The Union - Milpitas High School - November 2017

N e ws 1 , 15

UNION

op-ED 2,3

November 2017 Volume XXX Issue II

F e at u r e s 4 , 5

Li f e st yl e 6 ,7

T HE

S pr e a d 8 ,9

Ente r tai n m e nt 10, 11

Spo r ts 12 , 13

MHSTHEUNION.com For the latest updates

STUDENT VOICE OF MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL

Gun on campus prompts two lockdowns

by Katherine Hubeny Jonathan Tran

Shreeya Aranake | THE UNION

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Thomas Russell Principal Damon James visit a Russell classroom to observe teaching at a public school.

DeVos visits Thomas Russell School; Observes success in a public school

by Shreeya Aranake Katherine Hubeny

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos came to Thomas Russell Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 12. The event allowed DeVos to speak with MUSD members in order to learn more about the school’s commitment to personalized learning, the Department of Education website stated.

The whole event was organized within a few days, Principal Francis Rojas said. There was a lot of controversy around her visit, but it was the duty of Milpitas’ leaders in education to show DeVos, who is unsupportive of public education, that MHS is able to accomplish things also done by private and charter schools, Rojas added.

“The reason is she wanted to see a charter Personalized Learning Platform (PLP) system,” Rojas explained.

“How it’s being used in a public school, and see how public schools--successful public schools--are run.”

A forum of teachers was held after the event, Principal Francis Rojas said. He was not invited to this event until a few hours beforehand, likely due to security measures in place, he continued.

“At the end of the visit, Ms. DeVos met with at least 25 representatives of the different schools,” Rojas said.

“Representatives from MHS and other schools from prekindergarten all the way to adult schools were there.”

The forum discussed the importance of public education, as well as what the district needed from the government funding, such as staff development, Superintendent Cheryl Jordan said. By the end, DeVos wanted to reassure the representatives

A gun was brought onto the MHS campus by a student, which prompted two lockdowns on Oct. 26, the Milpitas Police Department Press Release stated. After the item was retrieved, MHS, Pomeroy Elementary, and Thomas Russell Middle School were placed on shelter-in-place until police officers ensured that the campus was safe, the report stated.

Two MHS students reported to staff that they had seen a student in the bathroom at approximately 12:05 p.m., the report said. At approximately 2:15 p.m., a student believed there may have been an additional student with a gun, so the schools were again put into a shelter-in-place, according to the report. The initial investigation uncovered that the first student had given the weapon to the second student, prior to the events that occurred, the report included.

“The school security staff responded to the bathroom and located a 14-year-old male with an unloaded handgun,” the report mentioned.

“The student also had a loaded magazine nearby in his backpack.”

A few minutes before noon, the administration was notified of a possible weapon on campus, Assistant Principal Jennifer Hutchison explained. By 12:10 p.m. the police had arrived, taken over the situation, and had a student in the car, she added.

“Since there is a protocol in place for ensuring safety, the police then

continued their investigation,” Hutchison said. “They have to check everywhere on campus, as well as do an extra bit of investigation outside of the school in order to make sure that the campus is completely safe. That’s why the lockdown stayed longer and why it went to a shelter-in-place.”

The administration and officials did an excellent job in dealing with the situation, according to MUSD Superintendent Cheryl Jordan. The administration handled the situation and turned it over to the police quickly, she said.

“I don’t know what’ll happen on the police side of things,” Jordan explained. “I can tell you in education code that anytime a student brings a gun onto campus, that bringing a gun on campus is one of what’s called the Big Five for expulsion, and we must recommend expulsion.”

The incident was emotional for MHS administration, according to Principal Francis Rojas. The Milpitas community responded well, but the community needs to rethink the reason for this situation and be sensitive toward others, Rojas explained.

“All I can share is he had no intention of using [the gun] here on this campus,” Rojas said. “I’m going to say that it has to do with bullying, and those are all things that we as a community can work on.”

“I can 100% say that none of [the rumors] are true,” Hutchison said.

“There was no intent whatsoever to harm anyone on this campus; there was no intent for anyone to harm

themselves.”

Communication was an issue during the lockdown, according to Jordan. They were unable to quickly and directly communicate with parents, she explained.

“It wasn’t quick,” Jordan said.

“For some reason, the Aeries system seems to spool our messages over a course of 45 minutes to an hour, and that created a problem for us.”

The administration has already started to implement some improvements, Rojas explained. There is a plan to create an improved protocol to be shared with everyone, he added.

The protocol will contain improved communication processes and the expected roles of students and parents, Rojas continued.

Some of the issues in communication led to confusion among students, according to Freshman Saili Karkare.

The first ten minutes of the lockdown was the scariest moment, but as they were getting updates everything was fine, she continued.

“I had heard about stuff happening at Milpitas High, so I wasn’t unprepared for it,” Karkare explained.

“But it was definitely a shock because I’ve only been in this school for two months and already something has happened.”

[Our school] needs to let students know what is really happening because as students we have the right to know, Junior Jonathan Van expressed. “Kids in my class didn’t care or get the memo that their lives could have been at risk,” he added.

see Education on page 15

Lack of admin limits rule enforcement

by Shreeya Aranake

Overpopulation of students, as well as an inconsistency in the administration and the security guards at MHS, is resulting in a difficulty to properly enforce minor transgressions, according to Assistant Principal Skylar Draeger. Unless teachers or students notify any members of the admin, they cannot enforce a rule, she added.

Policies pertaining to personal sound systems, dress code, and tardy policies have been under a lot of change in the past couple of years. According to Draeger, the dress code is still written in the student handbook and should be followed. However, the administration doesn’t have the manpower to go out there and police it.

“Is admin hunting things down?

Not always, but it’s also not that we’re not acting,” Draeger said. “If someone brings something to our attention and says ‘Hey, I have a problem with this,’ we always respond to it.”

Draeger also said that the change in admin over the past couple of years, combined with the increase in student population, means that the admin still need to calibrate; they still need to decide where to draw the lines when it comes to creating policies and what can they effectively enforce when there are so many things

to pay attention to. The admin needs to prioritize in order for the functioning of the school, she added. The discipline priorities tend to be the fights on and off campus, and whatever is causing a disruption, Draeger said.

The student/parent handbook specifically says “the use of Bluetooth speakers, boomboxes, and other portable sound systems are prohibited before, during, and after school.”

However, Draeger said that unless the music being played on portable sound systems is loud, inappropriate, or disrespectful, the rule prohibiting the use of them need not be enforced.

“What is happening right now is that if somebody is playing music that is inappropriate or loud or kind of being blasted in a way that is not just a private thing, then we are removing that device,” Draeger said. “If I walk by and somebody has a speaker out but I can’t hear the music playing from it and maybe they and a friend are quietly listening to it, I personally haven’t been taking that device.”

The admin is consistent in doling out rules, but the problem is that they don’t get a lot of time to meet with students in a timely manner, Principal Francis Rojas said. This is due to the amount of students who need to be dealt with, versus the amount of admin available to deal with those students.

Roshni Sheth | THE UNION

Sophomore Swetha Nair and Junior Julianne Dang sort school supplies that were donated by the MHS community to send out to those affected by Hurricane Harvey. They are in the process of packaging the supplies to send to Texas.

Hurricane Harvey drive collects supplies for victims

by Andrew Ha

To help a Texas school district struck by Hurricane Harvey, ASB created a fundraising drive to garner supplies and money, Student Event Leader Anvi Brahmbhatt said. The event lasted from Friday, September 11th to Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The Hamshire Fannett Independent District (HFID) received numerous supplies, including backpacks, glue sticks, pencils, crayons, paper, highlighters, tissue boxes, and permanent markers, ASB Director Joanna Butcher said. In addition, ASB collected approximately $750 in monetary donations.

ASB turned to English Teacher Ginger Roy to find a school to aid, because Roy was “from the Hamshire Fannett School District. Like she went to high school there,” Brahmbhatt said. Roy was also an English teacher in the HFID for 14 years.

Seeing Hurricane Harvey destroy houses and schools, ASB decided to host the fundraiser, an email for the event said. ASB wanted to help thousands people who lost their homes and belongings to the hurricane.

Upon returning to Texas to help her family, Roy had a firsthand look at the destruction.“It looks like every single house that you drove by had thrown up out the front door. It was incredible; it was a lot of loss,” Roy said.

In order to correspond with the HFID, Butcher contacted the assistant superintendent, among a few other school officials. The supplies will be disseminated to the students, not to the school itself, Butcher said.

Items will be provided to the students who need it the most, those who lost everything.

The event was publicized to the student body through emails and daily announcements; furthermore, it extended to the wider Bay Area community. The fundraiser caught the attention of DJ Strawberry, a host on local radio station 99.7 NOW!, Butcher said. The DJ made multiple “shout-outs” on live radio, and donated to the event himself.

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THE UNION

PRO Shootings a major issue in America; gun control legislation is necessary Columbine, Virginia Tech, Las Vegas, the deadliest mass Sandy Hook, Orlando, Las Vegas, shooting in American history, and now Texas. Mass shootings is solid evidence to support the happen so often that America contention that guns should not has become desensitized to gun be easily obtainable by regular violence. The record for most cacitizens. The general public, with sualties in a shooting seems to be no use for near-military grade broken each year. America has firearms, stands to benefit from an obvious gun problem, yet no tighter gun regulations. Nobody steps have been taken to regulate would be harmed if deadly weapfirearms. Progress on strict gun ons every where were banned. control policies must be made to The news has more headlines ensure the well-being of the peoabout guns being used for mass ple. murder than guns beThe Second Amending used for self-dement has given Amerfense purposes. The icans the right to bear mere presence of guns arms, contributing to a exponentially increasdeeply rooted gun cules the risk of altercature visible in organitions ending in death zations like the Nationby firearm. By comal Rif le Association. pletely removing guns As a result, America is from the equation, known to be especially preventative measures lax on gun control laws. are put in place, saving ANDREW Incidentally, America lives in the process.

DINH seems to be the only The constant rallycountry constantly deing and lobbying of gun bating over how to respond to the rights groups deters Congress most recent mass shooting. from passing laws that would Arming citizens to protect tightly regulate the distribution against future criminals is not of such weapons. In the wake the way to approach the nation’s of the Las Vegas shooting, new gun problem. Society is responfederal and state laws must be sible for protecting the lives of enacted to protect the safety of citizens. By giving essentially our country and avert any poevery citizen legal access to such tential mass shootings in the fupowerful weapons, the governture. Restrictive laws would prement is not completely doing its vent future violence and reduce job. Distribution of gun licenses the likelihood of deaths from must require extensive backgun-related murders. Laws canground checks, taking mental not completely solve the modern health and personal history into gun problem, but we as citizens account before giving anyone the deserve answers and reassurresponsibility of a gun. When it ance that fears about the next comes to preserving lives, Amermass shooting will never keep us icans should take no risks. awake at night again.

CON Gun regulations are not the answer; Self-defense essential to public safety With the rise of shootings lowed to handle guns, there may throughout the United States, it’s have been fewer casualties. Alno surprise that citizens should though problems do exist when be concerned about their safety. staff members handle guns— As mass shootings become more such as their courage in the mocommon, the number of deaths ment of fire—the possession of resulting from the incidences a firearm would still dissuade become increasingly possible shooters. Mass insignificant. Stricter murderers would be gun policies may seem less inclined to engage ideal, but they will not knowing that they were guarantee a safer enviarriving on a campus ronment in the commuwith tighter security nity. measures.

Gun control laws do More gun control laws not prevent crime; they would also increase restrict citizens from people’s dependence on gaining easy access to the government. If peoa firearm. While this ple did not have access THEODORE would make it difficult to guns, tighter securiDO for citizens to possess ty would be required. a gun, it would not reHowever, it is not possistrain their ability to have one. ble for the government to protect Guns can be accessed through every individual in the commua variety of methods, including nity. While they would be able to through illegal means. Prevenarrive on the scene to capture the tive measures would only recriminal, it would take a period strain the responsible, law-abidof time before they could reach ing citizens from gaining access the site to take control of the sitto a gun, not those who intend to uation. An increase in security use it for ill purposes. would mean more officials being A problem of gun control also present, resulting in nothing less arises in ensuring the security of than a subtle form of tyranny. citizens. Owning a gun would alGuns do not kill people. People low people to defend themselves who handle guns, on the other in their homes and in their comhand, can kill people. Owning a munities. Withholding citizens gun does not define someone as a gun rights would only deny them murderer. Taking away rights to a sense of safety. Meanwhile, a firearm would render citizens possession of guns would disdefenseless. Stricter gun concourage criminals from openly trol policies would not decrease robbing houses and stores. casualties; it would make the With an increase in school public more vulnerable to crime. shootings, such as those in ColAlthough the idea of having more umbine and Sandy Hook, citguns present in the community izens would not benefit from may seem to encourage violence, stricter gun control laws. If the it does nothing more than ensure staff of these schools were alsafety for citizens.

OPINIONS

NOVEMBER 2017

Admin must reconsider the AP class cap policy It is to no one’s surprise that the school administrators prefer students to take fewer Advanced Placement (AP) classes.

They cite the issue of students having too much stress and overworking themselves. Prior to the 2017-2018 school year, administrators would maintain a loose procedure attempting to deter students from taking more than three AP classes. However, with a few complaints or a lenient counselor, students may take additional APs. Unfortunately, that has come to a close; the new rule strictly prohibits any student from taking more than three. The administrators forced students who signed up for more than three Advanced Placement classes to reduce their number by ranking the classes from most to least desirable. Why should student be prevented from doing what they want with their education?

There are a number of students who would like and are advanced enough to take more than three AP classes, yet are unable to. It is the school’s responsibility to help

students reach their maximum capable of managing their time potential, not to hinder them. If and showing responsibility; parstudents can prove themselves ent and teacher vouchers could qualified, the administration stand as proof for the students. should, at the least, allow them Moreover, students need to unto take the classes. derstand the workload they will It is understandable that un- be getting. They need to underderclassmen–f reshstand that the choice men and sophomores– should not be taken should be somewhat lightly; this comes as coddled to slowly ina discussion between troduce them to the them, their parents, rigor of AP classes, but and their counselors. for upperclassmen, – The process in which juniors and seniors– it students try for more should not be necesAP classes should be sary. The system to a period for them to consider what these gauge the number of APs a student should classes will entail. The ANDREW take cannot simply be students should also be HA a three-class limit but meeting with their rerather a multivariable spective AP teachers to consideration of the student’s see the workload, whether in test or homework. capabilities thus far.

Administrators and counselThe goal of education should alors should look at students’ ac- ways be to support and promote ademic prowess as they grow as students. With the right safefreshmen and sophomores. They guards and precautions, the only should also consider extracur- limit to the number of Advanced ricular activities, whether it be Placement classes a student sports, clubs, or both. The stu- could take should be the hours of dents should prove themselves a school day.

Juniors ought to be allowed to have free periods Junior year has consistent- stress, catch up on homework, ly been identified as the most and get ahead in classes. stressful year of high school.

For students who are obligated This definitely holds true in to have part-time jobs to provide terms of the number of students for their family, the level of stress scrambling to take the SATs, par- they are under is even more pretake in sports, and balance jobs vailing, one beyond their control. and internships. During junior Why should students who work year, this pressure is further ex- be excluded from the opportuniacerbated by the desire to take ty to excel in school? A free pechallenging classes in riod allows these stuorder stand out among dents to leave school millions of college apearly for part-time jobs plicants. A free periand prepare for classes od, defined as a period they might not have had of time during school the time to prepare for. when a student is not According to Counenrolled in an academselor Beth Harke, seic course and is allowed niors have always been to carry out activities allowed to have a free of his or her choosing, period (termed “senior presents the perfect open”) once a day in VIVIAN solution. MHS juniors first semester and twice TSANG are deprived of the opa day in second semesportunity to take a free ter. The reason that juperiod, the benefits of which are niors are denied the opportunity indisputable. to take free periods, she said, is Juniors who partake in extra- to ensure that they accumulate curricular activities often find enough credits for graduation. themselves lacking time to adFor juniors who are on track for equately study for exams and graduation, however, this denial complete each night’s worth of is unjustified. While it is still homework. Rather than assume necessary for the school to place that all juniors will use their free restrictions on who can have a periods to slack off, the MHS ad- free period, it is wrong to place ministration should understand these restrictions on all students, that the time allocated to free especially those who are capable periods are opportunities to de- of making their own decisions.

All MHS students are required to obtain at least 220 credits for graduation, but there are ways for juniors to have a free period without jeopardizing their status for graduation. In addition, free periods procure students the opportunity to take additional online and community college classes not offered on campus.

Instead of having to take one course in addition to a regular six period day, the student would essentially be replacing his or her extra elective class with one that is off-campus. This alternative provides students with a sufficient amount of credits for graduation and a wider selection of classes more catered to their interests.

In the United States, when students are confronted with immense pressure to outperform their peers for the sake of appealing to elite colleges, schools should offer more opportunities to handle stress. Free periods allow students to de-stress and adequately study for challenging classes during the school day, and thus should be an essential element of MHS’s regimen for student achievement. If juniors were allowed to have a free period, there would be tremendous improvement in both their mental health and productivity.

Holiday changes need to be better announced Indigenous People’s Day is a ment, inhumane treatment, and new holiday that is dedicated deaths of the native peoples. By to indigenous people. This holicelebrating Columbus, we are inday replaced what was orignally directly celebrating and supportChristopher Columbus ing what Columbus did Day in several cities and brought to Native and school districts,inAmericans. I think that cluding MUSD. many would not choose I am pleased with to celebrate Columbus this decision, as I think Day if they were eduthat Columbus Day was cated on what Columinappropriate to celebus did. brate because ColumHowever, while I am bus was not a heroic, pleased with the decinoble, or innovating sion to replace Columfigure. The reason why bus Day with IndigeKEVIN A mericans celebrate nous People’s Day, this DAI Columbus Day is bedecision means that cause many thought it Cinco de Mayo will not was the perfect way to be a day off and stucelebrate the discovery of Ameridents will have to attend school ca, his achievements, and Italian on that day. The decision to make heritage. However, it is a known Indigenous People’s Day a day off fact that Columbus never set foot instead of Cinco de Mayo is suron what would become the Unitprising. Cinco de Mayo has tradied States but instead landed in tionally always been a day off for the Caribbeans. Columbus also MUSD, but this sudden change is arguably a major reason, even may cause inconvenience for if indirectly, for the enslavethose who plan their vacations,

activities, and sports around Cinco De Mayo.

This raises the question of what will happen to those who actually celebrate Cinco De Mayo and whether more people celebrate Cinco De Mayo or Indigenous People’s Day. Is the reason that MUSD decided to make Indigenous People’s Day a day off because more people celebrate it or is it just for their convenience? I think MUSD’s actions show they need to better inform and alert parents and students about what school days will be off, and the reason why. MUSD should start announcing these changes, if there are any, and their reasons by email, phone calls, or some other way that lets parents and students know. This way parents and students can plan their schedules accordingly. MUSD should send out an email with the entire school year schedule to easily resolve this issue without much effort.

NOVEMBER 2017

EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

An apology for the leak of lockdown photo On Thursday, October 26, 2017, a student with a gun had been caught on campus, and subsequently, the administration put the school on lockdown. Minutes later, in the journalism classroom, reporters from The Union took the journalism camera, stood at the window, and took a picture of the accused being handcuffed. Soon after, it was decided that it was necessary to keep our fellow reporters informed, and so a picture of the picture was sent out to a group chat dedicated solely to The Union business. Before we knew it, the picture was in the hands of the whole school, including faculty members. It is the opinion of The Union that sending the picture to the group chat was a mistake, and we sincerely apologize to those affected by the publishing of the picture.

Social media has unfortunately created a culture of now, and the desire for instant gratification compelled us to inform our class-

mates of a new and developing story. As the pictures showed up on our reporters’ phones, other people around them took notice; soon, pictures of the original picture were posted around social media. The mistake resided in a couple reporters’ decision to share the photo in the first place, which in turn resulted in its proliferation.

We have learned that these tendencies lead to mistakes and repercussions, whether on a scale small or large. Unfortunately, a quick and poorly thought-out decision to keep our fellow reporters in the loop was made as a result of this type of thinking, and may lead to large scale ramifications for friends and family of the suspect, as well as the suspect himself. In our rush to compile information and push a story out, we failed to ensure that the information our journalists received was properly secured and supported with accurate facts.

We forgot that part of our job is

not only to tell the news, but to respect and protect privacy, and thus proper precaution was not taken in handling the photo. Because of this, other students were able to get access to the picture without adequate understanding of the facts.

As a class dedicated to spreading nothing but the truth, we deem it highly necessary to report just that, regardless of whether it means that repercussions are sure to come our way.

We understand that the actions of few can ref lect poorly upon an entire institution, and this incident is no different. However, The Union will continue to pursue our mission of trustworthy reporting and serving in the best interest of the school.

As we look forward, we strive to be more thoughtful about our actions without compromising our values as committed journalists willing to document whatever happens on campus.

EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

Academic culture takes a toll on students It’s long been recognized— though not often mentioned— that the academic culture of high school has become increasingly unhealthy. It is the opinion of The Union that high school used to be a place for personal growth and academic exploration. Instead, it has been turned into a conduit for college applications.

What was once a sandbox for curiosity has now become a competition to see who can game the system better. Students pick classes they know they can pass, rather than risking their grades to learn something new. They are saddled with the responsibility of being better than their fellow classmates, with all the stress and questionable actions attached to that responsibility.

This culture inhibits students’ motivation to continue to pursue subjects that they do not necessarily excel at. There is an idea instilled in students that if they don’t understand something immediately, they should not bother trying to learn it—because to many students, high school is not a time students can afford to spend on something new. That kind of mentality limits the potential of so many teenagers and is completely unhealthy in the long run. Not only should teachers encourage success, but students should also be taught to accept failure: it is a reality of adult life. To do otherwise shields people from that truth, and leads to

unreasonable and entitled adults.

If students are too afraid to fail, how can they dare to succeed, in school, in their social life, and as an adult?

Another casualty in the culture of academia is integrity.

The amount of cheating, especially in advanced courses, is simply tragic. It says something about the school system when students cheat: that to students, the grade is worth more than actually learning. The rampancy of cheating only shows that students do not have time to actually study for the classes they take, or that those classes are worth little more than a GPA boost. It shows that high schoolers do not believe they can afford to look fallible in what has become an audition for college rather than an actual place of education.

It’s shocking how teenagers can operate under such pressure.

What’s not shocking is that many high schoolers suffer from stress, exhaustion and the disruption of sleep schedules due to waking up well before dawn to study or finish work. Teenage suicide rates have continued to rise since the 90’s as academic pressure has increased. Palo A lto Unified School District is an example of how ambitious student expectations and rigorous curriculum have affected student mental health. The district has a youth suicide rate of 14.1 youths per 100,000—well above the national

average. While PAUSD has taken strong and impressive measures to support students, the rise of teen suicides will only continue to increase if the expectations of students are not addressed by all school districts.

It’s understandable why students feel so much pressure to achieve in high school. Rising tuition rates and growing college applicant pools put even greater urgency on students to overextend themselves in the slim hopes of being accepted and even slimmer hopes of graduating without crippling debt. Academic culture was born out of necessity, but a response to it is also necessary.

Parental pressure is also prevalent among many high achieving students. These students come to believe that a drop in their GPA lowers their own personal value, resulting in decisions that force students to put their academic performance before their understanding of the material.

School districts must provide more support for students by evaluating their curriculums and increasing their f lexibility regarding student workloads and deadlines. Students also have to remember that their well-being takes precedence over academic success, and that asking for help is normal and necessary. Without a re-evaluation of the country’s education system, it will prove detrimental to youth in their futures.

LETTER FROM THE PAGE EDITOR

Response to controversy over pro/con piece After the September edition of The Union, cyber abuse and threats from some students were directed towards one of our journalists in response to the cultural appropriation pro/con pieces, featured in that edition of the newspaper. This kind of behavior, which was ultimately dealt with through administration, is inappropriate and counter-productive. We realize that people may disagree with one side, but pro/ con pieces try to represent both sides of an issue. While it is understandable that some students felt the need to react to what was written, we encourage more civil forms of discourse between students and The Union. After all, our intent is always to promote

discussion, not stoke animosity.

That being said, we would like to remind readers of a few things.

First of all, every story on the op-ed pages are matters of opinion. It is important to remember that all people have the right to speak their mind, even if someone does not agree with them.

Furthermore, pro/con pieces are not always the viewpoint of the writers themselves. The argument the writers make, to defend the point of view that they are assigned, may not match the authors’ points of view. In addition, pro/con pieces are designed to promote discussion and critical thinking. Cultural appropriation is a pertinent topic, especially in the Bay Area, which is known

THE UNION

EDITORIAL

for its diversity. Therefore, it is important that we consider how it applies to us in our community. It is through such discourse that terms like cultural appropriation are defined and agreed upon, and a meaningful discussion can be had. We would also like to remind our readers that if they have a problem with anything in the newspaper, there are productive ways to have their opinions heard. We encourage people to write letters to the editor with their thoughts and beliefs, whether they are intended to address issues with the paper or any other appropriate topic.

We ask our audience to discuss their opinions and continue the dialogue with The Union.

U NION The

S T U D E N T V O I C E O F M I L P I TA S H I G H

The Union is published by the Journalism class of Milpitas High School.

The views in The Union are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the school, students, administration, or Milpitas Unified School District.

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S TA F F Shreeya Aranake Hope Do Editors-in-Chief

Katherine Hubeny• News Editor Ashley Chen • Asst. News Editor Jerald Mendoza • Op-Ed Editor Kevin Dai • Asst. Op-Ed Editor Ananya Donapati • Features Editor Clara Marisol Dela Cruz • Asst. Features Editor Kirk Tran • Sports Editor Anthony Nguyen • Asst. Sports Editor Grace Chang • Lifestyle Editor Krystal Quiocho • Asst. Lifestyle Editor Kelly Lue • Entertainment Editor Mili Bhatnagar • Asst. Entertainment Editor Loan-Anh Pham • Spread Editor Kelly Nguyen • Asst. Spread Editor Andrew Dinh • Co Copy Editor Erin Utter • Co Copy Editor Ishrak Ramzan • Asst. Copy Editor Suhas Shekar • Co Web Editor Vivian Tsang • Co Web Editor Devyn Nguyen • Asst. Web Editor Jonathan Tran • Photo Editor Morgan Lei • Asst. Photo Editor Luke Ren • Business Manager Theodore Do • Asst. Business Manager Andrew Ha • Ad Manager Eric De Guzman • Asst. Ad Manager Ariana Khateeb • Reporter Roshni Sheth • Reporter Maansi Maskai • Reporter Jeff Colburn

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THE UNION

FEATURES

NOVEMBER 2017

Student ties together a tale of blankets

BY MILI BHATNAGAR

Senior Jennifer Smith has been incredibly active in making blankets for hospital patients for the past ten years.

Q: “How long have you been making blankets?”

A: “I’ve been making blankets since I was around 7 or 8; my grandma taught me how to make them. I think my first one actually was around when I was 7, and it was for my then best friend inPennsylvania for Christmas and, I was just hooked from there. It was just super fun to make them and it’s something I’ve always enjoyed.”

Q: “What prompted you to start?”

A: “So my dad actually was diagnosed with cancer when I was twelve; he had kidney cancer. We got super lucky, he only had to spend a few nights in the hospital after being able to surgically remove the kidney. He didn’t have to go through chemotherapy. I just remember feeling so lucky, and in just those fews days I saw how miserable he looked and

how bland and boring his room was. And I was just trying to figure out a way that I could bring comfort to those that go through that time. I thought about how I’ve been to the hospital a few times myself for other medical purposes and it’s always so cold, so for people who are constantly there for treatment, this would be a great way for them to be able to stay warm, and have something to call their own during their stay.”

Q: “Who do you donate the blankets to?”

A: “Usually they are for specific patients, so I’ll have people reach out to me via social media whether it’s for themselves, whether it’s for someone else. The application process is pretty simple, I just ask a series of different questions and then I’ll look online for fabrics that suit the information the person has given me. It’s a pretty short questionnaire; it’s almost like you’re getting to know somebody in a speed round in order to understand what kind of blanket they would want.”

Q: “Have you had any notable experiences making blankets?”

A: “I think the most notable experience was actually about a few days after my uncle passed away.

My uncle passed away from leukemia, and when he first relapsed, I made him a Cowboys blanket, because that’s his favorite football team. And I remember my mom coming home after comforting my aunt that day, and she was just talking about how my aunt mentioned that during my uncle’s treatment, that blanket, whenever he was cold he’d start using it, and it would immediately warm him up. And for me, that was everything. And that’s my mission, I just want to bring comfort to those who need it most.

He’s definitely a big part of my mission now, and I’ve been trying to find a way to put his legacy into my mission ever since.”

Q: “What would you say to anybody who wants to do something similar?”

A: “If you really have your heart set on something, you will find the resources needed to do it. Just take that leap of faith, because that’s what I had to do in order to make this idea a reality.”

DEVYN NGUYEN | THE UNION

Rick and Morty fans line up at a San Jose McDonald’s site to savor a taste of the reintroduced szechuan sauce product. The employees at the McDonald’s site were overwhelmed by the unexpected amount of customers that queued.

McDonald’s dips back into sauce for business

BY LUKE REN DEVYN NGUYEN

Szechuan sauce was reintroduced at select McDonald’s sites on October 7, 2017, McDonald’s Manager Daisy Venancia said. While thousands of people showed up to obtain the sauce, only twenty packets were handed out, she added.

The franchise decided to reintroduce the sauce because they were convinced to do so by the fanbase of the popular television series, Rick and Morty, McDonalds’ Manager of Culinary Innovation Mike Haracz said in a tweet. After the release of the sauce in limited numbers, McDonald’s said they would reintroduce the sauce at another time during winter due to complaints about the undersupply.

“To be honest, when I saw the long line, I got scared,” Venancia said. “The advertisement on the internet was only about 20 packets, 10 posters, 5 stickers, and there were over 1000 people waiting for it.”

The twenty sauce packets were far from enough to appease demanding customers, Venancia said. Although there was no violent outbreak, the customers left generally unhappy, she added.

“I don’t think [McDonald’s] expected such a high volume of demand, but I also don’t think they wanted it to be completely available yet, lest people actually taste it, and realize that it’s honestly nothing special,” Junior Edward Nguyen said in an interview over direct messaging. “That would kill the attention, which they obviously don’t want.”

Szechuan sauce’s connection with television show Rick and Morty is the sole reason for it’s revival, E. Nguyen said. The media mentioned many times that szechuan sauce was mentioned in the show and McDonald’s decided to take advantage of that, he added. “[Our] super­limited batch, though well ­intentioned, clearly wasn’t near enough to meet that demand...We agree,” McDonald’s said on their website. “So, we’re gonna make this right. In the last 24 hours, we’ve worked to open any portal necessary. And it worked. Szechuan Sauce is coming back once again this winter.”

McDonald’s recognized the error in limiting their initial supply and were surprised by the amount of dedication of the fanbase, McDonald’s said. When McDonald’s reintroduce the sauce again in the winter, they plan on increasing the supply and accessibility of the sauce, McDonald’s said.

“I think it’s a smart move,” MHS Graduate Shawn Nguyen said in an interview over direct messaging. “The unsatisfied customers from the previous time they released it are definitely going to be there, and McDonald’s would most likely get a lot of business.”

Releasing only twenty packets during the first revival of the szechuan sauce allowed McDonald’s to test its popularity, S. Nguyen said. McDonald’s would be prepared for the next time they release it, he added.

“I think it was a business move,” Sophomore Max Jones said. “I mean I’m going to buy 20

billion packets of szechuan sauce when it comes back in the winter.”

McDonald’s brought back szechuan sauce simply because there was a high demand for it and it was on a television show, Jones said. The goal of McDonald’s was to publicize the renewal of the sauce by giving fans a sample of what is to come, Jones added.

“Rick and Morty is a science­ fiction cartoon that airs on Adult Swim,” E. Nguyen said. “It’s sort of adult themed, and it’s about a series of characters who go on a space adventures.”

Even if the show Rick and Morty is adult-­themed, the show appeals heavily to teenagers and young adults because of its uniqueness, E. Nguyen said. Although the show is humorous and consistently good, its fan base takes an obsessive attitude towards the show, he added. McDonald’s was taking advantage of the impassioned fanbase by tantalizing them with a small sample, E. Nguyen said.

“If they had enough for everyone, people would talk about it for a few more weeks or something then forget,” E. Nguyen said. “But by creating outrage and another opportunity to release more, they’re able to stay relevant longer.”

McDonald’s would gain an extensive amount of profit by extending the promotion of szechuan sauce product, E. Nguyen said. Although the customers were enraged by the initial re­ release, they would return to McDonald’s for the szechuan sauce either way, he added.

“Awh geez man,” Rick and Morty Fan Dylan Nguyen said.

COURTESY OF CALVIN LA

Calvin La captures aesthetic portraits of many MHS students such as above.

On the left is Junior Eveyln Le, and the right features Junior Allison Feraren.

La snaps photographic magic

BY LUKE REN ANDREW DINH

Most people believe in waking up to smell the roses, but Junior Calvin La opts to photograph the flowers instead. Over the past few years, he discovered a passion for standing behind the camera lens.

In creating the perfect picture, one must consider a multitude of aspects, from lighting to contrast to saturation. Holding an artistic eye, La uses his flair for photography to preserve memories.

“I see a lot of things through my lens now,” La said. “Instead of just walking around and seeing normal things, I would see how my lens would fit through and how it would crop into a photo.”

Though only an amateur photographer, La is ambitious and sharp, hoping to transition to concert and wedding photography in the future, La said. Motivated to expand his network and business, he gains experience and establishes a strong portfolio each time he goes for a photoshoot.

“I want [people] to talk to me personally... I want them to know who I am,” La said. “Through growing through [my business] and gaining more exposure then I get bigger gigs and more money and more experiences.”

Photographers tend to immortalize shots of either nature, action, fashion, or people. Seeking to encapsulate raw emotion, La

prefers capturing intimate portraits of others, La said. “[Portraits] create a more meaningful message and they have a more moody tone,” La said.

“You’re so close to the subject that you can’t avoid it. It’s there in front of your face.”

A photograph is said to tell a thousand words, and La writes a story in every image of his. To distinguish himself, La expresses himself through uniquely editing his pictures.

“In my opinion, the post-process is extremely important compared to just taking the photo,” La said. “Anyone can take the photo but it takes a certain amount of skill and time and patience to edit the photo.”

La places an emphasis on dark tones, making pictures sharp, contrasted, and slightly underexposed, La said. As of late, his Instagram feed features moving images, a concept bringing his naturally contrasted images to life. In a world filled with photographers, La is finding his niche.

“I found a camera and just started using it.” La said. “Anyone can do it. I’m just a small boy.”

La’s humble origin with the camera explains the passion La finds in the art of photography.

He also hopes to inspire the next generation of photographers to embrace their artistic identities.

Those interested in photo shoots can contact La on Instagram @caalvinoo. Rates will vary.

Recycling starts at MHS; New club introduces bins

BY CLARA MARISOL DELA CRUZ

When it comes to staying hydrated, it is always important to have water with you wherever you go. For many, this means carrying a plastic water bottle around during the school day.

However, plastic water bottles tend to wind up in trash cans.

Luckily, Environmental Society, a club at MHS, has provided a solution to this problem: an addition of new recycling bins on campus.

Environmental Society Club brought twelve new recycling bins to campus on October 16, according to Environmental Society Club President Puneet Kaur.

The new recycling bins can be found in the cafeteria and near the satellite kitchens, Kaur said.

“We have a lot of students at this school and a lot of bottles and cans, and it just seems like a waste for us to not recycle,” Club Vice President Vyomika Pandya said. “We’re hoping to create a culture of recycling on campus, so that people think twice before throwing their stuff away.”

The inspiration for having recycling bins on campus was sparked from watching a documentary during class on recycling, Kaur said. The documentary showed how non­ recycled

plastic harms the environment and presents a threat to birds in the ocean, she added.

“We’re trying to help our school become part of a solution, not a problem for the future,” Kaur said. “When I decided to make this club, I said, ‘We’re gonna try to get this recycling program started.’”

The lengthy process of getting the new recycling bins on campus involved working with ThomasRussell Middle School Teacher Barbara Knitter, according to Club Advisor Glen Barrett. Knittertook the opportunity to help bring new recycling bins to MHS when she found out that Environmental Society was interested in doing so, he said.

“It’s gonna be rough to start changing a culture, especially of a small city this big,” Barrett said, describing the challenge that comes with having new recycling bins. “It’s tough. This campus, it is a small city.”

Having the new recycling bins on campus helps students be more responsible with the environment, Assistant Principal Amanda Gross said.

“This also helps our custodial staff so that they’re not having to sort through the trash and find the recyclables,” Gross stated. “I think it’s a great way for our students to be civic­-minded.”

NOVEMBER 2017

THE UNION

FEATURES

5

New counseling website here Students have a new resource

BY MORGAN LEI

COURTESY OF ELENA SHERBAKOV AND CLARENCE WRENCHER

On the left, Sherbakov is pictured with her farm animals in her barn. On the right, pictured is Teacher Clarence Wrencher (left) alongside his Auburn University Coach Tommy Joe Eagles and Fellow Player Chris Brandt in a promotional piece.

Teachers recall past and present passions

BY ARIANA KHATEEB KRYSTAL QUIOCHO

Three MHS teachers share the unique passions they pursued in life.

Clarence “Champ” Wrencher Aside from playing golf a couple times a week, Basketball Coach and Social Sciences Teacher Clarence “Champ” Wrencher said he used to be dedicated to basketball. He started playing at the age of four and played for a recreational league, in high school, in college, and a few other countries, Wrencher stated.

“All countries have a professional league and so I played in the Icelandic league. I played in the Canadian League and then I played in some smaller and minor leagues here in the United States,” Wrencher said. “Well okay the one in Iceland­2 clubs I played for in Iceland you’re never gonna be able to pronounce them.

One is a,­I’ll call it Club Thor and then the other one I’ll call Club KR [and] Calgary Outlaws.”

When Wrencher attended Auburn University, he played on the college basketball team, facing off against former profesional bas-

ketball player Shaquille O’Neal’s college team, Wrencher said. The game against Auburn University was where O’Neal set the record for most dunks in a division 1 college basketball game, Wrencher added.

“Shaq went to LSU, I went to Auburn in the same conference.

For 3 years we played against each other,” Wrencher said. “I was one of the reasons why he went pro [because] he was able to dunk on me so many times, and made himself look good. NBA scouts took notes.”

Elena Sherbakov As many of you might know, Math Teacher Elena Sherbakov owns a farm about ten minutes away from MHS. Sherbakov has owned the three acre farm, consisting of a variety of plants and animals, for five years.

Her farm includes horses, alpacas, chickens, goats, and one llama, Sherbakov said. There are many different types of plants on her farm including 27 types of fruit trees. The elevation and the climate of her farm is ideal for cherrytrees, Sherbakov added.

Planting comes with its difficul-

ties, too. “You get very very bad in joints and tendons so [it’s] not super fun to get a little bit sick,” she explained. “But all the joys spending time with animals and plants compensates for that.”

Her main enjoyment comes from spending time with her farm animals, Sherbakov explained.

The alpacas are super fluffy and better than humans, She jokingly said.

Suzanne Marple Besides being an English teacher, Suzanne “Annie” Marple said that she has done horseback riding lessons, jazz, ballet, tap, ballroom dancing, and rock climbing.

“I grew up dancing, so I’ve always done it,” Marple said. “I wanted to start doing ballroom because I wanted to wear the floofy dresses, which is not really a thing that I do most of the time, so it just seemed like a new thing to explore which is what I’m always looking for.”

In her adulthood she has dabbled into rock climbing, Marple added. She has climbed 800 to 1,000 foot high ranges at Yosemite and smaller boulders at other locations, Marple explained.

High school students face many responsibilities to ensure they graduate on time and are ready for college. Many students have limited access to reliable information, which can lead to students being oblivious or behind on things they need to complete.

The new counseling website, which can be accessed through MHS’s website by going to resources, then students, then counseling center, provides students of all grades information and links to college applications, financial aid, testing information, and graduation requirements, Counselor Julie Cler said.

Each grade has their own page, she added.

“I think it’s a quick place for parents, students, teachers to go to get information about what goes on in counseling, about college planning, about resources that are out there and widely available,” Cler said. “Any class presentation that we do with students, we post it on there so that they can go back and review it.”

Freshman can use the site to not only plan their future, but

also to become more familiar with MHS and some of the programs offered, Ninth Grade Counselor Leslie Felipe said. The ninth grade page offers details about four year plans, tutoring, and the RaiseMe Micro­Scholarships which freshman can begin earning now, she added.

“I think for 9th graders the important thing is just for them to get acclimated to high school, really learn how to be a high school student,” Felipe said. “It was a good way for students to learn how to get information, to learn how to look at the school website, get information on testing, college information, just where to go to get it.”

The tenth and eleventh grade pages were made to help students with college majors, college searches, and some scholarship information, Cler said. To summarize, the counseling website can be broken down into two parts; the first being graduation requirements and the second being two and four year college preparation, she added.

Cler hopes that both students and parents use the website as a source of information. https://sites.google.com/musd. org/mhscounseling/home

HOPE DO | THE UNION

Students gather at Milpitas Library and discuss their perspectives, political and social trends, and recent events to bring awareness to the table.

Students discuss politics, foster civic engagement

BY HOPE DO

In today’s world of politically charged issues and openly voiced opinions, groups like Next Generation Politics, known as Next Gen Politics, form to raise political awareness and keep people informed. As an organization with the goal of promoting civic engagement in Generation Z and younger generations to come, Next Gen Politics has established itself in several states, recently welcoming California under the direction of Senior Shreeya Aranake. As the director for the entire California chapter of Next Gen Politics, she oversees and promotes the initiation of individual chapters in the state of California such as the one here in Milpitas, Aranake said.

On Oct. 14, the Milpitas chapter of Next Gen Politics held a roundtable discussion at the Milpitas Library, with nine members, interested individuals, and chapter leaders in attendance, Senior Tina Tran said. The discussion was very enjoyable and informative, covering a variety of topics including abortion, gun control, and the Black Lives Matter movement, Tran said.

“It was something to really look forward to and [I] hope there are more meetings because everybody was very liberal but they weren’t extreme liberals to the point where they would deny someone else’s opinion, Tran said. “We looked at everybody

else’s point of view whether it was conservative or just liberal, or from right and wrong, never just picking a side based on our own biased opinion.”

As someone who enjoys discussion and talking about politics, Senior Darryl Remulla enjoyed participating in the event, Remulla said. After learning about Next Gen Politics from a fellow student, he was eager to participate in the discussion, Remulla said.

“We didn’t stray off topic too much; no one really missed the point of what we were talking about, and it was pretty productive,” Remulla said. “We got a lot of insightful opinions in there and a lot of personal interpretations.”

Between the attendees, there were a variety of opinions about political engagement and how informed people are about politics and current events. One view expressed by Tran touched on the need for more political and societal awareness in high school students.

“I saw this tweet and I think it was like super relevant because the tweet was explaining how we live in a very unconscious society where only some of us are conscious,” Tran said. “And those who are very conscious are very upset because it’s hard living in this world when nobody really realizes what’s going on or what’s the big issue and how to like address it.” Tran said. “I would like to have people like be more active because this is our society.”

6

LIFESTYLE

THE UNION

NOVEMBER 2017

Starbucks reintroduces seasonal topping

BY ANDREW DINH ANTHONY NGUYEN

BY HOPE DO

Tha n h Ngu ye n Senior

Cover all from Dickies shirt unknown

The start of the fall season marked the return of cozy UGGs, colorful leaves, warm sweaters, and best of all, Starbucks’ pumpkin spice lattes. The seasonal drink has built up a cult-like following, popular amongst many. Along with the return of the pumpkin spice latte, Starbucks also reintroduced a coveted pumpkin spice whipped cream to complement the warm cup of joy.

Starbucks has had other limited-edition flavored whipped creams in the past, such as marshmallow, chocolate, espresso, and, now, pumpkin spice. This topping was exclusively released from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8 to commemorate the 14th anniversary of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice latte. Knowing this, celebration for the monumental occasion was imminent.

On a cool Saturday afternoon,

the Milpitas Starbucks on Calaveras Boulevard seemed so inviting.

Wafting aromas of coffee and spices instantly captivated us, creating an environment reminiscent of snug autumn nights.

We decided to jump right into the pumpkin spice experience, much to the enthusiasm of the baristas. Two venti pumpkin spice lattes, magical brews of espresso and milk, came topped generously with pumpkin spice whipped cream. The swirls of whipped cream, sprinkled with specks of spices, were not visually appealing whatsoever.

Do not be fooled by the presentation, though. The orange cream, which looked like undercooked scrambled eggs, tasted better than it looked. It was a great addition to the fragrant espresso. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger uplifted the latte. Decadent and light, the sweet cream complemented the drink, accentuating the notes of fall

spices as it hit the tongue. The latte’s flavors blended perfectly, with the nutty spices used in the cream and drink balancing with the sweetness of the pumpkin.

We hope that Starbucks realizes the genius of their culinary invention and decides to feature the whipped cream as a permanent aspect on the menu. The barista also noted that the orange topping could be added to any drink of our liking. We regretfully did not take this opportunity to venture out of our comfort zones and try one of endless possible concoctions. The topping does elevate and add a twist to the everyday Starbucks menu.

Pumpkin spice whipped cream atop a pumpkin spice latte was the perfect way to celebrate the start of autumn. The whipped cream added a whole new dimension to the classic drink. We highly recommend trying the pumpkin spice latte to anyone with a love for pumpkin pie.

Urban streetwear culture arises at MHS

BY ANDREW DINH LUKE REN

Supreme, Bape, Off-White, Adidas, Yeezy, Gucci. These are the brands that define modern fashion trends. More specifically, such brands define the urban streetwear culture and lifestyle.

What exactly is streetwear? According to Freshman Isak Jantunen, streetwear is trendy clothing meant to make statements and impress others.

“Streetwear is what you make out of it,” La said. “You can put a bunch of random things together...it’s not bound to one specific category.”

Streetwear is appealing not only because of the trends and brand names but also because of the level of creativity and canvas for self-expression that it grants the wearer, Junior Calvin La said. There are a near infinite number of combinations that are both fashionable and unique, he added.

“You find what other people are wearing and you think it’s cool, and then you follow that and then you get into the culture,” Junior Alan Trinh said. “Streetwear is a culture because everyone is connected. Everyone bases themselves off of other people.”

However, streetwear culture is often associated with high price tags, Trinh said. The retail prices for the most popular brands of streetwear is fairly expensive, he added. Ob-

Flower Clips from Etsy

Shoes from Nike

His Fashion Inspir ation: “I don’t really have one. I just do what I like.”

Zi yua n Le i Senior

Jacket from H&M Scarf handmade

Boots thrifted

Her Fashion Inspir ation: “My fashion inspiration is probably Jen Im. She’s a YouTuber and I really like her fall fashion and warm jackets.”

taining these select pieces of clothing is no easy feat either. “[Streetwear] is usually released by drops, usually once a month or once a season,” Trinh said. “Supreme would sell out in seconds, while other brands would sell out in minutes.”

While most streetwear is available for browsing online, some of the most popular brands, such as Supreme, release their clothing during limited time periods, Trinh said. The interval of time for buyers to obtain the goods is slim due to the high demand for the limited goods, he added. However, drops are not the only way to obtain streetwear.

“You can buy it anywhere,” La said. “You can go to the thrift store and cop a pretty good outfit, or you can just go to Barneys or Saks Fifth Avenue and just cop some extreme Off-White pieces, some designer pieces, Gucci, all that stuff.”

The fashion’s fluid nature provides buyers with cheaper alternatives that are just as stylish as the more expensive brands, La said.

There are far more options than simply the most popular brands, he added.

Streetwear brands are in such high demand that their clothing is often resold at extremely high prices. To obtain coveted clothing pieces, buyers can purchase clothes from scalpers, who make money by buying items at retail price and reselling for profit.

“If you’re able to buy [clothes] for what they retail for and make a profit, I think it’s a great way to do business,” Trinh said. “If I don’t like it or it doesn’t fit, I would resell it. How much money I have made [from reselling]? Within the thousands.”

Scalping opens up opportunities to make streetwear both a form of self-expression and a business venture. However, solely partaking in the fashion to turn a profit subjects resellers to criticism.

“Everyone should be able to get what they want, but not for extreme prices,” La said. “Some people just want to cop [clothes] to rock it, and some people just want to take it and scalp it. That’s against the culture.

You can’t do that.”

Scalping limits the accessibility of streetwear for all buyers, which tarnishes the culture, La said. The fashion culture is what brings all of its followers together and allows them to share unspoken bonds.

“When someone’s wearing something really nice and you point it out, there’s a brief friendship formed,” Senior Kaito Hashimoto said.

Urban streetwear culture serves as a platform for simultaneously creating newfound friendships and expressing individuality. Conformity, contrary to popular conception, is not encouraged.

“I can wear what I want and express myself how I want to,” La said.

“You can just do what you want.

Anyone can do it.”

Taco Bell featured in new Forever 21 line

BY LOAN-ANH PHAM

When hot sauce packets start making a debut on the runway, that’s something to “taco ‘bout.” Forever 21 and Taco Bell have collaborated on a collection featuring Taco Bell motifs on Forever 21 styles. While wearing taco-themed clothing may symbolize a Taco Bell adoration to some, the collection and potential motives behind it present a disturbing look into how fashion has gone into decline, both in quality and in purpose.

The collection kicked off on Wednesday, October 11, available online and in stores. Within days, items were selling out in all divisions online: women’s, men’s, kids’, and so on. It’s not a surprise: promotion of the collection’s arrival was far and wide with a runway show on Thursday, along with social-media savvy Taco Bell enthusiasts, Andrew McBurnie and Brittany Creech, serving as models for the campaign.

Yet, the collection itself presents little excitement. Using the “ontrend” fashions for today, Forever 21 simply slaps on Taco Bell logos, Taco Bell hot sauce images, and the like

on every single piece. The phrase “I love Taco Bell” shows up exactly “cero” times. Wearing food motifs may be called a form of self-expression, but in this case, Forever 21 failed on the “creative expression” part.

Forever 21’s collaboration with Taco Bell is just another example of two corporations shaking hands in order to increase the profits. Today, even a plus-size white t-shirt with the words “Too Much Sauce” printed in a extraordinarily basic font and color (black) can pass off as a runway look… at an extra affordable price of $15.90! The shirt, one of the many pieces in the offending collection, does little to represent both Taco Bell and the buyer’s love for Nachos Supreme or any other Taco Bell signature dish.

Yet, the social media scene is ready to embrace the collection, with #F21xTacoBell featuring a wide array of consumers standing in front of mirrors, taking selfies in their new “Taco Bell Don’t Wait Up” bodysuits (purchased at $17.90), featuring the exact pattern of Taco Bell’s hot sauce packet. Following these posts are more and more

comments showering praise and proclamations of rushing out to the nearest Forever 21.

This collection just adds to the growing narcissistic belief that clothing defines a person, yet if this is so, why can’t people find other topics besides food to express themselves in? A person is made up of different beliefs and ideas, and these ideas need to be represented more by corporations running the fashion game. After all, life isn’t all about “strutting your stuff” in a taco print hoodie.

Purchasing an item from this Forever 21 and Taco Bell collection does nothing for a worthy cause and in the long run, says nothing. Both companies are not trying to raise money for cancer patients, or even make a political statement. Both companies are simply seeking free advertising from young people out there as the Taco Bell logo is paraded around.

It all boils, or in this case, deepfries down to the big question: what do you want your clothing to say about you? If it’s the fact that you just love Taco Bell, Forever 21 has certainly got you covered.

LIFESTYLE

NOVEMBER 2017

THE UNION

7

Dressing for wacky California weather Tea Zone Lounge Review

BY KELLY LUE

It’s a well-known fact that California, particularly the Bay Area, cannot make up its mind about the weather. From weeks of heat waves and sweltering temperatures, to periods of freezing cold and frigid wind, Milpitas is a prime example of bipolar weather that shifts within the same day. These unexpected weather changes prove to be quite confusing, and it can be frustrating to pick an outfit to accommodate both the heat and the cold. Luckily, here are some tips to alleviate your struggles and help you dress for success!

1. Layer up: This may be the simplest and most well-known way to

dress for weird weather, and it definitely is effective. Not only does dressing in layers make you look like an attractive human onion, it also makes it easy to keep warm when it’s cold and stay comfortable when it’s hot. Just as you would an onion, simply peel off your layers as the day gets warmer!

2. Wear flannels: Flannels seem to be everywhere during the fall, but few people truly appreciate its practical purposes. Not only does flannel look good on everyone, it’s also a great way of staying warm during these colder days. But what if the temperature spikes, as it usually does in Milpitas? You can accommodate for rising temperatures by rolling up the sleeves of

BY LOAN-ANH PHAM

Ingredients: -any variety of sandwich bread -4 eggs -1 cup of milk -1 tablespoon of vanilla Flavor -1 tablespoon of cinnamon -1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice -1 ½ cup of pumpkin spice flavored cereal

Loan-Anh| THE UNION

A Recipe to keep you Toasty this Season: Pumpkin Spice French Toast Au revoir, pancakes and waffles! Say “bonjour” to Pumpkin Spice French Toast that’s easy to prepare and delectable for a chilly autumn morning. Enjoy!

Preparation (10 minutes): 1. Crack the eggs into a bowl, and add the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice accordingly. Whisk thoroughly with a spoon until the mixture is

your flannel to instantly obtain a fashionable lumberjack look.

3. All-or-nothing: Come to school either wearing five jackets and pants under your pants, or go commando by wearing nothing at all—hence, “all-or-nothing.” The all-or-nothing technique is a fashion principle that helps you fight back when it comes to the bizarre weather. If the weather can be stubborn, so can you.

4. Beanies: If you weren’t gifted with naturally flowing, luscious locks, beanies are your friends. Use a beanie to keep your poor head and ears warm.

5. Stay in your room: If you’re absolutely fed up with the unpredictable weather, stay at home. Your room is your clothing.

a pale yellow color.

2. Turn up the stove to high heat. Put the frying pan on it and add oil. Rotate the frying pan in a circular motion so the oil spreads throughout the pan. Allow the frying pan to sit until the oil starts steaming and simmering.

3. Put the cereal into a plastic bag, and use a spoon to flattenthe bag until the cereal is crushed into fine pieces.

4. When the frying pan is ready, take some bread slices out and dip them individually into the egg-

wash. Next, place the egg-washed bread into the bowl of cereal and flip the slice over continuously so that the cereal sticks to the bread.

5. When enough cereal is on the bread, place it into the frying pan.

Use a spatula to flip the slice over and over to prevent it from burning.

6. Keep on frying until there is enough French toast for a filling and fragrant breakfast!

Ananya Donapati| THE UNION

Jerald Mendoza| THE UNION

BY KEVIN DAI JERALD MENDOZA

The Tea Zone Lounge, located in East San Jose, is an innovative and delicious milk tea cafe. Some key features of the Tea Zone Lounge consist of their unique cup sizes and picture foam art on your milk tea. They serve drinks in light bulbs, split cups, and other funky containersthat make the drinking experience a bit more interesting.

However, what makes the drinking experience exciting is the foam art.

The Tea Zone Lounge allows you to print almost any picture in foam form onto your drink. It is thrilling to see and experience something different from other milk tea places.

The milk tea itself tastes delicious.

The Tea Zone Lounge allows you to adjust the amount of sugar and ice in its drinks as you desire as well. We tried the Green Thai Tea and it tasted like matcha ice cream. The White Tiger Milk Tea tasted like standard thai tea but had a slight tingly aftertaste that made us crave for more.

The Taro Milk Tea tasted like birthday cake, but it was not too sweet to make you stop drinking it. The Taro Milk Tea came off as a delicious surprise to me because we do not generally like taro flavored milk tea. For

snacks we tried the popcorn chicken, a standard in many milk tea places. It tasted like crispy buttermilk chicken. This chicken was delicious and had plenty of flavor, but the quantity and price of $5.25, it is expensive for teenagers and may seem unappealing to them. The environment of the Tea Zone Lounge is a modern and simplistic design. This design feels comfortable and is good place to have a talk with friends.

Their chairs are comfortable white couches and the tables were glass, embedded with the store’s logo. The cafe also has a patio for those who want a more secluded area to enjoy their drinks and food. The servers and cashier were friendly and did not disrupt the peace of the customers. The cafe also has a sidebar with charging ports for Android and Apple phones,.The servers there made good impressions on new customers, and we would definitely go back there again to try more things. If anyone wants to go to the Tea Zone Lounge then we recommend the green thai tea, our favorite drink there. It is a yummy treat for matcha lovers. The Tea Zone Lounge is a good place to try something different and unique from other milk tea places, as well as have small talk with friends.

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NOVEMBER 2017

OUT OF SIGHT, BUT NOT OUT OF MIN

HELP IS AVAILABLE, GET TO KNOW THE SCHOOL

BY ISHRAK RAMZAN LOAN-ANH PHAM

VIVIAN TSANG / THE UNION

Ms. Darinisha Williams Q: How long have you been working at MHS? A: “This is my first year working at Milpitas High School as a school psychologist.

Q: Can you describe your job?

A: “My branch of psychology is pretty different from a lot of others. I evaluate students for special education, I do intelligence tests… Also, I do counseling as well for students with Individual Evaluation Plans (IEPs for students who are in special education). And I also conduct interventions, observations and much more.

Q: How many students do you counsel on a weekly basis?

A: “On a weekly basis, I want to say I counsel at least 20 to 23 [students].”

Q: What can students do to support mental health awareness?

A: “I feel like as students, students

5 COMMON TEEN MENTAL ILLNESSES

BY KELLY NGUYEN MAANSI MASKAI

Major Depression Individuals who suffer from major depression tend to avoid any personal interactions and relationships with others.

Symptoms include fatigue, impaired concentration, weight loss, and unsettling thoughts.

A 2015 survey by the National Institute of Mental Health notes that 12.5% of the U.S. population from ages 12 to 17 is affected by major depression. Major depression is caused by a loss of a loved one, social isolation, or several forms of abuse. To alleviate the effects of major depression, psychiatrists delve into deeper conversations, allowing the patient to reflect on his or her emotional state.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) PTSD is characterized by a failure to recover from mental trauma after experiencing events such as accidents, natural disasters, or sexual assaults. PTSD causes one to relive a traumatizing event, have negative thoughts, and look

out for danger. PTSD can be treated through psychotherapy or medication.

Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder causes individuals to experience erratic changes in mood and energy levels known as “mood episodes.”

Symptoms include irregular sleep patterns and other abnormal behaviors.

Bipolar disorder develops in individuals around the age of 15. Every year, 2.6% of the U.S. population over 18 suffer from bipolar disorder.

Within this group, two-thirds have one or more relatives who have developed the same illness, making it more likely for an individual to inherit a bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is treated through therapy, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers.

Social Anxiety Disorder Social anxiety disorder prevents people from forming intimate relationships with others, being comfortable in their own skin, and completing everyday tasks with ease. Symptoms include overthinking situations, over analyzing personal flaws, fear of

humiliation, and so on. Present in individuals around the age of 13, this disorder affects 15 million people in the U.S. Generally, parents notice signs (excessive tantrums, clinginess) in their children from a young age. These signs can become more extreme, leading to the development of various anxieties. Therapy is used to help the individual with his or her social skills.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) OCD occurs when an individual is plagued by a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive thoughts or images that cause the individual severe distress and trigger compulsions, behaviors that the individual engages in to rid himself or herself of their distress. About 1.2% of the American population is affected by OCD. While it cannot be completely cured, OCD can be alleviated through therapy, medication, and participation in support groups.

Sources: WebMD Guide to Major Depression, National Institute of Mental Health, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, American Psychiatric Association

OPINION: STANDARDIZED TESTING STRESSFUL, STUDENTS FACE LONG-TERM HEALTH EFFECTS Every year students are bomOne of the biggest effects of barded with mounds of stand- standardized testing on student ardized tests that are deemed mental health is test-taking anxiessential to the school and stu- ety. This is when a student’s train dents’ futures. Unfortunately, of thought freezes, causing him the emphasis placed on these or her to forget information or tests is exponentially increasing. confuse reasoning. The result of As a result, students are this is lower test scores being drilled to do well and inability to take on them in a way that is tests, which can potenseriously affecting their tially exacerbate test mental health. Many anxiety. According to adolescents face exthe American Test Anxtreme stress and anxieieties Association, 20% ty that is often induced of students are said to by standardized testhave high test anxiety ing. These symptoms and another 16% have ANANYA can spiral and continue moderately high levels DONAPATI to affect that student of test anxiety. Students throughout life. that have test anxieAccording to The Glossary of ty may also have social anxiety, Education Reform, a standard- causing them to avoid bringing ized test is a classification of tests attention to themselves, which that requires all test takers to can cause the issue to persist. have the same type of questions.

In order to be successful on It is graded in a standard method tests, students tirelessly study that makes it possible to com- and neglect to eat or sleep proppare the relative performance of erly. However, sleep is fundathe students. These include tests mental to our health and perforsuch as the SBAC, SAT, ACT, etc. mance. Lack of sleep can lead to

depression, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders according to a research article from Harvard Medical School.

Standardized tests are still very important in that they act as windows to your academic performance when applying for college. That is why changing your perspective is a great way to protect your mental health from standardized testing. It is worth realizing that even if you do poorly on standardized tests, you can still achieve as much success as you desire in life.

Feeling test anxiety is also very normal, so instead of being quiet in hopes that the anxiety will eventually disappear, it is better to confront it. Talk with a teacher, parent, counselors, or anyone who can provide reassurance and guidance. Expressing doubts and fears can strengthen conscience and hopefully reduce anxiety or stress. Make sure to eat nutritious meals and get a decent eight hours of sleep, because that is the best way to ensure a stellar score.

have to support each other. If you see someone having a bad day, why not to talk to them? It won’t hurt, the only they’ll do is look at you weird, but at least you know you tried… It just depends on what you want as a student body and what you are willing to fight for.

Everyone has to do their own part.”

Q: What got you into counseling?

A: “What got me into the field of psychology is because I have a little brother, who has autism.

He’s in high school right now; he’s seventeen. He’s in Mississippi, and the school systems are totally different from here.

Q: Who inspires you everyday?

A: “What really inspires me is actually being black. I’ve never seen a black school psychologist ever (my first time seeing a black school psychologist was when i went to college) ... I want to inspire people of my race and also young people, especially minorities. Even though you don’t see people that look like you, you can still do it.”

Ms. Marie Pitts Q: Can you describe your job?

A: “I am the site coordinator, so I help oversee the CASSY services we offer at this school. So I meet with students, but I also help with the site management of the services.”

Q: What do students often come to you for help for?

A: “Lots of different kinds of things: depression, anxiety, safety concerns, family problems, peer issues, peer conflict.”

Q: What got you into counseling?

A: “I like helping people, and it just kind of happened for me this way. And I really like working at schools.”

Q: What inspires you everyday?

A: “I don’t know if I have something specific, it’s just when we see changes, positive changes, and when we have success stories and when we are able to see our positive influence with students, that’s inspirational.”

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ND: A Look at Student Mental Health

L PSYCHOLOGIST AND THE CASSY COUNSELORS Ms. Kerry De Lima Q: How long have you been working at MHS? A: “I’ve been working at MHS since last year.

Q: How many students do you counsel on a weekly basis?

A: “I want to say I have a caseload of 20, not including crises and drop-ins.”

Q: How would students contact you?

A: “You can self refer by dropping into the counseling office and requesting to see a CASSY counselor. There is a quick form to fill out. You can also talk to your guidance counselor and they will refer you. A teacher or staff person can also refer you. “ Q: How do you feel about the student mental health at this school?

A: “Here, we have around 3200 students and only 2.5 FTE [fulltime equivalent] therapists. The need is far greater than the service level the district has in place. And there are frequent crises that

absorb much of these resources impacting our capacity to provide consistent weekly counseling.”

Q: What would you say to student out there who are suffering from mental illnesses?

A: “We should support all aspects of our health and this includes our mental health. If you are struggling, seek help. Start with a guidance counselor, a trusted teacher or staff person, a CASSY counselor, etc. Most of us will be able to provide or connect you with support.”

Q: What got you into counseling?

A: “ Since I was young, I wanted to help kids. I think it comes from relating to many of the struggles and having had some key adults that genuinely changed the trajectory of my life. I like working with teens as I think it’s a uniquely challenging time of life. It’s such a privilege to get to support teens and witness their journeys as they navigate this crazy time!”

Ms. Regina Lising Q: Can you describe your job?

A: “I do things such as therapeutical services, collaborating with guidance counselors, and partnering with parents when necessary. “ Q: What do students often come to you for help for?

A: “Anxiety and depression, although those are more on the surface level. There can also be loss and grief involved.”

Q: What got you into counseling?

A: “As an undergrad, I majored in behavioral science/psychology, so when I decided to go back to school for my masters, I chose clinical counseling psychology.”

Q: What would you say to student out there who are suffering from mental illnesses?

A: “Come in. I don’t want students to suffer in silence. I’d also love to see leadership support groups.”

VIVIAN TSANG / THE UNION

ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO HELP

BY MAANSI MASKAI MORGAN LEI

LOAN-ANH PHAM & ERIN UTTER / THE UNION

Suicide People who are suicidal experience emotional pain and stress. It is important to take the matter seriously, regardless of how nonchalant these individuals may be. By allowing them to discuss their problems, suicidal thoughts may diminish.

During a conversation, do not be judgmental; patience and acceptance are key. Remember that asking too many personal questions could cause them to feel uncomfortable. Advise them to seek professional help immediately and provide them with suicide hotlines in case they ever feel helpless or just need someone to talk to. It is also important to remove potential hazards (weapons, sharp objects, etc.) from their vicinity.

Depression While talking to people with depression, it can be difficult to know what to say. Often, depressed individuals just need you to listen rather than give advice because it is not your job to

change them. It may take them a while to open up, so let them know that you will be there for them at any time. An important thing to remember is to not further enable their depression by agreeing to keep their emotions a secret.

It is wise to convince them to seek professional help. You can support them by assisting them with tasks such as looking into treatment options and scheduling appointments with therapists.

General Anxiety Disorders The first step to take when dealing with someone who is affected by an anxiety disorder is to educate yourself. Being aware of common reactions and symptoms will give you a better idea of what the person is going through.

From there, you can look into stress-relieving activities and treatments that will help them cope . During a conversation, be encouraging. In addition, slowly introduce them to situations that would normally make them feel anxiety or stress. By focusing on improving their social skills, they are going to be more comfortable in their own skin. Encourage them to maintain healthy habits:

getting enough sleep, keeping a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and so on.

Eating Disorders Eating disorders encompass a wide range of conditions, amd people with these disorders tend to use food as a coping mechanism to deal with stress or extreme emotions. These individuals are often influenced by flawed perceptions about weight and body image. When talking to individuals with an eating disorder, it is important to not provide simple assurances.

Be sure to never comment their weight, and do not heavily focus on the topic of food. If you know people who are suffering from an eating disorder, advise them to seek professional help immediately. Nutritional counselors can help them create a balanced nutritional plan, while therapists can help them alleviate any negative thoughts about their body image.

Sources: helpguide.org, Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria INC., Walden Center for Education and Research

OPINION: MENTAL HEALTH DESERVES RESPECT, WE NEED TO RAISE MORE AWARENESS

LOAN-ANH PHAM / THE UNION

“You’re retarded.” This is a term often used insensitively in our generation. People use this term to describe others as stupid, ridiculous, or foolish. In truth, “retarded” is used to describe a person less advanced in mental, physical, and social development.

Having a mental illness is not something to be ashamed about.

In our school, we have a class for students with special needs. Best Buddies, a club on our campus, takes kids in the special needs classes to places like the Pumpkin Patch to celebrate the holidays.

Other examples of MHS showing its support for people with mental disabilities are the ASB and Leadership classes. A few weeks ago, ASB passed out blue ribbons to spread mental health awareness, introducing a new project called “The Blue Ribbon Project.”

At the beginning of this school year, MHS students were told to recite a pledge: “We, the community of Milpitas High School, pledge to treat each other

with respect, dignity, and love with discussions on mental by embracing other similarities disorders, including bulimia, and differences.” By signing this brain disorders, and depression. pledge, students and teachers From reading about these mental promised that they would not issues, I learned that derogatory create barriers between each remarks regarding mental issues another. This pledge was a are ignorant and discourteous. way to stop students We should publicize from bullying others, the history of mental including those with illnesses. I wish there mental health issues. were more courses at Despite all these MHS that could teach attempts from our others more about school to promote mental issues. The lack awareness, people still of knowledge that other have a tendency to students have keeps a pick on these students. barrier between what’s ROSHNI Mental illnesses should right and wrong, which SHETH not be the subject of results in bullying. jokes, especially since Our school does our school works hard to give a great job raising awareness the same amount of respect and about students that have mental education to these students as issues but disregards any other they give to us. information. I hope there will I learned about mental health be a day where we will not need and its stigmas in AP Psychology special months and days to talk last year. I read and watched about mental issues. We should videos about the different be more aware of our words and mental issues people have, surroundings. including numerous Ted Talks

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ENTERTAINMENT

Season 2 of ‘Stranger Things’ is right-side up

RATING KEY

RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

Eleven as the new girl, and is just as easily accepted. She’s a tomboy, she’s smart, and she can handle the complicated world of the Upside “Stranger Things” fans—you Down. Hopper and Joyce are won’t be disappointed. There’s determined to (literally) fight the always the fear that a sequel won’t demons Will is fighting, and their ever one up the first season, and duo is a throwback to their “Stranger Things” doesn’t discovery of the Upside Down try to. It serves as a satisfying together. As for Eleven--I’ll continuation of the first season wait for you to see that one for with new plot, new story lines, and justice for Barb.

TV-SERIES yourself.

“Stranger Things 2” The stakes are heightened; REVIEW succeeds in its ability to cut Will is out of the Upside Down off each episode at an effective and is in sight of his family and cliffhanger. This season solved friends, but he is far from safe. The more solutions than it proposed, different plot lines, with Nancy however, unlike the last season. In and Jonathan, the four boys, and the last season, there were a series Hopper and Joyce add a certain of scenes at the end that left infinite familiarity to the story, so it doesn’t opportunities for fans to create feel like we’re far from home. theories and stories to explain However, the added scares from just what was going on. However, whats going on in the Upside Down “Stranger Things 2” quickly and Will’s mind is what make this resolves all of those questions in season its own. the beginning of the season, while Nancy and Jonathan deliver artfully adding on new plotlines.

Justice for Barb in a way not a The main success of the show is lot of us wanted but I assure you, creating a whole different fantasyis satisfying. The four boys and -one that lets four middle school a new character, Max, replaces

BY SHREEYA ARANAKE



going boys to roam their town freely with no parental supervision to tame their imagination. Most of us grew up in an era that forced our parents to think the worst of the world, what with the news of the latest shootings, kidnappings, and assaults. But “Stranger Things” allows its viewers to step in a world of inhibited child-like imagination that comes to life. Sure, demogorgons are make believe, but biking home when it’s dark out?

That’s where the real genius of the Duffer Brother lies.

As the second season comes to an end, it only raises hopes of a third season coming soon. The end of the second season foreshadowed more doom to come Hawkins’ way, as well as forming new relationships among the children and adults. Overall, the show is a great passage of time, keeping you wanting more of the horror and romance of 80s’ movies, and of course, Steve’s hair. There are nine episodes, each about an hour’s length, and believe me, its nine hours of sitting on the couch that you won’t regret.

Courtesy of sesamestreetcommunities.org

‘Sesame Street’ actor Alan Muraoka comforts Big Bird in wake of Big Bird having “big feelings.” This episode title, ‘Comfy Cozy Nest’ encourages children to have an imaginary safe place after they have experienced a traumatic event.

‘Sesame Street’ makes every day a sunny day

RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

BY LOAN-ANH PHAM

You always see them during news interviews on the recent slew of natural disasters, including a host of hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, Nate, Ophelia), earthquakes (Mexico and Puerto Rico), and wildfires (Northern California): adults, traumatized at the loss of their homes, barely holding it in. Yet, a big part of the displaced population is unheard from: the children. “Sesame Street” is remembering the smaller victims of these tragedies through videos and activities that encourage adults to help their little ones understand and accept the changes in their lives.

“Sesame Street” is largely known as a children’s show: teaching kids how to count, how to identify color, and so on in the form of songs and interactions between the characters. Yet, Sesame Street adds another accomplishment to the list, and this time, it’s the parents that are being guided.

By going to the “Sesame Street in Communities” website (sesa mestreetincommunities. org), parents or siblings can find a whole curriculum designed specifically to aid kids in their response to a variety of different topics. Some include, “Dealing

with Divorce,” “Explaining Autism,” “Staying Healthy,” and the highlight of this article, “Traumatic Experiences.”

“Traumatic Experiences” focuses on coping with unexpected events such as the loss of a parent, ongoing physical or emotional neglect, and natural disasters. The site’s article, “Responses to Traumatic Experiences, Age by Age” presents a list of “symptoms” by age level that parents or siblings can watch out for in kids in the aftermath of such events. It’s a helpful reminder that children have feelings and should always have attention if they need it.

In addition, workshops such as “Comfy Cozy Nest” are also available. In this scenario, Big Bird is dealing with “big feelings” and needs Alan, his friend and resident on Sesame Street, to help him. In a video, Alan encourages Big Bird to create an imaginary safe place, and as a result, demonstrates the power of making children feel safe when they’re experiencing the loss of their homes and prized possessions during natural disasters.

The workshop goes on to include an audio illustrated storybook complete with Alan helping Big Bird create the latter’s mind “nest.” What’s touching is that Big Bird applies the same method to help Abby, a fairy friend who’s

also dealing with “big feelings.”

The story is followed by a minigame, where Big Bird takes deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. These activities prove the importance of helping children relax during times where they’re pushed from one home to the next, not feeling at home at all.

The site also includes worksheets for adults to print out: there’s a coloring page from “Comfy Cozy Nest”, as well as a “‘I Can’ Flower” worksheet. “‘I Can’ Flower” presents a flower where children are told to draw themselves in the center; the petals encourage kids to do different actions such as saying “I have what it takes” out loud. The stems ask children to write what they “can” be, as in “I can be kind” or “I can give myself a hug.” The worksheets provide a way to engage kids during busy times and ease them into being more self-reliant.

Big Bird isn’t the only one to make an appearance. The site also involves the adorable Elmo in “I can feel safe” (he builds himself a fort) as well as Rosita in “I can let my feelings out” (she releases her anger safely by hitting a pillow).

With so many unfamiliar things happening all at once, children need familiar faces and support to get through the tough times. As Alan said, “Children need to know that they’re not alone.”

Thor’s Hammer Chicken Tenders pumpkin spice latte Tofurkey Early Decision Music Reviews

LOST IN TRANSLATION

by New Politics Genre: Indie Rock RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA

by P!nk Genre: Pop RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

BY JERALD MENDOZA

BY ERIC DE GUZMAN

New Politics is back at it again, releasing their new album, “Lost In Translation,” on October 6, 2017. After a couple years without touring, they put out a single from the album in August, “One of Us.” “One of Us” set the tone for the rest of the album. New Politics brings back their uncanny ability to take the sounds of Queen and bring it to the current era of music.

With vocals and acoustics akin to the legendary band, New Politics adds modern techniques and their own emotional spin to bring back the sound of Freddie Mercury.

Many of the songs are carefree and upbeat, displaying an infectious enthusiasm that few groups can match. “CIA,” the opening track, has a playful, childlike vibe. The feel is hammered in with lyrics sung by a child. Though some might say it’s heavy-handed, “CIA” is a novel sound that only brings the listener into the new album.

“Lifted” and “Color Green” break the upbeat mold of the album.

“Color Green” takes a slower pace than the rest of the songs, giving it a fuller vibe. The change in pace effectively gives the song’s lyrics more weight, since they’re more easily isolated. “Lifted” slows down the tempo, but keeps most of the rock aspects of the band, unlike “Color Green.” The draw to “Lifted,” however, is the choir that sings with the chorus that just adds so much gravity to the song.

“East Coast Thrilla” is the most chaotic sounding song in the album, a cacophony of alarms, bass, bells, guitars, and pitch changes. It’s an auditory assault that comes together as a disconcert of sound that musicians don’t dare to dive into anymore.

Overall, “Lost in Translation” is one of the most relatable albums from New Politics. The diversity of songs, and how they catch your ear, is delightful. Its selection of songs with so many vibes is astounding for a ten song album, and I highly recommend you give it a listen.

On October 13th, the pop artist P!nk had released “Beautiful Trauma”, her first album in five years. The critically acclaimed singer had been in the music scene for a while; her pop hits, including “Get the Party Started,” “Just Give Me a Reason,” and “F**kin’ Perfect,” had taken up residence in radio stations and moms’ playlists since the early 2000’s. P!nk is well-known for her strong, unfiltered vocals, and her newest album proves the pop veteran is still as strong and unfiltered as ever, although repetitive at times.

“Beautiful Trauma” is all about highlighting the highs of the lowest lows. Coincidence or not, the thirteen-track album was released on Friday the 13th, and after listening to the album, I feel that this is P!nk’s middle finger to bad luck and bad decisions.

The first and titular track “Beautiful, ” exemplifies this the most, with its paradoxical lyrics. An energetic track with its orchestral melodies, memorable lyrics, sweet bass and hip-hoppy percussion, “Beautiful Trauma” will be undoubtedly stuck in your head and the radio for at least half a year.

The next track, “Revenge”, featuring Eminem, is probably my favorite in the album. The track is basically a lyrical fight between two lovers who are cheating on each other. Playful and sarcastic lyrics are the core of this track.

All in all, “Beautiful Trauma” is definitely a welcome addition to the 2017 playlist; there are not too many artists out there that can convey their messages as sincerely as P!nk does. The energetic and fun tracks are where the album shines this time around, but no one would mind if you skipped over Sad Track #2. Hopefully, we will see more of P!nk in the future; “Beautiful Trauma” is a strong, yet flawed step forward for the 2000’s hitmaker, and her genuine, hard-hitting voice is appreciated amidst the uninspired products that constitute much of pop music today.

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New exhibit opens at museum, evokes out-of-body experience RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

BY KELLY LUE GRACE CHANG

“Body Worlds” has been a traveling exhibit for the past couple of years, and now it has become a semi-permanent exhibit at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose. Renamed “Body Worlds Decoded,” the Tech Museum has introduced a high-tech twist to the anatomy-themed exhibit’s features—apt for the Silicon Valley.

In addition to its original displays of preserved organisms called “plastinates,” the Tech Museum employs the use of augmented reality (AR) to make the exhibit much more interactive. With the inclusion of AR, guests are able to roam “Body Worlds Decoded” with a tablet equipped with a program called “Iris,” which allows visitors to see animated, more in-depth explanations of each anatomical showcase.

AR isn’t the only technological addition to the exhibit. The “Anatomage” makes up another modern portion of the exhibit. As a display set off to the side of “Body

Worlds Decoded,” the “Anatomage” is run by museum staff and volunteers, where they teach visitors about human anatomy by using an interactive table and television screens.

Although I found the exhibit to be quite immersive and enjoyable, “Body Worlds Decoded” does evoke some feelings of discomfort.

Because plastinates are completely real, preserved bodies, guests may have a hard time viewing the remarkably eerie-looking displays. The Tech Museum takes precautions and advises visitors who are sensitive or easily frightened to view the plastinates at their own discretion.

Despite being potentially disturbing to some audiences, “Body Worlds Decoded” truly makes an old exhibit innovatively modern. The addition of easyto-use augmented reality makes the exhibit more engaging and is attractive to people of all ages.

If you’re looking for a unique educational experience, “Body Worlds Decoded” should definitely be on your list of attractions to visit.

Ishrak Ramzan | The Union

Senior Alyssa Bennett lends her powerful vocals to the jazz band’s performance of the song, “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You.” The jazz band supported her voice well and featured an upbeat, retro sound that was characteristic of the 1970s.

MHS Music Department begins year on high note RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

BY MAANSI MASKAI ISHRAK RAMZAN

MHS’ jazz band, choir, string orchestra, and chamber orchestra held their first concert of the year on Wednesday, Oct. 18, in the MHS theater. Throughout the course of the night, a great variety of songs were performed, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.

The concert started off with the jazz band performing a quartet of songs, which included the pieces “Moon Dance,” “Trinita,” “Blues Dues,” and “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You.” One of the highlights of the night was a vocal solo performed by Senior Alyssa Bennett during the piece “You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You.” Bennett sang beautifully and carried great timbre, accentuating and adding to the jazz band’s skillful playing of their instruments.

Following the performances by the jazz band, the stage was taken

by Junior Amy Le and Sophomore Max Jones on the piano, playing “Hungarian Dance No. 5.” The duo enchanted the audience with their performance and displayed great synchronization.

The duo were followed by the choir, who performed four songs: “Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name,” “Sing to Me,” “La Lluvia,” and “The Crawdad Song.” Each song evoked different feelings, ranging from the calm and tranquil “Sing to Me” to the bright and comedic “The Crawdad Song.”

The highlight of the choir performances was definitely the rendition of the song “La Lluvia.”

By turning off the lights and utilizing body percussion to mimic the sounds of an intensifying thunderstorm, the choir was able to create a fitting atmosphere for the song and hold the attention of the audience throughout the performance.

Subsequently, the string orchestra presented four pieces:

“Mock Morris,” “A Night at the Opera,” “Dragonfly,” and “Three Celtic Folksongs.” “Night” was comprised of three arias (melodies), with a whimsical first one, a more sombre second, and a final piece that gripped the audience from the start. The song “Dragonfly” was especially entertaining, utilizing repetition that gripped the audience and built up to an apt climax.

Additionally, the percussion during the piece “Three Celtic Folksongs” punctuated the songs and was an interesting complement to the orchestra’s performance.

Following the string orchestra, the chamber orchestra took the stage, performing “Variations on Paganini” and “St. Paul’s Suite.”

“St. Paul’s Suite” contained four parts and was punctuated with several high notes, which steadily built up energy in the audience as the piece progressed.

Overall, the talented musicians and vocalists of MHS definitely started the year off on a high note.

Third ‘Thor’ movie hammers into the box office RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

Mili Bhatnagar | The Union

New iPhone cracks the market, features brand new additions

BY SUHAS SHEKAR

The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, released on September 22, 2017, are some of Apple’s newest smartphones. While various improvements have been made to various areas, most people have fixed their attention on new features such as wireless charging and the upgraded camera.

Out of the box, these phones come shipped with a Lightning to USB Cable, Earpods with Lightning Connector, a USB Power Adapter, and a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter.

The iPhone 8 is being sold at a starting price of 699 dollars while the iPhone 8 Plus is being sold for an additional 100 dollars. Both phones are offered with gold, silver, and space gray finishes and with storage capacities of 64GB and 256GB. The iPhone 8 Plus boasts a 5.5 inch display, in contrast to the iPhone 8’s 4.7 inch display. The implementation of the new A11 Bionic chip allows for faster processing and smoother navigation.

One of the more notable additions to these phones is the replacement of the aluminum backside with glass. This decision has led to complaints around reparation costs and fingerprints. The one benefit of this choice is their iPhone 8’s com-

patibility with wireless charging pads, which is a practice that can now be expected to be seen in the future. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus also feature a True Tone display, which senses ambient light and makes corresponding color adaptations to the screen output.

One of the most enticing aspects of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are their cameras. Both phones are now capable of recording videos in 4K quality at 60 FPS and in 1080p at 240 FPS. The iPhone 8 Plus features a dual 12-megapixel camera, in comparison to the iPhone 8’s single 12-megapixel camera.

In terms of longevity, the battery life can last for an extensive period of time. The iPhone 8 can last anywhere from 12-40 hours throughout general usage while the iPhone 8 Plus lasts from 14-60 hours. Additionally, both phones now have the ability to utilize fastcharge, and can have their battery percentages reach 50 percent within 30 minutes when charged with an appropriate charger.

Ultimately, even with the recent launch of the iPhone X, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are more affordable options that are a definite upgrade over their predecessors. The upgraded camera, wireless charging, and faster processing speeds are all appealing enhancements to an already familiar product.

ments of a good Marvel movie, such as the absurdist humor rem“Thor: Ragnarok” came out in iniscent of Marvel’s “Guardians theatres on November 2, 2017, and of the Galaxy” and the beautiful Director Taika Waititi has given visuals typical of every MCU film. the titular character and series a The major difference between much-needed makeover. Gone is the latest “Thor” movie and its prethe often too serious Thor (Chris decessors is that “Ragnarok” was Hemsworth) of previous funny in a way the other movmovies in the Marvel Cinies never quite were. During ematic Universe (MCU): in heartwarming moments, the “Ragnarok”, Thor develops tone of the film still stayed MOVIE lighthearted. The movie into a relatable character, due REVIEW had brilliant special effects in part to the ridiculous humor featured that wasn’t presthat really contributed to ent in the other “Thor” films. the overall effect of the film.

After recurring visions of Even with a runtime of over two Ragnarok, Thor takes measures hours, the movie never feels overto prevent the prophesied disaster. ly drawn-out. Tessa Thompson’s However, Thor has to face Hela, the portrayal of Valkyrie, the unsung Goddess of Death (Cate Blanchett). hero of the film, and Blanchett’s “Ragnarok” is the third “Thor” Hela were a few among truly stelmovie made, and by far the best. lar performances from the cast.

“Ragnarok” has all of the eleDespite everything “Ragnarok”

BY ERIN UTTER



got right, it wasn’t perfect. One issue with both “Ragnarok” and the MCU is that the plot was often very predictable. Nothing truly unexpected happened. Furthermore, while the visuals were stunning, there seemed to be a reliance on CGI rather than practical effects. As a result, the movie had a faceless CGI army that contributes to the unoriginality seen in many Marvel movies. However, these small flaws did not make “Ragnarok” any less enjoyable.

While “Ragnarok” is a part of the MCU, it works just as well as a standalone movie, since the exposition provided throughout the film allows the audience to understand the basic plot points of previous MCU films. “Thor: Ragnarok” is certainly an entertaining watch, and is without a doubt one of the best movies that the MCU has to offer.

Vibrant color museum pops up in San Francisco RATING (Out of 5 turkeys):

BY KELLY NGUYEN ANDREW DINH

Immerse yourself in a world of vibrant color, confetti, and neon lights at San Francisco’s Color Factory. The aesthetically pleasing museum showcases visually fascinating attractions and colorful snacks.

Tickets to the museum, open in San Francisco’s Union Square, were in high demand, crashing the ticketing website, Eventbrite. For

$35, visitors enter a bright utopia.

Designed with the popularity of social media in mind, cameras are strategically placed throughout the museum. Visitors receive polka-dotted cards when they enter, scanning the cards to activate cameras and encapsulate memories at each display.

When entering the museum, a colorful flight of stairs guides visitors to servings of flavored marshmallows and lemonade. Exhibits in the museum feature confetti,

balloons, and a yellow ball pit. One memorable room was an adult coloring book, where visitors could fill in black-and-white sketches with giant markers. Exploring took about an hour and a half, but time flew by when reveling in colors.

Another hidden gem in the streets of San Francisco, the Color Factory is the perfect place to take Instagram-worthy pictures. Go with your friends to this whimsical pop up museum for an explosion of colors.

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THE UNION

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 2017

Lack of buses for Fall sports teams criticized; director confirms return of transportation

BY KIRK TRAN

COURTESY OF DUSTIN KANG Senior Kaito Hashimoto (653) competes at the Cross Country SCVAL finals. The contest was held at Crystal Springs in Belmont, California

Cross Country draws to end; top athletes heading to CCS

BY ERIC DE GUZMAN

The 2017 MHS Cross Country season is coming to a close, but the athletes qualifying for the Central Coast Sectionals (CCS) on Nov. 11 will continue practicing, Head Coach Bridget Hall said.

Overall, this year’s Varsity Girls Cross Country team is faster than last year’s Varsity Girls Cross Country team, with the all girls improving on their times from last year, Hall said.

“Our girls’ team qualified for CCS based upon their combined team time,” Hall said. “And as an individual, Kaito Hashimoto made it to CCS based on his overall sixth place finish,” Hall added.

Senior Kaito Hashimoto has been doing cross country since the seventh grade, Hashimoto said. Hashimoto has been a varsity runner since freshman year, he added.

“Kaito Hashimoto is one of the best runners in CCS and has run at a very high level so far this season, medaling at multiple invitationals so far,” Coach Dustin Kang said in an email.

It is Kang’s first time coaching, and he enjoys it so far, Kang said.

He had always been interested in coaching and now has the free time, having just graduated from college and moved here from Maryland for a new job, he added.

“As a former runner, I really enjoyed my time on my high school team and wanted to get involved again with the sport,” Kang said.

“Obviously I couldn’t compete as an athlete anymore so coaching was my next option!”

The team is bonding well now that they are mostly through the season, Kang said.

“There is something about suffering and pushing through intense workouts and races that brings teammates close together in a unique fashion in the sport of cross country,” Kang said.

The best part of coaching is seeing the runners grow as athletes and as people, Kang said.

“Coach Kang is, I think, my favorite coach, because he runs with us and gives us new ideas,” Freshman Isabella Kellas said.

“I feel pretty confident, and I feel we’ve all gotten better as a team.”

Do not take him for granite; Singh rocks at rock climbing

BY ROSHNI SHETH

Imagine if MHS had a sport that required more work on specific body parts such as your fingers or back. Now, imagine working out these body parts for more than three hours every day by yourself in a gym. It seems almost impossible but Junior Tristan Singh “rocks” the sport, rock climbing, with his unique passion and drive.

For the past year, Singh has been rock climbing around different places in the Bay Area, Singh said. Additionally, on a daily basis, Singh trains himself at The Studio Climbing, which is an indoor gym in San Jose with an inclusive climbing area.

“I got good really fast,” Singh stated. “I always had a love for nature and the outdoors and I’m super competitive as well.”

In his daily routine, Singh starts off with pull-ups for thirty minutes on a pull-up bar and focuses on his circuits the rest of the time, he said. Singh’s circuits

involve doing four different climbs around the gym which usually take him around two hours, he added.

“I been practicing my pull-ups since I was in fifth grade,” Singh said. “The circuits start off easy but as I do more they get harder and harder.”

A number of aspects makes a climb difficult, Singh stated. It depends on distance, duration, body types, and how small and far the holds are, he added.

“I’ve broken a couple of fingers when climbing,” Singh said.

“Once, I was climbing a couple of boulders up on Castle Rock and I fell,” he added.

Singh has competed in numerous competitions that are both local and state, Singh said.

The first person who finishes the climb, or gets the farthest, wins, he added.

“When competing, you have to figure out how to control your body,” Singh stated. “I have only won five local and two state competitions but I really want to go nationals,” Singh said.

Buses were unavailable for most fall athletic teams, save for the cross country and football teams until Oct. 24, Athletic Director Jeff Lamb said. The lack of transportation was caused by the inability of the school district to prepare buses early in the season, Lamb added.

Up until recently, the only two sports with buses were the cross country and football teams, Lamb said. Even the buses for the football and cross country teams were difficult to find, Lamb added.

“There were only two sports this year that were provided buses, the football team, because they go long distances, and the cross country team, because their team is large,” Lamb said.

“The volleyball team, tennis team, and water polo team have all had to rely on parent drivers,” Lamb also said.

“The ones we got for football and cross country took hours to get,” Lamb added. “For those two sports, it was crucial for us to get them buses.”

Lamb said on Oct. 24 that the Girls’ Tennis team and volleyball team would get their first buses.

Lamb also said that buses would be more available for the rest of the fall athletics season as well as for the winter athletics teams. He clarified that the lack of buses was not due to a lack of funding, but a simple inability of the school district to find buses.

“We weren’t able to get buses,” Lamb said. “They weren’t avail-

able. We get our buses from our school district, and the school district couldn’t provide them earlier in the year.”

“In reality, for a sport like Girls’ Tennis, the coach was willing to drive and the parents were willing to drive, which made it easier for us,” Lamb added.

The missing buses inspired feelings of disappointment towards the Athletic Department in some students. Given that she and other student-athletes donate $100 every year to the athletics program, it is especially unacceptable, Varisty Tennis Player Katyana de Ocampo said.

“I noticed this year when the tennis team didn’t have a bus we had to have parent volunteers to drive us to games, which I don’t think is acceptable because football and volleyball have their own buses,” de Ocampo said.

Volleyball and football get the lion’s share of athletic funding, de Ocampo said. The Athletic Department does not support other teams unless absolutely necessary, she added.

“I think [the Athletic Department] just distributes [the money] to volleyball and football, and if we really need it, I guess they’ll pull it out of their pockets, but other than that, volleyball and football are their main priorities,” de Ocampo said.

Meanwhile, others have voiced differing opinions on athletic funding. Funding has been perfectly acceptable for the cross country team, Cross Country Head Coach Bridget Hall said.

“The cross country team has

what it needs. It has its uniforms, its buses, and it has its entry fees paid for,” Hall said.

Football Varsity Head Coach Kelly King also disagreed with de Ocampo’s thoughts on the matter. The football team has raised most of its own money for over 20 years, King said.

“Ever since 1990, we’ve always tried to fundraise everything on our own speed so we never took anything from anybody else. I always felt that was important, so we’ve always fundraised, tried to be self-supporting, as much as possible,” King said.

Lamb’s stance similarly disagreed with the stance of de Ocampo. Lamb, who is also the Volleyball Varsity Head Coach, said the volleyball team has the least funding of all MHS athletic teams. Like football, the volleyball team fundraises on its own, Lamb added.

“Volleyball takes the least money from all of our teams,” Lamb said. “If the volleyball team gets more than the other teams, it’s because we raise all of the money ourselves.”

Contrary to de Ocampo’s claims, the volleyball team contributes, rather than detracts, from other athletics teams’ budgets, Lamb continued.

“In actuality, the volleyball team pays for other sports out of the volleyball account. We’ve paid for those new soccer goals, that camera the football team uses to record games, and the track team’s new hurdles. We even paid for a coach’s salary once,” Lamb said.

Varsity Girls Water Polo team wins for first time since revival

BY ASHLEY CHEN

The Varsity Girls Water Polo team beat Cupertino High School on Oct. 3 in a league game with a final score of 14-9, Girls’ Water Polo Coach Eman Ghoreyshi said.

This was Varsity Girls Water Polo’s first league game win ever, Ghoreyshi added.

“I was really happy and proud of the girls. They played great,” Ghoreyshi said. “We played up at a level above [Cupertino], more towards the end, so I was really happy with how they played.

Throughout the season, they continue every game, regardless of the odds, to play at a high level.”

This season, the team has won two games in total: the league game against Cupertino at MHS and a tournament game against Aragon High School, Ghoreyshi said. Milpitas is tied for second to last place with Cupertino, Ghoreyshi continued. Ghoreyshi believes that the team beat Cupertino because of the girls’ training, he said “Honestly, I think it came down to the stamina; I think we were maybe conditioned a little bit better. The Cupertino team definitely had very nice skill work and great center positioning and some good outside shooters as well,” Ghoreyshi said. “Again, towards the end they only had I believe two subs, so towards the end I think it came to the training of the goalies and the stamina of the teams.”

Members of the team, such as Senior Maya Avila, also shared their thoughts on the Cupertino win. It was because of the team’s teamwork that they won, Avila said.

“I felt super excited [after the

win]. I was really happy with how we were able to perform. I think we won because we finally came together as a team and collectively grouped our skills,” Avila said.

“With the help of our coach, and his different plays, we were able to actually get the upper hand this time, because last time it was really close,” Avila continued. “Last time we lost in sudden death so now we were able to beat [Cupertino].”

Junior Tiffany Do, another member of the team, shared her opinion on why the team beat Cupertino.

“We think we won because our defense and our offense were pretty good,” Do said. “We listened to our coach, Coach Eman.

He helped us thrive through our third year, taking our first win.”

Since the Cupertino win, the team has been practicing more, Senior Brianna Williams said. "[We have] a little bit longer practices, and it’s just building our confidence more because we’re actually a good team,” Williams said.

“It’s just we can’t execute well in games because during practice we’re not hard on each other, so it’s kind of hard to get that game mentality because games are a lot different from practice,” Williams added.

The team has improved, Ghoreyshi said. The team is working on breaking bad habits they had from previous years, Ghoreyshi continued.

“Coming in, the previous years the girls have been on the team, they came with some bad habits due to past coaching, things that I’ve had to break from them,” Ghoreyshi said. “Teaching them the basics 101 was a challenge, but

I’ve adjusted to that, and they’ve definitely improved and started breaking those bad habits that they used to have.”

Do hopes the team can win at least one more league game. The team has the potential to win future games, Do added.

“Our team has gotten a lot better and I think that if we all try hard enough, we can actually win more games than usual. I’m expecting at least two: Cupertino and another team,” Do said.

Ghoreyshi also hopes to end the season with one more win.

“I’d like to win at least one more league game in the league tournament, get the girls a good last season, especially because we have four seniors going out,” Ghoreyshi said. “These teams are really experienced, so more than ever, these girls need to put in the effort off season if they want to go anywhere in this league, so I’m mainly hoping that the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen will play at least two seasons of club so we can get at least two wins next year instead of one,” Ghoreyshi added.

Avila started playing water polo as a junior on the JV team. She plays water polo because it is fun, Avila said.

“I like being aggressive sometimes, but other times I feel like having great people on your team, like Tiffany Do, makes [water polo] worth playing,” Avila said.

Do’s favorite part about playing water polo is being able to bond with friends on the team.

“I’m actually really thankful for our team this year,” Do said. ”I’m just thankful for the people who are here, and people should join Water Polo.”

NOVEMBER 2017

SPORTS

THE UNION

13

New coaches hired for Wrestling, Volleyball

BY KELLY LUE ANTHONY NGUYEN

The start of the new school year brings both new and familiar faces to the sports department.

Both the Volleyball and Wrestling teams have welcomed new coaches to their respective teams.

New Wrestling Coach Jake Tanenbaum has expressed great hopes for the team. As the owner of a local gym in Milpitas called Smash Gyms, Tanenbaum has had the opportunity to work with many Milpitas athletes.

“I have high expectations for the upcoming season,” Tanenbaum said in an email. “We have a great team, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have been working with several of the student athletes for the past couple years,” he added.

As a widely experienced wrestler and coach, the end goal for Tanenbaum is to help more wrestlers qualify for states. In high school, Tanenbaum placed at states all four years, also compiling a record of 158 wins and 21 losses in the process, Tanenbaum said. Tanenbaum later went on to wrestle for Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo where he was coached by several Olympic medalists and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champions.

From there, Tanenbaum taught as an assistant wrestling coach at Monta Vista High School for two years until he moved near Milpitas and partnered with several local gyms to open up Smash Gyms, where he continued to coach student-athletes.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach multiple California state qualifiers, high school state champions, national All-Americans, as well as enabled my student athletes to get Division I, II, and various other scholarships to wrestle

at universities throughout the country,” Tanenbaum said.

During practices, Tanenbaum likes to emphasize both strength training and conditioning, Tanenbaum said. Also, Tanenbaum prefers to keep practices brief and to the point, he said.

“I like practices to be short and sweet. Get in, work hard, get out.

If everyone is putting in their best effort, an hour and a half should suffice,” Tanenbaum said. “I also like to implement strength training and conditioning into workouts as I was a kinesiology major in college and have studied exercise physiology extensively,” Tanenbaum added.

Overall, Tanenbaum has high hopes for the upcoming season, expressing the good work ethic built by previous Head Wrestling Coach, Kent Mitchell, as well as the dedication of the team.

“I think Coach Mitchell did a great job in building the program and creating a culture where working hard and giving your best is expected and I want to expand on those values for the upcoming season,” Tanenbaum said. “I think Milpitas is different than the other programs I’ve been around because everyone is dedicated and puts forth their best effort, and I think with that we can be very successful.”

Like Tanenbaum, Freshmen Volleyball Coach Jacqueline Lamb has also joined the MHS sports department. Lamb, an MHS alumni, has already gotten the chance to work with the Freshmen Volleyball team, said Lamb. With prior experience from coaching a club volleyball team, Lamb stresses overall team improvement rather than the importance of winning, she said.

“For the freshmen team, we don’t necessarily look for wins as much as we do overall improve-

ment,” said Lamb. “As a team and individually, they have all improved immensely since the first day that they stepped in the gym.”

At practices, Lamb makes sure to emphasize the basics, she said.

While the team does work on improving skills through various drills and scrimmaging, Lamb tries to highlight the mechanics of volleyball and accentuates the fact that everything has a purpose for the freshmen team, she said.

“For the freshmen team, you get an entirely new batch of girls every year, so every year, you are basically starting from scratch,” Lamb explained. “The only thing that I can hope for is that the new freshmen coming in are as dedicated and hardworking as the ones I have now,” she continued.

Lamb has always seen herself coaching at MHS, she said. Growing up, she had always watched and played volleyball, so she naturally developed a lifelong love for the sport, Lamb explained.

“I had always seen myself coaching here,” Lamb said. “So when I moved back from going to college at the University of Hawai’i and there was an opening, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.”

Lamb hopes to have brought a fresh outlook to the volleyball program, she said. Team cohesion is extremely important to her, and she tries to implement various aspects of team bonding throughout the season.

“I’ve gotten really lucky to have a team where everyone gets along with each other. On any team, not to mention an all female team, that is extremely rare,” Lamb explained. “I also want to inspire the athletes to want to be better human beings through good sportsmanship and dedication to each other.”

COURTESY OF THAC H. NGUYEN

Taekwondo Black Belt Tyler Nguyen kicks his opponent in the head. A kick to the head earns three points in Olympic Taekwondo.

Taekwondo academy teaches MHS students spirit, honesty

BY LUKE REN DEVYN NGUYEN

Blue Dragon Taekwondo Academy has been teaching taekwondo for over 20 years, and has taught multiple MHS students the importance of virtue through its teachings, Grand Master Thac H. Nguyen said. The academy has won numerous gold medals in multiple competitions ranging from state championships to international events, he said.

The academy’s success comes from their focus on philosophy and discipline, Nguyen said. Emphasis is placed on following the five tenets of taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self control, and indomitable spirit, he added.

“We demonstrate the five tenets of taekwondo so we put the integrity and a lot of character in what we do,” Nguyen said. “It’s not about how many medals, how many stripes they have on their belt, how many medals they win at championships. [It’s] how well they become as an individual.”

The tenets and discipline are essential to the development of the students and their success during competitions, Nguyen said. The Grand Master teaches every class with the students on the floor to make sure they understand the discipline, he added.

“Whether the student is in regular class, competition, training, or at a competition site, we expect them to play their role and demonstrate the five tenets of taekwondo,” Nguyen said. “There is no I; it is always we. If we all lead by examples, then all the lower belts and beginners have to follow.”

Blue Dragon’s style of teaching focuses more on overcoming adversities and failures, Nguyen said. Rather than being seen as weaknesses, failures are seen as learning experiences for the students, Nguyen added.

Students always put in effort, Nguyen said. If a student fails because the opponent was stronger or they didn’t play their best, they are told to go back to the basics to retrain and believe in themselves, he continued.

“Every time the students fail to achieve their goal, we tell them to go back and tell them to look at

what happened during the process,” Nguyen said. "If we didn’t execute anything right, we go back and redo it rather than look at the result and think that we failed because we didn’t try hard enough.”

Taekwondo helped him become a better person, Junior Tyler Nguyen said. Through following its teachings, taekwondo has become a way of life for him, Tyler Nguyen continued. “[Taekwondo] teaches you life lessons,” Tyler Nguyen said. “It teaches you traits like self control, perseverance, discipline, [and] being respectful to others.”

Taekwondo has opened Junior Emily Yap to more opportunities and let her become a better friend, Yap said. Through Taekwondo, Yap has gained friends who she can count on to support her throughout her life, she added.

“What motivates me to do taekwondo is that I’ve been doing it for five years,” Yap said. “What I’ve learned in the past five years makes me more passionate about the sport and it makes me be a better person.”

Taekwondo is a lifestyle that guides Junior Matthew Marciano Clarke in whatever he does, Clarke said. Taekwondo has helped Clarke improve his confidence and his strength, Clarke continued.

“I feel like I’m a better friend, a better son,” Clarke said. “[I’m] just a better person in general just through learning discipline and the five tenets of taekwondo.”

“I think martial arts, not just taekwondo, should be a part of every middle school, high school,” Thac Nguyen said. “[Sports] only demonstrate the disciplines, teamwork. But for martial arts we demonstrate the five tenets of taekwondo so we put the integrity and a lot of character in what we do.”

Taekwondo is a philosophy and should be taught in every middle school and high school, Thac Nguyen said. By teaching taekwondo in middle school and high school, students will learn to strive to be the best individual they can be, he added.

“It’s pretty fun; it’s in the Olympics, and karate isn’t,” Tyler Nguyen said.

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NOVEMBER 2017

NOVEMBER 2017

T HE U NION

NEWS

EDUCATION: How PLPs work in education

N EWS IN BR IEF

FROM PAGE 1 about her belief in public education, Jordan continued.

“By then, [DeVos] definitely had the impression and got our message that public education works,” Jordan said. “So she leaned over and said, ‘Let me set the record straight. I believe in public education. 90% of our population is in public education.’ Then she said to us, ‘I need you to share with colleagues the good work that you do, so more districts can be like you.’”

Social Sciences Teacher Paul Cao was one of the teachers representing MHS at the meeting, Cao said. During the meeting, DeVos asked what made MUSD successful and what its greatest challenges were, Cao added. The event felt like an opportunity for information gathering for DeVos, as MUSD is a diverse district with no special funding, he continued.

“Because I teach AP Gov, I know that people who work in government are sometimes at different places for media events and to get pictures taken,” Cao said. “I know that that is a thing. I didn’t get that feel from her when I was there.”

PLP is a program similar to Google Classroom, where teachers can post assignments and resources necessary for those assignments, but the difference is that it also creates its own content, according to Jordan. For grades in elementary school, PLP covers all subjects; however, middle school and high school PLP programs will be subject specific, Jordan continued.

Rojas has been approached to try using PLPs at MHS, he said. Some uses a few people have thought of would be in the AVID classes, or in the academies, Rojas explained.

“I think we’ll see some personalized learning coming within the next five years,” Rojas said. “I have started talking with some teachers about different ways we can structure it.”

PLPs can be used in education, but they will not be successful without professionally training the teachers to use it, Rojas stated. This could be seen in a classroom where the students are engaged in their work and the teacher is there to facilitate the learning, Rojas added.

“Technology is a tool; you pick it up; you use it, but again there has to be a balance,” Rojas said. “Technology will not increase test scores or increase achievement; it’s how you use it.”

Some members of the Milpitas community came out in protest of her visit to the campus, Protest Organizer Cassie Kiefer said. From the time she entered office, she’s been working to gut policies that protect students, and Kiefer has rallyed community members to show DeVos that these policies are bad for the community, Kiefer explained.

“We’d love to show the secretary that we support good quality public schools,” Kiefer said. “I don’t personally support privatized public schools, so here I want to speak out on behalf of public school students.”

Wildfires plague the air quality in Milpitas

BY THEODORE DO DEVYN NGUYEN

Poor air quality caused by the Northern California wildfires has had a negative effect on MHS students and athletes, Cross Country Coach Bridget Hall said. The concern regarding the smoke was raised by the athletic department on, Oct. 11 due to potential hazards, Hall said.

The decision to cancel all outdoor athletic competitions was reached through an emergency meeting held by the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL), Principal Francis Rojas said. The urgent measures were taken to ensure safety of the students and athletes in MUSD, he added.

“I know every other middle school and elementary school were on a rainy day schedule where they just stayed inside,” Rojas said. “Ms. Draeger organized a Google document [for the high school] where teachers said, ‘Hey, I’m keeping my classroom open.’”

Athletes and physical education students were to be restricted from all outdoor activities, Athletic Director Jeffrey Lamb said via email. They are monitoring the situation, but no outdoor activities and practices should be held, Lamb said.

“All competitive activities and practices outdoors for the SCVAL are cancelled,” Lamb said. “We are in the high unhealthy percent of groups at 142. 150 is considered unhealthy and we are getting close to that level.”

P.E. classes for rugball were held indoors, according to Senior Alexandria Liu. Students spent the time socializing and studying for the P.E. quiz, until the air quality got better, Liu said.

Hall was also disturbed because of the poor air quality, resulting in the cancellation of multiple active cross country practices, Hall said. Athletes were not recommended to run on their own because of the risk of permanent lung damage, she said.

“I had gone outside at two o’clock to walk over to my foods class and I looked up at the hills and I was like, ‘Wow, those hills are kind of hard to see right now,’” Hall said.

The poor air quality hindered volleyball games and practices, despite the activities being held indoors, much to the disappointment of Varsity Volleyball Athlete Nina Pham, she said.

“I was honestly pretty upset finding out they cancelled practice for my sport, considering it was indoors, but for those that are outside I’m glad they did,” Pham said.

Eye on Campus: Blood Drive

Katherine Hubeny | THE UNION

Doctors from the Stanford Blood Center converse with one another as they set up inspection areas where they ensure donors meet the health requirements.

15

Upcoming Standardized Test Dates The upcoming SAT date is on Dec. 2.

Registration for this date has ended.

The next ACT date is on Dec. 9.

Jack Emery Drive The Jack Emery Drive hosted by ASB will begin on Nov. 15. You may bring money or cans to support the Milpitas Food Pantry.

Kevin Dai | THE UNION

Freshman Davalyn Le, Freshman Jasmeeran Sidhu, and Sophomore Ashleen Dhaliwal (left to right) put hot water into the Cup Noodles to provide to a student.

Cup Noodles sold to fulfill appetites

BY KATHERINE HUBENY

The ASB program started selling Cup Noodles and an assortment of other goods during lunch this year, according to ASB Advisor Joanna Butcher. They started this program to fill a need and desire of the student body, as many students do not eat lunch on a regular basis, Butcher explained.

There is one group, aside from the school cafeteria and kitchens, that is allowed to sell consistently day to day, Butcher said. ASB was granted this, so they have been selling packaged seaweed rolls, Dippin’ Dots, fruit bars, and Cup Noodles, she continued.

“If you were to pull at least half of our student body, most of them would say that if they don’t get to one of the lines right away, they’d rather just sit down,” Butcher said. “That started

becoming the conversation about access to food.”

The sales fill a need for the student body as a whole, Butcher said. It is used as a fundraiser and is meant to be a service that many students are relying on, she continued.

“I think it’s neither improving nutrition nor deteriorating it in a sense,” Butcher said. “Some students will not eat anything, if you’re looking at starving versus something.”

The lunch sales are a fundraiser for events on campus, Senior Class President Augie DeLuna said. Ultimately, the continuous sales benefit the student body in the long run, he added.

“CLOGs are allowed to sell stuff at like CLOG Food Sale,” DeLuna said.

“So we do allow them the opportunity to sell stuff where they don’t follow the nutritional guidelines, but with ASB it just benefits everybody else in the long run.”

CLOG Chartering Congress There is a CLOG Congress on Nov. 9 to charter the new CLOGs for next semester.

Fall Play The fall play “Radium Girls,” will premiere on Thursday Nov. 16 and will also be shown on Nov. 17 and 18.

Tickets will be sold in advance for $8 or at the door for $10 CSU and UC Application Deadlines College applications for the UC and CSU campuses will be due Nov. 30.

Grading Period Ends The 12-week grading period will end on Nov. 9.

Grading Period Ends CLOG Food Sale will be during lunch on Nov. 14 Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Break will start on Nov. 22 and continues through Nov. 24.

School will resume Nov. 27.

Days of Observance The school will not be in session on Nov. 10 for Veterans Day.

Milpitas High provides assistance to homeless youth

BY MARISOL DELA CRUZ HOPE DO

The number of families and students in the Milpitas Unified School District has been increasing over the past few years, with an estimated total of 40 MHS students and 145 students throughout the district identified as homeless as of this year, Family and Community Engagement Manager and School-Linked Services Coordinator Nicole Steward said. Several factors, including the increase in awareness, rent costs, and gentrification, may be contributing to this increase in homelessness, Steward said.

Prior to her arrival in the district three years ago, there was no one officially tasked with caring for and helping out homeless students, Steward said. As a result of the heightened awareness of the issue of students who lack stable housing, the number of identified homeless students and

families has increased, she said.

“One way that we can identify homeless youth is not just that they’re on the street or in shelters, but ‘doubled up,’” Steward said. “So if like me and my mom can’t afford to have our own apartment, so we have to go live with you and your mom, that’s technically ‘doubled up’ and then I qualify as homeless because we don’t pay the bills.”

In addition, with the lack of rent control, landlords have the power to raise the rent cost and exclude people of a certain demographic or financial status as they see fit, Steward said.

Tenants are forced to pay higher prices for less than ideal living conditions, she said.

“The other reason for the increase in numbers is just that rent is out of control and there’s no rent control in Milpitas,” Steward said. “I have families that pay $2,100 a month for a one-bedroom house that’s infested

with roaches and bugs. That’s ridiculous.”

The jump in the number of identified families and students who are homeless or in transitional housing can be attributed to the increased efforts of the school to identify these individuals, Assistant Principal Amanda Gross said. Although it is unclear whether the amount of families and students in need of housing has increased solely due to more identification and resources, the issue highlights the fact that the school needs to provide services to these students, she said.

“Not only do we have a broader scope and vision of who qualifies as not having a permanent home, but we also have someone who is really working on giving assistance to those families,” Gross said. “We’re kinda shining a light on the fact that we need to get [these students] some services.”

World language department asks for donations yearly

BY LUKE REN JONATHAN TRAN

The obligatory $10 donation asked of world language students at the beginning of each year has become somewhat of a tradition, World Language Department Chair Teresita Romero said. The frequent lack of funding in the world language department is the reason for this annual request, she continued.

School funds do not cover all the things that teachers want to be able to do, Romero said. Although extra funds are not necessary to promote academic success, they add to what the students and teachers are able to enjoy, she added.

“We have to ask for fundraising and donations from the parents every year,” Romero said. “It’s kind of hard to do anything fun on eighty cents per kid for the whole year.”

Students were not forced to donate, but they should feel obligated to do so, Chinese Teacher Martha Kang said. All of the donations go towards benefitting the classroom and the students, Kang said.

Kang said that she would give those that turned in a signed copy of the syllabus without the donation a zero in the gradebook, Chinese III Student Allen Dang said. However, those who did not give a donation never received a zero in their gradebook, he added.

“She threatened to give people a zero but didn’t actually follow through with it,” Dang said. “I didn’t donate but I didn’t receive a zero.”

The Chromebooks and online programs bought using the donations were very helpful to the class, Dang said. The gold colored wireless microphones also bought were unnecessary to the class and could be replaced with regular microphones, Dang added.

“She used the donations to buy two golden mics and ten Chromebooks, ” Dang said. “She also used it to pay for a lot of online programs,” Dang added.

The benefit of using these resources is that they make the class more interesting and engaging, Chinese III Student Alex Huey said. Students want to learn more when they are interested and engaged, Huey continued.

“Letting the students use the golden

mic makes the class more interesting because students screw around with them in the first place,” Huey said. “If [the teachers] don’t have money, they can’t fully support their students and use fun online programs.”

The students already knew what Kang would use the donations for before they donated, Huey said. The majority of the donations would go to online services and resources, he continued.

“She said she would use the money for buying us stuff like membership fees, online programs, etc.,” Huey said. “Technology makes the class more interesting.”

Former MHS Principal Schlaff gave his approval to World Language teachers to ask for donations several years ago, Romero said. Before that, Romero had to spend up to about $300 every year, she said.

“It is kind of embarrassing to have to ask the parents for the donations.

I don’t know how that makes our school look,” Romero said. “Part of it is the state’s fault, it’s not just our school. It’s the whole system of how things are funded.”

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THE UNION

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NOVEMBER 2017