The Union - Milpitas High School - April 2018

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T HE APRIL 2018

Volume XXIX Issue V

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STUDENT VOICE OF MILPITAS HIGH SCHOOL

MHS replaces past security guards; campus security owned by district

BY KATHERINE HUBENY

Hope Do | THE UNION

MHS students participated in the national walk out on Mar. 14. These students are seen crossing Milpitas Boulevard while displaying their various posters.

Students walk-out of class; advocate for gun regulation

BY KATHERINE HUBENY JERALD MENDOZA

In an anti-gun violence protest, around 250 MHS students walked out of class on Mar. 14, Principal Francis Rojas said. Students who walked out convened at the Milpitas Police Department to express their opinions, he explained.

During the walkout, students first joined together in front of the school gym, then proceeded to walk to the police station where they shared their opinions on the matter. Participants then had 17 minutes of silence for each fallen victims and a few more speeches were given before heading back to campus right before lunch.

Many students shared the same sentiments in their reasoning for

attending the walkout, according to Senior Kevin Quach. These include a dissent for gun violence and a will to decrease it, Quach continued.

“I obviously take a stance for stricter gun control laws and being here and just raising awareness in general means a lot to me,” Quach said. “Personally, [I’m here] because gun control has always been something that I’ve always wanted to be involved in, and it’s obviously a pressing issue that directly involves all students in the community.”

The walkout was meant to advocate for stricter gun control laws, Quach said. One of his primary concerns about gun violence is the possibility of hearing of a family member’s in-

Security on campus was replaced to allow the new ‘Campus Security Supervisors’ to build relationships with those at MHS, according to Principal Francis Rojas. The Admiral Security Company was replaced with staff hired by MUSD, Rojas added.

These Campus Security Supervisors were given training specifically for school security which includes online classes, first aid, and safety, Rojas explained. The supervisors have already started to make relationships with students and other staff, Rojas continued.

“Right now there are no downsides,” Rojas said. “I think this costs more because we are paying the salary plus benefits, but again that’s an investment that’s worth it because of our safety and the process of building community.”

Security Guard Marcus Boone remained with the Security team after the company was replaced, Boone explained. He really loves the atmosphere at MHS and is glad that he stayed, he continued.

“Now that I’m with the staff, it’s more organized, and I actually have four guards instead of just me,” Boone

said. “For six weeks, I worked here by myself, and the company couldn’t fill our need. So I stuck around, and I’m glad that the principal and Ms. Rivera asked me to stay on.”

None of the reasoning for replacing the security on campus is negative, according to Assistant Principal Jennifer Hutchison. The company had done a good job for the school for a long time, she explained.

“We felt that having people from within Milpitas Unified will be more supportive of students,” Hutchison said. “So it’s not a negative about their process and procedures.”

The change in security guards was actually noticed by Junior Carla Romero, she said. This is probably a good change since there have been a lot more school shootings lately, Romero explained.

“I see like a lot more of security,” Romero said. “Before, they wouldn’t really stop kids when they were like out of class, but now they actually ask them questions.”

However, Sophomore Jenny Pham did not realize that there was a change in security, and most people do not pay attention, she said.

“They don’t really have a huge affect on us, and they don’t do much that I can see,” Pham said.

N EWS IN BR IEF CLOG Chartering CLOG chartering has started.

Applications for returning CLOGS are due on April 9.

Spring Break Spring Break will start on April 15 and continue through April 21. School will resume on April 23.

SBAC Testing SBAC testing starts on April 10.

Testing dates are April 10, 12, 24 and 26.

Grading Period Ends The 12-week grading period will end on April 6.

Prom Prom is on April 7. It starts at 7:30 pm and ends at 12:00 am.

Science Olympiad Science Olympiad will participate in the Nor-Cal State Competition on April 14 at CSU Stanislaus.

Key Club Benefit Show Key Club is holding their annual benefit show on April 21.

AP Test Pre-Administration Pre-Administration occurs afterschool for Seniors on April 23, Juniors on April 24, and for Sophomores and make-ups on the April 25.

Eye on Campus: CLOGs do ‘Pies for Charity’

SEE WALKOUT ON PAGE 3

Life management class is required

BY MORGAN LEI

Incoming freshmen will be required to take a semester-long course of Life Management or AVID or ROTC, Principal Francis Rojas said.

The requirement is due to an increase in student mental health issues at MHS, Rojas added.

The Life Management class aims to teach students how to deal with stress and how to make decisions best for themselves, Rojas explained.

High school is the last couple of years before adulthood, and students need to be prepared for the transition into the professional world, he continued.

“It was a proposal I put forward to get this done freshman year,” Rojas said. “We can help each other with it so that really instead of focusing on those problems when they come, we can actually overcome them, be a stronger person, and really focus on our college and career goals.”

ROTC and AVID work as alternatives for Life Management since both teach students about managing stress, Rojas said. By teaching these skills, MHS will be able to develop a stronger student culture, he added.

“AVID provides very similar type of supports though their mentorship and through their elective course,” Rojas explained. “ROTC also has a component of that in their program according to the ROTC leaders.”

Teachers for the class next year

include Life Management Teacher Bridget Hall, who has been teaching the course for four years, and Health Teacher Toby Anderson, Rojas added.

“Life Management, the way I want to teach it, is to make healthy decisions while managing your life,” Anderson said. “So I think that they have a lot in common.”

Life Management could be helpful for freshmen, according to Senior Catherine Ma, who is currently enrolled in the course. However, for juniors and seniors, it is a bit too late, she added.

“We mostly just talk about our career and plans for life. Right now for example, we are choosing a career we want to do and fields,” Ma said. “This class will help [freshmen] focus on themselves and try to direct themselves, so it will help them.”

In addition to the new class requirement next year, the school plans on partnering with the company Naviance, a software that helps students with college and career planning, Rojas explained. The software will help students find what they are interested in, he added.

“It’s a software that really connects students with their skills and their interests with helping them choose the courses that they need to take during high school,” Rojas noted. “They will really help our counselors reach out to more students because it’s something that all students will have access to.”

Eric De Guzman | THE UNION

Representatives from some of the CLOGs on campus participated in Pies for Charity during lunch on March 14. Students paid $1 to a charity of the CLOG’s choice to pie the CLOG’s participating representative with a plate of whipped cream.

Common core merits unclear despite SBAC success

BY MORGAN LEI

LOAN-ANH PHAM

Common Core aims to single out vital skills across all subject areas as standards are revised accordingly, Assistant Principal Skyler Draeger said. Common Core’s gradual implementation into the MHS school system throughout the years has been effective, according to SBAC scores, Draeger noted.

Data shows that MHS students are doing significantly above average in California, Draeger commented.

There has been a 5% gain in students scoring “proficient” or above in Math, as well as a 6% gain in growth in English Language Arts, Draeger cited.

“You should be able to disaggregate your data, look at your students and look at their scores in each specific part of the test, and from that,

say what percentage of the time are we either near ‘proficient’ or above,” Draeger said. “That would indicate that you’ve learned the standard.”

Students skipping levels of Common Core classes (such as Math I or Math II), are a factor in the difficulty to discern a pattern of growth, Math Department Lead Mei-Hsiang Tseng noted. Whether students are learning these skills in high school or prior to high school is unclear, Tseng added.

“In the old ways, we tried to make the kids do the basic math skills.

Nowadays, we’ll try to make it so that you deal with more real-life problem solving,” Tseng said. “We have to wait more time to see, elementary school up to high school, because not all of the teachers get the training for how to teach the Common Core. We need to have more teachers get the training. Hopefully, it will get better and

better.”

However, the introduction of Common Core has not been favored by many students due to the curriculum being difficult to follow, Senior Vivian Pham explained. The new learning style spends too much time online, and it can be difficult to maintain interest, Pham continued.

“I remember being in Math I and the Common Core curriculum had not been implemented yet; I would say it was more interesting because the teachers would have their own curriculum and it’s easier for students to understand the teacher,” Pham commented. “As for Common Core, I would say students don’t really like it much. It’s pretty difficult for students to understand it. I remember students would try to get help but they would still have a bad grade.”

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APRIL 2018

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CAST enforced on class of 2018; juniors to take test in the future

BY HOPE DO

Theodore Do | THE UNION

The Senior Trojan Olympics Team are seen posing in their pyramid at the end of Trojan Olympics while holding the class banners and decorations. Shortly after this event occurred, the Senior Class was announced as the winner of the night.

Seniors earn another victory in Trojan Olympics

BY THEODORE DO KELLY NGUYEN

On March 23, all of the classes united under one roof for the annual rally, Trojan Olympics, or battle of the classes. Trojan Olympics is a competition of dances, games, and pyramids, ASB Vice President William Lieu said. The results of the Trojan Olympics corresponded to class order, with seniors in first place, juniors second, sophomores third, and freshman fourth.

Trojan Olympics, MHS’s biggest event, is prepared by ASB and Leadership twelve weeks before, Lieu said.

ASB and Leadership also wake up early to set up and stay until midnight to clean up on the day of the games, Lieu said. Although cleanup is the hardest part, it’s also the most fun because friendships and bonds are made, Lieu continued.

“For me, the best part about Tro-

jan Olympics is everyone coming together and leaving all the negativity aside,” Lieu said. “We want to make sure that our school is unified.”

After observing all the class practices, it can be anyone’s game, Lieu said before the event. Trojan Olympics is fair game, and whichever class wants it the most will take home the trophy, Lieu said. The freshman, against the odds, have also stepped it up and showed a lot of spirit, Lieu continued.

Although the Class of 2021 ended up in last place, they still achieved major accomplishments for their year, being the first known freshmen class to have sold out of Trojan Olympics tickets, Assistant Class Sponsor of 2021 Brett Webber said. For the games, while it would have been nice to have beaten the sophomores, the freshmen’s performance was not disappointing, he said. The freshmen did not know what they were getting into, as it was the first year for both them

and their class sponsors, Webber continued.

“It would have been nice to do better, but we still have another three years,” Webber said. “The seniors have to win this year because they don’t have another year. I think it’s the way it should be.”

One of the most prominent parts of the event are the dances, to which Junior Anvi Brahmbhatt found was her favorite, Brahmbhatt said.

“I love seeing their creativity come out and love seeing everyone performing together in their teams on something they’ve worked very hard on,” Brahmbhatt said.

Participating in the games is a good experience, Senior Karen Nguyen said, having done the Trojan Olympics for four years in a row. Being a part of the team gives students the opportunity to meet new people and become closer to the other members of their class, she said.

Teachers’ emails spoofed; culprit still to be found

BY ERIC DE GUZMAN

The emails of two administrators were used in a spoofing on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, MUSD Network Systems Administrator Sean LaRussa said.

Juniors at MHS were the recipients of these emails, LaRussa added.

As the emails indicated that the sender was from outside the U.S., the technology department was unable to locate the user, LaRussa said.

“There are a variety of methods that could have been used from an infected computer to spoofing utilities,” LaRussa said. “This may have been someone playing around with spoof emails.”

MHS Principal Francis Rojas said two emails came from Activities Director Joanna Butcher and one email came from Trojan Olympics 2019 Class Advisor David Carter. Two

of the emails had to do with Trojan Olympics, Rojas said.

“So there are these false emails that Ms. Butcher’s account sent, [saying],‘Your advisors are quitting’,” Rojas said. “Then someone took Mr. Carter’s email, said, ‘I quit because I’m tired of this, this or that’.”

The spoofing caused confusion amongst the students, Rojas said.

The emails were sent to the student groups, such as the juniors, Rojas added.

One such spoofed email from Butcher, addressing the juniors of MHS, said, “Look alive.”

Initially, 2019 Class Commissioner Fabian Aquino said, he was not sure what Butcher was talking about when this first email was sent out.

“I thought, might as well have just been directed towards me because I didn’t know she sent it out to everyone,” Aquino said. “When I read the

message I thought it was just like a typo.”

The spoofer may have been a senior or a junior, Aquino added. That could explain why the juniors got the emails, Aquino said.

“At first, I was really confused,” Trojan Olympics Junior Alternate Eugene Laya said. “Once I saw a couple emails come after, I realized it wasn’t really that serious.”

Laya said that he did not think the emails regarding the cancellation of Trojan Olympics were real, as other classes said that Trojan Olympics was not cancelled for them.

“Could be a junior, could be anyone from this school,” Laya said. “I mean, they have to be really good with computers to do all this stuff, you know.”

According to LaRussa, this may not be the case. To spoof emails, one does not need to be technologically experienced, LaRussa said.

Administration discusses the alternatives to arming teachers

BY SHREEYA ARANAKE ANDREW HA

Arming teachers has not been a topic officially discussed in district offices, according to Principal Francis Rojas. The topic is not likely to be entertained by MUSD, Rojas continued. Rather than talking about arming teachers, schools will be focusing on funding student resource officers (SRO), having increased security on campuses, and training teachers who are on duty during breaks to handle a situation if it were to arise, according to Rojas.

Recent school shootings around the country prompted Superintendent Cheryl Jordan to hold a meeting with secondary school representatives and the Milpitas Police Department. The goal was to discuss safety strategies in the case of an active school shooter, according to Jordan.

Sergeant Brian Hinkley and Officer Muok presented three strategies, called “run,” “hide,” and “defend,” Jordan said.

For the “run” strategy, students would run away from the school to a designated area if an active shooter were present, Jordan said. If students were within a building, they would use the “hide” strategy: the students would lock the doors and lay flat on the ground to hide from the shooter, Jordan explained. Furthermore, if the intruder were to come through the classroom door, then students should throw everything they have at the intruder; this is known as the “defend” method, Jordan said.

“We talked about how we haven’t uniformly practiced the defend part.

We haven’t uniformly practiced the run part and what we have practiced uniformly is the hide part, so we need to talk with all the leadership on how we keep up the run and defend part,” Jordan said. “In fact, I asked all principals to hold a drill every four to six weeks.”

Beyond the SRO and a greater frequency of drills, History Teacher Michael Cummins said that the school must be as inclusive as possible,

helping students express any issues they have through counseling. Cummins notes that the school has been improving the handling of student mental health because of the Counseling and Support Service for Youth (CASSY) counselors. Moreover, Cummins said that arming teachers with guns will not help protect the school.

“I don’t want to have teachers have access to weapons; I don’t think anyone on campus is qualified to hold a weapon that’s a teacher,” Cummins said. “Also, what if it goes off by mistake? What if a student takes it to hurt another student? There’s just too many variables. We have no business with guns. We are here to instruct.”

Senior Isaac Clark reflected Cummins sentiment. Arming school teachers is not a good idea, Clark opined. There are classes in which teachers are not in constant control of their students; thus there are too many “what-ifs” that could lead to something going wrong, Clark added.

Seniors will be taking the California Science Test (CAST) on April 26 in accordance to instructions from the California Department of Education, Assistant Principal Amanda Gross said. The new test is based off of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the common core equivalent of the previous science standards, Gross added.

Although the current seniors have already taken the science test based off of the previous standards, Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR), the state is requiring seniors to participate in the field test of the CAST before they leave high school, Gross said. Following the administration of the test, seniors will head over to the gym for cap and gown distribution and the senior pledge, Gross continued.

“The Next Generation Science Standards are still in a rollout phase,” Gross explained. “I do know that as a school over the last two years we have been slowly rolling out NGSS curriculum, especially in our biology classes.”

The California Department of Education instructed the schools to administer the CAST to the juniors and seniors, but the current juniors took

the CAST as sophomores, Assistant Principal Skyler Draeger said. In the future, the CAST will be given to the juniors, Draeger said.

“Starting next year, now that everything has kind of solidified it will go to just juniors and they’ll take the ELA, Math, and Science,” Draeger said. “We’ll have to add that test in to one of the days.”

It’s unfortunate that the seniors are being required to take another standardized science test, Senior Rebecca Li said. The current seniors are part of the only senior class that has to come early during SBAC testing and take the science test, Li said.

“I feel like seniors deserve some slack,” Li said. “Just give it to the freshmen of this year; they need to take it anyways.”

It is understandable that the state has to do something to check where students are, Senior Sachin Kulkarni said. Regardless of the format or content of the test, people will hate it solely because it’s a test, he continued.

“Most people get irritated that we have to take a standardized test in general, especially because it takes a lot of time and has little to no impact on our [college] admissions,” Kulkarni said. “From what I remember from the previous test, it’s not really difficult content.”

Walkout: Students support gun control FROM PAGE 1

volvement in one of these tragedies, Quach explained.

“I currently am here because I have a younger brother who’s going to be going to high school next year,” Quach said. “I know personally I would be extremely devastated to know if I ever received a call [that he was involved in a shooting] while I’m at college.”

Students marched in response to this, hoping that enough participation would get the attention of lawmakers, Senior Saket Metrani said.

“I think if a lot of schools [walk out], if a lot of people show up, then it is something that’s going to be broadcast throughout the world even, and it will be something that’s heard,” Metrani explained. “Right now I think the only people who can do anything more are legislators, because that’s the next step: to get legislation to start enacting these gun laws” Administrators present did not take a stance on the walkout, Assistant Principal Jennifer Hutchison said. The only role of the administrators was to ensure that the students involved remained safe, she continued.

“The admin role is to ensure safety of our students on campus and if there is a walkout that we would do our best to ensure safety of those students who are walking out as well,” Hutchison said. “So some admin will be on campus here and some will be

walking along with the students, not participating but as protection.”

Some of the administrators who went out to ensure safety during the walkout were Assistant Principal Cheryl Rivera and Principal Francis Rojas, Hutchison said.

Contrary to what people may think, the administration did not take a stance on the walk out, Rojas said.

Any statements the school made about student discipline simply followed the Education Code, he said. “[Superintendent Jordan and I] were encouraging students talk to their parents about what’s right for them and their family. If they make the decision to cut class to support something they believe in, and if that is something they’re ready to do,” Rojas said. “Because we’re emphasizing that there’s a responsibility when you choose to do some type of civil disobedience.”

Senior Sonal Mehta did not go to the walkout because of important classes that she did not want to miss, Mehta said. There are more influential ways to make a change other than the walkout, she explained.

“One way [to help] is actually talking to your representatives, Ro Khanna, actually trying to get in contact with them and talking to people who are in charge of your city,” Mehta said. I think that we should have more gun control and much stricter

Eye on Campus: VSA Show

Kevin dai | THE UNION

Senior Linda Pham, Sophomore Kaitline Le, Senior Tiffany Dinh, Senior Michelle Nguyen, Senior Mary Raymundo (left to right) perform during the Fashion Show.

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THE UNION

PRO Walkouts are effective and laudable; The next generation is stepping up Is it right to leave school in high school? Now, though, the order to protest against our nasituation has changed. Students tion’s gun laws? Is it right for the do care now, about their futures school to lose out on precious and about their safety. taxpayer dollars while students This year’s walkouts have real abandon classrooms to protest power. The reason why so many for their lives? I’d say the anestablishment politicians are swer to both of these questions trying to downplay the walkouts is yes. Whether or not one agrees with cries of “crisis actor!” is bewith gun control, these students cause they know that this time, should be commended for standthey have to respond. They can’t ing up for themselves. just ignore it.

Over the last few years, the People question authority if United States has been they see other people marred with a sort of question aut hor it y, general apathy--while and for good reason. the number of voters Why should they stand in every election has for injustices that othincreased, the percenters won’t? Individuals age of the eligible votare weak, but there is ing population actually strength in a collective exercising that right protest. has decreased; people In the end, the fact are less and less willing of the matter is this: to work for or demand even if you don’t care KIRK the change they want. for the cause the recent TRAN They’re content with walkout movement is the status quo, no matchampioning, the dedter how it could be improved. ication that it takes to walk out In contrast, the walkouts that in of itself is laudable. Teenagers have occurred and will continue like us are stereotyped as either to occur paint a different story. college-chasing overachievers They show a United States that or phone-addicted monkeys, but actually cares about its future, times of struggle like these show an incipient voting population that our country isn’t going down demanding the change they the drain. It shows that even in want. these times of colorful, decadent Yes, we’ve all heard the same distraction and stressful coursech imer ica l la ng uage f rom work, the youth of America still overly-positive teachers saycare enough about their safety ing things like, “If you try hard and others’ safety to stand up enough, you could change the for themselves. It shows that the world!” Until very recently, we youth of America haven’t learned proved them wrong time and helplessness, and even in adulttime again. Who cares about hood, probably never will. politics or the world’s affairs in

CON

More has to be done than walk outs; Debate must reach beyond bubbles Let’s face it. Walkouts are easy. middle. But reaching the middle is It’s easy to go out and march for a so much more difficult as rhetoric cause when you’re surrounded by on both sides only becomes more like-minded people like you. It’s hardline. easy to be in a bubble. It’s easy for So go ahead and march. Be proud both sides of the debate to sit or of your activism. Show everyone march in their own echo chambers. that you will do what it takes to It’s easy to be heard when bring about the change everyone around you is you want in this world. saying the same thing.

And when you go home, That’s the problem safe in the comfort of with walkouts. That’s the your own bubble, reproblem with every politmember that this isn’t ical discussion in Ameriover. Go out the next day ca, really. It’s harder now, and keep doing what it more than ever, to reach takes to bring the change people on the other side. you want. Do your due America is more polardiligence. Ask questions. ized than ever, and now Ask people why they supJERALD even objective facts can port loose gun control.

MENDOZA be brushed off as fake Ask how it makes sense news. that the Center for DisBecause of this, walkouts are just ease Control is barred from using the first step. They will not change funds to compile statistics on guns?

America overnight. One protest Why is the Federal Bureau of Alcowill not suffice to make things hol, Tobacco, and Firearms forced right. Yet how many of us will conto keep track of millions of paper tinue this fight, once the fervor has records for guns? Why is there a faded and the memory of the outmarket for accessories designed to rage of Stoneman Douglas with it? make semi-automatic weapons esHow many people will continue sentially machine guns? marching? How many people will Talk to people who don’t agree fight continue fighting? Because with you. Do your due diligence. the people who oppose gun control And while you have some meaninghave done it for years, and they will ful discussions, have the strength fight tooth and nail to protect their to keep an open mind about their guns, just like they always have. In opinions, just as you want people the face of that, gun control advoto keep an open mind about yours. cates have to show they have sharpBecause change does not come er teeth, sharper nails, and most from drowning out the voices of importantly, sharper wits. dissenters in a sea of footsteps and So no, a walkout is not enough. chants—it comes from changing Protests will spotlight this debate, people’s minds. So if people want a but it will not win the real victories. real, effective walkout, I encourage The debate on guns in America can everyone to walk out of their own only be solved by just that: debate. comfort zones and defend their Because progress is not found in beliefs where they have to be dethe left or right—it is found in the fended.

OPINIONS

APRIL 2018

‘Shape of Water’ shouldn’t have won Best Picture At the 90th Academy Awards, the typical fanfares were underway as many celebrities graced the red carpet and prepared themselves for an evening filled with cinema’s best films of the year. From “Call Me By Your Name’s” heartrending reminder of love and loss to “Lady Bird’s” all too familiar coming-of-age, there were many amazing movies this year. Yet of all the great contestants for Best Picture, none surpasses “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing , Missouri,” (TBOEM) a film about a mother angered by the police’s inaction to find her daughter’s rapist and killer. Unfortunately, the movie was snubbed of its well-deserved Oscar; rather, the Academy granted the award to “The Shape of Water,” a film about a mute woman who falls in love with an amphibious man.

As beautiful as Director Guillermo del Toro’s movie is with its acting, cinematography, and soundtrack, “The Shape of Water” lacks a creative storyline that fully captivates the viewer.

The movie merely follows a basic romantic plot line, providing little effort to deviate from it.

The film’s plot progression becomes sluggish between the two major plot points: its inability to

maintain tension within its ris- performance makes the viewer ing action makes the film feel, at acknowledge that Mildred’s actimes, a bit slow and boring. Even tions, as erratic as they may be, when momentum does redevelop, are not far off from what viewers the plot becomes predictable and feel when they themselves are somewhat cheesy. Accordingly, angry. By the end, viewers must the way in which the movie con- ask themselves: even when excludes limits its ability pressing anger seems to linger on in the viewtotally justifiable, is it ers’ minds. “The Shape truly worth it? of Water” provides but a At no point does the platitude and lacks any film shy away from stimulus for discourse. discomforting topics; Truly great movies are whether it’s deviating the ones which leave from societal norms or the audience introcreating dark humor, specting and pondering Director and Writer about themselves and Martin McDonagh prothe nature of the world; vides a discomforting ANDREW these movies spur disyet enjoyable experiHA cussion and oftentimes ence that captivates the generate confusion and viewer from beginning disconcertion. to end. Even supporting roles As unsavory as that may sound, like Dixon (Sam Rockwell) and there is honesty and beauty in Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) turmoil: it is the depiction of the make the narrative more comnever-ending human struggle plex: their own dynamic stories, that makes movies so poignant. in conjunction with Mildred’s, And what better emotion than all weave together perfectly. The “anger” to surmise this. What film is always engaging and nevmakes TBOEM so impactful is er trite, because it defies expecthe vehemence the protagonist, tation: the audience’s hypotheMildred (Frances McDormand), ses of what will happen next is expresses. She wholly embod- often wrong. TBOEM is, in all ies the outrage and grief that regards, the dramatic, hilarious, comes with untimely bereave- and thoughtful movie that should ment. McDormand’s incredible have won Best Picture.

More thought should be placed on safety drills School drills have been conmay attempt to hurt them. A deducted in schools for several mand for action does not often decades, usually in response to make for prudent decisions when natural disasters or fires, and toit comes to harm reduction, but day in preparation for something drills may make parents feel betentirely different: mass ter knowing that their shootings. It is becomkids are in a school ing increasingly essenthat’s taking decisive tial now for everybody action. to think, no matter In any case, prewhere they are, what to paredness drills always do in crises. change the baseline Following several unlevel of risk that people fortunate occurrencperceive. This heightes, many schools today ening can manifest as have adopted school stress and anxiety, not shooting drills. These to mention changing drills have become the the way kids underMILI new normal, and a genstand how people treat BHATNAGAR eration of A merican one another—to even students have learned consider violence an to lock and barricade their classoption, not in some abstract way. room doors the same way they In light of such changes, it may learn to drop and roll in case of be time to evaluate the efficiency a fire. Safety training companies, of our school’s existing drills. such as the ALICE Institute, regIt is evident then that drills and ularly conduct fake shootings as lockdowns should be taken seripart of their training for schools. ously. However, they are often When it comes to implementjust considered as a brief wait being school shooting drills in our fore class resumes. It’s not necdistrict, there are a lot of factors essary for students to sit in fear that must be taken into considerand alarm during the entirety of ation, such as exposing students a drill, but it may be a necessity to the mere idea that someone for students to be informed of

correct protocol in order for the drills to actually be effective.

Drills often raise several salient questions: Why do we go to certain locations for safety on campus? Where is really the safest place to be? During my four years at MHS, I have been through several drills, yet I have rarely heard teachers or administrators discuss with students about how to handle drills and where to go. This is especially crucial in drills that occur outside of class and not under the supervision of one teacher. In such cases, many students do not know proper procedure or locations on campus where they can seek refuge. Therefore, it is necessary to make such courses of action more coherent.

While the MHS staff handbook—which can be found on the school website— contains instructions to be followed by teachers during emergencies, there is no such provision in the student handbook. Providing directions and specifics on where to go in the school in the student handbook could prove beneficial in making students more aware of protocol in emergencies.

Expectations for college impossible to meet This year’s college acceptance season has been anything but kind to our fellow seniors. Going into this season, everyone was expecting rejection, but none of us had anticipated how brutal it was actually going to be.

The question is: why was this year significantly more difficult for getting into college? More than 221,000 students applied for undergraduate admission to University of California for next fall. With this many applicants and only a few spots, stakes are higher and there’s even more pressure to get into one’s dream college.

This year, more than ever, many seniors are unsatisfied by the results of college acceptance season. Rejections are a given during this time, but what I have found is that even eligible candidates for many colleges—particularly UCs—are not getting in or are put on waitlist. Applicants with high GPA’s and test scores that would have gotten into a

particular school did not. Many can’t get into their first choice, of us suspect the reason for this so what are the rest of us going to to be the increasing class sizes do? This makes it seem as if being as the years go on. There is a 5.7 perfect is not enough to get into percent overall increase in applithe best college. All our lives we cations from last year. have been taught that Competition is getting in order to get into the worse and having a 4.2 best colleges, we need GPA is no longer enough to get a high GPA and to get you into a school SAT or ACT score. Even such as UCLA or Berkeafter all the hard work ley. we still don’t get in?

In top-ranked schools What does this mean such as Stanford, accepfor future students? tance rates have been Colleges need to replummeting. A large adjust their acceptance percent of students with standards. At this rate, GRACE a perfect score on their acceptance rates will CHANG SAT or ACT couldn’t continue to go down get in. Only a fraction and expectations will of one percent of students who be almost unachievable. Many take the SAT or ACT earn a perare already turning to out of state fect score. These perfect scores schools because of how competaren’t enough to get into these itive the UC system is. The curschools. They want something rent system alongside sky-rockeven more special that makes one eting numbers of applicants is stand out in the sea of many elimaking it increasingly difficult gible candidates. Even with perto get into the college one aspires fect SAT scores, some people still to attend.

EDITORIAL

APRIL 2018

EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

#NeverAgain movement must be heard In the last edition of The Union, we wrote an editorial on the lack of action involving gun control laws in the face of numerous deadly shootings in the country.

And almost on cue, on Feb. 14, another shooting occurred. The names are different, the place is different, but everything seemed the same. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, faced a shooting that cost seventeen lives, which apparently is still not high enough a cost to the National Rifle Association (NR A) to precipitate some meaningful gun control.

However, this time, when everyone thought this would be just another school shooting among many—a macabre thought, if it weren’t all too familiar—the students took a stand.

It is the opinion of The Union that this will be an important moment in American history. In our last editorial, we called for action in the face of Congress’s continuing indifference toward students like us dying from gun violence across the nation, and our wishes were heard. Spearheaded by survivors from Stoneman Douglas—Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, and David Hogg, to name a few—the gun control movement has received more attention and awareness than ever before. Due to the actions of these students, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who has long since held an avid pro-gun stance, has recently agreed on modest gun reforms.

And this has been true for a few other conservative members of

Congress as well. While this change may seem small, it is still progress that should be celebrated, because after decades of inaction following school shootings across America, change is what the nation needs.

In addition, these students have called out companies that are partnered with NRA, such as United and Enterprise Holdings Company. As a result, many of these corporations have cut ties with the NRA. The loss of travel sponsors and banking partners hinders the NRA’s ability to conduct business. Furthermore, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods have taken steps to limit gun sales, raising the minimum age of gun buyers from 18 to 21.

This exodus of corporate partners is also cause to celebrate, because it shows that corporations are feeling the pressure from gun control advocates, and are responding to that pressure.

Yet this is not enough. There are companies that still have contracts with the NRA. FedEx provides a large shipping discount to members of the NRA Business Alliance, and Apple and Amazon’s streaming services host NR ATV on their platforms. If people really care about the issue and oppose the NRA, people have to put their money where their mouth is.

Now, many opponents may say these students are too young; too young to have an effect in boycotting corporations; too young to be talking about politics, too young to understand or have an opinion

on this serious topic. But in the wise words of professional comedian Trevor Noah, “If kids are old enough to be shot, they’re old enough to have an opinion about being shot.” These adults forget that the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s, that protests against the Vietnam War were led by the youth of this nation. Congress is scared of us, because young people make up a large majority of the nation’s population, and if every single one of us voted, we could turn the tide of elections.

We could facilitate a much-needed change in our country.

But change does not come in a march. It doesn’t come in a month, or in a year. It comes with persistence. Because that’s what every other gun control movement has lacked. Congress is daring the youth. They’re calling our bluff, just like they always have for decades. All they have to do is wait for the cries for change to die like the victims of whatever shooting happened last. Never again. The cycle ends with us, but ending it must also start with us.

If the “leaders” in this country refuse to lead, then the next generation has to step up.

Register to vote. Advocate your opinions. Organize events and marches. Run for office. Be the change you want because it’s about time someone was. Remember this moment, America, because we can’t forget why we’re fighting this fight. Remember this moment, because change is coming, and the youth’s cries will never fall on deaf ears again.

EDITOR I A L : The Opinion of The Union

Feminine hygiene must be addressed at school It usually begins at the wrong time. Thirty minutes into a final.

Five minutes after break ends— which means that you have to answer the inevitable “Why didn’t you go at break?” in front of a quiet, wide-eyed class. Unfortunately, you didn’t bring anything with you. So from the L building, you have to waddle your way to the office, so as to avoid any leakage, quietly whisper, “May I have a pad?” to the front desk, and waddle back to the nearest restroom.

For this reason, it is the opinion of The Union that feminine hygiene products should be available in girls’ bathrooms.

The receptacles are there—obviously placed with both good reason and intention.

They do have two problems, however. They’re broken and they’re empty. They have been like that for a while now. What’s worse, the admin are well aware that the receptacles haven’t worked in years—they just haven’t done

anything about it.

Some have brought up the idea that students should simply tell their teacher what the problem is, and request permission to leave class for the office. Surprisingly, however, most students are not keen on freely discussing their personal issues with their teachers, and certainly not during a lecture or a test.

We’ve talked to admin about this. Their responses highlighted a societal negligence to speak up about, or at the very least, acknowledge, the existence of a day-to-day issue faced by half the population of the world.

One said that the issue had been brought up to them previously; it had simply fallen off their radar.

Another expressed the absurdity of announcing to the school that the student population that pads and tampons were available for use in the nurse’s office. After all, how could a school office, in

good faith, possibly announce to the whole world that they kept tampons in their very own office?

A nother administrator pondered the cost of placing pads and tampons in the receptacle. However, the office is already stocked up on pads and tampons—how much more can it cost to simply place those products in the receptacles? Moreover, it is not as though the school was ever planning on providing these products for free; there are price labels on each receptacle, 25 cents a piece, signaling that the school plans on charging for providing these services, if they were ever available.

It is doubtful that cost has hindered the school from properly purchasing toilet paper and seat covers. Pads and tampons are necessities no different than those; unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the school understands that.

THE UNION

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L ETTER S TO TH E EDITOR I am writing this letter to the Editor as an opportunity to clarify a statement in the last edition of The Union. In the article titled, “New AP classes to be offered at MHS next year,” it states, “Chen clarified that you are still able to take the exam without taking the AP Chinese class by signing up and taking it at MHS.” -- Unfortunately, this is not accurate and we want to ensure 100% accurate information so there are not larger concerns when exams are sold during the 21082019 testing. Advanced Placement exams are a large undertaking for a school. Because of the rigid rules and expectations set up by College Board we do not have the facilities, technology, and proctors to be able to accommodate large numbers of students taking the Chinese AP ex-

ams. We will be limiting the exams and only students who have taken the AP Chinese class at MHS will be able to take the exam on campus.

At Milpitas High School we are very excited to offer a wide variety of AP classes and exams and are certain that these decisions are not only responsible but also allow for the optimal environment for the students who are taking exams.

-Assistant Principal Jennifer Hutchison On behalf of the Milpitas High Trojans, we would like to stand up for our rights as citizens of the United States of America. Stated in the first amendment, we have the freedom of speech and right to protest.

Therefore, we have the right to go to the walkout and let our voices be

heard by negotiation, without being penalized. Schools are putting off class time to do drills that we could stop doing if we just put class time off, for the last time and go to the walkout. If students are no getting penalized for standing up for what they believe and getting their rights taken away, they will be more encouraged to do what is right. With schools participating in protests that change our lives, we could show how much we care and want change.

Furthermore, once the gun laws have been changed, schools could stop worrying about having to do drills, instead of allowing students to learn at school, which is the purpose of parents allowing their children to go to school.

Sincerely, Kayla Huynh

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APRIL 2018

FEATURES

THE UNION

Dinh leads business program; inspires young entrepreneurs

BY KELLY NGUYEN

Not many students take the initiative to inspire youth through hands-on teaching and collaborative learning. Junior Andrew Dinh created Teen Entrepreneurs Club, an entrepreneur program, to empower youth, giving them the opportunity to explore their passions and integrate them into a world of business.

As a sophomore, Dinh explored different career paths, and found that business resonated with him the most, Dinh said. In June of 2017, Dinh led a summer program for low-income middle school students in Palo Alto, Dinh said.

Students were taught how to develop and market a product, including how to create a sales pitch, Dinh continued.

“Watching the students grow was a very rewarding experience for me,” Dinh said. “I wanted to continue to share my knowledge with the youth and give them the opportunity to recognize the power they have to create, innovate, and lead.”

A few weeks ago, Dinh led his very first entrepreneurship class

for twelve Bay Area students. Students were given the opportunity to create their own product from scratch, Dinh said. For example, the process of melting and mixing a bar of soap teaches the importance of patience and creativity in product development, Dinh continued.

“When the soap was set, I saw a look of awe on the students’ faces,” Dinh said. “This amazement was the feeling I had when I first started learning more about entrepreneurship, so I was delighted to see that I could bring that experience to my peers.”

As a young entrepreneur, Dinh hopes to expand his program and motivate students from all across the Bay Area, Dinh said.

Dinh aims to create a network of like-minded and motivated youth who have the potential to bring about positive change, Dinh continued.

“I want to create a program curriculum that is easily accessible and replicable,” Dinh said. “By teaching kids intangible business skills, I am preparing them to become better leaders in the future.”

Adam Sandler images in MHS; Ngo dutifully distributes them

BY JERALD MENDOZA ROSHNI SHETH

You may have recently spotted pictures of Adam Sandler across campus. The source of this is none other than Freshman Vincent Ngo, who has been posting these pictures to illustrate his emotions and image. Additionally, he is often seen waving flags around during the pledge of allegiance to show his patriotism.

Q: We heard you are putting Adam Sandler pictures around campus, why is that?

A: Oh, you found out? Adam Sandler is a pretty good man. He acts pretty good in his movies.

His face shows a mix of emotions.

You can feel the steam of emotion coming. You paste him everywhere and his eyes are watching.

Q: Why that picture of Adam Sandler in particular?

A: He is like in a mix between crying and being happy. It is a mix and a perfect image.

Q: Do you have a favorite Adam Sandler movie?

A: I haven’t watched them all but Click.

Q: What do you want to accomplish with posting these pictures of Adam Sandler?

A: I don’t know.

Q: Do you have any help putting up these pictures?

A: Some people help me. They finance me. It takes money to print them out at the library.

Q: How much do you print out on a daily basis?

A: Sometimes I have an extra dollar around, and I just go to the

library.

Q: Do you know why they finance this?

A: I mean, [he is] pretty good looking right? They just want to see more.

“You can feel the steam of emotion coming. You paste him everywhere and his eyes are watching.”

Q: Can we ask you questions about your flag waving? Why do you do that?

A: It’s kind of exhausting running around school with the flags so I don’t run around anymore [during the Star Spangled Banner]. I have flags so what am I supposed to do with them? There’s no flag in my second period, so I have to do it. Really, I take matters in my own hands.

Q: What room is this? Does the teacher not have a problem with this?

A: E19 or Mrs. Marple’s room.

No in fact that’s where the Adam Sandler pictures started.

Q: Why did you start in that specific classroom?

A: I saw a blank wall, taped it, then everything was a spiral.

Q: Would you like to add anything before we conclude this interview?

A: AMERICA!!!!!!

COURTESY OF ALEX PERNIA AND JAN LESTER DAYANGHIRANG

Senior Nathan Duong works on modifying Senior Alex Pernia’s car by changing parts. This process has continued for already two years. Pictured on the right is Senior Jan Lester Dayanghirang’s modified car that he works on even today.

Revving up to a new look: modifying cars

BY KRYSTAL QUIOCHO

Most teenagers fantasize of having the car of their dreams and others make the car of their dreams. Some MHS students buy their own cars and take them apart, putting it back together in exactly the way they want it.

It is a task that takes dedication, patience, hard work, and passion. Seniors Alex Pernia and Jan Lester Dayanghirang shared the ins and outs of modifying cars.

How does one get into modifying cars? Working on cars is an uncommon hobby in the high school realm, so one would think. Ways of coming across this unique activity vary and in some instances, it is a family thing.

“A bunch of my uncles and my dad, they were just always working on it and I kinda just picked it up,” Pernia explained.

As one can assume, building a car costs a lot of money and time, especially for a student.

“It doesn’t matter what part, they usually range from $500 to $1,000 each part,” according to

Pernia. The dedication into getting things just right for a car is definitely needed.

“I work 25 hours a week, at least,” Dayanghirang said. “And if I have a goal to reach, say I wanna get this part and it’s really expensive so I just calculate how much I need and work those hours and then get paid and be broke again and repeat.”

Balancing school, work, and fixing cars can be draining, but the passion behind it fuels them to continue. All the hard work is worth the reward, according to Pernia.

“Figuring out something because it’s not the easiest thing to do. When you take something apart and you put it back together it’s kind of a great feeling,” he said.

Modifying cars isn’t just about getting them running, but also about getting them visually right.

There are several components so if someone wants to get into the car fixing game, they should do their research.

“There’s wheels, there’s tinting

your windows, changing the paint of your car, to your right height, to your spoilers, changing bumpers hanging hoods, fenders and all that,” explained Dayanghirang.

Working on your own car is also a great way to express your personal taste. Every car is different and depends on the individual’s preference. For example, Dayanghirang likes a more clean look, whereas Pernia enjoys an authentic look where your personal touches are more apparent.

Of course, getting the job done would be tough to do by oneself. A hobby is also better enjoyed when in the company of friends.

“In my group, we build each other’s cars so it’s kinda hand in hand. They help me and I help with their cars,” Pernia said. “It’s fun, I don’t even charge, I do it for the learning experience. Because what I can do for them, I can do for myself in the future,” he expanded.

Dayanghirang also shared some words of advice. “If you want to get a car, just save up and don’t settle for less.”

Mr. Testa shares fascinating world travels

BY CLARA MARISOL DELA CRUZ

Outside of school, many teachers pursue interests and passions of their own.

For Social Studies Teacher Joseph Testa, it’s traveling. Testa opened up about his experiences with traveling to foreign countries and how traveling has shaped his life.

Q: How many countries have you been to?

A: I’ve been to twenty-nine countries.

Q: Out of all the countries that you’ve been to, what’s your most favorite?

A: I really liked Norway…. I went during the summer…. First day when you’re there, it’s a little odd because at three in the morning, you start to see some twilight.

You think it’s like seven in the morning, but it’s only three in the morning. So first day I was there, I got up at three in the morning and it wasn’t very great. But the rest of the time, it was just so sunny. The food was really good. Lots of smoked salmon. And it was just a very beautiful country.

Q: Where did you get your love for traveling?

A: I really think it probably [comes] from the fact that I like history and social studies a lot.

And so when I travel I do a lot of that. And when I was a kid, I got to see a number of places as well.

I’ve always just been kind of curious about the world so I think that’s probably where that interest comes from.

Q: What is your most memorable experience?

A: …I went up the glacier in Peru. That was very memorable.

It was a three-day trek, and it was very memorable because I ended up getting up at one-thirty in the morning to go on the hike and it was like twelve hours long and I wore crampons for the first time going up the glacier and it’s kind of a risk of slipping and falling. ...My nerves really got shot because after about half an hour, so we’re talking now maybe two-thirty in the morning, I had to rappel down some rocks, and I mean I practiced doing it that day for the first time. But my light wasn’t even really working very well ‘cause I needed to change the batteries, so I couldn’t really see very much. So it was kind of a little bit scary and my nerves were shot for most of the rest of the twelve-hour hike. But it was very memorable because I think I really just remember walking on the glacier and just being so exhausted going up the glacier and just taking one very slow step at a time. My guide told me later on he didn’t think I was going to make it or he was unsure for a while, but I made it.

Q: How has traveling shaped you and your life and how you view the world?

A: Well I think it gives me perspective on how life is in the United States and how life is in other countries. So when you go to a developing country and you see more real poverty or more poverty in a more absolute spectrum, I think it gives you a better sense of what it is to really actually be poor. But also I think that the most enriching part of

traveling is you get to see how ... society solves their problems, either it be something like crime or traffic or just whatever. You go to these other countries. You walk around. You read their history.

You can kinda get a sense of how everything really is different in that much of what we live in, if you think of it, our daily lives, is just constricted. It’s not the way it has to be, so I think that traveling, it really helps you kinda understand how our society could be different. And I think that’s an important part of it.

But I think one of the biggest things about traveling is you learn a lot about yourself. [...]. ...I think I definitely learned a lot about myself and just have kind of taught myself more perseverance through the outdoor camping-hiking part of traveling.

I definitely think it’s something that many kids today would benefit from.... You arrive at your campsite after five days of hiking and you have a forty-pound bag and you have to set up your tent even when it’s raining, you learn perseverance pretty quickly. ‘Cause you don’t really have a choice. ...I think for me every year, what I want to do in traveling, it really changes....

But every summer, the approach of traveling, what it is I want to see, how much time I spend in places, how much interaction I have with the local population, how much hiking I want to do - a lot of it changes because I change.

And so it kind of also allows me to see, it gives me perspective about myself and how I change over time too.

APRIL 2018

FEATURES

7

THE UNION

Faculty opinion: Should teachers be armed?

BY ANDREW HA

Three teachers have responded to the following question: Do you think arming teachers with guns would help against school shootings? Why or why not?

The answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Ms. Kaila Schwartz (English & Theater) No. I have asked some of my students if they would feel more prepared, if they knew that their teachers have guns, and without a second of hesitation, they all yelled, “No.” In fact, some expressed concern about teachers who are less emotionally stable having access to that kind of weaponry.

I’m so opposed to [arming teachers] because of the most recent example of a part-time police officer/part-time teacher irresponsibly showing students how to check if a gun is loaded or not. I’m glad that man was put on leave in both positions that he had.

There are just too many things that can go wrong. Who is in charge of the training? What kind of background checks are going to be made? What types of emotional stability checks are going to be made? How are you going to prepare a teacher for shooting a student? How? There’s no preparation for that. There’s no preparation at all. I know I wouldn’t be able to do it. I’d put myself in between a gun and a student but

I wouldn’t put a gun in my hand.

I’m obviously emotionally invested in this. It is something that hits me hard on a personal level.

And it’s hard not to get emotional about it. Just talking to you, I’m choking back the tears because it’s frightening. And it’s unsettling, but I think that we have a bigger problem and it’s not a school problem; I think it’s a national culture problem. So whatever happens, it can’t be a bandaid, it has to be a cure.

Mr. Paul Cao (History) It’s a difficult thing. I never would have imagined that would be part of my job as a teacher to be armed. When you go to credential school, you go through pedagogical training and strategies for classrooms and arming yourself would never have been in any conversation in credential school.

In terms of arming teachers, it shouldn’t be the priority and it’s almost a diversion tactic, because I think school resource officers should be number one. I would say that, as far as my experience with most teachers, they should not be allowed to carry guns on campus because that’s not what they entered teaching to do.

Now, am I completely against it? To be honest, I would say no.

I think it could be implemented depending on where, depending on how, depending on the type of training that existed. It would have to be definitely more training than police officers get with

firearm usage and prioritizing de-escalation strategy. If you’re coming with a plan to make a school safer from an active shooter, arming teachers would not be the highest on the list.

Guns have existed for a long time, but mass shootings have not. I think what is needed is a multivariable analysis of what is causing all of this. But right now, I think people are glossing over what is causing the problem and just saying “It is all because of guns” or the conservative side, “This is all mental illness.” It’s not one or the other. We need to analyze the situation for what it is. There are many variables that contribute. And I think that’s the conversation that needs to be had Mrs. Elena Sherbakov (Math) Why teachers? There’s a resource officer or special ROTC teacher that is really good andcomfortable with guns. Teachers are busy enough to be put through extra training.

And Trump wasn’t talking about all teachers with guns, just those who are already good with guns, with special training. Small additional training to make sure they’re really good.

It’s not what the mass media puts it out to be, like all teachers having guns. Nobody proposed that part. It’s ridiculous. It was about certain teachers, ROTC teachers, or some other teachers who already have exposure or have military background or are National Guard on weekends.

COURTESY OF KAITO HASHIMOTO

Senior Kaito Hashimoto customizes and sews clothing such as the pants pictured above. This hobby of his has led to the creation of a growing business.

His threads are sew well made; Hashimoto starts a business

BY ANDREW DINH

Senior Kaito Hashimoto shares his experience with creating custom apparel. Hashimoto discusses his influences and goals for his business.

Q: What is your business called?

A: I don’t really have a name for my business, but if I were to name it, it would be either some super fancy French name or “Customs

by Kaito.”

Q: What do you do? What do you sell?

A: I sew stuff and make customs. People request a certain product and then I make something as similar to their idea as I can.

Q: Who inspired you to start your own business?

A: There are so many people that sort of inspired me into starting it. A lot of them were somewhat famous skaters, and there are others, like one of my friends, Michael Chen. Him starting his own brand made me think, “Oh, I could probably do it too,” except mine is not as serious as his.

Q: What are your goals for your business?

A: To me, this is sort of a side business and hobby. I’m hoping this can be a stepping stone into something much greater. My dream would be to be on the design team for a big clothing brand.

Q: What’s your profit margin?

A: I don’t have a set price for my items, but if I’m making more than one of the same things, I usually charge a consistent price.

With some of the bigger pieces I’ve made, I make 30 bucks, but some of the quick small projects I’ve worked on, I only make two to five dollars.

Q: What does entrepreneurship mean to you?

A: Entrepreneurship, to me, is the opportunity to create something. I think it’s pretty cool because you get to work for yourself.

You’re the boss, and you also get a lot of freedom. Of course there are risks of failing involved, but as long as you have things planned out and under control, you’ll be fine. I think that anyone can start their own business as long as they have a passion for what they’re doing, the proper resources, and good networking.

KEVIN DAI | THE UNION

Ehrvan Vicedo and Celine Nguyen pose at the front of the stage in their traditional Vietnamese clothing during the fashion show segment in the VSA show. The students unleash their enthusiam as they perform with fans and hats.

Annual VSA show shares vibrant culture

BY KEVIN DAI

The VSA Show is a student-run show that highlights Vietnamese culture and its fusion with American culture in today’s society. The show introduces various acts and skits that teaches viewers parts of Vietnamese culture and as well as how Vietnamese culture is integrated into American society today. Each performance was very entertaining and captured the fusion of Viet-American culture.

The first act of the show was the Vietnamese and American national anthem, which not only showed the difference between the two cultures, but also revealed the similarities between the two. While the major difference between the two being the two different languages, the similarity was how similar the beat and music of the anthem were to each other.

The second act of the show was the members’ dance. The performers were dressed in ao dais, a traditional Vietnamese garment which usually consists of silk tunic over a pair of trousers.

However, while the performers were wearing ao dais, their cho-

reography incorporated both Vietnamese dancing and American dancing. They started out with a traditional Vietnamese parasol dance, but for the second part, used electronic dance music and their dance became more vibrate.

It definitely highlighted the fusion of American and Vietnamese culture.

The third act included performers Evelyn Le and Ngoc Ho who sang a Vietnamese song while wearing ao dais. Their performance gave an audience a feel of what Vietnamese songs are like especially ifthey have never heard a Vietnamese song before.

The audience becomes more knowledgeable about Vietnamese culture. Junior Jenny Ha and Senior Gretna Truong were also performers who sang in Vietnamese.

The fourth act was by Ayana.

Ayana’s skit was a cute dance that told a story of people meeting falling in love with each other. While traditionally the dance would be performed by a man and a female, all the performers were female which made the dance even cuter. Even though the song was sung in Vietnamese, the au-

dience was still able to get a good grasp on what the song was about by observing the dance that Ayana put on.

After the couple’s dance was the traditional fashion show. Everyone in the traditional fashion show were dressed in ao dais and did their own poses.

The rest of the acts were performances that did not have much relation to the VSA show. However, these performances were still great. Some of the performances include a skit that made many people laugh, especially when performers put on a Reeses Puffs’ commercial, Korean Dance Team (KDT), and MHS Misfits (HipHop Club).

The MC’s of the VSA show were very funny and kept the audience entertained. Each performer of the VSA show put in tremendous work to makethe a great show for those who came to see. They spent countless hours working and improving to make people not only enjoy the show but also learn about Vietnamese-American culture. Performers constantly practiced even the most basics steps to ensure that nothing went wrong during the show.

COURTESY OF ETHAN TRAN

By channeling trendy styles through his fashion brand, Junior Ethan Tran takes a step closer to his aspiration. His designs display playful colors and designs.

Tran creates fashion brand

BY ANDREW DINH

Junior Ethan Tran leads his own clothing brand, Ohri Studios. Over the past year, Tran brought his passion for fashion to life, using t-shirts as his canvas for expression.

Tran has always been interested in fashion, Tran said. As he grew throughout high school, he abandoned video games for garment designs.

“I’m into clothes. I make and sell clothes,” Tran said. “I was on Reddit, and I saw this outfit. I was like, ‘Woah, I’m into that.’”

From Raf Simons to Frank Ocean to Tom Sachs, Tran draws inspiration for Ohri Studios and its designs from a plethora of influences, Tran said. Ohri Studios has unique designs which distinguish it from other clothing brands.

“My mission is to make something that’s different,” Tran said.

“My designs are my ideas. No one else is really having them. It’s personal.”

In addition to doing things differently from everyone else, Tran has bigger aspirations, Tran said.

To share his love for clothes and designs, Tran dreams of running a local fashion show.

“I’d like to have a fashion show before I leave to college.

That’s a goal,” Tran said. “I like everything about it, like the composition and the music. I have an idea of what I would do.”

Interesting art, like fashion, is art that is different, not art that is nice, Tran said. People should not be afraid to pursue their passions, even if it means being different.“If you have ideas or dreams, go after them,” Tran said.

“If you have something, and you think, ‘I don’t know if I should do this,’ just try it.”

Tran’s clothing designs can be viewed at @ohristudios on Instagram.

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Clubs work to spread gender equality

BY ASHLEY CHEN

With the recency of movements such as #MeToo and Time’s Up, female empowerment is becoming more of a relevant topic. Female empowerment clubs in MHS such as I Am That Girl, Girl UP, and She’s the First strive to spread awareness of women’s rights through projects and discussions.

I Am That Girl I Am That Girl is affiliated with an organization that promotes girl love and tries to eliminate girl-on-girl hate, I Am That Girl President Roshini Gopala said.

During club meetings, officers help facilitate discussion about feminist powers and equality, she continued.

A goal of I Am That Girl is to have women’s voices be heard, I Am That Girl Vice President Devika Kumar said. She hopes that a change can be brought at least to MHS, she added.

“We wanted to [start the club]

because there’s a lot of inequality within women,” Kumar said. “And that’s not just in our school but in the world itself, and so we just wanted to bring small changes to our school so then it can affect the bigger world.”

I Am That Girl meets every Tuesday at E-19.

Girl UP Girl UP is an initiative that is associated with the United Nations and inspires to empower girls around the world through education, Girl UP President Maansi Maskai said. For the Milpitas chapter, the club does community service events at organizations in the community, she continued.

Girl UP is different from other feminist clubs on campus in that their focus is to give members a voice and individually support members where they can develop as leaders in their own right, Girl UP Vice President Loan-Anh Pham said.

“Things like sexual harassment

can be prevented at a young age if we foster a discussion about it as well as just have a support group where people can come if they need help,” Pham said.

Girl UP meets every Wednesday at H-10.

She’s the First She’s the First is a nonprofit organization that works to provide scholarships for girls in low-income countries so that they can be the first in their families to graduate from high school and get an education, according to She’s the First President Vibha Sastry.

Officers decided to start the club to help others in different countries and spread awareness, She’s the First Vice President Claire Phan said. The club plans to collaborate with Piedmont Hills High School’s chapter to help raise global awareness about education in Third World countries, she said.

She’s the First meets every other Tuesday at H-05.

Opinion: It’s time to redefine the “F” word Feminism is synonymous with der issues have their own place gender equality. amongst the world’s problems; The issue surrounding many it cannot be ignored or denied feminists today is the stigma due to society’s uncomfortable that comes along with the word feelings towards the word “femi“feminism”, and the fear of being nism.” labeled as a “feminist.” We have a Yes, feminism is about empowwarped, pseudo-definition of the ering women and leading them word—largely due to labels such towards their aspirations. It is as “FemiNazi”—which is why not about hating or wanting to many people often shy away from be superior to men. However, it identifying as femiis often mistaken for nists. just that. A woman who A classmate once told is a feminist is merely me that she agrees that aiming to become what women deserve the she was always meant same rights and opporto be: an equal. It must tunities as men, but become clear that the she does not want to be movement seeks to celcalled a feminist. I unebrate both genders and derstand why this “F liberate every man and word” often appears alwoman from the gender MILI ienating and unattracroles placed upon them. tive. As social creatures, BHATNAGAR It goes hand in hand humans have an inherwith gender equality; ent herd mentality, which is why it helps achieve liberation from we are apprehensive of ideas and sexism across the board. It exists groups that can separate us from to further shed the deep-seeded society. Sadly, feminism falls beliefs toward what really makes into such an excommunicated a man masculine and a woman group that people are hesitant to- feminine. wards—mostly due to misinterSo why not call it gender equalpretations and a few who give the ity? movement a bad name. As a cruBecause it needs to be discerned cial part of human rights, gen- that the repressed gender are

females. Such a recognition emphasizes and highlights the gender that is being treated unfairly; it draws attention to the gender that needs help. It is more specific than the term “gender equality,” and helps address the problem forwardly. Gender equality is the main goal, and feminism is one way to get there.

Although feminism may not be looked down upon quite as much anymore, there are still derogatory terms against it that are alive and well. When a culture is rife with adverse terms for people who advocate for gender equality, that’s a sign that an unfortunate number of people still believe in gender inequality. Our language as it stands often causes certain perspectives to be valued over others, but the goal should be to create spaces where people of all identities feel heard and validated.

Inequality is rife in all corners of the world, and until change comes, we must not give up.

The only way to a brighter, more compassionate future for men, women and all the shades of gender in between, is to begin redefining the meaning of feminism in your own mind.

Opinion: Feminism should be intersectional Intersectionality, an idea credoften ignored. ited to civil rights advocate KimIn one such case, DeGraffenreberlé Crenshaw, postulates that id v. General Motors, the plaintiff the varied facets of humanity, believed she was not hired for such as gender, class, sexual oria job because she was an Afrientation, race, and disability are can-American woman. However, not separate systems, but interthe judge dismissed her lawsuit connected and interdependent. because the employer did hire But what does this have to do women and black people, but with feminism? these employees were only ever Feminism advocates for equal white women and black men. rights for women, and the theoThe court denied the fact that ry of intersectionality DeGraffenreid experibroadens the feminist enced an amalgam of scope by including womracism and sexism, and en outside the white, showed that anti-dismiddle-class majority. crimination laws could More specifically, it foonly aid those whose excuses on how different periences fell solely into kinds of discrimination one category. overlap–for example, Looking at feminism beyond misogyny, a through an intersectrans woman of color tional lens would strive ERIN faces both racism and to make a more incluUTTER transphobia as well. sive movement, one I am of the opinion that the that truly aims to help all womfeminist movement can and en. The figureheads of the femishould be more inclusive. This nism are predominantly white, may seem obvious, but in the middle-class, and able-bodied. history of feminism, the issues However, this means that they of women not in the majority are can only represent and properly often cast aside. People assume advocate for a portion of women that all women face the same in the world because they do not problems, and discriminatory fully understand the issues other cases that involve an intersection women may face. Thus, intersecof multiple aspects of identity are tionality is vital in social justice,

Ishrak Ramzan

Loan-Anh Pham

because it has the potential to help all women.

Of course, intersectional ideas are not without criticism. Opponents believe that it should be kept out of feminism, because it distracts from the goals of feminism by incorporating other movements. However, there is evidence that discrimination oftens overlap, and while dealing with issues separately is fine, those living in the intersections between different aspects of identity will still suffer.

In addition, the theory of intersectionality is a vague concept without a clearly defined methodology. But despite its shortcomings, using it as an analytical tool to understand how these different aspects of identity overlap and affect women can help the feminist movement work toward achieving gender equality. Intersectionality would mean respecting the voices of those most affected by certain issues.

Feminism is supposed to work for the benefit of women–for disabled women, for LGBTQ+ women, for lower-class women, for women of color. It should stand for all women. If it doesn’t, then it isn’t truly feminism. Thanks for coming to my TEDTalk.

Jonathan Tran |

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Powerful books celebrate womanhood

BY ARIANA KHATEEB

“The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls” by Joan Jacobs Brumberg Joan Jacob Brumberg analyzes the unpublished diaries and historical events of the 19th and 20th century revolving around the perception and attitude of the female body. The book draws comparisons and examines differences between how doctors, the media, and parents shape the adolescent female’s perception on her body. Even though the book was published in 1997, an additional comparison can be made between the 19th century, 20th century and modern society.

“Bad Feminists: Essays” by Roxane Gay This collection of essays

by Roxane Gay describe the definition of “feminism” and the journey taken to become the “perfect” feminist in society.

Gay records her struggle with | THE UNION

m | THE UNION

| THE UNION

aligning her feminist values to the perceived perfect ideal of a modern feminist. Her witty essays about her experiences in expressing her viewpoints and failing miserably fosters a sense of community among everyone who fails at being the ideal feminist.

This book will be a calling for everybody to better themselves in an emerging feminist culture.

“The Sun and Her Flowers” by Rupi Kaur From the author that brought you “Milk and Honey,” Rupi Kaur releases another collection of poetry. These short, quick poems capture the basic experience of femininity, immigration, and self love through the eyes of a woman of color. These poems help young readers understand the different basic emotions revolving around complex concepts in modern western life.

“I Feel Bad About My Neck” by Nora Ephron This collection of essays by Nora Ephron displays the lifestyle of an

older woman in modern society.

The novel depicts Ephron’s pride in herself, while providing a humorous and straightforward reality of the life of an older American woman. The essays deal with the importance of feminism, beauty later in life, and the physical problems older woman confront. Even though it is marketed toward the older generation, young woman can anticipate their future and follow Ephron’s advice.

“The Little Book of Feminist Saints” by Julia Pierpont and Illustrated by Manjit Thapp This colorful collection of notable feminists throughout history, by Julia Pierpont and illustrated by Manjit Tharp, showcases their achievements.

You can learn about the life and importance of these feminists through their beautifully illustrated images. The drawing and summaries make it an easy read and a great gift to the younger generation.

Opinion: Women need to persist in politics First, it was Florida. Then, it was North Carolina, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. Across the TV screen, the states turned red, bleeding through the country as now President Donald J. Trump got closer and closer to the presidency in the 2016 Presidential Election. He won. But more importantly, our country could have had our first female president.

And suddenly, we didn’t.

The potential first female president in question is Hillary Clinton, arguably an icon to many feminists: being the first female presidential candidate for a major American party, she broke down barrier after barrier throughout her extensive career. Why is it acceptable to deem “stamina” as criteria for a woman president?

Why is this issue ignored in the face of the winner’s acknowledgement of Clinton being a “strong and smart” woman?

However, the few women who are currently in power are arguably figures behind the curtain, and finding an American woman politician who advocates strongly for feminism is a daunting task.

Getting elected is far from easy, yet instead of encouraging others or even putting up a strong fight,

they are content to stay in the within a country that stands for background with the glories of democracy, it is crucial that womtheir election, allowing policies en take a more active part. Polto be made that could drastically itics is a door for women to fight affect their fellow women across for equal pay, abortion rights, and the nation. so forth. Politics is the protection President Trump’s Muslim ban of the American people’s rights curtails the opportunities Musand freedoms, yet the proteclim women have to be American tors simply cannot only be men. citizens. His attack against the Women can protect ourselves, the Deferred Action for Childand if our government is by the hood Arrivals program people and for the peo(DACA) has met with ple, women need to fight little to no resistance for women. from women politiAdditionally, politics cians, despite the sepis a platform where the aration of mothers and opinion from the othchildren the program’s er half of the country end could bring. can finally be a strong In fact, American presence. Women have politics is thoroughly a voice, and this voice devoid of any significant needs to be louder to set portion of the female a precedent for future LOAN-ANH population. According generations. After all, PHAM to the Center for Amerithe future is female. can Women and Politics, in 2017, Women of all colors should be 21 out of 100 senators were womrepresented and part of the lawen, and the total number of wommaking body of America. The en who have served in Congress first woman president should not up to date is 319: a number that be a far-off dream, but a reality. does not tally up to the total RepIt may be a man’s world to some, resentatives and Senators each but this world belongs to women year (435). as much as any world. It’s time Politics has always been a funthat our government represented damental part of society, and the real world.

Opinion: Society needs more women in STEM There is undeniably a drastic shortage of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Having grown up with technology, many newer generations can recognize its influence in our daily lives, including its role in establishing social norms and gendered expectations. Studies have shown that work environments with greater diversity, such as employees of different genders, race, and backgrounds can significantly improve company productivity and creativity. It is my opinion that as a progressing society, we should seek to understand the benefits of closing the gender gap in STEM and strive to inspire more young women to pursue fields in which they are underrepresented.

According to a collection of statistics gathered by The Observer, women earn only 28% of computer science degrees and hold less than 11% of executive positions at companies in the Silicon Valley.

The scarcity of women in tech fields is often due to the notion that biological factors inhibit women from being equally competent in their careers as men.

This is not true. However, by encouraging this narrow-mind-

ed thinking, we are at risk of ex- discrimination already present in acerbating issues such as gender the workforce. inequality and connected issues The culture of having males such as discrimination and the dominate the STEM fields has wage gap. gone too far; we need to be more Instead, we should recognize inclusive. Simple solutions such that women are equally capable as offering more computer scias men in performing the same ence courses, which MHS lacks, tasks and understand that the will offer more opportunities for benefits of greater diversity to the women to experience the field corporate world are numerous. beforehand as opposed to getting According to mondo.com, the “di- their first exposure in college. We versity of thought leads should not restrict certo better problem-solvtain fields to a specific ing;” this idea has congender, but we should sistently been proven take steps to ensure that by extensive research. the ratio of each gender Having a more diverse is more equal in these group of people within fields. a company, such as an The current effort to equal ratio of men and have more female engiwomen, allows the proneers is impressive if we duction of more innovashed light on the numVIVIAN tive solutions and stratber of organizations and TSANG egies to problems. In leaders that have profact, companies that employ a fair vided exposure and spoken out percentage of men and women about the topic. Many prominent tend to generate higher revenues, female leaders such as Michelle as assessed in a survey published Obama and Sheryl Sandberg have by the Peterson Institute for In- encouraged women to take up ternational Economics. Compa- higher positions in leadership, nies should support having more and this is definitely a great step. women in technological fields. In times such as these, we should Not only is it beneficial to the all work together in supporting company’s earnings, but it also more young women to pursue reduces the amount of gender STEM.

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Spice up your prom with last minute tips

BY ANANYA DONAPATI

BY ASHLEY CHEN ISHRAK RAMZAN

Brandon La m Junior

Downcoat from Uniqlo

Prom is an event often portrayed by books and movies to be the quintessence of the high school experience, but the experience can vary drastically for everyone. From meals to transportation, there is so much to keep track of! To avoid any disasters on the hectic day of prom, here are some tips and advice so that this special day goes well.

1.Less is more!

Bring only absolute necessities with you to prom. Less is more because having to carry anything more than your phone or wallet can be exhausting. There is usually a coat and bag check area, but the line can stretch far. Not only do your items get in your way on the dance

floor, but imagine yourself carrying those things with you for hours.

2.Keep an eye out for amenities This can come as quite a surprise, but depending on the venue, the bathroom can be a solace for any last minute touch ups during prom.

The bathroom may be prepped with baskets of amenities such as hair pins, hair ties, tissues, etc.

3.Don’t forget to eat In the grand scheme of things, eating lunch or dinner can be difficult in a rush. But walking and dancing for hours can be physically exhausting, so eating is a must.

A lot of delicious food is offered at the venue, so there is always a second opportunity even after you’re at prom.

4.Find the right transportation Make sure you know how you will be getting to prom and back. Driving to prom can be tiring for some people so keep that in mind especially on the drive afterwards. Carpooling is always fun and a great option.

5.Keep it breathable The difference in temperature inside and outside the prom venue can be appalling, so wear a tuxedo or dress that is breathable. It can get very warm inside and freezing outside, so beware. Make sure to check the weather before leaving!

Alongside these tips, remember to enjoy yourself. This will be a night full of wonderful memories so indulge in the excitement of your peers. Don’t forget to bring your ticket!

Learn how to unapologetically be yourself

BY CLARA MARISOL DELA CRUZ

Jeans from Pac Sun

Adidas ZX Flux Shoes from Adidas

His Fashion Inspir ation: “Music was my entry point into fashion as music specifically placed immense value on my creativity, individuality, and self-expression. ”

Ja m ie Yu Sophomore

It’s time. As you walk across the stage and stand behind the microphone, your heart pounds louder than silence. There are thousands of people in the audience, and even though the light is bright enough for you to not see their faces, your knees tremble slightly. Nervousness and fear settle in. Your lips part. But the words fail to come out.

What do you do?

According to the Oxford online dictionary, self-confidence is “a feeling of trust in one’s abilities,qualities, and judgment.” Every day of our lives, we are given tasks that require us to break past our comfort zone and step into the unknown, whether it be speaking in front of teachers and classmates for a presentation, pursuing a career path, or finally starting up a conversation with someone you’ve been afraid of talking to. The list goes on.

However, self-confidence is something many people struggle with, myself included. It’s something that cannot easily be mastered overnight. Rather, it takes baby steps. The following is a simple guide on how to build self-confidence.

1.Maintain good posture.

This is pretty self-explanatory.

Roll your shoulders back. Chin up.

Avoid slouching. Don’t be afraid to show your heart.

2. Meet yourself where you are now.

Let’s face it. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to other people. It’s easy to get discouraged when we see people celebrating their successes while we’re struggling just to pull through. But we are all at different points in our lives. Your journey is not meant to be exactly like another person’s journey. Whether you’re where you want to be or not, go and meet yourself where you are now. Don’t wait for yourself to catch up to where you expect yourself to be. Take your time with what you are struggling with.

3. Recognize your strengths.

Our harshest critics tend to be ourselves. Sometimes, we become so hard on ourselves that all we see are our weaknesses. But whether we know it or not, we all have our own strengths. What are you most good at? What are some of yourbest qualities? An example could be that you’re good at storytelling or you’re good at playing an instrument. An-

other could be that you are resilient, how you choose to not give up when affliction strikes. Even though you have you weaknesses, your strengths arealso a big part of who you are.

4. Affirm yourself.

As silly as it may sound, write down notes of encouragement for yourself and leave them in places where you’ll see them every day, whether it be on the refrigerator at home or inside your locker at school.

These notes could say things as simple as “You got this” or “I believe in you!” Building off of what was brought up in step three, affirming yourself can help diminish the discouraging thoughts that keep you from reaching your full potential.

There is something very moving about willingly cheering yourself on.

5. Never give up.

Failure is a part of life. If you allow yourself to recover from failure and keep trying until you succeed, then you are on the road to becoming the best that you can be. A significant component of self-confidence is believing in yourself. If you fail at first,that’s okay. Get up on your feet and stand a little taller than you did before. And go. Believe in yourself and do not give up.

Pollen is in the air, along with spring allergies

BY MORGAN LEI MAANSI MASKAI

KNIT SWEATER from Forever 21

BOYFRIEND Jeans Thrifted

CHECKERED VANS from Vans

Her Fashion Inspir ation: “Youtubers that thrift.”

Spring is officially here! With spring showers and April flowers comes allergy season! As countless plants release pollen grains in the air, many people who have spring allergies will begin to sniffle, sneeze,and have itchy eyes.

What triggers spring allergies?

The main culprit behind spring allergies is pollen. At this time of year, various plants such as trees, grasses, and weeds release numerous tiny grains of pollen in the air with an aim to fertilize other plants.

However, if these pollen grains end up in the nose of someone who is allergic, his or her immune system will go haywire. The body’s immune system mistakes these pollen grains as harmful substances and releases antibodies in the body to combat the allergen. Additionally, chemicals known as histamines are released in the bloodstream, triggering symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, and in some cases, hives.

Grasses, Weeds, and Trees that may cause Spring Allergies ...

-Alder -Ash -Aspen -Beech -Box elder -Cedar -Cottonwood -Cypress -Elm -Hickory -Juniper -Maple -Mulberry -Bermuda Fescue -Johnson -June -Orchard

-Perennialrye -Redtop Symptoms: -Runny Nose -Itchy, watery eyes -Sneezing

-Coughing -Sniffling -Hives How To Survive Allergy Season Obviously, it helps to take allergy medications in the morning before school, but it is important to find outwhich allergy medications work for you. It is also important to know how your body reacts to the different types of medicine. For instance, some medications may cause drowsiness while others can cause insomnia!

Wash your face Ever get an allergy attack so bad that your eyes get red, your nose will not stop running, and you cannot stop sneezing? Whenever this happens, it helps to wash your face--preferably with cold water-to get rid of any pollen or allergens.

It is also good to try and dust yourself off outside and brush or comb your hair.

Take a shower If you are at home and getting bad allergies, what works even better than washing your face is showering. That way, all the allergens are for sure rinsed away.

Wash your clothing often During allergy season, it is always helpful to wash your clothes more often than you normally do. Pollen

grains have a tendency to cling to the fibers in clothing items.

Steam If you are experiencing congestion and sore throat, breathing in some steam may help. Get a small pot of boiled water and place a towel over your head and the pot to keep the steam in. You might want to keep your distance at first since it will be hot. After a while, you should feel less congested and your throat should not hurt as much.

Avoid allergens If at all possible, try to avoid highly pollinated or allergy triggering areas filled with weeds, grass, and flowers. Areas on campus to possibly avoid include the green, the flowers near the L building, and the trees with the white blossoms.

Some weather apps provide pollen counts as a part of their forecast, so make sure you check pollen counts in the area you plan to be in.

Keep your remedies with you If you begin to feel the onslaught of allergy like symptoms, it is always helpful to have your remedies with you. Make sure you carry tissues, water, and whatever allergy medication works best for you!

Sources: WebMD - Spring Allergies

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Ace your AP exams this May

BY KELLY NGUYEN

Krystal Quiocho | THE UNION

Add color and life into your personal abode

BY KRYSTAL QUIOCHO

Spring is here; time to turn over a new leaf- or flower. With this incredibly simple and easy DIY,your room will seem brighter and happier.

Supplies: -Branch -Artificial flowers with stems -Fishing wire -Hot glue (optional) -Small wire cutters -Scissors -Tape

Directions: 1.Trim stems with the wire cutters to desired length.

2.Adjust leaves or remove them.

3.Cut fishing line so it is long enough to fit five to six flowers and extra space near the top to tie to the branch.

4.Spread flowers out into a straight line with varying spaces in between.

5.Using a single knot, tie the flowers in place upside down on the fishing wire.

6.Use hot glue to ensure the flower is secured in place.

7.Securely tie the top of the fishing

line to the branch.

Tips and Tricks: -Tape the top of the fishing line to a wall or the floor for easier managing and to keep things in place.

-Use different colors and types of flowers for more visual appeal-Arrange flowers in a random order so it looks more natural.

-If a flower is sticking sideways instead of straight down, move it to the other side of the knot.

-Cut different lengths of the fishing wire so they are not all the same size, creating variety and a more dynamic look.

Enjoy your Saturday night without prom

BY CLARA MARISOL DELA CRUZ

It’s that time of year. Prom is just around the corner. Prom season cues the influx of promposals, the search for the perfect prom dress, and the stress that comes with coordinating plans for the night with friends.

With all the hype over prom, it can be easy to feel left out if you’re not going. Whether it be for financial reasons or personal reasons, there are students who are not going to prom.

To the juniors and seniors not going to prom, this is for you. Even if you aren’t going to prom, you can still make prom night memorable for yourself. The following is a list of prom alternatives that will make for a night that will surely be one for the books.

1. Slumber party Bring back the nostalgic days of sleepovers and storytelling. Invite friends over for an intimate slumber party. Prepare food to eat and pick a movie to watch. Stay up the whole

night and spill your hearts out to each other.

2. Restaurant dinner Choose a restaurant, whether it be a semi-fancy restaurant like Maggiano’s Little Italy at Santana Row or a fast food restaurant like In-N-Out, and eat out with friends.

As simple as it sounds, eating dinner with friends gives room for real human connection and meaningful conversation that will hold a place in your heart. So order the pasta and bring the fries. Let the conversation flow, and afterwards get ice cream for dessert.

3. Go on an adventure Nothing sounds more adventurous than ditching prom to take off on a mini road trip. Spontaneous or planned, it’s up to you, but remember to be careful about where you choose to go. Prepare snacks for the journey and take friends who are down to explore places hours away from home with you. Bring cameras and journals along to capture the moments you will look back at and reminisce over years from now. Moments like these are stories waiting

to be told.

4. City lights During her senior year of high school, a friend of mine decided to skip prom and drive to the top of a mountain to look at city lights.

Compared to prom, looking at city lights may sound boring to some.

But there is nothing mundane about inviting friends and driving together to a mountaintop to look at the bright city lights, reflect on how far you’ve come since freshman year of high school, and marvel at how far you have yet to go.

5. Have your own prom Just because you can’t go to prom for whatever reason doesn’t mean you can’t have a prom of your own.

Gather friends who aren’t going to prom, get ready and dress up as if you’re going to prom, and find a place to have your own prom, whether it be at a friend’s backyard, in the middle of downtown, or someplace else. If a good song happens to come on, let go of what’s holding you back. And dance. It doesn’t matter if people are staring.

This is your moment. Live it.

It’s April, but here’s a pumpkin pie recipe

BY ISHRAK RAMZAN

Ingredients You Will Need For the Pie Crust: 1 store-bought or homemade pie crust Recipe for Making a Pie Crust from Scratch Ingredients: 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling 1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 6 to 8 Tbsp ice water For Pumpkin Filling 1 cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree ¼ cups evaporated milk To Make Your Pie Dough 1.Mix the flour, the salt, and the sugar in a large bowl. Then, slowly add the butter, mixing it together with the dry ingredients. At the

same time, add in the cold water to help the dough adhere. This mixture will be ready if you can pinch some and then have the dough hold together.

2.Take this mixture and put it together, forming a mound. Divide the dough into two chunks, and then flatten the dough out to form discs. Put a bit of flour on each of the discs, and then wrap them with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge for at least one hour. Before using them, let them sit outside so they can warm up to room temperature, making it easier to roll the dough out.

To Prepare Your Pie Crust 1.First, you need to preheat your oven to 400°F. 2.Next, find a flat surface and lightly coat it with flour, which will prevent your pie dough from sticking. Roll out the dough to roughly 12 inches in diameter. Then, transfer the dough to a pie plate, making sure it is touching all surfaces of the pie plate. Now, trim off any extra dough from the edges of the pie tin, and then crimp the edges with by pinching it with your fingers or by using a fork. Line the bottom of the pie dough with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and then fill it with a pie weight. (Instead of pie weights, dried beans or dry rice can also be

used).

3.Bake the empty pie crust for roughly 15 minutes at 400°F. Then, remove the pie crust from the oven and remove the parchment paper/ foil and the weights. Return the crust back to the oven and bake it for 5 more minutes, then remove it and set it down so that the pie can cool off.

Recipe for Making Pumpkin Filling 1.Take out a large bowl and combine the brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Meanwhile in another bowl, mix the pumpkin puree with the eggs and the evaporated milk until everything is thoroughly combined.

Then, combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

How to Make the Pumpkin Pie 1.After the pie crust has been partially baked take it out of the oven. Now, place the pumpkin filling inside. Then, place the pie back into the oven and allow it to bake at 400°F for roughly 45 minutes, or until the center of the pie is close to having set. Finally, remove the pie from the oven and place it on a cooling rack or on mats so that it can cool. Enjoy!

1. Do not study all the material at once. If you have multiple AP exams this spring, do not cram it all into one weekend. The best way to retain information is to break the material up into sections; this way, you are less likely to feel overwhelmed with the amount of information you have to study. Making a study schedule can be helpful; assign each day of the week —or whenever you’re free— to a specific section, and estimate how many hours it’ll take you to complete it. This way, you will have a better idea of how long it will take you to finish studying for a particular subject, alleviating any unnecessary stress.

2. Make your own study guide or cheat sheet. Although most teachers hand out a study guide to help you prepare for the AP exam, not all the material is specialized just for you.

The best wayto study for a test is to make your own cheat sheet. As you annotate notes and find key concepts, write them down on a piece of paper or type them up on a document. This way, you will have a place to look back on and review. Another helpful tip is to copy down problems that you have the most trouble with on your cheat sheet.

3. Get a good night’s sleep before the AP exam. For some high school students, it can be difficult to sleep early due to the amount of workload or extracurriculars they have piled up on their schedules. Although it seems impossible, getting enough

sleep before AP testing can be crucial for your performance. Sleeping early has to do with time management; make sure not to put so much on your plate when the AP exam is approaching, so you have the extra time to sleep.Students who get enough sleep wake up feeling more energized and prepared to take their exams than students who stay up late.

4. Ask questions. Although this tip is simple, it can not be stressed enough. Teachers believe that the students who score highest on AP exams or testing in general are the students who ask the most questions. As you review the material, make sure to mark problems or concepts you may have questions on. After, make an appointment or come in after school to ask your teachers for explanations of the problems until you fully understand the material —and can do similar problems!— By taking initiative, you are removing any doubt and increasing your chances of doing well on the AP exam.

5. Plan study groups. If you and your friends are all taking the same AP test, why not take advantage of this opportunity to learn from others? Make a study group with a couple friends andmeet up at the library. Make sure you choose wisely! Contact friends who will only motivate youto study harder, not distract you. Your friends may have questions that you never thought of, and this can be crucial in preparing well for the AP exam.

Szechuan sauce comes back

BY DEVYN NGUYEN LUKE REN

It’s back. The Mickey Dee fans and “Rick and Morty” fans can stop waiting because the sauce they have all been waiting for has finally returned. To give some context for the unfortunate readers who have not heard of the myths, McDonald’s has recently reintroduced, for the second time, szechuan sauce to select McDonald’s sites. Szechuan sauce originated as a promotional product to go alongside a limited time meal for the popular 1998 Disney movie “Mulan.”

When the hit television show “Rick and Morty” featured the sauce in an episode, the “Rick and Morty” fans went wild. Demand for the revival of the sauce hit the McDonald’s headquarters, and the company decided that the fans were worthy. However, when McDonald’sfirst brought back the sauce to very select McDonald’s sites, the “Rick and Morty” fans responded with rage due to the limited supply of szechuan sauce packets. Mickey Dee’s responded to the negative response by promising to reintroduce the sauce during winter one more time in larger supply.

Well readers, it’s past winter, and the sauce is finally back.

We decided to head down to the nearest McDonald’s site to see if the sauce was worthy of its hype.

We quickly noticed that we were not the only ones expected to be

served with the legendary szechuan sauce, and we would not be the last.

We decided to pair the sauce with McDonald’s Buttermilk Chicken Tenders to guarantee maximum satisfaction. However, to our disappointment and the disappointment of all “Rick and Morty” fans, the szechuan sauce does not meet up to its expectations.

The sauce tasted like orange chicken, teriyaki sauce, and sweet and sour sauce all combined. Although it had all of these amazing flavors, the overall combination was underwhelming. While fans expected a kick of spice to add some flavor with their golden chicken tenders, they received an oversweet and non-savory mush that tasted closer to caramelthan Chinese food. It felt like the sauce was the epitome of fake Chinese food. Even to those who like Panda Express, this sauce still falls short.

“Rick and Morty” fans expected euphoria in condiment form from the szechuan sauce, but they received absolute mediocrity. McDonald’s has let down their valiant fans, and has shamed the name of szechuan. Mickey Dee’s attempt at reviving a long forgotten sensation by introducing a bit of Chinese culture into their product has resulted in typical white-washing behavior.

McDonald’s tried their best to appease the fans by reintroducing the hyped-up sauce, but their delivery ended up as overall mediocre. Good

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THE UNION

ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 2018

RATING KEY sUnny Side Up Poached Scrambled Well-done Hard-Boiled Music Reviews Roshni Sheth | The Union

Corny Collins (Junior Andrew Hope), Tracy Turnblad (Senior Jennifer Gallego), and Link Larkin (Senior Ashton Nguyen) dancing together on the Corny Collins’s Show. The scene is of Tracy going to the Corny Collins’ Show to audition for a spot in the show.

Actors deliver stylish performance in ‘Hairspray’ the score and the charming performance delivered by the actors. The lovable cheesiness, television cornBY MILI BHATNAGAR iness, and flood of adolescent emoROSHNI SHETH tions in each song cannot be missed and is highly enjoyable. Tracy There is much to say about the Turnblad, played by Senior JennifMHS Theater’s showing of the efer Gallego, captivates the audience fervescent musical Hairspray, in her opening piece, “Good based on the 1988 John Waters Morning Baltimore”, with her film. The musical immediateplayful energy and delightful ly resonates a relevance in singing. A truly unforgettable 2018, where the unapologetic is given by SenPLAY performance bigotry of the ‘60s has seen an ior Darryl Remulla, who plays REVIEW the drag role of Edna Turnemboldened resurgence following a tumultuous election. blad. Remulla is moving and But who better to stomp on that funny and in his second act duet, sourness than Tracy Turnblad?

“Timeless to Me,” with Wilbur The “pleasantly plump” teen inte- Turnblad (Flynn Templeton), degrationist brings toe-tapping beats livers one of the most warming and of racial inclusiveness and body loving moments of the musical. positivity to early ‘60s Baltimore The outfits worn by the cast dein this sweetly subversive musical. pict exactly how the ‘60s were While the play is not a transcend- which includes bold colors, simple ent experience, it sends across a fitted dresses, heels, puffy hair, light hearted yet meaningful mes- and colored tights. Most of the sage, and surely is entertaining. cast members are shown in such There is even more to say about distinct colors which causes the RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

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stage to “pop out” more. Gallego presents the ‘60s with her puffed up hair and long tailored skirt and exudes a Jackie Kennedy vibe-which Remulla also follows with his role as Tracy Turnblad’s mother. The different sets in the musical bring more color, especially with the sparkly background and vibrant props. Without the specific sets such as the detention classroom or television set, the musical would have missed their visuals.

Hairspray has all the elements of a an exquisite musical including great music, perfect characterization, and wonderful flow. The only flaw I saw in this musical was that the ending was rather choppy. The musical went from having a great storyline to an ending that appeared out of nowhere. Despite the hasty ending, there is appreciated humor, flawless dance moves, and a well responsive audience. There was not one second where my eyes were off the stage for those two hours which flew by rather quickly.

‘Red Sparrow’ thrills audiences with dark plot dience in and sell the existence of a secret Russian spy school in the modern era. Lawrence once again

BY ISHRAK RAMZAN displayed her acting talent, and THEODORE DO you could believe that she was a young woman who had worked “Red Sparrow” is a mature spy for her entire life honing a skill. thriller that was released on March The supporting cast were able to 2 in the United States. Starring deliver a strong performance as Jennifer Lawrence, the film was well, that served to strengthen directed by Francis Lawrence, the the immersion in the storyline. director she worked with for In addition to the strong acther Hunger Games movies. ing presented by all members Jennifer Lawrence stars as of the cast, the movie had an Dominika Egorova, a talented interesting plot that explored and famous Russian ballerina MOVIE topics not often covered on who dances for the esteemed REVIEW the big screen. While Sparrow Bolshoi Theater to support her School succeeds in producing ill mother. Her performanchighly trained and manipulaes enthrall her audiences, until an tive operatives, it also treats them untimely accident destroys any brutally. The students are stripped hopes of continuing her art. This of their freedom and forced leads her to go to her uncle in the into actions against their will. government for a new line of work, Though complex themes were until she witnesses the murder covered, the plot was able to reof a man she was tasked with get- main compelling, providing a ting close to, forcing her to choose well-crafted spy narrative that death or becoming a Sparrow. stayed real. There weren’t lavish The acting in “Red Sparrow” chases or flashy shootouts, but a was solid, helping to draw the au- grim reality of manipulation and RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

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subterfuge that provided for a catand-mouse game where you’re never sure who Dominika is playing.

The aesthetic and backdrops of the movie served to support the themes of the film, a brutal depiction of degradation and what happens when one’s will is systematically broken. The dichotomy between the beautiful and the disturbing in the film supports this, made most evident with the contrast between lavish opulence and gory, bleak conditions. However, at times the graphicness of the movie seemed to be used for shock value, and it wasn’t always necessary to progres the film.

“Red Sparrow” delivers on its promise of being an intriguing spy thriller that uses a more psychological viewpoint than typical films that one would see today, and I would recommend the film to others. However, the movie is definitely worthy of its R rating, and it isn’t for the faint of heart, containing violence and sexual content that some would find disturbing.

‘Jessica Jones’ returns to Netflix with season two RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

BY ERIN UTTER

Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) is back and she’s still just as edgy as she was in season one. Season two of Marvel’s “Jessica Jones” came out on March 8, and in this season, Jessica uncovers the truth about the events that led to her powers, and grapples with the staggering cost of heroism.

However, season two does have its problems. The season is bloated and takes a while before it gets interesting, which may cause some viewers to give up in boredom.

Furthermore, without a mesmerizing villain in the first few episodes such as David Tennant’s Kilgrave from season one, the show loses its important feel Despite its shortcomings, the show is more than worth the wait.

“Jessica Jones,” more than any other superhero show or movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

(MCU), focuses on introspection.

This season’s antagonist and conflict are deeply personal to Jessica, even more so than the first season’s. The show further develops each character and makes them feel more real to the audience.

With stunning performances by the cast and masterful cinematography, along with terrific writing, “Jessica Jones” season two hits just as hard as the first season did.

If you’re willing to wait through the first few episodes, you’ll want to catch season two on Netflix.

AMERICAN UTOPIA

by David Byrne Genre: Alternative, Indie RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

MY DEAR MELANCHOLY

by The Weeknd Genre: R&B, Soul RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

BY ERIC DE GUZMAN

BY JERALD MENDOZA

On March 11, David Byrne of Talking Heads fame released his new solo album. “American Utopia” features his vocal talent, along with composition and arrangement by previous collaborator Brian Eno and Daniel Lopatin, experimental electronic musician also known as Oneohtrix Point Never.

The album clocks at around forty minutes with ten tracks, so one would expect that the listening experience be laborious or a chore.

The lyrics are heavy-handed and vaguely philosophical (lyrics such as “Does winter follow spring?” and “I will be a human being” come to mind), and at times, a little crude. If you were to play “Every Day is a Miracle” at a dance, people may turn their heads when, suddenly, Byrne belts out, “The pope don’t mean s**t to a dog!”

In spite of its poor lyricism, “American Utopia” should be lauded for its energetic production and composition. “Doing the Right Thing” evolves from a guitar-driven ballad to an electronic dance break. “This Is That” showcases Lopatin’s composition with its dreamy synth, resounding beats, and chimes evocative of an Eastern meditation. And “Everybody’s Coming to My House” stands out as one of the better tracks, blending smooth brass, bubbly beeps, and the standard drum kit and guitar in a satisfying marriage of the late Talking Heads’ groove and David Byrne’s new experimental style.

The best way to approach this album is to ignore the pseudo-intellectual ramblings and explore the soundscape that the tracks provide. Appreciate every guitar-picked melody, every digital swell, every funky beat. As David Byrne says in “This Is That,” “It’s nothing special, now, it’s nothing profound, but something about the way it sounds.”

The Weeknd’s new album, “My Dear Melancholy,” was released on Mar. 30 this year, to resounding praise from simp-happy audiences.

Abel Tesfaye, (The Weeknd) returns to his roots for his newest album, reminiscent of the angst and hurt in his first albums, “House of Balloons” and “Trilogy.” This return to form for Abel was anticipated after his breakup with Selena Gomez, and he didn’t fail to impress.

The album is the story of a heartbroken lover with a sound only The Weeknd can produce. Deep, heart-rending lines share the same space as innuendo and explicitly sexual comments. The lyrics are mixed together in a slow, gritty R&B instrumental paced by rhythmic bass notes and hats.

The instrumentals really come into play in “I Was Never There.”

The song starts off with long, lamenting synth notes and it’s bass beats wash into the ear like crashing waves. The song shifts halfway into a more cinematic, serene vibe. The instrumentals help set the tone of Abel’s pained lyrics.

“My Dear Melancholy” is most certainly a break-up album in the best way possible. It’s not full of flare and poetic thoughts. It is an album of the depths of heartbreak, in one’s darkest moments, when emotions are most turbulent. This album, and The Weeknd’s portrayal of heartbreak, is far more genuine and realistic than anything Taylor Swift or even Adele could present.

The Weeknd taps into a feeling few mainstream R&B artists can really reach. It’s raw, it’s dark, it’s dirty.

This album exeplifies the new teen angst, which has been largely vacant since the end of the punk rock era.

As good as the quality of the album is, it just goes to show where Abel is emotionally. He certainly hasn’t taken the breakup well, so I wish him the best.

ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL 2018

THE UNION

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‘Love, Simon’ loved by audiences; this story is not straightforward believes to be Blue but from several experiences and moments, Spier realizes he is wrong. At this point

BY ROSHNI SHETH the movie takes a dip and Simon is really giving in to Martin. The real Everyone deserves a great question throughout the movie love story and “Love, Simon” is will Simon heed Martin and shows us a love story along with jeopardize his friend’s life or will he themes relating to acceptance finally tell the world about his big and friendship. With our young secret and Blue? audience and generation, “Love, As the movie continued, I saw how Simon” creates a safer environment positively the audience reacted to the for the upcoming future and movie. During parts of togetherness liveliness of young adults. with Simon and his friends, Simon Spier is shown to be a I could tell the audience typical teenager with a happy really enjoyed relating to how family and a group of friends. much Simon cared about his As Simon’s life goes on, he MOVIE friends and himself. Even as ends up meeting another gay REVIEW teenagers right now, we aren’t student online who is under all accepted with our likes and a stage name known as Blue. dislikes but Simon motivates Simon feels happy and enchanted the audience to fight back and how to meet another person he could doing the right thing makes you relate to but life takes unexpected feel so much better. When Simon turns when he is being blackmailed finally opens up about his sexuality by another student named to his parents, there is a sense of Martin and his relationship with relief from finally being able to tell Blue is jeopardized. Martin has the truth and there is an obvious yet screenshots of Simon and Blue’s strong message telling us, especially conversations and threatens to young adults, to be truthful with the leak them to the school if he doesn’t people who you love. help him win the heart of one of Despite the abrupt ending, “Love, Simon’s friends. The film continues Simon” shares a heartwarming to progress as Spier figures out his attitude with this young generation. life around his friends, acceptance We must follow our dreams and from his family, and trying to figure instincts in order to win some out Blue’s secret identity. aspects in our life even if that means As Simon’s quest continues, he putting ourselves down to pick finds numerous people who he better things up.

RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

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‘Black Panther’ claws box office; audience amazed by superb plot that brings to light very real issues that people face today—from racism to discrimination. All of these

BY JONATHAN TRAN elements and conflict make “Black KELLY LUE Panther” beautifully tragic.

On Feb. 16, “Black Panther” Special effects in this movie was released and fans of Marvel’s were pretty impressive. The mix Cinematic Universe (MCU) were of computer generated models and blown away. “Black Panther” is practical effects made for a pleasant groundbreaking in multiple ways. visual experience. The vibrant lands Marvel has a tendency to place too of Wakanda looked especially real. many jokes in their movies and It’s hard to spot any error unless shove them down viewer’s throats, actively looking for them. The color but this movie demanded a palette for the movie was vivid, serious tone, and we are glad but also well controlled and that it followed through. It’s balanced. Each scene really been a while since we’ve seen a sold the viewer on the beauty Marvel movie that takes itself MOVIE of Wakanda. seriously, but “Black Panther” This film’s music was one of REVIEW is truly a masterpiece. the key facets of this movie’s The cast was absolutely marketing campaign, and its brilliant in this film. Chadwick star-studded soundtrack is anything Boseman and Michael B. Jordan but lacking. The soundtrack is rapcome to mind in this case, but it was based and is curated by one of the top truly the latter that stole the show. rappers of today, Kendrick Lamar.

Forgettable villains are a staple The “Black Panther” soundtrack of Marvel films, making Jordan’s includes awe-inspiring tracks such Killmonger seem that much more as the dark and brooding “All the impressive. Never before have we Stars” by Lamar and SZA, or Khalid encountered a villain so relatable. and Swae Lee’s “The Ways.”

We found ourselves legitimately “Black Panther” truly blew all torn between both sides, simply due other MCU films out of the water, to the inexorable circumstances excelling in not just plot and that landed each of them in their cinematography, but also latent respective situations. Killmonger meaning. This film is definitely not has a heartbreaking backstory one to miss.

RATING (Out of 5 eggs):

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Courtesy of Warner Bros

Wade Watts adventures on a journey to claim the egg left by James Halliday. Throughout his journey, he encounters dangers, mysteries, romance, and references, such as King Kong from “King Kong” as well as the Iron Giant from “The Iron Giant.”

Virtual reality affects reality in ‘Ready Player One’ he is thrown into an universe of mystery, discovery, and danger.

Wade is joined by his best friend Aech and love interest Art3mis

BY DEVYN NGUYEN (Olivia Cooke) in his hunt for the egg. Fortune, however, does not come easily. The world’s largest Get ready to have an aweinternet service provider, Innosome time in the theater because vative Online Industries, also “Ready Player One” is going to known as IOI, is vying for the egg take you on a fantastical journey. as well, and they are willing to do “Ready Player One” is set in anything in their power to 2045, with the world on the obtain Halliday’s fortune. brink of chaos and collapse.

The plot of the movie was As a means to get away from very interesting. Wade and real life problems, people have MOVIE his friends solve the riddles found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality REVIEW left by Halliday and earn the keys that were left by him. universe created by brilliant Being the first to obtain a and eccentric James Halliday key, Wade is put in a tough situ(Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his inheritance of ation where IOI is now targeting half a trillion dollars and total con- him and trying to figure out how trol of the OASIS to the first person he obtained the key. As Wade prowho can find a digital Easter egg in gresses and solves more riddles, the OASIS. The egg is found by col- IOI gets agitated and takes draslecting three keys, each requiring tic measures to make sure Wade the player to solve a difficult riddle doesn’t get the egg by targeting having to deal with Halliday’s life. his family and him in real life.

There was a lot of nostalgia in When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (The Sheri- watching “Ready Player One.” dan) joins the contest for the egg, There were a plethora of games, RATING (Out of 5) eggs:

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songs, and characters shown in the movie, ranging from the 1979 game “Adventure” to the 2016 Game of the Year, “Overwatch.”

Characters from a multitude of games are shown in “Ready Player One,” many of which fans will hurriedly recognize.

The acting in the movie was okay.

It wasn’t anything spectacular but it wasn’t bad either. I thought that the characters could have had a bit more of emotion though, as they were being chased by a multi-million dollar corporation that were crazy enough to kill them to stop them from getting the egg. In a scene where IOI targeted Wade’s family and hurt them, it didn’t seem like Wade really cared, as he soon went on a date with Art3mis and had fun with her. In a situation where family members hurt, I would have liked to see more sadness and grief than what was shown.

Although the movie had some blemishes that could have been easily fixed, I thought that overall it was pretty good and was worth the watch. “Ready Player One” earns a well deserved rating of 4 out of 5.

‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ fortunately returns entertaining and story driven. A lot of it is thanks to the actors’ performances, who had great chemisBY MORGAN LEI try with the main cast. Many of the newcomers were also able to hold Season two of Netflix’s “A Series their own against Neil Patrick Harof Unfortunate Events” was reris’s Olaf. Fans of the books will be leased on Mar. 30, picking up right pleased with the casting of these where season one left off. The show beloved (and hated) side characters follows the Baudelaire orphans as that look and act the parts nicely. they try to escape the clutches of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” Count Olaf, who wants to get his distinguishes itself from other hands on their fortune. But shows with its blend of dark as the chase continues, the humor and theatrics, and like Baudelaires realize that there the novels it follows, season might be more to Olaf’s motwo grows darker as more tives and their parent’s death. TV-SERIES details arise and the plot Both fans of the books and The shift in tone is REVIEW thickens. fans of the first season can definitely a welcome one and rejoice, for season two suris what makes this season passes the first by adding strong superior over the last. The darksupporting characters, settling an er tone makes the theatrical peroverall darker tone, and continuformances more enjoyable in that ing to not only honor the source they are able to provide comedic material, but add fresh perspecrelief. The sets and costumes are tives as well. However, some of the also a good mix of fantastical and special effects are still a little silly. gothic, feeding into the series’s The introduction and perforunique aesthetic. It is nice to see mance of several new side characa show that does not take itself ters is well executed. Each chartoo seriously, yet still manages to acter settles right into place and be mysterious and compelling. plays a crucial role in the BaudeReaders of the books will also be laires’ lives; making every second on edge thanks to new perspectives RATING (Out of 5) eggs:

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not previously seen in the books.

Here, it would have been easy for the add-ons to feel too forced or out of place, but with the original author Daniel Handler’s involvement, these new point of views are integrate naturally into the story.

Unfortunately, like the first season, the special effects used to bring to life Sunny Baudelaire’s talents often looks tacky. Sunny, being a smarter than average baby, is known for having a few sharp teeth that she typically uses help get her and her siblings out of trouble. But this, and the portrayal of her other talents, usually ends up looking too unrealistic, even for this show with all its antics. However, this is nitpicking and the special effects do very little to hinder the show as a whole.

As a result of great new characters, noteworthy tone and style, enriched plot, and new revelations, season two of Netflix’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” is well worth a watch. Whether you are a fan of the books, the first season, or completely unfamiliar with the story, come dive into Lemony Snicket’s world, for it is not as quiet as it seems.

Anatomy students experiment with brain games

BY THEODORE DO

Mili Bhatnagar | The Union

Want to improve your cognitive abilities? Try brain games, such as Lumosity. The Anatomy and Physiology class designed an experiment to examine the concept of brain plasticity: the ability for the brain to change functionally and physically. Through their experi-

ment, they found that brain games do in fact improve skills such as accuracy, speed, and memory.

The experiment was designed to allow students to explore the usage of scientific skills to conduct a controlled experiment in a real-life setting, Teacher Darra Cacao said.

They needed to collect a large sample of subjects to test their experi-

ment on, while doing their best to limit variables by giving their subjects exact parameters to follow.

With games like Lumosity, students were able to research on humans in a shorter amount of time. Cacao hopes that the experiment will motivate some of her students to continue their investigation of neuroscience.

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APRIL 2018

SPORTS

THE UNION

Baseball bats into competition

KRYSTAL QUIOCHO THE UNION

Varsity Baseball starter pitcher Isaac Sanchez practices his throw.

The varsity baseball team has won four games, lost 10, and tied one.

BY DEVYN NGUYEN THEODORE DO

Varsity Baseball has entered its season with a record of four wins, 10 losses, and one tie, according to Varsity Baseball Player Matthew Clarke. The team started its season strong, placing first in their

annual Michael De Jesus Classic Tournament, but lost in their recent games, both league and nonleague, Clarke continued.

There have not been considerable changes to the team this year, Clarke said. However, the team is less balanced than previous years, having less pitchers

and left-handed players on their varsity team, he said.

The JV team, on the other hand, has not gained any wins yet, according to JV Baseball Player James Westfall. There have been a change of coaches and leadership this year, he added. To improve, Westfall would like to see the team have a better attitude and have better communication, he said.

Still, the team still has its pride in its players’ strengths, Clarke added. The team has been just as good defensively this year as the last, he continued. While they have improvements to make, Clarke hopes the team will enjoy itself throughout the season, Clarke said.

“My hope for the team this year is to get as far as we can and win CCS while having a good time playing together all the way,” Clarke said.

Westfall has played baseball since he was nine years old, Westfall said. It changed his life, as he was able to meet new people and gain leadership skills, he said.

“I’ve become a lot more of a vocal person, [and now] I am not afraid to voice my concerns,” Westfall said. “I’ve become a team player as well because when we’re on the field, we’re working with nine guys.”

Baseball has also allowed students to create a strongly knit group of teammates, Clarke said.

Baseball is a hard sport to learn, so most of the players on the team have generally grown up with one another, he explained.

“Many kids who play baseball have played it for as long as me,” Clarke said. “We all get along really well, because we’ve basically been teammates for a big portion of our lives, from Little League to high school.”

COURTESY OF TORI CHU

Kevin Vuong dives at the start of the home meet against Mountain View High School on March 30. Vuong has swam since the age of 10.

April Athlete of the Month: Swimmer Kevin Vuong

BY MARISOL DELA CRUZ

Junior Kevin Vuong is an MHS Varsity Swimmer. In an interview, Vuong opened up about his experience with swimming and shared about how he started swimming in the first place.

“I started swimming when I was ten years old,” Vuong said.

“It’s been about six years.”

His mom got him involved with swimming, Vuong said. Vuong’s mom wanted him and his sister to do the same sport, Vuong added.

“My mom just forced me to swim with my sister because she was doing it,” Vuong explained.

“At the time I was doing basketball, so she didn’t want me to play a different sport while my sister was playing a different sport. She decided that I had to do the same thing, and so I did swimming.”

In addition to being an MHS Varsity Swimmer, Vuong is also involved with swimming outside of school, Vuong said.

“I swim outside in Fremont for

a team called Flying Fish,” Vuong stated.

When asked about what the most challenging part of swimming is, Vuong said that it’s the time, Vuong said. Along with time is going to practice, having to wake up early, and being dedicated, Vuong added.

“It’s very time-consuming,” Vuong remarked.

Despite the difficulties that come with swimming, there are many rewarding aspects that go with being a swimmer. For Vuong, the most rewarding aspect of swimming is being at a championship to compete with other swimmers and getting high point awards and individual high point awards, Vuong said.

“A few years ago, I was at a meet in Walnut Creek and I got an individual high point for fourteenyear-olds only,” Vuong reminisced. “It was really hard, ’cause I was neck-to-neck with this other guy, and I beat him by very little points.”

Hunting in the modern age

BY JONATHAN TRAN

We are the children of the Information Age. Digital artists, coders, and developers. These are but a few of the jobs and occupations that have bloomed from the technology of today. But as we explore the vast unknown of the Internet, people like Junior Jonathan Van explore the true wilderness.

Van started getting into small game hunting after he bought a truck and driver’s license. He said that he’s been meaning to get into hunting since his time at another school, Valley Christian School, where many of his peers were into outdoors activities. Because he already loved being outdoors, the choice to hunt and fish was easy for him. Additionally, he hunts with his friends because this kind of activity isn’t very popular at MHS. Hunting can often be difficult for amateurs because finding a convenient location to do so is a challenge. But Van said that he hunts on his friends’ property and that fishes at various lakes such as Sandy Wool, Shadow Cliff, or Quarry Lake.

“What keeps me in the outdoors is the satisfaction of cook-

ing whatever I catch or shoot,” Van commented. “It is also nice to wake up early in the mornings before sunrise to fish, since fish are active at sunrise and sunset...

I get to see many nice views.”

There are some things that Van doesn’t love about hunting, one of them being gear pricing. Furthermore, he prefers fishing because it’s much cheaper and easier to plan, and doesn’t require as much gear.

There are requirements that one needs in order to hunt, Van said. “[One would need] a fishing license if you are 16+ and usually you need a daily fishing pass for whatever lake you fish at which is around $5 - 10,” Van explained.

“For hunting you need to complete an online course and go into a store that hosts the tests and pay a fee. [It’s] like obtaining a drivers license.”

Something Van would like people to know about hunting is that being humane and respecting whatever animal or fish bagged is part of the sport and that although not every person has the same morals, the majority does and people need to stop judging hunters so harshly, especially if they eat meat themselves.

THE UNION

SPORTS

APRIL 2018

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Track, field bonds run deep

BY LUKE REN

HOPE DO THE UNION

Tennis Team Captain Cat-Tuong Tu serves in the game against Fremont High School on March 29. The Trojans lost to the Firebirds with a final score of 7-0, Firebirds’ favor. Tu’s individual win-loss record is 3-6.

Tennis swings towards success

BY ANDREW DINH

MHS Varsity Boys Tennis is gradually improving as the season progresses, Varsity Coach Dong Pham says. Currently holding a record a win-loss record of 2-4, the team hopes to win more games before the season ends, Pham said.

The team is made up of many seniors, Pham said. Because they will be graduating, the team will have to be rebuilt next year, he continued. The team still stands to improve vastly, Pham added.

“The boys are playing better this year,” Pham said. “They have improved over the last two weeks on their mental game, strategy game, and footwork.”

Pham, a very experienced player himself, gives the athletes insight on how to gain mental advantages over their opponent, Varsity Tennis Captain Cat-Tuong Tu said. The mentalities of

the players and coach have definitely been better this year which has resulted in more individual wins, Tu said.

“This season, I wanted to see a stronger overall work ethic and mental toughness from all of the players,” Tu said. “I think my teammates and I are definitely delivering on that.”

In addition to pushing mental resilience, Pham also helps athletes build consistency, Varsity Tennis Player Ivan Chan said.

After every match, Pham gives detailed feedback on technique and gameplay, Chan said.

“The elements of my singles game have improved tremendously,” Chan said. “We discuss the good and bad of each of our matches after each meet, and coach gives us valuable advice on how to improve in our next match.”

So far, the team has faced tough teams, from Cupertino to Fre-

mont to Los Altos, Chan said.

However, both the team and their scores steadily improve as they grow from playing challenging opponents, Chan said. “ I really enjoy how everyone on the varsity team puts their heart into the game. It's awesome to know that each day at practice everyone is trying their best to get better,” Chan said. “It's incredible how much better we've all gotten. I'm proud of every single member of our varsity team.”

Like Chan, Tu joined tennis on a whim, Tu said. The bond he shares with his teammates also makes the sport special to him, Tu said, “Grinding my way from a complete beginner to becoming captain in these couple of years has been a blast for me,” Tu said.

“Because of this experience, I encourage anyone to go and try new things if it interests them. Be bold.”

The track and field team competed against Gunn at Gunn High School, Track and Field Head Coach Bridget Hall said.

The match was held on Mar. 8 and was the first meet of the season, she added.

Varsity Boys Track and Field was able to take home the victory, Hall said. However, Varsity Girls, JV Girls, and Frosh-Soph Boys Track and Field were not able to win, she added. Despite these losses, the track and field team will continue to improve and grow as a whole, Hall said.

“I think we have a pretty young team, but we do have some really talented, seasoned veterans,” Hall said. “I think the team has a lot of room for improvement, being that we have so many young athletes, freshman and sophomore athletes.”

Track and field is a good way to spend time outside of school and outside of the stressful atmosphere that school places on students, Frosh-Soph Distance Runner Harshmeet Singh said.

For students with large workloads, such as Singh himself, track and field provides a great and healthy distraction, Singh added. Being on the track and field team also helps Singh be a more well-rounded student, Singh said.

“I think it’s great, it’s fun, time passes so you don’t spend an hour at home doing random stuff after you finish your homework,” Singh said. “You can do your homework, but, after that, what do you do?”

The track and field team is especially unique this year because of the strong bonds between the

athletes, Hall said. Not only do the athletes establish strong relationships with each other, but they also are able to connect with their coaches, Hall added. These relationships between coach and athlete are what makes coaching the track and field team worth the effort, she said.

“I think the team as a whole has more of a relationship with each other,” Hall said. “Although all the athletes participate in different events and different groups, I feel like this year’s team is a little bit more gelled as a whole, even though we do have one hundred and fifty athletes.”

Athletes, likewise, feel that they are benefiting socially from being on the track and field team, Singh said. Being on the team provides surplus opportunity for athletes to build strong relationships with each other, along with becoming more healthy, Singh added “[Track and field] keeps me fit, and it keeps me socialized,” Singh said. “We have these things called team bonding sessions; it’s a good way to get to know other people.”

Not only are athletes able to connect more deeply with each other from being on the track and field team, but being on the team provides ample opportunity for athletes to build their character as a whole, Hall said. Track and field teaches core values that every student should learn, whether or not they are on the track and field team, Hall added.

“I think that [track and field] teaches leadership, it teaches teamwork, [and] it teaches hard work and dedication,” Hall said.

“I believe that students that participate in athletics really grow as people and it’s a vital part of a high school experience.”

KEVIN DAI THE UNION

Varsity Golfer Jason Le practices his golfing at Summitpointe Golf Club.

The varsity golf team has won five games and lost one this season.

Golf more than up to par

BY KEVIN DAI

With a win-loss ratio of 5-1 , the golf team is looking very strong this year, according to Golf Coach Brett Burns.

The golf team is no longer a sport where a person could walk in and expect a good chance to be on the team, Burns said.

“Usually a team will have four strong players coming in under 50 strokes at a particular golf course,” Burns said. “On our team everybody is coming in under 50 strokes,” he added.

The recent success of the golf team can be attributed to many factors. One factor of the team’s success is the coaching, Sophomore Richard Zhang said.

“The coach is great. They’re both really good coaches, like

they try to help you improve. I think they have pretty good advice to give to players,” Zhang said.

Many players practice on their own time if they have the opportunity said Junior Grace Chang.

Some also participate in tournaments outside of school league games, Chang added.

The team mainly consists of juniors and sophomores who will be most likely returning the next year, Burns said. He is hoping that the team will be even stronger next year, Burns added.

The golf team practices at Summitpointe Golf Club rather than using on-campus facilities. Burns said. Practice usually starts with hitting on the putty green or the range and then to practicing on the course.

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APRIL 2018