the viewer’s heart.

After the death of their stingy neighbor, Mr. McGregor (Sam Neill), Peter Rabbit (James Corden) and the other animals of the forest are excited to have free reign over McGregor’s garden once more. The woman next door, Bea (Rose Byrne), cares for them and is ecstatic to see them roaming the land once again. However, a relative of the late Mr. McGregor, Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson), is given the deed to the countryside mansion, of which he is originally a skeptic. He takes an interest in Bea, but unfortunately loathes the wildlife, setting the stage for a Home Alone-esque battle with Peter Rabbit’s crew.

The storyline is engaging, keeping the audience’s attention without unnecessary fillers, and the humor is tuned to appeal to the modern

viewer. Domhnall Gleeson plays the part of the reluctant and unfortunate target perfectly. Additionally, Peter’s triplet sisters, Flopsy (Margot Robbie), Mopsy (Elizabeth Debicki), and Cottontail (Daisy Ridley), are silly and sweet characters who humorously entangle themselves in their brother’s schemes. Byrne’s depiction of the unsuspecting, quirky, and empathetic artist fits into the story neatly, though her character is often pushed to the background in favor of focusing on the feud between Peter and McGregor.

As is expected of a movie for all ages, the main characters develop as the story unravels, and the audience finds the younger McGregor, though initially finicky and unpleasant, is made of nobler stuff than his uncle.

Throughout the film, there are instances of hesitancy to actually harm the rabbits unless he is provoked, which they are guilty of doing.

The character who undergoes the most change is, surprisingly, Peter Rabbit himself. Though we are used to the rabbit being the perfect little hero, the film emphasizes his flaws and adds a layer of depth not found in the pages of a storybook.

The animation truly brings Potter’s anthropomorphic rabbits to life with smooth movements. The actors do an exceptional job of interacting

SONYPICTURES.COM

with the graphically produced creatures, making the entire film flow more smoothly.

In the film, a scene involving the ongoing fight between McGregor and the rabbits was recently put under the spotlight for its insensitivity. The scene features the rabbits launching a blackberry, which they are aware McGregor is allergic to, into his mouth.

He injects himself with an EpiPen to prevent an allergic reaction, but the act was considered too antagonistic and uninformed, even for this flawed version of Peter Rabbit. Sony, the production company, released an apology for the scene after it was publicly criticized by CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Kenneth Mendez.

The prevalent challenge is the ease with which the characters and audience must accept all the strange little quirks in the story: rabbits in clothes, animals with awareness and emotion.

Clever tricks are utilized to maintain an air of normalcy even with the unrealistic premise of the movie, adding to the fun. Though the Peter Rabbit Gluck has written is more brash and impulsive than Potter’s natureattuned children’s character, his personality adds to the movie’s hilarity and expands the target audience. ▪ Rating: A-

By Praveen Nair Staff Writer When the world first heard “Dat $tick,” it didn’t know what to think.

Was it a serious hip-hop anthem or an underhanded satire? The same applies to Indonesian artist Brian Imanuel, known by his stage name, Rich Brian.

The 2016 song, along with a video featuring pistol-toting hype men and the rapper in a fanny pack, rocketed him to fame under the controversial name “Rich Chigga,” which he used until January 2018. But few would call Rich Brian a serious rapper. With his first album, Amen, he aims to change that.

From learning English on YouTube and creating darkly humorous online videos to his viral success, Rich Brian was made on the Internet. Part of his appeal was his ethnicity – Amen is the first album by an Asian solo act to top the iTunes hip-hop charts.

His attachment to Internet culture is best indicated by the album’s wellsuited feature of Joji, better known as the creator of YouTube character Filthy Frank, on “Introvert.” The most well-known feature, conversely, is a verse by Migos’ Offset on “Attention,” which unfortunately does little for the album. But Offset isn’t the only one suffering from uninspired lyrics on Amen.

If Amen is to be his arrival onto the mainstream rap scene, its lyrics fall short of the mark. “I say funny stuff in my lyrics to make people laugh, but it’s all in the seriousness of the music,” Rich Brian said to GQ before Amen’s release. But at times, the flows seem patched together haphazardly, too often prioritizing sound bites over cohesion. Rich Brian was right about being funny, though; more than a few bars are downright hilarious: for example, “People think I’m Dory, I’m forgetting ‘bout my hood,” from the title track, “Amen.” At its heart, Amen is an autobiographical album, but too often, Rich Brian falls back to being shallower, something he should be trying to move on from.

There frankly isn’t enough substance to fill the album’s 14 tracks, with forgettable verses and flows that are nearly identical. Perhaps it’s too much to ask of an 18-year-old to deliver poetry at every turn; and it would be, if Rich Brian hadn’t already shown glimmers of hope. Tracks like “Cold,” “Introvert,” and “Glow Like Dat,” provide a more genuine performance to pair with slower and more musical beats. But as it is, the diamonds in the rough of Amen are far too sparse.

It’s disappointing that much of Rich Brian’s lyrics fall flat, considering his production skills are so high caliber.

Amen was mostly produced by the rapper himself, and nearly every track is pieced together beautifully. Rich Brian is able to create a distinct feel for each song, enhanced by the beats; while the braggadocious “Trespass” features lilting woodwinds, the more humble “Arizona” uses a subdued synth. He also experiments structurally, from the Migos-style triplet flows on “Amen” to the melodic bars of “See Me.” His excellence as a producer is almost enough to ignore his shortcomings as a writer.

Yet it’s impossible to be disappointed by Amen. Rich Brian is still only 18 years old; if that doesn’t sink in, consider that the first rap song he heard was “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore in 2012. His work producing Amen shows no signs of immaturity, although his lyrics and flow haven’t caught up. Rich Brian is a serious rapper now. And he’s just getting started. ▪ Grade: B-

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Friday, March 2, 2018

IvyBoost Early Planning Brings Better Results!

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Friday, March 2, 2018

The Smoke Signal

Styles: Western/Anime/some mix of the two/other simplistic or personal styles Many artists branch off and establish their own unique, iconic comic styles. Art styles are essential to the world of comics, as they greatly impact the feeling of the work as a whole. Feel free to experiment, drawing inspiration from famous artists and adding a unique twist to make it your own.

comic styles

Arts & Entertainment 17

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genre

By Evangeline Chang & Lucia Li Graphics Editor and Staff Writer Comics have long been a medium of selfexpression, storytelling, social and political commentary, and just plain old laughs. Artistic ability in no way limits comic creators, as evidenced by internet sensations XKCD and Sarah’s Scribbles, among others. What matters most are your ideas and how you convey them to others. With the rise of the Internet and greater accessibility to a wide variety of resources, the world of comic creation only becomes easier to explore.

When it comes to your comic, genre is very important to consider. Do you want it to be story-based or a slice of life? Depending on your comic, whether it be comedy, romance, horror, or anything else, genre determines how you express your story visually.

Character expressions and dialogue (if it is not a silent comic) are essential to sell the genre of a story as well, so keep these elements in mind.

Art Software:

rule of thirds:

There is innumerable art software for making comics, most notably Clip Studio Paint and Paint Tool SAI. Photoshop is also a popular pick for artists in all industries. However there are also popular free programs, including FireAlpaca and GIMP.

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Places to publish:

Also used in photography, this simple rule helps with composition and keeping your subject in clear focus. The best places to put the subjects of your piece are on the intersections of the lines.

clear silhouettes: When drawing characters, try to give them clear silhouettes. It is much easier to read the emotions and action of a character when they have a clear silhouette. You can test this by filling out the shape of a character in your thumbnails, and seeing if their poses are clear.

DeviantArt

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Instagram

Ideas: Try to always keep a notebook, sketchbook, or something light handy, in the case of a sudden burst of inspiration. Don’t be afraid to write every idea down. Remember, the best and funniest comics can often be the most quirky.

negative and positive space: While detail in your objects, scenes, and characters is certainly impressive, empty space, also known as negative space, can be just as important as space jam-packed with detail, otherwise known as positive space.

Empty space gives the eye some place to rest, making the whole image more cohesive.

GRAPHICS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR EVANGELINE CHANG & STAFF WRITER LUCIA LI, DEVIANTART.COM, FACEBOOK.COM, INSTAGRAM.COM, TAPAS.IO, WEBTOONS.COM

Taqueria Limon, located at 39494 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538, is a small Mexican restaurant near Fremont Hub. While it’s well known for its Limon burrito, the restaurant offers a variety of foods, from specialites such as fajitas and enchiladas to staples like tacos and nachos. Its five choices of meat and three choices of beans allow for a wide range of options.

Although it is new to Fremont, Taqueria Limon quickly became known as one of the best Mexican restaurants. The Smoke Signal visited Taqueria Limon to see if the restaurant would live up to its reputation.

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TAQUERIA TAQUERIA LIMON

By Ashni Mathuria & Evie Sun Staff Writers

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Taqueria Limon provides a comfortable atmosphere upon enB A M tering, with the sound of meat sizzling on the stove and plates being assembled behind the counter. The restaurant gives off a warm neon glow, with the menu display lighting up an otherwise sparsely decorated interior. The dining area is comprised of seven tables and a bar situated in front of the counter, where customers can watch the employees put together orders on the opposite end.

With limited seating to accommodate its custom.5/5 ers, the restaurant was slightly crowded with families standing in line and waiting for their orders. Altogether, Taqueria Limon proved to be a suitably relaxed environment S ERV All of to eat out with I the employees CE: 5 friends and / were friendly and welcom5 family. ing, patiently answering any questions

TA

The menu offers a variety about the menu and the establishment. They of burritos, tacos, were also quick and efficient in serving customers: it took nachos, and specialty them only about ten minutes to make four dishes. In dishes, as well as a range of addition, the employees spoke both English and vegetarian options. The aguas frSpanish, inviting a wide range of customers Taqueria Liescas, a popular Mexican refreshment, to dine at their restaurant. mon’s food is were cool and sweet. However, the nachos reasonably priced. started to cool by the time they got to the table, The nachos, vegetarcausing the cheese to harden, and the guacamole ian burrito, limon burrito, seemed to be slightly watered down. Other than that, the and taco salad cost $5.99, nachos had an even distribution of toppings and was a satisfying $5.99, $6.99, and $8.49, remeal. The many flavors in the vegetarian spectively. The large portions and burrito blended together satisfyingly. The fast service made the food worth the grilled chicken and beans in the limon burprice. Taqueria Limon is well known for rito complemented the special sauce nicely, but its happy hour, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 the chicken was quite salty. The taco salad was p.m. on weekdays, during which tacos are conveniently served in a taco bowl, and the tortilla $0.99. Judging based on Taqueria Limon’s taco shell could be broken off and used as a spoon to eat a salad, this price can’t be beaten, as the taco salmouthful of the mixed ingredients inside. ad provided a filling and delicious meal. Overall, for someone looking for a filling, low-cost dinner, Taqueria Limon will not disappoint.

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PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS ASHNI MATHURIA & EVIE SUN. GRAPHICS BY SOFABFOOD.COM

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18 Sports

The Smoke Signal

Olympians speak up: pregnancy doesn’t have to be perfect

It is no secret that female athletes revolutionize what it means to be a woman every day, constantly challenging the societally imposed boundaries and physiological limitations of the female physique.

In particular, female athletes Serena Williams and Shawn Johnson transformed the versatility and transparency of their public platforms when they spoke up about the struggles they faced with their pregnancy. Their unbridled honesty provided the public with a much-needed reality check: contrary to popular belief, pregnancy and motherhood are not smooth or perfect processes.

With their immense following, comprised significantly of young women that view Williams and Johnson as role models, the Olympic athletes use their platforms to change public perception of the experiences of working mothers and the pregnancies. The athletes took a stand against the unrealistic idealization of the perfect pregnancy, which was essential to deconstruct the expectations placed on mothers. It is important to disassemble the misconception that pregnancy should be smooth and hitchless.

If not understood at a young age, young women who are raised to think that their purpose is to birth and raise children will never realize that their self-worth and capabilities lie beyond their capacity to parent. It is vital that young girls know this so that they do not measure their strengths by how well their bodies can carry children.

In an interview with Vogue in January 2018, Williams spoke about her intense C-section: her dangerously low heart rate during the process resulted in a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in her lungs. She was subsequently hospitalized for six days, during which she couldn’t even get out of bed herself. In a video posted on YouTube in October 2017, Johnson recounted the emotional details of her miscarriage, which occurred less than two days after she found out she was pregnant. She opened up about her feelings of depression and guilt after the incident. The challenges these women went through are not uncommon; in fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31.9 percent of

all recorded births in the US were C-sections, and according to a 2010 study by TIME magazine, 17 percent of pregnancies in the US ended in a miscarriage. By speaking out about their issues, these athletes normalized and created conversation around the challenges of pregnancies, providing a level of emotional support for others who have faced similar obstacles in silence and have been made to feel that they are weak and alone. Additionally, Williams and Johnson prove that regardless of physical or social status, difficulties with pregnancies can affect anyone. It takes women in positions of influence like them to truly bring awareness to these topics. Furthermore, these athletes serve as role models for young women who need these honest accounts to realize that a successful career and motherhood are not dependent on each other. For example, Williams started training two weeks after giving birth and had to start back from the basics, as she mentioned in her Vogue interview. But with dedication and hard work, she was back on her regular schedule, and continues to maintain her athletic prowess today. Although being a mother and a renowned athlete has made her daily life more hectic, Williams never let self-doubt get in her way.

Some may say that Williams’ and Johnson’s candid words will discourage young women from concerning themselves with motherhood in the first place. However, they have done the opposite. By displaying pregnancy and motherhood for what it really is, these athletes have helped prepare the youth for the difficult reality of pregnancy. The more information that young women have before choosing to have children, the more accurately they can weigh the pros and cons to make a calculated choice. Others might argue that working and being a mother will hurt the quality of the professional performance. On the contrary, according to the US Department of Labor, 70 percent of mothers with children under the age of 18 participate in the labor force, and more than 75 percent of those who work are employed full-time. Working mothers not only form a majority of mothers, but women with

Friday, March 2, 2018

By Sahana Sridhar Staff Writer

GRAPHIC BY STAFF WRITER SAHANA SRIDHAR

children are in fact positively contributing to the workforce. Married women with children are 4.6 percent less likely to face unemployment than women without children, according to TIME. In a society where many public figures choose to perpetuate unrealistic standards of perfection,

Williams and Johnson stand as beacons of honesty.

Their acknowledgement of the challenges faced by females in even the highest realms of society is necessary for the empowerment of future generations of women. Imperfections and hiccups do not make them weak; they makes them stronger. ▪

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Friday, March 2, 2018

The Smoke Signal

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With the end of winter season, the spring sports teams have leaped into action, ready to compete. The Smoke Signal has compiled the prospective goals and expectations of each team for the upcoming season.

By Kikue Higuchi & Samir Jain Staff Writers

Badminton The Badminton team has maintained an undefeated streak at NCS for the past 14 years and acquired five medals at last year’s Northern California Championships. This season, the team aspires to defend their title and improve on prior years. The team attributes its stellar record to the large number of students who already have prior experience with badminton. According to Co-Captain Senior Cindy Yuan, the veteran players’ first priority is “to train younger members to take on their role after they graduate, with regular conditioning mandatory for all players helping them prepare for the season.” The team’s first game of the season is on March 6 against John F. Kennedy High School.

Track and Field Track and Field has a large number of returning veteran members who hope to improve the team’s performance from last season and participate in more postseason competitions and activities. Head Coach Brian Singleton said, “We want to show growth in almost every event not only at the individual level, but also overall as a group.

Even now, I can see several freshman players who have the potential of making an impact on team performance as early as this year at the Varsity level.” Many athletes have also engaged in off-season weight training to build muscle mass and develop their endurance. Track and Field has had between 180 and 210 players for the past 10 years, with this year’s expectations being similar in number. The team’s first meet of the year was at Skyline High School on February 24.

Softball Softball is beginning their season with several experienced players and a stellar attitude. Head Coach Ray Scherer said, “Our girls have a fighting spirit and drive but don’t implode when faced with failure… They don’t give up. They don’t roll over. They fight to the end and don’t fall apart if they get beat. They continue to enjoy the game.” Scherer hopes both JV and Varsity will be much more competitive due to the teams’ climbing experience level. His goals this season are to improve the team’s record, continue cultivating all players’ individual skill levels, and see the veteran players become leaders and role models for all their younger teammates. Softball emerged victorious, 27-5, for their first preseason game on February 20 against Tennyson High School.

Boys’ Golf The Boys’ Golf team is confident about their skill level and performance this season due to the players’ solid work ethic and preparation during outside practices. Last season, they had trouble performing their best in stressful tournaments such as NCS, but they improved drastically and progressed all the way to the state tournament, feeling this season should be no different. Junior Alan Chen said, “The pressure can sometimes cause a few of us to start a round poorly, but most of the time we rebound well and are able to salvage a decent score.” The team had their first preseason scrimmage against Bishop O’Dowd High School on February 15 and experienced their first season loss in the past two years.

Swimming and Diving The swim team has faced several changes this season. PE Teacher Melissa Kaeo is now the Varsity coach, and Irvington Alumnus Michael Avina and MSJ Alumna Felice Tran have joined the team as the JV coaches. The old pool has been demolished, and the new pool is currently under construction, so the team has begun practice at American High School. Despite all these changes, the team hopes to keep up its traditions and continue its winning streak. Senior Annie Chiang said, “Our biggest rivals are the Washington High School girls and Irvington High School boys… It’s going to be hard, but I’m confident that we’ll win.” The first meet of the season will be the Tom Crocker Relays on March 3.

Sports 19

Boys’ Volleyball Boys’ Volleyball is starting off the season strong with several returning players and many new faces. Head Coach Thien Nguyen said, “We saw a lot of new faces with a lot of great potential, and that’s gonna mean a stronger program for the seasons to come.”

He hopes to increase confidence and aggressiveness on the court this season while continuing to build the team’s strong dynamic.

Nguyen also has high expectations for this season. He said “You should watch out for everyone because they’re all going to put a lot of work in and play their best.” Boys’ Volleyball lost their first preseason game against Wilcox High School 3-1, but they expect a win for their first league game, and first home game, against Irvington High School on March 13.

Boys’ Tennis Boys’ Tennis is starting their season off with high expectations and an abundance of spirit.

Co-Captain Senior Jerry Qin said, “We’re expecting to be first in league, hopefully winning NCS team and MVAL singles and doubles.” In past years, the team’s dynamic has been constantly adjusting due to multiple changes to the coaching staff.

This year will be their second year with Head Coach Michael Jan, and the team is hoping to become closer and implement more bonding activities. They won their first preseason game 6-1, on February 13 against Castro Valley High School.

Baseball After only losing two players from last year, the baseball team is starting off with a number of highly experienced senior leaders compounded with upcoming sophomore talent. The JV and Varsity teams, while having a standard number of players, have a low student participation compared to the large student population. Coach Brian Soria said, “Usually schools our size will have anywhere between 50 and 75 players trying out, which puts us at a disadvantage facing some Division 1 teams.” Despite these obstacles, the team feels it has the strength to win games this season. Its first game was on February 20 against the St. Francis Sharks, which is part of a three game Michael DeJesus Baseball Tournament hosted by Milpitas High School. The team had a somewhat rough start, losing 0-1 against Carlmont High School and 1-11 against Saint Francis High School.

GRAPHICS FROM CLIPARTPANDA.COM, CLIPARTIX.COM, PIIXABAY.COM

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The Smoke Signal

MSJ hosts 43rd annual wrestling tournament Wrestling hosted the 43rd annual MSJ Wrestling Invitational Tournament from February 2 to 3, attracting 67 of the best teams from all over California. Organized by Wrestling Head Coach Tom Thomsen, the tournament welcomed more than 523 competitors, including several state champions.

This year, MSJ had 12 wrestlers compete, including Freshman Akhil Deshmukh, Juniors Elias Khamisy, Kang-Min Kim, Timothy Krishnadas, and Aaron Mendoza, and Seniors Nathan Lau, Jared Pingue, Lance Renteria, Gautham Sivakumar, Isaac Wang, Mark Winters, and Danny Wolnick. Despite the competitive difficulty of the tournament, Wang and Khamisy made it to Round 16 on day two of the tournament, a goal for many wrestlers who attend. “Our goal is always to have everyone make it to the second day, but because of some of the competitors they face, sometimes, it’s just not possible,” said Thomsen. The tournament operates on a 32-man double elimination tournament with one-andout pigtails, meaning any wrestler who loses

twice is eliminated. In regards to his preparation, Wang said, “I pushed in training and went past my own limits with the support of the coaches.” He hopes to use this tournament as a learning opportunity to better prepare for the upcoming MVAL and State tournaments.

Much of the tournament revolved around Buchanan and Clovis High Schools’ rivalry, who are ranked first and sixth in the state respectively. Throughout both days, the bleachers were packed with enthused supporters from both sides, brightly adorned with red and blue, the colors of each team. The Buchanan team won the entire tournament, with their individual wrestlers topping nine out of 13 weight categories. Clovis Senior Seth Nevills, first in the state in his weight class and a three-time undefeated state champion, won his category for the fourth year in the row. Troy Tirapelle, Head Coach of Buchanan Wrestling, attributes the success to “a whole team effort” and said the “MSJ tournament is a great indicator of a teams performance at States.”

Although MSJ was not a top competitor in

Senior Lance Renteria wrestles with Anthony Barbalinardo from Livermore High School.

Friday, March 2, 2018

By Rishi Chillara & Shreya Sridhar Staff Writers

Senior Jared Pingue faces off against Gage Mettler from Northgate High School.

the tournament, the team worked hard to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Before the tournament, Thomsen trained .JV Wrestling wrestlers on how to man the scoring table at each mat and make sure that there would always be four matches in play or in waiting at all times.

They were also responsible for ensuring all attendees paid the fee and that the referees were on rotation. “I helped run one of the tables and made sure that the [wrestlers] got here as soon as possible,” said JV Wrestler Sophomore Harvey Tripp, “Some memorable moments for me were when we got to watch our own wrestlers in matches and cheer for them when they win and also be there for them when they lose.”

Thomsen describes the preparation for the tournament as year-long. “I have a five-page checklist that I go through throughout the year to make sure everything is done. From securing facilities to ordering trophies and medals to sending out invitations –– there’s a lot of stuff that goes into the [tournament],” said Thomsen. Larry Katz, father of former MSJ wrestling champion and current State referee Andy

Katz, has helped Thomsen organize the schedules for the tournament for more than 25 years.

Outside of the action, MSJ ran a snack bar in the gym quad where members of the Girls’ Wrestling team volunteered, selling various bakery items and drinks. Ticket and snack sales raised more than $6,000 that will be used to pay for wrestling uniforms, next year’s tournament, and other materials.

The tournament received positive feedback from many competitors and had several matches between high-ranking athletes. Thomsen said, “I remember during the finals, two of the top wrestlers in the state were competing right in front of me, wrestling at my tournament!” In the future, Thomsen hopes to continue improving the tournament by bolstering front door security and inviting more top ranked teams from all over the state. ▪

PHOTOS BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MALLIKA GUPTA, STAFF WRITERS RISHI CHILLARA & SHREYA SRIDHAR

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The Smoke Signal

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Sports 21

Wrestling

Boys’ Soccer Jonathan Nguyen, 12

Winter Sports Recap

By Joelle Chuang, Ian Hsu & Michael Ren Staff Writers

With the Winter Sports season drawing to a close, the Smoke Signal Kang-Min Kim, 11 caught up with each team for a recap on how their seasons have gone so Boys’ Soccer finished their season with a league record of Wrestling had high expectations coming into the seatwo wins, 10 losses, and two ties. With a young team and far. son with strong seniors and the return of Head Coach Tom only four seniors, the team had a rough season. Even so, they achieved two wins against American High School and two ties against Moreau Catholic High School and Washington High School. Additionally, Co-Captain Senior Jonathan Nguyen said that “[the team] learned from each game and lost by less and less points as the season progressed.” Expressing optimism about the future, Nguyen said, “We have a pretty good team now that the majority of them are sophomores who are used to playing with each other.”

Cheer

Thomsen. While the overall team was still very young with more than half of the team being freshmen, the team worked well together, winning multiple dual meets and qualifying for NCS. Co-Captain Junior Flora Chang said, “We have a pretty young team and while the freshmen are promising, they still have a lot to grow … However, as MSJ wrestling always does, I believe that we will pull through and still achieve a successful season next year.”

Girls’ Soccer Gloria Yang, 11

Cheer has continued to perform at the Boys’ Basketball home games and celebrated their senior night along with the basketball team. Their initial goal was to increase team participation, which was readily achieved and resulted in increased school spirit at basketball games. With two out of the six members of the team graduating, the team hopes to recruit more people as well as attempt more advanced stunts and choreography. “The team will be different in the future because the team is getting a new set of girls that will allow them to create more school spirit,” Co-Captain Maya Bernstein said. “I can’t wait to see what amazing things they are going to do in the future.”

Girls’ Basketball

Natalie Leung, 11

Although many seniors graduated last year, the Girls’ Basketball team had a successful season, with a league record of eight wins to six losses. They qualified for NCS and lost to Dublin High School with a close score of 61-63. One of the highlights of the season was when the team won the championships at the Sweet Sixteen Monterey Tournament, which took place during Winter Break. As for the future, Co-Captain Senior Shannon Chau said, “The team has a lot of talent and potential even though they are young, so I think they will be successful.” They plan to participate in a summer league program in June and July to improve their confidence and chemistry.

Lorin Moyer, Coming into the season, Girls’ Soccer did not expect to do exceptionally well after losing seven seniors and working with 10 new players. However, team chemistry shone through after the team eventually turned their losses around. The team ended the season with four wins and qualified for NCS, but lost the NCS game with a score of 2-9. Co-Captain Senior Seona Patel said, “Next year will be pretty hard since we’re losing four seniors, but I have faith that the girls will do well since they’re all so talented and love soccer.” The team will not be playing in tournaments during the off-season but will be having summer trainings open to the public to develop skills and play in scrimmages.

12

Boys’ Basketball

Boys’ Basketball got off to a slow start as many players were still participating in Fall Sports. As a result, Sidarth Raman, 11 team chemistry was lacking, but the team slowly found their identity throughout the course of the season. Compared to previous years when the team would win around two games in MVALs, this year’s team improved greatly, with a 6-8 record in the MVAL regular season and a 13-14 record overall. The team qualified to NCS but lost to Bishop O’Dowd High School with a score of 45-101. With seven graduating seniors, next season will be difficult, but Captain Senior Austin Chang has high hopes for the team. “It might be tough for them in the beginning because they also have to deal with underclassmen of their own, but I think that they’ll be able to pull through,” said Chang.

PHOTOS FROM THE SMOKE SIGNAL ARCHIVES, PHOTOS COURTESY MAYA BERNSTEIN & ENRICO CONTI

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Friday, March 2, 2018

By Lucia Li & Julia Park Staff Writers

Ever since its humble start at the turn of the 20th century, video animation has snowballed into one of the most popular forms of entertainment and media today.

However, as easy as it is to be dazzled by astonishing characters, artwork, and storylines sprung to life, the process and details behind animation often remains overlooked. In this coverage, the Smoke Signal explains some of animation’s most popular techniques, its inner workings, as well as some lesser-known, unique styles.

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Traditional Animation Traditional animation rose to popularity in the late 80s and early 90s, with films and shows such as Space Jam and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The animation was initially done by hand, by drawing images on transpa rent sheets of paper one frame at a time. The drawings would then be screened quickly in sequence, creating a seemingly lifelike scene from innumerable static images. Each second of animation usually requires 24 frames of imaging, but using a method called doubling, animators only actually need 12 drawings per second. These days, however, this kind of animation is done with an electronic tablet, and digital software, which decreases the work needed to be done. Modern examples include Spirited Away and The Lion King.

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3D Animation

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2D Animation This form of animation utilizes similar techniques as traditional animation, but generates images with a computer. Popular programs to create digital 2D animation include Flash, After Effects, Cel Action, and TV Paint. Due to its lack of depth, it is no longer used often for artistic purposes, although it may still be used in advertising and desktop publishing. It is also the basis of many graphical user interfaces in use today, such as the Mac Operating System and Microsoft Windows. However, production companies such as Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios are trying to work out a way to first digitally animate characters in computer-generated imagery (CGI) and then render them in cel-shaded form to give films an authentically 2D animation vibe. A well-known film with this technique was Paperman.

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3D animation, also known as CGI, uses digital models of characters fitted with skeletons to create incredibly realistic scenes.

3D animation software includes Maya and Blender. Character models are posed in key frames, and the computer will automatically fill in the gap with the appropriate motion. However, this apparent ease comes at a cost; unlike traditional animation, all body parts are constantly present, and their motion and position must always be considered. As a result, 3D animation has a steeper learning curve than 2D animation, and new techniques to animate furs, tentacles, waters, and more are still being developed. Most new Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios films, such as Frozen and Inside Out, are now made in 3D animation.

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Stop-Motion Despite being meticulous and time-consuming, stop-motion remains one of the most popular forms of animation today. It involves taking a photo of an object or scene, moving it slightly, then taking another photo, and repeating the process. The earliest known animated feature-film used cut-out animation, where flat pictures are physically cut out of paper or fabric and animated. The 1933 King Kong film was famous for the stop-motion ape, and the original Star Wars films and The Terminator used stop-motion models for many of the aliens and machines. Some recent examples of feature-length stop-motion films, such as Coraline and Kubo and the Two Strings, are claymations: stop-motion that is made with clay or plasticine figures.

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• Paint-on-glass animation: stop-motion by manipulating slow-drying oil paints on sheets of glass • Pinscreen animation: uses a screen of movable pins.

The screen is lit from the side.

• Sand animation: the manipulation of sand against a backlit glass • Hydrotechnic animation: light animation projected on water, most often used in events Kubo and the Two Strings such as the Lumiere festival Laika, Stop-motion Animation GRAPHICS BY DISNEYANIMATIONS.COM & IMDB.COM