MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL
VOL. 51, NO. 1
September 25, 2015
41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539
Beyond MSJ: Measure E
AC Transit changes proposed Mission area route would be affected By Monica Tang Graphics Editor Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) is proposing 11 major changes to maxim ize service frequency and expand and simplify bus routes throughout Fremont and Newark, which currently only hold six percent of the district’s ridership. If passed, the plan will be executed in August 2016. One of the changes will convert the south section of Line 217 (Ohlone College to Warm Springs Boulevard) into a Flex route, a demandresponse based service in which passengers in areas without regular bus routes may request buses via internet, phone, or mobile application. The remainder of the line will be restructured into lines L8 and L12, extending the existing connection to Fremont Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
to central Fremont, NewPark Mall, and Pacific Commons. Although the shortening of the south segment cuts off access to Great Mall, a transfer point at Dixon Landing Road at the end of the new L8 route links to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail, which provides frequent service to the mall. According to AC Transit, the south portion of Line 217, which visits places along Mission Boulevard such as Little Taipei Plaza, the Indian Community Center, and Great Mall, generally carries a low ridership and thus is more suitable for Flex Service. However, the alteration has raised concerns among parents and students who travel home from school daily via Line 217 due to FUSD’s lack of a school bus system, as well as among the local elderly, disabled, and others who rely heavily on public transit.
After learning about the changes through an email sent by CA State Assembly Member Kansen Chu, Junior Sophia Huang created a petition on change. org and sent letters to the FUSD Board Members, AC Transit Board of Directors, and Chu to ask for their support in requesting to keep the south section of Line 217. As of September 2, the petition has amassed more than 430 supporters. Huang said, “Realizing that not many people might have gotten the message, I decided to make a petition to let our community know...Being a frequent bus rider myself, I thought it really would be a shame to lose a line that so many students need in their daily lives.” Though Flex Service will preserve the usability of the scrapped route, Huang and supporters of the petition argue that converting the south segment into a Flex
Measure E was approved in June 2014, giving FUSD permission to raise $650 million by 2022-23, which is expected to be paid off by 2051. The district will raise $650 million by issuing bonds. The funds are to be used to improve and repair the education infrastructure. This objective spans from 2015 to 2025 in a five series process. Five series of bonds, A, B, C, D, and E will be issued by FUSD every two years. These funds will go towards improving education infrastructure and upgrading classrooms with 21st century learning environments, especially in regard to Common Core.
See TRANSIT NEWS Page 2
See E NEWS Page 2
Multiple repair and renovation plans proposed By Pratham Gupta Staff Writer
news editor apoorva rajanala
New assistant principal joins office Vandal watchhouse demolished House originally built for security purposes in the 1980s
O’Brien is in charge of junior class and freshmen M-Z By Harshita Gupta Opinion Editor
By Sayan Ghosh Staff Writer
Shauna O’Brien replaced Diana Brumbaugh as an Assistant Principal at MSJ effective with the start of the 2015-16 school year. O’Brien will serve as administrator for the junior class and freshmen M-Z, and take over administrative duties from Brumbaugh. Brumbaugh is continuing with FUSD, and has been reappointed as Principal of Niles Elementary
Thirty years after their construction, MSJ’s vandal watch house and an empty portable were destroyed on August 19 and 20 in order to “keep the safety of the students, staff, and the community,” says FUSD Assistant Superintendent Raul Parungao. The structures, which were located behind the E-wing (more specifically near P-7) were demolished, and left a clear tract of land in their place. The watch house was one of many which were ordered to be built by the Fremont Board of Education in the 1980s on each junior high and high school campus in the school district. At the time, several schools in Fremont were facing problems related to vandalism and theft. To counteract such activities, the board hoped that families that would stay in the houses would provide security and protection during evenings and weekends throughout the year. Families that stayed in the houses would be able to live rent-free, and children of the households would be able to go to nearby schools. The watch house remained inhabited until 2001. In 2001, the district decided to terminate the watch house program due to its high cost. Since then, the building has served no real purpose. Due to its abandonment, the structure started to fall apart because of poor maintenance, and over time, became unsafe for habitation. One of many problems was a termite infestation. In addition, many regarded the structure as an eyesore, which was another
“I try to do as much listening as I can; a lot of times, students or parents really just need to feel heard or listened to.” -Assistant Principal Shauna O’brien School. O’Brien was previously an Assistant Principal at Peter Burnett Middle School in San Jose, having taught at Peninsula High School in San Bruno and Jefferson High School in Daly City. She led Health and Medical Technology classes, preparing students to be Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. Her degrees are in communication, education, and educational leadership. O’Brien is hoping to bring about large-scale change in the MSJ community by leveraging her passion for health in creating a well-rounded environment for students. Through her individual meetings with parents and students, she encourages making healthier and better-
opinion editor harshita gupta
Assistant Principal Shauna O’Brien joins the administration.
balanced choices. She says, “I try to do as much listening as I can; a lot of times, students or parents really just need to feel heard or listened to.” O’Brien particularly sees value in building long-term relationships, saying that she is “really looking forward to seeing my junior class through to their senior year and graduation. I really like that as administrators we follow our class through, instead of always having to start fresh with new students. So building relationships and keeping that going and supporting the students all the way to graduation, I think that’s really important and I’m excited about that.”
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COLLEGE APPLICATION ADVICE Seniors, nervous about the college application process? Check out some advice from MSJ alumni! today
factor that led to the destruction of the watch house. The district considered restoring the structure, however, it calculated that the restoration cost would be close to the removal cost. Since the house was deemed unsafe by the district’s maintenance department, Superintendent James Morris ultimately made the decision to remove the structure. The operation to destroy the house, as well as the empty portable, cost $11,200, according to Parungao. The structures were located near the classroom of English teacher Elizabeth Waller. Waller said that due to the absence of the
“I am glad that those two buildings are not the first things that people see when they go past MSJ.” -English Teacher Elizabeth Waller
watch house, the view outside of her classroom is “much prettier”. “I am glad that those two buildings are not the first things that people see when they go past MSJ,” Waller said. According to MSJ Principal Zack Larsen, there are currently no existing plans for future uses of the empty tract of land, but they may certainly arise in the future. ▪
The vandal watch house in 2013.
fusd home development
Read up on the FUSD Board of Education’s decision to keep the Patterson Ranch residential development unassigned. today
SPEAK UP TO SAVE LIVES Take a look at photos of the event Peer Resource, counselors, and administrators put on to encourage and support a healthy community. today
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TRANSIT| Route 217
AP| O’Brien
continued from page 1
continued from page 1
In addition to close individual impact, she wants to reach out to the student body at large through MSJ’s Peer Resource program and encourage wellrounded living. She says, “I think that’s a great starting point because nobody has more influence on the students than the students do, so if the Peer Resource students are helping to push along the agenda of health and being more well rounded then I think that’s kind of going to be the strongest way to get that.” O’Brien wants to move MSJ forward
route is not sufficient enough to account for the loss of a formal bus route. Huang said, “A Flex route, in which buses can only be requested by phone, would be something that would be needed daily,
“Realizing that not many people might have gotten the message, I decided to make a petition to let our community know...Being a frequent bus rider myself, I thought it really would be a shame to lose a line that so many students need in their daily lives.”
“I am grateful for being able to work with everybody here. I’m available and open to feedback, so if there’s ever anything that I need to change and do differently, I’d really like to hear that.”
- Junior Sophia Huang
defeating the purpose of the Flex route at all.” As an alternative, the petition aims to convince AC Transit to connect the L8 line to the newly built BART station on Warm Springs Boulevard, which links to Great Mall and its surrounding destinations. The extension would also cover the area originally provided for by Line 217. Although the deadline for commenting on the current stage of the proposal passed on August 1, AC Transit will invite public review and comments regard-
E| Beyond MSJ continued from page 1
Measure E states, “Every child who attends school in Fremont deserves safe, equitable, well-equipped classrooms and upto-date science labs.” The goal in upgrading to a 21st century learning environment in the following years primarily includes upgrading outdated infrastructure. MSJ will undergo a network upgrade beginning in October, continuing through the entire
“Every child who attends school in Fremont deserves safe, equitable, well-equipped classrooms and up-todate plumbing and wiring.” -Measure E Ballot school year. FUSD Chief Technology Officer Joseph Siam says, “It’s going to make our students more productive and have better access to the internet.” MSJ’s Cabling Access Point (CAP) 3 cabling system will be upgraded to CAP 6 cables, which are much better than CAP 3 cables at handling huge amounts of data transfer. According to FUSD, the tentative cost for the technological upgrade is approximately $2.1 million. This platform is used not only by teachers and administrators, but also students for a multitude of reasons. In the past years, internet at MSJ has crashed many times, which disrupts the smooth flow of
actransit.org
The dotted route contains part of the Fremont Mission Area that would be converted into a Flex route.
ing the final recommendations later in the fall and plans to hold a public hearing
“A Flex route, in which buses can only be requested by phone, would be something that would be needed daily, defeating the purpose of the Flex route at all.”
before the AC Transit Board of Directors in November. The proposed service changes will be implemented after the completion of the Newark Flex Service pilot project, which is expected to run from August 2015-16. ▪
- Junior Sophia Huang
classes throughout the entire school. MSJ is being refitted with Cisco Network hardware with upgraded network closets throughout the campus to ensure better access to the internet. Internet will also be made accessible in the fields through outdoor wireless access points, making it convenient for PE teachers to take attendance. MSJ Principal Zack Larsen said, “With the technology upgrades scheduled to begin this year, it is encouraging in that we see the results of Measure E and begin to realize improvements that directly impact both teaching and learning at MSJ.” In spring 2015, the CAP 3 cables at Ardenwood, Vallejo, and Brookvale Elementary Schools, as well as Kennedy High School were upgraded to CAP 6 cables. Heating, Ventilations, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system repairs are on schedule. The HVAC system repairs at American High School (AHS) were upgraded to a Series A Project on November 12, 2014. The boiler will be replaced with a newer model at AHS. HVAC Systems at MSJ is a Series E project, with the repairs scheduled to begin in 2023. During its meeting on August 12, the FUSD Board of Education designated infrastructural upgrades to Horner and Walters Junior High Schools “Priority 1 Projects.” These projects are going to be funded from the sales of Series A and Series B bonds. The district successfully sold $140 million in Series A bonds in the fall of 2014. FUSD will start selling the Series B
mercurynews.com
Compiled by Staff Writers Deeksha Raina, Brian Tseng & Ansh Patel
Friday, September 25, 2015
Bonds in 2017. Upgrades to the infrastructure of Hopkins, Centerville, and Thornton Junior High Schools will follow in 2020-23 with the sale of Series C, D, and E bonds. The district also has tentative plans for further infrastructural upgrades including new classrooms, better technology, repair of old classrooms, fixed roofs, and improved plumbing and wiring. FUSD will also be refitted with a new phone system - Voice over Internet Protocol (IP). MSJ will be fitted with new connectors for projectors, compatible with all types of computers. “Measure E will provide much needed facilities that our students deserve,” said Parungao. ▪
reuters.com
-Assistant Principal Shauna O’brien
technologically as well. She says, “I really like to streamline and make things efficient. I’m a big proponent of technology, so I’m really trying to push advancing the staff and the school technologically, whether that be as simple as signing up for something on a Google doc rather than on paper, or just trying to respect everybody’s time and make things really efficient for them.” O’Brien looks forward to the year at MSJ, saying, “My interactions with people continually remind me what an honor it is to have this position, so I definitely take that and hold that heavily, with a lot of respect. I am grateful for being able to work with everybody here. I’m available and open to feedback, so if there’s ever anything that I need to change and do differently, I’d really like to hear that.” The easiest way to contact O’Brien is through her email, sobrien@fremont. k12.ca.us. ▪
theguardian.com
The City of Fremont plan includes play structure upgrades.
GM admits to knowing it produced defective switches.
Over a dozen earthquakes shock Chile.
City of Fremont updates parks The City of Fremont is updating several local parks by substituting the sand in play areas with a new synthetic rubberized surface to meet current safety standards and replacing the old play structures with newer, more elaborate ones. These renovations are occurring at eight different locations in Fremont, including Gomes Park, Old Mission Park, and Buena Vista Park. These projects will be completed in late October. The city is also planning to convert two fields of grass-covered soccer fields in Fremont Central Park to synthetic turf, a project estimated to finish in April.
General Motors fined by federal government General Motors (GM) agreed to pay the federal government $900 million and appoint an independent monitor to oversee safety issues in a settlement with the Justice Department over faulty ignition switches. GM admitted its employees knew as early as 2005 that the defective switches could move unexpectedly from the “run” position, cutting off power to a car’s airbags and disabling the power steering and power breaks. The defective switches caused accidents that led to 124 deaths and 273 injuries. GM is slated to pay more than $600 million to victims and their families.
Chile earthquake damages coastal cities After suffering a powerful 8.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, September 17, Chile struggles to recuperate and administer aid to citizens in need. The quake - the strongest in the world this year - lasted for more than three minutes and there were dozens of aftershocks. Most of the damage was centralized in the coastal town of Coquimbo, where waves of over 15 feet battered the shore, destroying the city’s infrastructure and resulting in at least 12 deaths.
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The Grayce Area
harshita's brain hacks Unbalanced Privilege
Supersizing Stereotypes
By Harshita Gupta Opinion Editor
I was waiting for my subway, trying to plan a trip to H&M before dinner, when a man in his mid twenties approached me. He was holding a cardboard box of fruit snacks, wearing a warm smile that reached his eyes. He asked me, “Miss, would you like to buy some Welch’s? I’m selling them for $1 per pack.” Something made me hold back my standard response of “Sorry, don’t have any cash.” As I looked for bills, he told me that he worked for the city for $8.50 an hour and sold snacks on weekends to make ends meet. He shook my hand and thanked me three times before I got on my train. I understand the concept of supply and demand. I know that there is a reason behind why I get paid $15 for a summer internship, while that man makes $8.50 for a full time job. There is some logic behind the fact that a 17-year-old makes almost double of what a family’s sole breadwinner does. I’m aware of that, but I still cannot stomach why there is any more dignity in my work than in his. Both of us have worked hard to get where we are today– it is likely that he has worked longer and harder; but at 17, I am better off largely because of my privilege. We’re all privileged in ways that aren’t completely plain. Be it our money, education, location, race, gender, sexual orientation, family, health– there’s something we all have easier than the people around us. My parents paid my rent in NYC, and I didn’t have to contribute any of my earnings towards household income. For every ounce of effort I put in to succeed, I was lucky to have parents who put in double that to
By Grace Dong make my dreams a possibility. For every interest I wanted to pursue, I had the computer to Google it, a nearby class I could attend, and mentors willing to help. These are all liberties that the man at the subway station did not have. For all I know, he might have an unusual knack for literature, a fascination with physics, the potential to work on projects that would improve the lives of people in his community– but he won’t be able to realize or pursue any of those. He is only one example of how unbalanced privilege holds people back. If the 25 percent of American students who live in poverty were able to spend time on side projects, talent shows, and science fairs, our schools would be overflowing with a much wider diversity of thought and interests. Even those of us who are “privileged” would benefit and learn from that. The first step towards creating change is acknowledging the problem. By making a conscious effort to think about and be aware of our privilege, we are moving towards evening the playing field. MSJ culture can often sweep us along in the tide of climbing higher. We get complacent. We forget that we are empowered, and able to do things of value with our opportunities. We can choose to spend our time on work that impacts people beyond ourselves. I ask myself daily: “You have something that someone else fights tooth and nail for. Given the chance, what would they do with what you have? How would they benefit other people?” How, despite my privilege, can I change the way that I live, to respect the people around me? ▪
the Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board
Editorial: Take a Stand, Raise your Hand “I’ll Google the answer when I get home,” we say to ourselves. “Everyone will think I’m stupid,” we think to ourselves. “It’s fine. I’ll figure it out later,” we convince ourselves. No matter how old or experienced any one of us may be, we’ve all been there. A question is raised, but we don’t know the answer. However, instead of voicing our confusion, we choose to silently remain rooted to our seats. Since the beginning of our education, we’ve been asked, “Does anyone have any questions?” This seemingly simple ritual has, as we’ve grown, become more loaded in our minds. Raising hands to voice our need for clarification has increasingly become seen as an act of weakness. We not only begin to stop asking questions, but we even fear the very act. Posing a question or raising a hand in class creates the worry of being judged or perceived as intellectually inferior by both our teachers and classmates. However, in order to get the most out of our education, we must take the initiative to make every moment in the classroom count. We must learn to not place as much value on how others perceive us, but instead, focus on our ultimate goal: to gain more knowledge and better understand the material being taught. Our minds are worthy of enrichment, and the only way we can do ourselves justice is if we are willing to reach beyond our comfort zones to ask the questions crossing our minds. By masking our uncertainty with a nod of false understanding, we knowingly hinder our learning and growth in the classroom. School is supposed to be a place where we can openly ask questions, an environment where learning and experimenting is to be encouraged. Rather than saving our questions for the Internet or bearing our burdens on our own,
Opinion 5
we should take advantage of the numerous resources that high school provides us with. Teachers are often willing to explain unclear concepts and can be found during lunch or after school for additional help. What is needed is the very first step - reaching out to them. Growing comfortable with asking questions is a process, and it is okay to take it step by step. If the thought of raising your hand is still nerve-wracking, it is perfectly understandable to simply dip your toes in the water first, as there is no need to jump in completely during your initial try – taking baby steps will bring you to the same destination in the end, after all. You can start off by talking to the teacher privately after the lecture is over - when thirty pairs of ears aren’t also listening - or choosing to reach out to a classmate for additional help. Once you do this, you might then realize that you are almost never alone. More often than not, there are others around you with the same burning questions and silent struggles. By speaking up, you not only futher your own education, but also another’s. Quell those doubtful thoughts and raise your voice. Throw off any hesitation you have and any worries of being judged by others. In the end, you are the one who controls the reins in your own education, not others. ▪
Opinion Editor “Would you like the boy toy or the girl toy?” It was May 2015, I was getting my first Happy Meal in about half a decade, and I still had to stop for a second before answering. Did I want the “boy toy” or the “girl toy?” Did I want to be “girly” and get the Sweethearts plush toy? Or did I want to satisfy my inner Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT) fan and get the TMNT figure reserved for boys? When I was six, I wouldn’t have thought twice. I was a girl, and therefore, I had to ask for the girl toy. But there I was as a 16 year old girl, and I still felt obligated to say “the girl toy, please.” Anyone is technically allowed to like the popular turtle vigilantes that live in the sewers, yet there exists a socially constructed boundary that designates them as boyish and masculine. With something as simple as Happy Meal toys, we’re telling kids what they should and shouldn’t like, forcing them to base their personality and preferences on their perceived gender characteristics. It’s time companies rethink gender labeling in their products. McDonald’s has been gender typing their Happy Meal toys since the late 90s, leading entire generations of kids to grow up identifying with either Hello Kitty or Bakugan, Barbies or Hot Wheels. Connecticut high school student Antonia Ayres-Brown spent five years studying McDonald’s gender discrimination, determining that employees described the toys with gendered terms 79 percent of the time. She wrote to McDonald’s with her findings and received a heartening response from their chief diversity officer, Patricia Harris, stating
that McDonald’s intention would be to stop classifying toys as “boy” or “girl.” Unfortunately, this statement was issued well over a year ago in December 2013. Similarly, Ohio mother of three Abi Bechtel tweeted about Target’s unnecessary gender discrimination between the “building sets” and the “girls’ building sets.” There isn’t a functional difference between the two, yet they are categorized based on designs, colors, and characters. When children are taught which toys are appropriate for them based on their genders, they are forced to maintain gender stereotypes and perceptions about what boys and girls are supposed to like. These boundaries often become suffocating, especially for children who don’t fit into gender stereotypes, leading them to feel like there is something wrong with them. Some companies are already acknowledging this issue. Toys “R” Us in the UK eliminated gender labeling in 2013 under the campaign “Let toys be toys.” Target recently announced a corporation wide movement to remove gender labels in the Entertainment, Home, and Toys sections in August 2015. Whether it be corporate red tape acting as an obstacle or general lack of action, McDonald’s and other companies can take a page out of Target’s book and follow suit. Stop making kids choose between boy and girl. Stop making kids forge their identity around their preference in color or toy. Pink, blue, Barbie, or Superman, let toys be toys and let kids be kids. ▪
Step Into the Gap:
Post-High School Alternatives
By Didi Wu Staff Writer
Gap years can be important assets for high school students looking to attend college. Much of a student’s life prepares them for one momentous occasion: getting into college – specifically a prestigious, four-year degree program. It’s the shining beacon in their lives, guiding them to a future rich with opportunity and providing a chance to unleash his or her innate potential. Once students graduate from high school and attain a diploma, college seems to be the automatic next step. But with college application deadlines around the corner, it’s time for everyone to consider: am I ready? Is heading straight to college the most beneficial path? There are other options. An alternate path besides college, a gap year is steadily rising in popularity for recent high school graduates, according to the American Gap Association (AGA). The AGA’s website describes a gap year as “an experiential semester or year ‘on’, typically taken between high school and college in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness.” The stated benefits are numerous: gaining life experiences, obtaining an opportunity to travel, immersion in a different culture, taking a break from academics, doing volunteer work, getting a job to offset college debt, and more. One example of many, Harvard’s student newspaper, The Crimson, once reported students who took a year off found the experience “so valuable that they would advise all Harvard students to consider it.” Self-reported statistics seen on AGA’s webpage show that 98 percent
“A Gap Year is a structured period of time when students take a break from formal education to increase selfawareness, challenge comfort zones, and experiment with possible careers.”
-The American Gap Association
of the students feel they develop as a person, 93 percent develop their communication skills, and 84 percent acquire skills to be successful in their chosen career. MSJ is part of a highly competitive world, riddled with stress and an unerring belief it’s possible to plan out any person’s life from the start. It’s expected for students to know where they want to go in life and drive forward relentlessly. However, this is often an impossible reality when how much students have experienced may not be broad enough. It then becomes a form of narrow-mindedness which can lead to burn-out from pursuing an unsuitable path that doesn’t always encourage exploration of who we are or what our options are. Gap years are one way of alleviating this problem. Taking a gap year doesn’t mean slacking off on attending college either. 90 percent of gap year students return to college after the period is over. Certain colleges are willing to defer enrollment and make accommodations for accepted students wishing to take a gap year. Not everyone will be a good gap year candidate, but it’s worth looking into, at least having the knowledge there are other choices besides the straight and narrow path. ▪
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HOW CORRECT IS POLITICAL CORRECTNESS? By Nithya Rajeev Web Editor
In the first Republican debate, presidential candidate Donald Trump made the statement that he “[doesn’t] have time for total political correctness…and this country doesn’t have time either.” Like most of Trump’s stances throughout his campaign, this one has garnered both praise and condemnation, and has sparked a widespread debate about how correct political correctness is. Though it should not hinder free speech, there is a line between being truthful and being hurtful. By definition, political correctness is avoiding potentially insulting speech about controversial topics or against people who are discriminated against. This trend originated in the 20th century Communist-Socialist debates and referred to the Communists’ loyalty to their party’s ideas, regardless of the moral backbone. Contemporary press expects that politicians maintain a certain level of political correctness to retain approval, which frequently fails to give voters an honest understanding of the candidates and restricts the latter’s rights to free speech. This election, however, has seen more candidates who dismiss politically correct stereotypes. While Trump has laid down his “politically incorrect” opinion on nearly every hot topic, from immigration to abortion, Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders has openly admitted to being a socialist. Sanders is also heading his campaign with the issues of gender and racial equality, which is not standard for a presidential candidate. Although unusu-
al in their approaches and viewpoints, Trump and Sanders are transparent about their opinions, unlike their clone-like opponents. By being unafraid of press-scrutiny, they set an example for others to uphold their First Amendment rights. They acknowledge the potential of pervasive political correctness to make the restricted, censored, dystopian society in Fahrenheit 451 a reality in America. And thus, they are—albeit atypical—frontrunners in the presidential race. However, with increased disregard of political correctness comes a major catch—increased disrespect. While it is beneficial to the voter that Trump bravely voices his opinions, he has blatantly crossed the line and let his insolence and ignorance overpower his courage. It is one thing to voice disapproval of gender equality, but another thing to call women “unattractive, both inside and out”, “fat pigs”, and “a slob” (2006, The Insider). It is one thing to express concern over immigration and another to support that comment with the derogatory statement made at his campaign kickoff speech that “[Mexican immigrants] are bringing their drugs...crime, and their rapists.” These examples are only a small sample of the many times Trump has used his lack of political correctness as an excuse to make such comments. In the case of GOP candidate Mike Huckabee, it is indisputably impolite to defend the statement that gay and transgender couples—who he claims contribute to the “ick factor”—cannot adopt kids with the reasoning that “children aren’t puppies.” While Trump and Huckabee have gone beyond political incorrectness and
been flat-out rude, candidates such as Jeb Bush and Sanders prove that it is possible to retain respect. Take LGBT rights— Bush stated that he believes marriage should “be between one man and one woman,” without insulting anyone. Sanders defended his opinion that gun manufacturers should be granted immunity against lawsuits when a murder occurs by saying that you wouldn’t hold a gun manufacturer accountable “anymore than you would hold a hammer manufacturer responsible if somebody beat somebody…with a hammer.” Once again, no one called out; no one insulted. While the latter two rationally and respectfully express their opinions, the former two are simply rude and inexcusable. In an interview on Meet the Press, candidate Ben Carson stated that in no way did he “advocate saying mean things about people, [because] that has nothing to do with political correctness.” And ultimately, that is what it boils down to. Yes, the nation has reached the point where, to avoid controversy, conformity in favor of the politically correct viewpoint is expected. Yes, by shaking our heads at those who share a different opinion, we are eroding the diversity that America thrives on. But we must also acknowledge that our opinions have the ability to affect a large number of people, and therefore should not be conveyed hurtfully. We must understand that there is a difference between dismissing political correctness and being rude. In the end, the character we must all strive to possess can be summarized in two words: respectful individuality. ▪ bellwether-research.com, zerofiltered.com, dsausa.org, pinstopin.com
What did you expect and what surprised you about Mission?
Sidarth
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Freshmen Expectations and Impressions
Jo
,9
“I heard that everybody studies 24/7 and are stressed out all the time and all they talk about are grades and test scores. I also expected it to be a really hard experience because of more difficult teachers.” 9 Liu, n h
“It’s kind of what I expected – it’s always really packed. I was surprised by the diversity of the sports teams.”
Fang, 9 ley h s
G
a Verma ny ,9 a n
What rumors had you heard about high school that you found weren’t true? Yu, 9 sty i r
“...some stuff about how the cafeteria food here sucks in comparison to Hopkins, which I still don’t know because I still never went to get the food. Something around the lines of P7 being some kind of boy bathroom, I don’t know I really don’t.” Brendan S h
, ih
A
Arunav
9 ta, up
“I think most of the rumors were true for that matter. It is pretty chill, like for example I can use my phone in a bunch of classes if I wanted to, that’s totally fine but it’s a lot higher stakes. There’s also more emphasis on grades, extra curriculars, everything you do, and every minute you spend is kind of counted. “
“Honestly, having older siblings, they all let me know that it was going to be fine. I grew up thinking that it would be a safe environment and it is. The atmosphere is depressing and it’s just not as enthusiastic as I expected.”
Ga
9 ia, rc
“I was surprised by the feeling of being more independent than I was in junior high. I can literally walk down to CVS and get stuff. I’m looking forward to learning and being independent.”
Naomy
Ch
A
Now that you’re here, what do you think about high school?
9
“High school definitely isn’t anything like Mean Girls portrayed it to be. In all honesty, no one’s being judgmental or anything. Everyone’s just doing their own thing, so you can do ‘you’ too.”
“I heard freshmen were called freshmeat because seniors would go around in go-carts and run over people. “
photos by opinion editors grace dong & harshita gupta
8 Feature
www.thesmokesignal.org
, I traveled to “Over the summer in a dancedIndia to compete ty TV show based [sic] reali a Dance. I was called Dance Indi the top 20 out chosen as one of nts, and had of 20,000 contesta on India’s dance the opportunity to rm.” fo at pl e nc biggest da -Kajal Raju, 12
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 25, 2015
“This summer, I was selected along with eleven other students to be a high school cultural ambassador in Germany. We were in Germany for around two weeks and lived with host families during that time. We attended a German gymnasium, which is equivalent to an American high school. We visited major German cities such as Dresden, Heidelberg, Frankfurt, and Berlin. It was such a rich cultural experience to live in a foreign country for even a short amount of time. I look forward to the German students’ arrival in March!” -Ella Chen, 11 (Pictured are: Chloe Velasquez, Courtney Yu, Sama ntha Bernstein, Sayan Ghosh, Shivam Parikh, Isis Chu, Neha Shah , Sarah Deng, Ella Chen, Mohini Vaidya, Dominic Melville, and Lucas Williams)
overseas summer adventures By Sayan Ghosh, Neha Shah, Andrea Tam, Annie Tang & Brian Tseng Staff Writer, Centerspread Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor, Centerspread Editor and Staff Writer
Read these responses to a Facebook post for the Smoke Signal’s survey about what MSJ students did this summer! This segment of the spread features responses submitted by students who traveled overseas.
“I went to Greece this summer and swam in [at] the most clear and wonderful beaches! For three weeks I saw the most exhilirating sunsets in Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, and Athens and visited countless museums. Don’t listen to what others say about riots on the streets because it is extremely safe there! Be sure to eat their unique foods and immerse yourself in everything they have to offer, they’re extremely hospitable people who are so proud of their culture and heritage!” - Makenna Fong, 11
“I had the oppo rt ragua for abou unity this summer to visit N t three weeks icawit schoolers [fro m] around th h a group of high e Bay Area th Global Glimps roug e, nered with MSJ an immersion program pa h ! For three even rt taught English ings of the wee to elementary k, I sc for three othe r days I helped hool students, and build and beau vegetable and tify he for disadvanta rb garden at Fabretto, a sc a ged children in hool Es incredible expe rience, I was ab teli. Through this le to sell vegeta with a local at th bl and even live w e market, cliff-dive off a cany es ith a family th at survived on on, lar each day. I a dolwill never forg et embarked on th is adventure w the friends that ith me, friends eventually beca that me family! “ -Spencer Chau, 12
images.google.com, photos courtesy spencer chau, ella chen, makenna fong & kajal raju
Friday, September 25, 2015
The Smoke Signal
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Feature 9
weeks with ed for seven Payne Parn te in I , er “This summ school students in the f Earth h lo 17 other hig in the Stanford Schoo ine orar ab m L f y o g n lutio leobiolo b studies evo dy size evolution. la e Th s. ce r bo Scien ticularly thei m various ganisms, par helped input data fro aracterwe ase of ch In the lab, ongous datab ere also able to m u h a to in s; we w books ine organism using this istics of mar own research projects tionship r u re o the la complete I worked on ment and the , le p am ex r data. Fo e environ of marine anges in th between ch f various characteristics s, campil o appearances so went hunting for foss .” al p e u animals. W d tidepooling as a gro thari, 11 o an K , g a n in -Shay ing, hik
the Leadership This summer I attended mer program sum rld Wo ess in the Busin nsylvania for four at the University of Pen I worked with weeks. At the program, come up with a nine other individuals to a business plan business idea and create addition, we for our mock business. Inlistened to lecwent to local companies, ulty members tures held by Wharton fac participated in and guest speakers, and ions. tit pe mock business com -Justin Yue, 12
d States took a “This summer, the Unite tor y. Same-sex his in rd major step for wa June 26, 2015 marriage was legalized onnual gay pride an the lly, and coincidenta ncisco was that parade hosted in San Fraall-day event the d de weekend. I atten ssion senior, with a college friend, a Mi friends and ton ing Irv and a couple of uare rooting on spent the day in Union Sq flourishing arthe g rin mi the paraders, ad d absorbing the ray of rainbow colors, anparade. It was a the of overall ambience d I enjoyed the spectacular experience anh my friends.” wit nt spe memorable day -Tiffany Li, 11
“I went to COSMOS th is ter 1, Number Theory summer as part of Clusand Discrete Math. I made a lot of friends from all over California, an d even a few from New Orlea ns I learned how to liv and Canada. Best of all, e independently fro m my parents.” -Jonathan Ko, 9
student summer adventures By Sayan Ghosh, Neha Shah, Andrea Tam, Annie Tang & Brian Tseng Staff Writer, Centerspread Editor, Arts & Entertainment Editor, Centerspread Editor, and Staff Writer A
The Smoke Signal conducted an online survey to find out exactly where MSJ’s student population adventured, and brought a taste of some summer back to school.
“This summer I went to Hawaii for five days. One of the days, I went to Hanuma Bay where I went snorkeling for the first time! It was a fabulous time snorkeling with my family and looking at different kind[s] of fishes [sic]. Though the water’s [sic] pretty salty when I accidentally drank it!” -Mona Lam, 9
“This year I traveled to Hawaii! Specifically the islands Hawai’i and Kauai. My family and I stayed in [at] each island for about 4 days. In Hawai’i, also known as the big island, we visited the active volcano, hiked, and visited a lot of beautiful beaches along the coast. In Kauai my family and I visited beaches once again and I surfed for the first time. It was exhausting but completely worth [it for] the views.” -Kanika Rao, 10
“I went to Sene ca this year all by m Falls, New York yself for three an half weeks. I wen da t beautiful lakes an to see some really d favorite part was waterfalls. But my seeing fireworks Seneca Lake on the Fourth of Ju at ly. I got to see whe re Rights Conventio the first Women’s n was held. I ha really great trip d and I wish I coul a d go back to Seneca Fa lls again.” -Sonia Tasser, 10
d Victolaska an days. I A to e is of seven on a cru “I went nada) for a total t Trail (a trail a oo ria BC (C hike the Chilkr nal Historical to tio a was able e Gold Rush N ter rafting. Afik w d n e whit a iful waterfall in Klo ent [sic] w d n beaut a ) Park to see a as in Juneau, the t n e w I ter that, get Falls when I w t to Ketchikan g n called Nu Alaska. I also we there because f o m l o o capit rld! In on fr ght salm of the wo ess, a and bou e salmon capitol r p m The E its [sic] th C, I got to visit ed hon w o n -re B Victoria d majestic world tive building.” n elegant a ell as the legisla erine Chen, 12 w s -Kath a l, te
“I spent a month of my summer th University's Jaco bs School of Mus is year at Indiana ic, nation for music . As part of the Su ranked 6th in the mmer String Ac emy, I had the op adpo ents by practicin rtunity to refine my violinistic ta g 4 hours a day in lmy tice room and re ceiving 2 one-ho designated pracever y week from ur private lesson IU s consisted of cham 's top professors. The program al so ber music in whi ch each person w assigned a quarte as t cellist), but since to play in (2 violinists, 1 violist, there were no m 1 ore vi I ha teaching myself d the honor of borrowing one of olists available, IU's violas and was extremel another instrument. This
made me realy important and rewarding fosummer camp specifically, thizee that my true passion lies inr me because it music, or more violin performanviolin. Consequently, I plan on ce in fall of 2016 majoring in .” -Jessica Cao, 12
images.google.com, photos courtesy jessica cao, katherine chen, jonathan ko, shayna kothari, mona lam, tiffany li, kanika rao, sonia tasser & justin yue
10 Centerspread
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English teacher Valerie Carattini is eager to join MSJ to teach English 9H and Drama this year. She will also serve as the faculty adviser for Universal Performers. Carattini looks forward to bringing her diverse background to MSJ this year. Before she began teaching, Carattini worked in the corporate world for 16 years. She headed her own department and was responsible for training and writing speeches for executives. As a child, Carattini travelled around the world, attending 11 different schools in Korea, Japan, Ecuador, Peru, and various parts of the US. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, traveling, and working on crafts.
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 25, 2015
School Resource Officer (SRO) Robert Scott Sanders joins MSJ’s staff with multiple years of police experience under his belt, including four years as the SRO at Irvington High School. Sanders is aware of the nationwide issues and events that have marred the police officer image in recent months, and part of his goals for this year is to show students that officers are people as well. He hopes to get out and get to know the students better, so that eventually anyone can comfortably come up to him and give him a fist bump. When off duty, Sanders enjoys spending time with his wife and working around his house.
Friday, September 25, 2015
The Smoke Signal
Bruce Farnsworth will be teaching Digital Imaging and Digital Photography and is thrilled to be here at MSJ. He will be exploring the interests of students and making personal connections through photography. This year, he will install professional studios in his classroom for state-of-the-art training in portraiture, commercial, scientific and industrial photography. Furthermore, he is forming an advisory panel from industry experts in the MSJ community and Silicon Valley, and will produce internship opportunities for his students. Farnsworth’s goal is to prepare students for today’s high-tech career and job marketplace. Farnsworth is also an active professional photographer, focusing on themes of sustainability and the environment.
Centerspread 11
Fodé Doumbia, who will teach French 2, 3, and 4, finished his education in his home country of Senegal, completing a Master’s in English. He hopes to adapt to the new environment of MSJ and is excited for the challenge. Doumbia considers himself to be not just a French teacher, but also a teacher of life. He aims to help his students become better citizens, and does his best to become close to his students. His goal is also to raise the level of MSJ’s French classes by increasing the level of fluency and the number of students taking the course. Doumbia hopes to bring both his love of soccer and his professional soccer experience to MSJ, having played in Senegal and France.
Assistant Principal Shauna O’Brien now joins MSJ’s staff hoping to help lead largescale change. Her mother, who was a nutritionist, inspired her to become a health and medical technology teacher during her time in San Mateo. But O’Brien knew from the start that she wanted to be an administrator with the ability to oversee more than just her classroom. She hopes to work with MSJ students on developing a more well-rounded and balanced approach to school. Her current plans involve individual parent meetings to discuss healthy approaches for students, but she hopes to eventually expand to larger scale implementations in cooperation with on-campus organizations such as Peer Resource.
Social Studies Teacher Sarah Heimsoth joined MSJ as a Government/Economics teacher. Heimsoth, born and raised in Fremont, graduated from Washington High School in 2008 and went on to play volleyball in college. She brings three years of teaching experience in various social studies subjects to MSJ. She looks forward to working with the hardworking student body of MSJ, and she hopes to help her students develop into well-rounded and civic-minded individuals. Heimsoth has a love for sports and is a volleyball coach at American High School. She is excited to build many new relationships with the students and staff during her first year at MSJ.
US History and Government/ Economics Teacher Spenser Peterson is making his return to MSJ after graduating as part of MSJ’s Class of 2008. He says it feels fantastic to be back at MSJ and that it is interesting to see a teacher’s perspective of MSJ after having seen the student side. Among the things that Peterson thinks has changed since his time at MSJ are the late start Wednesdays and the lack of “junk food” vending machines on campus. Perterson loves baseball, having been part of the team at MSJ, and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
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A 2003 MSJ alumna, Math Teacher Sharan Singh brings back to her alma mater a positive attitude and four years of teaching experience that she hopes she will be able to share with her department. Singh believes that while MSJ has become much more technology driven since her time as a student, the academically focused environment still remains. She hopes to spend the year settling in and getting to know everyone on campus, and will be teaching Common Core 3 and Algebra 1. Once a year during the winter, Singh likes to teach Bhangra to local junior high students.
Counselor Ivy Lee is enthusiastic to join the MSJ community and will be responsible for students with last names Gi-Ln. She finds it rewarding to work with young individuals and is looking forward to be working with a diverse and admirable student body. During her first year at MSJ, she would love to meet and get to know as many MSJ students as possible. She hopes to build a relationship with the student body and encourages students to drop by for anything from simple introductions to academic support. She hopes to aid students in their pursuit of individual paths and goals. In her free time, Lee enjoys cooking, baking, and hiking on trails.
English Teacher Ryan Marple will be teaching English 9A and 10A this upcoming school year. Before MSJ, Marple taught English for one year at Hayward High School. Marple hopes to prepare his students for the SAT and for college; he also hopes to expand their knowledge with literature and vocabulary. One of his main goals as a teacher is to get his students to enjoy English because he believes that when students are having fun and are excited to learn, they are more likely to participate and retain the material.
photos by graphics editor kevin chen, opinion editor harshita gupta, sports editor rishab ramapriyan & staff writer andrew choi, images.google.com.
12 Feature
The Smoke Signal
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Friday, September 25, 2015
THE
DIEHARD TRYHARDS
With the rise of the ne comes new anxietie w SAT in March 2016 s an Smoke Signal sacrificed d uncertainties. The overachievers to inv four of its favorite est between the current igate the differences To see the full list of and revamped SAT. collegereadiness.co changes, visit https:// llegeboard.org/sat/in sidethe-test.
TAKE ON
By Michael Hsiu, Deeksha Raina, Rishab Ramapriyan & Monica Tang
News Editor, Sports Editor, Staff Writer and Graphics Editor
MONICA
My preparation for the old SAT has been painfully extensive. From analyzing passages about tarantulas to dissecting the copious abnormalities of the English language, I’ve done it all. The new SAT, however, is completely foreign to me.
thoughts before With a mind sharper than any number two pencil, I am as ready as I will ever be to take on both SATs. Hopefully, my previous studying has exhausted most tricks College Board has up its sleeve.
While the problems were of standard difficulty, the hour-long reading and math sections made my brain shrivel up and refuse to function. On the other hand, the writing section was so basic that it was amusing.
reflection
After studying the old SAT meticulously for the past few months, I was uncomfortable switching to the new SAT. It not only contains different subject matter, but also features a more streamlined and minimalistic graphic design, which – personally – made it feel even more like a foreign monstrosity I would prefer to avoid. However, upon closer examination, I noticed that while on the surface, the new SAT seems terrifying, the changes actually convert the notoriously strategy-driven and vocabulary-packed old SAT into a less deceptive and much simpler foe. Though the new test is undoubtedly different, an experienced old SAT test-taker equipped with the necessary problem-solving techniques needs only to brush up on a few unfamiliar concepts to perform just as well. Recognizing the differences between the current and upcoming SAT definitely made me feel more at ease about the new PSAT being unveiled in October.
DEEKSHA
The old SAT is no stranger to me. The menacing glares of the empty answer documents and the smells of fresh test booklets are familiar foes. When I take the old SAT this October, I hope months of strenuous preparation pay off.
Admittedly, studying for the current SAT has left me too frazzled to even take a glance at the new format. Hopefully those countless hours spent over-analyzing passages and studying SAT prep material will be enough to pull me through both versions of the test.
I don’t know if I’m prepared for another SAT. My palms are sweaty and I’ve broken out my old arsenal of No. 2 pencils, but my mental state still leaves much to be desired. I sincerely hope they made the new test, which only has four sections, less mentally taxing than its predecessor.
I have no fears about taking the old SAT, after taking it numerous times over the last few months. The new SAT may be a game changer. I don’t know what to expect, and I hope I’m not taken by surprise.
answer choices
The new SAT tries too hard to sound sleek and sophisticated when it isn’t. Every section had a lot of “necessary background” that wasn’t really needed, and some featured a relatively irrelevant graph or two. I wasn’t impressed.
The anxiety around the new SAT ended up being mostly hype, except for a few major changes, such as the removal of the sentence completion. The reformatted writing and math sections still had the same difficulty, but the 65-minute critical reading section was tedious.
Now that I think about it, the new SAT wasn’t that different compared to the old one. Although my score did decrease a little bit, I feel like that was more because I was not used to the format, rather than the difficulty level of the questions. I went into the new SAT test already intimidated by the length of each section and wary of the supposed revamped questions. Much to my surprise, besides the changes in format, the new SAT did not seem that much more difficult. Though the writing section has been simplified and the math questions lengthened, there isn’t anything significant to stress out about. If anything, it was only tiring because of the length of each section. In the end, I realized that my loss of points on the new SAT compared to the old SAT probably stemmed from the nervousness associated with taking a new test with a format I had never seen before. With some more practice, the new SAT shouldn’t be that challenging.
New SAT? More like just the old one with fancier graphics. Okay, I’ll admit: the College Board did try to clean up its brainchild, and its efforts were evident through the (optional) removal of the essay and reduction of the overall number of sections. Admirable! Regardless, the structure of the new test still seemed disorganized and confusing to me as an SAT veteran. As the test taker, I pitied the writing section. Of all the sections, it lost the most— not just the essay, but also what made it a section! While the writing section did change the most, with all questions now assigned to a related article, its sole purpose seemed just to be to give all the rejected critical reading articles a chance. With over fifty questions bunched together in some sections, I felt winded at the end of the test, but didn’t have any more pity to give myself. I definitely look forward to not taking this test ever again.
The College Board essentially gave the SAT a makeover. Though the new SAT is supposed to test even more real-world applicable concepts, the basic nature of the questions remains relatively the same. The College Board tried to throw in a graph once in a while for critical reading and had slightly longer word problems in the math section, but essentially these components simply added clarity, rather than change. I feared that my preparation for the old SAT would not suffice for the upcoming PSAT, which will be in the new format. Based on this experience, I realized that only additional practice is needed to gain familiarity with the new format, but a radical new set of skills is not required. The foreign aspect of the new SAT may be daunting for students accustomed to the old SAT. It is important to simply overlook the presentation and ascertain the concepts behind each question.
decrease
Critical Reading and Writing do not include graphical information
15 PTS
point deduction
calculator allowed on all math sections
0 PTS
35 PTS
minute optional
essay
sections
TOTAL
no change
increase
Critical Reading, Writing, and Math
OLD SAT
obscure vocab
thoughts after the new SAT
That was exhausting. I’m used to switching sections about every 30 questions, so the new format, with 52 questions for the critical reading section, 44 questions for the writing and language section, and 58 questions for the math section, effectively fried my brain.
40 PTS
essay
RISHAB
I took the old SAT as a junior. I remember that the weekends leading up to the exam were spent at the library poring over the infamous Blue Book and penciling in miniscule fill-in-the-blank bubbles until my fingers turned numb.
decrease
minute mandatory
MICHAEL
As most juniors at our school no doubt have the great misfortune to undergo, I’ve been preparing to take the SAT this fall through various intensive summer programs.
answer choices
Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and math
NEW SAT
no sentence completion Evidence-based Reading and Writing features graphs and tables for science point deduction and social science passages
sections
TOTAL calculator banned in 1 of 2 math sections
collegeboard.com, stockphoto.com, photos by graphics editor kevin chen, photos courtesy rishab ramapriyan & monica tang
Friday, September 25, 2015
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Feature 13
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ENGLISH COURSES English writing skills are essential to any well-rounded student, or test-taker. The Ivy Advisor is exceedingly qualified in this area by enhancing skills in English writing, reading, grammar, and vocabulary and getting an early start in the
14 Arts & Entertainment
www.thesmokesignal.org
The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 25, 2015
By Pratham Gupta & Chakshu Hurria Staff Writer & Feature Editor
By Jacinta Chang & Grace Dong Web Editor and Opinion Editor
The lawns are yellowing and the tumbleweeds roll lazily across the roads. Although the California drought is not ideal for gardening hobbies, one brave group of water preserving plants can withstand it all: the succulents. The Smoke Signal presents a DIY guide to interior decorating, succulent style.
Additional materials: hanging clear globe terrarium or repurposed glass jar or bowl, hook or ribbon/twine 1.Place a layer of small pebbles or sand, then a layer of soil on top. 2. Place the larger succulents inside the globe. Arrange smaller succulents around them. Adjust as desired with tweezers. 3. Add a thin layer of sand on top of the soil layer and the soil from the succulents. Hang your succulent snow globe with metal hooks on your wall or with thick twine and ribbon.
Additional materials: sea glass shards, large seashells, glitter 1. Pick a seashell, such as an abalone shell or conch shell, and fill onethird of it with soil. 2. Place succulents of varying sizes atop the soil. 3. Add a layer of sand around the succulents, just enough to cover the soil. 4. Scatter small pebbles and sea glass shards on top of the sand for a shoreline look. For a whimsical feel, dust a few pinches of glitter over your tiny garden in a shell.
1. Fill a small pot or container of your choice halfway with soil. 2. Dig a small hole with the spoon in the center of the soil, and then insert a succulent. Pat the soil around the plant into place. 3. Add small pebbles around the succulent for an extra sprinkle of zen. Repeat Steps 1-3 with differently designed containers, and arrange all of your little masterpieces to your own Instaworthy pleasing!
Additional materials: assorted colors of sands, soils, and pebbles Take a mason jar and add a half-inch layer of soil at the bottom. Add another half-inch layer of sand in one color, and add another layer of soil on top. Continue to layer on different colors of sand, alternating layers of sand and soil. Once the layers have taken up about threefourths of the mason jar, insert a succulent into the jar, and surround with a final layer of soil.
HOW T O CARE FOR YOUR SUCCULENT S
Place your new friends in an area that receives moderate sun, but avoid direct sunlight if possible. Water them once or twice a week. If the soil ever feels wet or emits a moldy odor, you are overwatering. If the plant begins to wilt, you are likely underwatering. Best of luck and have fun on your succulent adventures! www.buzzfeed.com, edtech.mcc.edu, ext.homedepot.com, www.chicagonow.com, www.adventures-in-cooking.com, www.itsoverflowing.com, anthologymag.com
broadway.com, flavorwire.com, highlighthollywood.com, imdb.com, movieweb.com, promaxbda.org, tvline.com
Friday, September 25, 2015
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16 Arts & Entertainment
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Friday, September 25, 2015
C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R MusiC: Mikky ekko, the weeknd | concert: ariana grande |Film: the scorch trials | book: go set a watchman
Under the Radar
ARIANA GRANDE gives her everything Music review the weeknd
Mikky ekko By Katie Sun Feature Editor Best known for co-writing and being featured in the multi-platinum single “Stay” recorded by Rihanna, Mikky Ekko exemplifies the unique quality of contemporary electronic pop. Born and bred in gospel, classic rock, and classical music, and influenced by hip-hop and R&B, Ekko fused his inspirations into initial success as a lesser-known songwriter. His earlier hits include “Who Are You, Really?” (featured on various TV shows) and “We Remain” (performed by Christina Aguilera on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack). Despite his overwhelming success with his breakthrough single “Stay,” Ekko held off on a tour to continue exploring his sound; his highly anticipated first studio album Time was released in early 2015 after two years of tweaking and recording. The album is an eclectic mix of songs, narrowed down from 250 options to a select dozen. Keeping the individualistic character and spirit from his previous releases, the singer/songwriter/ producer meshes his indie idiosyncrasies with a pop sensibility to better relate to the audience. The title track “Time” veers toward R&B, whereas singles “Watch Me Rise” and “Love You Crazy” cater more towards Ekko’s pop audience. The stars of the album that best characterize his style are “Smile,” “Comatose,” and “Pressure Pills,” all of which blend classic piano ballads with a killer pop hook. Ekko himself describes the album as “pretty eclectic sonically, but lyrically there are moments of love and angst and things that many people deal with on a daily basis.” In the aftermath of his all-star crew of collaborators such as Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, and Nick Ruth on his first album, Mikky Ekko’s current worldwide tour validates him as someone to watch, especially with the vitality he employs in his efforts to continue growing, learning, and improving his relatability and sound. As Ekko states, “I think I’ve become more honest because... I realized how important it is. Just be genuine. People just want to feel something real.” ▪
By Shivane Sabharwal Staff Writer
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By Sarina Chitre A&E Editor Bay Area residents donning cat ears flooded into Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View on Tuesday, September 8 to attend a showing of Ariana Grande’s Honeymoon Tour. The 22-year-old songstress embarked on her second concert tour and first international tour earlier this year in support of her second studio album, My Everything. Although the tour was scheduled to end in April, it was extended until mid-October due to its massive success, with 40 additional cities. Prince Royce, a 26-year old singer from the Bronx, proved to be an entertaining opening act, backed with a live band and backup dancers clad in matching black ensembles. Before the show, Honeymoon Tour Cat Ears were sold. The lightup ears were synced in during the show, lighting up in unison with the music once fans downloaded Ari-
ana Grande’s app and scanned the barcode on the headband. A countdown exploded into the hit single “Bang Bang,” and Grande appeared, rocking her signature half-up ponytail, thigh-highs, and cat ears. Grande featured just the right amount of theatrics, making sure to not overshadow her act by being tacky and over the top. Following a dance interlude by the MC in which he pumped up the crowd and tap-danced, a vintage-style video rolled of Grande and the whole atmosphere took on a 1920s, jazz vibe. Dancers came out dressed in tuxedos and sparkly, white flapper dresses, and Ariana Grande personified a glamourous Old Hollywood vixen. The singer perfectly executed her tracks, “The Way” and “Pink Champagne.” Another tech-savvy highlight of the show was Grande’s implementation of Mi.Mu gloves. This innovative, wearable technology serves almost as a vocoder, or a synthesizer that produces sounds from an
analysis of speech input, that can be controlled with differing hand gestures. Grande mixed her gorgeous vocals with the new-age, robotic sound as she sang the phrase, “Hi, San Francisco” and then into “Why Try.” As she transitioned to “My Everything,” almost every member of the Mountain View crowd held up a piece of white, copy paper with the words, “I Never Want Toulouse You” printed on it. (Toulouse is the name of Grande’s Beagle-Chihuahua mixed pooch.) Overwhelmed with awe, Grande said, “Aw babies, thank you!” A beautiful rendition of “Honeymoon Avenue,” accompanied by fireworks shooting from the stage,” was followed by the stunning finale, in which Grande belted out “Break Free” and “Problem.” Grande delivered a spectacular concert as an extraordinary vocalist and even more dynamic performer. ▪ Rating: A
Go Set a Watchman is worth the wait
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Updates By Katie Sun Feature Editor
the martian pg-13 | 10/2/15 Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain and Kristen Wiig, The Martian follows presumably dead and abandoned astronaut Mark Watney’s (Damon) attempts to survive living in outer space as NASA works tirelessly to bring him home.
he named me malala PG-13 | 10/2/15 A documentary film following the extraordinary life of female activist Malala Yousafzai, He Named Me Malala follows the teenage Pakistani girl as she fights for human rights and female education, becoming a target of the Taliban and eventually winning the Nobel Peace Prize at age 17.
sounds good looks good 5 seconds of summer | 10/23/15 Pop band 5 Seconds of Summer’s second studio album has already seen the release of three singles on a 14 track album and promises to be just as successful as their first, 5 Seconds of Summer.
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By Deeksha Raina Staff Writer Amidst much fanfare and controversy, Harper Lee’s novel Go Set A Watchman was recently released mid July. Originally the first draft of To Kill A Mockingbird, this book chronicles Jean Louise “Scout” Finch’s journey as she returns to her hometown of Maycomb only to realize that the community and her family are not as forward thinking and accepting as she once thought they were. The plot of the novel is a real treat to those who have read To Kill A Mockingbird. From Jean Louise’s flashbacks to hearing little snippets of townswomen’s gossip, Lee makes sure to tie the story back to To Kill A Mockingbird. Nostalgic scenes of Jean Louise’s, Jem’s, Dill’s, and Henry’s childhood games are woven in throughout the novel, with clear references to the children’s antics in To Kill A Mockingbird. Even before the novel’s release, the character of Atticus, Jean Louise’s father, was hotly debated for his racism. In the novel, this shocking twist is revealed through the eyes of Jean Louise. At first it seems unbearable that the quintessential hero, the one character would never perpetuate racism
is suddenly racist. However, this flaw makes Atticus more human, a person with faults. In To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus was shown through Jean Louise’s eyes as a larger-than-life, god-like figure that everyone could look up to. As she grows up and learns that he was not at all perfect, so does the audience. In fact, the most enjoyable part of Go Set A Watchman is undoubtedly Jean Louise’s presence in the novel. Even as an adult, she retains her sassy attitude, sharp tongue, and characteristic bluntness. These attributes that made her seem endearing as a child only make her more relatable as an adult. It becomes very easy to see as Jean Louise sees and feel as she feels. When Jean Louise finds out that Atticus is not a believer of equal rights for all, especially towards African-Americans, her frustration, anger, and confusion are so understandable that the revelation pains the audience just as much as it pains her. However, there are a few drawbacks to the novel. Reading Go Set A Watchman as a stand-alone is sure to confuse people. Even though it was written first, many of the events in the novel are elaborated upon in To Kill A Mockingbird. It is only after reading the latter that those casual references – some of
which are quite crucial to the plot –will be understood. Jean Louise’s harsh reaction to what seems to be a betrayal from Atticus can only be attributed to her extreme reverence for Atticus, a detail only truly expanded upon and shown in To Kill A Mockingbird. Without the background knowledge, her reactions would just seem over-the-top and exaggerated. Unfortunately, the novel is also plagued by an awkward pace, and the scenes often do not cohesively meld together. Throughout the novel, Jean Louise occasionally has flashbacks to her past, but most of the time they are unrelated to the current plot. They often go on for so long that the memories of Jean Louise’s past often overshadow her current problems. This results in a back-and-forth volley of Jean Louise’s past and present, neither of which seem to be related to the other. Overall, Go Set A Watchman, while not as gripping a tale as To Kill A Mockingbird, retains its own charm while showing a more realistic and multifaceted portrayal of the characters. ▪
After releasing his debut album Kiss Land, to generally positive reviews in 2013, Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, followed up with the highly anticipated Beauty Behind the Madness. Before the album released worldwide on August 28, The Weeknd released a number of singles, including the song that made it all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100: “Can’t Feel My Face.” Although The Weeknd had built up a fiercely loyal fan base after the release of his three mixtapes and Kiss Land, the singles pushed him decisively into the mainstream. The Weeknd’s older projects described his lifestyle of excessive partying, hard drugs, and loneliness over gloomy, synth-heavy production, but this style is largely missing from Beauty Behind the Madness, leaving old fans wondering whether the The Weeknd has gone full pop. Sonically, Beauty Behind the Madness is extremely different from his older work. For example, the album’s first track, “Real Life,” is characterized by booming beats and a string section that sharply contrast with the production on his mixtapes. This trend continues on “Losers” with a loud piano section and shimmering keys and can be found on most of the tracks in the first half of the album. The Weeknd’s vocals seem a bit out of place on this pop-oriented production because they’re simply not upbeat enough to match the new production style. It sounds as if the he’s teetering on the edge of going full pop, but isn’t sure if he wants to abandon his old sound. This results in odd juxtapositions with a dark R&B song such as “Acquainted” and a Michael Jackson-influenced pop track like “Can’t Feel My Face.” This doesn’t mean that the production negatively affects the album – it adds the variety that was missing from his older projects – but it needs to be combined with a change in vocals to create a more cohesive album. The Weeknd isn’t shattering any barriers lyrically with Beauty Behind the Madness. Most of his older songs detail the same hedonistic lifestyle of partying that are on this album, but there’s something that wasn’t present on his previous projects: catchy hooks. Songs like “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” “Often” and “Earned It” were on constant rotation on most radio stations because the hooks stuck. Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey lend their vocals to “Dark Times” and “Prisoner,” respectively, and although their vocals compliment the song well, they don’t add anything very special to the album. Beauty Behind the Madness is Abel Tesfaye’s venture into the world of pop and the commercial success of his singles should be a clear indication that he’s got talent. Although the album has some problems, there isn’t a bad track on the album and it should be exciting to see whether The Weeknd makes the decision to go full pop or goes back to the style that first made him popular. ▪ Rating: A-
Rating: B+ twitter.com
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Friday, September 25, 2015
The Smoke Signal
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Sports 17
Ohlone Pool Closure Prompts Discussion By Pratham Gupta & Ruiwen Shen Staff Writers The Ohlone College pool is undergoing complete modernization and renovation design, which will render it out of service for approximately eight to twelve months. It is estimated to begin construction this December. There have been some cosmetic changes over the years such as painting, but now Ohlone is addressing more serious issues such as cracking and an aging mechanical room. It has been more than 30 years since the pool was first constructed, and the pool’s condition is no longer up to code. Renovation is still in the design phase. Next comes the Division of the State Architect approval phase, which will give Ohlone permission to start construction. “We are waiting until water polo season is over, which is after November, when there will be no more after school practices here,” said Chris Warden, Dean of Athletics and Kinesiology at Ohlone College, who estimates that these two phases will have been completed by the time December comes. For spring and summer, there will be no Ohlone swim classes, and the Ohlone swim team will go off campus to use the Glenmore Gardens pool in Fremont. Warden explained that safety checkover was the catalyst of the renovation. Ohlone decided to get a full makeover in addition to the safety concerns that first prompted the repairs: drain the pool, seal it, make it safe and up-to-date with utilities and filtration, take in environmental factors, and undergo full modernization. With the pool getting state-of-the-art utilities, however, the price of using the Ohlone pool will rise. Both the Boys’ and Girls’ Water Polo teams use this pool during the fall season. Boys’ Water Polo Coach Alex Schmeel expresses concern that MSJ will not be able to rent the refurbished pool. “It’s possible that we will not be able to afford to rent this pool and parents
photos by graphics editor kevin chen, images.google.com Though both have similar layouts, the Ohlone Pool (top) has twice as many lanes and is twice as deep as the Mission Pool (bottom), allowing it to accomodate a wider variety of sporting events as well as a larger audience.
will have to pay out of their pockets. The closedown might affect us financially, but luckily will not affect the season. Hopefully, we’ll be able to reap the benefits of the renovation, but we don’t have dibs on it and more programs might to look to Ohlone after this. We fight for space every year. This happened once in 2010, when Ohlone changed staff and took the power of rental to someone higher-up. They upped the price to a cost that the school couldn’t afford. Luckily, MSJ Athletic Director Thomas Thomsen talked to them and was able to negotiate a price lower than originally offered, but we don’t know the outcome for next year. This is also
why we’re fighting for a new pool at Mission too.” The size and run-down condition of MSJ’s pool, including a crack, a leak, and chlorine deficiency, cannot support MSJ’s high school swimming programs beyond Physical Education. The school swim teams and water polo teams travel to other sites such as Ohlone College and other high schools to use their facilities for practices and competitions. “The pool is not deep enough for safe racing platform use. The water depths of the pool are required to have no-diving safety signs installed around the entire perimeter of the pool. There-
fore, the pool cannot be used to support a swim meet. The pool is also too small and shallow to support CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) water polo,” wrote Dennis Berkshire of the Aquatic Design Group in a Site Review Memorandum of MSJ’s pool on April 30. The Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) Board of Education, in April 2015, took a keen interest in replacing the MSJ pool instead of repairing it, which would cost $4.2 million. For the purposes of equity, a similar survey was conducted at all FUSD high schools, and replacing all the pools would cost $23.2 million. FUSD Board of Education President Desrie Campbell said that the board has to redistribute the allocation of funds in regards to the replacement of the MSJ pool. Thomsen said, “I appreciate all the work the FUSD staff is doing to get a new pool, all the work that’s been done and I’m just keeping my fingers-crossed that we’ll have a new pool. ” A new pool will benefit the entire student population - the quality of education will increase. It will help improve the curriculum in the P.E. Dept. as there are currently eight to nine students in a single lane during the swim unit which isn’t safe, and there are certain maneuvers which can’t be taught since the pool isn’t deep enough. A new pool aids the water polo and swim teams as well. They have to pay $2500 every year to rent facilities to practice, which no other school team has to do. “As of right now we will still be continuing our morning conditioning practices at Mission’s pool, and evening water polo practices at Ohlone College,” said Girls’ Water Polo Coach Allison Lucarelli, “In the future I hope that FUSD will be able to help fund a much-needed pool for us on our MSJ campus. As of right now Ohlone is looking like our only option. If no pool is available to maybe switch practice times around then we will have to figure something out. We have a great group of girls in our program who are really dedicated to the sport and the continuation of it here at Mission.” ▪
18 Sports
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Gymnastics: This season, with seven of last year’s senior gymnasts now graduated and the majority of the team now freshmen, its captains predict this season will differ significantly from last year. The team will compete in meets against Washington, Irvington, and James Logan High Schools, and in the MVALS tournament at the end of the season. Tryouts took place on August 27. According to its captains, the gymnastics team aims to bond and form friendships as the team is primarily new and to achieve a win this season after breaking a five year win-streak last season. Cross Country: Split into Freshman, Sophomore, Junior Varsity, and Varsity teams, cross country is open to all students wishing to improve their fitness. The team will compete in 13 races, with most races taking place on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Cross Country’s goals are to have as many students as possible enjoy the physical activity and to help the team reach its full potential. The team hopes to send its top athletes to the CIF State Championships, which they last qualified for in 2001.
Girls’ Golf: Though girls’ golf lost two key players, quite a few sophomores are returning this year. The team has practiced extensively during the summer, and they hope to continue honing their skills throughout the year. With three seniors this year, two of whom having been in the team since freshman year, girls’ golf is looking to grow and mature, improving the team every year. Their goal is to progress to NCS and return to the NorCal Championship, advancing as far as they can.
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Girls’ Volleyball: Divided into Freshman, Junior Varsity, and Varsity teams, girls’ volleyball aspires to win first place in this year’s NCS tournament, after finishing second last year. According to its captains, the team hopes to reach its full potential this year, as it competes against high school teams across the Bay Area. Games will generally take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tryouts took place August 17-18.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Boys’ Water Polo: This season, boys’ water polo is looking forward to 10 league games followed by some scrimmages. The team aspires to get first in this year’s MVAL’s tournament. There were no tryouts for its Junior Varsity team, while coaches determined which players made Varsity. According to the team’s captains, bonding as a team this year will be a major priority.
Fall Sports By Kylie Cheung & Brian Tseng Staff Writers
With the beginning of a new school year at MSJ, our sports teams are preparing for a fall season that promises to be an exciting one. Our cross country, football, girls’ golf, girls’ tennis, gymnastics, girls’ volleyball, girls’ and boys’ water polo, and cheer have all adjusted to changes and are preparing to compete. Take a look and preview what the season has in store. Football: After last year’s victory against Irvington in the Spike Bowl, the Junior Varsity and Varsity football teams will compete in six league games and four non-league games this season, while the Freshman team will play in five games throughout the season. The teams have been training hard since late January. New coaches have joined over the summer, and several key players moved up from Junior Varsity to Varsity. With their recent victory over Richmond, football is looking forward to this season, and hopes to win a league championship. Cheer: After a summer at the National Cheerleaders Association’s Camp, cheer is ready to perform at assemblies, basketball games, and football games. Though seven of the 14 cheerleaders are new, they have been attending summer practices four days a week beginning April 2. The team is excited to have the necessary number of members to perform more advanced stunting pyramids and look forward to supporting MSJ sports teams.
Girls’ Water Polo: Girls’ water polo looks forward to an interesting season with significantly more freshmen than last year on its Varsity team. The team will be participating in multiple tournaments and scrimmages this year. Its first scrimmage took place on September 2. Tryouts were held during the first week of the school year.
Girls’ Tennis: Last year, girls’ tennis finished their season as undefeated league champions, and they’re looking forward to this season with a strong team. Nearly every Junior Varsity member is a freshman, but there are quite a few United States Tennis Association (USTA) ranked juniors in Varsity. Though Tompkins Tennis is no longer in charge of the teams, training is proceeding apace, with tryouts taking place from August 1721. After placing second in MVALS last year, the team hopes to qualify for the final four of NCS. photos by images.google.com, iconshut.com
NCAA: Paying For Play? By Andrew Chen & Ansh Patel Staff Writers College sports are a big deal – Economics Professor Andrew Zimbalist from Smith College estimates the industry to be valued at $8 billion. Drafting college athletes is drifting away from education and toward business, even with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) constantly pushing new standards, including a 2016 reform, which will allow a small group of athletes to receive larger scholarships to cover school and living costs.
usatoday.com Mark Emmert makes a statement in 2011 that college athletes will never be paid as long as he is president of the NCAA.
Such a large industry cannot be ignored, however. Crossing the line paying college athletes a salary would reflect the economic reality, but is still highly controversial. In 2009, Ed O’Bannon, a starter on UCLA’s 1995 men’s basketball team, filed a lawsuit against the NCAA after seeing himself in a video game. Alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act and of actions that deprived him of his right to publicity, O’Bannon argued that his image was used for commercial purposes and that he didn’t receive the financial
compensation he was entitled to. After an appeal, the NCAA lost the suit in 2014 and was ordered to pay O’Bannon $46 million. Furthermore, the injunction allowed players to be paid with money from television contracts, making the case a landmark decision. The NCAA naturally appealed, and in July 2015, a stay was granted on the case. It was granted because it would serve as a temporary reprieve for the NCAA and its decades-old rules for barring payments to athletes. Without the stay, the association would have to face a new reality after the trial in which colleges theoretically could have offered recruits unregulated amounts of money, or the association could have set a cap on such consumption. Since this was deemed unfair and infeasible, a stay ensured that the NCAA was given adequate time to reallocate its funds before paying O’Bannon. Because of increasing pressure from current and former college athletes, like Ed O’Bannon, the NCAA has been forced to rethink its practices and rules. In fact, NCAA voted this August to allow 65 teams from the Big 5 Power Conferences to have their own rules. This autonomy means athletes could be receiving an extra two thousand to five thousand dollars on top of scholarships and living costs. As the NCAA and other collegiate athletics profit from the success of star recruits, college sports have become a multi-billion dollar industry. But players themselves don’t see any of that money, even though they’re responsible for the fortunes and revenue streams of corporate sponsors, broadcasters, and schools. In order to avoid paying player salaries, the NCAA has argued that student-athletes are not employees, since their participation in sports is voluntary. Because of this, students who attempted to unionize to fight for pay were ignored, and over the past 10 years athletes’ efforts to ask for a salary have been fruitless. However, discourse about the rights of col-
lege athletes has inspired former players to take action against many of the NCAA’s unfair rules and practices. As seen from the landmark O’Bannon case and related follow-up, progress is definitely being made.
espn.com Tim Hardaway Jr. shoots a 3-pointer over Michael CarterWilliams in the semifinals of the 2015 NCAA playoffs tournament.
The college sports organization has voted in new rules that would allow only a select few college athletes to be paid. The law, which only applies to the 65 teams from the Big 5 Power Conferences, will allow each of those schools to make their own rules on paying their athletes. Teams part of the Big 5 Power Conferences, a group of the most elite teams in NCAA sports, are expected to cover their athletes’ scholarship along with a full cost of attendance: money for travel, food, and housing. Although this may sound like too much freedom, the NCAA still limits teams to a general range, while leaving the specifics up to the team. This way, teams have room for competition in drafting student athletes while still remaining part of a cohesive sports league under the general guidance of the NCAA. While the new rules only apply to a few teams, they make for an essential steppingstone to greater reform. Many schools already offer extended scholarship programs and
grants for academic standings and research. Extending and expanding the same principles to sports is only fair. As attracting star athletes becomes more competitive, colleges go so far as to cover extraneous costs of living on top of scholarships. Because of that, some schools will not only pay for full tuition, but for living costs and extra spending money as well. Many students under academic scholarships research for and work for their colleges, and student athletes help their schools similarly. In fact, playing in sports is a job – so why don’t college athletes deserve to get paid? Current rules allow small signing bonuses, but players deserve regular payments at regular intervals. Moreover, student athletes are the ones who bring fame to their school’s brand and thus deserve to paid a cut of the revenue they generate. A common case against paying college athletes is concern for the competitive balance of college sports. However, schools that pay more won’t necessarily get the better athletes. Schools that currently offer the best benefits aren’t the ones shooting up the rankings; instead, student athletes flock to schools with reputations. And when considering the priority of academics, the best schools would be the best at college sports if athletes chose schools with the best education in mind. Even with the NCAA’s constant focus on academics, college sports is not centered on education and is not a problem when athletes get paid. Giving schools the power to pay their athletes gives players, conferences, and colleges more autonomy, as they would no longer be confined to the NCAA’s exact rules. By doing so and giving students the power to negotiate their own salaries and playing conditions, schools can make it possible to funnel a part college sports’ high earnings into the pockets of the talent actually doing the core work, the athletes. ▪
photos by usatoday.com, espn.com
Friday, September 25, 2015
The Smoke Signal
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Photo 19
photos by opinion editor harshita gupta & graphics editors kevin chen & monica tang
20 Photo
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The Smoke Signal
Friday, September 25, 2015
photos by graphics editor kevin chen, courtesy hsi-sheng chen