Volume LV, No. 1

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 55, NO. 1

September 27, 2019

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

NEW YEAR, NEW BUDGET

By Josephine Chew, Sabrina Cai, & Gokul Ramapriyan Opinion Editor & Staff Writers The FUSD Board of Education voted in May and June to implement a number of budget reductions strategies in response to a reported $16.3 million budget deficit in the 2019-20 fiscal year. These cuts had several ramifications, including reduced class offerings, a higher student-teacher ratio per class, and a lack of student resources in the school. In order to help the MSJ community better understand these changes, the Smoke Signal interviewed district and school officials about the budget cuts and their effects on the MSJ community.

ORIGINS

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE...

According to Superintendent Kim Wallace, “This situation is caused by a number of factors including a slight decrease in enrollment, increasing pension and special education costs, and continued lack of sufficient funding from the state.” FUSD Budget, Audit and Attendance Director Rais Abbasi said that FUSD bases its budget off of multi-year enrollment projections, which take into account factors like city birth count, flux of people moving in or out of Fremont, and number of available housing units — higher enrollment means more money from the state. Because this year’s enrollment was around 600 students lower than predicted, he said that the district had to compensate with budget reductions.

In terms of future budget changes, Abbasi said that “This year is very much set.” However, he also said, “Information changes. We react to all the information, from June until now. Enrollment has actually been further reduced, but we are trying to make some adjustments on the financial side so we don’t have to make any budget cuts.” He said that although class sizes have increased, no teachers were laid off. On the management side, he said that principals, directors, managers, and supervisors have taken two furlough days — mandatory absences without pay.

CONSEQUENCES With regards to state funding, Abbasi said that in recent years, the state has cut back on its contributions to employee retirement plans, creating additional expenses for the district. He said that rising costs for special education programs add to the financial stress, as FUSD pays for special education students to attend specialized schools that can meet their needs; it also provides them with transportation. According to Special Education Teacher Sujuta Singh, the MSJ Special Education Department has fewer staff members and paraeducators this year than in previous years, which makes running such a demanding class more difficult. The department also has expenditure limits, so they stated they cannot buy all the supplies that they would like. In addition, Singh said that the district is less willing to approve overtime payments for special education staff this year, even though they frequently devote extra time to the class before and after school.

BUDGET BALANCING SUMMARY Other service and opening expenditure reductions

$ in millions Elimination of home-to-school bus service

$1.64 Program reductions

$3.20

$3.36 STUDENT INVOLVEMENT In response to these changes, students have taken action to highlight their concerns. GENup was founded by MSJ Junior Alvin Lee and Student Representative of Oakland teachers’ union Lauren Kahn. This youth-led education advocacy coalition is dedicated to increasing student participation and awareness in reforming Proposition 13, an amendment that placed a cap on property tax rates.

Its first campaign is working with the Schools and Communities First ballot initiative, which focuses on reforms at the state level on commercial property taxes, while guaranteeing existing protections for residential property and agricultural land.

As of now, changes such as increased class sizes are expected to roll over into future years, as it will take time to accumulate sufficient resources to counteract budget cuts. Students can stay updated by watching or reading about board meetings on the district website.

$3.64 $4.47

Increasing class sizes

Freezing/recognizing vacant personnal

*2019-2020 budget balancing solutions as reported by FUSD

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT BUDGET CUTS? “The budget cuts are an unfortunate reality, but all the community can do at this point is to keep a positive attitude and remember that everyone in the district, including other schools and teachers, is taking a hit and just be aware of the cuts and how they affect us.” — 2019-20 SURFBoardE Representative Karen Li

“The state of CA in the negotiations last year made it clear that the district could afford the very low offer that was on the table at the time, so it’s incredibly surprising that we’re getting such budget cuts in the face of no real economic crisis — that’s what leads many people to theorize that it is retaliatory for what happened last year.” — English Teacher Brian Rath

NORMAN REVIEW Want to F***ING reminisceROCKWELL! a night of breathtaking outfits andLana inspiring performances?

Read about Del Rey’s new album Check and the Smoke Signal’s photo herout return to the indie-pop scenecoverage with a spinof the show! on her traditional Americana aesthetic!

HOMSJ: SCHOOL Haven’tBACK had aTO chance to listen to BTS’s latest release? the Smoke Signal’s and review of Hear video Read responses from students teachworld-renowned K-Pop group’s new ers about their goals and expectation foralbum. the new school year!

“[The cuts have] really affected a lot of students because they aren’t able to take the classes that they want, and that in turn impacts their education. I think we have a lot fewer opportunities [now] and the district needs to find a way to fix it because it’s really messing with the kids’ educations.” — Junior Ishita Gupta

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Friday, September 27, 2019

Middle school conversions in full swing

NEWS IN

brief

Compiled by Jonathan Liu, Sabrina Wu & Tylor Wu News Editors & Feature Editor

Opening of Walters Middle School signals first of five FUSD middle school conversions

By Karen Li & Ian Park Centerspread Editor & Sports Editor Walters Junior High School, as part of the 2014 Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) which encompasses facility planning, formally re-opened as Walters Middle School on August 20, proudly bearing 22 classrooms for a total capacity of 1,460 students.

FUSD warmly welcomed the school opening with a ribbon cutting, signaling the first of five middle school conversions for Horner, Centerville, Thornton, and Hopkins Junior High Schools. Funded by the Measure E Bond providing $650 million, the goal of the plan is to shift all sixth-graders into their respective middle schools by the 2022-23 school year to alleviate overcrowding.

“The goal is to have the fewest teacher-to-student ratio as possible. This can be best accomplished through ‘teaming,’ where two to three teachers share fewer than 100 students.”

— Facilities and Construction Public Informatin Officer Ken Blackstone

waymarking.com The Fremont Police Department currently has vacancies for the positions of officers, dispatchers and other positions.

$10,000 Signing Bonus Offered for New Fremont Police Officers On September 17, the city of Fremont and the Fremont Police Associaiton announced that they have established a new recruiting incentive program that offers a $10,000 signing bonus for newly hired entry-level, academy graduate, and lateral police officers. Fremont hopes that the bonus program will help it hire 18 more officers this year, as the city has been receiving fewer applicants than in previous years.

Along with newly renovated buildings and additions to existing faculty, the new school system offers additional resources to help ease the transition of sixth grade into middle school. For example, the Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program provides incoming students with eighth-grade mentors who will help with the transition. Academically, the middle school system will still maintain the same core education in math, history, science, and English. New students will receive the same instructional minutes, opportunities to interact with different grade levels, and an introduction to the new Core Class Combinations. In “Coring,” students

atiae.com

22 new classrooms will serve 600 additional students, totalling 1,460 students for the 2019-20 school year.

will have the same teacher for English Language Arts and Social Studies and another for Math and Science.

Facilities and Construction Public Information Officer Ken Blackstone said, “The goal is to have the fewest teacher-to-student ratio as possible. This can be best accomplished through ‘teaming,’ where two to three teachers share fewer than 100 students.” The newest addition to the curriculum is the sixth grade elective wheel: sixth grade students rotate electives, which include Academic Strategies, Digital Citizenship, Healthy Lifestyles, and Innovation, on a quarterly schedule.

There are other benefits associated with these new middle schools, according to the FUSD Middle School Instructional Task Force. Since only about 3.5 percent of Californian schools remain as junior high schools, conversions will create educational uniformity with the new K-fifth and fifthto-eighth grade curriculum standards. Staff

and parent engagement with students will also strengthen during the three years of middle school, instead of two. The culture and structure of the classes will create an easier transition from sixth to seventh grade student placement with an extensive elective system.

Construction and safety were some of the biggest challenges when implementing these large-scale renovations to accommodate additional sixth-grade classes. Middle School Transition Program Manager Jason Cain said, “The goal is to minimize any disruption to the educational process by working around schedules.”

The middle school conversions are sure to have far-reaching consequences and relevance to the future of FUSD. As the conversions are still in their early stages, Cain said, “I’m trying to make communication as transparent as possible [to] make sure everybody’s informed and understands that we’re putting the best interests of students and staff [first] moving forward.” ▪

A work in progress: campus beautification Robson Homes and the Campus Beautification Committee accentuate the nuances of the MSJ campus news.theceomagazine.com The company will relaunch under non-Sackler leadership if the deal is signed and be managed by a board of trustees.

Purdue Pharma files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Purdue Pharma, the producer of the drug OxyContin, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Sunday, September 15. The news comes shortly after the drug producer reached a settlement with more than 2,000 local governments over its involvement in the Opioid Crisis, hoping to settle thousands of lawsuits alleging the comany misled doctors and the public as it promoted its opioid pinkillers. In the agreement, the Sackler family, which owns the company, agreed to provide $3 billion to aid communities hit hardest by the opioid epidemic and Purdue would divest from global pharmaceutical investments.

malaysia-today.net The fires are a continued crisis in Indonesia.

Fires Rage in Borneo and Sumatra Over the past month and on the heels of international outrage over the Amazonian fires, the Borneo and Sumatra regions of Indonesia have been suffering the most potent fires the country has seen in years, resulting in thick clouds of smoke that have sickened thousands. Indonesian officials estimated that 80 percent of the fires were set intentionally to clear space for plantations. While these fires are set annually during this season, this year is particularly destructive due to increased dryness levels. Indonesian President Joko Widodo implored residents to not set fires and to put out new ones immediately.

By Kelly Yang & Alisha Chhangani Feature Editor & Staff Writer For the last 25 years, MSJ has been working on school beautification. This year, it has been replacing old construction and introducing new improvements to the campus.

Robson Homes, a San Jose-based construction company, recently financed and finished repaving the basketball courts near the new pool, and is currently in the midst of repairing the wooden facade of the mini-gym. In addition to these two Robson Homes projects, at the end of the 2019 school year, Leadership 2 (L2) completed the walkway designs between the B and C-wings, as a step in their Paver Project.

Robson Homes is primarily a home building company that has constructed many homes around the MSJ community. Robson Homes Marketing Director Sara Breneman said, “We seek to have a positive impact on the communities we do business in, and thus have developed a relationship with the high school and school district.” A few years ago, they built the drop-off loop on Mission Blvd. and converted the staff parking lot into a roundabout parking lot.

said. Thus, Robson Homes repaved, sealed, and painted the basketball courts surrounding the pool.

After repairing the basketball courts, Robson Homes then repaired the mini-gym exterior by fixing the wooden facade and replacing the doors and gutters. “[The minigym’s] doors and gutters were rusted out, and the paint was peeling off,” Evans said, of the mini-gym’s original condition.

In addition to the repairs on the mini-gym and basketball courts, MSJ has undergone other beautification efforts. L2 along with their adviser Ben Breazeale created the Campus Beautification Committee that works to improve an aspect of the MSJ campus every year. The Paver Project specifically aims to replace old, cracked concrete with new pavers. The project required the Campus Beautification Committee to create a detailed plan,

to secure funds with a contractor, and work with the district to get approval. This project has been ongoing for eight years with the help of contractors like Swarts Builders, Inc. “The vision is to complete a paver walkway, that starts by the display case and ends by C-120,” Breazeale said. According to their timeline, L2 plans to complete this project in the next three to four years. Regarding what impact he hopes the project will have, Breazeale said, “I think that making these areas attractive and inviting helps to improve our general moods and also instills pride in our school.” ▪

“I think that making these areas attractive and inviting helps to improve our general moods and also instills pride in our school.”

— L2 Adviser Ben Breazeale

“We seek to have a positive impact on the communities we do business in, and thus have developed a relationship with the high school and school district.”

— Robson Homes Marketing Director Sara Breneman

In the spring of 2019, they reached out to the MSJ administration to once again offer their services.. “We noticed that the focal point of the new pool is very nice, but it was surrounded by these rough areas [caused by pool construction],” Principal Jeff Evans

The paver walkway is an ongoing project of the Campus Beautification Committee photos by feature editor kelly yang

& staff writer alisha chhangani.

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Smoke Signal Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 55, No. 1 | September 27, 2019 www.thesmokesignal.org 41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 510-657-3600, ext. 37088 MISSION STATEMENT The Smoke Signal’s mission is to represent the voices of the MSJ community and serve the public by providing accurate, meaningful, and engaging information presented through print and digital mediums.

SCHOOL POPULATION 2055 students

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Lucia Li, Shray Vaidya NEWS Jonathan Liu, Sabrina Wu OPINION Josephine Chew, Aria Lakhmani FEATURE Tylor Wu, Kelly Yang CENTERSPREAD Karen Li, Shreya Sridhar A&E Jennifer Xiang, Jessica Xu SPORTS Ian Park, Yusuf Rasheed GRAPHICS Kimberly Huang, Selina Yang WEB Riya Chopra, Gregory Wu TECH Anika Arora, Christine Dong BUSINESS Alisha Chhangani CIRCULATION Sreetama Chowdhury ADVERTISING Sabrina Cai, Carolyn Qian EVENTS Gokul Ramapriyan, Monisha Saxena WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Anya Agarwal, Sumani Alem, Megh Basu, Nishi Bhagat, Mahek Bhora, Kruthi Gollapudi, Anvi Kalucha, Maggie Lai, Tavish Mohanti, Haneul Oh, Amanda Pang, Larry Shi, Tanisha Srivatsa, Sakshi Umrotkar, Varun Upadhyay, Mingxin Wang, Alina Zeng, Brooke Zheng

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.

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

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

All policies on distribution, corrections, and bylines can be found at www.thesmokesignal.org/about.

The Smoke Signal

josephine's journal

Why? Good question

aria's approach

Take the first step

By Josephine Chew Opinion Editor As my final year of high school looms before me, I realize I’ve procrastinated on much more than homework throughout these past three years — I’ve put off personal growth. I’ve spent a lot of time with atomic orbitals, rhetorical devices, and trigonometric identities — things that I’ll forget in a few months — but strikingly little on building so-called soft skills like time management and class participation. After 12 years of school, I still don’t raise my hand more than once a week, I still have an unhealthy sleep schedule, and I still ended up drafting this entire column the day before my deadline.

While it’s tempting to blame my plateau on simply feeling too tired all the time, I think a bigger part of the explanation is lacking good enough reasons for why I want to do things. I know I want to contribute more to class discussions, but before sitting down to unravel my thoughts, I couldn’t really articulate why off the top of my head, besides doing it for the grade. So when I was in a situation where I had something to say and the chance to speak up, my fear of stumbling or sounding stupid prevailed, and my hand stayed down yet again.

Knowing exactly why you want something makes it easier to actually achieve it — we all have days when we don’t feel motivated to hold to our long-term goals, but when you have compelling reasons at your fingertips, you can harness that why-power to push yourself through major slumps. Without that kind of focus, it’s much easier to lose yourself in an academic whirlwind and wind up plow-

ing through each day in pursuit of nothing more than slashed-out to-do lists or ticked gray boxes on School Loop.

While we're attempting to define our motivations, we're often confronted with another kind of why as well — the question of what choices brought us to our current plight. This query popped into my mind when I found myself feeling deflated from constantly trying to be friendly and upbeat, only a few days into the school year. I asked myself why, and I realized that I was craving meaningful conversation to offset the draining effect of incessant small talk on my introverted self. In response, I’ve been trying to choose my words in a way that shifts the focus away from simply socializing and more toward building genuine relationships.

Whether you’re feeling frustrated, empty, or overwhelmed, it’s worth taking a step back and venturing to understand why you feel that way. Once we’re aware of the actions, values, and thought patterns that brought us to where we are, we can start prioritizing our individual needs and building a more harmonious headspace.

As we dive into the new school year, let’s not get so entangled in our schedules that we end up on autopilot, doing things — or not doing things — without truly knowing why. If you’re going to join that club, spend time with that person, or set your sights on that standard, take some time to evaluate your motives. Give meaning to your choices, and experience the satisfaction of getting to know yourself. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

It's time to throw away throwaway negativity This editorial aims to address the throwaway comments that students make without weighing the meanings of their words. It is not meant to invalidate the experiences of those who struggle with serious mental health issues.

“I want to die.” — a commonly heard phrase that reflects the widespread unhappiness in Mission's high-stress, competitive culture. To vent their emotions, students frequently turn to unconstructive, dramatically despondent phrases that center around their feelings instead of solutions. “I want to die” isn’t the only culprit; remarks like “I hate myself ” and “I want to kill myself ” echo through the halls as well. * These phrases, peppered through conversations, make light of the mental health issues prevalent on campus. Even for those who suffer from mental health issues, using these phrases in response to the slightest setbacks, like a poor grade on a math test or forgotten homework, reduces the actual meaning’s heft, turning suicidality almost into a flippant greeting.

This “throwaway negativity,” typically used to vent emotions in an unforgiving environment, is difficult to respond to in day-to-day conversation and often makes listeners uncomfortable.

Its frequent use prevents onlookers from understanding the true severity of the situation for those struggling with their mental health. Those who try to reach out to help are often rebuffed by the speakers themselves and onlookers, told that they’re taking things too seriously. The question then becomes: why magnify problems so extremely if they aren’t significant?

Moreover, this constant stream of negativity discourages positive change in our environment — rather, it reinforces it. While being open about your emotions can allow you to understand your vulnerabilities and connect with others, we also need to confront the causes of our throwaway statements. If we center conversations around our own suffering all the time, we accept MSJ’s

dismal atmosphere as an unchangeable system.

With such a fixed mindset, we can’t objectively see our situation and leave space for other people’s suggestions, which is crucial for truly fixing a problem.

If those negative words and phrases describe how you really feel, consider seeking help from MSJ’s mental health resources: school counselors, Peer Resource, and the hotlines listed on the back of our ID cards. In the meantime, know that what you say can influence how you think — a compilation of studies presented in an article by Psychology Today showed that vocalized negativity causes a release of stress hormones, causing anxiety, irritability, and affecting long-term happiness.

Many other studies seem to concur: changing the language you use can change the way you think. Filtering out throwaway negativity when we don’t actually feel that way, then, may help us heal.

The next time you feel overwhelmed by a failed math test or a massive workload, instead of commenting that you “want to die,” consider the impact of your language. Replacing these knee-jerk responses with a productive attitude when faced with obstacles fosters a more healthy academic and social environment. Instead of always employing negative phrases, let’s redirect that energy toward building a better mental health support network and breaking MSJ’s cycle of unhappiness. ▪

Opinion 3

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By Aria Lakhmani Opinion Editor It was the night before a large project, a poetry portfolio was due, and one of my classmates sent a message to our group chat along the lines of, “still have more than half of my poems to finish lol, anyone else?” At least 10 more people chimed in, lamenting the massive amount of work they had yet to complete, and I was equally guilty.

The next day, we showed up to school with drooping eyes and regret.

Commenting that we should have started the project earlier, we collectively decided that it was a simple case of procrastination. It was easy to dismiss the mistake by slapping the label of “procrastinator,” on ourselves but looking back, we were given a whole month to finish the project — so why hadn’t we started earlier?

As I pondered the answer to that question, I realized it wasn’t the case that I was swamped with other work or just lazy. Poetry was a field that most of my peers and I hadn’t experimented with before. When I sat down with the intention of working on the poems, I was filled with the fear of failure. What if I sucked at writing poetry? What if I couldn’t produce a single decent poem? As soon as these qualms popped up in my head, I instinctively pushed the assignment away in favor of more familiar work. It was incredibly easy to tell myself that “Maybe tomorrow I’ll have a burst of inspiration and finish it!” After talking with a few friends who also worked on the project, I discovered that the same fear of failure was a driving force behind their

procrastination too.

As high-performing students, we put ourselves under pressure to be perfect at everything we do at the first attempt.

Our result-oriented mindsets flounder when our first attempt is unsuccessful, and we often believe that this first effort is our only shot, our only chance to prove ourselves. So, when presented with a new challenge, it’s natural to cling to the boundaries of our comfort zones out of fear that our first attempt may fail. This fear is crippling, often preventing us from taking the first step towards something new. We jump to the irrational conclusion that we may be terrible at something before we even try it. So instead of risking the feeling of despair that comes along with potential failure during that first step, we opt to procrastinate and wallow in the comfort zone.

However, this first step is crucial for learning and discovering. The majority of us will often make mistakes, but these mistakes are necessary to perfect a skill or pursuit. Allowing yourself to make that first stumble could lead to the discovery of a new hobby or even passion.

However, if you allow the fear of failure to consume you, you’ll miss that chance.

The first step towards anything new will be uncomfortable and difficult, but if we never take it, we’ll miss more than our first shot: we’ll miss the opportunity to explore something new. This school year, pick up that pencil, basketball, or anything else that you’ve procrastinated on starting: it’s not too late! As Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” ▪

By Lucia Li & Sabrina Wu Editor-in-Chief & News Editor

editor-in-chief lucia li

* If you hear these statements or feel this way, please seek a counselor or teacher's assistance, as they are mandated to assist.

news editor sabrina wu

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 5

The media’s faulty coverage of environmental issues

By Jonathan Liu, Carolyn Qian & Monisha Saxena News Editor & Staff Writers

ten stories about Jeff Bezos, and “Amazon Fire” produced advertisements for the tablet. The fires clearly pose a serious environmental threat, yet only 25 news segments covered it during the week of August 19, paling in comparison to the 365 news segments covering the Notre Dame cathedral fire.

Notre Dame garnered immediate support and more than a billion dollars in donations within 10 days after the fire. Notre Dame is an architectural masterpiece and religious monument; it deserves media attention just like the Amazon. However, the public perception of which issues are relevant is undoubtedly affected by news coverage amid today’s environmentallyunconcerned political climate. When the media chooses to supply scant coverage of crises like the Amazon fires, it promotes ignorance and apathy toward our environment.

The coverage disparity is rooted in the media’s fixation on dramatization and novelty. Because climate change is such a complex subject, it often doesn’t make for an eye-catching article.

Many media groups view it as a nebulous concept bearing little relevance to modern-day interests while the investigation of a cathedral fire seems much more appealing — not only are the reasons behind it more straightforward, but the fire itself also appeals to the personal connection the public has with the centerpiece of French culture.

When a massive plume of smoke descended on São Paulo in the middle of the day, Brazil’s largest city was plunged into darkness — and only then did the world begin to notice that the Amazon rainforest was on fire.

By then, the Amazon rainforest had already been aflame for three weeks, and social media finally ran rampant with alarmed posts, doomsday images of forests burning, and trending hashtags like #SaveTheAmazon, calling out traditional news sites for the meager attention they paid to the crisis.

These calls to action are not without reason; the Amazon rainforest is home to more than 30 million people and 10 percent of the known species in the world. Dubbed the “lungs of our planet,” the Amazon rainforest produces 20 percent of the world’s oxygen. However, over the last 50 years, 17 percent of the rainforest has been lost, and the recent surge threatens to raise that percentage to between 25 and 40 percent, devastation that scientists fear could be irreversible.

The crisis took so long to finally reach the public eye due to lack of media coverage. On August 19, the day that São Paulo was shrouded in smoke, the attention that the media gave the crisis was still scarce. Early in September, a Google search for the keyword “Amazon” would produce

The commercialization of media is also a culprit. News platforms present climate change as a short debate to garner more interest and views.

According to the Columbia Journalism Review, 53 percent of climate change stories in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times from 1988 to 2002 provided equal coverage of the scientifically proven view of the reality of climate change and the minority rejecting its existence. Having two sides — climate change “supporters” and “skeptics” — suggests that there is no consensus on whether the phenomenon is real, when in reality 97 percent of climate scientists confirm its existence, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This approach undermines the seriousness of climate change by distracting the public with side debates.

Another reason the media creates a debate out of climate change is because of ethical codes of the news industry. News organizations try to provide balanced reporting, making sure every partisan comment is balanced out with a counter-argument. However, objective issues like climate change cannot be treated like political ones

The Amazon Conservation Association has trained hundreds of conservationists who work to support sustainable indigenous economies and Amazon restoration; the organization has planted more than 275,000 trees to date.

3 million

Houses plant and animal species — 1/10 of the world's species.

AMAZON FACTS

20%

Produces of the world's oxygen.

Rainforest Trust has preserved more than 23 million acres of the Amazon since 1988 by funding projects that restore and protect ecosystems.

100 billion tons of

Stores carbon in its plant life.

— there is only one side backed by coherent evidence. The media should serve as a bridge between science and the public by reporting scientific results and labeling the coverage of unsupported perspectives. Reports should connect the impacts of climate change to people’s daily lives and promote individuals and businesses that are taking steps to tackle climate change.

Most importantly, news organizations could suggest how viewers themselves can become more environmentally conscious.

The media might brush over climate change, but its impact on the world will only become increasingly dire. See for yourself: conduct your own research on climate change through sources such as scientific journals to gain a scientific perspective of climate change, instead of a politicized one. Only after developing a perspective rooted in academia should you look into the politics behind this issue. Support candidates who will focus on the climate change issue instead of brushing it under the rug.

We must take action now to fight against climate change. Maybe then, we will be able to preserve the wildlife that have sustained our planet for so long. ▪

Avoid purchasing food/wood that was produced in the Amazon; check for the FSC label, which proves that a material was harvested in an environmentally conscious way.

Amazon Watch, Amazon Conservation Team, Survival International, and many other agencies all work to preserve the Amazon.

Donate to organizations that help protect the Amazon.

By comparison, total carbon produced by coal plants worldwide in 2017 was

15 billion tons.

Weekday cable news coverage of the Notre Dame fire and the Amazon rainforest fires 365 segments

25 segments Notre Dame Amazon (week of 4/15/19) (week of 8/19/19)

WHAt cAN STUDENTS DO TO HELP?

Use metal straws instead of plastic ones, invest in a reusable water bottle, and reduce your paper consumption — small actions can make a large impact. graphics by pngfind.com, pngio.com.

4 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday. September 27, 2019

Slacktivism to Activism action. For example, the March For Our Lives campaign successfully sparked action by appealing to students’ personal be-

liefs regarding safety and concern for human life, mobilizing thousands across the country to protest gun violence.

Widespread

nnot i n s i e c w its o e. esen ia pr ess has d e ang n ct ch ing cial m aware e o ff s a — elp ly ead of h ctive irect espr Wid ly destru cannot d the itch . nt t h nt here — but i s scratc itme m m r u e o pow r, it lets -term c g e n h Rat ny lo out a h t i w

#savetheb

ees

Does spreading awareness constitute taking action?

ris pa for ray #p

As the world moves online, so do the people pushing for progress — their tactics changing from demonstrations to likes, retweets, and online petitions. However, the ease by which we can feel like part of a cause births a new type of activist — the “slacktivist.” Now, anyone can contribute to a movement by “spreading awareness” with just the click of a button.

Widespread social media presence is not inherently destructive — awareness has its own power — but it cannot directly affect change.

Rather, it lets us scratch the itch of helping without any long-term commitment. With such shallow support, causes with widespread “awareness” but lackluster action can end up making little progress. The Kony 2012 video — a short film about the forced recruitment of child soldiers by Ugandan cult and militia leader Joseph Kony — went viral on YouTube, but it failed to bring about any notable action afterwards. The hashtags and Facebook profile picture filters popular after the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the 2011 Norway attacks, and the November 2015 Paris attacks were omnipresent on social media but similarly produced little change.

The two phenomena of online presence and offline inaction are not unrelated — an article published in 2014 by the Journal of Consumer Research found that people who participated in token forms of support such as sending a like or signing a petition were no more likely to contribute financially to the same cause in the future than others with no prior exposure. To make an impact, we should shift towards using social media as a tool for organizing and planning tangible action, and not just as a space for sharing hashtags and calls to action. We can only transform awareness into involvement by explaining how people can transform their belief in a cause into

By Tylor Wu & Christine Dong Feature Editor & Staff Writer

#zerohunger is

ris tec

ima l c #

graphic by editor-in-chief lucia li

social media support is a testament to the power of technology to organize and communicate and a hint of the massive potential social networks have. "Slacktivism" can act as a springboard for progress if people are personally invested in improving our world. That click of the like button, that retweet, that petition, and that new profile picture should be just the beginning. When people understand their personal connection to a cause, they are more likely to take action — change is possible when token gestures are backed up by genuine effort. One of the greatest examples of this was the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which made use of that model as it promoted awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The Ice Bucket Challenge, in which participants poured a bucket of ice water on their head, encouraged donations, and nominated others to either donate money or do the same within 24 hours, swept the Internet in 2014. It called for donations to ALS research at every stop, building both awareness and funding. Consequently, The ALS Association received $41.8 million in donations that year — more than double the amount they received the previous year.

The next time we like a post or hashtag a campaign, we should not only ask ourselves why we care, but what we can do. Taking action can be difficult, but we can make a difference even with simple tools like Facebook fundraisers, which can make tangible actions such as donating as easy as their token counterparts. Online sentiments can carry over into tangible work, and with environmental crises like the Amazon Rainforest fires occurring, it is more imperative than ever that we take up the call to action rather than pass it along. An Instagram story lasts twentyfour hours, but our actions can affect the world forever. ▪

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Pen in a box

Mission Anime

As a club, we deliver school supplies to children who may not have access to the resources that allow them to succeed in schools.

MSj History club

Mission Anime’s goal is to encourage the spread of Japanese culture through the exploration of the anime subculture and to create an open environment to discuss ideas and opinions on both old and new anime.

*contact: Emily Jin

MSJ History Club participates in the annual National History Day competition (NHD), providing members with advice and general information or updates about the NHD competition. In addition, the club represents MSJ at the Regional, State, and National levels of the NHD competition.

Spanish Honors Society MSJ CORE

The Spanish Honors Society’s goal is to immerse students in Hispanic cultures through movies, music, and food. The club organizes activities such as salsa-making competitions to deepen understanding of Spanish culture, as well as national level competitions.

*contact: Alisha Chhangani

*contact: Miranda Zhang, Dorothy Luo

MSJ Core provides an opportunity for students to career-oriented club where students can attend in-depth presentations, guest speakers, and company tours.

*contact: Patrick Liu, Ashika Kuchhangi

msj rise against hunger

MSJ Rise Against Hunger increases awareness about world hunger and mitigates its impacts on poverty-stricken areas.

Members frequently participate in many service events and meal-packaging events in the community.

*contact: Varun Dinesh

MSJ AI Club msj interact MSJ AI Club hopes to introduce members to the basics of AI and related mathematics, teaching members to apply these algorithms for usage in various to sports. *contact: Ayush Dewan, Avyay Varadarajan

Interact, one of the largest community service clubs at MSJ,

al, an organization that brings together professional leaders to advance peace around the world. MSJ’s Interact club is part of Interact District 5170. High school students from the Bay Area collaborate in service to the community, embodying Interact’s motto of “Service Above Self.� *contact: Hema Merugumala, Allison Peng

MSJ Impromptu We will have an introductory meeting at school later this month. The rest of our meetings are where we perform (performances are once a month.) *contact: Allison Kam

*contact: Michelle Cai, Gordon Li

Muslim Student Association

National Art Honors Society

National Art Honors Society (NAHS) is the only art club on campus where students can explore their interests in art and collaborate with others. Members participate in activities including workshops and projects.

The Muslim Student Association’s goal is to provide Muslim students with a comfortable environment to complete prayers and discuss any concerns they have relating to Islam. *contact: Sahil Singh, Yusuf Rasheed

*contact: Katherine Zhang, Tiffany Zhang

msj speech and debate MSJ Speech and Debate offers students an opportunity to improve their public speaking and critical thinking and to bring their skills to high-level competitions across the country during the debate season.

msj green club MSJ Green Club introduces new ways to go green and raises environmental awareness among the student body. This year, the club plans to develop an empty patch of dirt near the E-Wing into a school garden.

*contact: Krish Kothari, Serena Mao

*contact: Margaret Li, Christina Swaney

MSJ Computer Science Club

MSJ Girls who Code MSJ Girls Who Code provides a supportive environment for girls to explore the world of programming and aims to eliminate the gender gap in the technology industry. *contact: Yukati Gupta, Kathryn Lee

COR Dance Club COR Dance Club hopes to inspire and encourage students with or without dance experience to learn and grow their skills. Its goal is to introduce and train aspiring dancers by learning routines from diverse styles and make dancing fun.

MSJ Computer Science Club (MSJCS or MSJ Compsci) is a club dedicated to promoting an interest in computer science among MSJ students. Activities include weekly lectures, national competitions, projects, guest speakers, workshops, and more.

academic

*contact: Christina Yu

*contact: Janista Person, Samantha Teng

Model united nations

Model United Nations is a competitive simulation of the United Nations that educates delegates about current events topics and the UN agenda through research and debate. In conferences throughout the year, students have many opportunities to explore different global perspectives and improve their debate skills and *contact: Rishi Jain

MSJ Film and Production MSJ Film and Production helps students understand the experience of being on set and involve themselves in video editing, script writing, and storyboarding. *contact: Neha Gondra, Tyler Ngo

MSJ Landcruisers

MSJ Landcruisers is a skateboarding club for aspiring skateboarders of all levels. Club meetings serve as a great opportunity for people to learn new tricks or connect with other skateboarders. *contact: Makayla Chow

Msj Gsa MSJ's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is a safe discussion space and activist-oriented club for all LGBTQ+ people and allies. We aim to educate the MSJ community on queer issues. *contact: Jennifer Xiang, Emily Zou

Academic Academic clubs unify students with similar interests to learn more about a certain subject, allowing academic clubs are focused on STEM subjects. Some of these clubs are competition-focused and serve to train and prepare students to compete with fellow peers on a regional, state, national, and occasionally with the skills needed to succeed.

Technology

In the rise of the digital age, these clubs provide students with a setting to explore the many different the support of their peers and club advisors to become immersed in the world of technology through hands-on activities, networking opportunities, company touring, and more.

Culture

MSJ

MSJ’s student body embraces diversity, with a variety of clubs that represent many cultures and languages. Each club provides a comfortable atmosphere for people to explore cultures around the world as well as improve their literacy in foreign languages. Culture clubs allow students to participate in cultural activities both similar and different to their own while connecting with other students on campus.

intro to

clubs

By Yusuf Rasheed, Sabrina Wu, Sabrina Cai, Carolyn Qian, & Monisha Saxena Sports Editor, News Editor, & Staff Writers

MSJ is home to nearly 70 clubs, each of which allows students to explore new interests and develop interpersonal skills. As an introduction into the new school year, the reached out to the respective club contacts listed, as provided to the staff, to organize all ASB club information into seven sections.

Recreational aging students to let loose and pursue an interest with like-minded peers. Each club in this category opens their club to members of all skill levels.

Service

Service clubs provide opportunities for members to go above and beyond their 40-hour service requirement for high school graduation. In addition, members often interact with other schools that have another branch of the same club. The speciďŹ city of service clubs at MSJ varies from general to targeted service.

-

art, literature, performance Students who want to pursue the arts have the option to select from a wide range of options, from visual to literary to performance arts clubs. These clubs provide the chance for students to share their passion for arts with like-minded peers and engage in individual or communal projects. Among the clubs in this category are those that welcome students of all skill levels.

8 Centerspread

MSJ FIMRC

MSJ Youth Alive

Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) strives to improve the family health,

MSJ Youth Alive is MSJ’s to the teachings of the Bible, the fellowship of believers, and the spreading of Jesus’ love throughout campus. The club features inspirational guest speakers, worship sessions, and prayer meetings.

through the implementation of innovative and self-sustainable health programs. The club plans to adopt more projects and host new events that allow students to network with profession-

*contact: Verina Leung/ Jacob Edwin

*contact: Nishi Bhagat, Amy Quach

MSJ Social Entrepreneur Society TEDxMSJHS

TEDxMSJHS is an application-based team of curious individuals who seek to discover ideas and spark conversations in the community. The club plans and runs an annual TEDx event at MSJ, featuring live speakers and recorded talks.

Animal Club for Endangered

*contact: Courtney Situ

3D printing and design by teaching about the hardware and CAD skills used in the industry to design models.

The club hosts an end of year event called the Designathon which invites middle school and high school students across the Bay Area to participate and learn the fundamentals of 3D printing.

MSJ Exit Zine is a bi-annual feminist magazine that strives to promote gender equality and intersectional feminism on campus. *contact: Shreya Sridhar

*contact: Vivek

msj red cross

Pets, Animals, and Wildlife Services (PAWS) aims to raise social awareness about issues concerning animal welfare. The club provides opportunities to volunteer and explore different careers in animal and environmental sciences, perfect for animal lovers.

Phoenix Art and Literary Magazine

activities include guest speaker presentations, technology demonstrations, facility tours, external competitions, and intramural competitions.

*contact: Pranav Senthilkumar

*contact: Allison Peng

msj vams The club’s goal is giving through art, and some of their control boxes, creating staff appreci-

MSJ Investment Club’s goal is to educate the student body about the basics of investing, the stock market, and modeling balanced portfolios, and to promote *contact: Jatin Chadha, Ethan Malhotra

MSJ Picture Perfect

*contact: Shraesht Chitkara

wRITER’S BLOCK

Writer's Block is an on-campus organization that seeks to improve writing skills through one-on-one peer-editing sessions. A student's writing, offer constructive feedback, and answer any questions.

In addition, the club offers an online editing platform where students can connect with editors to receive assistance.

MSJ Tech and Robotics

*contact: Jonathan Liu

young mentors

MSJ Young Mentors is a club dedicated to tutoring low-income students throughout Mission D.C. the Bay Area who cannot afford traditional tutoring services.

Members also work internationally as Its goal is to introduce a branch of the World Family Children diabolo to more people, and let Foundation to help poverty-stricken students through trips to orphanagpracticing diabolo such as improved es in Mexico and Tibet and centers coordination, balance, better motor for handicapped students in skills, ambidexterity, sharper focus China. and others. *contact: Srinjoy Chatterjee, Tommy Koh *contact: Emma Wang

msj csf California Scholarship Federation (CSF) is an academic honors organization dedicated to recognizing students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement . Club activities include service opportunities and scholarship workshops.

Animation Club MSJ Mock Trial

MSJ Mock Trial is part of the Constitution Rights Foundation Mock Trial Program, in which high school students play attorneys, witnesses, and other positions in imitation court trials. Each year, the preparation for competitions held at the Alameda County Superior Courthouse. *contact: Riya Chopra

MSJ Esports Club

MSJ Esports seeks to foster an inclusive environment for people who love video games

MSJ Tech and Robotics exposes students to the world of robotics in order to give them an engaging hands on experience through workshops and skill development. Spreading the ideals of STEM into the next generation, the club will help

tournaments for various games, constantly working to expand the (relatively) new club.

teams to compete in competitions like FRC, FTC, and TARC

*contact: Vivienne Lin

MSJ Animation Club is a club for those who want to explore their creative interests and turn their imaginations into reality. Week by week, they teach members how to use animation software such as Blender3D and Adobe Animate for competitions or recreational purposes. *contact: Ethan Cai, Rajeev Bommana

MSJ Cubing Challenge Club

MSJ Cubing Challenge Club welcomes cubers of all levels to discuss various cubing techniques, competition regulations, and compete in mock (and local) competitions.

Our goal is to create a community of knitters and crocheters, and the club teaches anyone who is interested in knitting and/or crocheting. Members also donate handcrafted scarves, hats, and blankets to charity. *contact: Helen Chen, Celine Li

*contact: Stephanie Guan

MSJ Sports Analytics The activities combine both sports statistics from a variety of sports and data analysis. The club uses data science principles to predict and show the performance of teams and individual athletes.

msj key club Key Club is the oldest and largest international service organization for high school students. The club hosts a variety of volunteer events, fundraisers, and other

*contact: : Ajay Bati

the 40-hour high school service requirements, but also gain leadership experience and collaborate with others on something greater than themselves.

in high schools and colleges across the globe.

LIVERight

*contact: Dylan Feng

Mission Japan Mission Japan thrives to promote Japanese Culture with vivid and engaging activities, and hosts various contest resources to improve each member’s Japanese

msj make-a-wish MSJ Make-A-Wish meets to brainstorm fundraising ideas and arrange trips to interact with wish grantees. The club’s goal is to raise awareness among the student body about life-threatening medical conditions through informational meetings and activities. They promote and participate in the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s events in addition to club-arranged events. *contact: Catherine Chen

*contact: Josephine Chew

What advice do you have for students who are currently searching for clubs to join?

I think all of the clubs; it was kind of overwhelming to look through all of them … I just remember being kind of surprised by some of the clubs.

LIVERight focuses on spreading awareness for Hepatitis B by holding community service events, fundraisers, and activities. *contact: Natalie Chiang

*contact: Charlotte Chen

msj dreamcatchers

MSJ DreamCatchers works

MSJ Academic Challenge

last wishes of patients and aims to create a bond between the older and younger generations.

Academic Challenge is a club where students participate in various science, engineering, and Jeopardy-style competitions against other schools, at regional, state, and national levels. The club’s goal is to encourage the study of various STEM tightly knit community of students who will lead MSJ to success at competitions.

What advice do you have for students who are currently searching for clubs to join?

What are some of your favorite club memories?

*contact: Shray Vaidya

MSJ deca

*contact: Shreya Suresh

concerts to raise funds for natural disaster relief.

The mission for Indian Alliance club is to promote awareness of traditional South Asian culture and fundraise for charities that operate in India.

DECA's mission statement is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing,

*contact: Kathy Choi, Caleb Chiang Lee

Don’t join a club just because it’s going to give you credits for college apps because you really want to pick something which you enjoy the process of. If you’re not enjoying the process, you’re not likely to get results either … Look around, because there’s so many options, and try everything. Why not? Freshman year is your year to try as much as you can. — Nihar Duvvuri, 10

Indian Alliance Club

*contact: Jessica Wang

MSJ App Development Club was founded under the premise that, with the proper guidance, anybody can create their own apps. It acts as an engaging and interactive platform for students to learn about mobile application development for both iOS and Android with Swift and Java. *contact: Anish Laddha, Himanshu Sharma

MSJ Cryptography Club MSJ Cryptography’s goal is to establish a welcoming environment for MSJ students to learn about cryptography. Club meetings are catered to what members are interested in learning, with topics ranging from the history of cryptography to decoding messages using various cyphers.

*contact: Varun Sridhar, Ashwath Ekambaram

MSJ App Development Club

*contact: Kimberly Huang, Rachel Hsiao

MSJ Picture Perfect focuses on sharing the experience of photography with other students and hopes to give club members opportunities to get involved and improve through contests and events.

The purpose of the Chinese Culture Club is to help students learn more about Chinese culture and language, unite students who share Chinese heritage, and provide a platform for students to make friends and acclimate. Chinese learners and those who are interested in Chinese culture are welcomed to contribute ideas. *contact: Yunfan Long

*contact: Naomi Lam

MSJ iKnit

American Cancer Society is dedicated to spreading cancer awareness in the local area by fundraising to support survivors and providing community service to current cancer patients.

Chinese Culture Club

*contact: Siddharth Mukherjee

In Pencils of Promise, club members produce and sell corsages and boutonnieres for high school proms in the Bay Area as a fundraiser for the construction of schools in third world countries.

MSJ Investment Club

*contact: Kevin Choe, Daniel Yang

*contact: Vivian Lan, Irene Chang Lee

MSJ Neuroscience aims to give students an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of -

*contact: Alvin Lee

aerial photography and video content, basic software, and learn how to operate drones.

The Junior Taiwanese American Student Association (JTASA) increases awareness about Taiwan to expose students of all ethnicities and heritages to Taiwanese cultures and encourage them to become active and responsible citizens in their society.

MSJ Neuroscience

Asian Outreach is a club that strives to help foreign exchange students from Asia to assimilate and adapt to MSJ’s competitive and ever-changing environment, providing resources such as homework help, tutelage, and various fun activities.

MSJ Drone Club is a student organization dedicated to providing a central resource for unmanned aerial vehicle develop-

MSJ JTASA

*contact: Akshara Vykunta

En Passant is MSJ’s chess club, and their goal is to introduce the basics of chess to the MSJ community, hold tournaments, and create a place to enjoy chess. The club usually holds two meetings a week: one to teach new members about fundamental chess concepts and one to play bughouse and blitz.

Asian Outreach Club

*contact: Cleo Lin, Crystal Zhu

Phoenix Art and Literary Magazine is the MSJ art and literary magazine, comprised of student submissions of all media: brush, pen/sketch, photography, graphics, poetry, prose, etc.

MSJ En Passant

msj Pencils of promise

MSJ Drone Club

MSJ PAWS

*contact: Natalie Hoffner

The mission of Junior State of America is to spread political awareness through debate and discussion of modern policy and economic and social issues.

Their goal is to support the performing arts at Mission by giving students various opportunities to perform. This includes the talent show, drama competitions, and the annual school play.

*contact: Sopan Nair

in the club name: leadership, experience, opportunity.

The VR/AR Club is focused on helping students build virtual *contact: Natalie Chiang, Kimberly reality and augmented reality Huang projects. No prior experience is needed, as the club provides plenty of opportunities to pick up programming and modeling skills.

MSJ Red Cross’s mission is to help those in need through service events and fundraisers.

The club serves as a connection between NorCal American Red Cross and MSJ.

Junior State of America

LEO is a service club that aims to support both the community and its club members by volunteering at monthly service

*contact: Sethya Pugal, Alvin Zhang

Universal Performers

MSJ 3D Printing exposes

leo club

MSJ VR/AR Club

*contact: Catherine Tang

*contact: Emily Jin, Chloe Chan

MSJ 3D Printing

*contact: Patrick Liu

*contact: Akshara Vykunta, Surabhi Haniyur

msj food for thought

against environmental degradation by educating the student body on biodiversity loss and raising money for endangered species.

american cancer society

The goal of High Performance Computing Club is to introduce the idea of "quantum computing" in a more approachable manner for students.

MSJ Food for Thought, which previously revolved around enjoying food with fellow club members, will additionally focus on food-related service events this year, such as volunteering in soup kitchens. Meetings will still have free food and information on future service events.

Centerspread 9

The Smoke Signal

High Performance Computing Club

ACES

MSJ Exit Zine

Social Entrepreneur Society provides students with resources to address problems they see in their communities through social entrepreneurship and business.

Friday, Spetember 27, 2019

Friday, Spetember 27, 2019

The Smoke Signal

*contact: Christina Yu

My advice to students looking for clubs to join is to not be afraid to try new things! If you're not sure where to start, join all the clubs that interest you and you can narrow down which ones you like best as the year goes on.

— Stephanie Guan, 12 Join whatever interests you! It can't hurt to try to come to one meeting. Also like, if you hate it you don't have to commit, just try it out so then at least you won't regret it later. Clubs offer a family, just like a sports team.

— Kiran Patel, 11

We've had a lot of good times because the club is kind of like a hangout rather than actual club meetings … I remember once Ms. LaRosa brought us a log cake for Mardi Gras and we all ate that. Another time she let us just draw on the whiteboard and it was completely covered with random stuff that everyone was drawing and that was just really fun.

— Emily Zou, 12 My favorite memory comes from going to competitions ... I get to challenge myself in how I express my ideas and my thought process when I debate, and I think the competitions are the best part of debating.

— Arielle Dong, 10

MSJ Medcorps Medcorps is the largest medical service club on campus; they provide students with opportunities to meet medical professionals, help at local medical fundraising events, and learn about careers in medicine. From guest speakers to workshops on emergency preparedness and CPR, students explore many different aspects *contact: Rishi Jain

— Sarina Li, 9 *Disclaimer: These pages include information and contacts as provided through a Facebook post for returning clubs which specifies the current club status.

More information about each club should be obtained from the contact listed under each club.

10 Feature

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, September 27, 2019

local historical sites

By Shreya Sridhar, Gregory Wu, Jennifer Xiang & Jessica Xu Centerspread Editor, Web Editor & A&E Editors

Fremont’s history stretches far beyond the Mission San José itself. From film museums to walks in nature, there are many historical sites that offer insights into Fremont’s rich past. Here are four locations you can easily visit to learn more about Fremont’s history.

rancho higuera adobe park Rancho Higuera Adobe Park is perfect for people who want to experience a piece of Fremont’s Native American and Spanish-American history. Located on 47300 Rancho Higuera Rd, the park is home to the Galingo Higuera Adobe. At more than 175 years old, the adobe is one of the last of its kind in Fremont. The park is open only during tours, which can be arranged by phone or email with the Washington Township Museum of Local History. For $5 per person, visitors can tour the adobe, make candles and adobe bricks, and learn about the park’s Native American history. In addition, schools can arrange three-hour tours for students.

niles essanay film museum The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, located on 37417 Niles Blvd. puts silent era film on full display every weekend. The museum was restored out of the historic Edison theater in the Niles area and actively shows weekly films, with an annual festival in June. It is dedicated towards preserving the history and legacy of the original Essanay Film Studio, which closed in 1916. The studio was notable for signing Charlie Chaplin and having a production staff of around 80. Visitors can download a schedule of screenings on the Museum website, and membership discount levels are also available to purchase there, starting at $15 per person.

shinn historical park and arboretum

Enjoyed by tourists and locals alike, Shinn Historical Park and Arboretum boasts a beautiful atmosphere perfect for a walk in nature. Shinn is located on 1251 Peralta Blvd, isolated from the rest of Fremont. Its 4.5 acres are enclosed by trees with gardens scattered throughout the park. The beautiful gardens are managed by a team of volunteers who tend to them on a weekly basis.

Built in 1876, the main monument, The Big House, lies in the middle of the park and is a popular venue for weddings and other receptions. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. until 30 minutes past sunset and has no admission fee.

Palmdale winery ruins The ruins of the early 20th-century Palmdale Winery, stand unnoticed at the intersection of Washington Blvd. and Osgood Rd. Though they are not directly accessible to the public, they are visible by car or foot. The last bricks remaining of Fremont's rural, agricultural past sit against the hill, with picturesque brick walls that used to hold barrels of wine.

The winery was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but the mark it left on the city is clear. Even the palm trees, inconspicuously lining the property, were originally planted for the property. The land, currently owned by BART, is soon slated for development, so now is a good time to view the important historical property.

photos by web editor gregory wu & a&e editors jennifer xiang & jessica xu.

Friday, September 27, 2019

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Feature & Arts & Entertainment 11 Feature & Arts & Entertainment 11

Staff Spotlight: Counselors Celina Cesena and Jitin Sharma

Friday, September 27, 2019

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

By Riya Chopra & Yusuf Rasheed Web Editor & Sports Editor

Celina Cesena is one of two new counselors this year, overseeing students with last names from “Lo” to “Sh.” This will be her first time counseling at a public high school. She was hired over the summer and is excited to work closely with students during the year.

Cesena has always been interested in education and decided to pursue a career in counseling when she found out that she could connect directly with students and help them plan their future goals as a counselor. Before starting her role as a counselor for MSJ, Cesena led the Peer Mentor Program at San Jose State University, where she organized tutoring for students on academic probation. Working with college students allowed her to develop the necessary skills to be an effective high school counselor. Simultaneously, she interned at the Alum Rock Union School District as a counselor for elementary and middle school students.

Cesena grew up in Fremont and attended Centerville Junior High School and Washington High School, which motivated her to apply for a counselor position at MSJ. She said, “I was really interested in coming back to the community and helping out.” After being a counselor at MSJ for only a month, Cesena has found that the atmosphere and attitude of the students and staff have engendered an exciting learning experience. She said, “I’ve had to meet so many new people and learn things about

this school … I really like the energy from the students and staff I meet because everyone is focused on being successful together.”

Since it is her first year, Cesena’s main goals for this school year are to acclimate to the school environment, learn as much as she can about MSJ, and interact with as many students as she can. She said, “[I like] making connections with people. I feel like that’s the best way to be a counselor, so that I can help a student get where they want to be.”

Cesena’s piece of advice to students is to “connect with your fellow students, teachers, counselors because connections can change how your day goes, or even how your life goes.”

Make sure to give Ms. Cesena a warm welcome if you see her around! ▪

Counselor Jitin Sharma joined the faculty this year for his first job after graduate school. He will be overseeing students with last names “Gi” to “Ln” Sharma lived in the Bay Area until the age of 7, when he moved to West Sacramento with his family. After high school, he moved back to the Bay Area and went on to major in Psychology at San Jose State University, and study Counseling at California State University, Sacramento.

While he was in school, he worked as a college advisor for a high school outreach program for potential first-generation college students.

After graduating, Sharma began looking for jobs in the counseling field. He wanted to return to the Bay Area because he feels a strong connection to it, which prompted him to apply for a counselor position at MSJ. Sharma was also driven to work at MSJ because of the ethnic de-

mographic of the student body. He said, “Indian men in the education field are not highly represented so it has always been important for me to be a face for kids who could relate to me. It helps to be at a school like this where I find myself represented by a lot of students here and can also represent other students.”

Sharma has had a very welcoming experience so far and is looking forward to finalizing scheduling changes so he can begin really connecting with students.

He wants everyone on campus to know who he is and be comfortable talking with him.

Aside from being seen as a resource on campus, Sharma wants to introduce a new mindset to students. He said, “I want to change the culture a little around here. I want to let people know that it’s okay to not care about what other people think or what other people are doing.”

Sharma anticipates a lot of effort and obstacles in breaking the norms at MSJ but remains motivated to transform the environment for the better.

Sharma advises students to enjoy where they are in their lives right now. He said, “Take a step back and look at all the things you’ve done, positive and negative, and just appreciate that it’s gotten you to where you are. Have faith in yourself to know that you’re going to make it.”

Stop by Mr. Sharma’s office for some more advice or say hello to him on campus! ▪ photos by web editor riya chopra & sports editor yusuf rasheed.

Marvin Garden’s

By Shray Vaidya & Christine Dong Editor-in-Chief and Staff Writer

Value: 5/5 Prices at Marvin Garden’s were quite affordable: individual pupusas cost $3, while other menu offerings like flautas or the wet burrito were more expensive, costing $13.

Pricier dishes came in large portions that could be easily shared among multiple people.

Given the high quality of the food and generous portions, the prices are more than reasonable. Diners are sure to get their money’s worth.

Service: 4/5 The servers at Marvin Garden’s were friendly and helpful; they eagerly explained menu items and made light conversation. One even explained the process of making the atol de elote, and others were quick to notice if plates were empty or diners needed boxes. Unfortunately, however, the experience was dulled by the long wait times for food and the fact that several menu items were unavailable. Service was unreliable — while complimentary chips and salsa were brought almost immediately after sitting down, the pupusas took nearly an hour to arrive. That being said, the servers’ congenial attitudes certainly helped make up for the uncomfortable wait, and the food that did arrive was substantial enough to tide one through the delay.

Marvin Garden’s serves up made-to-order pupusas and tacos at 7084 Jarvis Ave, Newark CA. The restaurant is a cozy local business specializing in authentic El Salvadorian food. Read on to see the Smoke Signal’s overall review.

Taste: 4.5/5

Overall: 4/5

Marvin Garden’s menu is both extensive and delicious. There are a large variety of foods to sample, from burritos to pupusas to soups to tacos, with consistently high quality across the board. Although both the flautas and pupusas were a little bland on their own, other dishes more than made up for it. The caldo de pollo, a soup that came with juicy chicken on the side, was particularly noteworthy thanks to its complex yet refreshing flavor. The atol de elote was just as enjoyable. The drink, made from milk and corn, was impressively sweet and aromatic despite its simple ingredient list.

Ambiance: 3/5 Ambiance is easily Marvin Garden’s greatest weakness — the sparsely decorated dining room is not particularly welcoming, and the space that is available is not taken advantage of. Though the tables and the floor were clean enough, there was a slightly unkempt atmosphere about the restaurant which detracted from the eating experience. One bright spot does manage to shine through in the form of the charming pots that adorn each table and the front counter.

However, these scattered pieces of decor are not nearly enough to make up for the rest of Marvin Garden’s obvious aesthetic flaws. photos by editor-in-chief shray vaidya & staff writer christine dong. photos by editor-in-chief shray vaidya & staff writer christine dong

12 Arts & Entertainment

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Friday, September 27, 2019

Louder Isn’t Always Better: Music in the Digital Era

By Gregory Wu & Tylor Wu Web Editor & Feature Editor

UNSPLASH.COM

Turning up the music is synonymous with greater enjoyment and fun in our minds, but much of what determines the loudness of a song is determined before we even hit play. The “Loudness War,” a rise in average song volume in a “race to the top” by producers, peaked in 2006, but the lasting effects continue to damage music quality behind the scenes for listeners.

There has always been a demand for louder music on the radio, as according to an article published by the National Institute of Health in 2017, loud music is more appealing to the ear. However, with older analog recording systems, it was not possible to preserve sound quality while increasing the volume since the track was physically etched into the playback medium. The digitization of music presented the ability to do exactly that.

Music producers could now increase the

average volume of the song through repeated compression, a technical process that boosts softer sounds and dampens louder ones. When artists create songs in professional studios, hundreds of layers of audio, including vocal backings, adlibs, and effects, go into making a track.

High compression makes these intricate layers disappear into the walls of volume, while music with a wide range of volume allows artists to give listeners a more engaging and complete experience overall.

When artists create songs in professional studios, hundreds of layers of audio, including vocal backings, ad-libs, and effects go into making a track. High compression makes these intricate layers disappear into the walls of volume.

The adaptations to high compression created a whole host of unwanted side effects. The compression process can result in the distortion of the audio and decreasing of dynamic range of songs. Picture the sound waves of a song like heavy metal band Metallica’s “Death Magnetic,” produced at the height of the Loudness War, and you find a flat line of consistently high volume, known as the “wall of sound.”

Comparatively, the version of the Eagles’ “Hotel California” with its original production intact shows a track with mountains and valleys of volume. The former results in a song with very little dynamic contrast.

The Loudness War not only reduces sound quality, but also minimizes the impact of quality artwork. Genres such as jazz and classical especially suffer because of their heavy reliance on a dynamic soundscape to set the scene. However,

the effect is noticeable in other genres as well, especially when looking at songs that have been remastered several times. ABBA’s “Super Trouper” was mastered three times between 1980 and 2005, gaining volume and losing range each time. The lingering effect of the Loudness War has forced producers to increase the volume of their tracks to compete with today’s changing standards, setting a dangerous precedent for music production. Listeners are now forced to choose between detail and listening at excessively high volumes.

While the “wall of sound” production method peaked in the mid-2000s, more recent albums such as Taylor Swift’s 1989 still continue to suffer from sparse dynamics and high overall volume. It is still important for us as consumers to be conscious of loud songs by making an effort to listen to well-mastered albums. ▪

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Arts & Entertainment 13

C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R IT Chapter Two Floats Too

charli elevates pop to the next level

By Aria Lakhmani Opinion Editor

warner bros. pictures

By Jonathan Liu News Editor IT Chapter Two, Director Andrés Muschietti’s sequel to his 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, proves to be a thrilling but tedious haunted house ride. The film brings the Losers Club, a group of seven misfit children, back to their hometown in Derry, Maine as adults.

Making a final stand against Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård), the shape-shifting monster they faced 27 years ago, they are forced to confront their greatest fears and rediscover the memories they left behind as children.

Considering that a whole new cast of actors came in to play the seven Losers as adults, Muschietti was very successful in bridging the time gap between the characters and re-establishing that emotional connection between them and the audience. However, in focusing so much on its characters, the nearly three-hour-long film unsurprisingly drags. Frequent flashbacks interrupt the storyline, and as each character revisits a pivotal moment of personal trauma — in which Pennywise manifests itself as each Loser’s greatest fear — the overarching mission of the

Under the Radar

Losers gets lost in all the commotion.

Like in the first film, Muschietti heavily relies on jump scares to unnerve his audience; although effective early on in the film, the sequences eventually come off as slightly predictable. Nevertheless, each scene is uniquely suspenseful, terrifying, or heart-wrenching and ultimately serves its purpose — to keep the audience glued to their seats.

Indeed, the film delivers in emotional appeal. In a haunting fun house scene, James McAvoy masterfully channels young Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Martell)’s perpetual guilt from losing his little brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) through his impulsive, desperate actions to stop Pennywise from claiming the life of another child. Likewise, the vulnerability in Jessica Chastain’s performance viscerally communicates the pain of living out the decades of abuse that young Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis) endured.

Despite Muschietti’s dynamic arrangement of the Losers, it is Pennywise that shines terrifyingly above all. Bill Skarsgård yet again delivers in embodying the nightmarish monster; his demonic grin, unsettling stare, and chilling voice that seamlessly shifts from childlike to monstrous all

contribute to creating a creepy clown larger than life. In addition, Pennywise’s origins are finally revealed in the sequel, conclusively resolving the countless questions surrounding its character after the first film.

Although it is a thoroughly entertaining follow-up to the first film, the sequel falls flat in some aspects of character development. For instance, the film’s attempt to elevate the chilling choice made Stanley Uris (Andy Bean) early in the story into something more noble at the end makes the end of the film feel unsatisfyingly incomplete. In addition, Richie Tozier (Bill Hader)’s realization of a long-hidden emotion comes off as underdeveloped and rushed, leaving more to be wished for — especially disappointing given Hader’s masterfully comical and emotional performance.

The film still stays true to its roots, however. Packed with chilling suspense, grotesque visuals, and jolting scares, IT Chapter Two delivers the fear factor. Despite the film’s slow pace and lackluster ending, Muschietti masterfully ties up all the loose ends from the first film, ultimately ensuring that It’s second chapter will float too. ▪

Returning from a five year hiatus, avant-pop British singer and songwriter Charli XCX recently released her self-titled album Charli. A stark contrast from her previous works, Charli has a futuristic feel and heartfelt lyrics, succeeding in pushing the boundaries on pop music and ushering in a new generation of unique artists.

Though her claim to fame came from writing and producing punchy, feel-good pop songs, Charli’s own songs have taken on a larger-than-life feel.

Charli has frequently criticized stereotypical pop music, and this criticism is manifested through the novelty of the instrumentals she uses. The songs on Charli feature distorted synths, glitchy beats, and futuristic bass, making the album the perfect soundtrack for a dystopian movie. Though the sounds seem jarring in comparison to Charli’s previous works, they complement her rich voice to showcase her vocal ability. Ultimately, the instrumentals work toward establishing a theme that Charli builds upon throughout the album: the future.

Having a common theme can help unify

Rating: B stereogum.com

and weave the album together; however, most of the songs feature the same electronic sounds, causing them to blend together. The album feels repetitive at times, with no reprieve from dramatic synths and dissonant electronics.

Similar to the novel approach taken in the album’s production, Charli’s lyrics differ from her previous work. Adding to the personal aspect of the album, the lyricism reflects her anxieties and insecurities through emotional tracks. In “February 2017,” Charli croons, “Know I keep on saying I’m alright / But every single night / When I cut off the lights / I feel like crying.” Charli couples this remorse with daydreams about the future in the song “1999,” a wistful, throwback where Charli laments the past, and its clear, more optimistic counterpart, “2099,” where she is, “Fast like a Nascar, never touch us” and she, “Got visions, levels.” In a culture where pop songs ruefully wallow in heartbreak, Charli is unapologetically expressive and hopeful, making the album refreshingly unique.

The album is chock-full of collaborations with newer artists like Lizzo, Yaeji, and Clairo. The features fall into line with her hope to break away from the typical mold of a pop artist by bringing other like-minded artists. However, some of the collaborations feel forced and result in mishmashed, discordant songs which ultimately draw away from the personal feel of the album.

Charli is a defiant rebellion against cookie-cutter pop music, complete with dramatic instrumentals, heart-wrenching yet inspiring lyrics, and anticipation for the future. The album is a triumph, establishing Charli as a leader of the new generation of artists, and in her own words, “pushing pop as far as it can go.” ▪ Rating: B+

THE GOLDFINCH is Less Than golden

jerkcurb

By Selina Yang Graphics Editor Only in British artist Jacob Read’s melancholically beautiful music do cowboys meet disco, and classic Americana blends with imagery of neon-illuminated dive bars to form a dreamy purgatory. His debut album Air Con Eden was released on September 13th under the stage name Jerkcurb, making a promising start to his distinctive aesthetic.

After years of one-off singles and EPs, several tracks shine through because of their storytelling and style.

“Somerton Beach” alludes to an unsolved Australian murder case through the story of a washed up pop star, told through Read’s soulful dulcet and swooning electric guitars. In “Voodoo Saloon,” the folk-style guitar twangs over building vocals vividly creates a romantic, surreal world inhabited by brooding cowboys, crashing airplanes, and gentle 60’s actresses.

Read’s talents not only lie in his alternative music, but also in both visual art and Horsey, a side project whose music has been described as “tantalizingly sinister” by British music magazine Line of Best Fit. His distinctive Pop-meets-Americana art style has been featured in a Tate Britain museum exhibit. A short UK tour is planned shortly after the album’s release. Jerkcurb’s music could be the backdrop of a warm summer night, a TV on static, or the end of the world. ▪

dazeddigital.com

imdb.com

By Sreetama Chowdhury Staff Writer

Based on Donna Tartt’s 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Goldfinch is an unfortunate adaptation that squanders the potential of its source material, transforming it into pretentious nonsense and leaving the audience entirely unsatisfied.

For a story that’s largely character-driven, The Goldfinch’s characters are remarkably unimpressive. Protagonist Theo Decker (Ansel Elgort) loses his mother in a bombing as a child, and is left deeply affected by residual grief for the rest of his life. The story follows Decker’s life as he attempts to balance his survivor’s guilt, his deteriorating control over his career, and his resulting reverence for art and objects. This would be a compelling character arc if not for the complete inept-

itude of its execution — Decker’s connection to his dead mother is presented mostly as stilted exposition; similarly, every other tragedy Decker faces falls clumsily flat, evoking little. Part of this is bad writing, but much of it stems from Elgort’s one-dimensional portrayal of the character. There are only so many times an audience can watch one single tear roll down an otherwise impassive face before it gets boring.

One of the film’s few compelling aspects is Decker’s relationship with his best friend and partner in crime, Boris Pavlikovsky (Aneurin Barnard.) Barnard, whose time on screen is woefully limited, plays the part of the affectionate companion to Elgort’s desperate mess well. While the dynamic between the two as adults is emotionally hit-or-miss, a few moments tug at the audience’s heartstrings.

Far more impressive, though, is

the storyline set in Las Vegas, which details the beginnings of Decker and Pavlikovsky’s friendship.

Young Boris (Finn Wolfhard) is the film’s single most three-dimensional character, and his relationship with young Decker (Oakes Fegley) is one of the few fully-fleshed aspects of the film. Pavlikovsky isn’t the only other character who matters to Decker — Mrs. Barbour (Nicole Kidman), who served as a mother figure to Decker, and Pippa (Ashleigh Cummings), his childhood sweetheart, are both meant to be central figures in Decker’s life — but compared to these characters’ lackluster interactions, the boys’ friendship is a breath of fresh air.

The Goldfinch manages to make its 149-minute run time feel simultaneously far too long and not nearly long enough. Burdened with a storyline that spans decades, the film struggles to maintain a consis-

tent sense of pacing; present-day scenes are clumsily punctuated by scenes from Theo’s adolescence.

Rather than fleshing out the protagonists’ motivations, the awkward time skips and flashbacks only confuse the viewer further. Unimportant scenes drag on forever, while some of the most crucial moments pass by in seconds. Maintaining the source material’s linearity would’ve made the film much more cohesive.

Part of what makes The Goldfinch so disappointing is its potential. The aesthetics of the movie are beautiful, but the content itself falls flat. That it’s an adaptation makes the film all the more tragic; the parts of the movie that reflect the novel well only serve to drive home the mediocrity of the rest of it. All in all, while The Goldfinch does its best to soar, it never ends up making it off the ground. ▪ Rating: C

14 Sports

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Friday, September 27, 2019

MSJ Wins Fourth NCS Elmer Brown Award of Excellence

By Sabrina Wu News Editor On August 23, MSJ coaches lined up beside NCS Commissioner Pat Cruickshank in the Flex Room to accept the Elmer Brown Award of Excellence, which recognized MSJ as the most successful school in NCS for its overall achievements in both athletic and scholastic efforts.

This year marks the fourth time MSJ has received the award since a three-year winning streak from 2010-2013.

The prestigious award embodies its namesake, former NCS commissioner and long-time Santa Rosa High School head coach Elmer Brown, who was known to be a proponent for commitment to both athletics and education.

To be a winner, the 179 schools under NCS compete in the NCS/Les Schwab Tires Championships and NCS Scholastic Awards Program to be awarded one, three, or five points for third, second, and first place respectively.

Other criteria for the annual award include good sportsmanship, with each avoidance of an ejection counting towards a certain number of points. In the end, MSJ took

the lead with 99 points, narrowly beating The Branson School, a private high school in Ross, by two points. As the most frequent winner in the award’s history, MSJ has proved its academic and athletic strength year after year.

Varsity wrestler Junior Angela Chochon is enthusiastic about MSJ earning this recognition. She said, “Everyone thinks of Mission as an academically focused school that lacks in sports performance. Sometimes, that stereotype discourages me. However, winning this award proves that we not only dominate the academic game, but we also are competitive in athletics as well.”

Athletic director and Wrestling Coach Tom Thomsen shared a similar sentiment, saying that the award gives students and coaches a goal to strive for and an accomplishment to take pride in. Thomsen said, “what [the award] does is reflect on the student population, the student-athletes, and the coaches that they’re doing things right. That they’re doing what they need to do to make sure we have well-round-

photo courtesy english teacher jean dotson

MSJ coaches, Principal Jeff Evans, Athletic Director Tom Thomsen, and NCS Commissioner Pat Cruickshank pose with the Elmer Brown Award of Excellence at the presentation ceremony.

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Brianna Jackson

Rebecca Zhang

Cheer Co-Captain Sophomore Brianna Jackson received the All-American Award at the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) annual summer camp, which took place from July 26 to 29 at UC Davis. Cheerleaders who were nominated for the award were required to demonstrate a jump, cheer, and dance; Jackson won the All-American Award for her pike jump and kick-off routine dance. Recipients of the All-American Award are invited to UCA Special Events, where they have the opportunity to perform in events like the London New Year’s Day Parade and the Thanksgiving Parades in Philadelphia and the Walt Disney World Resort. Outside of camp, Jackson continued preparing for the regular season by attending twice-a-week cheer practice and working on conditioning, jumps and stunts. She said that summer training helps the team prepare for intense practices during the school year and learn about the time and effort that cheer demands.

Jackson is entering her second year of cheer this fall and was named Cheer Co-Captain this year. In addition to cheering at MSJ sports games, this year MSJ Cheer is competing on school weekends for the first time in two years, and Jackson hopes for MSJ to place first at these competitions.

As a part of the Southern Alameda County (SoAC) Water Polo Club, Junior Rebecca Zhang and her girls’ under-16 team placed top 48 in the countr y during the Water Polo Junior Olympics. The annual tournament, which took place from July 20-28 in Irvine, is the largest group water polo tournament in the nation, attracting athletes from across the countr y.

Through the summer, Zhang and her team trained for three hours a day, five days a week, in preparation for the Junior Olympics.

Additionally, they participated in local tournaments such as the Golden State and Santa Cruz Invitationals, placing first in both.

“There was a lot of conditioning and a lot of swimming, but it was pretty helpful at the end,” Zhang said. Zhang has been swimming for 12 years and playing water polo for three, and hopes to play for a college team in the future. As of now, she is on the MSJ water polo team and plans to train vwith SoAC during the offseason.

Cheer

ed students, and that sports and athletics in high school mean something, that it’s not just you do it and that’s it.”

Track Team Captain Senior Hana Nip agreed, expressing her appreciation for the award’s acknowledgement of student-athletes’ hard work and dedication.

“It’s nice to finally be recognized for all our hard work in and outside of school—student-athletes really deserve this because we’re practically at school for more than half our day. The grind never stops,” Nip said.

This collective diligence and commitment among student-athletes is a key factor in MSJ’s win, according to Thomsen.

“However, winning this award proves that we not only dominate the academic game, but we also are competitive in athletics as well.”

He emphasized the holistic nature of the accomplishment, explaining that the success was a result of the concerted effort of all sports teams. Thomsen said, “If you do everything right, then you put yourself in a position to win either games or NCS, but you also put yourself in a position to represent your school as a Warrior and give that recognition back to the school in a small little way because you contributed to that award.” ▪

Sports 15

Water polo

MSJ SUMMER A T HLE T ES

By Jessica Xu, Kelly Yang & Anika Arora A&E Editor, Feature Editor & Tech Manager

The Smoke Signal posted a Google form on Facebook asking for athletes who trained in their respective sports over the summer. These four MSJ athletes were selected to be spotlighted from the responses.

Alireza Khatibi

Emily Han

Table Tennis

Badminton

Sophomore Alireza Khatibi placed second for doubles at the 2019 US Nationals for table tennis. This tournament, which took place from June 30 to July 5 in Las Vegas, hosted various events for 755 athletes of all ages from around the nation.

Khatibi has been playing table tennis for three years. In order to prepare for Nationals, he trained for 8.5 hours a day for five days a week and attended weekend leagues and group lessons. In addition to his win at Nationals this year, Khatibi has competed and won at many local and national tournaments, thus increasing his table tennis rating. USA Table Tennis, the nationwide table tennis authority, has a rating system in which matches are sorted by a player ’s rating. Players attend ratings competitions in order to increase their ratings. In the future, Khatibi hopes to be accepted into the Iranian Junior Olympic Table Tennis team. Additionally, he hopes to continue his passion for table tennis beyond high school and compete on a college team.

At the 2019 YONEX Junior National Badminton Championships, Sophomore Emily Han placed second in girls’ doubles under 17, and third in girls’ singles under 17. This tournament, which took place from June 27 to July 2 in Frisco, TX, is USA Badminton’s highest-ranked junior championship and hosts 525 players from across the nation who compete to be selected for the US Junior Team.

Over the summer, Han regularly trained in the morning and afternoon. Han said that unlike year-round practices, which are akin to warming up, “summer training is like a sprint at the end.”

Han has played badminton for six years, and she will continue her journey at the 2019 Badminton World Federation’s World Junior Championships, hosted in Kazan, Russia. Although she currently does not have plans to play badminton in college, she hopes to win first place at a future Junior Pan American Badminton Championships tournament.

photos courtesy emily han, brianna jackson, alireza khatibi, rebecca zhang. graphics by shareicon.net, clipart-library.com, & onlinewebfons.com.

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