Volume XLIX, No. 8

VOL. 49, NO. 8

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

April 17, 2014

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

B.A.Y. Debate hosts first elementary school invitational Page 1: • B.A.Y. Debate holds first Elementary School Invitational • German Exchange Students explore MSJ • Drought affects Alameda County water resources • Funding for schools changes Page 2: • Students discuss how to Replace the Race at irvington high school event • Students participate in the LA Hackathon • National poetry month challenge:visit our facebook page today to see who won our haiku contest • Teacher quirks quiz: check out our first interactive quiz to learn about teacher quirks at msj

staff writers anand balaji & abigail wong

The B.A.Y Debate Organization held an invitational debate tournament for elementary school students at Mission San Jose Elementary School on April 12.

By Abigail Wong Staff Writer

Drought spurs water conservation efforts in Alameda

By Tiffany Huang and Melissa Peng Staff Writers In light of California’s worst drought in recorded history, the Alameda County Water District (ACWD) has proposed new regulations that may restrict water usage for residents from the Tri-City area, including Fremont, Newark, and Union City on March 13th. The ACWD has recommended all Tri-City residents and businesses conserve water to ensure a reliable supply for the remainder of the year.

California Governor Jerry Brown announced the most severe drought emergency in decades on January 17. With rainfall levels at their lowest in California history at five inches of average precipitation in 2014 and only 25 percent of normal water content of Sierra snowpack, the ACWD has declared a water shortage emergency in the Tri-city area on March 13 and has implemented an ordinance that includes mandatory water-use restrictions.

The ACWD’s Water Shortage Emergency Ordinance includes mandatory restrictions on general water usage but focuses on landscaping and irrigation. The ordinance prohibits draining and refilling swimming pools, using non-recycling decorative fountains, hosing off sidewalks and driveways, and using hoses that do not have quick-acting shut-off nozzles. The restrictions also limit irrigation of landscaped areas to once per week for most of the year.

From June 1 to September 31, landscaping may be irrigated twice a week. Recreational areas and sports fields are allowed one extra day of irrigation per week for the entire year.

See WATER NEWS Page 2

On April 12th the Bay Area Youth (B.A.Y.) Debate Organization hosted its first invitational debate tournament for elementary school students at Mission San Jose Elementary School.

A total of sixteen teams of three students competed, each representing their own school.

Students from MSJE, Brier, Millard, and Mission Valley Elementary, the four schools that are currently employing B.A.Y. Debate’s services, partici-

pated in a total of four three on three style debate rounds. Student debates surrounded two different topics: United States military drone strikes in the Middle East and the federal government’s investment in space exploration.

The first and second place teams of the tournament were both from MSJE, while a team from Mission Valley Elementary came in third. MSJE student Anton Lin held an exceptional performance, finishing the tournament as the first place speaker of the event and as a member of the first place team.

German exchange students visit MSJ

The judge’s panel consisted of existing MSJ debate club competitors, and team standings were determined by the teams’ win to loss records. Although no team won all four rounds, seven teams of the sixteen won three rounds and lost one. The seven teams were then ranked based upon collective speaking points of each teams’ members.

Individual speaker points were earned based on how well each debater independently presented

See B.A.Y. NEWS Page 2

New funding plan set

By Kevin Chen, Katrina Cherk & Madeline Zheng Staff Writers

demographics and school culture, the Fulbright Commission partnered MSJ with Otto Hahn High School. In the summer of 2013, Krishna and Honors Precalculus Teacher Charlie Brucker accompanied 13 MSJ students on a trip to Germany in which they met German students and visited a number of landmarks.

Junior Sharan Singh, who stayed with German student Jule Meyer while in Germany last summer, said she first heard of the opportunity to host an exchange student from Krishna during her World History class last year. “It immediately sparked my interest,” said Singh. “I’m most excited about showing her [Meyer] a new culture and letting her see how different life is here such as at school and even just at home. I want to show her different foods and the malls and hope she really enjoys herself.”

“I’m really looking forward to seeing San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge,” said Meyer on her first day on campus. She ex-

Following FUSD Assistant Superintendent Raul A. Parungao’s meeting with MSJ faculty regarding CA’s recent changes to education funding on February 26, 2014, the Smoke Signal took a look into the details of these changes and the impact on MSJ. In this Investigative Report, journalists explain the funding modifications that began during the 2012-13 school year, such as the implementation of the new Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) for the current 201314 school year. In addition, projections for future changes scheduled to take full effect over the next eight years are included.

FUSD’s previous funding system active since the 2012-13 school year was a complicated network centered around unrestricted and restricted funds from Proposition 98, an amendment to the State Constitution enacted in 1988. Other sources of funding include Lottery funds produced from a percentage of all money spent by CA Lottery players, and Proposition 49, the After School Education and Safety Program which supports “the establishment of local after school education and enrichment programs” according to the CA government website.

See EXCHANGE NEWS Page 2

See FUNDING NEWS Page 3

German exhange students pose with their hosts and school administratoris at a luncheon on April 11.

By Andrea Tam Staff Writer This month, 13 students from Otto Hahn High School in Göttingen, Germany, accompanied by an English teacher and their school principal, came to MSJ as part of a reciprocity exchange program. They stayed with host students from MSJ and visited the school on April 7, 10, 11 and 17 to experience the culture and daily activities of MSJ students. Of their coming visit, Social Studies Department Co-Chair Risha Krishna said, “I hope this program will provide our young scholars with the opportunity to experience an American High School, get a glimpse into the Mission student lifestyle and indulge in the sights and foods of San Francisco.”

Krishna, who traveled to Germany in 2010 on a Fulbright-Hays scholarship to learn about the German educational system, subsequently founded a cultural exchange program at MSJ through which students have the opportunity to live with host families and attend school in Germany for a few weeks. Based on similar

staff writer andrea tam

2 News

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| Debate Students discuss educa- B.A.Y. continued from page 1 spoke. tion at “Replace the Race” andOverall, the tournament was regardBy Lillian Zhao Staff Writer

After school on Wednesday March 26, Irvington High School’s (IHS) Edjoycation Taskforce held an event in conjunction with Race to Nowhere in order to discuss educational culture.

The event was open to the community, not just IHS students, and approximately 50-70 students participated in the discussion and activities.

IHS Senior Thao Le, the ASB Edjoycation Task Commissioner, worked with IHS Assistant Principal Jay Jackson to set up this event. The Edjoycation Taskforce is a movement that aims to relieve student stress and fix education by combining the opinions and efforts of the student body, parents, and administrators.

Director of Race to Nowhere, Vicki Abeles, attended the event in support and made a presentation. Race to Nowhere is a 2009 documentary film containing stories of students pushed to the edge, teachers frustrated and worried about whether students are prepared, and parents trying to help as much as they can. Abeles originally received inspiration to make the documentary after her daughter was diagnosed with a stress-induced illness that needed to be addressed not only

by changes at home, but also changes to the educational environment.

During the event, students discussed how they think of success as well as what they define as success. Students, parents, and teachers discussed personal problems related to the stress culture. “I think that education puts quite a lot of stress on MSJ students due to the fact that the curriculum can be tough at times and there is almost always constant work,” said Freshman William Yeung. Meanwhile, Junior John Luu said “Moderation of stress in education is necessary; too much stress and you’ll be overwhelmed; too little stress and you’ll lose motivation to learn.”

“At the event, several IHS students opened up and admitted to engaging in therapy in order to cope with anxiety caused by stress. One parent shared that their family views success by how much time they have to do what they want to do.

The overall conclusion among attendees of the event was that there is no one stressor to blame for the pressure cooker culture, so the community has to come together and take action for institutional changes,” said Le.▪

ed as a success. Junior Anand Balaji, the founder and president of B.A.Y., said in retrospect, “It was wonderful to see all of the hard work our students and coaches put in over the school year come together for this exciting event.

This was the very first competitive experience for our students and they debated excellently and had a great time.”

B.A.Y. Debate is a non-profit organization run by a number of MSJ debate students. Founded in 2012 by Balaji, current MSJ debate president, the organization strives to teach elementary school students the art of debate through the development of research, reading, and writing skills.

During weekly, one hour classes, 5th and 6th graders are introduced to the middle school three on three debate tournament format and are encouraged to utilize these skills at B.A.Y. Debate

staff writer abigail wong

First and second place went to teams from MSJE, while third place went to a team from MVE.

Students compete at LA Hacks

By Jacinta Chang Staff Writer Students from MSJ joined over 1,500 students in a highly prestigious hackathon, LA Hacks. The hackathon took place at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion from April 11-13, and lasted for a duration of thirty-six hours. MSJ students joined participants from all over to code technological products in the time allotted to them.

Founded by UCLA student Hadar Dor, LA Hacks is a premiere West Coast hackathon at the undergraduate college level. Developers from colleges all over the nation attended, including Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and USC undergraduates. However, the hackathon accepted several high school students as well, including students from Bay Area high schools.

Many corporate sponsors helped to provide funding and support for the event. Sponsors like Cisco, Yelp, Whisper, Flipboard, Citrix, and Uber contributed greatly to LA Hacks. Funds provided by the companies went towards providing food for participants and free registration for all.

The hackathon consisted of many

teams competing to code or create a variety of different projects in the time span of thirty-six hours. Possible projects included, but were not limited to, apps, websites, and desktop or hardware projects. Final projects were then judged on creativity, usefulness, and overall impression. Technology industry professionals served as judges, including Chris De Wolfe, the founder of MySpace, Tomer Kagan, the founder and CEO of Quixey, and Jonathan Badeen, founder and CEO of Tinder.

The opening ceremony took place on the evening of Friday, April 11 in the pavilion. A “mystery keynote” was invited to speak at the ceremony, and the guest was none other than Evan Spiegel, co-founder and Chief Executive of Snapchat. Spiegel shared his experiences, tips, and insight, kicking off LA Hacks on a motivational note.

Hacking then began at eleven o’clock, and lasted for the thirty-six hours afterwards. Throughout the event participants took turns coding and sleeping, resting on floors, sleeping bags, and chairs. At the end of the coding period, coders submitted their final projects online, sharing them

through social media for public voting.

Judges then looked over the projects to decide on winners for a variety of prizes.

MSJ students Ishan Goyal and Keshav Rao worked to develop SpeedStudy, an application meant to improve the way students study and process information. The app allows a student to take a photo of a textbook page to be processed. Then, using the Spritz API (application programming interface), the app projects the information into individual words for students to absorb the information.

The closing ceremony for LA Hacks took place on the afternoon of Sunday, April 13. The grand prize was $5,000 offered by Tinder, and twenty to thirty other smaller prizes were handed out as well. The prizes totaled a worth of $35,300. Winners were announced on April 14 and are available online at lahacks.challengepost.com.

LA Hacks gave aspiring coders and students the chance to express their creativity and create a product in a coding environment. The hackathon was a huge success, attracting participants from all over the nation for an experience of a lifetime. ▪

The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

tournaments.

The B.A.Y. Debate organization has blossomed since its genesis in 2012.

Starting with MSJE, Balaji and other fellow MSJ debaters were able enroll 60 5th and 6th graders into their first debate program. Eventually, their organization expanded and they are now providing services to three additional local elementary schools: Brier Elementary, Millard Elementary, and Mission Valley Elementary. Since then B.A.Y. Debate has educated about two hundred elementary school students in a matter of two years.

MSJ student volunteers have played a pivotal role in the integration of B.A.Y. Debate in elementary schools so far. Each primary school has a MSJ student lead and three student volunteers to ensure that the weekly debate labs run smoothly. Juniors Clifford Lee, Anuj Desai, Dustin Tso, and Yash Bisen are the individual student leads for each of the four elementary schools while Balaji, as B.A.Y. Debate founder and president, oversees the entire organization’s functions and events.

B.A.Y. Debate has had a profound effect on not just on FUSD elementary school students, but MSJ’s student leaders as well. Lee, MSJE’sstudent lead, reflects on his experience in B.A.Y. Debate, stating, “I’ve gotten plenty of volunteer service experience, and I’ve also met a lot of great kids… I definitely feel like just being around these kids has taught me how to be a better role model or teacher.” ▪

WATER| Drought

EXCHANGE| Visit continued from page 1

plained that she decided to participate in the exchange program to experience new cultures. To begin with, she said, “Everything is bigger here [in California]— the houses, even the food!”

In addition to visiting various classes at MSJ, the exchange students watched a Warriors baseball game on April 6 and explored various historical and cultural sites in San Francisco. They also attended a luncheon organized by Mission Possible on April 11 in their honor. Host students and teachers, Mayor Bill Harrison, and various school administrators, including FUSD Superintendent James Morris, Board President Lara York, Vice President Desirie Campbell, Clerk Ann Crosbie, and Principal Zach Larsen, also attended the lunch.

Students interested in participating in the foreign exchange program should contact Krishna and provide the name of a teacher who can give them a recommendation. The program alternates every other year, so the next exchange trip will be made by students from MSJ, most likely in the summer of 2015. ▪

continued from page 1 As a result of these changes, the grass turf surrounding MSJ may appear more brown than usual this year. The roots will survive the new irrigation schedule and the turf will be green once more in the coming fall or winter. Landscaped areas, especially turf, will follow the same pattern throughout the Tri-City area.

All residents of ACWD were asked to voluntarily reduce water usage by 20 percent through water conservation techniques, such as replacing water-inefficient lawns with drought-tolerant plants and permeable landscape material, checking for leaky faucets and pipes, or installing water-efficient showerheads. ACWD offers a variety of water conservation programs for residential customers, including Water Saver Kits, High Water Use Notification, and California Youth Energy Services Partnership (CYES). More information may be found at acwd.org.

Students are encouraged to contribute to the water conservation efforts by taking shorter showers, turning off the tap when brushing or shaving, and turning off faucets completely. In addition, residents may also conserve water by choosing to not buy certain foods that require large amounts of water to grow such as almonds, walnuts, and grapes. Because of lack of rain, prices for foods such as walnuts, beef, and oranges may go up as a result of declining production.

According to ACWD Water Conservation Supervisor Stephanie Nevins, “If our customers follow our Ordinance and abide by our Water Use Restrictions we will achieve a 20 percent demand reduction, which is what we need to ensure our water supply is sufficient this year. Students can educate themselves about our water use restrictions, read our conservation tips, and learn about the conservation programs we offer (by going to our website) and then talk to their parents so that everyone understands what is necessary to ensure adequate supplies this year.” ▪

news editor kerrie wu

The grass turf is only one of the many aspects of the MSJ campus affected by the drought.

for the march 21, 2014 issue Feature page 5: Officer Pipp’s name was misspelled.

Special page 15: 71 percent of students who had admitted cheating in the past year did not regret it.

A&E page 17: Lea Michele’s tribute song was “If You Say So.” Actress Imogen Poots plays the role of Julia Madden.

cnn.com California Senator Leland Yee was officially indicted.

Compiled by Staff Writers Nithya Rajeev, Alice Cheng & Abby Wong

California Senator Leland Yee indicted California Senator Leland Yee, along with more than two dozen of his associates, were officially indicted by the court on April 4. This action follows Yee’s arrest on March 26. Yee was formally accused of conspiracy, fraud, and illegally importing firearms, an idea he publically opposed in many of his speeches. Should all charges go against him, Yee could face up to 125 years in federal prison, and face nearly $2 million in federal fines.

cnn.com The annual Deltopia celebration near Santa Barbara drew 15,000 people.

Riot breaks out near Santa Barbara On the streets of Isla Vista, California, 15,000 people gathered for the annual “Deltopia” celebration on April 5 when a riot soon broke out. The riot became so violent to the point where police officers had to deploy chemical agents and less lethal foam projectiles to disperse the crowd. Several police officers were injured by the rioters and small fires were ignited. Property was damaged and stop signs were torn down. A total of approximately 100 people were arrested.

bloomberg.com The trade agreement entails tariffs being lowered on items like beef, electronics, and cars.

Japan and Australia reach agreement Japan and Australia reached a vast trade agreement to lower taxes on April 7 after seven years of stressed trade relations. Lower tariffs on items such as beef, electronics, and cars have been agreed upon after Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe met in Tokyo to discuss trading relations. According to Bloomberg, Abbott said, “The relationship between Australia and Japan is about much more than economics and trade and growing wealthy together. It’s about respect, it’s about values.”

continued from page 1

re

set by Proposition 98 is still in effect for the 2013-14 school year and will continue to be active in the future.

(1) Increase in Funding The 2014-15 school year will experience a $6.3 billion increase from the 2013-14 budget in Proposition 98 funds, with $61.6 billion available for the upcoming school year. This follows the consistent pattern of increasing funding in relation to increasing economy and attendance under Proposition 98.

(2) Revenue Limit and Categorical Funds versus Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Enacted as part of the Budget Act for 2013-14 under Assembly Bill 97, the LCFF currently replaces the Revenue Limit and Categorical Funds. LCFF is scheduled to go into full effect over the next eight years, aiming to significantly simplify the provision of state funding to local education agencies

g

Sources*

www.thesmokesignal.org

$233.0 million total funds within FUSD Other funds: $9.2 million

Unrestricted beginning fund: $24.4 million Restricted beginning fund: $8.5 million Other local revenues: $5.6 million Parcel tax: $3.1 million

LCFF: $205.2 million

Special Education: $32.7 million Other state revenues: $14.8 million Federal revenues: $5.4 million *Data is from the 2013-14 school year.

Undesignated Reserve: $4.2 million Minimum Reserve: $11.2 million Designations: $4.5 million Other outgo: $6.1 million Plant Services $24.7 million General administration: $11.7 million Community/ancillary services: $1.3 million (not shown)

Pupil Services: $15.5 million Instruction-related services: $31.3 million

News 3

schools—one of 6 high schools—served by the Fremont Unified School District. With new LCFF funds incoming, the administrators at MSJ will need to determine how the money will be used. In order to achieve this, they intend to develop a schoolwide Local Control Adaptability Plan (LCAP).

“The plan must take into account who our most at-risk students are and ensure that the school has a plan that will directly benefit those learners. The goals selected must be measurable and must consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, i.e. teachers, parents, counselors, students, and administrators,” said Principal Zack Larsen. According to Larsen, the School Site Council will oversee the fund distribution and ensure that a suitable LCAP is written. ▪

(LEAs). Under this new funding system, revenue limits and most state categorical programs are eliminated. LCFF’s new funding formula provides the same base grant for all school districts, with supplemental funding based on fixed percentages of the base grant amounts per student.

Projections for the 2014-15 school year indicate that a total of $233 million in funds will be available within FUSD. In addition to the $1.2 million increase due to growth in enrollment, the LCFF will provide $17 million in new revenues, roughly translating to $521 per student. This can be compared to the $214.8 million available in the current 2013-14 school year, as well as the $204.6 million provided in the 2012-13 school year under the previous Revenue Limit system that was still in place.

The Board of Education has yet to determine how funds will be split among different school sites. MSJ is one of 42

F

e D Sp nding* US

According to the website of the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Proposition 98 sets a “minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges.” This guaranteed funding is produced from approximately 40 percent of the States’ General Fund budget as well as local property tax revenues. Each year, as the economy and attendance at schools grows, the money allotted by Proposition 98 has generally increased as well. According to numbers given in a presentation by Parungao, $47.2 billion was granted by Proposition 98 for the 201112 school year while $55.3 billion was granted for the 2013-14 school year.

Although a certain amount of funds are guaranteed by Proposition 98, this guaranteed allotment is divided into two categories: unrestricted funding and restricted funding. Unrestricted funds, also referred to as Revenue Limit funds, are given to school districts whereupon they are proportioned by the school district itself. Under the Revenue Limit system, each district has a base revenue limit, or a dollar amount per pupil.

Funds are calculated by multiplying the base revenue limit by the number of students, which is determined by the district’s average daily attendance.

Restricted funds, also referred to as categorical funds, are assigned to specific projects or areas, such as Special Education Funding or the Economical Impact Aid program, which provides supplemental funds for English learners and educationally disadvantaged students.

The Governor and legislature decide how to divide the funds that go into each of these categories. Though the school district may distribute Revenue Limit funds based on need, categorical funds are non-transferrable and can only be utilized for their designated purpose.

The main changes to the current system involve (1) an increase in funding and (2) the replacement of the Revenue Limit and categorical funds with the LCFF. It is important to note that the minimum funding level

Instruction: $189.1 million

2014-15 FUSD LCFF projection

FUNDING| LCFF

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D Fund S U F in

Thursday, April 17, 2014

LCFF: $223.8 million

MITlearning center

data source: fusd budget presentation, presented by fusd assistant superintendent raul a. parungao

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Opinion 5

Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 49, No. 8 | April 17, 2014 www.thesmokesignal.org

41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600 Editors-in-Chief Jin Peng, Grace Wu News Nina Krishnan, Kerrie Wu Opinion Sanjay Sreekumar, Catherine Wang

Feature Vivian Jair, Anjali Kanthilal Centerspread Tingting Bi, Lindy Zeng A&E Tammy Tseng, Peter Xu Sports Leah Feuerman, Ishan Goyal Graphics Shirby Wang, Anna Zeng Web Laura Chen, Supriya Yelimeli Tech Peter Chew, Peter Qiu Business Aamir Rasheed Circulation Abigail Wong Ads Genevieve Huang, Tiffany Huang Events Irisa Lee, Hairol Ma Writers & Photographers Anand Balaji, Jacinta Chang, Kevin Chen, Alice Cheng, Katrina Cherk, Grace Dong, Purvi Goel, Michael Hsiu, Vivian Liu, Arti Patankar, Melissa Peng, Iyesha Puri, Tanvi Raja, Apoorva Rajanala, Nithya Rajeev, Megan Ren, Hannah Shih, Katie Sun, Andrea Tam, Hanson Wang, Rebecca Wu, Lillian Zhao, Madeline Zheng

Advisor Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@the smokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

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

The Cat’s Meow

Sanjay Says

My One True Love

Call Me B****

By Catherine Wang Opinion Editor “boss∙y: (adj.) given to ordering people about; overly authoritative; domineering.”

This is the “other B-word”, labelled by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook (and author of the feminist self-help bestseller Lean In) and Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of Girl Scouts of USA. The Lean In organization and Girl Scouts, along with high-profile American women such as Beyonce and Michelle Obama, teamed up last month to launch the “Ban Bossy” campaign. The movement argues that the word “bossy” is ascribed to girls more often than boys, discouraging girls from pursuing leadership roles at a young age.

While I also dislike the word “bossy” – and the kid in kindergarten who called me so when I took over a game of duckduck-goose –the campaign itself misses the mark.

The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging it (#TBT to last month’s Editorial!). In this sense, Sandberg’s campaign succeeds by raising awareness about persisting gender gaps. However, the push to “ban bossy” is more of an avoidance tactic than a long-term solution. We can’t end girls’ fear of being called “bossy” by bossing around others to stop using the word. Girls who grow up shielded from the insult are in for a reality check when they leave nurturing environments to face not-sonice competition and criticism in the workplace.

At the same time, we probably shouldn’t condone bullying by dismissing stereotypes and ordering little girls to

“suck it up”. The Ban Bossy movement is comforting in its recognition that, yes, words can hurt. But young women aspiring to be leaders deserve more from adults and peers than attempts to muffle a single word. Though the campaign’s social media front aims to empower a wide audience, the catchy hashtag #banbossy can only trend for so long. Feminism should be deeper than that.

On International Women’s Day last month, Sandberg and Chavez concluded their piece in the Wall Street Journal with this advice: “So the next time you hear a girl called ‘bossy’, do what CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell advised: Smile, take a deep breath, and say, ‘That girl’s not bossy.

She has executive leadership skills.’”

Sandberg’s campaign treats bossiness and leadership prowess synonymously, with the only difference being that “bossy” assumedly sounds offensive.

This oversimplifies what it means to be a leader. Male or female, true leaders lead by example and listen to others, while bossy leaders are considered too authoritative.

Girls should be taught to lead, but they shouldn’t be taught that bossiness and leadership are the same.

At the end of the day, though teaching people to choose their words carefully is a worthwhile battle, it is only a limited contributor to female empowerment.

Stereotypes and labels will never be fully eradicated. Considering this inconvenient truth, feminism should not be driven by political correctness – rather, feminism is more about empowering women to deal with political incorrectness and confront, not avoid, the other B-word. ▪

By Sanjay Sreekumar Opinion Editor On March 20th 2014, the unthinkable happened. In a matter of minutes, my life and the life of a loved one changed forever. This tale is a cautionary one, a story that sprung from love and ended with tragedy.

We were holding hands and walking away from school. It was raining pretty hard that day and she sadly forgot to bring a jacket. Turning my head toward Palm Avenue, I suddenly heard a horrible crack behind me. Turning around, I saw her on the ground, barely breathing and in a crippled shape.

I tried CPR. One push, two push, three, none of it worked! Turning her over, I attempted to “swaddle” her, but she was as unresponsive as ever.

Health class couldn’t have prepared me for a situation as real as this, and as every second passed, my panic and paranoia just increased. With my own life flashing before my eyes, I started to fall down on one knee. With rain pouring down on me, all I could do was hold her mangled face and cry. The wait at the emergency room was probably the worst part of this entire ordeal.

Chances were ridiculously slim that we could get her back, but for some reason I thought it could be done. Cruel, cruel hope why did you tease me so?

There was supposedly a new type of surgery of the agrarian variety. By creating an operating table free of moisture, the doctors hoped to eradicate the remaining damage from her. Suffice it to say, the procedure failed and at

EDITORIAL: Not Apathetic About Voter Apathy The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board The right to vote has been a long disputed topic throughout the history of the United States and is something the founding fathers believed was essential to liberty and the common interest of the people. Despite having a means of gaining representation, people are becoming increasingly apathetic towards voting, forgetting that suffrage is the basis of our country’s democracy. A government census issued in 1998 showed that many citizens didn’t vote because they didn’t want to take the time off or didn’t think their vote would make an impactful difference. People fail to participate in national politics, which also decreases their influence at the local level.

Many students complain about the poor facilities on campus and the run-down atmosphere of the school district in general, but very few know that their parents can do something about it. Proposed in 2013, FUSD’s Long Range Facility Plan, or Ten Year Plan, is a $650 million project that will cost each family $59 per $100,000 of their assessed value. Projected to be completed by 2022, this plan strives to accommodate the increase in students on the FUSD campuses. Money will primarily go towards neglected facilities, technology infrastructure, and neighborhood classroom seats. This is the change that many students have dreamed of, but it can only become a reality if more parents register to vote. Currently, according to FUSD’s superintendent James Morris, there are around 65,000 parents in Fremont, out of which approximately 22,000 are officially registered to vote and 8,000 exercise their right regularly. With these voting rates, it is very likely that the plan won’t be passed later this summer and student hopes of an improved campus will be dashed.

Unfortunately, this issue is one that extends to every scale, including at our own school community. Having parents who don’t take the time to vote discourages students from realizing the value of voting. On campus, students are encouraged to get involved with school affairs by attending events like the weekly council meetings. These meetings not only give the students a chance to get events approved, but allow them to have a say in whether or not a club should be passed. Despite having this opportunity to actually influence the student body, club representatives often dread going to council and try to shirk their responsibilities. This lack of participation from students deteriorates the effectiveness of the process, perpetuating the apathetic mindset.

Many seniors who have recently turned 18 hesitate to take this opportunity to have their voice heard, thinking that the trouble of voting and jury duty outweighs the change they might be able to be a part of. Voter apathy, especially in youth, plays an integral part in fueling the vicious cycle where voters chose not to participate and are consequently not satisfied with the way things are run, causing a loss of faith in the government and decreasing voting. Until our generation breaks this cycle by standing together and voting for the change we want, those in power now will stay in power, keeping their hold by making all the decisions for us. As highschoolers, we are just a step away from entering the adult world, and facing the choice to be proactive members of society or apathetic and meaningless bystanders. ▪ Send letters to the editors to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

10:17 pm Pacific Standard Time, my one true love was pronounced dead.

It’s hard to explain my relationship with this girl. I mean we definitely weren’t dating, (never got that “vibe” from her), but it was everything except that. We spent every minute of the day together, calling, texting, “snapchatting”, you name it. I pretty much poured my life out to her.

She knew all about my victories, my struggles, and my dreams. She was there for all the highs and lows, for those 2 pm nights when I couldn’t sleep, and for those 7 am mornings when I had to get up. Maybe I should have asked her out, “close” the deal if you will, but sadly now it’s too late.

Death ironically tends to bring people closer together. After the funeral, I got to spend some more time with her sister. She was a beautiful creature, slimmer than my previous love and had a stunning white complexion. I feel guilty admitting this, but I started falling for this girl. Feeling as dirty as Gertrude in the Shakespeare play Hamlet, we got closer together. A romantic like me can’t control the musings of the heart, and maybe such things were just meant to be.

The great military general George S. Patton once said that “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.

Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” I’m grateful you were in my life, and hopefully I was as good to you as you were to me.

Rest in peace iPhone 4. You will never lose a place in my heart (maybe). ▪

Letters to the Editors:

Responses to 3/21/14 Cheating Special Coverage Dear Editor, I think I may have an antidote to the cheating disorder that afflicts MSJH (and I am sure many other schools). It is a system designed by the English and implemented in their colonies in the 50’s and 60’s. I was educated in such a system.

Here is how it worked. There was no credit for homework. There were no quizzes.

There were no unit tests. The progression to the next level of classes was based on a single, cumulative free response exam per subject at the end of every year.

These exams were designed by teachers at the school and graded by the teachers at the school. They were administered by individual schools and all students took the same exam at the same time in a large auditorium. At the end of four years, there was a comprehensive, seminal final exam of seven or eight subjects that high school students took over their career. This exam was designed by Cambridge University. It was administered throughout the country (Kenya in my case) on the same day at the same time again in an auditorium. The exam papers were then sent back to Cambridge for grading. There were no grading curves. Did I mention that these exams were free response? Nary a multiple choice exam (something that I believe Common Core is trying to implement). But I am dreaming that such a national or state level endeavor will be taken in my lifetime. But in Martin Luther King’s words: “I had a dream”.

Mehebub Karmali Math Teacher Dear Editor, The Smoke Signal edition covering all aspects of ‘cheating’ was a thought provoking article with solid data to express the opinions. I want to share my opinion too on the other side of cheatingStudents are not taught to cheat- they imbibe from us adults and the society. They are smart enough to understand that when we need to get hold of something and lack resources, then use your innovativeness and means to get it- it is evident in job/employment scenarios (hyped up resume), politics, relationships and many more. It is not uncommon that at times for adults to give incorrect home address in order to get their child enrolled in prestigious schools. Our society has set an example that it is okay to cheat so long as you are not caught. Educators and parents should instill a sense of ethics and a certain level of moral code among students.

Sujata Singh Special Education Instructor

6 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Most of us have a Facebook, Snapchat, Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, or even a Myspace. The list goes on and on, and there’s no denying that an explosion of social media has made keeping in touch unbelievably easy. Every victory, every failure, and every little bit of news can be quickly relayed to friends and followers. At the same time, we may be subconsciously comparing ourselves to others while creating a whole new persona just to keep our internet identities shining, spotless, and successful. Underneath it all may lie insecurity, anxiety, or a general feeling of depression, as the humble braggers and abrasive show-and-tellers chip away at our self-esteem.

Surely you can’t get depressed from social media. It was never meant to replace real life interaction, so how could it have a lasting negative impact? First and foremost, evidence in clinical reports published by the American Academy of Pediatrics confirms the existence of social media depression. Specifically, the report mentions Facebook as a site where teenagers seek acceptance, and given the importance of acceptance in adolescent life, the site may serve as a trigger to depression if personal expectations are not met.

Beyond the clinical evidence, a key part of the reason lies in the success of social media and its resultant ubiquity. It’s hard to escape social media. Especially for sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, there’s rarely a better way to network, and as a result we find ourselves constantly being exposed to others without ever meaning to. The benefits of social media can’t be denied, and they’re what draw us back time and time again. We’ve all used social media to keep up with family members, find peers with similar interests, or schedule events, but in the process of updating our lives, we can’t help but notice everyone else’s.

Social media overload can easily lead to addiction and depression. When we waste time waiting for notifications or procrastinate by furiously refreshing Tumblr, that’s an addiction if there ever was one. Then, the road from addiction to depression is almost effortless; it could be as simple as comparing the number of happy birthday posts and friends on a friend list or be a progression through the various accolades of our peers.

Maybe you’ve sent a friend request and haven’t heard back, or followed a blog without gaining a follower yourself. And the humble braggers among us, who do an obviously poor job of playing down their achievements, continually treat their accomplishments as no big deal, making the rest of us feel small and inadequate.We’ve all seen people disappointed with a 98 percent or only being able to take five weighted classes. The reasons range far and wide, but the result is the same.

All the small things add up to create a feeling of emotional isolation, and a tendency to bulk up your own online persona follows. What happens is a constant game of sprezzatura, a carefully crafted carelessness that every teenager strives towards. We want to be cool, unique, and confident, but we don’t want to illicit screams of “tryhard.” We want to share our successes, but we hate to admit our failures. More than anything, we want to feel satisfied with our lives, and behind that desire is an inherent need to feel comfortable with our decisions and be emotionally secure.

Effects of social media depression can be much more prevalent here at MSJ, where we live in the stereotypical “Mission bubble”. The drive to succeed is magnified by peer competition, and every day can be a burden under the pressure we place on ourselves. I’ve painted a pretty bleak picture, and it begs the question of how we could avoid a seemingly inevitable depression.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

It starts with moderation. Don’t check social media sites unless it’s absolutely necessary. If you just can’t find the self-control to do so, pick up a hobby or use an app like Cold Turkey to completely shut off those distractions. Make an effort to meet new people and interact face-to-face instead of behind a screen, as there’s no substitute for connections built through real life interaction. Most of all, realize that pining away over others is doing you a disservice.

Social media represents a narrow definition of success and cannot be used as the sole factor to judge personal achievement.

It shows only what we want to show, but it’s what we do when no one’s watching that counts. Success is a far reaching word and unique for each individual, so one individual’s interpretation should not be forced onto another’s. Life holds more than notes, likes, or retweets. Take a look at a bucket list instead of a friends list.

It’s also important to recognize that the key to success lies in perseverance and dedication, not innate talent. Our peers are wonderfully intelligent and creative, but this shouldn’t be intimidating; if anything, it’s encouragement for each of us to try our hardest and keep at it, no matter the odds. As Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Almost all teenagers today are connected via social media, and the urge to compare grades, social lives, and accomplishments lingers under our every action. It’s a very real problem, but fortunately, the negativity surrounding social media all depends on how much we focus on it, and it’s important to remember that moderation is key. Social media depression may lack medical legitimacy compared to other conditions, but what it lacks in magnitude it makes up for in scope and should be treated accordingly. ▪

Social Media Depression

By Peter Qiu Staff Writer

digitaltrends.com, layout by opinion editor catherine wang

Student Rights on Campus

Many students assume that if an administrator were to search their belongings, it would be considered an invasion of privacy. However, according to the California Education Code, if any administration or staff member has reasonable suspicion or evidence against a student, they do have the right and obligation to search his or her phone, laptop, backpack, locker, and other belongings. What students bring on the campus of a public school is of the administration’s concern and they must ensure the safety of everyone on campus.

As our honorary “parents” while we are on campus, the school staff take it as their responsibility to make sure that we are protected and are kept in a safe and honest environment. If they were not given the right to search a student’s belonging, they would not be able to ensure this and do their job well. Furthermore, in order to keep the student’s and the school’s integrity high, it is necessary for authorized individuals to enforce the rules behind academic dishonesty as well. This can be done by searching through a student’s messages or looking through a laptop, if they have reasonable suspicion or possible evidence backing their actions. The administrator must believe that a violation of the law occurred in order for there to be reasonable suspicion. Although most searches are protected under the Fourth Amendment, these rules are not applicable in an educational institute. In order to protect the safety of the learning environment, with reasonable suspicion, MSJ’s staff and administration are given the right to search a student and their belongings without a search warrant.

Most teachers tend to bring any suspicions to the administration where it can be dealt with carefully and professionally. If the student is a minor, law requires that their parents or guardians are notified. The student is then disciplined accordingly. The administration and law requires that a minor’s guardians are notified, especially when illegal activity is involved. These would include getting to and leaving school, or in cases where

By Apoorva Rajanala Staff Writer

certain students are prevented from enjoying a peaceful learning environment. Some of these situations are in gray areas and some people believe that it isn’t quite fair to punish students for something that was done off campus. However, every student has the right to learn, and no one has the right to take that away.

In Orem Junior High School in Utah, the school’s administration was able to prevent an attempted murder because a student’s locker and clothing were searched. After several teachers heard news that a student was carrying a pocketknife and was planning to use it on another student, the student in question was called in to be checked. Because the administration had several accounts of sighting the knife, the administrators had reasonable suspicion and evidence to search the student. They found a pocketknife hidden in the student’s pants after a thorough searching of his locker, backpack, and clothing. After the incident, there were many complaints because the child’s parents had not been notified before the search. In order to protect the people on campus, the administrators in charge made an executive decision to continue through with the searching as a preventative measure. Orem’s students, families, and staff went through great mindset changes, realizing how important it was to remain cooperative while their administration deals with campus safety.

At MSJ, if a student felt that they were searched wrongfully, they have every right to complain and take action; however, it is important to understand that school staff are chosen and hired only if they have the ability to make unbiased decisions and have students’ best intentions at heart. Regardless of the situation, the reason that school staff are given the right to search a student lies behind the fact that they are here for the students’ and campus protection. MSJ’s staff and administration are trusted adults who only want the best for their students and promise to do as much as possible for their well-being. ▪

Thursday, April 17, 2014

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The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 7

Putting Common Core to the Test

EL A Common Core’s ELA goals have been separated into five categories: reading, writing, speaking and listening, media and technology, and language. The incorporation of Common Core into the state standards encourages students to do more research-aligned work, think more critically, and study a more rigorous syllabus for each class.

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Mathematics has also experienced great change under Common Core, with a greater focus now placed on learning the basics of major topics, which are broadly assigned to each grade, in much more detail than before. This approach works on the basis that each new year of mathematical learning is not a separate segment of curriculum, but simply an extension onto what was learned the previous year.

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The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) make up an education initiative that sets strict standards for what K-12 students should learn in the fields of English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics during each school year. Formation of the standards required The US education system has always been a crucial comcooperation among the National Governors Association (NGA) ponent of allowing students to achieve success. However, Center for Best Practices, the Council of Chief State School Officers given the ever-increasing difficulty that students face of (CCSSO), the College Board, the Achieve Organization, and the ACT, Inc. competing with other students worldwide with similar to create a national curriculum that could represent the academic abilities or better education, many educators, students, and of every state. To promote the program, the US Department of Education parents have decided that even this system requires (DOE) implemented the Race to the Top initiative, which gave a limited numreform. In an effort to bring about the change needber of financial grants to states that adopted the new CCSS early. Delaware ed to keep the nation’s students proficient in their and New York obtained grants of $700 million, but CA was not able to By Michael Hsiu, Nithya Rajeev, & learning, state education standards have been readily implement the new curriculum and was unable to receive any grants.

Aamir Rasheed reformatted and rewritten, aiming to better Despite this, Common Core is making its arrival to schools in CA this Staff Writeres reflect the knowledge that students need 2014-15 school year and is already in place in many schools at this to survive and thrive in the modern-day time. Currently implemented in a total of 44 states throughout global marketplace. The product of the US since its release in mid-2010, Common Core has these changes is the Common introduced many specific changes to the existing Core State Standards (CCSS) educational curriculum: Initiative.

1. The US needs Common Core to catch up with the rest of the world.

For as long as most people can remember, the US has had an unstandardized education system, with state governments and local school districts making the decisions about what students learn and who teaches it to them. However, this lack of a true educational standard for the nation has been what appears to be a backward concept and has contributed to the US’s fall in global education rankings. In 2006, the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) administered a standardized test to 15-year-olds worldwide; US students ended up ranking 21st in science and 25th in math out of a total of 30 countries. Clearly, a new education system is needed to keep up with other countries, and it is Common Core that is needed to fill this role.

2. Common Core has the support needed to succeed.

Any new education system requires not only funding, but also the support to make sure that it succeeds. Common Core has garnered massive support among educators: according to a 2013 poll by the American Federation of Teachers, 75 percent of 800 teachers surveyed supported Common Core. In addition, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation conducted a study in the same year, finding that of 20,000 teachers surveyed nationwide, 57 percent of teachers in Common Core states said that the standards would have an overall positive effect for students; 73 percent of teachers who teach ELA, math, science, and/or social studies were found to be enthusiastic about the implementation of the standards into their classrooms.

There is a great deal of interest in Common Core from the educators, and it is this support that will allow for the continued development of US education.

3. Common Core teaches students how to critically think and apply learned curriculum to real-life situations.

Pro

Common Core pushes students to go above and beyond when thinking, planning, and applying. Students are encouraged to not only know content, but also to be able to use this content in developing skills and applications to real-life situations. For example, Common Core teaches students how to not only calculate probability, but how to apply it in careers such as event planners and engineers. All jobs require people to learn the concepts, understand the material, and be able to apply those concepts in order to effectively finish the work.

A sample Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium math problem is shown below:

Unlike existing problems, this question requires students to not only think about which equation matches the graph, but also which two additional points they would plot for the initial and maximum heights. A major difference between existing tests and Common Core tests, however, is the level of technology dependency. Common Core tests are largely computer-based, a change which moves to eliminate technology illiteracy in all high school students. According to Jack Smith, the Chief Academic Officer of the Maryland DOE, “Mechanization requires you to think differently than you did 20 years ago. We need to teach kids that it’s not an either/or world, it’s a both world. Kids need to be taught things that apply in the world today, not in our grandparents’ world.” This emphasizes the need to incorporate modern-day items, such as increased technology, into the school’s curriculum

and testing processes.

SAT

In an attempt to encompass more testing and keep the CCSS enforced in all parts of education, the College Board has also agreed to incorporate the standards into the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) beginning in spring 2016. The test will return to its original 1600-point format and will require students to think more critically and apply the knowledge they gained from their regular school curriculum into their responses; the writing section that was characteristic of the old SAT has also been removed. Though still offered, it no longer factors into the score of the new SAT and is instead listed under a separate score. The new SAT will also eliminate the penalty given for wrong answers, narrow down the math focus to three areas, relate vocabulary to the critical reading sections, and require the test-taker to analyze problems placed in a more relatable real-world context.

1. Common Core implementation has affected its desired effect.

While the intent of the Common Core program is noble and necessary, the implementation has been inconsistent and in a way that makes it a standard that some states are not willing to adopt. Federal law explicitly states that the US DOE shall not: “…exercis[e] any direction, supervision, or control over the curriculum, program of instruction” or hold control over selection of “instruction[al] materials.” This stems from one of the implied meanings of the 9th Amendment to the US Constitution, which preserves rights “retained by the people”: states are allowed to choose how to implement education within themselves, which often depends on socioeconomic and political factors. To meet their individual needs, each state, each school district, and even each school, should enforce standards that are best suited for each level of jurisdiction.

Con

2. Common Core comes with a hefty price tag.

The Californian government has estimated that implementation of the Common Core will take $759 million. Because California did not win any of the Race to the Top Initiative money, the cost will likely cause cuts in other programs, with any additional funds coming out of the taxpayers’ pockets. This is detrimental at a time where people are strapped for cash, class sizes are increasing, and students lack textbooks in classrooms.

3. Common Core has a “one size fits all” policy.

In addition, Common Core’s “one size fits all” policy contradicts the nature of educational planning in recent US history. Take the example of Massachusetts, with an ACT score average of 24.1, and North Carolina, with an average of 18.7. Each state will have its own set of problems that causes its lower test score, whether those factors be academic rigor, socioeconomic status, poverty, natural disasters, or whatever else. Many teachers and students at MSJ cite the forced Common Core curriculum as too easy. A high school with an API score of 952 would be forced to follow the same curriculum as a high school with an API score of, for example, 650.

The new president of College Board, Dave Coleman, is one of the main writers of the Common Core curriculum and the new SAT changes which supposedly mirror Common Core concepts. However, with the writing section separated, the 1600-point test will now be measuring critical thinking and intelligence using multiple choice, a form of testing that Common Core is trying to prevent by implementing written explanations of answers in the math section.

From the curriculum to the SAT changes, Common Core is an untried, very involved program. While its intentions are good at heart, the way it has been implemented in schools has the potential to offset the benefit.

4. Common Core’s Reliance on Technology The new ELA requirements include “media and technology.” Many teenagers are already computer literate at or beyond the level the Common Core requires. Adding a technology requirement unnecessarily wastes money and time. Additionally, purchasing laptops to run Common Core testing programs is extremely expensive, especially for states that did not win any of the money offered by the Race To The Top Initiative; it is even more difficult now, at a time when education budgets are already strapped for money. explorelearning.com, fiddleheadfocus.com, foothilldragonpress.org, prezi.com, layout by opinion editors sanjay sreekumar & catherine wang

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thursday, April 17, 2014

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Feature 9

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... a school resource officer

In this issue of “A Day in the Life”, the Smoke Signal went behind the scenes to find out what School Resource Officer Gregory Pipp does on a typical day.

School Resource Officer Pipp works at his office.

6:00am Before coming to school, I first stop at the Police Department and change into my uniform. I inspect my police vehicle and other associated equipment, making sure that everything’s ready. We actually have a School Resource Office (SRO) at the Police Department as well, so I’ll check my mailbox and any phone messages. Often I’ll also be required to do some tasks such as paperwork before I actually leave the Police Department.

6:30am I typically get to MSJ between now and 7:00am. I usually save my half-hour break before the start of school to meet with students.

Just recently, I had a meeting with a student looking to interview me about police work for a project. I’ll usually continue meeting with students until right before the first bell rings in the morning. I also try to go out and supervise, especially due to the traffic problem we have.

go through e-mail and any phone messages from MSJ, and then start responding back, making sure that I give a timely response to people. This way, I set up appointments for the day.

9:53am I usually try to get out of my office and supervise during Read period. I’ll walk around the campus and make sure that everything’s well and safe, and that people are following the rules. On one particular day in question, I accompanied Mr. Evans on a home visit for a student who was not coming to school. He was having a problem with tardies, so we went to meet with both the student and his family.

When we arrived, the student was actually still in bed. We got him up and explained not only the laws regarding attendance, but also how his behavior isn’t helping him be successful here on campus or in the future. After home visits like this, we’ll typically bring the student back to school and get them started on their day.

12:22pm Right before lunch, I sit down and write any reports and paperwork that I have to do. I then get out for lunch supervision as soon as the bell rings. I’ll either walk around campus or actually drive around the school’s surrounding area, but most of the time I walk and talk to the students and make sure that everything’s going smoothly.

8:15am Occasionally I head over to Chadbourne Elementary School around this time and help with their traffic as well, since they start a bit later than us.

9:00am I usually get back to my office at school and start doing work here around this time. I’ll

Pipp walks around to ensure campus safety.

12:58pm I like to take the time right after lunch

By Kevin Chen Staff Writer

when everyone’s already gotten back to campus to check the area. We occasionally get complaints from the neighborhood about students being parked in areas where there isn’t supposed to be parking. I’ll go up to either the homes off of Palm Avenue or Mission Boulevard, or sometimes even down to the parking lot by the playground on the other side of the field and hand out citations for violations.

I also try to give warnings to students as they’re parking and tell them they have to park in the school’s parking lot.

we have several students here at MSJ that put in applications. We also have other students that are currently Explorers looking at leaving their post, and we’ve been really trying to fill those posts to get as many students as possible involved. That will usually take me to the end of the day.

Pipp and Campus Supervisor Jan Wren stand by Palm Avenue.

Pipp speaks to Counselor Joanna Jensen.

1:00pm-2:58pm A big portion of my day is also dealing with students’ personal issues. I often have meetings with a counselor and student, talking about some of the difficulties that they might be having here at MSJ. We have 2,200 students at this school. If you think about it, that’s 2,200 individuals that have their own personal lives and have their own struggles. I know that students walk around like everything’s fine, but this isn’t an easy time, and a lot of the time people do have problems. Therefore, every so often I’ll meet with any one of the counselors and a student and not only discuss issues in their personal lives, but also offer any advice that I hope can help them out as well.

I recently also met with a couple of students in regards to our Fremont Police Youth Explorer program. We went through a big recruitment process, and I know that

3:30pm I leave campus around this time and get back to the Police Department, where I return my car and check out for the day before heading home. Occasionally, I have to be present at school events such as home basketball games, home football games, all four dances, and of course graduation, but typically I’m off and heading home at this time. ▪

Pipp works beside his patrol car.

photos by staff writer kevin chen

10 Feature

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The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 17, 2014 often wanders in the clouds. Most people find you rather creative and spunky.

Whether you’re out of TV shows to marathon, or have watched your favorite animes to the point of memorization, have no fear! In spirit of Multicultural Week, the Smoke Signal is here Fullmetal Alchemist: Alchemist Edward Elric’s missing his original arm and leg, and his to guide you to the best Japanese animes for your personality. brother’s literally a soul trapped in a hollow suit of armor. To regain their original bodies, these brothers will do anything.

1. Do you want to watch anime?

Yes, anime is my passion.

Sword Art Online: In this virtual reality video game, to die in-game is to die in reality. With Perhaps, sounds interesting!

10,000 players trapped inside until all 100 floors are completed, it has become anything but No, it’s lame. a game. → All 3 lead to #2 END G: Things Were Almost Normal-Urban Supernatural 2. Fortunately for you, this flowchart is here to guide your anime experience—whether you You don’t like kicking it in the white-fence, green-grass suburbs. You’re practically one with want it to or not! Now, first question: are you usually stuck in the past or looking forward to the city life, and you enjoy the extra hint of drama and mystery it offers. the future?

I miss my childhood… → End A Durarara!!: The city of Ikebukuro is a dangerous place—home to a headless motorcyclist, a The future looks pretty bright to me. → End B violently angry bartender, and an internet gang known as the Dollars.

I live more in the present, actually. → #3 Guilty Crown: When he saves an injured popular singer, high school student Shu accidenEND A: Blast from the Past-Childhood Favorites tally stumbles across a world of virus-granted powers and government rebellion.

Despite your physical age, you are still in the mental bliss of childhood. Some may call you immature or naive but who cares, right?

Katekyo Hitman Reborn!: An infant hitman trains the pitifully incompetent Tsuna to lead the world’s most powerful mafia family.

Pokemon Adventures: You’ve seen them on your GameBoy, you’ve seen them on Twitch, but you’ve gotta watch’em all! You know it’s your destiny to see Ash battle his way to the Elite END H: Strange gets Stranger - Sci-Fi Four with his team of Pocket Monsters.

You are more of an intellectual, often able to make sense of what others can only goggle at. It isn’t difficult for you to become immersed in complex storylines and psychological Yu-Gi-Oh!: D-d-d-d-duel! Relive all the monster, trap, and spell cards of your childhood with dilemmas.

Yugi, his fantastic hair, and Kuriboh.

Steins;Gate: A “mad scientist” delves into a dangerous world of alternate timelines when he END B: Rising Stars- Best of 2013-2014 creates a microwave that sends texts into the past.

You are a farsighted person, who’s always interested in the newest happenings. Whenever there’s big news or trendy fads, you’re amongst the first to know.

Psycho-Pass: In a dystopia where people’s criminal probabilities are constantly assessed, a team of police inspectors are forced to grapple with not only criminals, but their own Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin): Monstrous Titans have destroyed all but one final morality. stronghold. Discovering that he can turn into a Titan at will, Eren Jaeger fights for the survival of humanity with his new found power.

7. Okay, so you prefer watching shows that may pertain to your daily life. What’s more important to you, though, your love life or your sports achievements?

Noragami: An ordinary schoolgirl becomes drawn into the affairs of the gods when she tries I’m no couch potato; if I weren’t watching anime I’d totally be exercising like Usain Bolt! to save the destitute minor god Yato from being hit by a bus. → End I Call me Romeo. (Or Juliet.) → End J 3. You seem to enjoy the present. How much do you care for popularity and hype?

I can’t say I care for either. → Looks like neither your agility nor your love life is in peak Very, things are popular for a reason. → End C condition… Head off to Fantasy Land to distract yourself!→ Return to #6 I’m not about that mainstream life. I disobey the masses! → #4 END I: Watching Can Be Your Daily Exercise -Sports END C: We Know You’ve Heard of These - Mainstream You are often bubbling over with energy. You can burn calories just thinking about exercise.

You like sticking with the masses, and many of us can sympathize with that. Sometimes you No, it isn’t ironic that you’ll be glued to the couch watching others work out. consider yourself a bit too ordinary, but hey, majority rules!

Free!: Four childhood friends, all swimming extraordinaires, reunite and compete to find One Piece: Rookie pirate Monkey D. Luffy sets out to earn the title of the Pirate King by find- their passion for swimming once more in high school relays. ing the fabled treasure, One Piece.

Kuroko’s Basketball (Kuroko no Basuke): Kuroko Tetsuya takes on five of his legendary Bleach: With a head full of orange hair, Ichigo battles evil spirits with the supernatural powers middle-school team members and their current high school basketball programs in his own he borrows from Soul Reaper Rukia. team’s bid for the national title.

Naruto: One of the best-selling manga series of all time centers around not-yet-ninja Naruto END J: Kiss, Kiss, Fall in Love- Romance and his dream to be the next Hokage, the alpha male ninja who leads the village.

You’re a dreamer, always longing for (or lucky to have) the perfect match. That, or, you simply enjoy the drama of romance. Regardless, ooh-la-la love plays a major role in your life.

4. Let’s focus just on you then. How are you feeling today?

Can I just watch the world burn? → End D Ouran High School Host Club: Apparently, it can take a vase worth thousands of dollars to I’m in it for the giggles. → End E break for love to bloom, as Haruhi Fujioka realizes when she accidentally joins her school’s I’m alright, but I could use some more suggestions. → #5 exclusive host club.

END D: Victory is Sweeter in a World Gone Wrong - Dark Fantasy Vampire Knight: The two-male-monsters-and-a-girl trope may bring Twilight to mind, but You tend to prefer solitude and quiet, and you may view the world through a pair of shaded turbulent desires and violent political schemes color this tale at Cross Academy. glasses. At times, you may be so mysterious that others accidentally assume that you are brooding over dark secrets or plotting sweet revenge.

Fate/Zero: Seven magicians, each seeking the miraculous Holy Grail, summon legendary heroes to fight in an all-out battle royale.

Future Diary (Mirai Nikki): A lonely middle-schooler is given a diary that predicts the future and is forced into a game against twelve others, in which the sole survivor is to become the next God. END E: Just for the LOLs -Comedy You like the knee-slapping, cheek-hurting laughs. There’s 24 hours in a day, so why waste them on dramatic or dark shows when you could be laughing it up every five seconds?

Gintama: Two humans and an alien work as freelancers, but that’s not important. With episode titles like “Cleaning The Toilet Cleanses The Soul” and “Watch out for Conveyor Belts!”, what’s not to like?

Hetalia: Axis Powers: Imagine every country as a literal, attractive person. This just might ruin history for you or make it your favorite subject.

5. Is this the real life, or is this just fantasy?

There are much, much bigger things out there. Like dragons, demons, alchemy… → #6 I prefer my life literally down to Earth. → #7 6. Which escape from real life do you prefer?

A whole new world, a new fantastic point of view! → End F Just something a little out of the ordinary to spice things up a bit! → End G Robots, time travel, the apocalypse? I’m so there. → End H END F: Out of this World- Fantasy You find Earth a little bland, because you’re really a bit more four-dimensional. Your head animewaffles.tv, blogspot.com, crunchyroll.com, wordpress.com, myanimelist.net, layout by feature editor vivian jair

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Centerspread 11

By Anand Balaji Staff Writer

Day 1: Asia Day The first day of Multicultural Week was Asia Day where students wore vibrant clothes. Several students wore traditional Indian clothes like salwars and kurtas while others opted for Chinese and Japanese attire. Performers also played Taiko drums in the gym.

Day 2: Africa Day

“I wore a traditional red kurta because I like to show how proud I am of my Indian heritage.”

-Kasi Manikumar, 12

On African Day, MSJ students embraced African culture by dressing in traditional clothing from the continent.

During the lunchtime performance, three performers entertained students with their festive drum routine and brought several students onto the gym floor to dance.

“I wore an Ethiopian style shirt, and an Amharic Orthodox cross and I just happened to have it in my room.”

-Ian Park, 11

“I wore an Anarkali Salwar which is a very long kurta with net-like sleeves and a pant and I wore it because it was Asia Day and I wanted to represent my culture.”

Day 3: Americas Day

On Americas Day, students showed off the best of both North and South American outfits. Some embraced their Latin American culture and enjoyed the lunchtime mariachi band while other chose some traditional American attire.

-Aashka Pandya, 11

Day 4: Europe Day

On the last continent-themed day, MSJ students wore their best outfits from the continent of Europe. Students found very innovative ways to represent different parts of Europe and enjoyed the three circus performers who roamed around the horseshoe during lunchtime.

“For the day representing the Americas, I chose to wear the standard outfit of working class Americans and of the traditional bluegrass musician. More importantly, it gave me an excuse to bring a banjo to school.”

-Alex Hancock, 12

“The sweater is wool and from England.

It’s grey and I wore it because it reminds me of English weather. The skirt is from Scotland - and plaid is of course Scotland’s signature. The green socks are also from England and I wore them because they complimented the plaid and the sweater well.”

-Neha Shah, 10 photos by centerspread editor tingting bi & staff writer anand balaji, layout by centerspread editor lindy zeng

12 Centerspread

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Raas Garba Choreographed by Seniors Shivani Patel and Yoshita Suthar and Junior Mansi Chopra, Raas Garba, a combination of two types of traditional Indian folk dances, was performed by 19 students. Full of vibrant and colorful attire, these dances are characterized to be very upbeat and lively.

Performers

Rashi Ambashta (10), Sonam Bhuptani (10), Stephanie Chin (12), Mansi Chopra (11), Asmita Gaggar (11), Vedika Iyer (10), Pratibha Jagannatha (11), Shubha Jagannatha (9), Tulika Mohanti (9), Shivani Patel (12), Anvitha Pillati (12), Kajal Raju (10), Divyar Ramachandran (10), Zeel Shah (12), Shivani Subramaniam (10), Yoshita Suthar (12), Ria Tomar (9), Nitya Vakil (9), Miyako Vasquez (12)

The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

To assess MSJ’s opinion on cheating, The Smoke Signal conducted several anonymous surveys. From March 3 to March 7, the online student and teacher surveys were open for polling.

The student and teacher surveys recieved 358 and 41 voluntary responses, respectively. On March 6, writers visited 16 social studies classBy Melissa Peng & Rebecca Wu a different student paper survey. A rooms with Staff Writers total of 439 responses were recorded on paper.

Those surveyed could not see other responses.

Cellos

Bhangra

Tinikling

Performers

Performers

Satwik Bebortha (12), Aditi Cherian (12), Nimay Desai (12), Arnav Gautam (12), Ishan Goyal (12), Simran Gulati (12), Andy Lai (12), Kelsey Lam (12), Karishma Laungani (12), Hannah Lee (12), Kevin Li (12), Alton Lin (12), Charlie Lin (12), Angel Lu (12), Shirin Purkayastha (12), Mason Qian (12), Andrisa Randall (12), Abhinav Shah (12), Hannah Shih (12), Tammy Tseng (12), Zaw Win (12), Joanna Wu (12), Supriya Yelimeli (12)

Denise Chan (11), Alex Chen (12), Amber Chen (11), Stephanie Chin (12),Austin Fujikawa (12), Dana Gurion (12), Esan Hassanzadeh (12), China Lau (12), Jimmy Lau (12), Annie Lee (11), Stephanie Lee (11), Edward Li (12), Kevin Li (12), Alton Lin (12), Samantha Lin (11), Janay Nguyen (12), Kush Patel (11), Jacob Pingue (12), Kayla Santo (12), Lindsay Taylor (12), Ben Torrez (12), Destin Trang (12), Heather Wang (10), Andrew Xu (11)

MSJ’s Das Cello, a student rock-cello quartet, represented Spanish culture as well as merged the meticulous technique of classical cello with the hardcore passion of rock and metal music by performing a combination of themes from George Bizet’s “Habanera” from Carmen with parts of Apocalyptica’s “Path.”

Seniors Aditi Cherian, Simran Gulati, Karishma Laungani Shirin Purkayastha, and Supriya Yelimeli choreographed the finale to this year’s Multicultural Assembly. As per tradition, a heartwarming sea of seniors filled the gym floor after a colorful, energetic dance by the leaders of the performance.

Tinikling was, as usual, a fast-paced and engaging pleasure to watch. The dance hails from the Philippines, where it was originally intended to mimic the tikling bird’s movement. Senior Kristina Wong choreographed this year’s whirlwind of beating bamboo pipes and light-footed dancers.

Performers

Sarah Chong (9), Richard Liang (12), Mackenzie Lim (9), Aimee Xu (10)

Acapella

MSJ Syncopasians performed a medley of songs from the popular Disney movie, The Lion King. Both the movie and its music are a celebration of the language and culture of South Africa.

Performers

Laura Chen (11), Brian Chou (10), Dana Gurion (12), Austin Lee (12), Katherine Liu (11), Amber Ma (12), Jennifer Mou (12), Jonathan Pathman (12), Mason Qian (12), Elliot Suh (10), Allisa Tran (11), Steven Yung (11)

Kung Fu Psychology Teacher Karl Hui returned for yet another year to perform the spear, as well as a sequence of empty hand techniques, from a classic Kung Fu style called Praying Mantis. Praying Mantis Kung Fu dates back to 18th century China, epitomizing what the ancient Chinese believed could be learned from observing an insect.

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Chorale

Students from Choir Teacher Jason Aucoin’s chamber chorale class sang “Salmo 150” by Brazilian composer Ernani Aguiar. The song itself is written with Latin lyrics.

Performers

Chase Cavanaugh (11), Albert Chang (11), Aaron Chi (11), Abhay Dewan (10), Pragathi Guruprasad (10), Caleb Han (12), Sabrina Leung (12), Katherine Liu (12), Aiden McClelland (12), Rohan Panuganti (10), Ian Park (11), Gelsey Plaza (11), Gavin Poon (12), Beth Scrutton (12), Lynnea Shuck (11), Rey Tang (12), Geofree Tze-Tabakov (11), Sebin Yoon (11), Sung Bin Yoon (12), Veronica Zhang (12), Daniel Zopfi (12)

Wushu

Nine students from various wushu institutions engaged in a mock battle performance.

Wushu is both an exhibition and a full-contact sport derived from traditional and ancient Chinese martial arts. Individual performers each choreographed their own parts.

Performers

Melissa Chin (10), Christie Chong (12), Daniel Jean (11), Cynthia Jiang (12), Alyssa Lo (9), Amanda Lo (12), Shenlum Tang (11), Alexander Wu (12), Jemmy Zhou (9)

Performer Karl Hui

Hip Hop

Some of MSJ’s talented hip hop dancers performed to songs like “Talk Dirty” by Jason Derulo and “Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake and Lil Jon. Seniors Alexis Gaines, Kelsey Lam, and Jacob Pingue, and Junior Amrin Khurana worked to choreograph different segments and dances.

Performers

Madeleine Fajilan (11), Alexis Gaines (12), Cari Gan (11), Jessica Helder (11), Melissa Huang (12), Sophia Huang (9), Amrin Khurana (11), Christopher Kwok (10), Kelsey Lam (12), Jacob Pingue (12) , Natalie Sin (10), Joanna Wu (12)

Tahitian

Ballet

In a memorable ballet performance, students gracefully traversed the floor of the gym. Performers were dressed in white and accompanied by “Le Festin” by Camille, from the soundtrack of Ratatouille.

The performers all collaborated in choreographing the performance.

Performers

Deborah Chew (11), Claire Chiu (11), Samantha Lin (11), Sarah Liu (12), Mei Xuan Qu (9)

The familiar headdresses and bright skirts of the world-famous Tahitian dance returned to the MSJ campus once more. As established by tradition, hand gestures represented and reenacted elements of daily life while accompanied by fast hip-shaking and drums. The choreographer is Senior Megan Jose.

Bollywood

This year’s Bollywood performance combined elements of both hip hop and more traditional dance styles. Senior Anvitha Pillai choreographed this upbeat and lighthearted dance.

Performers

Rashi Ambashta (10), Shreya Atitkar (10), Avinash Banerjee (11), Sahil Bansal (12), Hershal Bhatia (11), Krishna Bhalodia (12), Alexander Chen (12), Jonathan Chen (12), Simran Gulati (12), Suchita Gupta (10), Vedika Iyer (10), Shruti Jain (10), Priya Khoot (12), Sonia Krishna (12), Rishabh Malhotra (12), Kasi Manikumar (12), Tarush Mohanti (12), Tulika Mohanti (9), Akaash Nayak (12), Samir Panjwani (11), Vikas Peddu (12), Tanvi Raja (10), Ilanji Rajamanickam (11) Kajal Raju (10), Divyaratna Ramachandran (10), Mihir Sathe (12), Neha Saxena (10), Aashna Shah (10), Ishita Shah (12), Hannah Shih (12), Chhavi Singal (9), Tarika Srinivasan (12), Shivani Subramaniam (10), Yoshita Suthar (12), Andy Thai (12), Salonee Thanawala (12), Ria Tomar (9), Nitya Vakil (9), Anusha Venkatesan (10)

Performers

Jennifer Chao (12), Stephanie Chin (12), Carlos Gee (12), Marisa Harris (12), Hannah Lee (12), Charlie Lin (12), Michael Lin (12), Chaz Nagata (10), Kayla Santo (12), Yoshita Suthar (12), Lindsay Taylor (12), Miyako Vasquez (12), Jason Wong (9), Sung Bin Yoon (12)

Mongolian

Taiko

In a stirring performance choreographed by Senior Miyako Vasquez and Junior Kaylyn Arima, students brought traditional Japanese drum playing to MSJ. Taiko drums are important to Japanese folklore, history, and present-day celebrations.

Mongolian is a unique ethnic dance branching off of traditional Chinese folk dance. Choreographed by Senior Cecilia Leng, this piece paid tribute to the swan and told the story of the rare migrating birds over vast Mongolian grasslands.

Performers

Hayley Arima (9), Kaylyn Arima (11), Sydney Hiroto (11), Kayla Santo (12), Miyako Vasquez (12), Spencer Whaley (11)

Performers

Crystal Cheng (12), Hannah Folk (11), Naomi Hong (12), Catherine Hou (11), Cecilia Leng (12), Alyssa Lo (9), Joyce Qiao (12)

Tae Kwon Do Fast kicks and hand strikes resulted in broken concrete blocks and flurries of rose petals as students showcased their skill in Taekwondo. Seniors Neilan Mehta and Jacob Pingue, with contributions from the rest of the performers, were responsible for choreography.

Performers

Daniel Chiao (11), Bryant Chin (11), Charles Han (10), Tanuj Kalakuntla (9), Tej Kalakuntla (12), Christopher Kwok (10), Andy Lai (12), Neilan Mehta (12), Jacob Pingue (12), Abigail Wong (11)

photos by staff writers jacinta chang & hairol ma, layout by centerspread editor tingting bi

14 Centerspread

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

By Peter Chew Staff Writer

photos by staff writer peter chew & vivian liu, layout by centerspread editors tingting bi & lindy zeng

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

By Purvi Goel & Nithya Rajeev Staff Writers

T h r o u g h the years

From its first character the Human Torch, to its widely popular modern-day superheroes such as the Avengers, Marvel Entertainment has been mesmerizing audiences with a power unlike any other for 75 years. Weaving through the minds of people of all ages like Spiderman, spreading American pride throughout the nation with Captain America, and flying to all stores and theaters like Iron Man, the Marvel banner has made an impact on every young comic-lover.

Then, 1941 came around and marked the first appearance of the patriotic superhero—Captain America. Sales shot up to nearly one million with the release Timely Comics’ first publi- of these comics, cation, Marvel Comics #1, and Timely Comics’ fame spread like along with the second publithe plague. cation, garnered a combined total of 900,000 sales.

Timely Publications, the original name of Marvel Comics and a branch of Marvel Entertainment, was founded in 1939 by Martin Goodman.

Post-World War II America saw a large drop in superhero interest. In response to this, Goodman took away some of the characters with above human capabilities, and focused more on writing various genres. In a testament to the global potential of his company, Goodman changed the name Timely Comics to Atlas Comics.

Arts & Entertainment 15

Following this, a slew of characters rolled out in ink. These included Whizzer, Miss America, the Destroyer, the Angel, and the Vision, along with children’s comic book characters such as Super Rabbit and Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal.

Under this banner, people were introduced to the first superheHigh off of nearly a century of success, Marvel Comics bero team, The Fantastic Four, as gan experimenting with daring new styles and risky characwell as the many members of the ters. The late 20th century saw a boom in technology, and Justice League of America. The the World Wide Web was much more alluring than anything widespread popularity of these characters ushSpiderman could weave up. Executives were unaware that ered in the “Marvel Age of Comics,” and introthe world was gradually shifting away from comic books. duced many separate hero franchises, such as SpiMarvel Comics, which had once reigned over the comder-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and the Avengers.

ic industry, crashed within the span of two decades.

In December 1996, the company filed for bankruptcy.

Knowing that something had to change, Marvel Comics merged with other branches of Marvel Entertainment and emerged as Marvel Enterprises. Desperate to regain its old heights, Marvel began to diversify its characters to appeal to a larger audience, and introduced new, darker characters and complex worlds.

Guardians of the Galaxy

In the early 2000s, Marvel began to explore a new medium: the big screen. X-Men and Spiderman hit theatres right at the start of the new century and grew into large franchises of their own.

Seizing the opportunity, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009 for $4 billion, a move that would prove to be profitable. The next decade saw the rise of the comic-book movie, a relatively unexplored style that brought Iron Man one-liners, Hulk smashes, and explosions aplenty for fans new and old. The Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America series all converged into 2012’s The Avengers, which blasted home $1.5 billion worldwide.

. s.. e u

An

he t d

n ge e l

tin n o dc

Big Hero 6

In 1939, Marvel Entertainment was a small comic book company known as Timely Productions. Now it is an enormous corporation that has found its way into movie theaters, televisions, bookshelves, video games, and theme parks. There are few who have not heard of or experienced Marvel’s influence. With comic book sales still going strong, and new movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel certainly isn’t going away for a very long time. Perhaps it’s difficult to believe that it all started with a simple character archetype that appeared in most of the comics, the archetype of a young, bullied teenager that could rise above human limitation as a warrior, a savior, and a hero.

The Amazing Spiderman 2 PG-13 5/2/14 Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is back to playing hero, this time facing off against OsCorp, a mysterious company which pits Spiderman against a new strain of supervillians.

Ghost Stories

Coldplay 5/19/14 Coldplay, a British alternative rock band, is releasing its sixth album, the highly anticipated Ghost Stories, on May 19. Coldplay has already released two singles from the album: “Magic” and “Midnight.”

Maleficent

A&E UPDATES BOX

By Hairol Ma Staff Writer

PG 5/30/14 Sleeping Beauty as we know it is revised in Maleficent--“Don’t believe in the fairy tale.” Maleficent offers an alternate reality in which the famous villainess’ circumstances are not by choice.

Road Between

Lucy Hale 6/3/14 Lucy Hale, better known as Aria Montgomery of Pretty Little Liars, will be releasing her debut album on June 3. She has already released several songs on Youtube, all of which were well received.

adelaidecomicsandbooks.com, allenbellman.com, clker.com, comicbookmovie.com, comicvine.com, dak.com, fanpop.com, fitmarketing.com, geeksofdoom.com, hdwallpapers.in, ihatepresentations.com, marvel.com, sweetclipart.com, layout by a&e editors tammy tseng & peter xu

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

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Best Entertainment Around the World

Preview: Universal Performers Jazz Gala

MOVIES

By Genevieve Huang & Megan Ren Staff Writers

By Abigail Wong Staff Writer

One of Hong Kong’s most popular modern crime thrillers, Internal Affairs delivers action, a tight-plot, face-offs and plot twists when an undercover police officer attempts to infiltrate a triad while a member of the same gang hides as a mole among the police force. Internal Affairs also took in its share of awards, and its 2006 Martin Scorsese remake later took home the Oscar for Best Picture.

Critically acclaimed tragicomedy Life is Beautiful manages to imbue incredible optimism during one of the most devastating points in history, the Holocaust. A classic about a Jewish bookstore owner who maintains his creativity and positive outlook on life in order to protect his son, this film won the awards for Best Actor, Foreign Film, and Original Dramatic Score.

Modern day Bollywood performances are generally movie tracks with catchy tunes and energetic dances with a crowd of dancers. One of the most famous dance numbers is “Sheila Ki Jawani,” featuring actress Katrina Kaif in the movie Tees Maar Khan. Critics praised both Kaif’s moves and the dance itself, and choreographer Farah Khan won a Filmware award for best choreography in 2010.

PERFORMANCES

Russian Ballet was the highlight of the 2014 Sochi Olympics and is perhaps the most well-known Russian art form overseas. Primarily taught with the Vaganova method, Russian ballerinas are trained with a system that mixes French and Italian techniques, placing equal emphasis on the entire body. The result is beautiful, harmonious movement with feats of technical brilliance set to classical music.

MUSIC

Arts & Entertainment 17

Bob Marley was a Jamaican singer who spread positive vibes around the world with his reggae music. Three of his most famous tracks include “Is This Love,” “One Love,” and “Buffalo Soldier,” all of which follow his common themes of promoting unification and challenging racism. His music has received numerous awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Jamaican Order of Merit.

African tribal music uses a variety of percussion instruments to create a unique tone and rhythmic melody. Rai is a genre of music common to northern African tribes with lyrics that are usually about social issues. Traditional African music of the sub-Saharan regions involves long performances with audience participation and songs that accompany events such as childbirth, marriage, and political activities.

bravuramagazine.com, dailymail.co.uk, doandroidsdance.com, europeanmovies.org, nutcracker.com, oliverstone.com, layout by a&e editor tammy tseng

Guide to Coachella

By Hannah Shih Staff Writer

radiofacts.com

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, a two weekend, three day affair, takes place annually in Indio, California and features some of the most popular bands and artists on numerous stages across the entire Empire Polo Club location. These stages include the Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre Mojave Tent, Sahara Tent, and Gobi Tent, which are some of the largest of the stages. Music performed at Coachella falls all across the musical spectrum, from electronic dance music to rock and indie pop bands.

The 2014 Coachella lineup presents a mix of well-known artists and more under the radar bands and singers. Both weekends, April 11-13 and April 18-20, boast the same lineup, with famous headliners like Outkast, Muse, and Arcade Fire spread throughout the three days. However, one of the most unique characteristics of Coachella is the many minor artists that play throughout the weekend as well.

Emerging artists to watch for include Banks, an R&B singer who opened for The Weeknd, Jhene Aiko, whose 2013 EP Sail Out has received much critical acclaim, and Young & Sick, a visual artist and singer with a signature high-pitched wail.

In between concerts, many Coachella visitors hit other parts of the huge festival. People-watching is an essential at Coachella, as many celebrities frequent the festival, strolling

around with the rest of the visitors. Vanessa Hudgens, Katy Perry, and Lindsay Lohan, as well as many others are regularly spotted every year. People watching extends to fashion as well, as festival goers bring out their most boho-chic and hipster outfits. Flower chains, swim wear, cutoff jeans with vintage accents seem to predominately be worn among the many participants.

The food and beverage choices at Coachella are eclectic as well, from the Certified Organic Farmer’s Market to food trucks to high end restaurants like steakhouses and other VIP perks. If the world of yoga and vegan food is not in your ballpark, typical festival food like fried chicken, BBQ, and smoked jalapeño mac’n’cheese can also be found.

While the art at Coachella is not what most people go to Indio for, its interactive nature fits the feel of the festival perfectly. From the foam bubble trailing gigantic snail to the tesla coils and glowing land sharks, Coachella art is modern and ingenuous, and not to be out-shined by the music offerings. Lastly, don’t miss out on the Coachella Ferris Wheel and look at all that the Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival has to offer. Similar music festivals include Outside Lands in San Francisco and Sasquatch in George, Washington. ▪

the smoke signal archives

MSJ’s Parents of Universal Performers (PUPs) will be hosting its 20th annual Performing Arts Gala at the Fremont Marriott hotel on May 16th at 6:30 PM. The dinner and dance will be held in the Marriott Grand Ballroom, with feature performances by MSJ’s Jazz Band, guest vocalists from MSJ’s music and theater arts program, and alumni from the entertainment industry.

This year, the annual PUPs fundraiser is themed “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin. The piece is a popular jazz classic, exemplifying the richness of the Jazz Music era with its elegance and style. Performances throughout the night will surround this theme, bringing the audience a festive night of culture and entertainment.

A three-course dinner will also be provided for all guests in attendance. Each individual will be given a choice of vegetable, chicken, or beef dinner entrée and two dessert options. Beverages will be served, and a no-host bar will be available for all adult participants to enjoy.

In addition to watching the performances

and eating dinner, guests can participate in the event’s gift basket raffle in which guests can buy raffle tickets to bid on their favorite basket items.

The audience can also engage in the gala’s silent auctions to win exclusive prizes such as this year’s celebrity signed memorabilia.

PUPs is a non-profit organization that supplies funding for performing arts at MSJ, providing financial support for scholarship opportunities, musical instruments, and professional clinicians. As the main sponsor of the performing arts gala, participating parents have been planning the event since September and will be donating the money earned directly to MSJ’s Performing Arts Department.

Tickets are $75 for general admission and $60 for Universal Performers members before May 1st. Prices increase after May 1st: $80 for general admission and $65 for Universal Performers members.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.msjpups.org/2014-may-performing-arts-gala/. ▪

18 Arts & Entertainment

Under the Radar:

Two Door Cinema Club

www.thesmokesignal.org

The Smoke Signal

Captain ‘A’merica Returns

‘C’ For Christina

By Katie Sun Staff Writer

By Andrea Tam Staff Writer

From its humble origins in 2007 as an unknown trio in Bangor, Ireland, Two Door Cinema Club has emerged as one of the sleekest, most distinctive indie-rock bands in the industry. Alex Trimble (vocals, rhythm guitar, synths), Sam Halliday (lead guitar/backing vocals), and Kevin Baird (bass guitar/backing vocals) have a created a singular sound in which Trimble’s sweet and simple vocals blend with the more frenetic strains of synths and indie guitar.

Simple beginnings crescendo into a quirky, soaring chorus, always with some type of twist that makes each song unique.

It all began with a gamble that Trimble, Halliday, and Baird took in leaving university to focus on developing the band. Without much hype from the media, they dropped their debut EP Four Words to Stand On, snagging critics’ attention. Two Door Cinema Club dropped its first full-length album Tourist History in January 2010, garnering praise from critics and the public for its fresh sound and exhilarating melodies.

Trimble, Halliday, and Baird composed all the songs on the album, which was awarded the Choice Music Prize for 2010 Irish Album of the Year.

Two years later its sophomore album Beacon was released, debuting at the top of the Irish Albums Chart and second on the UK Charts.

Beacon maintains the band’s signature sound, with layers of vocals, guitar, and synths intertwining in harmonious discord and whimsical melodies driven by a tenacious rhythm. The album showcases the innovative talent of the three band members as singers, guitarists, songwriters, and artists. Not only do the songs feature fantastic melodies, their meanings intrigue listeners, taking real-life scenarios and spinning them into more abstract stories. “Sleep Alone,” one of the album’s star tracks, contemplates the misfortune of wandering in life without direction, shut up in one’s mind with a flurry of thoughts while figuratively asleep.

The band is in the process of writing and recording its third studio album, which is highly anticipated by its growing fanbase. Indie fans or music lovers craving fresh music that departs from the monotony of pop and radio music should definitely give Two Door Cinema Club a listen. ▪

rollingstone.com

Thursday, April 17, 2014

By Michael Hsiu Staff Writer

Superheroes aren’t perfect, and it’s this fact that’s often neglected in the movies that represent them. Captain America: The Winter Solder, sequel to the original movie released in 2011, learns from its former mistakes—including this one—by taking the idea of a superhero film to a next level.

Set two years after the events of The Avengers, the movie follows Captain America (Chris Evans) as he continues trying to adapt to the modern world while also managing his work with S.H.I.E.L.D., the global law enforcement agency. However, after a raid on a pirate ship holding a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent leads to an attack on the life of S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson), Captain America must ally with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and the Falcon (Anthony Mackie) in order to confront

marvel.com

their most dangerous enemy yet— the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).

By simply connecting characters and stories together from past Marvel movies, directors Anthony and Joe Russo are able to effectively portray the classical Marvel world of Captain America as old fans remember it, while at the same time adding in quirky details of the status quo. The characters in The Winter Soldier are dynamic and living, and most importantly, believable. Evans, Jackson, and Johansson all reprise their roles as members of the Marvel universe, and once again demonstrate their chemistry as the heroes of S.H.I.E.L.D. Captain America himself is unlike other superheroes in that he doesn’t have any real superpowers besides a heavy resilience to physical abuse, and as a result, he isn’t displayed as invincible, nor is the audience expected to see him as so. With every blow he takes,

the audience can see the pain that he suffers—to them, he’s human, and that’s exactly the effect that the Russo brothers wanted to achieve.

Of course, The Winter Soldier still has its fair share of action, with fistfights, explosions, and battle scenes of all kinds, all brilliantly filmed from a generous array of different angles and directions. Action is prevalent all throughout the movie, but it is action with purpose, filmed with a minimum of CGI and other special effects, which are only incorporated when truly necessary—this is rarely, as an engaging dialogue serves to link the whole film together from start to finish.

A well-done, polished work, The Winter Soldier is an exemplary welcome back into the world of Captain America, and a movie that’s sure to spark the superhero enthusiast in everyone. ▪ Rating: A+

while Constantine roams free, posing as Kermit.

The Muppets, as always, remind viewers of the true meaning of family. When Kermit is shipped off to the Gulag as Constantine, the rest of the Muppets gang fails to notice the switcheroo for days. Kermit loses hope that his family will rescue him, only to find a new family at the Gulag. The prison inmates and prison guard, Nadya (Tina Fey), act rough and tough on the surface, but underneath lies sweet, loving characters that need a family as well. Fey lays on a thick heavy accent, impeccably assuming the role of an outwardly stern but inwardly loving Russian guard.

On the other hand, Ricky Gervais plays the perfectly hilarious bad guy as Dominic Badguy. Badguy is one of the few human characters in the film, but Burell certainly makes up for the disparity between human actors and Muppets through his on screen chem-

istry with Constantine as well as the other Muppets.

The song-and-dance scenes in this Muppets film were positively infectious. From Miss Piggy (Eric Jacobsen) singing alongside guest artist Celine Dion to Kermit and the prison inmates performing in a ragtag talent show, Muppets Most Wanted presents a delightful soundtrack chockfull of humor and charm.

The Muppets return in Muppets Most Wanted, and bring with them the musical theatre scenes and witty jokes that many have come to love. As much as Nadya claims, “Nobody believes in family in the Gulag,” the lovable puppets prove time and time again, that everyone belongs in a family whether it be in a Siberian jail or with the Muppets on a world tour. Once more, the Muppets bring out everybody’s inner child, as Muppets Most Wanted is a perfect movie for a cozy, family night. ▪ Rating: A

Muppets: Most Wanted Movie

By Grace Dong Staff Writer

Disney brings back the Muppets in another comical family film, Muppets Most Wanted, the eighth movie featuring everybody’s favorite singing puppets. Taking place after the conclusion of the last film, The Muppets (2011), the ragtag group of musical theatre performers is at a loss to what to do next. Dominic “the Lemur” Badguy (Ricky Gervais) offers to take the Muppets on an international tour, posing as the CEO of “Badguy Talent Management.” Coincidentally, Constantine (Matt Vogel), the world’s most dangerous frog and “Number 1” criminal, breaks out of a Siberian Gulag and meets up with Badguy, revealing the Muppets manager is the “Number 2” criminal. Constantine, a dead ringer for Muppets leader, Kermit the Frog (Steve Whitmire), secretly switches places with Kermit. Kermit is arrested and sent to the Gulag,

muppets.disney.com

In pop artist Christina Perri’s sophomore album Head or Heart, the Los Angeles based singer and songwriter revisits her aptitude and inclination for ballads. The record focuses on the theme of balancing rational thoughts and impulsive feelings. In contrast with her previous release, the new one features more instruments, synths, and other sound effects, as well as Perri singing across a wider range.

The album begins with “Trust,” a good representative and inkling to the rest of the songs. The tune features slow vocals but a faster backing, with Perri belting out a ballad that climbs but never reaches. Her collaboration with Ed Sheeran on “Be My Forever” is the only veritable upbeat song, with an animated chorus and flirty exchange that is reminiscent of the British star’s feature on Taylor Swift’s “Everything Has Changed.”

The savior of the album is the set’s lead single, “Human,” written to portray her perseverance after the release of her first successful album. Perri clearly delivers a message about forgiving oneself for failure after a sizable amount of effort is exerted. The song concedes to the ballad nature of the rest of the album, but is backed by a slow-building, genuine, heavy-hearted power.

The record’s most perceptive lyric is found in “Run,” where Perri sings, “I keep trying to find happiness in everybody else.” The rest of the album is forgettable, consisting of particularly maudlin and overdramatic lyrics that lack melodic innovation or creative verses. The tunes remain monotonous, with instrumentals and the overall style remaining similar throughout. “Burning Gold” and “The Words” are efforts to bring diversity to the album, but like the majority of the other tracks, consist only of a few half-hearted attempts to switch up the tempo and the key.

Although the intention of the lyrics is distinctly present, Perri’s droning about the battle between her head and her heart grows tedious and redundant because of its extensive appearance on every track. Head or Heart is a far cry from her debut album that catapulted her into the mainstream, and is instead an overly mellow collection of powerless ballads. Perri loses the vitality and passion that highlighted her music before and sadly underrepresents her usually impressive vocal performances. For a record that’s titled Head or Heart, it serves to appeal to neither. ▪ Rating: C-

christinaperri.com

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

By Leah Feuerman & Ishan Goyal Sports Editors

one-and-done rule Ask anyone with the slightest knowledge of basketball to share the names of two athletes in the NBA and more often than not they list Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. These players have become renowned legends in the league, but fewer people know that they followed the none-and-done path to the NBA, otherwise known as skipping college and going straight to the pros. The stream of high school players joining the NBA was producing a handful of

thebirdwrites.com Lebron James was drafted straight out of high school into the NBA by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

stars, but at the same time was creating an even bigger number of busts.

To lower the risk of franchises drafting these busts, former NBA commissioner David Stern issued Article X of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement of 1985. This new amendment required potential NBA draftees to be at least 19 years old and one year removed

from their high school graduation. Stern’s new policy was coined the one-and-done rule and was ideally meant to protect unprepared high school athletes from prematurely entering the pros and forcing them to evaluate their skills on the college level. In the eight years after first being issued, this rule has become more of a nuisance to high school athletes and college teams.

Imagine that you are a superstar coming out of high school basketball. The media is predicting that you are going to be the number one draft pick and you feel like you have the maturity and skill to play professionally. The one-and-done rule, however, mandates that you must spend one year in college during which you must practice and play in fear of being injured. In a recent case, Nerlens Noel lost his status as a likely number one pick after suffering a torn ACL during a game as a Kentucky Wildcat. Players coming out of high school with such high draft prospects gain nothing by playing for college because their draft value can only drop. Instead, the one-and-done rule forces them to lose one year out of their highest earning potential and exposes them to dangerous risks.

While most athletes aren’t benefiting from this regulation, college basketball teams are suffering equally. With the one-and-done rule, a few famous colleges continue to recruit big names and have become powerhouses, getting rid of the fair competition the NCAA once hosted. Kentucky Wildcat coach John Calipari urges that the one-and-done rule must be revised even though his team consistently performs well. In an interview with Kentucky Sports Radio, Calipari said, “I’m the one guy out there saying we’ve gotta change this somehow. We’ve gotta encourage these kids to stay two years. But the NCAA’s gotta do some stuff, and if they don’t do it we need to separate from them. I’m not afraid to say it...I

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don’t really care. But something’s gotta change with this one-and-done rule.” With neither the athletes nor the college teams benefiting from this regulation, the only group left enjoying the one-and-done rule is the NBA. As these athletes leave college and head for the NBA, the public already knows about them after watching events like March Madness. This means that they are already marketable to the NBA consumer market and more kids are going to beg their parents to buy a jersey or season tickets. While Stern believed that the rule would protect general managers from drafting bust athletes, Tom Ziller of SB Nation said “Under the age minimum, you’d expect fewer busts in the top 10 - those tempting high school kids are out of the equation. But [general managers] have still found a way to mess a good thing up.” With the general managers still at the same level of vulnerability as they were before Article X, the one-and-done rule doesn’t seem to really benefit any of the parties.

Looking at potential changes to the oneand-done rule, new NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a conference with esteemed author Malcolm Gladwell at an MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, “I’d raise the age.” Similar to what Calipari suggested, if the one-anddone regulation was raised to two years, athletes would have more time to develop their skills in college, they would be able to bounce back from injuries, and teams wouldn’t be left with holes in their roster after the draft. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said he preferred a rule similar to what the MLB enforces where athletes can either be drafted out of high school or play in college and then can join the draft after their junior year. This way, athletes who have no interest in attending college or want to start their careers right away have an option to be drafted immediately out of high school. Either way, it is essential for the NBA

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to increase the time on their one-and-done rule or get rid of it altogether.▪

MSJ Cheer and Color Guard

By Madeline Zheng Staff Writer

sportswurlz.com

MSJ Cheer channels the crowd’s spirit in all sort of school events. Led by Coach Lori Cronland, the squad consists of 10 girls. Captains for football season are Seniors Monica Gamez, Kelly Burns, and Alanna Chan, while captains for basketball season are Seniors Marisa Harris and Kayla Santo.

These cheerleaders cheer on MSJ football as well as boys’ and girls’ basketball at all home games and at significant games such as NCS. In addition, every year they perform at the fall and winter sports assemblies. Cheer even goes beyond school occasions to perform at charity events such as “Do it for Delaney”, a 5K run to raise support for children with rare genetic diseases.

The squad practices twice a week for two hours each time, typically warming up and stretching, then working on dance routines and quarter cheers. After cheers they practice the flashiest element of cheerleading—stunts—

and then cool down after each vigorous practice.

This year, MSJ Cheer did not participate in any competitions, but the coaches and team members all hope to expand their horizons in the future.

“For me, cheer is supporting our MSJ Warriors and getting the crowd spirited and pumped at games,” said Junior cheerleader Drishti Kaul. MSJ Cheer is set to begin with a robust squad next year and to keep on improving, expanding, and spreading priceless school spirit. ▪

Color Guard is a unique sport divided into two seasons. During first semester it is simply Color Guard, counted as part of the marching band course at MSJ and marching along with the band. In second semester, however, it is called Winter Guard, a sport instead of a class. Winter Guard practices start in early December and the season runs from February to March. Participants vary between the two seasons.

This year’s captains for both seasons are Seniors Kristina Wong, Ru Sia, and Betty Bei. They work with Coach Maggie Taylor to write and perfect the routines for the three aspects of guard: flag, rifle, and sabre. All three of these arms are spun and tossed using various techniques, making for a complex routine that intertwines these skills with dancing and, for fall season, marching.

In the fall, Color Guard marches with the band at parades and band reviews, but is usually judged separately. This year MSJ Color Guard has usually been able to rank in the top two at these competitions. “Color Guard means hard work, friendship, and dedication.

Every week, we rehearse for six or more hours.

Also, this year we started secret sisters during winter season as a way to bring us together,” said Sia. Tryouts for Color Guard are coming up soon; anyone interested is welcome to join.

Meanwhile, Winter Guard participates in a circuit of competitions specifically for guard (each hosted at a different local school) as well as the Annual MSJ Performing Arts Jazz Gala.

At the gala, the team performs onstage with a routine that employs only rifles. Meanwhile, in competition, MSJ competes in the intermediate category. Winter Guard did well this year, placing 5th out of 11 at championships.

Performance has fluctuated slightly over the years, so the team strives towards even greater improvement. With a drastic increase in participants, they hope to continue to grow. The theme of their performance revolves around friendship and reaching out to others—a reflective and lyrical act that entrances audiences, just as guard will continue to do in years to come. ▪

photos courtesy harrison cheng & rachel yeung abileneisd.com, colorguardeducator.com

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

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Sports 21

The Smoke Signal’s Fitness Guide

By Alice Cheng, Irisa Lee, & Tanvi Raja Staff Writers

Recipes You are what you eat. A crucial part of staying fit and healthy is having a balanced diet. You know that colorful, triangle-shaped thing with different foods -- oh, that’s right -- the food pyramid? Eating the appropriate amount of each type of food is essential for your health.

Indulging in protein, fiber, and healthy carbs can boost your metabolism and give you the energy you need for the day. The Smoke Signal has provided some nutritious and delicious recipes for you to try out!

Green Tea Smoothie Want a relaxing way to calm down before starting homework? Take a sip of a green tea smoothie. It’s quick to make too!

Ingredients: 3/4 cup strong green tea, chilled; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; Juice of 1 lemon (2-3 tbsp); 2 teaspoons agave nectar; 1 small pear, skin on, cut into pieces; 2 tablespoons fat-free plain yogurt; 6-8 ice cubes

Exercise As spring rolls around the corner, it’s no longer necessary to go to the gym to get a good work out and too late to use the “It’s too cold to exercise,” excuse. In the spirit, the Smoke Signal has put together a list of easy but effective workouts to stay fit through busy schedules.

Abs Want to turn that 1-pack into a 6-pack? This simple exercise can provide just that.

Abdominal Hold 1. Sit on the edge of a stool with your hands firmly planted on the surface.

2. Bring your body 2-4 inches off the chair while tightening your abs and balancing on your hands.

3. Hold for as long as possible and sit back down.

4. Repeat until your arms and abs are sore.

Arms Have you noticed that it’s getting harder and harder to lift up your backpack filled with textbooks, binders, and who knows what else? Use this workout to build your strength! *Requires dumbbell.

1. Stand with your feet shoulder width-apart and hold a 5-pound dumbbell in each hand near your hips.

2. Extend your arms so they are parallel to the floor.

3. Curl arms up towards your shoulder and slowly bring back down.

4. Do 8 reps.

OvenBaked Salmon Need something quick and yummy for dinner? Have some ovenbaked salmon, which only takes 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients: 12-ounce salmon fillet; salt; pepper Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit as you season the salmon with salt and pepper. Place the salmon, skin-side down, on a non-stick pan. Bake the salmon until it is cooked through. Enjoy!

Scrumptious Fruit Salad Are you craving a light snack after school?

Try a honey, grapefruit, and banana fruit salad; it’ll make your tastebuds cheer.

Ingredients: 1 (24-ounce) jar refrigerated red grapefruit sections (about 2 cups); 1 cup sliced banana; 1 tablespoon fresh chopped mint; 1 tablespoon honey (yields 3 cups) Drain the grapefruit, and leave ¼ cup of juice. Toss the grapefruit, mint, honey, and bananas together in a bowl to create a simple yet delicious snack.

“What do msj students eat as health foods?”

“Fruit smoothies replenish my energy after Dance Dance Revolution battles with my mom.” - Stanley Gu, 11 “Rice, milk, and chicken. I eat rice because it tastes amazing and I'm not scared of carbs! Carbs are definitely not unhealthy.” - Daniel Zhu, 12 “Nuts and cereals reinvigorate my brain.” - Sean Li, 11 “Avocado! It’s super healthy and it's really versatile because you can use avocado basically anywhere!” - Cynthia Jiang, 12

Legs Never skip leg day.

1. Lay on the ground with your palms facing down and your knees bent toward the ceiling.

2. Keeping your hips off the ground, bring your left leg up diagonally to the left.

3. Return foot onto the ground and do 20 reps.

4. Switch legs.

Tips Many MSJ students have time for sports, but many others have busy schedules and don’t know when to exercise. However, there are still some small ways to stay active.

• Walk to school – Depending on how far you live and how fast you go, walking to school is a small opportunity for aerobic exercise.

• Reps before rewards – Before reaching for a snack while studying, try and do one rep of a strength move.

• Multitask – Multitasking is not necessarily very efficient, but it can help you keep fit. You can do exercises while watching TV shows or listening to music, or read while running on a treadmill.

Try exercising with friends for motivation and companionship. Even if you already feel tired, exercise can be re-energizing and can help clear your mind. Maybe next time you are feeling stressed, you can take out the yoga mat instead of putting it away. graphics by staff writers alice cheng & irisa lee, chewnibblenosh.com, weeklybite.com, wordpress.com, layout by sports editors leah feuerman & ishan goyal

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

NBA Playoff Predictions

By Hanson Wang Staff Writer

Stephen Curry, Guard, Golden State Warriors Widely regarded as the deadliest shooter in the NBA, Curry displays a rare ability to carry his team and make plays when the Warriors need him the most.

Curry averages more than 20 points and eight assists per game, and his deft ball control, combined with his lightning quick shot release, make him a nightmare for opposing teams to defend. He can shoot and convert 25 foot three pointers as well as knife his way to the basket for a layup. Curry’s largest pitfalls, however, are that he is sometimes reckless while handling the ball, leading to turnovers, and that his scoring is too reliant on the three-point shot.

Kevin durant, forward, oklahoma city thunder Although Durant stands at 6 feet 9 inches, he has the ball-handling of a point guard, the knock-down shooting of a wing player, and the postup play of a big man. “KD” forces matchup problems with almost all defenders, which is why he leads the NBA in scoring at more than 30 points per game. Just how dominant is KD? He’s poised to become just the 14th player in NBA history to average 30 points and five assists per game, while also ranking in the top ten in defensive rating among players averaging more than 35 minutes played per game.

Don’t worry basketball fans, there’s still plenty of time before the season ends. Now that all the wall-to-wall chaos of March Madness has ended, basketball aficionados now have the NBA playoffs to satiate their hunger for action packed matchups and upsets. With the playoffs in full bloom, the Smoke Signal highlights several key players who can carry their teams deep into the playoffs, and several dark horse teams that can make a playoff run into the NBA Finals.

Golden State Warriors: Don’t think this team is all Curry and no spice. Under coach Mark Jackson, the Warriors have found a newfound commitment to defense this season Curry, along with fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, can stretch out the defense with their ability to make shots all over the court; while forward David Lee pounds the ball in the post. One strength of the Warriors is their deep bench, as the trade deadline acquisitions of Jordan Crawford and Steve Blake have ensured that the Warriors have two or three players at every position, especially important considering the injury bug has recently knocked several starters out of games. For the Warriors to go far, Curry must play like a superstar, and when teams double or triple team him, Lee and a third offensive source must shoulder the burden of scoring points. If the Warriors play up to their potential, they can beat any team, evidenced by their wins against Miami, Indiana, Oklahoma City, and Portland.

Chicago Bulls: If there’s one team in the Eastern Conference that could unseat both the two-time defending champion Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, it’s the Bulls. In addition to being the second best defensive team in the NBA, they show extreme mental toughness, a trait necessary to survive in the league. The Bulls aren’t the largest offensive team, averaging only 92.8 points per game, but they manage to scratch out enough points to win, even after trading away their leading scorer midseason. Despite the seemingly perpetual loss of star Derrick Rose to injury, the Bulls are still a playoff threat due to their relentless and frustrating defense, led by Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Jimmy Butler. As long as the Bulls stick to their game plan of playing smothering defense and picking up rebounds, count on them to continue their winning ways in the playoffs.

roy hibbert, center, indiana pacers The 7 foot 2 inch Hibbert is a defensive wall in the paint and a big reason why the Pacers are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. He routinely leads the Pacers in offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, blocks, and has also steadily improved his offensive output. Asserting himself as one of the team leaders, Hibbert is arguably the most crucial player on the Pacers if they want to knock off the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference playoffs, as his ability to block shots and defend the paint can neutralize the offense of any opposing team, thus tilting momentum in the Pacers’ favor.

John wall, guard, washington wizards The first pick of the 2010 NBA draft, Wall has definitely lived up to all the hype. Wall is a constant double-double threat; his scoring has increased every year he’s been in the league, and he averages more assists than Curry. Although Wall’s defensive game leaves some questions, his athleticism simply wows even the harshest of critics. The combination of his quickness, passing, and athleticism make him one of the toughest guards to defend in the game, and he’s always somehow able to find the open man on the court. Wall’s a headache because he can create his own shot or pass to an open teammate for an easy basket.

standingosports.com, cnnsi.com, sweetclipart.com, layout by sports editors leah feuerman & ishan goyal

Boys’ Volleyball Game coverage

By Hanson Wang Staff Writer As the warm-up music wound down and the MSJ Boys’ Volleyball players streamed on to the court, the crowd enthusiastically cheered in anticipation for the Warriors’ April 8 matchup against the Kennedy Titans. Although MSJ came into the matchup as the underdog, the Warriors played toe-to-toe against one of the top teams of the Mission Valley Athletic League (MVAL), with neither team able to establish a lead of more than three or four points for most of the game. Despite a spirited effort, MSJ ultimately could not battle back from a couple of slow starts, losing a tight match three sets to one, 19-25, 25-13, 22-25, and 25-27.

MSJ got off to a strong start, building a quick lead in the first set. However, Kennedy was able to seize the momentum with a 9-0 run and hold back a late MSJ push to win the set. From the start, MSJ experienced several communication errors, often resulting in the ball landing in no-man’s land while several MSJ players looked at each other, each expecting the other to play the ball.

The second set opened much more auspiciously, as MSJ raced out to a monstrous lead.

After a couple of thunderous blocks and kills

by Senior James Fu, the raucous crowd and MSJ bench emphatically jumped to their feet and cheered as Kennedy was forced to call a timeout. Nothing they did, however, could stem the flow of momentum, and MSJ wound up running away with one of their best-played sets of the whole year.

Unfortunately, MSJ couldn’t sustain their momentum for the rest of the match. In the last two sets, Kennedy sprang out to quick leads. Nonetheless, MSJ valiantly fought back, closing within 23-24 in the third set. Their late run eventually fell short, as communication errors led to MSJ spiking the ball out of bounds.

In the fourth set, MSJ rallied to tie the match

at 25. At this point much of the crowd rose, anticipating a kill or block that would ignite them into a frenzy and force the match into a decisive fifth set. Such a moment never came, however, as the match ended frustratingly and fittingly, with the ball softly landing in between four MSJ players.

MSJ routinely found itself on the brink of victory, but was unable to come up with one or two clutch plays that could have changed the outcome of the match. Coming in with many inexperienced varsity players, miscommunication was figured to be a growing pain. Senior Captain Jonah Lin said, “We had a slow start, and it took a lot of time for us to connect. We only started playing together during the third and fourth games.” Despite a heartbreaking loss, Lin still expressed cause for optimism.

“We’re looking toward NCS and finishing in the top three teams in MVAL. One of my goals for the rest of the year is to prep the younger players for next season so they can continue the MSJ legacy.” Coach Samai Shir agreed with his captain, saying, “We need to improve our mentality and grow as a team. Our goal right now is to make NCS and possibly a top three finish in MVAL.” The MSJ Warriors look forward to getting back to their winning ways in their next home game, May 1 against Irvington. ▪

staff writer hanson wang

Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Smoke Signal

Feature 23

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By Ishan Goyal, Megan Ren & Katie Sun Sports Editor and Staff Writers

Follow the bunny to his burrow by answering the following riddles! All answers can be found in this paper or online at www.thesmokesignal.org.

Most answers are specific details from an article, but if the riddle does not specify, write the article title as 3) Set the stage for the answer. HINT: Two answers a play of a different come from the website.

sort, | And prepare for a fight that is out on a court | Spike the pu nch for just the right hit | And make sure your hand s are locked in the perfect fit | Dig if you want to win or you’ll get bumped | Tell me the sport and you won’t be served.

Robert Frost spoke of a changing road s | In math this serie book goes to infinity | The load | y av he doesn’t weigh a e rv some The characters dese ur answer degree of pity | Yo at first | won’t come together for a hint Check cinema listings be well | In movies it helps to up versed | Now finish a t ge go this riddle and mint.

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We all like to travel but school we must bear | So Smoke Signal’s here to giv e a lift in the air | Too many cultures and so little time | Yet this vacation won’t cost you a di me. | Six locations to ch eck off that bucketlist | Movies, music, and dance in its midst | Within this article you will ho pefully find | Entertainment th at suits your state of mind.

at sm First three o ke s i g n a l.org co will win rrect en ! tri a bunn chocola es te y.

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Something oftdesired by tho se who are mini-si zed; | A career that is to o often romanticized. | This man never goes wit hout a title; | to our school, he is nothing less than vital. | You’ll never catch him in a tee. | Who could this resp ectable man be?

What do Gausshave in ian models eit ith Fahrenh common w t the fact tha | other than re erudite? | rs we both invento eal of livshared a m y e th e b ay M le really an this ridd C | trs u erw ing an d? | Try hav be unearthe udents, ith these st exchange w robably give | they can p ints. you some h

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NAME THE LOCATION: Micro-Perspectives Identify where each of the following pictures are located. Choices:

A Wing | B Wing | C Wing | E Wing | P Wing | Gym | Office | Amphitheater | Library

8)

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HOW MANY EGGS ARE ON THIS PAGE?

Please submit all answers to www.thesmokesignal.org. Your answers can be listed here for convenience.

1.____________ 2.____________ 3.____________ 4._____________ 5.____________ 6.____________ 7.____________ 8.____________ 9._____________ 10.____________ 11._____________ 12.____________ 13.____________

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, April 17, 2014

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER VIVIAN LIU & APOORVA RAJANALA, LAYOUT BY GRAPHICS EDITOR SHIRBY WANG & ANNA ZENG