Volume LV, No. 4

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 55, NO. 4

December 19, 2019

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

By Nishi Bhagat, Gokul Ramapriyan, Varun Upadhyay & Alina Zeng Staff Writers

Fortes Fightin

In the spirit of the holiday season, service clubs at MSJ and Leaders hip 2 (L2) are uniting in support of those who struggl e with homele ssness, natural disasters, and critical illnesse s. The Smoke Signal spoke with organiz ers from each volunte er effort to gather information about their charita ble work.

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es MSJ Visual Ar ts and Music for Society (V AM S) tu, along with variou and MSJ Impromps performing arts clu bs across FUSD, are their annual benefit hosting concert this year at Irv ington High School cember 21 at 2 p.m. an on Ded 7 p.m. Each year, th e concert has a cause by recent events, and inspired this year’s topic is th e wildfires that have 150,000 Califor nians displaced . All proceeds go to th e nonprofit Califor nia munity Fund for Ca Comlifor nia Wildfire Relie f in light of the Parad various other wildfire ise and disasters. Concerts in the past, such as las theme on cancer, rai t year’s sed $2,500. MSJ VA MS Co-President Jos Chew said, “I love ho ephine w it gives student mu sicians an amazing pe opportunity and atten rformance dees an evening of be autiful, inspiring perfo all while contributing rmances, to a great cause.” To find out more about look out for updates the event, on the MSJHS 2019 -2020 Facebook gro up.

L2 Macy'S L etter Writ

ing Campaig n

L2 Canned Food Drive

Yo r t D k-th eV em e d ecc his.

L2 organized an annual canned food drive from November 4 to November 22, through which the MSJ community contributed more than 1,300 cans for Abode Family Services Homeless Shelter, a local charity dedicated to ending homelessness. L2 incentivized donations with a competition for a pizza party between third period classes. Regarding the MSJ community’s contributions to the food drive, L2 Community Committee Head Kanchan Raju said, “MSJ is a really stressful, competitive, and academic environment, so it is really heartwarming to see that in the hustle of academic life, people are still ... taking that extra effort to give back.” In the future, L2 hopes to increase student involvement with more incentives.

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The Activitie s Committee in L2 held th letter drive w e annual Mac here Macy do y’s nates $1 to M ever y letter w ake-A-Wish® ritten. Along for with sitting at ever y day from the Bell Tow December 2er Quad 5 at lunch for ical letters, L people to wri 2 also went te physaround to ev read period to er y classroom encourage stud during ents to write were able to letters online. gather 316 ph They ysical letters online ones. but In coming ye ars, they hope expect a lot more tion from the for greater pa entire school rticipa, aiming for ev letters to raise er yone to wri more than $1 te two 0, 000. Activitie ber Tavish M s Committee ohanti said, “I M t’s emre is nothing yo ally easy to st art believing u can do to there help your co and do noth mmunity and ing. But as th sit back is donation dr so many smal ive shows, th l things you ere are can do to mak e a huge diff erence.”

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d Leo Club — — Interact, Key, an us mp ca on bs clu e on November vic The three largest ser annual, door-to-door canned food drive boration, each lla e co th of ld the spirit teamed up to ho ne neighborhood. In istics; Leo Club contacted and ur bo ad Ch e th in as of log 16 and 23 handling different are rvices Homeless Shelter, Interact was Se club was tasked with ly mi Fa e od cize by passing out ns with Ab y Club helped publi coordinated donatio Ke d 25 an rs, tee lun vo ering a turnout of about responsible for gath forehand. Following an be ct d lle oo co rh to bo le igh ab ne re e ent, students we ev e flyers throughout th th of ey y th da e ere th wh d drive on s Shelter, volunteers for the foo nate to Abode Family Services Homeles talie Chiang said, Na do estimated 70 cans to g the homeless. Leo Club Co-President Adobe, but also the on at am ts ted en bu ipi tri rec e dis th be to ll ly wi on t and no lot a s ive mean bs can get together “The canned food dr t where multiple clu en , ev ies an rar ve lib ha in s to xe e bo nic student body ... it’s e clubs plan to place donations. unity.” Next year, th re share a sense of comm other public buildings to encourage mo and community centers,

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rs Par MSJ Dr ty eamCatc hers, a c generati lu on with b whose the hospice patient fr elderly, hosted goal is to conn ect the a party fo om Mas celebrate yo onic Ho th mes of C r Margaret DeV unger theme, d e place where s ecchis, a A . DeVic he was b ecoratin ch o g the spa the Emp ce with p rn, so the club c es’s wish was to ire rafted a aintings voluntee State Building New Y of Ne an rs, and talk they were able d the Statue of L w York landmar ork ing with to split u k ib the patie p the wo erty. Between s like to see ev all their nt. “It w rk for de er ything as succe coration w static to ssfu s, s be able e prepared and apprecia l as she was ver etup, to Co-Pres p a s s down h y te ident Sh happy d o u r effor er sto rey to make connecti a Suresh. “I hop ries,” said MSJ t. She was ecD e o ries and so much ns with older ge this event enco reamCatchers urages o knowled neration ur s. ge that w e can lea They have so m youth rn from. any sto” PHOTO BY STAFF WRITER SAKSHI UMROTKAR. PHOTO COURTESY AARON COLE.

ONLINE

THIS MONTH

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HUMANS OF MSJ: NEW YEAR’S

GIRLS BASKETBALL AT HARDWOOD CLASSIC

As 2019 comes to a close, members of the MSJ community are reflecting on the past year as well as looking forward. Read student and teacher responses to this new edition of Humans of MSJ.

MSJ hosted the 13th annual Girls Junior Varsity Hardwood Classic from December 5 to December 7. Check the online coverage to find out how the Girls Basketball team performed.

FOR MORE COVERAGE, VISIT www.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG

2 News

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, December 19, 2019

FUSD takes action: calendar shift survey

NEWS IN

BRIEF

Survey provides community input on shift to have finals before Winter Break

Compiled by Mahek Bhora, Tavish Mohanti & Amanda Pang Staff Writers

LOCAL

store.apperson.com

The plaintiffs argue that instead of standardized testing, grades and teacher recommendations should be utilized as a fairer way of judging applicants.

Lawsuit against University of CA pushes to remove the SAT and ACT from admissions On December 10, a group of students and advocacy groups filed lawsuits against the University of CA on its use of standardized test scores for college admissions. The plaintiffs, filing their claims at the Alameda County Superior Court, said the system of using standardized tests like the SAT and ACT discriminate against certain people of color and people from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, which violates the equal protection stated in the CA Constitution.

NATIONAL npr.org The articles will set the stage for upcoming debates as to whether Trump should be the third president in history to be tried for high crimes and misdemeanors.

House Democrats release two articles of impeachment against Trump On December 10, the House Democrats released two proposed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. The first article outlines the President’s abuse of power by soliciting the interference of Ukraine’s government, which would influence the 2020 presidential election in his favor. The second article charges him with the obstruction of Congress due to his noncompliance with the subpoenas issued by the House as part of the impeachment inquiries.

INTERNATIONAL bbc.com On her website, Marin said, “I joined politics because I want to influence how society sees its citizens and their rights.”

Finland swears in the world’s youngest Prime Minister, Sanna Marin Finland’s Parliament voted in favor of Social Democrat Sanna Marin on December 3, making her the youngest Prime Minister in the world. She was sworn in on December 10 at the age of 34.

Prior to her title as Prime Minister, Marin was the Minister of Transport and Communications. She is leading a government in which three out of four parties are led by women under the age of 35, marking a time of change and gender equality on one of the highest platforms at the global stage.

SURFBoardE, comprised of students from FUSD, initiated the push for the calendar shift and shared presentations and social media posts to better inform the community.

By Anika Arora & Mahek Bhora Staff Writers

From November 24 to December 10, FUSD and the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association (FUDTA) released a survey exploring preferences related to a proposed district calendar shift. The calendar shift would align FUSD with the majority of CA school districts, which start the school year in mid-August to complete first semester before Winter Break. The survey asked all stakeholders — parents, students, and staff — to provide input about how the change should be implemented.

One concern about the calendar shift is that it will lead to a shorter summer break during the year(s) of implementation. The survey provides three options regarding the span of implementation: over the course of one year, two years, or three years. If implemented over one year, the school calendar would be pushed back three weeks concurrently, cutting down summer break by three weeks during the year of adoption. If implemented over three years, the school calendar would be pushed back one

Junior Nishi Bhagat and Seniors Edward Lu and Karen Li serve as MSJ’s SURFBoardE Representatives for the 2019-20 school year.

week per year, resulting in a one-week shorter summer break for three consecutive years. “If we were to do it all at once, we would have to think about not doing certain things over the summer like cleaning classrooms, doing repairs, and ... not having summer school, so there would be those implications.” FUDTA Representative and Science Teacher Lane Melcic said.

The shift would provide a variety of benefits for mainly students and teachers. They would spend Winter Break without having to worry about upcoming finals and have a wider range of opportunities to take part in over the summer, since summer break would start at the beginning rather than the middle of June. School groups would also be affected.

“Fall sports starts later for MSJ because students might be on vacation or out somewhere when they could be having practices ... [since] fall sports starts in the summer,” Senior MSJ SURFBoardE Representative Edward Lu said.

In addition, FUSD high schools would receive three more weeks to study for AP tests, putting FUSD on the same playing field as most of the other school districts in the state. “We already,

as a district, do very well on AP tests but I’m curious to see how much better we would do with those extra three weeks.” Melcic said.

According to SURFBoardE’s calendar shift portfolio, one drawback of the shift would include the need for more air conditioning at the beginning of school, due to August being one of the hottest months of the year. Additionally, with final exams occurring before Winter Break, seniors would have to balance testing along with college applications. Aversion also comes from elementary school teachers who do not see the shift as necessary, as their students do not have finals, AP tests, or many school sports teams.

The survey for the calendar shift closed on December 10, and committee meetings to analyze the data began the day after. At this time, a final date to make the decision is unknown, but the choice will be in the hands of the FUSD and FUDTA bargaining teams. “Based on the survey results, the district will analyze all different types of opinions and present possible calendar recommendations that will serve benefits to the community at large,” Senior MSJ SURFBoardE Representative Karen Li said. ▪ PHOTOS COURTESY KAREN LI.

Navidad Nuestra concert unites the community for the holidays Mission Peak Chamber Singers hold 34th annual Christmas concert

By Alisha Chhangani & Tanisha Srivatsa opened a new choir, the East Bay People’s Choir, which is free to join and open to members of all Staff Writers ages.

Mission Peak Chamber Singers (MPCS) held Navidad Nuestra commenced with “The First their 34th annual Christmas at the Mission concert Nowell,”* a traditional English carol from the early on December 7 at 7 p.m. and December 8 at 4 p.m. modern period. As they ascended the stage, choir at Old Mission San Jose. This year’s theme was members began to sing the story of the first ChristNavidad Nuestra, or Our Christmas, and featured mas, or Nowell. Other songs included “Ocho lively percussion and traditional songs from Central Kandelikas,” a Hanukkah song written in the Jewand South America. As an election year approaches, ish-Spanish Ladino language, and “Noche de Paz,” MPCS chose this theme to bridge a politically di- a Spanish translation of the popular Christmas carvided community through the power of song. The ol “Silent Night.” As the choir caroled multicultural choir included 31 singers led by Artistic Director holiday songs, they relayed meaningful messages on Ofer dal Lal, as well as a team of six instrumen- the background of each song and how it relates to talists. the message of tolerance.

Established as the Ohlone Chamber Singers Every year, the Mission Peak Chamber Singers in the 1980s, Mission Peak Chamber singers be- use a central theme to guide their performance. came an independent non-profit in 2014 after CA This year, the choir hoped to use music to bridge a community colleges withdrew financial support of politically divided country as dal Lal said, “We want the choral arts. Now dependent on donations and a holiday concert that shows appreciation [for] our ticket sales, MPCS uses the power of music as an neighbors and for the betterment of all of humanenterprise for social change. This past August, they ity.” In efforts to engage the audience, the choir

sang an interactive piece, “Banu Hosheh,” a traditional Israeli Hanukkah song meant to banish darkness.

During this song, the audience was invited to sing and stomp along with the musicians. The song lyrics read “All together we shine bright, Go away the darkness.” As dal Lal said, “the light and dark [serve as] a metaphor for enlightenment against racism or xenophobia,” aligning with dal Lal’s message of tolerance by aiming to glorify light, not violence. Attendee Kevin Quinn said, “I’ve been coming to this concert for around 15 years now ... [Banu Hosheh] was definitely a highlight of the program. I liked the theme of being kind to people from different backgrounds, lifestyles, countries, and languages.”

While the Christmas at the Mission concert has been an annual tradition for 34 years, each cycle finds something new to bring to the community. Quinn said, “Every year, there’s always a totally new program, about so many different worlds of music. I always learn something that I didn’t know before.”

Moving forward, MPCS is looking forward to performing again in March. ▪

corrections

for the NOV. 22, 2019 issue News P1. Rachel Tevlin is a Social Studies teacher.

News P2. Visual Arts and Music for Society should be spelled as such.

News P3. Haoxiang Qin is a sophomore.

News P3. Ballot initiative would reallocate $12 billion.

Opinion P7. Annie Zuo is misspelled.

Opinion P7. Aerie’s sizes go up to 20.

Opinion P7. An average teen girl in the US has a waist size of 32.6 inches.

Feature P8. Paul Wells is misspelled.

A&E P16. Charlie Brucker is a Computer Science Teacher.

Sports P17. Acalanes High School is misspelled.

Sports P17. Anya Agarwal is misspelled.

Photo P20. Leticia Magaña is misspelled.

Photo P20. Sakshi Umrotkar is misspelled.

Mission Peak Chamber Singers perform pieces from their Central American-themed holiday concert. *“The First Nowell” is the preferred song spelling by the composer.

PHOTO BY STAFF WRITERS ALISHA CHHANGANI & TANISHA SRIVATSA.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 3

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON STUDENT OPINION How does the inadvertent creation of echo chambers influence our views?

By Nishi Bhagat, Mingxin Wang & Alina Zeng Staff Writers Many of us consume news through social media on a daily basis, inhaling streams of posts from the news sites we follow and the activists we admire. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit have become vehicles for users to express their beliefs about political or humanitarian issues. However, the convenience of sharing and promoting posts on social media can create echo chambers when a lack of contrasting ideas reinforces people’s pre-existing perspectives. Echo chambers often portray multifaceted issues as simply black or white, further polarizing those with opposing views, and this filtered virtual bubble carries over into reality, where it is not only online communities that are divided but real people. The gulf between online communities drastically alters the content that someone would see by enforcing group polarization, fostering ignorance, and promoting apathy towards people with differing perspectives.

The nature of viral culture in social media often amplifies echo chambers.

In efforts to gain fame and popularity, influencers use viral marketing, which perpetuates the spread of biased information that often only represents the opinions of the influencer. With limited information, followers are only exposed to incomplete stories and often

accept the presented perspective without considering other standpoints. Virality also facilitates fake news, or false information with the intention of misleading readers, because people don’t question the credibility of the source, especially when it is presented under the guise of being authentic. For example, a story from the American Herald Tribune about President Donald Trump broke on Facebook claiming that “Trump’s grandfather was a pimp and a tax evader; his father, a member of the KKK.” This article was viewed over 29.2 million times, even though it was refuted by Lead Stories, an official Facebook fact-checking partner. This piece was the most viewed piece of fake news in the first ten months of 2019.

Social media also fosters peer pressure — many students share viral posts or show support toward influencers despite not always knowing the whole story or truly understanding the issue. For example, with the social media attention on the recent Amazon fires, the Foundation for Economic Education found that the concerning statistic that the Amazon rainforest produces “20% of the world’s oxygen” is just a popular myth, yet was picked up by celebrities, influencers, and even French President Emmanuel Macron. Although reposting the message might have helped spike media attention, many of the facts were

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON STUDENT OPINION, THE SMOKE SIGNAL SURVEYED EIGHT CLASSROOMS ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS, OBTAINING 191 RESPONSES.

"Yes, it affects my perception of issues in the world because I read about them on social media and some posts can be biased so they can sometimes cause me to take a specific side on an issue, sort of like all the activism for climate change."

— Matthew Wong, 9 "I think because of social media becoming a popular platform for news I myself also don't really look at articles in depth as much ... It's also a lot more work to go through the article and read up on different sources of different opinions than it is to just read a catchy title on social media." — Akshara Vykunta, 12

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 WITH 1 BEING NOT AT ALL AND 10 BEING HEAVILY, STUDENTS FEEL THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS THEIR PERCEPTION OF TRUMP’S PRESIDENT IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY 5.4 /10.

misconstrued. Similarly, posts regarding tragedies or gruesome images accompanied by sob stories in the captions often engender feelings of guilt if students don’t share them alongside their peers. However, as seen through the fires, peer pressure through social media, while effective in raising awareness, is not a long-term solution to educating students about current issues as much of the information may be exaggerated to add urgency; rather, it adds to the issue of organizing likeminded posts on others’ feeds. Furthermore, this perpetuates further amplification of echo chambers as regurgitating the same false information is spread quickly without posters giving it a second thought.

Social media platforms also use algorithms to curate marketing advertisements and social endorsements to each individual’s interests. Showing content that the viewer agrees with generates more page traffic and revenue for the company, so social media sites have a financial incentive to enforce these echo chambers. However, these algorithms are inherently polarizing — the continuous onslaught of media that only sup-

"Yes, definitely. When people view social media and scroll through the comments and opinions of other people, they absorb those views as well. There can be a lot of conflict on certain ideas ... when interactions occur, people tend to support their own individual views which are affected by the information they read and view online." — Daniel Yang, 12

MSJ VOIC ES

"Social media is probably the biggest catalyst of polarized perspectives ... When so many strong opinions are presented about the same topic, it's easier to pick a side than to try and see the pros and cons of both." — Bonita Wankhade, 10

DO YOU T SITES C HINK THAT SO CIAL M ONTRIB ED U ING PO LARIZE TE TO PEOPL IA D PERS E HOLD SO, HO PECTIV W? ES? IF HOW D OY USAGE OU THINK SO AFFECT CIAL M ED S OF CUR RENT IS YOUR PERCE IA PTION SUES ( MENT, CL E.G IAN CR IMATE CHANG . IMPEACHISES, E E, HUM TC.)?

ANITAR -

AFTER LEARNING ABOUT AN ISSUE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, 69.9% OF STUDENTS SAY THAT THEY NEVER, RARELY, OR SOMETIMES TAKE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS BEFORE FORMING AN OPINION OF THEIR OWN.

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING PLATFORMS DO YOU USUALLY GET NEWS FROM? MARK ALL THAT APPLY. 57.1% 49.2%

63.1% OF STUDENTS SAY THAT THEY GET 50% OR MORE OF THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

port users’ beliefs inhibits their ability to stay informed with a well-rounded perspective.

Despite its contribution to polarization, social media is a powerful tool for keeping people informed. In a Smoke Signal survey, 63.1% of the 191 students surveyed said that they got more than 50% of their news from social media, making it clear that removing social media as a news source is unrealistic. However, due to influences from virality, algorithms, and peer pressure, our feeds can easily become echo chambers. Instead of blindly allowing our feeds to dictate the perspectives we hold, we should make a conscious effort to consider opposite sides. By looking at less biased sources such as the Public Broadcasting Service or the Associated Press, students can balance their news intake from the skewed social media feed, allowing them to understand the different sides to the story and draw their own conclusions. Without the empathy that comes with seeing from multiple perspectives, we cannot engage in effective discussion about the pressing problems our world faces, much less contribute to solutions for complex issues that will affect us for years to come. ▪

39.2%

20.6% 18.5%

INSTAGRAM SNAPCHAT FACEBOOK REDDIT

OTHER

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 WITH 1 BEING NOT AT ALL AND 10 BEING HEAVILY, STUDENTS FEEL THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTS THEIR PERCEPTION OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST FIRE 6.2/10.

GRAPHICS BY PNGTREE.COM, ICONFINDER.COM, REDDIT.COM, FREEPIK.COM, MEDIUM.COM.

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Thursday, December 19, 2019

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Thursday, December 19, 2019

THE SMOKE SIGNAL Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 55, No. 4 | December 19, 2019

The Smoke Signal

JOSEPHINE'S JOURNAL

Examine your priorities

www.thesmokesignal.org 41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 510-657-3600, ext. 37088 MISSION STATEMENT The Smoke Signal’s mission is to represent the voices of the MSJ community and serve the public by providing accurate, meaningful, and engaging information presented through print and digital mediums.

SCHOOL POPULATION 2055 students EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Lucia Li, Shray Vaidya NEWS Jonathan Liu, Sabrina Wu OPINION Josephine Chew, Aria Lakhmani FEATURE Tylor Wu, Kelly Yang CENTERSPREAD Karen Li, Shreya Sridhar A&E Jennifer Xiang, Jessica Xu SPORTS Ian Park, Yusuf Rasheed GRAPHICS Kimberly Huang, Selina Yang WEB Riya Chopra, Gregory Wu TECH Anika Arora, Christine Dong BUSINESS Alisha Chhangani CIRCULATION Sreetama Chowdhury ADVERTISING Sabrina Cai, Carolyn Qian EVENTS Gokul Ramapriyan, Monisha Saxena WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Anya Agarwal, Sumani Alem, Megh Basu, Nishi Bhagat, Mahek Bhora, Kruthi Gollapudi, Anvi Kalucha, Maggie Lai, Tavish Mohanti, Haneul Oh, Amanda Pang, Larry Shi, Tanisha Srivatsa, Sakshi Umrotkar, Varun Upadhyay, Mingxin Wang, Alina Zeng, Brooke Zheng

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

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

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

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

By Josephine Chew Opinion Editor I’ve always fantasized about becoming a professional oboist. The dream first took hold in eighth grade, when I realized that I loved creating music and wanted to pursue it for the rest of my life. Excited at the prospect, I started practicing and improving more than I ever had before. At one point, I even brought up my vision of majoring in music to my parents. They laughed and thought it was a joke, so I let the subject go and didn’t bring it up again for another three years. My hopes somewhat squashed, I hesitated to give music my full effort and grew increasingly doubtful of my ability to one day perform professionally.

I never made a deliberate decision to let go of my aspiration, but looking back at my high school years, I definitely placed music on the back burner. It was an area I pursued with restrained passion, as I always felt pressured to prioritize academics. I never paused to consider that grades didn’t have to take absolute precedence over my extracurricular interests.

Three years flew by and the summer of junior year, I sat down to start my college apps. I again toyed with the thought of applying for a music dual degree; however, I let the idea quietly dissipate after my parents slammed me with another vehement veto.

In consolation, I reasoned that I wasn’t good enough to make it into music school because I hadn’t devoted myself to the oboe enough.

I told myself that playing in a university orchestra would be enough, but I still felt unfulfilled. I started asking friends and instructors why they majored in music, and in late November, one of their statements struck home; my orchestra woodwind coach said she majored in music because the thought of not pursuing music made her sad.

Opinion 5

ARIA'S APPROACH

Changing the way we attribute actions

By Aria Lakhmani Opinion Editor

As much as I’ve squashed my musical goals over the years, I still identified with her words. As a result, I made a spontaneous decision to apply for a music dual degree in spite of my self-doubt. I felt myself bubble with excitement — for the first time, I felt motivated to work on college apps. The “why major” essays suddenly became easy, and I happily geeked out over oboe studio offerings on university websites. I felt overwhelmingly relieved to be pursuing what I love, as I’d finally unstoppered a long suppressed desire.

My late decision means that I’ll spend the next month madly practicing and pulling together last-minute audition repertoire and recordings for colleges that I might not even attend, but I’m glad to be taking my shot.

At the same time, I wish I had allowed myself this opportunity earlier — the freedom to explore both music and academics in a balanced way — and liberated myself from the dominant idea that pursuing the arts is impractical. If I had respected my own musical interests in high school, I would be a stronger musician, and I wouldn’t have had to scrap academics either; one or two fewer weighted classes and a more strategic allocation of energy would have cleared space for musical growth. Instead of feeling perpetually dissatisfied with my tepid oboe endeavors, I could've harnessed my musical motivation to push for improvement in every area of my life.

While what you prioritize is ultimately your own decision, the advice I would give to my freshman self and anyone else is this: if you love something and you don’t want to spend the rest of your life wondering what you could have done with it, pursue it. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Looking past the stress at MSJ “Ugh, everyone here is too competitive. I wish I went to another school, so I could actually stand out.” MSJ students often echo similar complaints as they begin thinking about college applications.

When classes become tough and other responsibilities pile on, discouraged and frustrated students wish for less academic stress in their lives. Despite our understandable position, these comments are quite privileged and overlook the numerous benefits that come with living in the MSJ area.

It’s no secret that many MSJ students come from families that are financially stable and can afford supplementary classes with relative ease for the most part. We flock to test prep and tutoring centers year-round — many of which cost thousands. Additionally, most MSJ students have the luxury of focusing their time solely on academics and extracurriculars and do not need to work jobs to earn anything more than pocket money. Although it may seem trivial, we have access to any books and additional supplies and don’t have to worry about compromising resources to save money — a hefty concern for less-fortunate students.

Aside from socioeconomic status, the strong cultural emphasis on academics among MSJ parents encourages them to eagerly invest in our education and push us to stand out in our classes. While it is true that this parental pressure and MSJ’s own academic culture is often quite overbearing and can have many adverse effects, this pressure also pushes us to our limits, training us to succeed in difficult academic situations. When we succeed in a difficult class, it undoubtedly

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A few weeks ago, a friend of mine sought my advice when working with an assigned partner for a project: “My partner is unbelievable. We scheduled to meet to work on our project but she canceled at the last minute! She is so inconsiderate and undependable.” My first instinct was to agree with my friend even though I didn’t know who her partner was — after all, only a careless person would do something like that, right? Minutes later, my friend’s partner apologized to her profusely and explained that her pet had suddenly fallen sick, prompting an unexpected visit to the veterinarian. I immediately felt guilty for automatically attributing her action to her personality rather than considering other factors in the situation.

It is often said that a person’s actions can reveal a lot about their personality, and this statement certainly has merit. Continually forgetting to complete responsibilities may be indicative of a person who is a bit careless or forgetful. However, if we try to apply this logic to justify an action, the results can be extremely flawed and damaging. When we attribute a person’s behavior exclusively to immutable characteristics such as laziness or recklessness, we’re neglecting important situational factors that may impact what a person does. As an example, when a classmate shows up late to class, we’re more likely to

jump to the conclusion that they are irresponsible rather than consider other possibilities, such as if they were talking to another teacher. This tendency is commonly known as the fundamental attribution error, and it can be instrumental in determining our relationships and perspectives.

Rationalizing a person’s behavior by attributing it to their personality can lead to the formation of prejudices that are hard to break. If our first impression of a person is that they possess negative personality traits, we’re less likely to effectively communicate and engage with them, leading to frustration on both ends of the conversation. Additionally, it makes us unable to appreciate the person’s positive traits and causes us to be overly critical of minor mishaps. In extreme cases, we may even cut contacts with the person and miss out on the opportunity to form a fulfilling friendship.

Falling prey to the fundamental attribution error is easy, but making small adjustments to the way we interpret actions can go a long way towards avoiding it. Rather than immediately assuming the reason behind an action or attributing behavior to specific personality traits, take a step back to inquire about situational aspects. Remind yourself that we are all human and are prone to bad days and emergencies; a dose of empathy and an understanding of circumstances can be helpful in forming lasting relationships. ▪

By Varun Upadhyay & Mingxin Wang Staff Writers

serves as hope for the future when we are faced with tough situations. With an environment that emphasizes learning and academic perseverance, MSJ should be credited, at least in part, for our academic success.

Our school is also in the heart of Silicon Valley, the home of big tech and entrepreneurship. Living in this area gives STEM students relatively easier access to internships and other opportunities: shadowing medical professionals, working at local software companies, and conducting basic science research, just to name a few. These opportunities grant us valuable firsthand experience in different fields, giving those who wish to pursue STEM a head start for college and guidance towards future careers.

Although being an MSJ student can feel overwhelming, we must appreciate the upsides as well. With an academic culture that nurtures perseverance, innumerable opportunities at our fingertips, and socioeconomic privilege for most, we are better off than many other students in different school districts. It is easy to focus only on the stress at MSJ, but that difficulty ultimately gives us strength.

By fully utilizing and appreciating our resources and uplifting one another through academic and social challenges, we can achieve our full potential as students and lead successful high school careers. ▪

STAFF WRITERS VARUN UPADHYAY & MINGXIN WANG.

6 Feature

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The Smoke Signal

Dad Jokes

By Jonathan Liu, Sreetama Chowdhury, Christine Dong & Kruthi Gollapudi News Editor & Staff Writers

Thursday, December 19, 2019

What makes a good dad joke? Well, it’s apparent. But even if you’re not a dad, dad jokes can still be an enjoyable activity — as long as you can find them relatively funny.

history of dad jokes The dad joke was born centuries after the establishment of the patriarchy, when fathers were authoritative disciplinary figures in the household, according to historian E. Anthony Rotundo. During the late 1800s, fathers began to express a more compassionate side of themselves. After World War II, fathers became caring figureheads of their households, forming close emotional relationships with their children. Since then, the teasing and joking nature between kids and their dads has taken form, leading to the rise of dad jokes.

creating your own dad joke Step 1

Step 3

Step 2

Knowing where the line is.

It’s crucial that you know the difference between a dad joke and a bad joke — dad jokes are classic and clever, while bad jokes are too cheesy, overused, and just not funny. Dad jokes are meant to make the listener laugh, not cringe — or well, not cringe too much, anyway.

Step 4

Think about your own dad, The dad aspect of dad jokes Clever manipulation of language is about family dynamics comes largely from the fact crucial to dad jokes, so always be on and household chores. that they’re often about the the lookout for double meanings or Incorporate all of these into everyday lives of the average homophones. Dad jokes can either your dad jokes, if you can. dad. While jokes about, be set up with a traditional Your dad’s probably used say, large African animals hook, line, and sinker, or to millions of pestering are funny, they just don’t they can be slid into casual questions from his kid(s), hit quite as hard as jokes conversation. The latter is easier and some of the best dad about fatherly experiences. and more natural to achieve most of jokes originate from snappy You could even say they’re the time, so keep your ears honed for retorts to those questions. irrelephant. any potential opportunities.

famous dad jokes: ranked & Rated rank: 1 rating: 10/10 rank: 2 rating: 7/10 rank: 3 rating: 4/10 rank: 4 rating: 2/10

puns

Making puns demands two things: great familiarity with the language of your choice and constant vigilance. Puns, like other dad jokes, can cause a nearly instant chorus of groans. However, only puns can be subtly inserted into casual conversation, leaving everyone stunned at your quick wit and creativity.

Mastering puns is no joke. It’s hard work, so don’t punish yourself if some fall flat. We give puns a 10/10.

question & answer

Many jokes are set up in the question and answer format where the joke teller asks a question and then answers with the punchline. They’re common, lovable, and can be clever in wordplay. But they have one fatal flaw: due to the format of the joke, your audience can preemptively cringe at the impending punchline.

Still, they deserve 7/10. Don’t question it.

slapstick

Unlike the other items on this list, slapstick requires less fatherly wit and wordplay and more fatherly will to embarrass yourself. Physically. Slapstick humor is characterized by exaggerated klutziness, violence, and props. Stick to the wordplay: it’s cheaper, funnier, and will probably hurt less. We rate this a 4/10.

"hi hungry, i'm dad."

“Hi Hungry, I’m Dad” and its many variations are notorious for how terrible they are. While this dad joke arguably could qualify as some sort of wordplay, it’s tired. Its overuse is guaranteed to leave your audience starving for better comedy, and it simply doesn’t deserve to be ranked any higher. At most, it’s a 2/10, if only because of its infam(ine)y.

Winter is the season for family, making it the perfect occasion to break out a dad joke. We’ve provided a few cool dad jokes to prepare you for the holidays.

es k o j r e t win

- How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together.

- What do polar bears eat for breakfast? Seals. Also, frosted snowflakes.

- I’m glad the fog is clearing up. It won’t be mist.

If your dad joke gets a chilly reception, then you can respond with: - I didn’t know my jokes would be so polarizing.

- I was just trying to break the ice with you.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

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Feature 7

student spotlight:

krystal mao

By Anvi Kalucha Staff Writer

A MUSICAL BACKGROUND Junior Krystal Mao’s singing journey began at just six years old when her mother signed her up for a local choir group in hopes that she would open up. “I guess [my] biggest inspiration is honestly my mom ... She's always the one pushing me and she's always telling me to not stop working, don’t give up,” Mao said. She took the advice to heart and has now performed internationally and won numerous awards for her opera singing.

Though she was shy as a child, Mao gained confidence in her voice and her singing; After performing on stage for the first time, she found she was “pretty good” and decided to pursue performing. Coming from a musically gifted family, Mao has always been drawn to the arts. Her father taught himself multiple instruments, specializing in the erhu, a Chinese violin. Her sister studies composing at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, having previously written music for Mao to perform. She also often accompanies Mao on the piano at her performances when there is no orchestra available.

FINDING A VOICE As a classical singer in a modern age, Mao has faced difficulty finding her own unique sound when performing on stage. Mao said, “I am currently finding a place for myself by kind of combining pop music and opera music.” Though her choice to sing classical Chinese music was originally a way to keep the traditional songs alive, she struggles to maintain relevance to the contemporary audience. Mao has performed internationally in Beijing, Austria, and Germany, gaining professional experience and creating life-long friendships. A notable competition she remembers fondly is the 2018 Water Cube Cup Chinese Art Song Festival, hosted in Beijing, China, for performers from all over the world. “Before, I would not be able to do this [performing].

I would be freaking out … I am no longer shy, I love being on stage, I love attention,” Mao said. She placed third place worldwide amidst the 7,000 participants, not only establishing herself as a remarkable singer but also earning the opportunity to meet remarkable people.

For students with similar aspirations as her, Mao suggests that they keep working towards their goals and be less mindful of what others say. Despite the long process to develop a talent, the feeling singing evokes makes it all worthwhile. “When you're on the 'cliff' or when you're behind the curtain, you're really, really scared …

But when you actually jump or actually go on stage and you’re like ‘Oh, it’s not so bad.’” Mao said when describing singing.

Mao has a busy schedule ahead of her, including the Junior Bach Festival and National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Classical Singing Competition in early 2020. She is looking forward to her future as a musician, aiming to be a professional artist someday. While becoming a singer is high-risk, Mao believes that with hard work and the support of her family, she can turn her passion for music into a career.

PHOTOS COURTESY KRYSTAL MAO. GRAPHICS COURTESY NEEDPIX.COM.

8 Centerspread

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The Smoke Signal

2011 occupy Wall Street

2013 black lives matter Black Lives Matter is an international activist movement against violence and racism towards African-Americans. Previous acts of racial discrimination accumulated over time, reaching a breaking point when African-American teen, Trayvon Martin, was shot and killed in early 2012.

These events caused Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi to co-found the movement in 2013. The movement began with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, used to signify a user’s solidarity in the fight against the violence and discrimination on African-American lives.

Social

In 2011, Adbusters, an activist magazine published by Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Kalle Lasn, started the Occupy Wall Street movement with a strong call to action against income inequality. Over the course of a month, an initial group of 1000 protesters grew to more than 10,000, including New York City’s largest labor unions. They marched to protest the immorality of corporations allegedly buying political influence. There were similar protests in other cities, including San Francisco. Occupy Wall Street sparked a discussion about the severe socio-economic disparity in the US and inspired the Fight for $15 movement, which secured a minimum wage raise in New York.

2016 #oscarssowhite

2017 women’s march

2018 March for our Lives On March 24, 2018, students led the March For Our Lives demonstration in Washington D.C. to protest widespread gun violence in America. In addition to about 800 nationwide sister marches, approximately two million participants joined the cause across the US, marking one of the largest protests in American history. Protesters encouraged raising the age of gun ownership to 21 and advocated for the restoration of the 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban and background checks on universal gun sales. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Oprah Winfrey, and Ariana Grande also joined the cause. This march spurred the passing of 67 gun control laws in 2018 alone.

2010s Climate Change Despite being a burgeoning problem for decades, the global issue of climate change has become increasingly urgent in the 2010s. Many largely youth-led organizations such as Zero Hour, the US Youth Climate Strike, and Sunrise Movement, aim to spread awareness of the environmental crisis. In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced by 45% in the next ten years to keep the Earth’s temperature from rising more than 1.5°C this century. There has been increased awareness about methods of sustainability and climate activism, exemplified by Greta Thunberg’s environmental efforts. Additionally, this decade experienced proposed legislation like the Paris Agreement, which the US has declared to exit, and the Green New Deal.

e d a c De

Over the last ten years, many social movements advocated for civil rights across America. Some examples include the pro-choice movement, which called for an end to anti-abortion legislation in certain states, while #MeToo aims to provide people with resources to heal and push for more robust policies regarding sexual harassment. The monumental social movements of the 2010s tended to be more progressive than in the past and heavily involved the younger generation, such as climate change activism and March For Our Lives. As demonstrated in the large number of youth-led social movements in the 2010s, the next generation of leaders will continue to take steps towards speaking out against injustice.

In 2016, April Reign created the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite to highlight the lack of diversity in Oscar nominees. The hashtag represented Hollywood’s demographics; a UCLA diversity report stated that people of color make up a mere 19.8% of film leads, despite representing 27% of the US population. To address this, Hollywood created big-budget movies that feature primarily non-white casts like Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians, and nominated more women and people of color. Despite these efforts, minorities still make up only 23% of the film industry.

Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2017, protesters across the world joined each other on the streets in the Women’s March on January 21. During Trump’s presidential campaign, anti-feminist tensions rose as a tape record exposed inappropriate conversations about women.

The march emphasized women’s reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration reform, all of which were perceived to be under attack by the newly-minted Trump administration. The march became the largest single-day protest in US history, with 408 marches planned nationwide and 168 events in 81 other countries.

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Thursday, December 19, 2019

This December marks the end of an influential decade in both pop culture and politics. To discuss many social changes that have shaped our generation’s experience in the past decade, the Smoke Signal has compiled the highlights of the 2010s.

in theReview

The rise of the Internet has led to much of this decade’s pop culture. New technology and ideas are constantly developing, and with the Internet, they have spread quickly. Despite connecting different people across the globe, pop culture today has also been subjected to a lot of criticism. As people adjust to a political climate where political correctness is extremely important, many ideas have been condemned for being problematic.

This cultural rejection of certain ideas, dubbed “cancel culture,” shows how pop culture in the 2010s must be appropriate for a wide variety of communities, which is reflective of the Internet’s influence across borders. The age of the Internet is the ultimate U S connection between people politics with different perspecexperienced major tives. reforms in the 2010s.

While the decade brought about progressive laws to help more Americans, particularly underrepresented minorities, the country’s political climate became increasingly partisan. As the US moves into the new decade, people are hoping for a less tense and more cooperative political atmosphere. A poll from Gallup shows 54% of Americans favor their elected representatives to compromise rather than sticking to their personal ideologies. As multiple states across the nation see massive increases in voter turnout, voting awareness for the upcoming election of 2020 has increased with many people 2018 stressing the right to make one’s 116th congress voice heard.

2010s

Political 2011 Death of Osama bin Laden 2017 #Metoo The #MeToo movement emerged in 2017 after multiple women accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse, rape, and sexual abuse. Following these allegations, other women have also come forward with similar accounts against other powerful men, including comedian and actor Louis CK and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The viral #MeToo hashtag on social media sparked major social change as more people found the courage to speak up against harassment. The widespread coverage of this issue and the appropriate consequences for perpetrators have opened up a larger acceptance of victims of sexual violence.

2010s Abortion-rights Movement Throughout the 20th century, groups predominantly consisting of women began pro-choice movements to support safe and legal access to abortion. In recent years, the movement has been revitalized due to the rise of restrictive legislation on abortion rights in numerous states. Alabama passed the most restrictive law to date on May 15 of this year, outlawing abortion in nearly all cases. Pro-choice advocates flocked to the capitol building in Alabama in a March for Reproductive Freedom rally. Across the country, similar movements supported by the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood protested for #StopTheBans.

On May 2, 2011, US forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the Islamist terrorist group Al-Qaeda. This was a major step in fighting international terrorism, and to many American people, it was the begninning of a closure to the Al-Qaeda-initiated September 11 attacks. After bin Laden’s death, Al-Qaeda’s strength significantly diminished, lowering the threat of future terrorist attacks. However, the fall of Al-Qaeda also led to the rise of other terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The recent death of the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by the US evidently demonstrates that the War on Terror continues to this day.

2015 Legalization of gay marriage In 2015, the Supreme Court removed all statewide bans on same-sex marriage in the civil rights case Obergefell v. Hodges. Prior to this ruling, same-sex couples could formalize their relationship in only 36 states and the District of Columbia. Gay rights activists advocated for this case to recognize same-sex couples as equal in the eyes of the law. It provided same-sex couples with the same benefits as opposite-sex couples, such as tax breaks and the ability to sponsor their spouse for US citizenship. This milestone ruling made the US the most populous country to legalize gay marriage.

2013 Edward Snowden USA Leaks Former government contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), Edward Snowden, is known for revealing the NSA’s widespread global surveillance.

Snowden leaked classified documents to the press which exposed the NSA’s collection of citizen phone and Internet data they obtained by having companies like Verizon and Google turn over their customer’s records. US government officials justified the widespread monitoring with the Patriot Act, a law which allows broad surveillance to deter terrorism. The backlash that ensued sparked debate across the country about national security and individual privacy.

2016 2016 Presidential Election In 2016, Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the American presidential election, becoming the 45th President of the US. Their respective campaigns until the general election were deeply polarizing; Trump was criticized for his racist comments and for promoting divisiveness in the US, while Clinton was scrutinized for her use of a private email server. Furthermore, the FBI launched an investigation to uncover a possible Russian interference in the election. Although she did not end up taking office, Clinton won the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes, making this the fifth US election where the victor lost the popular vote.

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The Smoke Signal

Centerspread 9

By Anya Agarwal, Megh Basu, Monisha Saxena & Brooke Zheng Staff Writers

Pop Culture The Rise of Memes

Since the first appearance of streaming services in 1998, their rise has revolutionized the entertainment industry. Beginning with YouTube, Amazon Video, and Netflix, these services have allowed customers to watch their favorite movies with one click. A growing number of networks are releasing their own streaming platforms to cater to a larger audience. This age of streaming has also garnered controversy from acclaimed film industry professionals, such as Steven Spielberg, who advocates for traditional movie theater films rather than streaming films. Despite criticism, the streaming industry is still rapidly growing to this day.

The Rise of streaming serviceS

Throughout the past decade, memes have been a primary method of communicating humor on the Internet.

Although memes have existed throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s, they gained more popularity as social media influence spread rapidly. From Pepe the Frog to doge to Tide PODS to the endless number of SpongeBob memes, the list continues to expand today. Although it can seem meaningless, meme culture as a whole significantly influences the thoughts of people across all generations. The fact that memes are found everywhere shows that they have become a major defining aspect in our generation’s culture.

Top tech breakthroughs

In a world of rapidly advancing technology, the 2010s were filled with innovative technological breakthroughs. For example, companies like Uber and Lyft provide an on-demand taxi service available at the touch of an app. Although founded in 2009, Uber took off in the early 2010s; as of 2018, Uber has around 91 million monthly active platform consumers. In the automobile industry, Tesla revolutionized the idea of self-driving cars with its first autopilot-equipped vehicle in 2014. Whether we realize it or not, from the start of this decade until now, our lives have been deeply impacted as we have become increasingly reliant on the constantly evolving technology of the world.

Which US political event affected you the most and why?

The current 116th Congress of the US is the most diverse in history. Women and people of color were elected in record numbers in 2018. Within both chambers, 24% of lawmakers are non-white, an 82% increase from the 107th Congress in 2001. This change in Congressional demographics creates a more accurate representation of citizens. Representation of previously marginalized groups is vital because it allows Americans with different backgrounds to have their concerns heard in government. For instance, one of the first Muslim representatives, Ilhan Omar, put an end to a 181-year-old ban on headwear in Congress.

I don’t follow politics too much, but when we legalized same sex marriage in the country, that I was a pretty big politithink the changing cal thing that’s happened abortion laws in the US, espethis decade. I’m happy that cially Alabama, affected me the most we’ve made progress in recogbecause I'm very passionate about the nizing others’ individuality and fact that women have the right to do being more accepting of those in our society. anything they want with their own bodies. As a — Vignesh Mannemela, 12 female and someone who lived in Alabama, I find it impossible to wrap my head around the idea of why there are laws that restrict women from doing what they want with their own bodies.

Especially because many of those laws were What was your created by very backwards-thinking, old favorite or most conservative men who have views that don't match with the growth and new memorable trend from ideas of our generation. the early 2010s and — Anusha Roy, 9

how do you feel about it today?

2018 Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal In March 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica had used Facebook application program interfaces and personal user data to target advertising to influence users’ perspectives on the 2016 election candidates. Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, testified before Congress on April 10, 2018 to answer specific questions about the scandal. In July 2019, the Federal Trade Commission voted in favor of fining Facebook $5 billion to settle the investigation. This event significantly increased Facebook’s focus on privacy and security, and reminded other tech companies like Google and Apple to be more transparent with their privacy policies.

There have been quite a few trends in the past decade but I believe the most memorable one was definitely the dab. Although it is usually placed with a variety of other dancing trends, only the dab was able to extend to typically uninvolved communities such as with teachers and senior citizens.

Today, it isn't seen very often but any sight of it brings back a tinge of nostalgia and it can still be quite funny at times.”

— Jonathan Tao, 10

Silly Bandz were the biggest trend for me because I used to always play with them as a kid and it was fun — in elementary school — to be able to have something to do during recess. I still like them, and honestly, I still have some at home.

— Haarika Bezawada, 11

PHOTOS BY WASHINGTONPOST. COM, CNN. COM, BERKELEY. EDU, S-NBCNEWS. COM, USNEWS. COM, HELSINKITIMES. FI, GRAMMY. COM, CLOUDFRONT. NET, CLEANTECHNICA. COM, & HEARSTAPPS. COM.

10 Arts & Entertainment

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Stop Lowballing, and Start Appreciating

By Kruthi Gollapudi & Lily Oh Staff Writers

The age of digging through clearance boxes to purchase DVD and Blu-ray movies is long gone. In the past decade, the Internet has quickly taken over our lives, influencing how we perceive and consume content. A quick scan of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video is all it takes to find the perfect pastime entertainment. While streaming services and subscriptions may be efficient and cost-effective for individuals, they have their cons. The conveniency of such platforms has created a highly distorted standard regarding the value of entertainment and created a competitive environment for artists and content creators alike.

Making entertainment available at a shockingly low price appeals to customers; however, it is ultimately unsustainable. For example, MoviePass, a movie ticketing service, charged $9.95 for a monthly subscription model that gives the subscriber one free movie ticket daily. Since the average cost for a movie ticket

nationwide was $9.26 in the second quarter of 2019, any customer watching more than one movie a month would cause MoviePass to lose profit. After numerous setbacks, MoviePass shut down on September 14.

While appealing, MoviePass’ business model was impractical for both the business and the customer. Studios only take about half the value of every ticket sold domestically — the theaters take the rest. In fact, in a 2016 dataset showing the profit and loss of 279 Hollywood movies, 49% had a loss. From this, it is clear that movie tickets are priced as low as possible. However, services like MoviePass cause customers to come to expect high quality entertainment at a low price and refrain from going to the movies without such a service, not only hurting the profits of movie creators but excluding themselves from polished entertainment and a valuable experience.

In order to stay in the market, theaters

PHOTOS COURTESY FLICKR.COM.

must lower prices, but doing so would make it much more likely for movie creators to lose money. This cycle is especially pressuring to indie creators who can’t afford to take on such losses, and would disable creators from investing time, effort, and money into producing quality films.

In response to the low perceived value of entertainment apparent in today’s society, one might suggest hiking up the price of products universally to generate more revenue. Although this idea might seem feasible for a short period, it is unlikely to work. Having higher price tags will keep customers away, as they will doubt the product is worth the price. Moreover, after the experience of a cheaper service, they may not be willing to pay market price following the expiration of said service, turning to cheaper alternatives like waiting for the content to be available on a streaming service or even illegally downloading it. “But once you’ve gotten something for what feels like free, it’s difficult to go back to paying for it,” The Verge News Editor Nick Statt said.

Similar to the effects of MoviePass, musical streaming services have increased competition and made it difficult for budding artists to be successful.

A 2017 study from Digital Media Finland that analyzed the cost efficiency of Spotify and Apple Music’s system of “pro-rata” streaming, in which rights-holders are paid according to market share. They found that services benefited the most, gaining 30% of each subscriber’s fee, while right-holders — labels, producers, and performers — share 55-60%, and those in charge of composition claim the remaining 10-15%.

In order to truly prosper in the age of online streaming, artists need to fit within the confines of the Billboard Hot 100. Famous artists signed to big record labels producing similar, cookie-cutter pop and hip-hop content have a higher chance of

gracing the charts than original independent musicians. This system rewards top artists so unreasonably that even average artists, including indie ones, don’t receive their fair share.

This problem is also apparent in the gaming industry, with the subscription model offered

by Xbox Game Pass and Apple Arcade revolutionizing the industry. Despite a rise in indie game success after 2008, independent game developers have struggled financially due to increasing competition. The franchise-based mindset people have about absorbing their content has hurt those producing alternative projects and reduced their chances of maintaining an economically stable lifestyle.

By gravitating towards streaming and subscription services, people have found cheaper and more accessible ways to consume content. Their actions, however, ultimately benefit the corporations that claim most of their revenue and pay creators as little as possible.

To change this, people can find alternative methods that compensate artists deservingly.

For example, Bandcamp is a music platform that promotes music under the radar, allows artists to set prices for their own songs, and establishes a direct connection between users and musicians. When it comes to gaming, itch.io is a great site dedicated to indie developers that includes a database of their creations and incorporates a blog that gives users insight by providing them with interviews and recommendations from developers.

So buy a movie ticket at the theater, download songs from iTunes, and purchase tickets to shows of talented independent artists. Let’s start appreciating our favorite artists by accepting their work at face value, and nothing less. ▪

Thursday, December 19, 2019

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club Spotlight: MSJ impromptu

Arts & Entertainment 11

Constantly looking for new ways to improve their performances, the officers recently added a visual aspect to their performances.

While students perform, images and videos of eye-catching scenery are broadcast behind the performers, adding a unique addition to supplement the beautiful music. During one of Kam’s performances at the Fremont Main Library, an aesthetic background of a snowy day in the wilderness dazzled audiences on a big screen behind her. “The people really liked that, and we use these performances to empower individuals in our community,” Kam said.

By Maggie Lai & Larry Shi Staff Writers

Combining performing arts with service learning, MSJ Impromptu’s mission is to help serve the local community by giving students the opportunity to perform music outside of school for different audiences from children to the elderly. For many members of the Fremont community, monthly performances at senior centers and libraries around Fremont have become a heartwarming tradition.

MSJ Impromptu recently performed at the Fremont Main Library on November 2. Since its founding, MSJ Impromptu has consistently held performances all around the city of Fremont for attendees of all ages. MSJ Impromptu officers usually take turns contacting different locations and organizations for potential performance venues. The club offers an open signup for all members to perform music of their choice either by themselves or with a group, with a time limit of five minutes. From Baroque violin pieces by Bach to newly commissioned works by contemporary artists on piano, a variety of music is presented at every concert.

On December 21, MSJ Impromptu is planning to organize a joint concert with other performing arts clubs at Irvington High School in an event called Fortes Fighting Fires. Six clubs from four different Fremont high schools will also participate in the charity event, with all ticket proceeds going towards the California Community Foundation to help with wildfire relief.

By performing music all around the community, MSJ Impromptu hopes to allow members to simultaneously further their passion for music while also bringing smiles to other people’s faces. “What I love most about being in MSJ Impromptu is performing music while serving the community. One of the most rewarding parts is when the audience tells us how much they enjoyed our performance and hope we come back,” Kam said.

This year, MSJ Impromptu President Senior Allison Kam hopes for MSJ Impromptu to perform at a larger variety of places to reach a wider audience. “We use music to serve the community, so it started off as only going to senior centers, but this year we’d like to start going to more places like the library and special needs centers,” Kam said. In addition to benefiting the community, performers for the club earn service hours for their work.

PHOTOS COURTESY ALLISON KAM.

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Thursday, December 19, 2019

Hamilton is Revolutionary

By Kruthi Gollapudi Staff Writer

Renowned as an award-winning cultural phenomenon, Hamilton is nothing short of extraordinary. Returning to San Francisco for its second national tour, the production had high standards to live up to — but thankfully, it does not disappoint. Beautiful set design, a revolutionary soundtrack, and a tremendously talented ensemble cast make Hamilton a true masterpiece that exceeds any and all expectations.

Ever since its debut on Broadway, the show has gained immense success, winning 11 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in 2016. Written and composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the production’s popularity is largely due to its unconventional rap-based soundtrack and fascinating retelling of what would otherwise be a dull history lesson. The play follows founding father Alexander Hamilton (Julius Thomas III) as he overcomes his inferior status as an immigrant from the West Indies to become George Washington’s (Darnell Abraham) right-hand during the Revolutionary War, and eventually the first Secretary of the Treasury of the newly independent US. Along with the struggles that come with the creation of a new country, Hamilton’s strenuous relationship with Aaron Burr (Donald Webber Jr.), a soldier-turned-politician and Hamilton’s fiercest rival, influences much of the plot’s ups-and-downs and eventually, even Hamilton’s death. Throughout its course, however, the play does a fantastic job at portraying Hamilton as both an American hero and a flawed human being. This is most apparent when he has an extramarital affair while married to Eliza Schuyler (Julia K. Harriman). The show strips Hamilton down from the pedestal many hold him up on as a founding father and displays him as far

from perfect, someone everyone can relate to.

Most of the magic this show has to offer can be credited to the environment created by its impeccable set design. There is never a change in backdrop or scenery, making actors rely heavily on props and costumes to convey the constant location changes throughout the story. Actors are always present on stage, illustrating a subplot on either the set’s wrap-around balcony or revolving center platform, contributing to the fast tempo and continuous movement that propels the plot forward. Choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler’s energetic and creative work perfectly encompasses all aspects of the show, from the chaos of war to the heart-wrenching family dynamics, with the performers staying precisely on beat to Miranda’s rhythmic score. Although the quick pace keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, without prior knowledge of Hamilton’s premise, play-goers might not be able to understand much of this show’s plot due to its fast speed.

Although the choreography is spectacular, Hamilton’s soundtrack is truly what makes the performance memorable. Its hip-hop and R&B roots provide a fresh, modern perspective, painting the story of an elitist group of men as a more endearing tale — one of great diversity, rocked with entertaining rap battles, emotional melodies, and empowering anthems. Thomas’s powerful rendition of “My Shot,” Webber’s soulful tenor in “Wait for it,” and Harriman’s heartbreaking but beautiful take on the ballad “Burn” were only a few great performances that both showcased the wide range of musical variety and highlighted the sheer talent Hamilton’s cast possesses.

It’s generally hard for a recasted show to hold up to the success of its predecessor, but

PHOTOS COURTESY SAN-FRANCISCO-THEATER. COM.

this production doesn’t face that problem, making a triumphant return to the San Francisco stage. The ensemble cast is of great caliber and delivers a mesmerizing performance fueled by their incredible talent. The complex relationships between Hamilton, Eliza, and Angelica Schuyler (Sabrina Sloan) are carried by the unmistakable chemistry between the actors. Abraham’s stern, yet stoic, portrayal of George Washington and King George’s (Rick Negron) impeccable comedic timing also deserve high praise. And although his French accent as Marquis de Lafayette (Simon Longnight) bordered on incomprehensible at times, Longnight made up for it by delivering a hilariously entertaining Thomas Jefferson in the second act. All together, the actors put on an outstanding performance that is hard not to love.

Driven by stellar choreography, a sensational soundtrack, and phenomenal performers, Hamilton is anything but a disappointment. Die-hard fans of the original 2015 Broadway production may still have a soft spot for the first ensemble cast, influencing their opinion of the revival, but even they would agree that this show does the musical justice. In short, Hamilton is young, scrappy, and hungry, and certainly does not throw away its shot. ▪ Rating: A The Smoke Signal features the winning review from a competition among all first-year journalists.

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Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Smoke Signal

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Arts & Entertainment 13

C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R knives out Could Be sharper

fall in love with romance

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By Sreetama Chowdhury Staff Writer A star-studded take on the traditional murder mystery, Knives Out translates all the elements of a classic whodunit into the modern world. The film follows the exploits of hapless nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) and eccentric detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as they attempt to solve the murder of elderly mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) while avoiding red herrings from Thrombey’s extended family. Both playing into and subverting the tropes the audience has come to expect from the genre, the quirky, charming almost-thriller still manages to end on a heartwarming note.

The sequence of Knives Out’s events follows the traditional setup and structure of a mystery: the movie opens with Thrombey’s bloody corpse, briefly introduces the rest of the characters, and then dives headfirst into the investigation itself. Cabrera and Blanc sift through a tangled web of lies and intrigue as the rest of the Thrombeys try to thwart their searching — with only 48 hours to find the truth, they race against time to solve the

mystery. Plot twist after plot twist leaves the audience in suspense; sleuthing montages are punctuated by fast-paced action scenes and quieter but equally tense conversations.

The movie wraps itself up quite nicely, though, with an ending that fills each plot hole and ties up every loose end as Blanc, in true murder mystery fashion, sits down the entire cast of characters and exposes the murderer.

As nostalgic as most aspects of Knives Out are, the film is still set in 2019, and it makes a well-intentioned but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to insert contemporary politics into its plot. Cabrero is the only relevant character of color, and while the film has ample opportunity to explore her family’s immigrant status, it squanders that potential in favor of halfhearted references to the 2016 election and President Trump. It feels almost as though the film expects a pat on the back for even bringing these issues up in the first place, but in reality, its social commentary is the bare minimum and could have been much sharper.

The characters in Knives Out are largely forgettable and one-dimensional, nearly caricatures. At times it

G a m e By t e s A short hike

By Carolyn Qian Staff Writer Appealing to Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley fans, A Short Hike by damgryu is a laid-back game for players to explore an serene mountainside.

Storyline: 4/5 For the most part, the game’s story is removed from the gameplay: the user, a bird, traverses a small island in search of cell phone reception. Without any buildup to the ending, the storyline’s sentiment feels slightly contrived. However, the game’s lack of a story doesn’t detract from its standout feature: its quirky characters, such as a frog running for mayor in his own sand-made city. The player can repeatedly talk to characters six to seven times, each with different dialogue or new quests, which is a refreshing change from the typical repetitive dialogue with non-player characters in many other games.

Aesthetics: 5/5 The game’s stunning, pixelated landscape is one of its key highlights, with attention to minute details that enhance the game’s explorative component. Most of its color palette consists of relaxed autumn colors, but some sections of the island map also include snowy, rainy, and beach settings, drawing the player to new and ever-engaging aesthetics.

Gameplay 4.5/5 The gameplay revolves around discovery: the player must collect feathers to glide farther and climb up walls to eventually reach the island’s peak, two simple features that allow players to explore the game’s varied terrain. The island has many opportunities to collect feathers and coins, though completionists will find that gameplay soon becomes repetitive, especially with the landscape providing nothing but a couple of road signs to help players orient themselves.

Nevertheless, the game’s wondrous and relaxed ambiance more than makes up for the slight repetition in the gameplay.▪ Overall: 4.5/5

seems that the audience sees more of the personalities and motivations of the various Thrombeys, specifically family black sheep Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans), than those of Cabrera. Cabrera is depicted as not much more than sweet and honest to a fault. Her relationship to her family, which ends up being crucial to the plot, is almost never actually explored on screen.

What makes Knives Out so entertaining is its skillful use of the genre. Despite various plot twists, the movie does stick to the rules of the murder mystery with its black-and-white morality, tricky set of clues, and perfect ending.

Blanc, almost Holmes-esque in his eccentricity and keen intelligence, wheedles Cabrera into helping with his investigation, the two of them forming the sleuth-and-sidekick duo that’s so common to the genre.

The combination of the setting — an old man’s old mansion, teeming with secrets and tricks — with a trail of clues, a clever detective, and a likable protagonist makes Knives Out shine as a love letter to the whodunit. ▪ Rating: B

By Megh Basu Staff Writer Intimately confessional and a swoon-worthy tribute to love, singer-songwriter Camila Cabello’s second studio album Romance is a true showcase of her vocal and lyrical talent. Released on December 6 following months of promotional singles and snippets of songs, Cabello’s sophomore album demonstrates her meteoric rise as a solo artist from 2018’s Camila.

As the title suggests, the core of Romance is the experiences and personal development that comes along with romantic relationships. Inspired by Shawn Mendes, Cabello’s boyfriend, their transition from friends to a highly publicized relationship is detailed in-depth through Cabello’s songwriting.

Romance’s first track, “Shameless”, is a perfect start to the album as it details the intensity of jumping headfirst into a relationship; with a slightly darker, pop-punk sound, it also serves as the origin story of the relationship the album revolves around. As she sings, “I need you more than I want to,” Cabello effectively sets up the recurring theme of being completely, hopelessly in love with someone.

Though the production of Romance leans heavily into pop, Cabello manages to incorporate her previous genres into her new sound. She utilizes Latin music trademarks like mariachi horns and flamenco rhythms in “Liar,” and there are

distinct R&B influences in her vocals on “This Love.” The fusion of many genres of music adds an interesting dimension to Romance while paying tribute to Cabello’s heritage and past music. She sounds truly heartbroken on tracks as she croons softly on the regretful “Feel It Twice,” while also sounding earnestly in love on “Dream of You.” Her range is impressive as ever, as she demonstrates with her breathy falsetto and dramatic belting.

Even with the remarkable vocal and production aspect of the album, Cabello’s lyricism is not to be disregarded. Her use of religious metaphor and picturesque imagery weave a beautiful picture of what falling in love is like. Each lyric chronicles a raw, emotional aspect of romance, from the bitter anger of a breakup in “Cry For Me” to the anxiety of being torn between two loves in “Bad Kind of Butterflies.”

However, Romance falls flat on numbers with multiple collaborators and producers. Cabello’s tremendous musical capability gets lost in the rap verse of “My Oh My” with DaBaby or the repetitiveness of “Senorita” with Mendes. The collaborative songs lack Cabello’s lyrical depth, instead sounding like any Top 40 single on the radio.

The cookie-cutter sound of certain songs on the record are thankfully salvaged by Cabello’s more personal tracks.

The final track, “First Man,” is undoubtedly one of Cabello’s best in her entire discography, and perfectly wraps up Romance as a whole. Singing to her father, Cabello describes a romantic relationship and sings, “You held me so tight, now someone else can/But you were the first man that really loved me.” Cabello sings about her experiences with navigating adult relationships, and then credits her father with showing her what real love is like. It is a sweet and touching song that brings a fitting end to the entire album.

Romance, ultimately, is not just a tribute to love, but a tribute to those who loved Cabello the most. ▪ Rating: B+

GENIUS.COM

the aeronauts soars away

By Tavish Mohanti Staff Writer The Aeronauts takes flight, but does it soar? Based on the historic true story of James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) and his record-breaking air balloon flight in 1862, this period film is surprisingly entertaining and has many major elements that come together to form a well-developed and well-crafted film.

The set and costume design immediately jump out at the viewer. For many period films, tacky and overly elaborate costumes serve to detract from the film’s experience. With projects like Mary Queen of Scots and Avengers: Age of Ultron under her belt, Alexandra Byrne, the costume designer for the film, expertfully created simple yet elegant designs that serve to paint a picture of Victorian-era London, complete with top hats and corsets.

The meticulous set design also works to make one feel the wind whistling past as they soar in hot air-balloons or the rumble of the cobblestone streets as the horse-drawn carriages amble by.

Never once in the film does the audience feels that the movie is dragging on, with a masterful build-up of anticipation and anxiety in every single action scene. When Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) dangles from the balloon by a finger or slips off the side of the basket, the viewer is on the edge of their seats, ready to scream at any second. As Glaisher’s physical and mental stability quickly deteriorates, and he seems to go insane, the audience is left involuntarily digging their fingernails into their palms nervously.

Felicity Jones is another blessing to this movie — or rather, she is the movie. Her excellent portrayal of Amelia Wren, a young, ambitious pilot who wants to prove herself and push her limits, is one of the best parts of the film. Jones adds limitless depth and dimension to the character, making the audience fall in love with this endearing, ambitious young woman.

She is loud and rambunctious while also displaying emotional vulnerability throughout the film. The same cannot be said about her co-star, Eddie Redmayne. His character, supposed to be

shy and quiet, comes off as one-dimensional and boring. Glaisher’s motivations are underdeveloped, leaving the audience unsatisfied and wanting more of the typical geeky Redmayne charm.

This intense inequity between the two characters creates interactions that, like a hot air balloon, are all over the place. The not-so-subtle hints of romance throughout the movie muddle a storyline already bursting at the seams with plot points and complicated character backgrounds. If the writers focused on developing the friendship between the two characters, rather than trying to create a blockbuster romance, the characters would’ve had a much more authentic dynamic. On top of that, Jones’s stunning performance contrasted with Redmayne’s underwhelming acting created an awkward relationship between the two.

The film, though based on a true story, is far from historically accurate.

A man named Henry Coxwell, not Amelia Wren, went up in the balloon with James Glaisher. However, the creative decision to change the sto-

IMDB.COM

ry in this way adds a contemporary twist that made the film more enjoyable and relevant in the 21st century.

It talks about the struggle of women to gain respect in the scientific community, the lack of inclusion in organizations like the Royal Society of London, and detrimental gender stereotypes and roles — all of which are important topics to be discussed in today’s modern world.

Surprisingly, though thoroughly historically inaccurate, the film stays true to many of the scientific details, including the behavior of the atmosphere at certain heights and mechanisms of an air balloon.

Those small details with wonderful set and costume designs supplementing Jones’s award-winning performance create a film experience that makes one wish they could hop into a hot air-balloon and fly away. By avoiding the typical pitfalls of period films and sappy women-centred dramas, The Aeronauts delivers, at the very least, an enjoyable film experience. ▪ Rating: B+

14 Sports

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Club Spotlight: MSJ Sports Analytics club

By Sabrina Cai & Anvi Kalucha Staff Writers

Introduction In late 2018, MSJ Sports Analytics Club was formed amid the rising influence of data analysis in the sports industry. They use existing data within the NBA and NFL to teach members how to form game tactics and predict player fitness. Club meetings are usually on the second and fourth Thursdays in A2 at lunch and are advised by Math Teacher Scott Sugden.

Background Sports analytics involves examining team and player statistics to find patterns and predict hypothetical outcomes using the trends discovered. A popular application is in fantasy sports, where players use data from real athletes to draft ideal teams and compete with others online. Catering to students interested in sports and data science, the club combines the two topics to focus on analyzing the data. “Not only that, sports analytics as a career has also been growing in recent years. It can be a really cool opportunity,” Treasurer Junior Ajay Bati said.

The club officers have a spectrum of experience with either sports, analytics, or a combination of the two; Publicity Officer Junior Sriram Murali plays on the MSJ Varsity Boys Basketball team while Vice President Junior Eric Zhang runs on the MSJ Cross Country and Track and Field teams in addition to playing fantasy sports.

Meetings/events MSJ Sports Analytics Club’s meetings open with the officers discussing statistics that measure team and player efficiency. Using these measurements, the officers then explain how the data is gathered and let members create team drafts based on the metrics. Other than intra-club competitions, meetings also feature guest speakers, which, in the past, have included Stanford University’s Sports Analytics Club’s former Tech Officer Eli Shayer and the former ESPN Director of Analytics Ben Alamar. In regards to events, members are currently preparing their submissions for the MSJ Datathon, which is hosted by the club itself. In this first-ever nationwide sports analytics competition for high school students, participants will be asked to propose a rule change in either the NFL or the NBA and submit a report on how it would impact the sport. The top six finalists will create a poster to present to the judges, who work for local sports teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Sacramento Kings. “With combining these two aspects [STEM and sports], we hope that people who are interested in STEM will find a new interest in [sports],” President Junior Avyay Varadarajan said.

MSJ Sports Analytics Club officers pose for a picture.

PHOTO BY STAFF WRITER ANVI KALUCHA.

future goals In the coming year, the officers and the club hope to attend more largescale events, including the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in March, which has about 1000 participants every year. To enter the conference, they will have to research and write papers on the data they have collected. The officers hope to show MSJ students that data science can be fun to learn and is applicable to a variety of industries. They also want to increase interest in sports analytics by demonstrating that there are job opportunities in the field after graduation. “You come [to our meetings] because you enjoy sports, not because your parents make you. If you have a passion for learning and like sports, we hope that our club will help develop your interests,” Bati said.

Sign up for the Msj datathon at msjdatathon.com!

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Smoke Signal

Guide to Bay Area Sports Venues

By Anya Agarwal & Amanda Pang Staff Writers

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Sports 15

The Bay Area is home to a variety of state-of-the-art sports venues that not only provide fans with exhilarating live sports, but also with innovative recreational activities that enhance their visit. The Smoke Signal covered four major sports venues, diving into each stadium’s history, entertainment options, and featured sports.

Levi’s stadium Levi’s Stadium opened on July 17, 2014 in Santa Clara. The enormous stadium cost $1.2 billion and can seat between 68,500 and 75,000. It is the official home of the San Francisco 49ers, after their previous home at Candlestick Park in San Francisco was beginning to show signs of decay. In the stadium’s five years of operation, it has already hosted several major events, including Super Bowl 50 and WrestleMania 34. Although the stadium is relatively new, it has already been the subject of several controversies. Players have complained about the dangerous, uneven turf and claimed that it negatively affects their performance. The 49ers have tried several different solutions, from replacing the turf to changing the way they grow the grass, but the improvements were minimal.

However, Levi’s Stadium still boasts plenty of new, advanced features; it is the first stadium ever to win a gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for its solar panels, green roof, and other environmentally friendly features. In fact, the roof is home to a rooftop farm growing herbs, tomatoes, peppers, and even edible flowers that are served in dishes by the stadium. Although Levi’s Stadium might have some drawbacks, its eco-friendly features provide a beautiful backdrop to the dynamic action of 49ers football games.

Oakland Arena Oakland Arena, previously called Oracle Arena, opened on Nov. 9, 1966 when the Oakland Seals played the San Diego Gulls in a National Hockey League (NHL) game. Following its initial grand opening, the stadium has hosted concerts, circuses, boxing matches, rodeos, and ice show events. In 1996, the stadium underwent a $100 million renovation, including the complete demolition and redesign of the building’s interior. The stadium became known as Oracle Arena after the Golden State Warriors and Oracle Corporation announced a naming agreement in 2006. The arena was the home of the Warriors from 1971 to 2019.

With around 100 million visitors since its opening, Oakland Arena and the neighboring RingCentral Coliseum have become among the premier facilities for sports and entertainment in Northern CA. The stadium has an occupancy of 19,200 with 72 luxury suites. Though the Warriors have moved their home stadium to Chase Center, Oakland Arena still offers a plethora of dining options, entertainment, and sports, including basketball and bull riding.

SAP Center at san jose The SAP Center at San Jose is home to the San Jose Sharks, an NHL team. The arena hosts more than 40 regular season home games for the Sharks. Altogether, the SAP Center hosts around 100 sporting events annually, including ice hockey, ice skating, and basketball games. In the mid-1980s, original plans for the center were to create a stadium for either the NHL or the NBA. But when construction began in 1991, the area was deemed unsuitable for the NBA, so it became dedicated to hockey. Nevertheless, it served as the Warriors’ home from 1996-1997 while their regular court, then known as the Arena in Oakland, was undergoing renovations. Finally, after two years of construction, the center was completed and opened in 1993.

The SAP Center is massive, with a seating capacity of 17,946 and a field size of 450,000 square feet. Therefore, it hosts several other events such as concerts. It was named “Arena of the Year” in 2005 and 2007 by Pollstar, a popular publication for music and concert tours. This is no surprise, considering the wide range of events and entertainment that the center offers.

chase center Located in San Francisco’s Mission Bay, Chase Center is the new home of the Warriors and is the first privately financed modern sports arena. The initial construction process began in early 2017 and cost over $1 billion. Since its opening on Sept. 6, 2019, the stadium has hosted the Warriors’ 2020 home games, including their season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 24, 2019.

The stadium takes up more than four city blocks and features an arena, spacious locker rooms, several practice facilities, and an exterior plaza. The exterior plaza, known as Thrive City, contains a 74 feet by 42 feet television that broadcasts live games for cheering fans. Like many 21st century stadiums, Chase Center focuses on enriching the fan experience as opposed to increasing seating capacity; The stadium can seat up to 18,064, has 3.2 acres of plaza and public space, and contains 100,000 square feet of retail space.

In addition to the sporting events that take place in the stadium, Chase Center offers other amenities for sports fans, ranging from in-arena Wi-Fi to convenient restaurants and stores. As a result, the venue’s goal to enhance visitor experience truly makes Chase Center capture the essence of the Bay Area.

PHOTOS BY ARENADIGEST.COM, SEATGEEK.COM, VENUESNOW.COM & VENUECOALITION.COM.

16 Photo

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Mayor Lily Mei addresses the audience.

The Smoke Signal

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Holiday Tree L ightings

By Larry Shi & Sakshi Umrotkar Staff Writers

On the evening of December 7, the Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce decorated the Old School Business Center with red and green as community members attended the time-honored annual Mission San Jose Christmas Tree Lighting. Scenes of festivity and a sense of community filled the bustling business center, with memorable performances from the Canyon Band and the students of the local StarStruck Theatre.

Activities like face painting were offered at the lighting.

The Pacific Commons Tree Lighting excited the crowd.

Onlookers admire the festive Christmas lights at the Old Mission Business Center.

On December 7, community members gathered to behold the Pacific Commons Christmas Tree Lighting. Local music groups like the Music for Minors II Kids Choir performed for excited crowds, creating a festive and homey atmosphere. Attendees exchanged holiday greetings and presents, with loud cheers filling the air as the colossal tree lit up to mark the beginning of the holiday season.

StarStruck Theatre students sing carols.

The Mission San Jose Tree Lighting offered free refreshments.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER LARRY SHI. GRAPHICS BY PIXABAY.COM.

Hometown holidays christmas parade

By Sumani Alem Staff Writer

Residents from all over the Bay Area gathered on December 7 for the 19th annual Redwood City Hometown Holidays Christmas Parade. Guests enjoyed the singing and dancing performances, carnival rides, foods, craft activities, and parade. Local school children marched in the parade dressed in their best Christmas-themed attire. Others showcased their culture, as did one entry who featured people in traditional mexican dresses. MSJ Band and Colorguard performed along with Washington High School Band, filling the city with holiday songs and cheer. Although it literally rained on the parade, everyone was still in high spirits.

Gokul Ramapriyan (11) plays the tenor saxophone.

Colorguard spins their rifles during their performance.

Colorguard walks down the street in front of the parade.

Colorguard performs during the parade.

Percussion plays while marching.

MSJ Band prepares to perform.

Amber Lee (12) prepares to spin a rifle.

Colorguard and MSJ Band pose for a photo.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER SUMANI ALEM.