Vol. XLVIII, No. 8

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. XLVIII, NO. 8

May 3, 2013

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

The road to selecting a new principal eCybermission Freshman team advances Parents Students Teachers “Regarding a new principal, I would like to see someone who strives to set the tone and standards to help the kids have a healthy school work/ life balance. I believe this can be done without sacrificing academic excellence.

I also feel MSJHS should adopt a block schedule.

Many of the Bay Area’s top schools are using block schedules and both teachers and students give the system high ratings.”

-- Shana Silverberg-Rajna

“We want a principal who is local, someone who understands the stressed out students and can work with SOS [Stressed Out Students] to solve the problem,”

-- Robert Hou

“Responsibility, they need to handle school affairs in a responsible manner and know what to do when certain situatons arise.”

- Karthik Bharathala, 9 “I think that a new principal should be a friend to the students, and not someone students fear to see when in the office. Also, I feel that a principal should be active in student events and greet some students with a ‘Good Morning.’ ”

- Gurnaj Johal, 12 “[A principal] should be supportive of his/her staff and having the courage to back them up when dealing with difficult parents - a fair leader who doesn’t let parents run the school.”

- Zer Keen Chia, 11 “I think the new principal needs to be lenient and have an air of authority, because people need to respect and fear him at the same time.”

- Matt Jin, 10 “I want a principal who will address the issue of cheating at Mission.”

- Abhinav Prasad, 11

“Something I value the most is a principal who can carry on the wellestablished tradition of excellence at this school.”

- Gregory Pipp, Campus Resource Officer “Someone who is fair, organized, good with communication, supports policies (i.e. teacher, district, etc.).”

- Jennifer Moore, English Teacher “Stability.”

- Robin Vandeusen, Chemistry Teacher “I want someone who is a good communicator to teachers and parents.”

- Scott Sugden, Math Teacher “Somebody who has the ability to have the conviction to enforce district policies for faculty, staff, and students.”

- Brandi Speier, Campus Supervisor

May 14-22 STAR Testing

May 27 Memorial Day NO SCHOOL

June 1 Senior Ball 7 PM - 12 AM

On April 1, Freshmen Alice Cheng, Anaha Raghunathan, Apoorva Rajanala, and Christine Wu won first place in the Regional competition and placed among the top four in the southwestern section of the US for the annual eCybermission competition. eCybermission is a web-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competition that challenges the team to create a solution to a pertinent problem within the community. Sponsored by the US Army, students in sixth to ninth grade compete annually in organized teams. It aims to challenge students to work with mathematics, technol-

“Our team discovered that cell phones have become an integral part of our society and that cell phone radiation is becoming more of a problem.”

-Alice Cheng, 9

three top candidates. Morris, the Assistant Superintendents, and two Board of Education members will conduct the final round of interviews. Afterwards, only the “I would like a principal who knows In preparation for Principal Sandra Board of Education can officially hire the what he or she is doing and has Prairie’s upcoming retirement, Superinnew principal, based on Morris’s referpassion, leadership, honesty and responsibility.” tendent James Morris and Director of ences.

- Arthur Wang, 9 Secondary Education James Maxwell held In the second half of the parent and a public forum on April 11 at the MSJ licommunity forum, parents suggested “I would like a principal who genuinebrary. Morris and Maxwell discussed the leadership attributes, specific skills, and ly cares for the students of MSJ.” selection process for next year’s MSJ prinpersonal characteristics required of the - Manjima Sarkar, 10 cipal and collected community feedback new principal. The most common sugabout school issues. gestions included the issue of academic Morris opened the meeting by explaininequity and the experience necessary for ing the step-by-step process with which working with MSJ’s unique demographic.

FUSD will select a principal for MSJ. Late have the candidates narrowed down to 30, “We want a principal who is local, somelast year, the district first announced a va- about half of them are internal candidates one who understands the stressed out stucancy for the position to all high school [from within FUSD],” Morris said at the dents and can work with SOS [Stressed principals and employees in the district, parent forum. Morris did not disclose the Out Students] to solve the problem,” said also stating that principals who were inMSJ parent Robert Hou. Many were also terested in switching to the newly opened “We understand your con- concerned with communication between position could request a transfer. In MSJ’s cern on these issues, but I’m go- the principal, parents, and students. “The case, no principals in FUSD requested ing to say, we’re going to get it principal needs to be a candid commua transfer, so the district then released a right.” nicator. Students need to be placed first statewide post for candidates. Following -James Morris, Superintendent before politics,” suggested another. Most the online job posting, Morris and Maxcomments touched upon increasing parent well held the April 11 community meet- applicants’ names, stating, “We under- involvement with their students. Many ing to ask parents for their input in the stand your concern on these issues, but I’m parents felt out of the loop and voiced selection process. On April 23, a similar going to say, we’re going to get it right.” their desire to hire a candidate who would meeting with MSJ staff garnered further Maxwell will then questions for the prioritize educating the community on discussion about specific school issues the interview committee. The interviews will MSJ issues. candidates will be expected to address. include an impromptu writing response Forums such as these aim to include After the preliminary meetings, the to test the candidates’ writing abilities. parent and student opinion in the prinFUSD Human Resources Office formed The day before their interview, candidates cipal selection process. The Board of an interview committee comprised of will also receive a current school issue to Education will finalize a decision at the three MSJ parents, three MSJ teachers, research and present to the committee. May 8 Board meeting. Addressing parent two classified representatives, and one Though the committee conducts the in- concerns about the future principal, MorMSJ student. Morris and Maxwell will terviews themselves, Morris debriefs with ris said, “This school is incredibly imporperform a general screening of all candi- them before and after each interview to tant to our district and for these students dates, narrowing the list down to less than discuss the candidates. there’s a lot of pressure to do well. Everyeight applicants who will be reviewed by After the interviews, the committee thing that is said at these meetings guides the interview committee. “As of now we will develop an unranked list of two or us directly in choosing a principal, and to-

By Catherine Wang & Supriya Yelimeli Staff Writers

By Hairol Ma Staff Writer

ogy, science, and engineering. Teams compete in States, Regionals, and Nationals. First place winners at State receive $1,000 US Series EE Savings Bonds per student, $2,000 US Series EE Savings Bonds per student and an all-expenses paid trip to the Washington DC Metropolitan Area to compete for the First-Place National Award at Regionals, and $5,000 US Series EE Savings Bonds per student at Nationals.

See eCYBERMISSION, NEWS Page 3

Student Historians

Three students advance to states

By Genevieve Huang Staff Writer

courtesy laura chen

Laura Chen, 10, Catherine Wang, 10, and Katrina Cherk, 10, (not pictured) advance as state finalists in the National History Day Competition.

On April 27, three students from MSJ History Club became finalists in the National History Day (NHD) State Competition held in Sacramento. Sophomores Laura Chen and Catherine Wang and Freshman History Club Officer Katrina Cherk placed as one of the top eight entries in their respective categories.

genocide awareness Find out what Ethnic Race Relations Committee did to raise awareness during this week and how you can help this cause.

News

See NHD, NEWS Page 3 agilent ceo speaks

wasc review

CEO Bill Sullivan talks to MSJ Students about how technology is revolutionizing our world.

News

Western Association of Schools and Colleges will be reviewing MSJ the following year.

News

2 News

www.thesmokesignal.org

News in Brief World’s first voicemail unearthed The world’s first voicemail, an audio recording made by Alexander Graham Bell on April 15, 1885, is now available for the public to play.

The recording, which was recently extracted by physicist Carl Haber at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, was made using a mixture of cardboard and wax and stated: “In witness thereof--hear my voice, Alexander Graham Bell.”

Bell, the inventor of the telephone, made the recording in a former stable in an attempt to outmatch the quality of Thomas Edison’s audio recordings. Bell’s voicemail can be heard at www.smithsonianmag.com/ multimedia/audio/204505151.html.

The Smoke Signal

Speak, Lead, Influence

By Arushi Atluri Staff Writer

speakleadinfluence.com

Alumnus Kylan Nieh aims to help students excel at public speaking. virginmedia.com

Bell’s original voicemail, which was first recorded on April 15, 1885, is now available for the public.

Speak, Lead, Influence (SLI) is a public speaking and leadership program for high school students who are interested in Former and current Presidents learning communication, leaderhonor George W. Bush ship, and effective public speakOn Thursday, April 25, five ing skills. Founded and taught by presidents, past and present, gath- MSJ Alumnus Kylan Nieh, the ered together in Dallas, Texas to program is aimed to help stuhonor Former President George dents get a head-start on develW. Bush at the dedication of the oping the skills and confidence George W. Bush Presidential Cen- needed to speak, lead, and influter. Former presidents Bill Clinton, ence in their personal and profesJimmy Carter, and George H.W. sional futures.

Bush, along with President Barack After serving as the school’s Obama, were present as Bush con2009-10 ASB President, Nieh tinued his legacy by dedicating the library to the American people.

This is the first time in many years for the five presidents to appear publicly together.

By Irisa Lee Staff Writer

matriculated to UC Berkeley.

During his second year at the school, Nieh founded SLI as a Public Speaking and Leadership DeCal course taught at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

“There were so many brilliant people around me at Berkeley, but they weren’t able to communicate their ideas effectively. I realized how communication, public speaking, and leadership skills are just so necessary for every career, which is why SLI was born,” says Nieh.The course has been popular among Berkeley students, and many praise both the course, for teaching valuable skills necessary for any future career, and Nieh, for being an inspiring, energetic, and insightful teacher.

Now that he has taught five semesters of public speaking and leadership to college students and has witnessed the course’s success, Nieh plans to bring SLI to Fremont. “Teaching this course has been a huge passion of mine and I now want to reach out to teach high school students,” says Nieh, “Communication, public speaking, and leadership skills are just so necessary for them to start early on.” SLI will run from July 2 to August 10, and will consist of in-class activities, speaking exercises, pitches, and several speech assignments for the 30 students chosen to participate. Lectures will be held once a week, and smaller discussion sections will take place later in the week. During these discussion sections, students will individually practice

and perform speeches, as well as work on speaking and leadership exercises to develop confidence and skills.

Nieh has already gotten a head-start with the promotion of SLI at MSJ; ASB President Monica Liu and ASB Secretary Grace Lee currently serve as Campus Representatives for the program. As Campus Representatives, the two spread awareness about the program and try to recruit people who may be interested in signing up. Lee says, “I really have a strong conviction for SLI and its vision. Many times, it boils down to connections and networking, and it is often more about who you know rather than what you know…this program really focuses on helping students attain well-refined social abilities and people skills.” So far, Liu and Lee have gotten a good number of people to sign up to receive more information about the SLI, and students who signed up were enthusiastic about the program.

“I think this program has the potential to be a huge success,” says 2013-14 ASB President Tammy Tseng, “I hope students who go to SLI are really inspired and motivated to become better speakers and better leaders!”

For more information about Nieh and SLI or enroll in the program, contact Nieh through email (sli@speakleadinfluence. com), by phone (510-449-8630), or visit www.speakleadinfluence. com. ▪

Friday, May 3, 2013

Campus Renovations

By Nina Krishnan Staff Writer In the past month, MSJ students have seen a surge in campus beautification efforts. Currently, there are three major projects, including: the addition of new benches outside of the N Wing, a retaining wall along the teacher parking lot entrance, and a brick walkway along the B Wing.

The campus improvements are due to the collaborative efforts of the L2 Campus Beautification Committee, ASB, and Mission Possible PFA. In regard to these improvements, Junior Shirin Purkayastha said, “It’s really nice seeing the school with all these renovations and better facilities. We attend one of the top public schools in the nation; it’s time our campus reflects that.”

The retaining wall will prevent rain erosion along the sloping landscape. Along with its practical purpose, the wall also serves to increase the aesthetic appeal of the parking lot; students returning in the fall can expect to see flowers and new landscaping in the area surrounding the wall. This project is funded mainly by Mission Possible Parent Faculty Association (MPPFA) donations. “We felt that there was a big mismatch between our campus looks and the quality of education. A beautiful campus is important to boost morale and to improve the overall reputation

See CAMPUS, NEWS Page 3

Science competition teams return with a smash

nbcbayarea.com

(From left to right) George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter.

Hopkins Student Earns STEM Accolades from White House Jessika Baral, a seventh grader at Hopkins Junior High School, was one of 100 students selected to display a novel scientific discovery at the White House. Baral noticed that her friends and family who wore glasses often strained to read the small text on iPads and iPhones, so she created a device that strengthens eye muscles and thus improves peripheral vision. In a group of 19 subjects aged 12-81, Baral discovered that after usage, their peripheral vision improved by as much as 87 percent. She hopes to produce 200 more machines and send them to high schools statewide.

broadcomfoundation.org

Baral’s project consists of a Styrofoam board equipped with LED lights that fits against the forehead; users follow the moving lights to exercise their eyes.

COMPILED BY STAFF WRITERS TINGTING BI, LAURA CHEN, & TAMMY TSENG

and more to succeed in personal events where we were stronger.”

Overall placement is based on a team’s cumulative rankings at each event. MSJ students ranked 11th overall, while first place went to Palo Alto High School.

MSJ resumed participation in science competitions after a year long hiatus. The Smoke Signal provides a brief overview of the recent science competitions and how well MSJ teams have done in each.

National Science Bowl The National Science Bowl is a highly competitive event based on knowledge in all branches of science and math. MSJ’s National Science Bowl team, comprised of Seniors Audrey Huang, Raymond Liu, and Adi Jung, Junior Krishna Bharathala, Sophomore Kelvin Lu, and led by Physics Teacher Peter Geshke, advanced to nationals and flew to Washington DC on April 25 for the last round of competition. A total of 68 high schools competed in nationals. The teams go through a variety of tournaments at the event, such as a Round Robin-style tournament, a double-elimination round, and then a lab division, before a winner is announced.

At nationals, the MSJ team was undefeated in the Round Robin matches in their division. In the double elimination, they won two games and lost two. Overall the team tied for fifth in the nation.

courtesy doe national science bowl

(From left to right) Kelvin Lu, 10, Krishna Bharathala, 11, Raymond Liu, 12, Audrey Huang, 12, and Adi Jung, 12 at the 2013 Regional Qualifiers for the National Science Bowl.

Science Olympiad The Science Olympiad team who proceeded to the State tournament in Tulare, CA on April 13, although not officially affiliated with MSJ, is comprised of 10 MSJ students: Senior Elbert Lin, Nicholas Ha, Juniors Kerrie Wu, Jennifer Mou, Priyanka Mahapatra, Darren Li, Sophomores Catherine Hou, Nathan Fong, Brian Mi, and Freshman Damon Pham.

staff writer irisa lee

Kerrie Wu, 11 and Darren Li, 11 won first place in Astronomy.

for the march 28, 2013 issue News page 2: The team name for TADD is Warriors for Change.

Centerspread page 12-13: Staff Writer Kerrie Wu wrote for “Smokie Break.”

Centerspread page 12-13: Anjali Kanthilal’s name was misspelled.

Feature page 16: Meri Hambalek’s name was misspelled.

This event focused on a wide array of scientific subjects, from designer genes to water quality. The events fell into several different categories, including trials, engineering, labs, and pure knowledge tests.

Trial events were based on building and testing a device. Engineering events included both building and question answering. Lab events had a question section and a practical test portion where students might, for example, perform titration tests while pure question-and-answer events focused on knowledge tests and required no hands-on work.

The events were held throughout the day and MSJ students often ranked fourth or fifth among 24 total high schools at the Olympiad in personal events. Juniors Kerrie Wu and Darren Li won first place in Astronomy. Junior Jennifer Mou said, “It was a great experience! A lot of senior team members couldn’t make it to the states competition, but we did well nevertheless.” Li also said, “State competitions were later than usual so many of our seniors had scheduling conflicts with college orientations. So it was less of an attempt to do well as a team,

National Ocean Sciences Bowl The Ocean Sciences Bowl is a competition dedicated to the marine sciences. On February 9, the MSJ Varsity team, composed of Seniors Wesley Chou, Rachel Choi, Audrey Huang, Margaret Shen, and Sophomore Peter Qiu, and Junior Varsity team members Junior Youngjin Yun, Sophomores Tingting Bi, Bethany Hung, Kyle Liang, and Freshmen Jamin Chen went to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to compete in regionals. Both teams, comprised of 10 MSJ students in total, competed in Jeopardy-style question and answer events, buzzer rounds, and two-team-challenge questions in each round. They first competed in Round Robin-style and moved on to single and then double elimination.

In the end, out of 24 high schools competing, the varsity team placed second (first place went to Albany High School) and the Junior Varsity placed first. Advancement is based on the varsity team’s performance and as second place, MSJ did not go on to nationals. Julie Raymond, the team’s coach, says, “They had a year off last year and made vast improvements in their teamwork and conduct this year. I hope they’ll be able to go to nationals next year.” ▪

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Smoke Signal

CAMPUS| Beautification projects continued from page 2

of our school in our community. Our school shouldn’t just be known for its stellar academics, but also because it’s a nice environment to spend time at,” said MPPFA Treasurer Christina Broadwin.

In the past, MPPFA has donated sizable sums of more than $50,000 towards campus renovations including the installation of new basketball backboards, boys’ and girls’ gym lockers, and landscaping along the marquee.

This year, MPPFA has seen a steep increase in parent donations, which will fund future cosmetic improvements on campus. “In the future, we hope to fund projects to paint and restore murals, install better sound systems in the amphitheater, and improve the bathroom facilities,” said Broadwin.

The L2 Campus Beautification team spearheads many of the renovation projects, with the help of L2 students, Mission Possible, and SLRP. The team consists of Seniors Albert Lee, James Gao, Sterling Engle, and Junior Stephanie Chin. “Our mission is to beautify the school while keeping in mind cost-effectiveness and student utility in mind,” said Lee. One of the many projects campus beautification project set for the coming months is the brick walkway along the B Wing. “In the coming years the walkway will extend from the Student Store to C-120, with a new area paved yearly.” said L2 Adviser Ben Breazeale. Bricks for the walkway were purchased for $75 by MSJ families and customized with personal messages. “The walkway is part of an intergenerational project to create a lasting legacy and foster a connection between MSJ students, faculty, and alumni,” said Lee. The funding for the implementation of the project was derived predominantly from Homecoming funds. Previously during Homecoming, each class chose to raise funds for a campus service project. This year, however, the individual class funds were consolidated to put towards a noticeable, long-lasting service

project, as well as a variety of smaller campus projects. “Ongoing projects include: designing a rest area in the corner of the B Wing, turning the muddy P Wing slope into a garden area, and helping SLRP renovate the abandoned vandal house grounds into a science garden.” said Lee. Another new installation is the four benches outside the N Wing, part of freshman Shivam Parikh’s Eagle Scout Project. While in eighth grade at Hopkins, Parikh began brainstorming ideas and locations for his project. He was shown locations on the campus that could benefit from improvements, and eventually chose the area behind the N-Wing because of it’s convenient location and potential to be a popular area to eat lunch in the shade during the warmer months.

Parikh raised $272.66 in funds through donations from relatives and local hardware stores to cover the cost of supplies. He began building the benches in late November and finished painting as well as installing by January. “I chose to do the project at school so I could see the effects of my project and feel proud of what I had accomplished,” said Parikh.

The recent campus beautification efforts strive to improve the environment at MSJ. If a MSJ student has a particular project they would like funding for, they should voice their request at the monthly MPPFA meeting on the second Thursday of every month in the Faculty Lounge. ▪

graphics editor angie wang

Shivam Parikh, 9, friends, and family, installed benches outside the N-Wing in late November.

NHD | Students excel at State Competition continued from page 1

Chen and Wang, who placed among the top two entries, will be moving on to the Nationals competition held June 9 – 13 at the University of Maryland.

Freshmen History Club officers Anu Asokan and Joshua Chan, along with Freshmen Olivia Zheng, Grace Dong, Vivian Chang, and Sophomores Dominique Huang and

sacbee.com

A project on the Battle of Gettysburg displayed at the National History Day California Finals explores “A Turning Point for Man.”

Madeline Zheng also competed, and were among over half a million students competing in the annual nationwide competition.

NHD, which received the prestigious 2011 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama features an annual theme that participants will extensively investigate, this year’s theme being ‘Turning Points in History’. Each competitor will create a project addressing an issue that relates to the topic, conduct primary and secondary research, and present their work to a panel of historians and educators. The competition is divided into five categories in which students may submit their work; exhibit, website, documentary, performance, and paper. Judges will grade projects on historical accuracy, the project’s connection to the theme, and on a Q&A interview with participants. From the State Competition, the top eight in each cat-

egory are named finalists, among which the top two will move onto the national level.

This year, the 10 students from MSJ who qualified for the state tournament have, as a whole, submitted work in every category.

Chan put together an individual exhibit on the Kent State Shootings, Chen and Wang created a group website on China’s Third Plenum, Huang and Madeline Zheng prepared a documentary on the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, Chang, Dong, and Olivia Zheng choreographed a group performance on Modern Dance, and Asokan and Cherk wrote papers on polio and sati.

Participation in the project for most of the current qualifiers first started in eighth grade at William Hopkins Junior High, when History Teacher Charles Jennings encouraged students to join. Chen, who worked with Wang to create a website on China’s Third Plenum, said they began their project by searching for the turning point in China’s economic growth. “There had to be a reason that there was such a sudden change, with all the skyscrapers coming up…we explored the different possibilities with library research and contacting professors. There were many red herrings but we were able to talk to a lot of people, including professors and Winston Lord, the former US Ambassador to China.”

Last year, five students from MSJ and 10

“There were many red herrings but we were able to talk to a lot of people, including professors and Winston Lord, the former US Ambassador to China.”

-Laura chen, 10

students from Hopkins Junior High participated in NHD, one of whom became a finalist. Officers of History Club believe the activity will expand in the future: “We’re expecting an increase in participants from MSJ because there is such a broad array of topics that people can participate in,” said Asokan. ▪

www.thesmokesignal.org

News 3

eCybermission | Team wins at regionals continued from page 1

courtesy apoorva rajanala

(From left to right) Christine Wu, 9, Anaha Raghunathan, 9, Apoorva Rajanala, 9, and Alice Cheng, 9.

The team created a smartphone application that monitors a call and advises the user to switch to a hands-free device or hang up once a call exceeds 50 minutes, based on research and experiments they conducted on the effect of cell phone radiation to the brain. “Our team discovered that cell phones have become an integral part of our society and that cell phone radiation is becoming more of a problem. We decided to make an app that would warn the user against cell phone radiation,” says Cheng.

While getting rid of all the radiation is quixotic, preemptive measures can still be taken.

The application is called SRAS (Smartphone Radiation Alerting System), available in the App Store.

“Cell phone radiation is around the same bandwidth as a microwave, and certainly not harmless,” says Biology Teacher Nathania Chaney-Aiello, advisor to the team.

The team initially wanted to track the effect of radiation on tissue. “But that was too dangerous and impractical. You have to think about how you would gauge the damage and how to find comparable tissue,” says ChaneyAiello. After conducting extensive research, the team discovered that after 50 minutes, the brain is negatively affected by cell phone radiation in the form of heat due to excess glucose

metabolism. The heat also causes blistering in cells.

“The heat from the cell phone itself could cause damage to skulls, especially to younger people, whose skulls aren’t fully developed and aren’t as thick,” says Chaney-Aiello. “So they tested their experiment based on rate of temperature change and got a nice linear pattern.”

The team placed a cell phone within a tight container and measured the temperature inside of the thermos before the experiment. After calling the cell phone, they let it sit for 50 minutes, then measured the temperature inside the thermos once again and calculated the change in temperature. After finding an increase, they recorded their findings and developed an application based off of their experiment.

The team also created a video in preparation for a conference call with a panel of judges that took place on April 23. If they place first out of the four teams in California’s southwestern section, they will advance to nationals.

“We feel like our hard work has really paid off. We put a lot of time, research, and effort into this project. Seeing our work be successful is a very rewarding experience,” says Cheng.

The team hopes to continue on to Washington DC, where national competition will take place. ▪

4 Opinion the

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Smoke Signal perSonali speaking

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 48, No. 8 | May 3, 2013 www.thesmokesignal.org

Our “Rape Culture”

By Sonali Toppur Opinion Editor

41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600 Editors-in-Chief Frank Chen, Allan Ko News Nihar Parikh, Aishwarya Thakur Opinion Kyle Qian, Sonali Toppur Feature Jin Peng, Jade Shi Centerspread Rachel Choi, Anusha

Rijhsinghani A&E Tanya Raja, Alekya Rajanala Sports Kenny Jacoby, Vishak Menon Graphics Angie Wang, Sherry Xiao

Web Jaynelle Gao, Jonathon Teng Tech Sai Chilakapati, Anna Zeng Business Vivian Jair Circulation Supriya Yelimeli Ads Grace Wu, Lindy Zeng Events Anjali Kanthilal, Kerrie Wu Writers & Photographers Anita Alem, Arushi Atluri, Tingting Bi, Jason Chen, Laura Chen, Leah Feuerman, Ishan Goyal, Catherine Ho, Genevieve Huang, Tiffany Huang, Nina Krishnan, Irisa Lee, Marisa Lenci, Hairol Ma, Peter Qiu, Aamir Rasheed, Hannah Shih, Sanjay Sreekumar, Tammy Tseng, Peter Xu, Angela Wang, Catherine Wang, Shirby Wang

Advisor Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@the smokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words

may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation.

The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

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

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 out of every 6 adult women has been a victim of rape, and approximately 92,700 men are raped in the US each year.

When we have statistics like these, it’s instinctive for us to look for a solution or ways to bring these numbers down. In order to effectively combat rape, we find that we must fight not only on a case-bycase basis but also against the idea of “rape culture” that seems to lie at the heart of the problem.

This idea of “rape culture” refers to a culture in which prevalent behavior, attitudes, media, and discourse condone and perpetuate rape. We live in a world enveloped by rape culture. Almost every girl seems to have been conditioned into accepting the fact that the threat of being sexually assaulted is always a future possibility and that it’s a problem that comes hand in hand with being a woman.

Even the word “rape” has been trivialized and is often used out of its proper context. It’s definitely not uncommon for me to hear a classmate complaining about how they were “raped by the calculus midterm yesterday.”

I’d like to see a more educational approach being taken in the future of rape prevention. One way to do this is to open up more discourse in the classrooms and make assault a topic

that teenagers and young adults can feel comfortable discussing.

Rape unfortunately carries a stigma towards the victim as well as towards the perpetrator, and that needs to change. Embarrassment and shame is so prevalent in victims that according to a survey done by RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) 54 percent of all rapes go unreported. Another reason why women don’t report rape or assault is because they know their attacker. As reported by RAINN, 93 percent of juvenille assault victims knew their attacker. If we want to see lower percentages, those victims need to understand that rape is not a shameful secret; it’s a violent crime.

There shouldn’t be degrees of rape. Everyone will decry the rape of a five-year old in India, and rightfully so. When it comes to date rape or assualt by someone known, the line grows fuzzy.

I’m not saying that if everyone stops using the word “rape” incorrectly, we are going to end sexual assault. However, I do think that it’s through small actions and changes that we make in our way of life and the way we raise the next generation that we can begin to break away from this “rape culture” we can’t seem to escape. ▪ Send letters to the editors to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

The Smoke Signal

Friday, May 3, 2013

right on Q Colorblind Terrorism

By Kyle Qian Opinion Editor

Terrorism – n. the use of violence and Oklahoma City bombing (1995) and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for the Columbine incident (1999), the political purposes. word “terrorism” was used rather unceremoniously. On the other hand, As some folks on the Internet people were not as quick to call the have dubiously pointed out, the third post-9/11 Virginia Tech massacre week of April has, for some reason, (2007) an act of terror.

When President Obama referred been historically catastrophic for the to the Boston Marathon bombings United States.

Since 1993, that particular week as an “act of terrorism,” ears perked has seen a number of disturbing up, pens scribbled, and a wave national tragedies, including the of tension subsequently diffused Waco siege, the Oklahoma City through the American public. It’s that bombing, the Columbine massacre, word again—that word with so many the Virginia Tech massacre, and, unspoken implications and unwritten most recently, the Boston Marathon meanings for the American people.

It’s uncomfortable, but it’s a bombings. Other than the fact that they all occurred within the same necessary step to begin re-associating week of the year, these national “terrorism” with what it really means, tragedies have something else in without all the added implications. By common—all of them happen to no means is the desire to cause terror and widespread panic in America have been instigated domestically.

Before the events of Sept. 11, limited to non-Americans. It’s been 2001, the word “terrorism” did not a while since America’s dealt with strike fear and hatred into the hearts terrorism from overseas, yet when of Americans in the same way it one says “terrorist,” people don’t does today. Back then, the dictionary generally picture someone wearing definition of the word was adequate a baseball cap and a backpack filled in conveying its meaning; nowadays, with explosives.

The word “terrorism” continues “terrorism” has taken on the added cultural weight put on since 9/11 to inspire a patriotic “us vs. them” and the beginning of the War on mentality, but if the recent tragedies have made anything apparent, it’s that Terror.

We can see this difference in sometimes, terrorism may be closer to perception through the way mass home than we think. ▪ media covered these different Send letters to the editors to national tragedies in different time opinion@thesmokesignal.org periods. For example, after the

EDITORIAL: We Back Zack

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board With the announcement of Principal Sandra Prairie’s retirement, the MSJ community is mired in a state of uncertainty. The district is considering a large pool of candidates, a significant portion from outside this institution and even outside this school district. The Smoke Signal worries about whether this new leader will be able to uphold the institutional standards of MSJ. A principal from the outside, not immersed in MSJ culture, may have difficulty handling the issues that are familiar to the students and faculty on campus. Thus, the editorial board of the Smoke Signal endorses Vice Principal Zachary Larsen as our choice to serve as the next principal of MSJ. Our support begins with an analysis of the role of the principal at an extremely unique institution like MSJ. First and foremost, the principal’s role is to uphold the academic and extracurricular standards that previous principals and other faculty have worked so diligently to create. A superficial analysis of MSJ would only focus on its API score and ranking, its excellence in Advanced Placement testing, and possibly the matriculation of its students into top colleges. However, a deeper analysis will reveal that our school additionally and equally prides itself on the intellectual curiosity fostered by our world-class educators, our support of student development through coordinated leadership and activism opportunities, the diversity brought by our arts and athletics, and our emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge outside the classroom. Our school will take a step backwards if our new principal must experience a steep learning curve in his or her integration into the school.

Secondly, our principal must consistently recognize ongoing problems and propose tar-

geted solutions, implementing them in a timely and efficient manner. For example, Prairie advocated getting rid of class ranking in order to dissuade unhealthy competition—a proposal that only somebody familiar with the MSJ culture would find necessary. She also presented and then effectively implemented an agenda that included delaying the school start time and introducing further technological integration into the classroom setting, two targeted and highly beneficial policy objectives.

To someone not aware of the unique needs of MSJ, these actions may not rank high on their agendas. Unfortunately, many of the issues we are facing are buried deep under the cover of our own excellence. Finding the root of problems like stress, cheating, and academic bullying requires a deep understanding of MSJ’s one-of-a-kind ecosystem. These issues cannot be fixed by broad and general policy decisions. Larsen has had valuable experience with these issues, especially through his current leadership of Mission SOS. He has also shown his ability to take student input and allocate resources in order to make their suggestions a reality, most notably through his facilitation of many of our campus renovation projects.

Larsen, who has been immersed in MSJ culture for the past six years as Vice Principal and who is an MSJ graduate himself, embodies all of these qualities and more. We proudly stand behind Larsen and we encourage the selection committee to strongly consider him as a highly qualified and suitable candidate for the position of principal. ▪ Send letters to the editors to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

staff writer shirby wang

staff writer peter xu

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Smoke Signal

By Sanjay Sreekumar Staff Writer

Imagine getting up on stage, ready to present to countless people across the world. You have conquered stage fright, but your nerves are still at an all time high. Suddenly, you hear someone shout from the audience. You can’t decipher what they are saying but it doesn’t seem encouraging.

Soon a barrage of chants hit your eardrums, ranging from disparaging remarks, to attacks on your family and wellbeing. Face flushed, you turn to face your bullies. But there's no one there.

This exact situation is what millions of people go through on the internet every single day. Internet chat rooms, Twitter feeds, and recently, “confession” pages, are flooded with harmful comments by anonymous users seeking to tear others down. These people, collectively called “haters” or “trolls” by many in the internet community, use their anonymity as a barrier to protect themselves from any harm.

Anonymous bullying has gotten so bad that many victims have suffered from real emotional and psychological pain because of it.

The problem with internet anonymity starts with the concept itself; someone can actually say whatever they want without having to account for their actions. If I wanted to call someone “worthless” or their work “trash” in real life, you can be sure that I will face the consequences. On the internet though, one can just create a quick account online, (maybe even a fake email if you want to be especially careful), and voilà, feel free to make someone’s life miserable!

Cyberbullying has become a major issue, and the main demographic that is currently suffering from it is teens.

Sadly, high school teenagers are taking their own lives after being bullied on the internet. A harrowing example can be seen with Saratoga High School student Audrie Pott. Pott committed suicide after allegedly being sexually assaulted by three students and later having pictures of this assault spread online. Feeling hurt and distraught, her last post on Facebook was “The whole school knows...My life is ruined.”

Due to some recent technological advances, and a huge pushback against online bullying, the “anonymity” seeming-

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Opinion 5

ly guaranteed by the internet is going away. Groups such as Anonymous, 4chan, and Reditt have made national news for disclosing information about the whereabouts of infamous “trolls” on the internet. Recently, a Burger King employee “anonymously” posted on 4chan a picture of him stomping on two crates of lettuce saying “this is the lettuce you eat at Burger King.” After some nifty online sleuthing by other 4chan users, the Burger King employee was identified and later fired for his actions.

Other victims are taking matters into their own hands, sometimes quite literally. Professional boxer Curtis Woodhouse responded to a Twitter user, who had been taunting him online for eight months, by finding out where he lived and threatening to knock on his door and beat him up. The “troll” was later discovered to be thirty two year old James O’Brein, who was forced to apologize on national television.

While one should never resort to physical violence and vigalante behavior as retaliation, Woodhouse’s actions show that bullies should watch their backs.

A new development in the use of the internet for anonymity is the recent rise of “confession” pages on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. Here, people can speak their hearts’ content without anyone knowing who they are or if what they are saying is real. While it may seem great in theory, “confession” pages can turn into platforms for public gossiping, where peers can post false rumors in order to stir up controversy. One “confession” page in Boise, Idaho even posted a rumor from a student “admitting” that he had brought a gun to school. “I snuck a glock into school for a whole day just to see if I'd make it, ended up being the most exciting day of my life.” Statements like these come across as distasteful, especially after numerous school shootings.

Given the potential damage that online harassment can bring, it is obvious that people who attack others online need to pay for their actions. Instead of banning discussion on the internet all together, fellow web users should focus on holding “anonymous” bullies responsible. On a personal level, if you are willing to say something negative about someone or something, remove the veil and say these words on your own. Otherwise, what you are saying is not worth the effort. ▪ facebook.com

SHOCK ADVERTISING

By Aamir Rasheed Staff Writer

You’re walking along, minding your own business, when suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, a poster on a wall catches your eye. It’s a picture of a an irregularly shaped, dirty baseball and a person clutching at his chest. “What’s wrong?” you think to yourself, and suddenly, it hits you. That’s weird. Wait. No. Oh God. OH GOD. GROSS. It’s not a baseball. It’s the cancerous, bulbous heart of an adult who’s been smoking for 35 years. You turn away, mentally scrabbling away at the memory being etched into your mind, but what has been seen cannot be unseen. The caption on the posterwill haunt you to your death: “Stay safe. Don’t smoke.”

Shock value, or a communication

technique often featuring graphic imagery intended to “shock” the audience into refraining from a certain activity, can be used to push both negative and positive agendas.

But when it specifically comes to raising awareness of dangerous activities such as drugs, alcohol, unsafe sex, or texting while driving, however, shock value is absolutely necessary. It’s no simpler than this: It’s better to experience a small shock now (seeing a gruesome ad) than a big shock later (when you find out you have lung cancer, HIV, and a baby addicted to heroin).

Shock value is an integrated part of the MSJ Health class curriculum. With parental consent, teachers expose students to videos of things such as an ex-cigarette smoker breathing through a plastic tube, before and after pictures of drug abusers, and certain type of STDs. This method of teaching

positive life choices has proven to be successful among many students. Sophomore Akshaya Thananjeyan says, “I thought that they were pretty effective in sending a message because it shows what the effects are really well. I definitely wouldn’t smoke seeing those images on TV the all the time.” Even others who didn’t fully support the use of shock value recognized their educational value. “I believe it’s a bit too visual,” says Sophomore Tiffany Chang. “But it’s also a good reference for students to know what the consequences are and to hopefully prevent them from doing drugs.”

Some might suggest the alternative of using words instead of images to get the message across, but this would be ineffectual. Our generation has become jaded to that soporific anti-drugs, anti-alcohol, anti-bad-things discourse. It’ll be drowned out along with the

rest of the sensory junk we filter through on a daily basis. But if you can quickly and effectively evoke a strong emotion in your audience, whether it be pity or disgust or horror, then your message will remain etched in their mind, reminding them of the possible consequences when they’re in a situation involving dangerous activities.

There’s a reason why shock value is used to deter teenagers from dangerous activities. It’s the same reason why shock value is used more and more in product advertising, why the “Kony 2012” campaign was so successful, and why people tend to exaggerate when recounting stories. Shock value sends across a message quickly, efficiently, and permanently, which is crucial to health education in our generation. If a little nausea is the price to pay for saving your life, so be it. ▪

ateneo.edu, tobaccofreeca.com

6 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, May 3, 2013

Finding a Balance: The Honors Problem

By Tiffany Huang

Three years ago, FUSD made the decision to adopt an “Open Door Policy” regarding the Honors Program, lowering the Honors eligibility criteria in order to create more opportunities for motivated students to participate in the classes. The new policy declared that students need only maintain a minimum “B” average in their college prep class in that subject area and score in the Advanced category on the STAR test to gain entrance to an Honors class in that subject. Dropping the requirements not only allowed more students to enter the honors programs, but also allowed students the opportunity to engage in more stimulating classes. And yet the question remains: did this change affect the students in a positive manner, and do the good intentions behind the policy justify the change in criteria?

The policy, formed on the basis of equal opportunity for all, is meant to minimize the gap between the two classes. Many students excel when moved to Honors classes, as the more competitive environment and driven attitude of students compel them to work harder. Thus, through a combination of peer pressure and an increase in self-motivation, many students achieve a greater potential. However, the competition between students may be unhealthy and force too much pressure on students, lowering self-esteem and interest in the subject. The intentions of promoting the education of students by lowering the honors eligibility are undoubtedly made with good will, but the reality of the many disadvantages of the policy are not to be ignored as well.

The lowering of the honors eligibility has prompted a massive influx of students into the honors program, which correlated with a noted decrease

“I’ve always had the opinion that a STAR score doesn’t accurately define a student’s ability to do well in an honors class.”

-Elizabeth Waller, English Teacher

Staff Writer

Before the drop in criteria, distribution between honors and college prep was fairly equal. Now there are around 11 English 9H sections and only four or five English 9A sections. in the average grades in some honors classes. Because some students are unprepared for the rigor or the pace of the honors classes, several teachers are conflicted with how to help these students succeed. “I’ve always had the opinion that a STAR score doesn’t accurately define a student’s ability to do well in an honors class,” said English Teacher Elizabeth Waller.

The inability of students to drop out of honors classes only worsens the situation. The number of honors classes and college prep classes are predetermined by the original student requests for classes made during registration. Thus, it is extremely difficult for students to drop their honors classes and transfer to college prep, as there are limited seats and doing so would not only interfere with the student’s own education, but it would also increase the already above-average student-to-teacher ratio, which is in some cases 35:1 at MSJ, as compared to the 16:1 national average. Before the drop in criteria, the class section distribution between honors and college prep classes was fairly equal. Now there are around 11 English 9H sections and only four or five English 9A sections.

Despite few shortcomings in the Honors eligibility standards, the responsibility of choosing the path that best suits our interests ultimately remains on our shoulders as students. We are the best judge of ourselves, and though it may seem compelling, taking the Honors course does not equate to a golden ticket to college. Especially with the standards of honors eligibility lowered and the many issues that come with it, it is more important than ever to take it upon ourselves to decide whether or not we feel we are up to the challenge. ▪

telecoms.com

what do you want to see improved at

MSJ?

“MSJ needs better facilities for the PE department, such as rubber tracks.”

-Zuhayer Qazi, 9

“I wish our school could set up a c o n tinental breakfast area in the cafeteria! I’d love to have breakfast at school, but the current items like parfaits are too small. Having stuff like milk, cereal, yogurt, and different kinds of fruit would be nice!”

-Rebecca Wu, 10

“I am tired of people cheating at Mission. It’s sad. The worst part is that people seem to accept cheating as a necessary way to succeed in life. The last thing I want to see is that our future products look shiny, but like the cheaters who made them lack true substance.” -Charlie Su, 11

Ask us about our fully customized SAT Prep and Study Skills programs!

“Academically I hope to see an expansion of the variety of humanities and visual art classes, like philosophy and literature, and fun things like that. It would be nice for students to be able to explore and pursue other fields, and for MSJ to allow people to do so.”

-Natasha Mistry, 12 photos by staff writers tiffany huang, marisa lenci, & supriya yelimeli

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Smoke Signal

Universal Performers:

Jazz Dance

By Sai Chilakapati Staff Writer On May 17, the Parents of Universal Performers foundation will be hosting their 19th annual gala and Performing Arts fundraiser, themed “Singing in the Rain.” The Gala will feature the MSJ Jazz Band, directed by MSJ Band Conductor Monica Kraft, with appearances from the MSJ Orchestra, winter guard. and chorale groups. Several guest vocalists will join the band for a night of joyous dancing in the Grand Ballroom of the Fremont Marriott Hotel. Throughout the night, the Gala will also feature silent auctions and raffles that will keep the attendees entertained and excited while they are off the dance floor.

Parents of Universal Performers is a non-profit organization committed to raising money for MSJ’s underfunded Performing Arts Department. The MSJ Jazz Band features some of the best trumpeters, saxophonists, trombonists, clarinetists, flutists, and percussionists at MSJ, who audition for spots in the band at the beginning of each year. The band will play popular songs such as “Bye Bye Blackbird,” “Oye Como Va,” “In the Mood,” and many more. This splendid event includes dinner, and tickets are $80 and can be bought online at www.msjpups.org or from any MSJ performing arts student. Tickets will be $85 at the door. Come and support your very own MSJ Performing Arts department and enjoy an evening of soothing music. ▪

MSJ’s Crossing Guards

By Catherine Wang Staff Writer As students walk to school in the morning, MSJ’s crossing guard service promotes school safety and reduces traffic congestion. A dedicated team of parent volunteers helped found and run the program, which is now in its third year.

Before 2009, MSJ received widespread complaints regarding the daily traffic congestion before school. Students often crossed the street in unsafe locations and slowed down traffic on Palm Avenue. Parents dropping off students spent roughly 15 minutes entering and exiting the horseshoe, and the horseshoe area was congested for half an hour each morning.

In 2009, Law and several other parents col-

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funding inquiries.

Continuous recruitment and training of parent volunteers sustain the crossing guard program. Mac McQuade, a hired crossing guard, initially trained parents in managing the crosswalks. Law, himself an active crossing guard, now trains incoming parents. The organization advocates year-round for recruitment through msjtalk, newsletters, and the student bulletin board. Currently, the program is made entirely of parent volunteers.

The program has considered numerous suggestions for expansion, such as increasing the service area and extending service to afternoons. Currently, crossing guards are positioned at only two crosswalks on Palm Avenue, and the volunteers work from 7:30 am to 8:00 am daily. Law said, “We’d like to extend down

photos by staff writer laura chen

msjpups.org

Steve Yung

By Catherine Ho Staff Writer

lected and discussed the complaints. “Instead of complaining, we tried to provide a solution.

What can we do as MSJ parents? How can we resolve this issue?” said Law, the parent leader.

The crossing guard program began serving MSJ in 2010. The MSJ crossing guards are involved in Mission Possible Parent and Faculty Association as a part of the Traffic and Safety Committee, which supports safety patrol and other safety initiatives on campus.

The program receives its funding by submitting yearly proposals to the Parent and Faculty Association, and the school provides safety patrol equipment. Law, Chairperson of the Traffic and Safety Committee, also consults Program Manager Diana Brumbaugh for SS: Which events have you performed at before?

SY: I performed at this year’s Charity Fashion Show and at the Multicultural Assembly.

SS: Do you see yourself beatboxing in the future, or it being part of your career?

SY: I plan to continue for a long time but not as a career, just for fun.

SS: How often do you practice beatboxing?

SY: Beatboxing is something that I can and do practice anywhere and everywhere I want to.

Also, there is an unofficial club called Perfect Noise where anyone who wants to can come and learn from me and others beatboxers.

staff writer catherine ho

Sophomore Steve Yung has been known for beatboxing and has performed at MSJ’s Charity Fashion Show and Multicultural Assembly. He has been beatboxing for two and a half years now and loves all kinds of beatboxing.

Smoke Signal: What got you interested in beatboxing?

Steve Yung: What first got me interested in beatboxing was when my brother and I were wondering what musical thing we could do without an instrument and we remembered that beatboxing was a thing so we looked up tutorials on Youtube.

SS: Who are your inspirations and favorite beat boxers?

SY: My favorite beatboxers are Reeps One, KrnFx, and Skiller, and my inspiration in beatboxing is my brother because even though we started at the same time he very quickly became much more advanced and continues to get better.

SS: Have you ever had an embarassing moment while beatboxing?

SY: One time that I got embarrassed was when I was in Walmart and I was trying to get better at throat bass, which is used while dubstep beatboxing.

SS: What do you love most about beatboxing?

What’s your favorite technique or way of beatboxing?

SY: My favorite thing about beatboxing is that I can be creative and create or imitate so many different noises and use them in a beat.

I don’t really have a favorite technique or form in beatboxing, but I enjoy dubstep beatboxing because it seems to surprise and impress the most people.

SS: What kind of songs/tracks/albums do you beatbox to?

SY: I beatbox to any song I want to because it doesn’t matter what genre it is even if the original artist didn't intend on having a beat.

You can add it anyway. I also do freestyle beatboxing because all you need to do is the first thing that comes to mind and just continue from there.

To hear Yung beatbox, visit www.thesmokesignal. org and listen to his short freestyle beatbox that incorporates a dubstep cover of Billie Jean by Michael Jackson.▪

to the Mission Creek area or maybe the Mission Cielo area…there is a lot we would like to improve, but we just don’t have the people or the resources.” Despite ideas to improve, a tight budget and limited supplies prevent the program from expanding significantly.

Another idea for adding to the program was the inclusion of student crossing guards.

In 2011, Law trained nine MSJ students who were interested in serving with the safety patrol. However, FUSD administration rejected the plan. Law continues to support student participation in the crossing guard program.

“We’re hoping to revive the idea because students could earn hours and serve the community,” he said.

Feature 7

MSJ’s crossing guard program not only ensures the safety of students, but also allows commuters to avoid serious traffic jams, thus benefitting the community at large. Over the years, volunteers have begun receiving more appreciation from the student body. Law said, “We have a lot more students thanking us for our presence now. Before, a lot of students didn’t think they needed crossing guards, but our presence is not just for the students; it’s for the parents and community, too.” Thus, on your way to school each day, please remember to show your appreciation and thank our parent volunteers in the crossing guard program. ▪

The Smoke Signal thanks the following volunteers for their dedication and commitment to the safety of our students: Bruce Prickett Mac McQuade Marilyn Williams Andrew Law Mette Graversen Sabrina Li Steve Conn Val Jones James Chen Kathleen Andresen Nagja Bamji Vicky Xu Anh-Dao Ha Brijesh Jain Jianhui Huang Christina Broadwin Nivi Gupta Tan Ha Chris Liu Ming Zhu Roshini Kingsley Andy Karipineni

Angry Birds Happy Children

By Vivian Jair Staff Writer Imagine a massive crowd of young elementary school students fidgeting in anticipation as they restlessly await the distribution of new school supplies. The students are already eagerly grabbing supplies as volunteers hand them out, but their excitement transforms to utter frenzy when they see that 10 of the folders feature an absolute favorite— the Angry Birds characters. Chaos breaks out, and the students grapple wildly as they try to get their hands on an elusive Angry Birds Folder. As the 10 folders are quickly snatched up, many less fortunate students are left disappointed.

In November 2012, Government/Economics Teacher Jaime Richards experienced this exact scenario w h e n he helped distribute supplies to students of Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School (MLKJE) in Oakland. Many MSJ students had donated to the Edu-Give supply drive, including Richards’, who had asked his pupils to also write a personalized note. Edu-Give is an outreach organization that “adopts” disadvantaged schools and distributes school supply donations to them. Class of 2010 Alumni Kylan Nieh, a Nestlé Very Best in Youth Foundation Board Member, originally adopted MLKJE and established MSJ’s connection to Edu-Give. Following his experience at MLKJE, Richards was suddenly struck by inspiration.

“Why don’t we get every kid in the school an Angry Birds folder, and besides just giving them the folder, put a note in there?” said Richards, recounting his idea. “I’m not sure exactly what, but put something in there to make it personal, to connect with the kid.”

That is the exact concept behind the Angry Birds Project, which is directed by Richards. Its goal is to provide each of the 370 MLKJE students with an Angry Birds folder. Each folder will also have a personal note from its sender, which can be a self-introduction, drawn pictures, or even an inspirational quote or message.

Richards has encouraged all of his classes to sign up, as well as asking his approximately 180 students to persuade at least one other friend not in his classes to participate. If they are unable to get enough participants, Richards will also introduce the idea to other classes, such as Ethnic Studies. Richards’ goal is to fill up all 370 slots before the middle of May in order to distribute the folders prior to the school year’s end.

The Angry Birds Project currently has mainly involved Richards’ soap.com students, but is open to all MSJ students. Peer Resource, which is also taught by Richards, is in charge of promoting the Angry Birds Project and organizing the grade level sign-ups sheet.

Interested students may sign up in B-33, where students can choose what grade level MLKJE student they wish to send a folder to.

“I just remember being a little kid and rarely getting to have school supplies with cool characters or designs because the plain ones were more affordable when the cost of all of my supplies added up,” said Peer Resource Counselor and Senior Zarrie Samiezade-Yazd.

“When I did get something more special, like a folder with one of my favorite characters, it made using that school supply so much more fun, which definitely encouraged me to be active in school so I’d have the chance to use it.

I’d like the kids that are going to get these folders to feel the same way and have fun while learning.” ▪

8 Feature

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, May 3, 2013

In & Around Fremont: New Attractions

By Hairol Ma & Angela Wang Staff Writer With the development of Pacific Commons and other building projects, new plazas and recreational centers are springing up all around Fremont. The Smoke Signal has compiled a list of a few new hotspots.

You are here!

Whole Foods

An organic supermarket giant, Whole Foods is finally coming to Fremont. The future location at the corner of Mowry and Paseo Padre, Whole Foods is famous for its all-natural, organic food and other products, such as some clothing items and makeup. Certain locations even have food courts and dessert/breakfast stations located within the store. Scheduled to open up at the end of the year.

Hot Pot Buffet

Skate Park

85 Degrees Bakery Café

Located between Lake Elizabeth Park and Aqua Adventure, the Fremont Skate Park is a highly anticipated new feature that is coming to town. The facility will be approximately one acre and will have more than 25,000 square feet of skating surface. Both street courses and bowl features will be offered in the skate park.

Construction started in July 2012 and wiill be finished soon. For more information, check out www.skateparks.com or search “Fremont skate park” for a virtual tour of the area.

Original to Taiwan, 85 Degrees Bakery Café has a few locations in Southern California, but is now coming to Newark. Specializing in cakes and bread, 85 Degrees Bakery Café offers gourmet desserts, such as marble taro bread and mocha egg tart, crafted by top Taiwanese chefs with affordable prices. It also sells premium coffee and other drinks.

Though its opening date has not been released yet, it will most likely be located somewhere on Newark Boulevard.

A cheaper alternative to Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot, Hot Pot Buffet is the newest hot pot restaurant in town.

Located in Warm Springs and in the adjacent to the Ranch 99 plaza, this restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for only $19.99. While choices may be slightly limited, both the meat and vegetables are served fresh. The next time someone in the family is craving hot pot and wants to stay closer to home, definitely check out Hot Pot Buffet.

maps.google.com

Relay for Life consists of teams of eight to 15 members. Each team must have at least one member on the track during the 24 hours to signify that cancer never sleeps. MSJ already has 45 teams registered and a total of 386 participants. Along with the walkathon, teams set up camps around the track with tents on the surrounding field. Each team must also fundraise for the event; the minimum donation from each team member to stay overnight is $100.

Students at MSJ have already raised a total of $6,646 through many creative fundraisers. Juniors Amy Huang and Sophomore Abby Wong held a bake sale and the Costanoan Yearbook team sold “Win the Fight” t-shirts to raise money. Some teams fundraise during the Relay by setting up dunk tanks, offering manicures, making henna tattoos, and selling food. In addition to fundraising, teams are responsible for presenting a “Fight Back” activity, which means that they must make informative visuals on a specific type of cancer : and how to prevent it. The event agenda closely mirrors Relay’s motto: “Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back!” Relay begins with an opening ceremony to celebrate everyone who has battled cancer, introduce the committees, and get everyone motivated for the event. Then, all the cancer survivors in attendance kick off the walkathon with a lap around the track called the “Survivors Lap.” During the Relay, there are a variety of performances, including dancing, singing, and music. Traditional Relay activities include Miss Relay, in which one male team member competes in a fashion show, and the Road to Recovery race, in which teams make boxcars to race around the track. At night, the Luminaria Ceremony takes place to remember and honor the deceased. During the ceremony, customized paper bags are lit with candles or glowsticks and caregivers and survivors share their experiences. Throughout the evening, teams continue to camp in their tents and movies are shown for entertainment. The event concludes with the Closing Ceremony, which consists of handing out fundraising awards, congratulating all the participants, and announcing the final fundraising total. Overall, Relay is an exciting opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family while still fighting for a good cause.

MSJ students are looking forward to the Relay. MSJ Relay for Life Event Chair Senior Mili Parikh says, “After being involved with many different

By Grace Wu community Relays, I’m so excited to be planning and organizing Staff Writer the first MSJ Relay for Life! It’s great to see so many people getting involved, and I’m glad I got the opportunity For the first time, MSJ is hosting its own Relay for Life event to inspire my fellow students to join the fight from May 18 at 10 am to May 19 at 10 am on MSJ’s track against cancer. MSJ’s first Relay is goand field. Run worldwide by the American Cancer Society, Reing to be a blast, and we can’t lay for Life is a 24-hour walkathon geared towards raising wait!” funds and awareness for the battle against cancer. The event is typically hosted by communities and colleges so MSJ’s event total raised 4/29: is among less than 30 high school Relays worldwide.

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Students can still sign up for Relay for Life at relayforlife.org/missionsanjosehighschoolca.

Questions can be directed to Mili Parikh at msj.relayforlife@gmail.com.

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$8385.50

The Smoke Signal

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Food for Thought

Friday, May 3, 2013

Study Techniques Best Places to Study

1. Food incentives: If you have trouble keeping your eyes from skipping lines when reading long paragraphs of text, try putting a piece of your favorite snack on the page after each section or subsection.

When you finish reading that section thoroughly, you can reward yourself by eating the food.

As you study, you’ll always have a reward in sight, and you’ll keep yourself energized as you study.

2. 20-minute study periods: Studies have shown that attention span begins to drop after 20 minutes of studying. This means that if you force yourself to sit for an extended period of time, you may not retain information very well. To combat this, break up your intense study session into 20 minute intervals, and take a break after each study session to step outside and relax away from your computer and books, but take care to not get absorbed into something distracting like a TV show. Begin each session with a brief review of what you studied in the previous session, and reserve some time at the end of your study time for an overall review.

3. Music: Music can make a grueling or boring cram session more bearable. Make a playlist of music that doesn’t have lyrics (eg: movie soundtracks, instrumentals, classical music) for the amount of time you want to study, and resolve to not get up until it is finished. The music may help you focus and keep your attention from wandering. If you’re not sure where to start, try Daft Punk or 2Cellos.

According to liveitmag.com and campustalkblog.com, here are some great study foods and why you should eat them.

1. Fruit: Fruit makes a healthy snack and keeps you energized for long study sessions.

2. Dark Chocolate: If you need another excuse to indulge in this guilty pleasure, dark chocolate improves memory and increases alertness.

3. Nuts: Packed with nutrients, nuts help your brain function optimally, keeps you alert, and increases your ability to retain information.

4. Fish: Fish provides nutrients for brain connections and contains nutrients that give you an energy boost for studying.

5. Cucumber Sandwiches/Yogurt: These light snacks are cool

1. Fremont Main Library and refreshing, perfect for the incoming hot weather.

Address: 2400 Stevenson Blvd Fremont, CA 94538 Hours: Sunday: Closed; Monday and Tuesday: 1PM-9PM; Wednesday: 12PM-6PM; Thursday and Friday: 11PM-6PM; Saturday: 10AM-5PM The Fremont Main Library is a great study environment for those who are easily distracted at home and need a quiet place to concentrate. There are computers if you need internet access and the librarians are very helpful when it comes to looking for specific resources.

Best Study Apps

2. Suju’s Coffee & Tea Addresses: 3602 Thornton Ave Fremont, CA 94536 4949 Stevenson Blvd Fremont, CA 94538 Hours: Monday-Friday: 6AM-12AM; Saturday-Sunday: 7AM-12AM Suju’s is packed with tables and chairs so you won’t ever have any trouble finding space to study. It not only provides free wi-fi and power outlets around the perimeter of the main room, but also closes at midnight so you can share a late night study session with other night owls.

3. Mission Coffee Address: 151 Washington Blvd. Fremont, CA 94539 Hours: Monday-Friday: 5AM-9PM; Saturday-Sunday: 6AM-9PM Mission Coffee is where many people gather for meetings so there is always light chatter but seating is readily available the majority of the time as there are many tables and chairs. Mission Coffee offers free wifi but its food and beverages are on the pricier side.

4. Panera Bread Address: 2650 Mowry Avenue Fremont, CA 94538 Hours: Monday-Friday: 6AM - 9PM; Saturday 7AM-9PM; Sunday: 7AM-8PM Panera Bread provides its customers with free wi-fi as well as more substantial food. If you grab a seat by the entrance, you can find power outlets and a more secluded part of the restaurant to study in.

5. Lake Elizabeth Address: 40000 Paseo Padre Pkwy (between Mission View Dr & Sailway Dr) Fremont, CA 94538 Lake Elizabeth offers many tables and benches under shade or in the sun. If you don’t mind the light background noise of geese, bikers, and pedestrians, Lake Elizabeth is a great place to study while en1. Light Exercise joying the Whether you’re a seasoned outdoors. athlete or usually a couch potato, you

Da Act y Be Th iviti foree es t Te o R stin ela g: x

4. Study with a friend: Take care to choose your friend wisely; make sure it’s someone you can stay on task with. Quiz each other, or race to see who can do practice problems faster. For more motivation to study effectively, come up with competitions where the person who answers a question correctly gets a prize, or the loser gets a penalty. You can also split up sections and take turns teaching each other, which will ensure you remember what you studied and can put it into your own words.

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can take a break from studying with light ex5. Write a test for someone else: ercise, such as jogging or a short trip to the gym.

This activity will help you think about After all, an AP test is at least 3 hours of sitting, so enjoy what will be on the test, and also your physical freedom now. However, be sure not to exhaust make sure that you can place yourself or engage in activities that could result in injury. yourself in the test maker’s shoes and determine what 2. Watch a Movie the test maker wants If you’ve been cramming hard all week, your brain needs some downtime. to see in a response.

Hunker down with your favorite TV show or watch an online movie.

Take the test your3. Spend Time with Friends self to review all the If you’re lucky enough to have a few friends who aren’t studying, take some time to content you need unwind with them. This is especially good for people who have test anxiety, as having to know, or better someone to talk to and share thoughts with can help. yet, have someone else take the 4. Listen to Music test and go over Right before bed, some music can calm your nerves to help you get a good night’s sleep the answers with before the test. Enjoy a few moments of your favorite songs as a reward for your hard work. them to correct it.

5. Confidence Boost Pick some easy problems from your best area to answer. Doing this will boost your confidence and also help you review without stressing out.

1.

PrepZilla

Subjects offered: Calculus, Chemistry, Economics English, Environmental Science, Human Geography, Physics, Psychology, U.S. History, Statistics, and so much more! These are just the more common ones.

Features: Two modes: Self-Study, or Study with Friends. Section questions and quizzes.

Overall: 2. APExamPrep Subjects offered: Calculus, Chemistry, English Language and Literature, Environmental Science, European History, Human Geography, Micro/ Macro Economics, Physics, Psychology, Statistics, US Government & Politics, US History, World History Features: All exams are from McGraw Hill 5 steps to a 5. Very similar to PrepZilla except only selfstudy offered. Section questions and quizzes along with an analysis of your results.

Overall: 3. AP Psych Subjects offered: AP Psychology Features: Flashcards for every topic.

Review flashcard and note how well you knew the answer on a scale of 1-5. This app is only free for the first 3 days, so this should only be a review!

Overall: 4. Reaction Whiz Subjects offered: AP Chemistry Features: Quizzes on how to balance equations.

Overall: 5. APBiologyLite Subjects offered: AP Biology Features: Quizzes for every section with explanations offered. Easy to navigate with all the information it has.

Overall:

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Friday, May 3, 2013

Friday, May 3, 2013

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Centerspread 11

By Leah Feuerman Staff Writer

Multicultural week. Four days out of the year a large percentage of the MSJ population compresses itself into the relatively tiny area of the Horseshoe just to peruse the colorful stands in search of the best foods. But with limited wallets and stomach-sizes, which ones were worth trying? Here were some of the diverse and unique drinks, appetizers, and main dishes provided by the various organizations and clubs around MSJ.

Tandoori Chicken Dim Sum

The Indo South Asian Cultural Association (ISACA) gave us a taste of Indian cuisine by selling Tandoori Chicken throughout the week. Flaming red in appearance, Tandoori Chicken got its name from the “Tandoor”, a hot clay oven that was traditionally used to cook the chicken. The dish has Indian and Pakistani origins, and is prepared by marinating chicken (usually the legs or the wings) in yogurt and a variety of spices, such as cumin and turmeric. The Tandoori Chicken was from Bombay Garden and sold for $1 apiece.

Falafels

Multicultural week presented a large variety of Middle Eastern foods this year, including the falafels provided by MSJ iKnit. The falafel, a popular snack in Israel, is a small, fried ball consisting primarily of chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) and a mixture of spices. Commonly eaten with hummus, falafels are thought to have origins all the way back to Ancient Egypt. These tasty treats were served three for $2 and brought in from Falafel, etc. in Fremont.

Ramune

A variety of colorful, strangely shaped bottles could be found on display on the left side of the Horseshoe, where Writer’s Block sold Ramune for $2 to help ward off the heat during multicultural week. Ramune is a popular Japanese soft drink that comes in many flavors, including lemon, blueberry, and green tea. The fun, however, is not so much in the taste as it is in the design of the bottle.

Ramune bottles are uniquely shaped so they have a glass marble that acts as a stopper for the soda, which must be pushed in to allow the drink to flow. Missed out? Ramune can be found in several Asian supermarkets, including Ranch 99 Market in Fremont.

Dim sum, which roughly translates to “touch the heart,” refers to Cantonese delicacies usually served with tea.

It originates from tea houses along the Silk Road, providing snacks and refreshments for weary travelers. The LIVERight stand provided a variety of dim sum dishes, ranging from meat dumplings to egg tarts, selling a bowl of three pieces of the customer’s choice for $3.

photos by staff writers tingting bi, laura chen, hannah shih, angela wang, catherine wang, shirby wang, supriya yelimeli & anna zeng, xdesktopwallpapers.com

12 Centerspread

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WUSHU

Dressed in bright traditional Chinese outfits, the Wushu performers engaged in mock battles using weapons, such as the jian, that created snaps and sounds which reached all four corners of the gym.

Performers: Melissa Chin (9), Kelly Shi (9), Shenlum Tang (10), Christie Chong (11), Cynthia Jiang (11), Amanda Lo (11), Alex Wu (11), Darrel Ng (12)

CELLOS

This year Das Cellos, a quartet of cellists and a drummer, took on “Resistance,” originally performed by British rock band Muse. Led by Senior Calvin Leung, the group electrified the music by adding their own style and pizazz to the melody.

Performers: Aimee Xu (9), Richard Liang (11), Vivian Dong (12), Allan Ko (12), Calvin Leung (12), Khanh Nguyen (12)

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BEATBOXING

Under the guidance of Seniors Kyle Lam, Steve Yung and Victor Viramontes, the beatboxers held a dynamic performance accompanied by Emerald Swei singing “Promises” by Nero.

Performers: Liang Kuan Lee (9), Harrison Chu (10), Sagar Samantarai (10), Steven Yung (10), Aaron Ching (11), Gavin Poon (11), Emerald Swei (11), SungBin Yoon (11), Adrian Chen (12), Kyle Lam (12), Victor Viramontes (12)

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TAHITIAN

HIP HOP

The Hip Hop dancers performed to a medley of upbeat modern songs like Thrift Shop to which the dancers popped and swerved their bodies. Choreographed by Seniors Alex Credo, Tessa Shanley, and Jason Vu. Performers: Natalie Sin (9), Madeleine Fa jilan (10), Jessica Helder (10), Alexis Gaines (11), Melissa Huang (11), Kelsey Lam (11), Jacob Pingue (11), Joanna Wu (11), Alex Credo (12), Monica Liu (12), Tessa Shanley (12), Nichole Tan (12), Jason Vu (12)

The Tahitian dance, choreographed

by Junior Megan Jose, dominated the stage once again at the assembly this year. A world-famous dance from Tahiti, Tahitian dance include gestures and motions that portray themes ranging from nature to the home to warfare to sailing.

Performers: Jonathan Chen (11), Stephanie Chin (11), Marisa Harris (11), Cynthia Jiang (11), Megan Jose (11), Austin Lee (11), Hannah Lee (11), Charlie Lin (11), Kayla Santo (11), Hannah Shih (11), Lindsay Taylor (11), Eric Lam (12), Vincent Meng (12)

Friday, May 3, 2013

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Friday, May 3, 2013

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Centerspread 13

JAZZ

The origins of Jazz trace their way back into American history, but on April 19, a group of six dancers lead by Seniors Hilary Yen and Jessica Lee brought it back to MSJ. Performers: Grace Dong (9), Veronica Zhang (11), Zongning Zhang (11), Jessica Lee (12), Monica Liu (12), Hilary Yen (12)

3

CHORALE

MSJ students from Choir Teacher Jason Aucoin’s chamber chorale class took the stage to sing a Hawaiian song by the name of “Moloka’i Nui A Hina”.

Performers: M.C. Mendonca (10), Gavin Poon (11), Emerald Swei (11), Joseph Yang (11), SungBin Yoon (11), Marie Andersen (12), Shivani Ariathurai (12), Lillian Choung (12), Eric Lam (12), Khanh Nguyen (12), Anthony Prickett (12), Marianna Sartori (12), Megan Sha (12), Victor Viramontes (12), Leena Yin (12)

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By Tingting Bi and Ishan Goyal Staff Writersn

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TINIKLING

Choreographed by Junior Kristina Wong, Tinikling dazzled the audience with its speedy and complicated footwork. This traditional dance of the Philippines requires two people who beat, slide, and tap bamboo sticks on the ground, while dancers step in between the poles.

Performers: Bianca Batiancila (9), Annie Lee (10), Stephanie Lee (10), Samantha Lin (10), Adam Schaps (10), Andrew Xu (10), Kayla Santo (11), Lindsay Taylor (11), Destin Trang (11), Brandon Trang (11), Kristina Wong (11), Brian Chen (12), Alex Credo (12), Waylan Khuu (12), Sophia Law (12), Cyrus Lin (12), Milad Moghimi (12), Nicholi Reece (12), Marianna Sartori (12), Michelle Wong (12)

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SENIOR BHANGRA

Lead by Seniors Neha Nayak and Anshi Saxena, over 200 seniors took the stage to perform the annual senior bhangra. Dressed in colorful salwars and other traditional Indian clothing, these dancers paired up and amazed the crowd with their energy and coordination. Teachers and faculty members rushed in to join the students and lastly a huge swarm of seniors rushed in wearing their custom bhangra shirts to join the dance. The performance ended with the entire group chanting “Hoo Hah you wish you were a senior!”

12 13 BALLET

The Ballet performance was a refreshing break from the more intense, high tempo dances. Decked out in black dresses with a dash of pink, the dancers from Rachel’s Ballet displayed grace with light footsteps and elegant movements.

Peformers: Samantha Lin (10), Kathy Liu (10), Sarah Liu (11), Sara Lo (11), Kathy Chang (12)

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BOLLYWOOD

TAEKWONDO

Nine students exemplified their mastery of the ancient Korean art of Taekwondo in a stunning performance choreographed by Junior Neilan Mehta.

Performers: Charles Han (9), Christopher Kwok (9), Daniel Chiao (10), Bryant Chin (10), Tej Kalankuntla (11), Andy Lai (11), Neilan Mehta (11), Megan Lee (12), Jacob Pingue (11)

CHINESE FAN DANCE

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Originating as ceremonial rituals, Chinese Fan Dances have evolved to now embody beauty, skill, and grace. Fan dancing can be used for storytelling, and the costumes play an essential role in revealing the tale told. Choreographed by Senior Yvette Wu. Performers: Catherine Hou (10), Cecilia Leng (11), Joyce Qiao (11), Merissa Chen (12), Clare Hsu (12), Jade Shi (12), Sherry Xiao (12), Yvette Wu (12)

Choreographed by Senior Sonam Mokha, this year’s Bollywood dance was a visual and aesthetic delight.

Performers: Rashi Ambashta (9), Tanvi Ra ja (9), Aashna Shah (9), Mansi Chopra (10), Mohan Saxena (10), Satwik Bebortha (11), Jonasan Chen (11), Priya Khoot (11), Anvitha Pillati (11), Yoshita Suthar (11), Matt Dynin (12), Melody Fang (12), Eamon Jahani (12), Kimaya Karnawat (12), Riya Kulkarni (12), CJ Lemler (12), Michael Lindsay (12), Nathaniel Liu (12), Vishak Menon (12), Sonam Mokha (12), Mahima Narayan (12), Neha Nayak (12), Mili Parikh (12), Mizan Rahmna (12), Tanya Ra ja (12), Alekya Ra janala (12), Mark Rupert (12) Surbir Sandhu (12), Anshi Saxena (12), Ryan Sha (12), Swara j Sharma (12), Annie Shi (12), Neha Verma (12), Inae Yi (12), Walter Yu (12)

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KUNG FU

Another highlight of the assembly, Psychology Teacher Karl Hui’s Kung Fu performance has amazed the audience in the past few years, with this year proving to be no exception. As his wrists twirled through the air, the sword in his hand whirled around his head in a series of twist and spins. Kung Fu, whose origin can be traced thousands of years back to China, is an art form that strengthens the body and the mind.

11 14 photos by staff writers anita alem and nina krishnan, and graphics editor angie wang, dreamstime.com

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Senior Silvia Zannetti’s authentic hanbok is a piece of traditional Korean clothing characterized by aesthetics, simple lines, and vibrant colors.

They are primarily made of silk and often feature gilded or embroidered pattern, such as flowers and characters meaning happiness and fortune. A woman’s hanbok consists of both a jeogori (blouse or jacket) and a chima (a long, full, wraparound skirt); historically, a woman’s social or marital status was reflected by the color of her chima.

Dream catchers, such as the one on Junior Kelsey Lam’s shirt, originate from Native American cultures and were first woven by grandparents to place above newborn infants’ cradleboards.

Dream catchers were often made of red willow twigs and stinging nettle thread, and are still used today to ensure peaceful nights. Senior Lucy Shen bought her huipil, a tunic worn by cultures throughout Mesoamerica, in Cancun, Mexico. The earth-inspired colors of the tunic can be traced back to the old Mexican tradition of using dyes made from plants and other natural materials.

The huipil can represent community and ethnic identity, and in old agricultural societies such as the Maya, the multicolored geometric designs were meant to relate to the natural world.

Junior Joyce Qiao is wearing a traditional Tibetan costume, characterized by the wide sleeves, sash and apron, and boots. Qiao’s dress is typical of women from pastoral Tibet, who wear bright colors such as blue, green, red, and yellow. The white fur trimming her costume is essential to Tibetan clothing since the soft yet durable furs keep people warm in the cold winters.

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Students and faculty were encouraged to dress up during Multicultural Week in clothing that reflected the culture of each respective day. MSJ was transformed into a world of ethnic diversity as people showcased their costumes on campus and on Instagram with the hashtag #msjmc.

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Senior Monica Liu is sporting a French beret, a versatile hat that has been worn throughout history by shepherds, soldiers, and children alike. This fashion spread across Europe in the 17th century and became a predominant trend in Italy; by the 20th century, berets were an integral part of mainstream French fashion and sported both in the British military uniform and by American schoolgirls. Freshman Karen Trinh’s collared shirt, blazer, plaid skirt, and knee-high socks are typical of the uniforms worn by British schoolchildren. Typical school uniforms include collared shirts, jumpers (sweaters), long socks, blazers in cold months, and trousers for boys or pleated skirts for girls.

English Teacher Patricia Weed-Wolnick’s boubou was handmade for her by a parent when she taught in Senegal, West Africa. The boubou, a traditional Senegalese robe, is sewn from a single piece of fabric with cut outs for the neck and arms. Thin and flowy, they are easy to wear in the West African heat, and although they were first made as formal clothes, the boubou are also now worn casually.

photos by staff writers hairol ma, hannah shih, tammy tseng & peter xu, vectorfree.com

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Friday, May 3, 2013

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Arts & Entertainment 17

By Peter Xu Staff Writer

Known for its gravity-defying fight scenes, the Chinese film genre wuxia (martial arts) has become world-renowned after the success of films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. While the majority of these films take on a serious tone, Kung Fu Hustle is a diamond in the rough that combines martial arts and comedy to create a truly memorable picture. Directed, produced, and written, by Stephen Chow, the film is set in 1930s Shanghai, where various mobs run unchecked. Lead character, Sing (Stephen Chow), is a good-fornothing who aspires to join the largest mob, the Axe Gang. His adventure to gain entry into the gang changes dramatically as his true personality clashes with the brutal methods of the Axe Gang. Along the way, Sing rekindles a lost love that integrates nicely into the main plot. The hilarious, yet heart tugging film was a massive triumph, winning Best Picture and more at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards as well as at the Golden Horse Film Festival.

Bollywood is famous for its elaborate dance and song pieces, and 2012’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan does not disappoint. Directed by Yash Chopra, the film is the love story and journey of Samar Anand (Shahrukh Khan).

The dances are spectacular, with intricate choreography and beautiful music. Samar Anand’s narrative begins in London, as he attempts to woo his love, Meera Thappar (Katrina Kaif). However, his quest was not meant to be as simple as a Disney fairytale for trouble finds him time and time again. The first half of the three hour-epic is told through one giant flashback, as Akira Rai (Anushka Sharma), a young documentary film maker, reads Anand’s diary. The second half of the film takes viewers from beautiful expanses of wilderness to the modern cityscape of London. Superb camerawork and innovative artistic direction make the Bollywood film stand out from its peers. Along with a brilliant performance by both Khan and Sharma, the film earns its blockbuster status as the third highestgrossing Bollywood film overseas of all time.

Often considered one of the best foreign films ever released, Amélie is a 2001 French romantic comedy. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the film is the tale of titular character Amélie Poulain (Audrey Tautou). She is an eccentric young woman with an active imagination who rejects romantic relationships after a few disappointing breakups. Her story starts in her bathroom, where she discovers a time capsule hidden by a boy who lived in her apartment decades before her. Amélie then decides to find the boy and return his capsule to him, deciding that should it bring him happiness, she will devote her life to bringing happiness to others. This takes her on a quest to help those around her, which eventually leads to her helping herself.

Accompanied by a lively soundtrack by Yann Tiersen, the film is a delightful and charming romance that shows viewers all the wonder and mystique that has come to define Paris. The film was a box-office success and has won numerous awards, including Best Film at the European Film Awards and was nominated for five Academy Awards.

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By Genevieve Huang

Staff Writer

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18 Arts & Entertainment

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By Peter Qiu Staff Writer

Save Rock and Roll, Fall Out Boy’s fifth studio album, was released on April 16 and consists of 11 singles.

The band teased a few singles before the release date and eventually uploaded its entire album onto SoundCloud on April 8. The album is the first released after over a two year hiatus. As a whole, it continues to define Fall Out Boy’s genre as punk pop. Featuring Big Sean, Foxes, Courtney Love, and even Sir Elton John, the album breaks previous conceptions of Fall Out Boy by injecting intriguing collaborations.

We get our first taste of the album in “The Phoenix,” a fast-paced, heart pounding song screaming for us to “put on your war paint” and “dance to the beat of your heart” with the sound of driving drums and swift strings furiously playing in the background. The song speaks about making the most of a short life by re-inventing yourself, like the rebirthing of a phoenix.

Fifth in the lineup is “Just One Yesterday,” a song about the pain of love. The lyrics form a conversation between the two lovers, and featuring Foxes, who is notable for lending her voice to electronic songs as well as being a solo artist.

Fall Out Boy collaborated with Courtney Love in the single, “Rat a Tat”, and the first two words remind us of will.i.am and Britney Spears in “Scream and Shout.” The rest of the song is about a relationship gone bad. The lyrics are vulgar but creative, and get to the point.

The album’s title track features Sir Elton John. Surprisingly, Fall Out Boy does a decent job in incorporating his vocals to a punk pop band.

Fall Out Boy manages impressively in cranking out another catchy song on love, rejection, and eventual acceptance.

If you’ve always been a Fall Out Boy fan, or if you’ve just discovered them recently, this new album is sure to please. The band has retained its unique sound while experimenting with other artists of completely different genres. From controversial Courtney Love to the Rocket Man himself, it seems like anyone can make a good tune with Fall Out Boy. The resulting pulse of industrial drums and vocal melody makes this an album you will be sure to remember. ▪ Rating: A

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By Laura Chen Staff Writer

By Anita Alem Staff Writer

The Big Wedding presents an ideal backdrop for a comedy: a fake marriage between a divorced couple, language barriers, and an ensemble cast featuring tenured actors. Yet, Director Justin Zackham fails spectacularly at harnessing the film’s brandname cast, leaving the viewer angry and confused.

Robert De Niro plays Don Griffin, a ridiculously inappropriate 60 year-old in a live-in relationship with the Bohemian BeBe (Susan Sarandon). Somehow, BeBe is best friends with Don’s adventurous ex-wife, Ellie (Diane Keaton). Don’s adopted son Alejandro (Ben Barnes) is marrying Missy O’Connor (Amanda Seyfried). Alejandro’s Colombian bi-

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ological mother is unaware that Ben’s adoptive parents are divorced, considered a sin in the Catholic religion, and here begins the problem. Don and Ellie must pretend to be married so that their son’s marriage can go smoothly. Mix in a stereotypically promiscuous 20-year old Colombian (Ana Ayora), and Don’s children: a middle-aged virgin doctor, Jared (Topher Grace), and a lawyer, Lyla (Katherine Heigl), with a fear of babies and relationships.

Sadly, even the big names in the film are held back by an unfunny script, filled with crude, slapstick humor. All the boyish charm in the world can’t keep De Niro likeable enough to bear with his shenanigans.

The repeated attempts to be a relatable film (“I realized I had never

stopped loving him”) are annoyingly clichéd, and the use of sexual humor wears out within the first 15 minutes. The rom-com also comes off as incredibly racist, with zingers like “who do you have to lynch here for a Cosmo.”

The enjoyable moments are few and far between. Robin Williams in a cameo as a recovering alcoholic priest is genuinely funny, and his thirty-second banter with De Niro is the highlight of the film.

Overall, The Big Wedding is a huge disappointment with no comic appeal. It does, however, succeed in filling the viewer with an intense sense of secondhand embarrassment for all the time and money wasted on making this movie. ▪ Rating: D+

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By Hannah Shih Staff Writer

Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Oblivion, a big-budget science fiction film, was released to theaters on April 19. The action movie stars Tom Cruise as part of a two-person crew left on a post-apocalyptical Earth to maintain a battalion of drones, the last remaining barricade against the “skavs” or aliens that destroyed the planet. The rest of the human population has been evacuated to the spaceship Tet, where they await the eventual emigration to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. However, just when Jack Harper (Tom Cruise) and Victoria (Andrea Riseborough), his mate, anticipate the termination of their duties and their departure to Tet, their orderly life is shattered when a routine drone repair goes wrong and

brings them into contact with a mysterious woman from Harper’s past as well as information he both craves and fears at the same time.

Kosinski is no stranger to CGI, so it is no surprise that Oblivion is beautifully landscaped, complete with a devastated backdrop of New York and the picturesquely elevated tower that Harper and Victoria live in.

The focus of the movie is Harper’s hunt for the truth, but while that dominates the majority of the two hour long movie, other threads of romance and action are woven in.

The action sequences are dramatic and thrilling though few in number, and Cruise is certainly in his element, shown by his easy familiarity with the weapons and various devices. However, what viewers may not expect is the bittersweet romance Harper

shares with the woman he rescues, Julia (Olga Kurylenko). These emotions are connected with his longings for both the physical presence and the culture of his ravaged world.

Due to the small cast, Cruise carries the brunt of the emotional burden in the film, a responsibility he fulfills surprisingly well. However, despite the merits the film boasts, it is hindered by the relative unoriginality of the plot. It seems like an amalgamation of Matrix, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and every other science fiction movie that has been released in the last few decades. However, the soundtrack, effects, and talented acting by big name actors such as Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman, Andrea Riseborough, and Olga Kurylenko make up at least in part for the few letdowns of the film. ▪ Rating: B

“Some wish to be a king or a queen. Some wish for fortune and fame. But to be truly, truly, truly loved, well that’s more than any one of those things,” Michael Bublé croons in his eighth studio album, To Be Loved.

As per Bublé tradition, the album is chock-full of oldie covers.

The opening song, “You Make Me Feel So Young,” is a contagious, swing-style Frank Sinatra cover that introduces the prevalent theme of the album, Bublé’s journey of love.

Whereas Bublé’s voice is relatively studio-processed in most of the tracks, it is satisfyingly raw in his cover of “Who’s Lovin’ You,” by the Jackson 5. Bublé’s cover of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” made popular by Toy Story, will likely be one of the most-played of the album. Although he never strays too far from the originals in his covers, Bublé satisfies with his famously smooth vocals.

He makes up for his uncreative covers with four original songs. An outlier from the easy, breezy, character of the rest of the album, Bublé’s energy in “It’s a Beautiful Day” is reminiscent of “Haven’t Met You Yet,” his catchy 2009 hit single. On the other end of the spectrum, “I Got it Easy,” arguably the best original of the album, takes on a steady, slow beat and demonstrates Bublé’s flexible range.

To Be Loved also features a number of collaborated tracks, of which “Something Stupid” stands out the most. The song is a Sinatra cover with Reese Witherspoon, and a rich harmony takes flight on the very first note. Bublé also sings with rock singer Bryan Adams in “After All” and acapella group Naturally 7 in “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You.” His chocolate-y collaboration with the Puppini Sisters, “Nevertheless,” is probably the most romantic track on the album.

Overall, Bublé stays true to his custom of devoting much of his album to artists who influenced his music the most, with an unprecedented number of originals tossed into the mix. From a deeper perspective, To Be Loved is his personal tribute to hope and love. With To Be Loved, Bublé is sure to sell several more million CDs, populate playlists, and enter your hearts with the velvety voice he’s loved for. ▪ Rating: A

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Friday, May 3, 2013

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The long wait is finally over. Fans of the Golden State Warriors have been holding their breath for weeks, hoping to finally clinch a playoff spot. The last time the Warriors made the playoffs was in the “We Believe” days of 2007, and only five members from that team remain on the current roster. But after years of frustration and disappointment, Golden State is poised to make a run in the 2013 NBA Playoffs.

In 2007, the Warriors featured a much different style of play under former head coach Don Nelson. Led by Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, and Monta Ellis, Golden State was the 8th seed and was set to face the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks were heavily favored to win the matchup, due to the dominant performance of star forward Dirk Nowitzki in the weeks leading up to the series. But the Warriors battled hard, and were somehow able to achieve the impossible. On May 3, 2007, in Game 6, they dealt the Mavericks a crushing blow, and with their victory, the Warriors became the first 8th seeded team in NBA history to beat the first seed.

But this victory was short lived; the Warriors would fall to the Jazz early on in the second round, and the loss marked the end of an era. Richardson was traded away to the Bobcats, and an injury riddled Davis provided little support for Ellis and the remaining Warrior roster. The team would continue to struggle until 2009, when their answer came in the form of a 1st round draft pick. And with this pick the Warriors selected Stephen Curry, who would soon become one of the best decisions Golden State ever made.

On July 15, 2010 the Golden State Warriors were purchased by new owners Peter Guber and his partner Joe Lacob in a record setting 450 million dollar deal. After head coach Nelson announced his retirement, he was quickly replaced by assistant coach Keith Smart during the start of the 2010-2011 training camp. But Smart’s stay at Golden State was short lived, despite the Warrior’s drastic 10 game improvement on the previous year’s win loss record.

Finally on June 6, 2011, ABC commentator and former NBA veteran Mark Jackson was hired as the head coach.

Although they failed to turn things around

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Head Coach Mark Jackson has fostered strong relationships with the players of this developing Warriors team.

in the 2011-12 year, the Warriors came back with a vengeance this season. The offseason trade of Monta Ellis for Andrew Bogut was thought to be the solution to all of the Warriors’ problems. But due to a foot injury early in the season, he was forced to sit out for many games. However, Golden State could not be deterred; Klay Thomson, drafted in 2011 soon became an integral part to the Warrior’s playing scheme, and alongside Stephen Curry, power forward David Lee also emerged as a captain for the Warriors.

In the past few weeks, Golden State has really staked their claim as the rightful owners of

my job extremely easy and fun to come to.

They can work really hard but still be smiling and laughing.

SS: Has your experience as a swimmer affected your coaching style and strategy?

CA: When I was in high school, I did not have a very good coach. I used to sit in the corner of the pool at practice and tan. I think that I coach the way I wish I would have been coached. It’s good to be a coach that could also be considered a friend. That’s part of the reason why our team is so close. And I never had that, so it’s something I really enjoy.

staff writer anna zeng

With the MSJ Boys’ and Girls’ Swimming teams finishing a strong regular season and moving into MVALs and NCS, the Smoke Signal had the opportunity to sit down with Varsity Coach Cory Audiat to learn more about the coach, the team, and their successful season so far.

Smoke Signal: When did you start swimming and coaching?

Cory Audiat: I started swimming when I was seven, for a summer league team, then at Washington High School. I swam in college at both Fresno State and Cal State East Bay. I started coaching 10 years ago. I coached six years at a summer league, and then this is my sixth year here [coaching at MSJ].

SS: What do you think is the most rewarding part of coaching?

CA: There are two things that are the most rewarding. The relationships that you have with your athletes, the relationships that you build with one another, and just seeing the team grow into a unit. The other thing that’s really rewarding is watching them succeed and seeing all of their hard work come together at the very same moment. It just makes me really proud and happy to see them successful and happy at what they’re doing. This group of kids makes

a playoff spot. Although their play can be flaky at times, on occasion the Warriors are able to show the rest of the league that they are not a team to be taken lightly. The return of Bogut has spurred Golden State into action; without a doubt, having a star quality center is tremendously beneficial on both ends of the court.

Support from other Warriors like Jarrett Jack, Carl Landry, and Harrison Barnes has also been instrumental in the Warriors recent success. And with help from their teammates, Lee was able to earn himself a spot on the 2013 All Star Roster, and Curry broke the single season record for most 3 point shots.

Golden State is once again a force to be reckoned with.

As the sixth seed, the Warriors were set to play the third seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round. Heading into the Mile-High City, the Warriors had to shift their mindset into playoff mode. Admittedly, the Warriors are

Friday, May 3, 2013

extremely inexperienced when it comes to the postseason; Bogut was be the only starter with previous playoff experience. But Curry, Thomson and the rest of the cast were more ready than ever to prove that with passion and hard work they can overcome this setback.

The series has featured some exciting games with pulse-pounding plays from both teams. Nuggets pointguard Ty Lawson has been deadly on fast break plays and center Kenneth Faried has continually pounded the ball down low. The Warriors endured a huge loss after David Lee suffered a season ending tear to his right hip flexor. But all this being said, the Warriors have been playing amazing basketball and have a strong chance of moving on to the second round. In the end, win or lose, Golden State has shown temendous improvement this season, and hopefully this dynamic roster will continue to excel in the years to come. ▪

SEE YOU AT THE GAME

Coaches’ corner: Varsity swimming

By Anna Zeng Staff Writer

The Smoke Signal

SS: What were your goals and expectations at the beginning of the season and how has the team done so far?

CA: There’s always an expectation to win League Championships. For me, personally, it’s always been a goal each year to have more and more kids qualify at NCS. I always hope we’re going to win all of our swim meets and invites, which we typically do. This year we actually won the De La Salle Invitational, which is a huge accomplishment – winning that probably means more to me than winning a league championship. To me, that was the best meet I’ve ever had in all my years of coaching here [at MSJ]. [It’s] a goal I’ve always had in the back of my head, but to actually see it was amazing. My biggest goal is for all of them to get lifetime best times, and typically, the kids do get their lifetime best times during their high school season.

SS: What is your most memorable moment so far as coach of the MSJ Swimming team?

CA: My most memorable moment – and I think it’s probably the most memorable for most of the swimmers – was when my other coach, Joe Martinez, passed away. I think that it made us a lot stronger, and helped us grow together and become more of a family than we already were. I don’t think anything will ever be as memorable as that, because of the impact that Joe had on water polo and swimming. [As] for this year, in particular, I would say winning the De La Salle invite. We won the overall – in JV and varsity – out of 20 teams [present]. ▪

Var./JV Baseball: Newark Memorial vs MSJ. Varsity @ MSJ, JV @ NM. May 3, 4:00 pm Var./JV Boys’/Girls’ Swimming: James Logan @ MSJ. May. 3, 3:45 PM Boys’ Tennis: NCS Singles/Doubles Tournament, May 3-4. NCS Team Championships May 7, 9, 11.

Var./JV Softball: MSJ @ American. May 7, 3:45 pm Track and Field: MVAL Championships, May 8-10. NCS Area Championships, May 18.

Boys’ Volleyball: NCS Championships. May 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18.

Boys’ Golf: NCS Championships. May 13.

Badminton: NCS Championships. May 18.

Taekwondomination

By Lindy Zeng Staff Writer Juniors Nile Mehta and Jacob Pingue are usually seen in action at Homecoming airbands and the Multicultural Week assembly.

But for the two black-belt martial artists, Taekwondo is not only a performance, but also a sport and lifestyle.

Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art with thousands of years of history. Taekwondo, which is formed from parts: “tae,” meaning foot, “kwon,” meaning fist, and “do,” meaning discipline. Thus, Taekwondo combines physical and mental power to achieve the unity of the body, mind, and life.

There is an average of 12 belts before the first dan (the black belt degree). Each belt takes an average of three months to achieve, while training for the next black belt “dan” takes progressively more years.

Pingue started Taekwondo nine years ago and trains at Mach Martial Arts in Fremont and Pleasanton. Pingue recalls, “my main motive was to be just like the red power ranger because he was my true inspiration at the time.” His practice sessions vary depending on the type of training. For most of the week, Pingue practices at his dojang, or training hall, for at least an hour. Over the weekends, practice for competition and demonstrations span about three hours.

Like Pingue, Mehta also trains at Mach Martial Arts or at home every day, practicing poomsae, self-defense, and sparring. Poomsae is a form or routine that demonstrates one’s focus and technique, scored based on power, flexibility, rhythm, and accuracy. To keep up his endurance, he runs and trains at Mission Peak and does strength training at the gym.

Pingue has competed in numerous school championships, local, and college-hosted tournaments and has won medals at each level. In addition, he has attended regional, state, and national championships (Junior Olympics), as well as the US Open, the largest international Taekwondo competition hosted by the US. Pingue is a three-time poomsae (traditional form) grand champion

of the Mach Martial Arts Championship and a western regional finalist. He has also qualified for the world class division at nationals and for national team trials.

For the future, Pingue has set several short- and long-term goals. He hopes to medal once again at the CA State Championships to qualify for the Junior Olympics and National Team trials. Eventually, Pingue wants to travel overseas as a collegiate or national team member and possibly coach the future generation.

Although Mehta has been practicing Taekwondo since he was five years old, he has not competed in any major competitions, instead choosing to devote his focus to a career as a Taekwondo Instructor. As the Instructor of the Year at Mach Martial Arts, Mehta is currently teaching many classes that take away from his time to practice for competition. Mehta is currently working towards a fourth degree black belt and looks forward to becoming a master next year. He does not plan on stopping and wants to become an instructor for life to “share the joy in training and instructing everyone.”

Success is achieved after overcoming obstacles, and both Mehta and Pingue have battled physical injuries and mental challenges. Despite the demanding atmosphere and physical setbacks, both have learned to deal with it because “as a martial artist and athlete, you work for something you want—in this case success—and you will endure any pain to reach that goal,” says Mehta. ▪

staff writer ishan goyal

Pingue (left) and Mehta (right) are elite martial artists.

Friday, May 3, 2013

The Smoke Signal

courtesy msj warband

Like most other sports teams at MSJ, the badminton team begins each practice with stretching and a light jog. But beyond that, only pure discipline, motivation, and teamwork could have brought the team to its current undefeated status.

With its 40 players, the Varsity team is among the largest on campus, yet it maintains an unparalleled sense of family. Each of the team’s nine captains lead and coach the younger players on the team, so that each of them will know at least one senior they can approach for help. In reflection of his experiences on the MSJ team, Senior Captain Derrick Long said, “My [favorite] memory would be looking back at all the freshmen and seeing how we used to be them, and now we’re their captains.”

Nevertheless, the team does everything together. “We mess up, the whole team does a punishment. And it works because we’re all together and it just helps because everyone’s helping each other and no one’s individual,” said Senior Captain William Cheung.

The team practices two hours on Mon-

days and Wednesdays and three hours on Fridays. After stretching and jogging, the players focus on badminton-specific techniques: sprints, reaction speed, power, footwork, plyometrics, and control. Some practices are set aside to focus on conditioning. Tuesdays and Thursdays are game days, but the diligence doesn’t end with the last point; the players usually run three to four miles after each game.

Before games, MSJ Badminton Coach Ambrish Batheja gathers the team at the bell tower for a motivational speech. “One point at a time,” their team philosophy, has taken them far. MSJ Badminton has won first place in NCS for nine years in a row. This year, the team is stronger than ever, in both talent and cohesion.

“This honestly, talent-wise, is one of the best teams we’ve ever had. But more than the talent is the character that these guys have.

It’s just like Derrick said, it’s always been a system of the older players watching all the younger players and it’s always a system that we’ve kind of groomed, and they’ve worked year-round. And that’s what to me is a successful team. We’ve always tried to put into a family and work hard. So that is to me why they are what they are, and I’m really proud of them,” Batheja said.

As of now, MSJ Badminton has played Washington, Irvington, American, Kennedy, James Logan, Newark Memorial, and Moreau Catholic High School, winning every game.

The team’s next goal is to qualify the majority of its players for NCS, and ultimately win NCS. With a “don’t give up until the game’s over” and “one point at a time” mentality, MSJ Badminton is sure to be a fierce contender at NCS championships come midMay. ▪

Racist Redskins

By Leah Feuerman Staff Writer Recently reignited, the Washington Redskins controversy has been going on for so long that almost everyone has heard about it at some point or another. Since 1992, the football team has been in and out of the courts from lawsuits over the name “Redskin,” a term considered by many to be a racial slur against Native Americans.

Part of the challenge of these lawsuits is determining whether or not the word is in fact offensive. In 2003, when the Washington Redskins lost a lawsuit to Native American Activist Suzan Shown Harjo, the ruling was overturned because there was a lack of evidence that Redskin was a disparaging term.

In the 18th century the offensiveness of the term was ambiguous. Some believe it was purely a reference back then to the color of a Native American’s skin, while others believe it was a reference to the practice performed by white settlers of selling the scalps of Indians.

But why should it matter whether or not it was considered a distasteful word 300 years ago? It is the 21st century, and words that are racially insulting to ethnic groups should not be acceptable in sports today. Modern Native Americans clearly perceive Redskin as an offensive stereotype, and they have the right to feel that way. Even if it was never intended to be degrading, that doesn’t mean it isn’t to them. Native Americans, just like all other ethnic groups, should have the right to have their feelings respected about something that makes them uncomfortable, whether intentions were innocent or not.

It is true that the line between what is and isn’t a racial slur can sometimes be blurry, but that is why it is almost always better to ere on the side of caution. It is often difficult for someone to judge if a word is a racial

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By Laura Chen Staff Writer

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slur unless they are the ones subjected to it.

Much less harm is done being “too politically correct” than in disregarding someone else’s feelings or, worse, doing personal injury to them. Racial remarks can be painful, degrading, and damaging to individuals, and can discriminate against entire cultures.

There is little harm in changing a team name into something less offensive to others. Sports teams change their mascots all the time. Even MSJ changed its mascot from a chief with a feathered headdress to Mission Man, in response to a similar type of controversy. Choosing a new title will not diminish the accomplishments this football team has strived to achieve, nor will it dishonor their history. It would only serve to assuage those who have been hurt by the name itself. It is doubtful that the Redskins ever wanted to hurt anyone in keeping their name. But it is time for a change, or else we risk falling back into old patterns of discrimination. ▪

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The Washington Redskins’ mascot has stirred up much controversy.

By Marisa Lenci & Shirby Wang Staff Writers On Wednesday, April 17, members of MSJ’s long distance track team gathered together for a conditioning event unlike any they had experienced before. Because the week was one of the few that did not include a race, Distance Coach Linda Addison, with the help of her friends and family members, organized a mini ‘Amazing Race’ competition for the distance team in place of regular practice. Although Coach Addison had run the competition before, she hadn’t organized it in many years because of time and resources. She explained that this year was different because it was her last of many years of coaching track and field at MSJ and she wanted to conclude with a goodbye memory for the athletes and herself.

Addison designed the competition after the hit TV game show ‘The Amazing Race,’ in which teams of two group together to compete in a race throughout the country using clues and different means of transportation to accomplish tasks that will lead them to the finish line.

The track team was divided into groups according to their level and started at different

staff writer marisa lenci

The Frosh/Soph Boys Team were the winners of the race.

times to even out the competition. The JV Girls set off first, followed by the Varsity Girls and JV Boys, and finally the Frosh/Soph Boys and Varsity Boys. The teams not only had to compete with each other physically, but mentally as well. With only an envelope and a short clue as their beginning guides, the teams had to quickly deduce their first destination to begin their run.

At two of the three destinations, the runners had to choose between a harder but shorter workout or an easier but longer workout, such as their first challenge of running to Secret Garden and choosing between two hill intervals or three flat ones. This race was not only a grueling workout but an activity to encourage teamwork and bonding within each group, since the next clue could only be received when the entire team had finished.

The second challenge was slightly different, however. Instead of intervals, the groups had to compete as teams to fill a bucket with water by running through the playground of Old Mission Park with a bowl of water. Getting wet was almost inevitable, since runners had to balance their bowl of water while going down a slide.

After the final destination, which included intervals up Mill Creek Road, the teams began their final run back, ending at the small park next to the MSJ track. Although it was a close finish, the Frosh/Soph Boys managed to catch up to the Varsity Girls on the last stretch and took home first. Each runner was rewarded with a Gatorade drink and a Clif Bar. Everyone who competed was allowed to enjoy a selection of red velvet, raisin or chocolate chip cookies, resulting in an amicable bonding experience. ▪

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Friday, May 3, 2013

NBA Playoffs expert analysis

By Jason Chen & Ishan Goyal Staff Writers

Composite Picks

Above is a bracket composed of a combination of both experts’ picks. The NBA teams featured underneath the composite bracket are those predicted to advance past the first round of the playoffs. Each expert’s individual picks are at the bottom of the page.

The Miami Heat The confident and well-rested Miami Heat enter the playoffs with the best record in the NBA. Led by two of the world’s best basketball players in Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, the Heat feature one of the league’s top offenses as well as a suffocating defense capable of shutting down any opponent. Miami does a great job of sharing the ball, leading to easy opportunities around the rim as well as the three-point line. Using Chris Bosh at center might get them into trouble with elite post players, but the tenacity and energy that the team plays with more than makes up for their weakness and make them a shoe in for the NBA finals.

Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an extremely formidable team due to the tenacity, energy, and defensive intensity that Tom Thibodeau’s squad plays with. Chicago has a ferocious defender in Luol Deng, and their trio of Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, and Joakim Noah has been winning the battle of the boards all season long. Chicago is a team that plays with a ton of heart, which will get them past the Nets in the first round. But Derrick Rose’s absence will prove insurmountable, as the Bulls will not muster enough points to overcome the seemingly unstoppable Miami Heat.

Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers have been one of the most improved teams this season with the development of All-Star Paul George and leadership of Head Coach Frank Vogel. The team also features two outstanding post players in David West and Roy Hibbert, giving them a distinct advantage on the boards and in the paint.

In order for Indiana to advance deep into the playoffs, George will need to step up his play and play like the all-star he is. Hibbert and West need to win the battle of the boards and draw defensive attention away from the team’s wing players. This up and coming team is definitely one that no team wants to face due to their combination of youthful energy and veteran leadership. An Eastern Conference finals berth for this team is not out of the question.

New York Knicks The New York Knicks have finally taken the next step and ascended into an eastern conference powerhouse. Led by head coach Mike Woodson and defensive player of the year candidate Tyson Chandler, the Knicks have morphed into a fantastic defensive team. The Knicks have one of the best offensive players in the league in Carmelo Anthony. However, their offense lacks variety as they attempt the most three-pointers in the league, an approach that could haunt them down the stretch.

Jason’s Picks

San Antonio Spurs Although critics call them too old, the San Antonio Spurs seem to make an annual playoff appearance. This year, they hit the stage as a second seed with guard Tony Parker and forward Tim Duncan the main forces behind the team. With notorious sixth man Manu Ginobili indefinitely injured, coach Greg Popovich faces the tough decision of bringing his star back or putting faith in Gary Neal. After easily pushing past the Lakers, if the Spurs rely on the depth of their bench and make sure they don’t suffer any serious injuries, they will be a tough opponent in the second round.

Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors are burgeoning after their star forward Andrew Bogut finally returned to the lineup. As forward Carl Landry said, “If he plays like he has the last two games, we’re pretty tough.” Landry and his teammates like Stephen Curry and David Lee are famous for their dagger perimeter shooting. If the Warriors can limit their turnovers and slow down Denver’s fast paced press, they are in a great position to take the series. After progressing past the first round, the Warriors will most likely face the seasoned veterans of San Antonio. If they can solidify their defense and slow down the tempo of their opponents, the Warriors will definitely make it to their conference finals.

Los Angeles Clippers After clinching their first 50-win season, the Clippers have definitely shown that they are the dominant team in Los Angeles. NBA all stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul alone cannot carry the team to victory. It is essential that Jamal Crawford and Lamar Odom step up in this circumstance. If Griffin continues to play the boards and Paul continues to dish dimes, Lob City has a solid chance at winning the series.

Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant and his first seed Thunder have dominated the competition throughout the season with 61 wins and 20 losses. Their offensive efficiency is unparallel to that of any team besides the Heat. With superstars like Durant and Russell Westbrook and a great supporting cast that includes Serge Ibaka, Derek Fisher, and Reggie Jackson, the Thunder seemed near unstoppable. That is until Westbrook suffered a torn meniscus during the series with Houston. The Thunder may still have the raw talent and team chemistry to make it to the Western Conference Finals and Finals as well, but even despite Westbrook’s streakiness, his absence will put a huge damper on Oklahoma City’s powerhouse offense. ▪

Ishan’s Picks

layout by sports editor kenny jacoby. fiusports.com, sportslogos.net

Friday, May 3, 2013

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