Vol. XLVI No. 7

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. XLVI, NO.7

March 25, 2011

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

Investigative Report:

starting school sooner

By Mekala Neelakantan, Alekya Rajanala, Courtney Tam, and Angie Wang Staff Writers Currently, Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) schools, such as MSJ, typically begin their school year in early September and end in mid-June, while schools in some other districts, such as Palo Alto Unified School District and Pleasanton Unified School District begin their school years in late August and end in early June. In response, FUSD has created a

their opinions on a scale of one to five, with one being “I strongly oppose the proposal” and five meaning “I strongly support the proposal”. Teachers were also asked to explain their stances on the issue. The online survey was emailed to the entire staff of Weibel Elementary, Chadbourne Elementary, Hopkins Junior High, Horner Junior High, and Irvington High School (IHS), as well as the staff of MSJ. Staff was encouraged to follow a link to take the short survey.

Out of the 103 FUSD staff members who responded to the survey, 56 percent of the to-

Why do you not support the proposal?

Why do you support the proposal?

Teachers will be able to teach more of the curriculum 22% before standardized tests and exams.

FUSD schools would 48% start at the same time as other school districts, making it Other/I do not easier to organize support the proposal summer plans

30%

80%

10%

10%

Other/I support the proposal This change would be too disruptive.

Summer vacation would be shorter (for the first year that the proposal is implemented) news editor gurleen chadha

proposal to start its school year in August and end in May. The Smoke Signal conducted an inter-district survey to gain insight into teachers’ and administrators’ thoughts on this proposal.

In the survey, teachers were asked to rate

tal replies came from IHS and MSJ. About 30 percent of the total results was from the staff at Hopkins and Horner Junior High, and 14 percent was from the staff of the various el-

See IR, NEWS Page 3

Students visit Santa Clara engineers

By Ditha Balaji Staff Writer

Many pre-calculus students ventured offcampus to Santa Clara University (SCU) last week in order to learn about the field of engineering. Led by MSJ Math Teacher Mehebub Karmali, students experienced a wide array of activities ranging from building robots to observing a fully solar-powered room. The Smoke Signal sat down with Karmali to learn more about the trip and the values he hopes to instill in the students.

Smoke Signal: Could you explain the program and the trip?

Mehebub Karmali: The trip is really an outcome of a fellowship that I did in the summer at SCU. It’s called IISME, [which] stands for Industry Imitative for Science and Math Educators. As far as the fellowship, we’re supposed to do what’s called an ETP—Educational Transfer Plan. I worked with a professor [who has] done this before with high school kids.

He brings in the high school students; they do some hands-on activity like building some device. He shows them the robotics lab [and] the solar house, [and] takes them through what an engineering discipline and curriculum is all

solardecathlondev.nrel.gov

Students visited the solar house, which Santa Clara University students built and entered in a US Department of Energy contest.

about. I’m hoping to expose my students to engineering education.

SS: How did you find out about the trip?

MK: The field trip, it came through the professor. He suggested that [it’s] a possibility because he’s done this before with high school students.

SS: What inspired you to take on this program for your students?

MK: I am actually an ex-engineer, and finding that there’s a real shortage of students in [engineering], even from a school like Mission,

See SCU, NEWS Page 2

March 25-26, April 2 Spring Show: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in the Little Theater

April 1 Charity Fashion Show in C-120

graphics editor sarah li and staff writer joy xu

Left, a student texts at Saturday School. Teachers Jeff Evans, above, and Jason Aucoin conducted a study on the effectiveness of these weekend detentions as part of their Masters Research Project.

The effectiveness of

Saturday School

By Ginger Werner Staff Writer

US History Teacher Jeff Evans and Choir Teacher Jason Aucoin conducted a survey of 90 students on the effectiveness of Saturday School for MSJ students as part of their Masters Research Project. They had noticed a dramatic increase of Saturday School attendees this school year, with almost double the number as last year. The number of students attending Saturday School amounted to approximately 100 kids every week, causing the detentions to be served in two separate wings.

The results of the survey raised questions about the effectiveness of the penalty.

Saturday Schools are detentions held from 8am to 12pm, or fewer hours depending on the severity of the offense. They provide students with an opportunity to catch up on schoolwork, and according to the survey, 80 percent of students take advantage of this.

Reasons for Saturday Schools include being tardy, skipping class, using foul language in the classroom, or other inappropriate conduct. The majority of Saturday School attendees are seniors, and most have served at least 10 of these morning detentions this school

year alone. About 80 percent of the students surveyed were at Saturday School for tardy contracts.

Tardy contracts are assigned after a student is late to class a certain amount of times; once a student is on a contract he or she receives a one hour detention for each individual tardy.

The responsibility of students to get to class on time does not reside solely on themselves. There are many extraneous factors out of a student’s control that lead students to being late to class, including backed up traffic and carpool issues. When asked to choose from some alternative options to Saturday School, 36 percent of surveyed students favored lunchtime clean-up duty on campus, which would not only improve the condition of MSJ but provide a greater incentive for students to get to class on time. Students did not seem confident that they would be able to change their behavior, with 78 percent saying they would “probably” or “definitely” end up in Saturday School again.

In a survey conducted by the National

See SATURDAY, NEWS Page 3

Running out of clubs

By Allan Ko Staff Writer

MSJ students have always enjoyed the wide variety of student clubs on campus, but in the 2010-11 school year, MSJ hit a carrying capacity for the number of clubs it is able to support due to a limited number of available bank accounts. As a result, the Associated Student Body (ASB) stopped taking club applications for a few weeks while it worked with Accounts Clerk Cindy Stoorza and the school administration to resolve the problem. Club applications are currently open again, but ASB wants to ensure that new clubs will last more than

April 4 4th Quarter Begins

April 11-15 Multicultural Week

four years instead of being dissolved after only one or two years.

Historically, students who wished to start an ASB-affiliated club were required to collect signatures from 100 students to show sufficient interest, write a club constitution, and make a presentation to the student council, which then votes on whether or not to approve the club.

If the number of votes approving the club exceeds the number of votes against approving the club plus the number of abstentions, the club is passed and given certain rights and

April 15 Multicultural Assembly

See CLUBS, NEWS Page 3 April 15 Universal Performers’ Jazz Dance at the Fremont Marriott

2 News

www.thesmokesignal.org

News in Brief UN intervenes in Libya On Thursday, March 17, the United Nations (UN) authorized military action to subdue Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who, hours before, threatened to invade the Benghazi rebel bastion with “no mercy and no pity.” Thousands of Benghazi residents celebrated the UN decision, waving anti-Gaddafi flags and chanting in rebellion against the four-decade dictator. “It’s over. The issue has been decided. We are coming tonight,” Gaddafi said. “We will find you in your closets.” The UN Security Council established a no-fly zone and authorized “all necessary measures” to protect civilians.

huffpost.com

Civilian protests against Muammar Gaddafi’s government began February 15.

Beauty queen loses crown Even after winning Miss San Antonio, Domonique Ramirez has been stripped of her title based upon allegations that she has put on too much weight. While doing additional photo shoots in preparation for the Miss USA competition, photographers noticed discrepancies between Ramirez’s previous body figure and her current one.

Amidst much public outcry over what appears to be a enormous insult to Ramirez, Ashley Dixon, the runner up, has been named Miss San Antonio in her stead.

boston.com

Ramirez is suing the Miss San Antonio pageant to have her crown returned, so that she may compete for Miss Texas.

Threat of radiation low for the Bay Area Many Bay Area locals feared an increase in radiation in the area due to the recent nuclear explosions in Japan. The proximity of the island nation to the state increased fears of a radiation spike, but California Air Quality experts noted that there was no significant increase in radiation. Using monitors precise enough to detect the radiation levels of even small iodine isotopes, experts claim that the spike was “ever so slight” and that it was nothing beyond the ordinary. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated that the radiation would disperse and that the West Coast would not experience any real radioactive danger.

sbs.com.au

A Japanese infant is checked for radiation.

20,000 people have been evacuated from the area surrounding the Fukushima plant.

COMPILED BY STAFF WRITERS DITHA BALAJI, ANDREW HAN, AND MICHAEL WU

The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 25, 2011

The grass is greener at Palm and Mission

By Andrew Han Staff Writer The once desert-like corner between Palm Avenue and Mission Boulevard now sports a brand new look, thanks to the combined effort of the administration, Leadership 2 (L2), Classes of 2010-14, and Mission Possible.

In addition to new sidewalks and benches, the intersection now has a lawn area, redwood and crepe myrtle trees, and several drought-tolerant and hardy plants that will be able to survive wind and other rough weather conditions.

The landscaping project originally began as an idea to improve MSJ’s public image and bring tangible benefits to the MSJ campus. “We have been talking about how ugly it is out there for some time now… and [how] we should do something about it,” said Activities Director Ben Breazeale.

When asked about the original motivation for landscaping, Vice Principal Zack Larsen said, “A lot of people noticed, ‘Wow, this is a topranked high school? It looks shut down, it looks really dilapidated.’”

Breazeale and Larsen began discussing and brainstorming ways to improve upon this problem and looked to Mission Possible and students involved in homecoming for assistance. “We talked to the class officers and told them what was going on… so [the money the classes raised during homecoming], which we normally donate… [went] towards

[landscaping.]”

“A lot of the idea for the project came from the Class of 2010,” Larsen said. “They realized during homecoming [that] the individual service projects that the students were doing around the school were small and didn’t have as big of an impact as [originally intended.]”

Teachers and administration noticed that homecoming was becoming very divisive, so they made an effort to try to unify the classes during homecoming season. The landscaping project served as a way to alleviate class divisions during homecoming season, providing a common goal for all classes to work toward. “One of the [efforts to do so] was that everybody would work collaboratively to develop one project that would benefit the school,” Larsen said. “When [you] looked at the school… the first thing you used to see was the corner of Palm Avenue and Mission Boulevard, which was basically a desert riddled with weeds... So that became

Deejay MSJ

By Gurleen Chadha News Editor One of the most important parts of attending a school dance is the music. Over the years, styles have changed and gone are the days where students danced to the beat of innocent bubble-gum pop. The majority of music that is currently played at dances is hip-hop or rap.

Unfortunately, this genre often contains references to activities that are classified by the administration as “inappropriate,” such as sex, drugs, or violence.

In accordance with school policy, Activities Director Ben Breazeale states, “Songs that contain any swearing, are sexually suggestive, or reference inappropriate activities will not be played at dances.”

The reasoning behind not playing certain songs is simple: the administration does not want to encourage illegal activities such as those often referenced in today’s popular songs.

A quick glance at the Billboard Hot 100 reveals that two of the top 10 songs contain expletives in their titles (“F*** You” by Cee Lo Green and “F***ing Perfect” by P!nk). Of

the remaining eight, three songs include lyrics that contain swearing, encourage recreational drug use, or are sexually suggestive. This disparity between what is popular and what is considered appropriate is one reason why those who request songs at dances may not get their song played.

While sexually suggestive lyrics or lyrics that encourage drinking or doing drugs cannot be bleeped out, there are often “clean” versions of songs in which profanities are cut out. However, even songs that are censored may not be considered appropriate: “We will play a censored song if it is not apparent that there is swearing,” says Breazeale. Censored songs that still contain part of the expletive or those in which the expletive is obvious (in spite of the censor) will not be played.

Despite the restrictions, there are still numerous songs to choose from at school events; the continuous stream of music at school assemblies and at dances is proof enough of that. ▪ Note: information regarding the Billboard top 100 was correct at time of press.

for the february 25, 2011 issue • On News page 1, Allan Ko is a sophomore.

• On News page 2, Aaron Lu’s name was misspelled.

• On News page 2, Staff Writer Jonathon Teng took photographs.

• On Photo page 13, Seniors Carl Gao and Robert Wang read poetry and sang “Happy Birthday” to Senior Will Tsay.

• On Photo page 13, Ishita Shah is a freshman.

• On Photo page 13, Reid Riegelsberger goes to Washington High School.

• On Photo page 13, Staff Writer Maya Ramachandran took photos.

• On Sports page 19, Staff Writer Sanjna Shukla took photos.

• On Photo page 19, Corbin Lee is a junior.

• On Sports page 19, Nolen Kajiwara’s name was misspelled.

[the students’] focus. They wanted to work on that corner and beautify it,” said Larsen.

The project was made possible by each class’ funds from homecoming as well as substantial donations of approximately $10,000 from the Class of 2010 and $20,000 from Mission Possible. “The scope of the project is huge; it’s a large area of land. The money that the students raised was great, but wasn’t enough to do [the entire] corner. Fortunately, the parent organization, Mission Possible, stepped up and helped bridge the gap there,” Larsen said.

In the face of recent budget cuts, the renovation of what is considered to be the focal point of MSJ is indeed a sight for sore eyes. “When community members see that the school is being taken care of and has a great reputation, they’re even more willing to throw support to the school or any number of things which directly benefits students,” Larsen said. “And that’s the reason we’re all here.” ▪

staff writers edward nguyen and jonathan teng

SCU | Karmali visits engineers continued from page 1 [inspired me]. Very few kids [are interested in] engineering and pursue [it]. I thought this was a real great opportunity to expose these kids to engineering programs in Santa Clara [University]. What I really like about Santa Clara [University] is that it’s a small school [and] the professor who I worked with was fantastic. That’s why I want to expose Mission students; there aren’t too many Mission students that consider SCU unfortunately.

SS: How will this affect your precalculus class?

MK: Well, I’m hoping more students will [become interested in] engineering, through seeing how they build exciting tools and things that are really useful to society. I’m just hoping that they will [gain interest] by [attending] the program.

SS: Is this only open to your precalculus students or is it open to all students?

MK: What happened is that, [by being a] part of the fellowship, I came across a scholarship that was being offered by Target Corporation. They

sponsor field trips. I said “Hey, I’ll try it out, and, if I get the money, then I [will] consider going. I got a $700 scholarship from them, which just pays for two buses, so it had to be restricted only to two periods.

SS: Is it true that you prefer more female students go on this to expose them to engineering?

MK: I had two female engineers come in September to make a presentation to my students. Part of the education transfer plan was to expose female students to engineering because I think there’s a tremendous shortage of female engineers. It’s documented all over the place. I just feel women are not taking advantage of the opportunity.

SS: What do you hope will be the outcome of this field trip for your students?

MK: Well, I don’t know how it’s going to affect them directly in the class, but certainly it may next year when they come up and have me do their recommendation letters. I hope to see more students signing up for Santa Clara [and] to see many students going into engineering! ▪

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

News 3

IR | Bay Area teachers express views about school year changes in a multi-school survey ementary schools surveyed.

The majority of teachers who favored starting the school year early said so because the proposal would allow for more time before STAR, SAT, and AP testing. Approximately 48 percent of FUSD teachers strongly supported the proposal because it would extend the amount of time Advanced Placement (AP) teachers have to cover material. This extra time would give students a longer amount of time to understand and review the topics discussed and would help maximize students’ individual test results.

An additional reason that teachers chose to support the proposal was that the change in the school year would align the FUSD school year with that of other school districts, making the process of coordinating vacation plans or summer program dates an easier task. A MSJ teacher wrote, “It also makes sense to have students begin school earlier in the year, so that they can take semester exams before winter break.

That way the information is fresh in their minds and they can fully enjoy

a stress-free, much needed winter break.”

However, some teachers considered that there would still be school districts whose school years would not be identical to FUSD’s if the proposal was implemented. Hopkins Junior High School English Teacher Tammy Woolbright said that she would not be able to take vacations with her children who attend a different school district, since their year aligns with MSJ’s school year. Ventilation was another issue that concerned the teachers; if the FUSD school year began in midAugust, the heat would be uncomfortable and difficult to cope with in some classrooms. Approximately six percent of teachers felt that this discomfort would greatly affect students’ concentration. In addition, noise from the running air conditioning systems would make teaching a more difficult task. Many other teachers simply saw the proposal as being unnecessary and disruptive; it would also shorten summer vacation for the first year, resulting in less time to spend with their families.

One teacher who was against the

Fast Stats Teacher distribution by school:

Teacher distribution by grade level taught:

7% 7% 16% 14%

On a scale of one to five, how strongly do you feel about the proposal?

Percentage of survey respondents

continued from page 1

34% 22% Percentage of survey respondents

Number of teachers responding: 101

46%

20%

16% 9% 9%

1: do not support at all 5: highly support

news editor gurleen chadha

proposal suggested that testing dates be moved back, but STAR testing days are determined by the state, and SAT and AP testing dates are controlled by Collegeboard. Others have cast their votes in favor of a year-round school year in hopes that students will retain more information if they are in school for a longer period of time. In addition, some

teachers felt that a gradual process instead of an immediate changing of the school year would be more effective. MSJ Social Studies Teacher Tori Ha said “If they do choose to start the year earlier, I think it should transition. If they want to start three weeks earlier for example, it should be one week a year taking three years for the full transition. I think the

staff would be more inclined to lose one week of break a year as opposed to three at once.”

There were a variety of different responses and opinions on this subject, but until the FUSD formally votes on the proposal, the timing of the current school year will remain in effect. ▪

CLUBS | Running out of room

SATURDAY | Teachers conduct study on detentions

continued from page 1

continued from page 1

responsibilities (such as the right to post posters and put announcements in the morning bulletin), as well as a club bank account.

According to Stoorza, who sets up bank accounts for new clubs and handles school business transactions, accounts must be given to ASB, each of the four classes, sports teams, and other school organizations leaving only about 100 accounts for student clubs. Stoorza says that 11 new clubs were added in the 2010-11 school year, a significant increase from the usual four or five new clubs per year,

has directed ASB to make more of an effort to ensure that clubs will last.

ASB Vice President Theresa Liu says, “Before, [ASB] emphasized that if [a club] had a good idea, then why not pass it? We wanted to get more passed, because we were unaware of the situation [with the bank accounts]. Now, we’re trying to emphasize quality more…we want to have clubs, but not as many.” Liu is currently working with ASB Vice President-elect Allison Tong to rewrite the club application accordingly. “We’re trying to make the process

staff writer allan ko

resulting in MSJ running out of bank accounts to give to clubs.

Another exacerbating factor is that when a club is dissolved, its bank account can only be recycled after the end of each school year on July 1 due to school policy. Clubs are dissolved because “the advisor quits, graduating seniors aren’t recruiting, the teacher says there are no meetings, or if there’s just no interest,” says Stoorza. The required delay in dissolving a club means that new clubs cannot reclaim these old bank accounts until the next year, and, as Stoorza says, “New clubs are added that are dissolved less than two years later.” Thus, Principal Sandy Prairie

more, I don’t want to say difficult, but we want to be able to see the club in the next four years,” says Liu. L2 has also been brainstorming ways to ensure that current clubs stay active. One possibility is that one L2 student will be assigned to each club. That student would follow the club’s activities and attend meetings to ensure that the club continues to operate. Another potential policy is to require clubs to turn in quarterly events reports as proof of its activity.

“There’s been an increase in clubs but also an increase in clubs dissolved,” says Stoorza. The new ASB policies will aim to change that in the coming years. ▪

Center for Education Statistics 2007, teachers reported that students who are frequently tardy have higher rates of suspension and other disciplinary measures. Concerned for the welfare of students

clear all remaining Saturday Schools they had been assigned for the remaining school year and were given a chance to start anew. The program focused on what factors students could control and offered useful time management advice. The students and teachers discussed the problems and possible solutions, and soon began to notice significant differences in the amount of tardies the students were receiving.

“I think the program helped motivate me to get to classes after first period on time, but I still found it hard to get to first period on time,” said Sophomore Eric Dang. “The program helped me a lot, because instead of not caring about tardies because I already had so many graphics editor cassie zhang Saturday Schools booked who are regularly tardy, Evans and I started caring when I got a clean Aucoin organized a voluntary pro- slate,” said Senior Parsa Barhaghi. gram for the 40 most commonly “We’re hoping that by being protardy students from all grade levels active, we can change the behavior to attend. Students who partici- before it becomes a problem,” said pated in the program were able to Evans. ▪

The Smoke Signal creates iPod app

By Megan McLaughlin News Editor

Everyone seems to have Apple products these days, and now everyone with an iPhone or iPad can keep up with the news through the Smoke Signal’s new application.

Staff Writer Andrew Han and Junior Sumukh Sridhara collaborated on the app, which provides access to the Smoke Signal’s articles, photo galleries, and videos, MSJTV episodes, and a calendar of important school and club events.

In addition, the app will soon include Push Notifications. These are alerts or updates that can be sent to students through the application.

The message will appear almost instantly after it is entered into the

app, and will be used to increase awareness of school events.

The app is only a small step towards enhancing communication between the paper and its audience, but it’s an important one. The Smoke Signal plans to update it regularly to

smooth user experience and improve upon its design and content. It is currently available on iTunes, where it can be downloaded for free. Please feel free to send feedback through iTunes comments or an email to eic@thesmokesignal.org. ▪

4 News

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The Smoke Signal earns national awards

By Allan Ko Staff Writer

The American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) recently awarded the Smoke Signal First Place for the publications of the 2009-10 school year, as well the Best Investigative Reporting award for the “MSJ Ventilation Crisis” report in the November 2009 issue. This is the first time that the Smoke Signal has won the Best Investigative Reporting award, and the second time that it has won awards from the ASPA. “The facets of newspaper work are varied and difficult to master,” said the ASPA in a letter of congratulations. “[The Smoke Signal staff], however, has been able to overcome the difficulties and produce a publication of which [its] administration and colleagues should be proud.”

In the award-winning investigative report, staff writers Matt Farberov, Mekala Neelankantan, and Joy Xu surveyed MSJ teachers on their satisfaction with classrooms, equipment, and air conditioning, finding that 75 percent of MSJ classrooms at that time had problems with air conditioning or heating, among other statistics. A January 2010 follow-up investigation (by Farberov, Xu, and then-staff writers Arthur Jeng and Megan McLaughlin) detailed the improvements in the ventilation system that resulted from the wave of student and teacher complaints to the district office following the first article.

“When I got the chance to write the investigative report, I was really surprised and happy that we got a good response from the school

board. I’m even more surprised and honored that we won this award, and proud to represent our paper on the national level,” said Xu on co-writing the award-winning article.

The ASPA holds an annual review and contest of scholastic yearbooks, magazines, and newspapers, providing advice on page and cover design, story layout, graphics, headlining, advertisement placements, and other important aspects of the publication. Submissions are judged on a point scale and, based on the number of points earned, awarded First, Second, or Third Place in their categories. Submissions also have the option to enter for consideration in special category awards.

2009-10 Editor-in-Chief Jerry Ting said, “The staff worked really hard last year to put together interesting pieces and developed a mentality of being open to in-

novation and bringing significant changes to how the Smoke Signal functioned as a whole.”

Other local First Place winners include the Vantage, published by Clovis West High School in Fresno and the Cargo from San Leandro High School in San Leandro.

Among the Smoke Signal’s past awards and honors are the Columbia Scholastic Press Association’s All-Columbian Gold Medal and the Ohlone College Contemporary Communications Conference First Place General Excellence, News Photo, and Sports Photo.

Said Ting, “I think we as a staff worked really hard last year and pushed ourselves to do a lot of new things…I view the award as a testimony to all the hard work that our editors put into our paper, and for their creativity and continued dedication to professionalism.” ▪

graphics editor sarah li

Neelakantan, Farberov, and Xu were recognized for Outstanding Investigative Reporting.

The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 25, 2011

BART construction causes obstructions

By Aishwarya Thakur Staff Writer Fremont citizens have wanted a BART extension to the Warm Springs area, but at what cost?

Lake Elizabeth, one of the most popularly visited areas in Fremont, has been under construction since 2009 and will continue through 2012. A BART line is currently being built under the lake which has caused dust, debris blocked paths, and noise. Schools around the area, such as MSJ and Gomes Elementary, have been affected by the blockage to the path surrounding the lake, a pass previously easily accessible through Gomes Park.

The MSJ Cross-Country and Track and Field teams have many workouts around and to the lake.

This run is ideal for easy workout days as it falls into the three to five mile range, depending on what point one wishes to run to.

This particular route is also devoid of much traffic and is a safe run for runners. Assistant CrossCountry Coach Linda Addison said, “I think it’s a shame that we can’t run there anymore. It used to be a safe road where we could send our runners without any cars and it was a great run for us to do. BART should have been able to come up with a way to accommodate both pedestrians and the construction.

I don’t know how logistically, but it was terrible that they eliminated [the path] for us.”

In the recent Cross-Country Season, many runners were told that if they ran near the railroad

tracks connecting Gomes Park and Lake Elizabeth, they could be in serious trouble with the police, since that was private property.

BART said, “While the trail crossing the tracks is a popular way to access Central Park, it is not an authorized entry and poses a potential hazard to public safety— especially during the current construction activity.”

Teachers at Gomes Elementary also have been subject to the inconveniences of BART construction. “[Once a year] we take a walk around the lake and stop to have a picnic as well. We make it into a social event which the kids enjoy very much,” said sixth grade Gomes Elementary Teacher Millie Allred.

Due to BART construction these students have had to walk down Lemos Lane and then on to Paseo Padre Parkway. Allred said, “It is a minor pain, but the sidewalks are easy to use and we don’t have to cross any busy streets. It would be much better if we could use the path, but I think BART is trying to protect people so we’re trying to respect that.”

Although BART construction has caused some bothers, many are understanding of the situation and know it is for their own protection. BART has taken some measures to provide an alternative path for pedestrians going around the lake, but the path connecting Gomes Park and Lake Elizabeth is expected to be blocked for yet another couple of months, making it inconvenient for pedestrians to travel to Lake Elizabeth. ▪

(Mock) wedding bells ring in A-Wing

By Alice Zalan Staff Writer

During lunch on Tuesday, March 8, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) club held a mock marriage behind the A-Wing cafeteria. The club’s advisor, Science Teacher Nathania Chaney-Aiello, described the event as “celebrating the rights of couples of any combination to have the right to pseudomarry [mock marriage].” The goal of the

staff writer courtney tam

Sophomores Victor Viramontes and Surbir Sandhu took part in the ceremony.

organization is to “promote awareness among MSJ students and staff about issues concerning the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) community and to serve as a safe haven for victims of harassment.”

About 40 students participated in the marriage process, disregarding gender and race. GSA President Sophomore Zarrie SamiezadeYazd said, “This wedding is just to celebrate that even though we have different opinions about [gay marriage], we are still able to have

a mock wedding where anyone is able to get married to anybody and have a lot of fun with it.” Students dressed up in costumes to signify genders and generally had a good time supporting their cause. Two male students showed up in pink and blue onesies, in support of different types of marriage. Colorful feather boas, top hats, and brightly colored rings were also used in making the weddings more real.

In addition, students presided over marriages using selections from Shel Silverstein’s book of poetry, Falling Up, to convey a lighthearted mood. Everyone worked together to make the event happen, and people posed as flower girls, best men, and bridesmaids to lend a sense of reality.

GSA Treasurer Sophomore Inakkhi Majumder said, “I think it will cause more people to be open [minded]. This brings people together to have fun and show their support for a worthy cause.” Attendees clapped as newly married couples received certificates, were showered with red rose petals, and ate celebration cupcakes.

Overall, the atmosphere of the event showed how everyone was willing to work together to get their message across. The positive thoughts and happiness of those present made the event successful. The participants hope that MSJ will come to acknowledge the work they are doing in support of freedom to marry. ▪

Friday, March 25, 2011

the

Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 46, No. 7 | March 25, 2011

The Smoke Signal

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Roger That It’s...Friday

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Opinion Editor

When this column comes out, it will be Friday, otherwise known as the day after Thursday or the day before Saturday. I’m not really sure about it, but I think Sunday comes sometime afterwards. I will have eaten a bowl of cereal, watched the ticking clock, kicked into the front seat, and sat through two periods of class, all before you have read this column. You may think I’m amazing at this point, but just to boggle your mind further, I have done the aforementioned tasks, not just this Friday, but every Friday since the beginning of this school year. Have I mentioned that Friday is my favorite day of the week?

Despite the plethora of criticism towards Rebecca Black’s hit single “Friday”, it is clearly a cultural milestone as the epitome of contemporary pop music, with such features as inane lyrics, a meaningless music video, and Auto-Tune.

Naturally, it has become widely popular, with over two million downloads on iTunes to date with a profit of roughly 1.8 million dollars within three days, not including pre-production costs. Black was not requested for comment.

Honestly though, social networking, specifically such culprits as Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, is promoting the spread of mediocrity in a society that doesn’t really need much more. At the time of this writing, there have been 22 million views of Black’s YouTube music video. Black is not the first, and she won’t be the last either. At this very moment, there are probably hundreds of people aspiring to

On the Far Side

By Diya Roy Staff Writer

Might as well face it, at one time or another, we’ve been amazed at what others have and wanted it for ourselves. Especially at our high-achieving and competitive school, we watch in awe as the perfect students manage to maintain a 4.5 GPA, have multiple extracurricular activities, spend time with their families and have a solid social life. We then look at our own inability to finish our English essays and are disheartened at our inadequacy.

We all strive to be the kinds of people who seem to have it all, but we never take time to appreciate the qualities we do have. We are stuck in a mentality where “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

As freshmen, we long to be the cool, hip upperclassmen who drive fancy cars and have more privileges than we can ever dream of. At the time, the upperclassmen seem to have it all. But once we become juniors, the glorious freedom of being an upperclassmen isn’t all it promised to be. We then look longingly back to our carefree “younger days” and wish we could turn the clock backwards.

What about the seniors who can’t wait to get out of high school? You’re all trudging through the corridors of MSJ, counting down the days until you’re finally “free.”

Though now you wouldn’t dream of uttering the words, “I miss high school,” they’re probably going to come out of your mouths at one time or another. We’re caught in a constant cycle of wanting change from our own current situations. Whether it be wanting skills that others possess or longing for a distant time, this want seems inevitable.

get Jengky with it

Opinion

5

Arbitrary Study Shines Light on New School Start Times

By Arthur Jeng

be the next Internet sensation by laying claim to the other six days of the Gregorian calendar, most of whose works of art will turn out worse than Black’s simply because there is little production value associated with demonstrating one’s understanding of what order days of the week come in.

We’re attracted to the amateurish, fascinated by the horrible, and what is it but a reflection on what matters now in society? Try this: ask your friends what happened in Libya last week and see if they know. Then ask them who Black is.

In fact, although news of the Japan tsunami still casts a shadow in our midst, we are more interested in how “Friday” overtook Katy Perry on the iTunes top 100 chart and continues heading strong against Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne.

Haters hate for a reason: to protect whatever quality is still retained in today’s culture. Music has been degraded ever since T-Pain popularized Auto-Tune, and it just keeps on going in other parts of our lives, with thoughts condensed to 140 character snippets and images being posted, liked, and reposted over and over again. Want to move forward in the world, America (see last column)? Stop spawning and encouraging mediocrity.

I’ve regrettably listened to “Friday” on loop ten times while writing this column and believe it or not, it grows on you in a twisted way and becomes ridiculously catchy. Darn mainstream media. Guess I know what kind of society I live in. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

But then again, who says striving to be more like someone or something is a bad thing? We can turn this jealousy of another into creative inspiration. We admire the people we do for a reason, so we can easily incorporate their positive qualities into borrow their positive qualities and adapt them to ourselves. We all wish we were as charismatic as Oprah Winfrey, as creative as Steve Jobs or even as organized as our fellow classmate who is successfully juggling 5 APs. We could just as easily make these people our role models and instead of longing for what they possess, we could strive to become more like them. By using a highly successful person we admire as an, we then become more motivated to fulfill our own goals and aspirations. We all need people who we can look up to drive us to do better.

And ever think about how not having something you desperately desire can actually be a good thing? Ever since I was three, I’ve had this sort of absurd desire to be a professional dancer. I would stare in awe and even jealousy as my fellow dancers seemed to pick up the steps with grace and ease while I was easily confused by the simplest of steps I struggled through my dance graduation but in the process found something else I loved as much as dance. It turned out that not having the talent and determination as some of the other dancers helped me discover a new passion of mine, painting. Perhaps our failures and misadventures exist to guide us along the path to discover our own talents.

It’s time to look at the abilities of others from a new angle. We should reexamine our own lawns and notice how the color is exactly how it’s meant to be. ▪

Opinion Editor

A recent anecdotal survey conducted by the Western Hemisphere In My Mind (WHIMM) revealed that the new school start time of 8:00 am effective Fall 2011 for Fremont Unified School District (FUSD) comprehensive high schools would have no significant benefit other than quelling concerned community members. The WHIMM administered the survey in response to a compilation of other surveys and scientific data that suggested “as a child enters puberty, their biological clock changes in such a way that makes it very difficult for teens to fall asleep early at night, and wake up early in the morning.”

As a result, the WHIMM suggested that the 20 minute change from 7:40 am to 8:00 am was not drastic enough. Officials at WHIMM used a stopwatch and the natural trajectory of the sun to confirm that shifting the first period bell by 20 minutes would not elongate the day to make room for more sleeping. Students would likely sleep and wake up later. The WHIMM subsequently announced their proposal to have high schools begin school at 10:00 pm at night and end at 6:00 am in the morning.

The bold and innovative move would take advantage of teens not being able to fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning. This means more attentive learners during school hours and students easily falling asleep when they are supposed to.

Said Gus Hammerwater, a 45year-old Virginia native with no apparent ties to our community but

whose opinion wholly reflects the teenage demographic in Fremont, “I truly believe that lately, schools of fish have been pretty cool. Wait, what was the question? Sorry it’s a little early in the day for me to be thinking.”

While the district has yet to comment on the unprecedented proposal, parents are already showing their support. One of the parents’ biggest concern was their kids staying awake late into the night, not for homework, but for aimlessly browsing the internet, chatting on Facebook, or making up words with their friends.

However, an accredited study based mostly on factual opinion showed that if students are in school at night, they are less likely to be staying up on the interwebz at night.

School would also not coincide with any major meal of the day which was another concern shared among the parents. Energy would be conserved at home, since the kids would be using the district’s utilities.

Parents can drive their students to and from school without skipping work.

As one enthusiastic WHIMM volunteer commented, “If moving the school start time by 20 minutes is going to help, moving the start time by 15 hours and 20 minutes would be 46 times better. We hope to one day shift the school start time by 24 hours and 20 minutes. Our efforts to reduce homework given for each class, coupled with a new school start time, mark the first stepping stones in transitioning away from student accountability.” ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

staff writer alekya rajanala

staff writer kevin zhai

6

Opinion

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The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 25, 2011

Ending the American Empire

By Maya Ramachandran Staff Writer

An empire is defined as a human society with highly developed resources, supreme power, and a complex cultural, political, and legal organization. America’s domination over international affairs and its influence on the world economy solidify its status as an empire. If we take a look at past empires, however, we realize the harsh truth: these great societies no longer exist. It happened to Spain in the 17th century, France in the 18th century, the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, and the British Empire in the 20th. The fall of an empire is due in this century, so does that mean it is America’s time to go?

The United States currently has the world’s largest economy and military, along with some of the most dynamic technological and entrepreneurial companies. This is the state of the country now, but will it be this way in the future? The U.S. is ahead now because of decisions made in the 1960s, including the interstate-highway system, funding for scientific and technological innovations, and a public-education system.

Instead of following the cues of their own history, however, the American government is cutting the budget of the education of their future, and the effects of these measures can be seen today. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and development (OECD), America’s 15-year-olds are 17th in the world in science and 25th in math. Amer-

ican students are also 12th among developed countries in college graduation rates and 79th in elementary school enrollment.

Along with educational cuts, the country is also spending less on research and development, trailing in 11th place behind research powerhouses such as Germany and Sweden.

After being ranked first in Legatum Institute’s index of prosperity, a measure of material wealth and quality of life among 110 nations, for many years, the US now ranks 10th.

The country also ranks 31st in the adequate food and shelter category and 86th in optimism about job availability.

Skeptics argue that America isn’t declining; instead, other countries are just improving.

They say that other countries’ successes should not be considered as losses for America. However, the other countries’ graphics editor cassie zhang gains will threaten America’s domination over world economy and affairs. Even now, the “made in China” stamp puts pressure on America’s control of the economy. Advances of other countries have already affected the United States, as seen in the country’s lowered status in the world prosperity index.

The founding fathers created a rich, democratic country run by capitalism, the first in the history of the world. America’s love for creativity and its entrepreneurial way of thinking will prevent the empire from completely crashing. Nevertheless, America’s ownership of that coveted “number one” spot will not prevent other developing countries, including China, India, and Germany from surpassing the U.S. and making new empires of their own. ▪

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Smoke Signal

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Opinion

7

Are MSJ students in the Race to Nowhere?

By Nihar Parikh Staff Writer

Wander the wings and quads at MSJ and one can see plenty of people furiously “working” on assignments, but not one textbook is out. Slip into conversations regarding math or science classes and hear not a word about work happening the next week but plenty about the test that day. Cheating is so commonplace at MSJ that it has almost become accepted by students; but how did the situation escalate to this manner? The students seem to have the ethics, the teachers are strict enough, and the administrators are quite clear in the consequences, yet cheating thrives more than ever.

An explanation is that the school system forces students to think only about the end outcome of the learning process. The film Race to Nowhere highlights this as a large problem that breeds issues like cheating across the nation. The film outlines how students, mostly in the Bay Area, are facing a “silent epidemic” where “cheating has become commonplace; students are disengaged; stress-related illness and depression are rampant; and many young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.” It uses personal stories of students that have been injured mentally or even physically to support this and then goes on to attack the education system’s nature of focusing on high-stakes testing and stress from homework and rigorous classes.

It is hard to see the reality of this claim for most high schools in America, but there is no doubt about its relevance to MSJ. The combination of the flawed system, parent stress, and student competition at MSJ is creating an environment that is conducive to many problems.

At the end of the day, most students at MSJ want to get into a college that will provide the largest opportunities for their financial success and, if not more importantly, satisfy the expectations of their parents and peers. Colleges have made it clear that they admit students who maximize the time they have in high school, which students perceive as taking the hardest classes and getting the best grades. As a result many MSJ students resort to cheating, “learning for the test”, and bearing mental instability.

Getting that “A” is always the top priority at MSJ, but getting there is just a means to an end. Cheating isn’t solely a product of laziness; it’s a student’s last resort to getting the results expected from them. The underlying stress imposed by this college driven setting forces students to turn a blind eye to their academic struggles to obtain that top-notch grade. By cheating, students learn the minimal amount of material required for tests rather than taking the effort to learn something, a trend that is impacting real life performance.

Additionally, students that aren’t able to keep up at MSJ constantly compare themselves to their “high-achieving” peers. Students in the film eventually fell to eating disorders, cutting, and other mental illnesses, and MSJ students likely have followed suit. It seems that students at MSJ have been able to cope with the stress, but in actuality, there are many cases of emotional distress. With the addition of parent pressure, it is only a matter of time before something larger, more visible happens. This system is likely to leave lasting damage on students.

The journey to any goal is what makes it worthwhile, and the film Race to Nowhere sheds light on the problem of students taking a harmful path towards that goal. MSJ needs to learn from this wake-up call and address the issues listed above to avoid severe consequences and become an institution of even finer merit. ▪

Race to Nowhere is a documentary that explores the hidden pitfalls of education in schools that are strongly achievement-focused. The documentary was shown many high schools in the Bay Area. It was recently screened to MSJ students and parents.

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ST AR T

MSJ Stuck in the Race to Nowhere

“The film showed one perspective but was not comprehensive. It’s important for everyone in the community to be aware of what is being talked about in this film so all stakeholders can respond to comments and questions they may receive about the movie.”

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Vice Principal Zack Larsen “I think that Race to Nowhere does relate to MSJ. There are a lot of underlying themes in common. The film is important because it helps promote dialogue and gets us thinking about the problems so we can figure out fixes for the future.”

History Teacher Bill Jeffers “I could intensely relate to those kids because I sometimes struggle with my schoolwork too. It’s comforting to know that other people feel the same way.”

Jessica Wu, 9 “Are we in this race to prove ourselves to be who we really aren’t? Race to Nowhere does a splendid job in showing that.”

Vipin Dulam, 11 “When even those who can game the system highly effectively complain of the arbitrariness and meaninglessness of the hurdles they’re put through, you know there’s a problem.”

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Carl Gao, 12

“For one, it saddens me that this is what the [school] system has become, and I’m fearful of what the system will become. I got some great feedback from my students and it was a springboard for conversations in my classes, but I don’t think it was a good movie.”

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Social Science Teacher Tori Ha “Some girls [in the movie] said that she was scared she was going to fail the CAHSEE and we laugh, but you have to think about other people’s socioeconomic status as well. This test could cause them to not be able to go to college..”

Alison Kwok, 11 “It was overly exaggerated. The little kid that had headaches… no one has headaches at that age. The situation regarding the CAHSEE was exaggerated, too.”

Brianna Lei, 11 “I don’t think it relates to MSJ at all. A lot of our stress comes from tests, the SAT, and stuff like that. All the kids in the movie were complaining about homework.”

Charley Chen, 11 “I think they did a a good job of recognizing the problem, but they put too much blame on the school system and not enough on what the students can do.”

Catherine Shir, 12

no wh er e?

Race to Nowhere Goes Nowhere

By Andrew Han Staff Writer

Race to Nowhere, a documentary film that has recently received much attention at MSJ, “features the heartbreaking stories of young people across the country who have been pushed to the brink” of their academic stamina. The film claims that there is a “silent epidemic” in American schools in which stressrelated illnesses, depression, and disinterest have become regular facets of student life.

The film begins with a series of ambitious high school students and their respective stories of personal sacrifice for the ultimate purpose of academic achievement. One student developed anorexia from skipping meals in order to get more studying done. Another became reliant on Adderall to help her focus on her schoolwork. One student even cut the word “empty” into her arm.

At first glance, the film may cause alarm to concerned teachers, parents, and administrators. It may even compel some to turn their attention to MSJ students in an attempt to ascertain whether or not we too are afflicted with this “silent epidemic.”

It is debatable, however, whether or not the generalizations made in the film truly apply to MSJ. The film takes a small sample of schools across the nation (but mainly in the Bay Area), and makes exaggerated and unqualified conclusions about the entire population of public school students in America. Just because the most ambitious students of ultracompetitive high schools exhibit these symptoms does not indicate that the same crises are latent in all public school students, even in the academically rigorous atmosphere at MSJ. Something that becomes immediately clear as the film begins is the self-pitying tone of the students being interviewed; every student has their own story of martyrdom. It is not the student’s fault that they are spending “six hours a night” doing their schoolwork, but rather, it is the teacher’s fault for assigning so much. It is not the student’s fault that he or she is at risk of failing a class, but rather, it is the failing of the educational system. Whatever the issue, the film always seems to ascribe the blame to the shortcomings of public school education.

At MSJ, however, if a student is not up to par in any of his or her classes, the problem is more often than not attributed to the flaws of the student, rather than those of the teacher or school. When MSJ students aren’t measuring up to certain standards, we seldom resort to such extreme and masochistic actions as those of the students in the film. We are taught to pick ourselves up and work harder and more efficiently.

Sure, we have our problems with the way that course material is taught, and we are often under tremendous academic and social pressure to excel, but even so, we rarely (if at all) hear about cases in which MSJ students are hospitalized or develop physical illnesses due to stress.

Despite the melodramatic nature of the film, the doomsayers are right about one thing: the nature of students’ attitudes toward learning is inherently flawed. We live in a society in which the end justifies the means, where success and happiness are quantified by wealth and social prestige. Therefore, more and more students are adopting a “study now, play later” mentality, not for the purpose of intellectual development, but rather, to secure a sound and prosperous future.

Of course, this defeats the fundamental purpose of education. The film gets that much right. But whether or not this attitude calls for a full-length film documenting the perceived “silent epidemic” of high school students, however, is questionable. ▪ photos by staff writers sida lu and stephenie yuan

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Opinion

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Don’t Mess With the Ivies

By Raymond Zhong MSJ Alumnus, Class of 2010

Examining the relevance of the Ivy League is an exercise in quantifying the unquantifiable. Take the literature, for instance: the 1999 study by researchers Alan Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale revealed that students who were admitted to elite colleges ended up earning around the same, regardless of where they actually attended. Yet, one observer noted, taking gender into account, the salaries of men jumped while those of women experienced a slight dip. The original researchers rebuked, “the paper is not about gender differences,” but the debate only underscores the confounding factors at work – elite colleges like the Ivy Leagues are largely opaque to analysis, when they are defined by popular reputation, anecdotes, and cultural norms.

A New Yorker article by Malcolm Gladwell entitled “Getting In” describes the Ivy League as an “aesthetic experience,” starting with their admissions process, a crucial linchpin – who universities accept defines their student body, graduate boards, and eventually alumni donors and admissions officers (who are often hired out of college). Private universities consider academic strength alongside extracurricular accomplishment and an abstract notion of “fit,” in essence giving admissions officers the judgement call on students.

As a result, admissions officers read into applicants’ files, choosing between the many students who are academically strong enough on one hand and shaping a student body with their desired characteristics on the other. It recalls the days when Ivy League schools would give equal weight to students’ “athletic” rating as their academic and extracurricular accomplishments – their attempt to select the varsity athlete, the captain of the football team – but also someone with the smarts and reserve to do well. Getting in is not a popularity contest,

but it is like a beauty pageant, in which everything is presented from your first steps to your greatest achievements.

This focus on presentation is crucial, even referenced in class through the signaling theories of economics and sociology. To an uninformed observer, a student’s attendance at a public university implies – or signals – academic ability. A private school signals affluence and academic competence, but elite schools signal drive and potential, the kind associated with excelling in national competition or completing significant projects. Having these accomplishments – or succeeding in the company of those who have – opens doors to Wall Street banks and consultancies, with their long hours and cutthroat cultures, or public service and nonprofit work, where access and network play a crucial role. Thus, an Ivy League diploma is more than an empty signal; it also reflects a unique experience.

Of course, more commonly cited benefits hold as well, like exposure to an East Coast culture that dates back hundreds of years.

Participating in the environment where many great creations originated – from literary works to philosophical theories to even Facebook – helps you understand how they came to be. The colleges make a point of exposing students to the larger world, through urban service and international exchange. And there’s alumni loyalty and class spirit, something embodied in Princeton’s pick-ups, raucous groups that march across campus and pound on students’ doors to announce and celebrate their acceptance. It’s an added flair that contributes some tradition and meaning to initiations, just like the Ivy League does for the college experience. ▪ Raymond Zhong is currently a freshman at Princeton University majoring in computer science and minoring in economics. He was formerly the Tech Manager for the Smoke Signal.

The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 25, 2011

Away from the Ivy Towers

By Rebecca Gao MSJ Alumna, Class of 2010

Allow me to offer you guaranteed admission into Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown – any Ivy League of your choice. Interested? If MSJ hasn’t fundamentally denatured in the few months I’ve been away, most students would breathlessly pawn their soul for such a chance. After all, the Ivy League label has long been a token indicator of intelligence and guaranteed future success. But why bother?

Sure, for a few years one can prance about with a “princeton.edu” email address and play the “wow” card in conversations. Then what? If we assume that an Ivy League education is merely a stepping stone to a more prestigious career, then, more than $240,000 of degrading debt later, what magical quality has a Cornell graduate gained over a UC Berkeley alumnus?

To quote the National Bureau of Economic Research, nothing much: “Students who applied to several elite schools but didn’t attend them…are more likely to earn high incomes later than students who actually attended elite schools.” As we might have guessed, the individual qualities of the student matter far more than the fame of their college.

In the same manner, student’s projected future incomes depend more upon their degrees, not on the brand-name label of the institution from which it came.To be blunt: a Feminine Studies major from Dartmouth is still statistically less likely to earn as much as a biomedical engineer from Cal Poly. Even within majors, the income disparity depends more on the strength of the school’s department than the university’s overall ranking. According to PayScale studies, Cornell-graduated accountants earn less than accountants hailing their USC alma mater.

So why have we created a deluded fixation, on Ivy League bumper stickers?

Admittedly, the most compelling attraction of the Ivy Leagues stems not from the level of education but from potential connections to be made.

Few other universities can offer such a robust and exclusive social network of the traditional “elite”

and the up-and-coming. Hob-nobbng with the upper crust, if you’d like. Of course, this assumes that undergraduates elsewhere are inferior. Favorable connections can be made anywhere when one has initiative and strong resolve. At USC, an undergraduate has little difficulty finding budding entrepreneurs at the well-regarded Marshall School of Business and resourceful students across all disciplinary fields.

I chose USC partially for their “underdog” enthusiasm and ambition which has allowed it to leapfrog their competition.The other schools which I considered seemed too self-assured by their rankings to desire improvement or too self-absorbed by maintaining their standing - to the benefit of grad students while neglecting undergrads.

USC, however, is incredibly generous when it comes to encouraging student innovation. While searching for research internships, I was never at a loss for money; thousands of dollars in funding and opportunities were practically flung at me. Were I at an Ivy, I might not receive the same attention. Is it worth it to barely squeak under the admission guillotine if you will pad the bottom of the curve for four years?

Admittance into an Ivy League is not the same as entering the fast track lane for success. The label can be a resume builder when wielded correctly, but as can any other leadership role assumed during college.

College is not the final destination, but just another step. Without a clear purpose and ambitions, even the Ivy League stamp of approval cannot save you. I have seen San Jose State University students in Stanford Medical School laboratories while Stanford undergraduates idle away their summers.

How students spend their college years far outweighs the tired notion that brand-name institutions manufacture perfect futures. ▪ Rebecca Gao is currently a freshman at the University of Southern California majoring in biological sciences and global health. She was formerly the Opinion Editor for the Smoke Signal.

Friday, March 25, 2011

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Feature 9

By Jamie Lin Staff Writer

Have you always wanted to be famous but thought you weren’t good enough? Don’t be ridiculous: fame requires no talent whatsoever, just these 5 Steps that’ll get you scoring a 5 (-million-dollar contract) in AP Fame in no time.

Create a signature look.

Never underestimate the power of a good barber. A distinctive haircut (see: Rachel from Friends, Justin Bieber, Snooki) can do wonders for your image. It doesn’t even have to be a good haircut. It just has to be distinctive and unique and suddenly everyone will want it, too.

If your lovely locks are too precious to mutilate, then at least create a signature fashion style. You can go the over-glittered animalistic party girl route (Ke$ha) or the I’m-cute-and-wear-candy look (Katy Perry). The important thing is to get noticed.* *Warning: If you’re worried about losing your dignity and/or possibly getting disowned by your parents, then clearly you should not have signed up for AP Fame in the first place.

Have a punnable name.

Puns are the language of headline writers and satirists everywhere, and let’s face it: everyone loves puns, no matter how much they pretend to hate them. Without a punnable name, how can anyone hope to reference you? If you want to have Twihard beliebers, you’ve got to have the name to tickle their punny bones.

Perfect a stare.

While talent isn’t necessary, a complete utter lack of talent will get you in trouble if you don’t know how to captivate people with a stare. A good stare says “you don’t know why, but you know you want me or want to be me” to everyone, from eleven-year-olds to their middle-aged aunts.

The stare can be creepy (Edward Cullen), dramatic (Dramatic Chipmunk), innocent (Bieber), or if you have the talent, a combination of creepy and alluring (Chuck Bass). You absolutely must have a stare, though, because without one your career will be over before you can say “Lindsay Lohan.”

Get yourself out there.

If nobody sees your work, then of course you won’t become famous. The key to success is recognition. You have two options: a reality TV show or that addicting realm we call Youtube.

Once you are on TV, nobody cares if you can’t do anything or have a dreadful personality. In fact, reality TV feeds on useless people with a flair for the dramatic. Those of you who are more reserved and still retain some self-esteem should pick the Youtube route, but with everyone jumping that train, popularity is harder to achieve.

Where did you get in?

Rules for College Response Etiquette

By Ravneet Kaur Staff Writer

March Madness has a completely different connotation for high school seniors across America. It signifies a month filled with the much anticipated arrival of college acceptances, or unfortunately in some cases, rejections. The grueling stress and hard work of four years of high school comes down to this one moment. However, how you react during this month is important, and there is a certain etiquette that should be followed.

What to do: Thank your teachers and counselors Teachers, counselors, and all other mentors involved with your application process are one of the most important aspects of your college decisions. They offered guidance throughout the process and deserve a thank you letter for their extra efforts. In the letter, thank them for taking time out of their busy schedules to help you and be sure to inform them about your college prospects.

A gift along with the letter would also be a kind token of gratitude, but is not required.

Make sure to deliver the note in person as a sincere gesture and have a conversation to catch up on stories beyond the classroom.

Respect other people’s privacy Whether or not someone wants to share their acceptances is up to them; do not repeatedly ask for a list of their acceptances and rejections. If someone is comfortable sharing this information, they will willingly tell you. If you find yourself being asked about receiving letters and do not feel comfortable sharing, simply state that you prefer not to disclose specifics until you decide what school you will attend next year. The lines of privacy tend to be more unclear between close friends. Do not assume that they will tell you about all of their acceptances. In the case that they do choose to share with you, congratulate them on their acceptance and if they remain quiet, they will probably tell you when they feel comfortable.

Be sensitive in public It’s usually a good idea not to comment at all on a cerain college or college decision if you have nothing nice to say. Bashing a university or expressing disbelief at a classmate’s “unlikely” or “unfair” acceptance could hurt many of the people around you. Enjoy your own success, but don’t ruin other people’s in the process.

What not to do: Broadcast your acceptance Now that the Internet is within reach at almost all times, it is tempting to share your moments of happiness with a status update or tweet. It is fair that you would like to celebrate an acceptance, but do not do so bluntly. A bold move such as opening your email in class and exclaiming “I got into (insert college)!” out loud may dishearten others who were rejected. Instead, post a status expressing your joy and if someone asks why you are happy, feel free to respond with an accurate answer.

Blame yourself for a rejection While many of your friends are deciding on colleges, you may be stuck on the one rejection from your dream school. Do not let this one rejection weigh down your other options and prevent you from moving on. It may seem like all your future plans have come to a halt, but it could be a blessing in disguise. Every college or university has unique features to offer and various opportunities. Besides, college is what you make of it. It does not make you. ▪

Obnoxiously spam everyone.

Since new videos are uploaded faster than celebrities get arrested, the only way to make sure everyone is talking about you… is to spam.

Yes, there is a stigma against shameless selfpromotion, but endless Facebook events and tweets and linkings will eventually force everyone to watch your stuff at some point. Even if it is less than stellar, people will still talk about it and link more people and so on and so forth.

There is no such thing as bad publicity, after all.

Parting words This is not a one hundred-percent foolproof method to fame, but as a soon-to-be-discovered-maybe-hopefully celebrity, I assure you that these 5 steps will help you take over the world… until the next big thing overtakes you. ▪ youtube.com, coolspotters.com, trickfist.com, fanpop.com thenextweb.com, facebook.com, twitter.com & staff writer jamie lin

Go online at www.thesmokesignal.org for coverage of the Japanese earthquake.

10 Feature

TECH DETOX

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 25, 2011

By Sarah Li Graphics Editor

I spend an inordinate amount of time on my computer.

Shocking, I know. Some of us are so plugged in these days it’s not even that we don’t realize how much time we spend consuming technology: it’s that we sometimes feel so powerless (or unwilling) to stop. But how dependent on technology are we, really? In the spirit of journalistic discovery, I decided to go (almost) completely without consumer tech for a week. At this point, I’m going to guess you’re either thinking, “R U SRS?” (in those exact letters) or scoffing, “What’s the big deal?”. Those were my exact thoughts going into this tech detox because despite all the media say about us Gen Y-ers and our inability to tear ourselves away from a flashing screens, how dependent on tech could we really be, right? But then again, it’s not as though I spend a whole lot of time away from a screen either. Still, pre-detox, the only things I’d been really, consciously worried about were being unable to keep up with that week’s TV shows (what would I do without my weekly dose of Lea Michele and Jim Parsons?) and being unable to check the weather. Surely I could do without email, Facebook, and my cell phone for a week. Surely.

But before I get into my actual detox:

COMPUTER USE (WEEKDAYS) On • • •

(not always in use) 3 PM–1 AM. Browsing (email, blogs, etc.): 1-2 hours Social networking: 1 hour TV/Movies: 5-6 hours

COMPUTER USE (WEEKENDS) On (not always in use) 2 PM–3 AM. • Browsing, social networking: same as weekdays • TV/Movies: 8-9 hours

Aside from the hour a day I spend on my parents’ iPhones, my non-computer tech use is fairly minimal, mostly because I watch TV and listen to music on my computer and because I have neither my own smartphone nor a texting plan. It’s only when I get to my computer use that the numbers start to jump (numbers are per day): My tech use probably doesn’t coincide with the average MSJ student, but most people will likely recognize the pattern of spending an unhealthy amount of time doing something unrelated to school rather than going to sleep on time or starting homework.

I went into the detox not really expecting a certain result. I certainly didn’t think it’d be easy, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to arrive at a state of great twenty-first century enlightenment. For whatever reason, I simply thought it’d be fun.

REFLECTION

THE DETOX

THE RULES

As much as I convinced myself of how productive I’d be during the week, going tech-less made me more tired and inert (or perhaps I finally realized how tired I actually was). I suffered headaches the first three days, probably because I dove headfirst into this detox without first weaning myself off tech. All I really felt motivated to do was lie in my bed and mope. Melodramatic, yes, but sadly true.

For the first few days, it seemed as though I’d constantly be asking myself, “What do people do when they’re not using tech?”. You’d think that with nothing else to do (save read and cook, which I’ll get to in a moment), I’d finish homework early and get more sleep, but my schedule hardly changed. I’d still stay up past midnight (usually reading) and do homework long after I’d come home from school.

1. No computer, except for schoolwork.

I simply substituted the time I usually spent on 2. No television, unless it’s used in class. the computer with more reading, baking, and 3. No cell phone, except as an alarm clock or napping (which more often than not resulted in an emergency (which never happened). from falling asleep while reading). It became sigCell phone must remain off otherwise. nificantly easier after those first few days. Time 4. No iPod or Kindle, period. passed just as easily without my computer as it

After the initial lethargy had passed, though,

PREPARATION I thought I might go into this detox somewhat prepared but ultimately decided against it. No formal declaration of my detox was made, mostly because I couldn’t decide whether a tweet, Facebook update, or blog post would be more appropriate (take from that what you will).

My only real preparation? Three episodes of House and an afternoon of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and The Illusionist the day before. I categorically refused to go into this detox without first overdosing on television.

A CATALOG OF MY NORMAL TECH USE • iPod, Kindle, television: rare • Personal phone: infrequent (calls, texts) • Parents’ smartphones: 1 hour/day

did with it.

Admittedly, I slipped a few times during the week and guiltily scanned my email inbox for college decisions and simply to ease the persistent feeling that I’d miss out on something terribly important if I didn’t check. Not having my phone on, though, was probably more inconvenient for my friends than for me, but (here are my hermitic tendencies speaking) it was rather nice not being connected 24/7 and not having to glance at my phone every time I thought I heard a buzz.

Seven days of detoxing, five books, and 52 baked cookies later, I did feel good. I’d been productive and hadn’t spent all my time cooped up in my room and bolted to a chair. Sure, I could draw all sorts of conclusions from my experience, but overall, simply in terms of health, it had been a good idea to keep myself away from my computer for a few days, even if it didn’t affect my sleep and study habits much.

But I’m not going to lie. After all that, what still made me feel even better was sitting down to a well-deserved evening of Glee, The Big Bang Theory, and Facebook the day after.

IS THE DETOX RIGHT FOR YOU?

It’s not a bad idea, but it’ll only work if you have the resolve and motivation to do it. Even if you don’t think you’re dependent on tech, it’s still a good way to determine how true that actually is for you (and you could even try to extend the detox for a month). It might not be wise, though, to start detoxing when you’ve got a busy schedule or are under stress since you might end up feeling pretty miserable those first few days as I did.

I suggest starting on a Friday or Saturday and (as with any detox) easing your way into it by taking away one or two gadgets each day. Setting daily time limits for yourself tends not to work quite as well since there’ll always be the tendency to make excuses for extending the time limit by “just a few minutes.” Be sure, too, to keep the gadgets out of sight, so you won’t be as tempted to give in.

Good luck! ▪ fashionfauxpassable.blogspot.com, iskysoft.com, macbookpro2011.com, gadgetaddict.com, dvice.com, news.cnet.com & graphics editor sarah li

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Interactive Shirts

By Anthony Chen Staff Writer

Do your shirts lack something? Is your closet too full of cloth billboards? Heck, are you even sick of cloth? If you want a dress made of raw meat, ask Lady Gaga, but for the rest of us who want to stand out, here are some cool t-shirts to choose from.

Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt Price: $29.99 There are times when a song comes on the radio, and you just have to rock out. Don’t be caught off guard; get the Electronic Rock Guitar Shirt and have all the major chords at your fingertips. Your lame friends can pretend to strum and play solos – you can have real prerecorded rock sounds, complete with a mini-amp that actually works. No toys here.

This is the real air guitar.

Wi-Fi Detector Shirt Price: $14.99 So you’re walking around in the city and you want to upload to Facebook that totally cool picture you just took of yourself looking artsy. No 3G for you, though – you wasted it playing games on your phone, and you’re already over the data limit. What to do? Well, if you had the Wi-Fi Detector Shirt, you could walk around and stare at your chest until you find some lifesaving signal strength. And even if you have 3G data left, you can still have a nice blue glowing shirt.

8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt Price: $17.99 - $24.99 You’re playing a video game. All those enemies are coming at you, and you only have two-and-a-half hearts left – what do you do?

Who needs health potions when you’re wearing the same 8-Bit Dynamic Life Shirt as your significant other? Just get close to your

geocaching: a guide

By Matt Farberov Staff Writer

Are you bored on a Saturday afternoon?

Is your heart seeking adventure and exploration of hidden places? Do you hunger for the lure of buried treasure? Well, we have a solution for you: Geocaching! Geocaching is an international scavenger hunt that uses Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) to hunt down treasures. With over 1.3 million hidden treasures, or geocaches, hidden around the globe there are likely to be several in your area! In fact, the Mission area itself has over a dozen hidden caches.

In late 2000, Groundspeak Inc. created the site www.geocaching.com for GPS enthusiasts to have a practical application for their passion. At the time there were only 75 caches around the world. The enormous success and boom of geocaching is based on the excitement and integrity of people like you. To begin geocaching you must create a free account on www.geocaching.com and simply enter your zip code to find nearby geocaches. You may then elect to have coordinates sent straight to your GPS device such as a smartphone.

The coordinates will lead you to within a few hundred feet of the geocache, but from there you are on your own. Finding the geocaches involves using creative thinking, intuition, and sheer dedication. The cache can be a small treasure chest, a shoebox, or even a large safe. Once the geocache is found, the geocacher should then take an object from the box and replace it with something personal of equal or greater value. Some common contents found in geocaches include rare coins, arrowheads, dolls, pictures, snacks, or children’s toys. After making an exchange, the box must then be replaced in its original location, and you can log the find on the geocaching website along with comments, pictures, and reviews for future geocachers.

Though the contents of the cache may not

thinkgeek.com

Clockwise, from top left: Electronic Rock Guiter Shirt, T-Qualizer Shirt, 8-bit Dynamic Life Shirt and Wi-Fi Detector Shirt.

other half and both of you replenish your hearts – lots of love. Walk away and your hearts deplete. Show the world the connection you have with your partner.

T-Qualizer Shirt Price: $29.99 Rock the party with this shirt that has a built-in equalizer – it has a glowing display that reacts to sound and music. This isn’t just some random glowing light, though. Each vertical strip reacts to a different frequency of sound, so watch the left end shoot up when the bass hits. You can also watch it light up whenever you say something. Rave with it!

Who needs glow sticks?

You can purchase all of these awesome shirts at www.thinkgeek.com in the “Interactive T-Shirts” section. ▪ sound appealing, the thrill of the chase is really what makes this game a popular success.

However, the entire geocaching system is based on the communal trust that no one will steal, vandalize, or abuse hidden geocaches.

Everyday people set out in search of these hidden treasures including a particular “Geocaching Team” from MSJ. The team started when veteran geocacher Senior Sara Jacoby found the hobby, eventually drawing in her brother Sophomore Kenny Jacoby and several friends. Members of the team include Sophomores Cassie Broadwin and Michael Lindsay who have logged several finds in the past few months. Broadwin said, “My friends and I go out almost every other weekend. We usually find two or three geocaches at a time.” Sometimes the team goes out at lunch and finds up to three geocaches in the short period of time. Lindsay has even created and hidden his own geocache, dubbed “The Black Hole” which has received several hits. He said, “ Hiding my own geocache is awesome since it’s a worldwide treasure hunt and you never think that anyone is going to find your one cache, but then the logs start to add up. ” Users can create their own unique geocaches and hide them anywhere.

As long as the cache is hidden well, of good size, and is registered with the site, it almost guarantees someone will come looking for it!

Geocaches are far from similar. Each cache contains orginal treasure and has its own popularity rating on the geocaching site.

The rankings are based on factors such as the size of the box, the terrain, and its difficulty to locate. Sometimes geocachers are unsuccessful in locating the treasure even though they know the cache is a few feet away. Sophomore Matt Dynin said, “When I can’t find a cache, I feel all right because I know there are plenty of others out there and there are a lot of possibilities as to why I failed. The cache could be hidden really well, someone could’ve taken it, or I could just be unlucky that day. ” Several tools are available to help geocachers find their cache. Groundspeak Inc. has released an iPhone and Android application which gives far more precise coordinates and includes a compass feature to bring you closer to the cache than you could by simply using

DEAR DIARY..

Feature 11

By Kevin Zhai Staff Writer

Jump on out of bed, blanket off my toes Another day at school: it’s for my future, I suppose Hop into the shower, droplets pounding on my head Feeling brainless like a zombie plus my social life’s undead Step onto the tile floor, my toes are freezing cold Wear stuff from the ‘crombie store, avoid the bathroom mold As I rush down to the kitchen where there’s bagels and fresh lox Guzzle down the OJ as I slip into my socks I shove a bagel in my mouth and almost wear my sister’s Crocs Vans, Converse, or Nike? It’s a swag fashion deadlock Put a Northface on my back as I dash out of the front door Bring the lanyard to car’s keyhole; put the pedal to the floor Back out of the driveway as I set course to high school I’m passed by several Chevrolets but I follow traffic rules Navigation is a beezy as I pass the Highland pool And Mission’s clocks: two minutes fast. Why is life so cruel?

Up and down, my head keeps bobbing Need to keep awake to keep my grades from dropping First a film then a PowerPoint lecture I’m tryna soak it up but I’m still not feeling intellectual “BRRING” goes the bell and I’m outta the room Brunch is spicy Chex mix; blow my top like Looney Toons Sittin’ in third period, supposed to be reading But I’d rather socialize and share the food that I’m eating Walk into fourth period; twirl my pen like a pro Learning ‘bout cnidarians in AP Bio Which by the way, evolved six hundred million years ago My mental capacity developing like a deuterostome Shoot, it’s eleven-thirty, look at time fly by Finally it’s lunch; squeeze in the line real sly But people keep on cutting, shove me out of my place Don’t want to cause commotion, so I try to show some grace Give the money to the cashier and tell her to keep the tip But still got dough to buy cookies, the ones with chocolate chips I have so much dinero that my wallet has a rip Forgot to grab the free snack; keep a stiff upper lip Roaming in bell tower quad, spinning like a cyclone But all my friends went out to lunch, I pretend to check my cell phone So people passing by won’t think I am forever alone To be honest, I’m disjointed, center-periphery, unbeknown So just me, myself and, I sitting together on the high throne My kingdom’s population I can count on one knuckle bone Finally the bell rings and I walk up to my locker Slip and trip and touch some girl, she now thinks I’m a stalker...

For full version go to www.thesmokesignal.org

broadbandatlas.org

geocaches.ws

staff writer leland bernstein

MSJ’s Geocaching team from left to right: Junior Matt Farberov, Sophomores Cassie Broadwin, Eric Gonzalez, Zarrie Samiezade- Yazd, Michael Lindsay, Kenny Jacoby, Matt Dynin, and Senior Sara Jacoby

the site. The application, however, comes at a cost of $10.00 but makes the hunt much more practical for those difficult caches.

Geocaching is quickly becoming a mainstream recreational activity and involves more and more people every day. However, this rise in popularity worries many Geocachers.

Sophomore Zarrie Samiezade-Yazd, a team member, said, “ Since geocaching is supposed to be a low key treasure hunt, it’s not meant for the whole world to know about it. I’m worried about a lot of teenagers not being respectful and using profanity on the

website, rude comments on the logs, or even stealing the geocaches. Basically, not promoting the family friendly atmosphere this game is meant for is a huge concern.” As long as geocachers respect the game and other players, the system can continue to run smoothly.

Now you can satisfy your hunger for adventure and participate in the international treasure hunt of Geocaching. So go register online, grab your friend, and get Caching! ▪ Note: The Smoke Signal does not endorse trespassing on private property.

12 Centerspread

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The Smoke Signal

FINDING FASHION springing forward

By Ellie Wong Staff Writer

Spring isn’t warm enough for flip-flops or cold enough for boots. This spring, instead of boring sneakers, try oxfords! They look especially cute with cuffed or skinny jeans, tights, and skirts and dresses.

Jeans are a wardrobe staple, but they can be uncomfortable on a warm day. Not only are twill pants lightweight, their neutral colors automatically brighten an outfit.

chinos

Everyone loves scarves! They’re warm and easy to wear, but a knitted scarf can weigh down a spring outfit. Instead of a scarf that’s thick and insulated, try one that’s patterned and silky.

→ Nordstrom Dockers ‘D2’ Straight Leg Chino Pants, $65

chinos

↓ American Eagle, ↓ Express, 1MX AE Striped Shirt, $50 Fitted Stretch Cotton Shirt, $60

button downs

→ Karmaloop Lira: The Copy Tank, $19

prom solutions

By Chelsea Dass Staff Writer

Ever perused the net, clicking through images of drapes, sparkles, and satin with bright excited eyes, fallen in love with a number, then looked to the price and died a little inside? The story is all too familiar.

Prom is one of those occasions that girls dream about when they’re little: what they would wear, how they would do their hair, what makeup would they do.

Sadly, the glitz and glam of a dress made for the dance floor, oftentimes stays on the dance floor; the dresses, especially the long ones, are usually only worn no more than once.

↑ Duct tape comes in a variety of colors for your creative needs → Stuck at Prom 2010 winners

Stuck at Prom Duck brand duct tape offers an annual “Stuck at Prom” scholarship competition where U.S. and Canadian teens from age 14 and up create entire prom outfits out of duct tape. Couples (two individuals) can submit a photograph of their sticky creations to www.stuckatprom.com by June 13, 2011. Ten Finalist Couples will be selected based on workmanship, originality, use of color, accessories, and use of duct tape, and then these couples’ entries will be posted on the website for online public voting. The three couples with the highest votes receive the first three places, with $5,000 being awarded to each individual in the first place couple and to the couple’s school. Taking the creative initiative to fashion a duct tape outfit will prove to be an unforgettable prom experience.

Designer for Less Rent the Runway is an online dress and accessory rental

sleeveless tops

company co-founded Jennifer Hyman and Jennifer Fleiss, who met at Harvard Business School. Renttherunway.com may just be a girl’s savior, with a collection of over 95 designers, and rentals 90 percent off the retail price. The company supplies outfits for a variety of occasions. They have categories such as “Prom,” “Gossip Girl Style,” and “Sweet Sixteen,” and allow customers to keep the dress between four to eight days. The user-friendly website also includes expert stylist tips and suggested accessory pairings for each dress. One of the best parts about Rent the Runway is that customers have the option of getting a dress in a backup size for free and a dress of a different style for the same date, for just an additional $25. First time users receive a fit kit with mascara, fashion tape, deodorant stain eliminator, lint removing sheets, and a tape measure as well. Rent the Runway mails dresses, provides a return envelope, and only charges a $5 insurance fee. With their monthly email updates of new featured designers and seasonal coupons and discounts, Rent the Runway seems to be a promising site for fashion-loving youth without an expendable budget. ▪

buy your own

chiffon

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Smoke Signal

shopping steals

By Frank Chen Staff Writer

The spring season brings along new excuses to spend cash (or credit cards for those serious shoppers) and start a shopping stampede. But wait a second…where do you buy your clothes?

Sounds like an easy question, but if you are concerned with your budget this spring, the question will be trickier to answer. What you want is to hit two birds with one stone.

The Smoke Signal offers some advice to buying stylish clothing without spending the big bucks.

Many guys wear tight undershirts when the weather gets hot. This year, try a looser sleeveless tee instead. Not only are they a better fit for a guy, they come in more colors and designs. ▪

→ Alice by Temperley dress Retail $394, rental $50

buy classics wardrobe staples like blazers and little black dresses will last through changes in fashion for decades

GIRLS

Different Stores offer different deals Next time you’re hungry for new clothes but your wallet is also starving, think about all your options. Outlet malls and factory stores offer lower prices for designer goods, while closeout stores like Ross and Marshalls do the same at much larger discounts.

Though the stores are less organized, think of it as treasure-hunting. Next, check out thrift stores, where there really are hidden gems (vintage is all the rage) that you can acquire for shockingly low prices. Flea markets and garage sales are also prime areas for digging up items like unique accessories. And don’t forget about discount retailers like Target, which is known for designer collaborations at low prices.

Fremont Ross Locations: 4112 Mowry Ave., Fremont, CA 94539

(510) 796-4761 46551 Mission Blvd., Fremont, California (510) 687-1022 Fremont Marshalls Location: 39277 Fremont Hub, Fremont, CA (510) 790-3505 A few tips to consider for the best deals: We all know how exhausting shopping is (some say it can even be turned into a sport).

Nevertheless, it is never more satisfying to bring home a couple of clothing pieces you love with a great deal. Here are some suggestions we hope will further enhance your shopping experience.

1. Look for the treasure in the pile of trash Though it takes time and commitment,

Centerspread 13

shopping for a good deal will eventually pay off when you’ve spotted that Golden Fleece hanging on the tree. When you see a pair of irresistible sandals with a bigger price tag than you expected, consider whether you really need it. Browse around in case you find a better deal- but don’t waver too long or somebody might buy the original pair!

2. Do some background research before stepping on the battlefield Looking for potential deals online will decrease the amount of time you need to shop. Also, often check out new shipments from your favorite brand or store that might be of potential interest.

3. Team up Bring a buddy! Two pairs of eyes are better than one. (Also, two brains combined mean twice the chance of reacting to a possible sale!) ▪

envision remixes before you purchase anything, imagine how it’ll look with the rest of your wardrobe and how many different outfits you can make from it

stock up on accessories

+

or

wearing different necklaces or adding a belt can change an outfit completely- hello to the illusion of more clothes!

what’s your {body} type?

GUYS

By Michael Wu Staff Writer

While there is no definitive way to make your outfits movie-star gorgeous, there are a few general guidelines to help match clothing to your body type. To maximize your “star appeal,” try to avoid ill-fitting clothing with these helpful hints.

apple shaped An “apple” shaped girl will tend to have a waist that is wider than her hip or shoulder measurements. Try to avoid snugly fitting clothes around the middle of your body.

Nothing draws more attention to that extra holiday baggage than a particularly tight shirt or pants. Instead try to draw attention to your upper body by wearing semi-fitted (not too loose yet not too tight) clothes as well as having tops that flow over the waistline. Also try to wear jewelry which will draw the viewer’s eyes up to your shoulders and face.

hourglass shaped

↑ David Meister dress Retail $575, rental $100 → Kenneth Jay Lane necklace Retail $538, rental $65

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more money-saving advice

Button downs come in a variety of styles: shortsleeve, long-sleeve, flannel, chambray, and, of course, plaid. You can wear this classic with sweaters, t-shirts, or just by itself. ← Pacsun Quiksilver Choice Tank, $15

→ Forever 21 Apple Blossom Chiffon Cami, $16

Trade in your heavy winter wool for airy, versatile chiffon. Chiffon blouses, dresses, and skirts are all great for a warm spring day.

This season, swap out jeans with crisp chino pants or shorts. Chinos can automatically give any outfit a more clean and polished look, but they can also be dressed down.

buy your own

← Yesstyle Eyescream: Ruffle Floral Chiffon Dress, $38

← Macy’s Levi’s Jeans 511 Trouser, $58

buy your own

silk scarves

light jackets

buy your own

↓ Nordstrom ↓ Urban Outfitters Janie Besner Floral Print UO Silky Scarf, Square Silk Scarf, $38 $24

Stay dry during spring showers by swapping drab sweatshirts for sleek windbreakers, or try a light military jacket for dry days. buy your own

→ American Apparel Unisex Slim Slack, $74

→ Urban Outfitters All-Son New Military Jacket , $68

buy your own

← Forever 21 Belted Twill Pants, $23

↓ Karmaloop The Buckeye Windbreaker, $112

buy your own

oxfords

Whether you’re are looking for the trendiest new accessory or frantically searching for that perfect jacket, it is definitely difficult to get everything right. Read on for tips on everything from spring fashion to dressing for your body type.

Confused on how to escape the fashion blues this spring? Look no further: the Smoke Signal has compiled a guide of apparel pieces for your wardrobe update. buy your own

↓ Aldo ↓ Urban Outfitters Cooperative Grosgrain Kegerries Oxfords, $55 Oxford, $49

Friday, March 25, 2011

An “hourglass” shaped girl will have a curvy, balanced body, with hips and shoulders about the same width and having a well defined waist. For those lucky enough to have a natural hourglass figure, the goal is to emphasize curves without adding excessive volume to your proportions. Go for form fitting fabrics that focus on preserving the waistline while fitting comfortably on the body accentuating its natural curvature. Avoid stiff and bulky clothing or baggy clothing.

triangle shaped A “triangle” shaped girl will have shoulders and torso that are narrower than the hips. Goals for this body type are to create a balance between the wider lower body and the narrower upper body. By wearing short sleeved tops, medium to high necklines and waist hugging clothing you can draw the viewer’s gaze to the upper body. Dresses and skirts should either be straight or slightly flared, while pants should be straight and fitted. Try to avoid baggy garments, tapered pants, and clothing that add bulk to the waistline.

the big guy For this body type, a guy will want to minimize the extra layers while focusing on slimming his overall appearance. The most important part of creating a slimmer appearance is to buy clothes that fit properly which helps to streamline the appearance. Try to wear monochromatic colors. Keep away from horizontal stripes which only serve to make you appear wider while avoiding shirts with overly large graphics on them. Wearing a belt also helps to create a thinner body line.

the tall skinny guy In contrast to the other two guys’ body types the “Tall Skinny” guy has the opposite traits of the two. The goal of this body type is to give the illusion of the width to the shoulders. Choose fitted clothing in lighter colors which will make you appear larger. Try to stay away from vertically-striped clothing and monochromatic color schemes, which serve to only slim the body type even more.

By all costs, avoid extreme skinny jeans and opt for more relaxed straight-cut or boot-cut jeans.

ruler shaped A “ruler” shaped girl will have more of a straight boyish body type with even width from the shoulders to the hips. Goals for this body type are to enhance your shoulders and to define your waistline to add curvature to the overall appearance. Go for styles that hug your waistline, but then flare out at the bottom to add the illusion of curvature to your body. Attempt to avoid wearing baggy clothing, fitted clothes, and narrow pants.

the vertically-challenged guy Yes, it’s not fun to be stuck with the short end of the stick, but some people just lucked out.

The goal for the “Vertically-Challenged” guy is to avoid drawing attention to his stature while also keeping normal proportions throughout his outfit. Wear clothing with a slimmer neckline to avoid overwhelming your body frame and discrete vertical stripes to give the illusion of height. Wear pants which minimize the “rise” between the waist and the crotch in order to maintain balance. Possible accessories like a hat should be used to draw attention to the face and away from the stature. ▪

blogspot.com, solidoxygen.com, skproshoppe.com, vonmaur.com, josbank.com, vanmildert.com, forever21.com, blogspot.com, yesstyle.com, nordstrom.com, faq.com, lookbook.com, karmaloop.com, pacsun.com, macys.com, urbanoutfitters.com, americanapparel.com, ae.com, sxc.hu, express.com, duckbrand.com, renttherunway.com, orderprocessingsite.com, psdgraphics.com, gigaweb.com, chictopia.com, studio-onetoone.com; layout by centerspread editors aileen lu & tina tseng

14 Feature

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The Smoke Signal

Advanced Placement Book Review

Friday, March 25, 2011

By Joy Xu Staff Writer

Now that we’ve reached the middle of third quarter and are heading towards the final stretch of AP testing and finals, The Smoke Signal offers a review of the best study guides to purchase for prospective AP test takers. Here are just a few recommendations for the more popular AP tests.

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AP US History AMSCO (2010 Revision)

This review book easily surpasses all of the other AP US History study guides. It covers everything you need to know and the Barron’s AP Psychology is a popular pick, information flows smoothly from chapter mainly because of the extensive subject cov- to chapter. Although it is dense, the text is erage in an organized manner. The book big and it’s an easy read. There are good test contains a diagnostic test, two practice tests questions, sample essays, and Document in the book, and two extra practice tests en- Based Questions at the end of each section. closed CD-ROM. All of the above should be The only downside is that it’s rather pricey, more than enough to guarantee a good score. but if you want a 5, this book will definitely help you out.

Price: $17.99 on amazon.com Alternative: Princeton Review $10.69 on Price: $29.60 on amazon.com Alternative: REA $18.82 on amazon.com amazon.com AP Psychology Barron’s

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AP Environmental Science Princeton Review Since AP Environmental Science was offered for the first time this year at Mission, many students will be taking the AP test. We recommend the Princeton Review version of this study guide because although it may be thin, the information in the book is enough to help you score a five on the AP test. In comparison to Barron’s, the PR version is a lot less dense and teaches more effectively. It has two full length AP tests, review of all the laboratory exercises, and detailed information on the free response section.

Price: $11.11 on amazon.com Alternative: Barron’s $12.78 on amazon.com

bookapex.com

AP Statistics Barron’s

AP Biology Cliff Notes

The Barron’s guides are generally very dense, but this book explains the subject matter very clearly. It covers everything from tests to how to use your calculator. The practice questions are well-written and really test your knowledge of statistics. It features six full-length practice tests and divides the work over 15 chapters into four sections.

CliffsAP’s AP Biology Guide is straight to the point and has just the right amount of information, making it possible to review a lot in a short amount of time. The diagrams are easy to understand and work out tough topics, such as metabolism, for confused students. The book has two practice tests and a precise review of all twelve laboratory exercises.

Price: $10.98 on amazon.com Alternative: Princeton’s Review $12.43 on amazon.com

Price: $8.98 on amazon.com Alternative: Princeton Review $10.72 on amazon.com

geometry.net

Friday, March 25, 2011

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Arts & Entertainment 15

3AM

By Nihar Parikh, Angie Wang & Connor Williams Staff Writers

Reid Saw a Ghost Reid Saw a Ghost is a xylophone-influenced indie rock band here at MSJ. Alex Lefkort (bass and vocals) and Cole Berggren (guitar and vocals) are both juniors at MSJ, and they are joined by Sophomore Reid Riegelsberger (drums) from Washington High School and Junior Robert Sesma (keys, bass, and xylophone) from Kennedy High School.

All of them have been playing their respective instruments for more than five years, and all see music as a huge part of their lives. As Berggren puts it, “The reason we put so much time and effort into our band is because being good at music and getting better with such awesome people are a lot of fun.” On average, they practice for four hours every day after school.

Reid Saw a Ghost is named for the drummer of the group, Reid Riegelsberger, after an incident with Sesma’s “haunted” couch. Riegelsberger had been sitting on the couch when something “grabbed his arm out of nowhere.” He proceeded to run from the house. The name came from their explanation of the incident: Reid saw a ghost. Berggren and Lefkort have known each other since elementary school, as have Sesma and Riegelsberger; so when Berggren and Lefkort were looking for a drummer to form a band with, they found both Riegelsberger and Sesma to fill out their group.

They have only been together for three months but have already played five shows with upcoming shows in and around Fremont, several at Nickle City in San Jose on April 23 and May 20, as well as at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco. They are also currently communicating with “Kick Start Productions,” a local video production company, to create a music video for one of their tracks.

As a final note, the band would like to say: “Check us out on Facebook. Come to some shows, have fun, and we have candy.” They have a set list of seven songs.

You can listen to these tracks and others at facebook.com/reidsawaghost, as well as get updates on upcoming performances.

3AM is an adult contemporary rock band that has been performing around Fremont for around three years. Allan Ko (drums), Lucy Shen (vocals), and Calvin Leung (bass) are all Sophomores at MSJ, and Sophomores David Fung (keyboard) and Joe Chen (guitar) accompany them from Washington High School and Irvington High School, respectively.

“We usually play the songs we like from the radio. Occasionally, we dig up some older songs and give it a more modern arrangement. During special holidays such as Christmas, we pick some traditional songs to perform,” said Fung. The group also composes their own songs, bringing out their style.

The band was conceived when Ko saw Fung’s talent playing keyboard at the church they both attend. Ko asked Fung to form a band with him, and they have been going strong since.

After their previous vocalist Joseph Garcia, a junior at Irvington, dropped out due to time constraints, they recruited Shen, and finally decided to expand their repertoire of instruments with Chen and Leung. Their name sprung out of a temporary measure by the band to agree upon a name, and the Three Asian Musicians, 3AM for short, seemed fitting. Even as the group added Shen, Leung, and Chen, the shortened name 3AM stuck.

The group so far has focused on performances for the good of the community and general charity work. They hosted two concerts at Pink Swirl Frozen Yogurt to support the movement against human trafficking, and performed at the Not for Sale concert last year at MSJ. They also have participated in Key Club’s annual showcase for charity and played for the Sisters of the Holy Family, an organization that likewise supports the fight against human trafficking.

3AM plans on continuing their music as they really enjoy the experiences it brings. Ko said, “It’s a lot of fun to just sit in a room and experiment musically, with tunes, chords, sounds, melodies, lyrics, and so on. When the final song comes out and we can play and perform it, there’s a collective feeling of satisfaction.”

They will be performing next at this year’s Key Club’s Got Talent showcase on March 26.

Check them out at their personal site, threeamband.com, or on their Facebook page, facebook. com/threeamband.

Visions Collapse

Long Island Sound If you can’t decide between classic or alternative rock, choose Long Island Sound, MSJ’s very own rock band.

Made up of Senior Jason Chen on vocals, Freshman Bryan McKernon on lead guitar, Freshman Jason Zhang on bass guitar, and Freshman Benjamin Lin on drums, Long Island Sound is influenced

by Long Island’s rich music history and punk/indie rock.

Long Island Sound was formed when McKernon, Zhang, and Lin met in class. They played as a band for about six months when they decided that needed a singer. Fortunately, Chen met McKernon and decided to join Long Island Sound in time for a gig at which they wanted to perform.

McKernon has been playing guitar for four years, Zhang has been playing bass guitar for two years, and Lin has been playing guitar for a year now. Chen has been singing his whole life, but only joined the band recently in October of 2010.

Long Island Sound has performed at Mission Coffee and recently played at the charity event for the crisis in Japan. They also may perform at Key Club’s Got Talent on March 26.

The members of Long Island Sound have a true passion for the music they play, and putting together a band is how they decided to make it a part of their everyday lives. As Chen says, “Don’t start a band unless you’re really passionate about it. Bands take up a lot of time and effort, and you have to enjoy it to succeed.

Play music because you love it, not because you want to look cool or to impress girls.”

Long Island Sound has recorded several tracks, but the members are not quite ready to release them. Visit their YouTube channel (3to5Band) for a sneak peek of their music.

If you like Metalcore, you’ll love Visions Collapse, a band comprised of Matt Cartwright on vocals, Tyler Strand on guitar, Eric Smith on guitar, Jonathan Dierkes on drums, and Andrew Nguyen on bass. The original band’s lineup was Oliver Yuan on drums, Mustafa Khamisha on rhythm guitar and vocals, Eric Smith on lead guitar, and Andrew Nguyen on bass. When Yuan left for college, Dierkes replaced him as the drummer. Smith had to leave the band because of school issues, so Visions Collapse (Scratch Paper, at the time) played shows without a lead guitarist for a while. Smith rejoined the band after that summer but had to quit a second time, again because of school conflicts. Around the same time, Strand auditioned to be their new lead guitarist, and Cartwright auditioned to be their lead vocalist so that Khamisha and Strand would be able to focus on guitar. Khamisha later quit due to disagreements among the band and changes in musical taste. Smith, who is now fully caught up on his schoolwork, later joined a third time into the band now known as Visions Collapse.

Like many other amateur bands, the members of Visions Collapse dream of being signed by a record label, being able to record albums in studios, and going on tours. By building a good, solid foundation, Visions Collapse is halfway there. Their band has had their conflicts, but they’ve fought through it all to form a band with dedicated and willing members. Smith reminds others that share a love for music and would like to start a band to “keep trying for it, because perseverance is the key to getting a band rolling. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies; there’s a lot of hard work involved with being in a band. We spend time on our music because it’s not only fun to play, but it’s fun to write and record as well. Every time we practice, we get better. We‘re a very determined band, so it’s necessary to put a lot of time and effort into our music.”

Visions Collapse is currently working on collaborating each member’s talent into a few musical masterpieces that they plan to release in a couple of weeks. Previously, they put out songs on iTunes under the name Scratch Paper, but the group is looking forward to presenting newer music under their new name Visions Collapse.

vectorstock.com; lostandtaken.com; staff writer angie wang; courtesy tuesday jensen, visions collapse; layout by graphics editor sarah li

16 Arts & Entertainment

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‘Red’ Fails to Stand Out

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By Maya Ramachandran Staff Writer

Turning a two-page fairytale into a 100-minute blockbuster is no mean feat, but Red Riding Hood fell flat with its superficial plot and comedy of horrors. Apart from a red cape, Red Riding Hood and the classic fairytale from which it took its title have no similarities. The only thing scarier than the big bad wolf is the movie itself.

Director Catherine Hardwicke, who also directed the Twilight saga, squandered the promise of this suspenseful flick by turning it into the usual teen-angst film, with a sullen beauty falling in love with the wrong boy, who may or may not be

a human. Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) is the protagonist in a scarlet cloak, a gift from her grandmother. Seyfried, the embodiment of the famous line “My, what big eyes you have,” is the perfect Valerie, a subtle mix of purity with the devilish implications of her red cape. Despite her uncanny resemblance to her fairytale counterpart, she fails to rescue the cheesy dialog, including lines like, “You look good enough to eat.”

The movie begins with an eagle-eye view of the town of Daggerhorn, a rustic and medieval village plagued by the menace of a werewolf. Valerie is betrothed to the affluent Henry (Max Irons), the most eligible bachelor in town. However, she is in love with her childhood friend Peter (Shiloh

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Fernandez), the mysterious and dangerous “badboy.” Valerie and Peter have just decided to elope when the wolf-bell rings, ominously signaling the death of Valerie’s sister by the werewolf.

The real action begins when the town realizes that the werewolf is a member of the community by day. The “evil dwells among us” premise had potential, building suspense throughout the movie, but the plot was so simplistic that it didn’t use the excitement properly. The visual effects of the wolf ’s raised-hackles and sharp teeth were frightening, until the beast began to speak in a “scary” voice that really just sounded like Morgan Freeman. After Valerie sees the wolf ’s human eyes, and she starts to suspect everyone, including her two lovers, her grandma, and her dad. What should have been hair-raising uncertainty about whom to trust turns into humorous close-ups of everyone’s eyes.

The biggest disappointment of the film, however, was the final revelation of the wolf ’s identity.

Almost anyone could have been the wolf, and the plot did a surprisingly good job with keeping the audience guessing. Nevertheless, the big revelation was anticlimactic, and the final scenes turn the surprise into a predictable mash of sappy dialog and a half-baked attempt to setup a sequel.

Unfortunately, the reputable cast is not enough to salvage the clichéd plotline. Red Riding Hood is just another film aimed to please the teenage demographic with dark romance between humans and otherworldly beings. Despite its hype and potential, the film is just a sheep in wolf ’s clothing. ▪ Rating: C-

Lasers Barely Lights Up Avril Doesn’t Impress

By Jonathon Teng Staff Writer

It has been nearly two years since Lupe Fiasco announced that he was working on the new album, Lasers. In retrospect, Lupe’s first two albums, Food and Liquor and The Cool, were deemed as game changers in the music industry. Before Lasers was released however, Lupe released a statement saying that he didn’t completely support this album, meaning that this would not be a typical Lupe Fiasco album. Unfortunately, after Lupe’s record deal company, Atlantic Records, forced Lupe to sing certain songs and almost rejected marketing the album, Lasers’ disappointing performance definitely reveals the toll that his troubles took.

The album comes out strong with “Letting Go” featuring Sarah Green, a song filled with slick beats where he raps about his struggles and his inner demons. The next track, a controversial, yet powerful piece, “Words I Never Said”, touches on subjects that normal rappers wouldn’t have: “Ghaza strip was getting bombed but Obama didn’t say ****, That’s why

Music Picks from the Editorial Board

This Month: Remix!

Aileen: Mushaboom (Postal Service Remix) by Feist Alissa: Fix You (Datsik Remix) by Coldplay Amit: Black and Yellow Remix (feat. T-Pain) by Wiz Khalifa Arthur:Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (DeadMau5 edit) by Daft Punk Audrey : Six Songs Collide by Norwegian Recycling Cassie: We Beamin’ (feat. All City Chess Club) by Lupe Fiasco Elisa: E.T. Remix by Katy Perry ft. Kanye West Grace: Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco (Malicious Man Remix) Gurleen: UCLA Girl Dubstep Remix by UCLADubSquad Jordan: The Quiet Screaming by Legion of Doom Megan: Heart to Heart by Milkman Roger: Why Is The Rum Gone by DaJugglingFoo Sarah: WALEDANCE (Wale Remix) by Justice Sonia: Nothing Better by The Postal Service (Styrofoam Remix) Tina: Pretty Girl Rock Remix (feat. Kanye West) by Keri Hilson Vishal: Triple Double by Girl Talk Mrs. Cohen: Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman (Aydio Remix) Listen to the playlist at www.thesmokesignal.org

By Richie Zeng Staff Writer

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I didn’t vote for him,” Then, a needed reminder of Lupe’s old schooled rapping over a solid beat comes in the form of “Till I Get There.” However, after these three songs, the majority of the songs are a hit or miss.

“Beautiful Lasers” presents a grim topic of being consumed by darkness, but is simply overwhelmed by auto tune. The most prominent aspects of this album are the angst-filled, dramatic choruses. Nearly every song has a singsong chorus with Lupe’s anger or dissatisfaction expressed in his rapping. However, “I Don’t Really Care Right Now” and “Coming Up”, both featuring MDMA, do not fit the rebellious themed music, as one talks about not caring about anything and the latter talks about supporting the world. “Break the Chain” expresses Lupe’s desire to have freedom, but the techno song completely throws the album out of sync and deepens the wounds caused by the earlier songs.

If you manage to reach the end of the album, “All Black Everything”, a rock-infused song, certainly rewards. Some great songs that partially fix the wounds are “State Run Radio” and “Beautiful Lasers.” Finishing the album off, “Never Forget You” featuring John Legend, leaves it with an optimistic vibe.

Lasers is by no means a solid album and fails to genuinely represent Lupe Fiasco’s true talent.

True fans of Lupe Fiasco can see that this album is a manipulated mess in where Lupe is hardly able to express his feelings. Thankfully, several songs reminisced of Lupe Fiasco’s albums, which altogether saved Lasers from turning into a “fiasco.” ▪ Rating: B-

After the release of her third album, The Best Damn Thing, Avril Lavigne seemed to disappear from the music industry for several years. She has modeled, started her own clothing brand, and released a line of fragrances. Now, four years later, Lavigne is back with Goodbye Lullaby.

Her first album since her divorce with Sum 41’s lead singer Deryck Whibley, Goodbye Lullaby is by no means a reiteration of the edgy pop punk personality that she displayed in The Best Damn Thing.

With the exception of the lead single, “What the Hell,” and the upbeat “Smile,” Goodbye Lullaby is at its core a breakup album.

The album opens up with “Black Star,” a slow graceful piano ballad that had the potential to be one of the top songs of the album if it weren’t just a 90-second introductory track. Afterwards, the album jumps directly to the chart-topping single “What the Hell.” The song is reminiscent of her most popular upbeat songs like “Girlfriend” and “Sk8er Boi” and is by far the most exciting song of the album.

The upbeat songs, though they are the most entertaining, are not the core component of the album. The majority of her songs are in the acoustic singer/songwriter style. These songs are midtempo pieces with rather bland instrumentals, but focus on the meaningful lyrics based on Lavigne’s personal experiences. One track, “Darlin,’” was written when she was a 15-year-old, before she even thought about being famous, and several

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Friday, March 25, 2011

‘Limitless’ Delivers

By Leland Bernstein Staff Writer

Ever wonder what life would be like if you could think clearer, focus better, or anticipate the future? Limitless answers this question with a small pill called NZT that allows the user access to all of parts of the brain. Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) gets a chance to achieve this dream after a meeting with the neighborhood drug dealer. Down on his luck with his book going nowhere and his girlfriend leaving him, Morra takes one pill and the results are instantaneous. The mess that was his apartment turns into a more-than-inhabitable living space, and his book transforms from a blank word document into a 90-page draft than has his publishers begging for more.

After his first dose of NZT wears off, he returns to the drug dealer in search of more.

Short of spoiling an excellent plot, Morra is enveloped in a world of loan sharks, stocks, and other brilliant NZT junkies looking for another fix before the withdrawal catches up to them in the form of complete cranial shutdown.

Limitless keeps the audience guessing on each plot twist, with multiple super-intelligent minds pulling each others’ strings. However, the plot stays both believable and enjoyable because the NZT addicts act perfectly as genius junkies – not overlooking trivial things such as their dwindling supply of drugs and the impending doom of their withdrawal symptoms.

The special effects are executed perfectly, just enough to enhance the on-screen intelligence overdoses, but not so much that the audience is overwhelmed. The actors definitely did not disappoint either, providing spot on performances of cutthroat CEOs, hyper-intelligent loan sharks, and a genius who barely keeps his new life from falling apart. What’s most refreshing is Limitless’s positive spin on the whole shebang that keeps the film both exciting and fun. ▪ Rating: Aothers like “Stop Standing There” and “Wish You Were Here” seem to be about her ex-husband.The result of this personal connection is a truly deep, albeit under-produced album about Lavigne’s life experiences and how she has grown from them.

Overall, Goodbye Lullaby seems to go back to Lavigne’s roots in her first two albums where her songs were more soulful and told stories about her experiences in life. The problem with focusing on the lyrics and the meaning behind the songs is that less attention goes into the production of the song. A lot of the tracks end up blending together, and unless listeners pay close attention to the differences in the instrumentals, many of the songs end up sounding the same.

The most enjoyable songs to listen to lack depth and meaning and the meaningful songs fail to leave a lasting impression at first glance. Longtime fans of Lavigne will love Goodbye Lullaby and the meaning the album has with respect to her life, but those who just want something fun to listen to should look elsewhere. ▪ Rating: B-

avrillavigne.com

Friday, March 25, 2011

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Spring Play Preview

Arts & Entertainment 17

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’

By Rebecca Dutta Staff Writer

This spring, MSJ’s Universal Performers tackle tough themes of oppression and collectivism in the play, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Taking place in a mental institution during the 1960s, the play follows the oppressed lives of several inmates who live in constant fear of authoritarian head nurse, Nurse Ratched (Senior Lizzy Bode), who runs the ward. The Chief (Senior Rishi Saraswat) is a gigantic, supposedly deaf and dumb inmate who seems aggressive through physical appearance but has been so oppressed by his society that he can no longer assert his independence. He and his peers, including Dale Harding (Senior Karthik Raman), live a monotonous, peaceful life under the hierarchal structure of the ward, until RP McMurphy (Senior Erik Scilley), a convict, arrives at the asylum.

McMurphy brings with him the counter-culture movement and disregard for social authority that pervaded much of the 1960s. Strategically, he begins to break down the walls of security at the asylum, exposing them to freedom and individuality. Still, even McMurphy struggles to escape the heavy load of oppression. At the end we can ask ourselves, is security more valuable than our independence?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest revolves around a turbulent time in American history, and some of the concepts of the time such as lobotomies and

drinking are prevalent in the play, painting a vivid picture of life during the 1960s. “[The play] is a reminder to people to not get caught up in conformity and not let society tell you what’s right,” says Director Delinda Dane. Due to the harsh aspects of the play, children under thirteen are advised not to watch.

This year’s spring play will be quite different from previous productions. Not only is it a play instead of the usual musical, but the setup will also be changed. Instead of the usual performance on stage, the floor of the Little Theater has been cleared for acting. Chairs have been placed around the floor to introduce a more intimate setting between the actors and the audience. Student Producer, Junior Ankita Akerkar, comments, “This set has not been done since Plaza Suite in 2008. Since this play mostly takes place in one setting, we’re hoping to create a more intimate environment.”

Around thirty cast and crew members are hard at work putting together a captivating spring play which has been described as “dark and entertaining” by Student Director Senior Lizzy Bode. ▪ Shows will be on March 25 and 26 at 8 PM, with doors opening at 7:30 PM, and April 2 at 2 PM, with doors opening at 1:30 PM. General admission is $10; UP members, seniors, and children under 12 can buy tickets for $8. Tickets are available at the quad during lunch and in the box office after school. All shows will be at the Little Theater.

staff writer angie wang

18 Arts & Entertainment

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Friday, March 25, 2011

Midseason TV Update

By Vaishaal Shankar Staff Writer

fox.com

Fringe Fringe, the alternate universe based, science fiction drama, picks the season up from the previous season’s cliffhanger finale. Unlike the first two seasons, in which almost all the episodes seemed to have no relation to each other, this season is all about plot. The premise is simple enough: an alternate universe exists (the scenes that take place in this alternate world are truly gorgeous) and they are at war with our universe. John Noble delivers a stellar performance as both this universe’s kooky, socially awkward scientist and the confident, strong and somewhat evil alternate version of himself. Far from being partial to our own univerce, the show really pushes the dynamic of the two universes by letting the viewer connect with characters in both. By the middle of the season, both universes seem justified in their actions, and viewers have a hard time placing their loyalties on either side.

House House, the long running medical mystery drama returns for its seventh season this year. Despite its age, the show continues to impress bringing its characteristic direction and witty dialogue along with some excellent performances by the cast.

House’s new romantic relationship with the dean of medicine serves as this season’s main story arc. Though relationships aren’t expected of the self serving titular character, the writers allow him to struggle with his emotions and his medical genius, until he reaches a point when he realizes he must choose one. House proves that a show doesn’t have to falter with age, and it’s still running strong as one of the best shows on television.

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Big Bang Theory Sheldon, Raj, Leonard, Howard and Penny are back in everybody’s favorite geeky sitcom. From the very first episode it’s clear that laughs aren’t slowing down any time soon.

Jim Parson is hysterical as Sheldon, whose list of annoying idiosyncrasies just seems to grow. A girlfriend for Sheldon, who essentially is a female version of Sheldon is introduced. Though at first this character feels forced she eventually grows into an integral part of Sheldon’s life and it’s nice to know eve Sheldon has somebody to turn to for emotional support. As for the rest of the cast, the chemistry hasn’t dwindled any bit, which allows for some hilarious episodes which stem from relatively simple scenarios. Season four of Big Bang Theory does not disappoint.

fox.com

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How I Met Your Mother Yes, it’s been six seasons and Ted still hasn’t met the fantastical “mother” that he talks about so much, and this season doesn’t get too much closer. But it doesn’t matter because season six is one of the funniest and most emotionally moving seasons of the show. The narrative structure remains, with old Ted telling his kids this epic story of how he met their mother, yet it seems this season really utilizes the unique story telling aspect more than usual. This allows for over the top humor that we can’t see happening in the real world, and some truly funny moments that are all the result of an unreliable narrator. Now this season touches on one of the saddest and shocking moments of the entire show. Halfway through the season, Marshall’s father passes away, and at that moment when Marshall is down on the sidewalk crying, the viewer can feel his pain. Both emotionally and comically HIMYM provides another fine season.▪

Quotes Quiz: Music and Movies

By Alice Zalan Staff Writer

What do we do in between all our studying and cramming for tests? We watch movies and listen to music, of course. Ever wonder how well we know those pieces of pop culture? Well, here’s a chance to find out. Below are quotes from movies and songs. See how many movie characters and music artists you can name, and see if you can call yourself a true pop culture master.

MOVIES

MUSIC

Easy:

1. “If I said I want your body now/ Would you hold it against me” 2. “You just gotta ignite the light/And let it shine” 3. “I used to rule the world/Seas would rise when I gave the word” 4. “This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill” 5. “Easy come, easy go, that’s just how you live” 6. “You can stand under my umbrella”

Medium:

1. “All I wanna do/Is trade this life for something new” 2. “It’s tearin’ up my heart when I’m with you/But when we are apart I feel it too” 3. “This ain’t a

song for the brokenhearted/No silent prayer for the faith departed” 4. “Work it, make it, do it, makes us/ Harder, better, faster, stronger” 5. “Hailie, I know you miss your mom/ And I know you miss your dad when I’m gone” 6. “Beauty queen of only eighteen/She had some trouble with herself ” 7. “It’s a thief in the night to come and grab you /It can creep up inside and consume you/ A disesase of the mind, it can control you”

Hard:

1. “They see me rollin’, they hatin’ patrollin’” 2. “London, London, London, wanna go down like” 3. “With arms wide open under the sunlight/Welcome to this place I’ll show you everything” 4. “Money, money, money/Must be funny/In the rich man’s world” 5. “It was a thousand to one/And a million to two/Time to go down in flames/And I’m taking you” 6. “I don’t wanna be told to grow up/And I don’t wanna change/I just wanna have fun” ▪

Easy:

1. “If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food.”

2. “It’s where I keep all my things. Get a lot of compliments on this. Plus it’s not a purse, it’s called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one.”

3. “Speaking as a completely third party objective with absolutely no personal interest in the matter, I’m not really sure that you and Olivia really mesh well together.”

4. “When the kids get old, new ones come in. When they get old, new ones replace them. You’ll never be outgrown, or neglected. Never abandoned or forgotten. No owners means - no heartbreak!”

5. “My precioussss.”

hearts and brings peace to our minds. That’s what I hope to give you forever.”

4. “I’m gonna make him an offer he won’t refuse.

5. “There are two kinds of people - Greeks, and everyone else who wish they was Greek.”

Hard:

1. “This is my rifle. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.”

2. “Greed - for lack of a better word - is good. Greed is right. Greed works.”

3. “Let the blood bath begin.”

4. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

5. “Say hello to my little friend.”

6. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.” ▪

Medium:

1. “Well, what I mean by that, sir, is... if you was to put me and this here sniper rifle anywhere up to and including one mile of Adolf Hitler with a clear line of sight, sir... pack your bags, fellas, war’s over. Amen.”

2. “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”

3. “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul; that makes us reach for more, that plants the fire in our

Go to www.thesmokesignal.org to check your answers. applebox.com, wikipedia.org

Friday, March 25, 2011

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Photo 19

MSJ’s Crab Feed on March 5, 2011 included all-you-can-eat crab, vegetarian pasta, salad, and garlic bread. Basket raffles and a silent auction also helped support MSJ Booster’s Club.

Senior Jake Seubert waits on a guest at MSJ’s annual Booster Club Crab Feed at Newark Pavilion.

Senior Jeffrey Kanemitsu clears the table for a group of guests.

Seniors Michael Chiang and Maggie Chang sway to the beat of the music.

Senior Tarang Patel hollers among the crowd as they rock out on the dancefloor. v DJs Ronald and Jayare Pabalate entertain enthusiastic dancers.

Sophomore Gurnaj Johal shows off his breakdancing talents at “Sadies Among the Stars.” photos by staff writers ditha balaji, maya ramachandran, angie wang, and connor williams.

20 Photo

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Friday, March 25, 2011

Senior Kevin Yeap inspires the audience with a piece on the piano.

Freshman Destin Trang entertains the crowd with his enthusiasm and guitar skills.

Sophomores Leena Yin and Meri Hambalek serenade the crowd in support of Japan. photos by staff writer ellie wong.

Friday, March 25, 2011

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Sports 21

Siwen Dickstein: ROTC SCHOLAR

By Aishwarya Thakur Staff Writer

An exceptional student and athlete, Senior Siwen Dickstein manages an incredibly hectic schedule in which she actively competes in three varsity sports teams while maintaining her school schedule. She shared with the Smoke Signal her journey to success and how she also received a full-ride Marine Corps Scholarship, which she will use to pursue a law career.

courtesy siwen dickstein

Dickstein, second from left, has received much praise for her athletic achievements.

Smoke Signal: You are part of the wrestling team at MSJ. How did you get into wrestling?

Siwen Dickstein: This is actually a funny story. In preschool, my grandma put me into ballet and tap dancing. I was absolutely horrible at it. She said, “If you’re going to be difficult, then I’ll sign you up for taekwondo.” So I started doing taekwondo and jujitsu. When I got to high school, I knew I wanted to do something in combat or a sport that involved fighting, and wrestling seemed like the obvious choice. Now, wrestling is my favorite

sport. I do Cross-Country and Track and Field, but by far, wrestling is the most fun, especially since it’s still fresh in my mind since the season just ended.

that as well. Upon graduation I have to serve four years in the United States Marine Corps, which works for me and what I want to do in life.

SS: Why did you decide to do Cross-Country as well as Track and Field when you were already so committed to wrestling?

SD: Well, sports are something that helpsme focus. Without them my grades actually drop.

I love to run as much as wrestling. Sports have always been a part of my life—I’ve been doing them for years. My mom was a long distance runner. Many people said focus on your studies, but I couldn’t give up [any of the sports I did]. So I just did them all, since I couldn’t think of dropping any and I have done well in all. But I have gone the farthest in wrestling.

I went to North Coast Section (NCS) for Cross-Country since freshman year. I’ve gone to NCS for track since sophomore year and also Meet of Champions (MOC). Also, I’ve gone to NCS for wrestling all four years as well as two years for state [championships.]

SS: How did you receive this scholarship?

SD: I already decided that I wanted to join the Marine Corps, but at the end of last year I got injured and wasn’t sure if I could participate. When I was little, I told my parents, “I’m going to win a scholarship for you. I’m gonna do it!” I didn’t want my parents to pay for my education. So I decided to talk to the Marine Corps just to check it out. Then I applied for a scholarship which would cover four years of school. But even before they accepted me for the scholarship, I was prepared to go to the reserve. If someone’s really thinking about this scholarship, it does look better to actually want to be a marine.

SS: Can you tell us more about the Marine Corps Scholarship you received?

SD: I won a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship. I won it from the Marine Corps, which is a department of the Navy. They gave me a full-ride scholarship which covers all four years of tuition, books, and any other academic related things.

I’ll also receive a stipend, which ranges from $250-400 a month depending on my age —and this is for transportation or food. I’m required to wear a Marine Corps uniform once a week and participate in their workouts three to four times a week. I may have to take extra courses in navy science and classes like

SS: How does this scholarship fit into your career goals?

SD: So after four years at ROTC, I owe [Marine Corps] four years of service. After two years I’m eligible to apply to any law school and if they accept I have to go to law school for three years, which is how long it takes to attend law school. After I [graduate] I have to complete two years of service to the Marines.

I want to work as a Marine Judge Advocate General ( JAG) Corps officer, which is a lawyer for Marine Corps. I want to work in an embassy eventually. I may not get out of the military until I’m 30, so it’s a long commitment, but at the same time they will provide housing, food, medical needs, and such, so I won’t have any payments.

SS: Do you have any advice for students

staff writer nihar parikh

wishing to go into to the military service or any sports career?

SD: [Wrestling] Coach Tom Thomsen taught me some very important things. He taught me to never give up and never give in.

It doesn’t matter what people tell you. People always said, “Why are you joining the military?” or, “Sports is a hard life.” Honestly, we live in Mission where the community is not pro-military as much. I knew what I wanted to do and it was all part of my master plan. I want and I need to do this to thank the country I’ve lived in, the country that’s protected me. Most of our parents have immigrated here to be safe. I’m also interested in politics and with what is happening in Afghanistan and Iraq, so I want to be a part of the military to better understand what is going on there.

The military has a different point of view from our teachers and the students here. I’ll do what I think I need to, and I know that if I work hard enough I will be successful if I never give up or give in. ▪

Practice hard, then go home Organizations stepping

By Megan McLaughlin News Editor

Any student, teacher, parent, or athlete will tell you: practice makes perfect. If this is true, then at some point, we would all become perfect students, musicians, or athletes.

But this is not the case—nothing can ever be perfect, and the most dangerous place to apply this idea is on the playing field.

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Long and practices can be detrimental to an athlete’s health.

Extremely long practices are not helpful to players, especially with sports seasons that last for several months. Although NCS has no regulation on the length of practice times, the majority of coaches keep practice around two hours. (The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs state high school sports, recommends practices last no more than three hours). This can add up to 10 or 12 hours every week spent using the same muscles, drill after drill. Fatigue can set in, leading to injuries or burnout closer to the end of the season.

Stress fractures are caused by increasing the amount of use a muscle undergoes. MSJ athletes who play the same sport year-round, such as competitive and school soccer, or travel and school baseball, are at risk of developing stress fractures as well as other injuries that result from tired muscles. Players themselves often don’t acknowledge exhaus-

tion, and stay on the court or in the sport far too long.

Fatigue isn’t limited to the physical body.

Mental exhaustion can be just as dangerous.

MSJ’s scholar-athletes face double the pressure of normal students: They must maintain their grades at one of the most competitive schools in California, and turn around and compete for playing time at practice. It can be difficult to focus on practice the day before a big test, especially if practice drags on.

Little more can be accomplished after two hours of practice. A study in the journal Science showed that students demonstrated better memory after taking tests than after cramming information or constructing diagrams. It is highly possible that this information can be applied to practice. Hours of game-planning ought to be shortened to a brief summary, leaving players more time to digest the material and mentally prepare to play.

With the short attention span of today’s teenagers, a deluge of game-planning and new moves or techniques will be a waste of energy. The small portion that can be remembered the next day will be fragmented, and players will be incapable of performing the movements or plays properly. It is far more useful to spend a short time learning the material, use it in a game situation or scrimmage, and then go home to rest. Even when the players concerned are working to form muscle memory, rest is important. Torn muscles retain no memories.

Athletic Director Tom Thomsen said, “It becomes counterproductive to practice too long.” However, as Varsity Wrestling Head Coach, Thomsen understands the dilemma:“Who you are playing, tournament schedules, and schoolwork determine the practice schedule,” ultimately leaving practice length to the coach’s discretion. Luckily, MSJ’s successes in athletics show that our scholar-athletes are in confident and competent hands. ▪

up for school sports

By Edward Nguyen Staff Writer

Fremont schools have been affected by the many budget cuts that have hit our school district. These deep cuts include cuts in technology, counselors, staffing, and increased sizes in our junior high schools and high schools. In addition, there is less money in the coffers of our school sports teams due to the cuts our teams have been receiving. However, local organizations have been donating and contributing to our affected sports programs in order to offset some of the deficits.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, Fremont Unified School District’s (FUSD) five high school soccer programs will have an additional $5000 to use, thanks to the generous donation from Fremont Adult Co-Ed Soccer (FACES). This Fremontbased, non-profit adult soccer organization met with coaches and players from MSJ, Irvington, Kennedy, Washington, and American soccer teams recently at the Fremont Main Library. Each of the schools was presented with a $1000 check that will directly benefit the soccer programs at FUSD’s five high schools.

Sports programs lack some of the basic tools required for their teams. The high schools receiving this funding boost will be considering different ways to use the donation. Dan Christensen, Assistant Varsity Coach at MSJ, said “there is always the need for soccer balls for training and game balls for our matches for all our teams”. Furthermore, Christensen explained that the FACES donation came at a crucial time. Most of the FUSD’s sports programs are solely funded by the Booster

Club fundraising activities and parental donations. All of the Fremont high schools were grateful for the support of FACES, and also noted that they wished that there were other munificent organizations that would help their underfunded sports programs.

FACES has contributed to Fremont’s high school soccer teams for two consecutive years now. These funds have come from the organization’s annual adult soccer tournament. FACES treasurer Scott Williams commented, “We are very proud to be able to donate as much as we have to these programs”. Additionally, FACES has offered students that graduate from high school an opportunity to continue their love of soccer in their adult league.

The severe budget cuts have impacted our district and its schools greatly. In order to save money in our school district, our school board has been cutting from reported listing areas. Areas like school sports have been hit by these cuts, leaving little prospect to expand or even continue. Charitable organizations like FACES have been able to fund our sports programs and keep them running. Businesses and individuals wishing to assist FACES raise funds for FUSD athletic programs through their annual August Tournament can call Team Coordinator Frank Arevalo at 510-552-9794. ▪ To read the full press release, visit our website at www.thesmokesignal.org.

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 25, 2011

Friday, March 25, 2011

The Smoke Signal

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Scholar athletes

By Sida Lu Staff Writer

By Grace Han & Amit Patankar Sports Editors

Take seven: “money ball” From their origins in our competitive nature, sports have epitomized the essence of determination and passion. Through each athlete and team, we see a little bit of ourselves and our innate desire for success and glory. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that sports have become the staple in our society that they are today.

However, as the popularity of sports has grown, so has their transition to the world of business. In the midst of the success of organizations like the National Football League (NFL) or Major League Baseball (MLB), you can’t help but notice that a growing number of decisions players make are based upon what culminates in the most profit or selfpromotion instead of what brings the greatest results. Consequentially, the initial meaning of sports has lost its true touch. English teacher John Boegman admits he has lost all the joy he used to find in watching athletics. “A lot of the problems we face today would disappear if there was a little less ‘me, me me’ and a little more ‘we, we, we’,” he says. “But in the activities where we are supposed to learn this lesson athletics - the message isn’t being reinforced.”

The recent NFL lockout is a prime example of the failure of sports to live up to their name. The NFL Players Union (NFLPA) and the owners’ collective bargaining agreement came to an end earlier this month. Even after months of negotiation, the two sides could not reach a viable agreement for a new contract, and the dissension has resulted in the first NFL lockout since 1987. In a league now dominated by businessmen and tycoons alike, Unpredictable. That is the only way to describe this year’s upcoming NBA playoffs.

With heavyweight teams in tight deadlocks in both conferences, this year’s postseason features more stars than ever before, with GMs stacking teams to raise their franchise’s chances at a title.

In the East, Carmelo Anthony’s move to New York gives the Knicks a legitimate shot at the title if Amare Stoudemire and Anthony can learn to work in tandem. Chauncey Billups’ clutch shooting will help the Knicks close out tight games against other teams in the east. Although the Eastern Conference boasts the Celtics, the Knicks, and the Heat, the biggest surprise of the season has to be the Chicago Bulls. Led by MVP candidate Derrick Rose and big man Carlos Boozer,

the players have found themselves trapped under a tent of greed and egotism, which they have little power to overcome. To continue playing in the 2011-2012 season, the owners have asked that players take a $340,000 pay cut, something they have been unwilling to do.

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cut his salary to one dollar in an effort to ease tensions between players and executives.

With talks going nowhere and arguments becoming more heated between both parties, we are likely looking at an upcoming year without America’s most popular sport.

While many fans have heaped blame on the league for being deceitful and unfair to the now disbanded players union, it is also equally just to find fault in the athletes. The average NFL athlete makes more than enough money to satisfy his personal needs on a daily basis, and taking a cut of that amount should be nothing in comparison to not being able to play next season. But the matter of who is at fault is trivial compared to the realization that sports are slowly becoming overshadowed by money and individualism.

The financial politics that have taken over athletics are the main reason of the rifts between franchise executives and players. Unless both parties are able to find a way to combat the politics, sports won’t be about dedication and teamwork, but rather about the money. ▪

The words “student-athletes” have come a long way since their first conception. Originally intended to put emphasis on “student” first, the term “student-athletes” has instead evolved into a series of lies to milk athletic talent. Too few athletes take advantage of the golden opportunities they have earned— which only makes MSJ’s winter sports athletes’ accomplishments ever more impressive.

Being an athlete isn’t just about showing up to practice every day and expecting to miraculously get better. Skill is something that is won, something that is earned, something that is paid for with time, blood, and sweat.

That said, student-athletes have to add their academic life on top of their athletic work— an infinitely harder task. But those that are successful often gain the attention of top colleges and are recruited to join prestigious academic and athletic programs.

Yet, even top academic institutions such as Stanford, it was recently revealed, had provided their student athletes with an exclusive list of “easy A” courses so they could maintain their GPAs with ease. But what happens when these athletes play out their college careers and are unable to go pro? The very school they chose to provide them education and ready them for the future has failed them by putting minimum Division I requirements at a very low bar: a 2.00 GPA and a 1010 SAT score.

And even with these “standards,” athletes and coaches spend their time trying to beat

By Amit Patankar Sports Editor

easily winning the conference. The veteran combination of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce still has enough left in the tank to reach the Finals again. Unless Miami can somehow pick up the pieces and find a way to beat the Celtics after losing to them numerous times in the regular season, the Celtics will become the Eastern Conference Champions again.

The Western Conference also has four

Sports 23

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veterans healthy, the Spurs were legitimate contenders for the conference title. However, the Lakers proved they are still championship material when they destroyed the Spurs in March in San Antonio and handed the Spurs their first home loss in nearly four months. Road wins over Dallas and Oklahoma also reinstated their dominance as the reigning champions and quelled doubts on whether the Lakers could pull off their

the system instead of adhering to it. Too many coaches turn a blind eye to their athletes’ school struggles, choosing instead to squeeze out as many wins as possible—often at the expense of bright futures. Considering that just one percent of all college athletes are able to live the dream and turn pro, 99 percent of collegiate athletes should have a backup plan in place…but very few do.

All of this just goes to show how impressive the MSJ environment is, continuing to encourage student-athletes to put their studies first. For all of the complaints about the “Mission Bubble,” one thing is for sure: nothing is more conducive to studying and academic achievement than the “Bubble.”

Many MSJ coaches have academic guidelines in addition to the bare minimums the state provides, ensuring that their young athletes never forget that they are students, first and foremost. Most coaches require a regular grade check of their student athletes. So this past winter season, not only did our Warriors dominate on the playing field, but they also dominated the classrooms as all five winter sports teams won the NCS Scholastic Team Awards for posting one of the three highest team GPAs of any NCS team in their respective sports.

Congratulations goes out to Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Soccer, Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Basketball, and Wrestling for continuing to defy the student-athlete mold. Their achievement gains a lot more meaning given their lives in a society that encourages them to put their education on the backburner. ▪

to the frontcourt. The Mavericks have also found their niche as the second seed behind German phenom Dirk Nowitzki and newly added center Tyson Chandler. Although both the Mavs and the Thunder have talent, neither are consistent enough to win a seven game series against either the Spurs or the Lakers.

The conference finals will mirror 2008 with the Spurs and the Lakers battling for a spot in the final. Unlike 2008, the Spurs have no answer to the paint presence of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in tandem.

Moreover, Ron Artest’s defensive presence against Manu Ginobili will put the Lakers over the Spurs in the grueling series.

The Finals will feature the same classic

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Derrick Rose has solidified his MVP candidacy by leading the Bulls to a regular season sweep of the Heat.

the Bulls are in a tight contest for the first seed in the east. However, none of the teams have been able to provide an answer to dominant center Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. With Kendrick Perkins gone, the Boston Celtics have no defensive answer to Howard in the paint.’

The conference champion will actually depend upon the matchups. The only team that can possibly beat the Magic are the Heat, who have enough offensive firepower and presence in the paint to neutralize Howard and the Magic’s three point shooting. Assuming that Boston doesn’t have to face the Magic, there is nothing stopping them from

nba.com

Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce will go at it again when they meet in the Finals.

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Both Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan have led their respective teams to successful seasons in their conferences and have secured playoff berths.

teams that have settled into the top four seeds. The San Antonio Spurs have stunned the NBA and have returned to take hold of first place in the Western Conference and the best record in the NBA. With all their

threepeat.

In addition to the Spurs and the Lakers, the Thunder have also improved since their trade with Boston sent veteran big man Kendrick Perkins to provide more size

matchup between Boston and Los Angeles.

No team has consistently shown an ability to beat either of teams this season. The key to the matchup is presence in the paint.

When the Celtics traded away Perkins, they left themselves vulnerable to teams with a strong frontcourt. With Bynum, Odom, and Gasol, the Lakers will dominate the Celtics frontcourt which includes an aging Kevin Garnett, Glen Davis, and an inconsistent Nenad Krstic. The Lakers will win the series in six games and give head coach Phil Jackson his fourth threepeat and 12th ring. ▪

Junior Captain Ian Dickeson has been playing golf since a very young age, and has led the Warrior team far with his exceptional talent and dedication. Dickeson, who was also captain last year, has been chosen again because of his commendable work ethic, and undeniable success rate. This season, there are high expectations for Dickeson to lead the team to NCS again. Last year, Dickeson placed in the top 30 out of a total of 130 participants in NCS. Dickeson has also been playing well outside of school, as he won the Spring Valley Classic in Milpitas this past summer.

Boys’ Golf - Ian Dickeson

By Courtney Tam & Sanjna Shukla Staff Writers

Kevin Roche, a Senior Captain of the baseball team, has been a key player for the past four years. Roche, who also plays varsity soccer, has been playing baseball for 13 years. This year, he is the captain of both varsity soccer and baseball. Roche has succeeded on the MSJ team due to his experience with baseball in an outside league, Mission San Jose Little League, where he has been named an All-Star ten times. Roche’s commitment and leadership will be essential in taking the Warriors baseball team far into the playoffs this year.

Baseball - Kevin Roche

A returning varsity player, Jeffrey Kanemitsu, will play a pivotal role for boys’ volleyball as a Senior Captain. Inspired by his father and oldest sister, Kanemitsu has been playing the sport since the seventh grade. Playing both for a competitive and school league, Kanemitsu was on the Warriors’ 2009 boys’ volleyball team that won the MVAL championship for the first time in school history, and also took second place in NCS. In 2010, Kanemitsu was part of the squad that made it to the NCS finals, and he was named first team all league as a setter.

Boys’ Volleyball - Jeffrey Kanemitsu

Encouraged to join track and field by her brother, Sophomore Ariel Cheng is now one of the top pole vaulters in the sport. She won a first place medal from MVAL’s for pole vaulting (got first team all-league), placed second at NCS Bayshore and competed in the Meet of Champions last year. Her personal record for pole vaulting is 10 feet. She also participates in the long jump and the 4 x 100 relay team. The varsity girls’ track and field team also awarded her the “Rookie of the Year” distinction last year.

Chang also participates in MSJ gymnastics, as well as Bay Aerials Gymnastics.

Track & Field - Ariel Cheng

Junior Alexandra Ruff began swimming at age seven at her father’s request.

She has made first team all league for the past two years for MVAL’s and was selected as the MVP of MSJ Varsity girls’ swimming last year. In her freshman year, she swam in NCS for the individual event 200 freestyle and the 4x100 yard freestyle relay—a relay that broke the league record. Ruff swims for the Fremont Flying Fish and has also competed in meets such as Far Westerns and the Junior Olympics. She is confident that girls’ swimming will do extremely well and says, “Everyone should come out to meets because we love support and we could always use a bigger cheering section. Go Warriors!”

Girls’ Swimming - Alexandra Ruff

Spring Sports Standouts Softball - Muntaha Samad Sophomore Muntaha Samad has been a notable softball player as a pitcher for the Lady Warriors. Last year, Samad was the team’s MVP, and has used her nine years of experience in the Fremont Girls Softball Association (FGSA) to help the MSJ team be a major competitor in the league. Having pitched for eight years in the FGSA, Samad hopes to use her experience to lead the team to playoff season. Samad’s experience both with MSJ and the FGSA will boost the Lady Warriors chances of excelling both during and after the regular season.

Boys’ Swimming - Michael Choi Now in the tenth year of his swimming career, Michael Choi is a sophomore who has been on Varsity swimming since his freshman year. His parents taught him how to swim; he now swims for the year-round team Mission San Jose Aquatics (MSJA). At age 10, he was ranked top 16 nationally in the 50 yard and 100 yard butterfly events. He placed 9th in NCS for the 100 yard butterfly event last year and currently qualifies for the NSCA Junior Nationals. Choi has won highpoint awards at meets including: Zone Championships, Far Westerns, Junior Olympics, and Sectionals.

Badminton - William Cheung Sophomore William Cheung is no ordinary badminton player. He started playing badminton at age nine and has represented the United States in the 2009 XVIII Pan Am Junior Championships in Puerto Rico, where he won in the under-fifteen boy’s doubles and mixed doubles events. Cheung also represented the US in the 2010 XIX Pan Am Junior Championships in the Dominican Republic, where he won the under-seventeen boy’s doubles event. He has been a member of badminton clubs (that are outside of school) for five years and competes in events such as the Junior Nationals and Junior International Trials. For the varsity team last year, Cheung placed first in Boy’s Singles for the Irvington and Newark Varsity Tournaments. In NCS, he finished third in Boys’ Singles.

Boys’ Tennis - Evan Dankiewicz Senior Captain Evan Dankiewicz started playing tennis when his mother introduced him to the sport at age five. He has won the MVAL doubles title for the past three years. Dankiewicz was recognized for his excellence in tennis last year when he was selected as MVP of MSJ Boys’ tennis and was awarded the Best Sportsmanship accolade for MSJ as well. Besides playing on MSJ’s tennis team, he also plays in United States Tennis Association (USTA) tournaments. He has beaten strong opponents—some who have been ranked in the top five in Northern California. He has high expectations for the boy’s tennis team this year and says that, “…the team is focused this year and ready to surpass our accomplishments from last year.”

layout by sports editors grace han and amit patankar, photos by staff writers connor wiilliams, sida lu and frank chen, and graphics editor cassie zhang, images from surfboardplus.com, faqs.org, lenscompare.com, phoenix.com, flaghouse.com, typepad.com, google.com, veryicon.com, robinssports.com