Vol. XLVI, No. 2

VOL. XLV, NO. 2

NOVEMBER 5, 2010

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

homecoming c 2 010 d

Above: Homecoming nominees Tarang Patel, Bill Chang, Abel John, Eric Yai, Homecoming King Dillon Chang, Homecoming Queen Theresa Liu, nominees Aditi Amlani, Emily Sutedja, Ashlyn Iwatani, and Maggie Chang smile as the crowd cheers.

Above: Homecoming King Dillon Chang and and Homecoming Queen Theresa Liu.

See HOMECOMING, SPORTS Page 24

Campaigning for change

By Joy Xu Staff Writer

has no way of working their way out of these issues, or we’re all just plagued with It seems that MSJ students a particularly bad case of always have something to apathy. say about our school, A majority of the ranging from disproblems with our satisfied gripes campus leads back about our rather to one key issue: beaten up campus money. There’s nevto laments about er enough money the competitive to build this, repair environment that that, or improve this.

MSJ breeds. What’s However, when the more interesting obstacles stem from a is that despite the problem with funding, obvious need to act there is always a solid on this predicament, solution, whether it be many of the students fundraising, joining in and teachers just sit on competitions, or apback and watch it all plying for grants. go by as the complaints news editor megan mclaughlin In retrospect, many tumble out of their mouths. It’s groups of students and teachers do evident that either the student body deserve credit for actively trying to

THE SIGNALS

November 9-10 • California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) for seniors

raise money. In the past year, the attempts to fundraise include Save Fremont Students, Pepsi Refresh contests, and the 2010 Prom contest, just to name a few. Yet if there have been so many ventures in hopes of making a difference, how come we don’t see the results?

Simply put, the true root of the problem is MSJ’s lack of unity. How do other schools succeed in their various endeavors? Because the student body and administration work as one to reach a particular goal. Take Lynbrook High School’s recent participation in Kohl’s Cares $500,000 competition, leading to almost every single one of their students to not only put the competition logo as their Facebook profile picture, but also actively

November 11 • Veteran’s Day, NO SCHOOL

See COMPETITION, OPINION Page 6 November 12 • Teacher Workday, NO SCHOOL

Above: As usual, Homecoming Week featured an outpouring of spirit as each class dressed in their own colors.

Girls’ tennis serves up aces

By Alice Zalan Staff Writer A strong wind and a chilling cold were not enough to deter the MSJ Girls’ Tennis Team in their October 27 tennis match against Washington. The Huskies put up a good fight, but the Warriors were determined to come out on top. They had suffered a heartbreaking first league loss to the American Eagles on the day before, and were even more motivated to make an impact at the game against Washington. Due to scheduling changes, the team was in the middle of a week that saw four matches in a row, and might have been more tired than usual.

However, the Warriors were able to pull together and successfully beat the Huskies on their Senior Night with a perfect 7-0 score.

The Warriors clearly surpassed

staff writer alice zalan

Junior Raashi Goyal serves the ball.

the Huskies from the start. Sophomore Sarbari Bhattacharjee overpowered her opponent, winning

See GIRLS TENNIS, SPORTS Page 22

2 News

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News in Brief

A jury of peers, literally

By Edward Nguyen Staff Writer

Indonesia devastated by nature Indonesia has been struck by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, a tsunami, and a volcanic eruption within two days. The October 25, 2010 earthquake occurred 13 miles beneath the ocean near the Mentawi Islands. The quake triggered a tsunami off Sumatra later that day. 431 people have died and 88 have been reported missing after the tsunami struck the islands. The next day, a volcano called Mount Merapi erupted four times, spewing hot ash and lava on the island of Java. 36 people were killed and two more were killed Saturday during a second explosion. Rescue crews are struggling to provide aid for all the victims on the disaster fronts.

english.aljazeera.net

Indonesian men shelter from the sun under pieces of tin distributed by rescue workers.

Limewire gets juiced On May 12, 2010, a federal court ruled against Limewire in Music Labels v. Limewire, finding Limewire guilty of multiple copyright violations. Roughly six months later, on October 26, 2010, Limewire has officially shut down all aspects of its software and rendered all existing copies useless. The case will be revisited in January—in the meantime, Limewire and the labels will try and reach an out of court settlement.

The Smoke Signal

By the end of this year, the Fremont City Council is planning to add a youth court to the list of city services. Youth courts are studentrun justice programs for first-time offenders only.

The courts offer a positive alternative to the traditional juvenile court system. Youth courts are designed to empower teens, who fulfill every role except for judging. Youth courts’ restorative justice program focuses on satisfying the needs of victims and offenders while encouraging offenders to take responsibility for their actions.

There are 1400 youth courts across the nation, 80 of which preside in California. Youth courts are often created for communities that have a high population of teenagers arrested for misdemeanor or minor felony charges. Youth courts are there to give an opportunity to first-time offenders accused of crimes including vandalism, battery, and shoplifting. Some are designed after the juvenile justice system, whereas others are school or even community based. When making the decision to forgo juvenile court,

the offender makes the decision not to contest charges, and agrees to the sentencing requirements provided by the peer attorneys, staff, and jurors. In exchange, they will have the opportunity to clear their record as a first-time offender.

Fremont’s youth court will be designed after an existing justice system coordinated by the Tri-Valley youth court. It will consist of a minimum of 25 youth volunteers and 12 adult volunteers each court night. Youth volunteers will be able to satisfy Community Service requirements for their schools and participate in the court procedures.

Benefits provided by youth court are to prevent offender records, provide an understanding of the law, promote self-worth and leadership, and offer advice counseling. Youth court will save time and money for police officers, the judicial system, and the participants. Per juvenile, locked confinement in state institutions costs over $60,000 annually, whereas community supervision and workshops cost less than $10,000 per juvenile.

The Fremont youth court will consist of multiple youth and adult volunteer positions. The adult staff provides the guidelines to the pro-

An attorney defends her client in a Bremerton, Washington youth court.

kitsapsun.com

wordpress.com

Limewire is a free file-sharing system that is often used to illegally download music.

MSJ and California get shaken up On October 21, 2010 at 10:21 am, 7.8 million Californians participated in the Great California Shakeout, a drill designed to assess preparedness in the event of an earthquake. The huge drill commemorated the Hayward Fault earthquake in 1868. Schools showed the children how to “stop, drop, and hold” onto their desks, while hospitals prepared for an earthquake by practicing triage and other emergency techniques. Because of the overwhelming response, the Great California Shakeout will be an annual event.

walkingthefault.wordpress.com

Fault lines, in red, crisscross the Bay Area.

COMPILED BY STAFF WRITERS MAYA RAMACHANDRAN, COURTNEY TAM AND AISHWARYA THAKUR

fusd board of education

The new building will be placed where current portables are located. The classes held in the six portables will be relocated to the second floor of the building. The new floor plan for MSJ includes a Special Education drop-off area.

On May 12, 2010, Fremont School Board, including parents and students, voted “yes” on a proposal to build a two-story building in MSJ. The new building is projected to open in fall of 2011 and will be primarily dedicated to special education classrooms.

The MSJ Special Education Wing project, which is designed to replace aging portables, will call for the removal of six classrooms in the P-Wing. The first two temporary buildings will be to create a safe drop off zone for special education students and buses in the student parking lot. The other four will be the actual site of the building. This new building will have a total of 10

classrooms: six regular education classrooms on the second floor and four large special education classrooms each with an American Disabilities Act-compliant restroom, on the first floor. The building will also have two sets of stairs and an elevator.

A little more than $5.5 million is being used to fund the MSJ Special Education Wing project, and the funding comes from several sources including one-time federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that the district received in 2009. These stimulus dollars need to be used by June, or they will expire. Other sources include state

Obama on Trial

By Vishal Bajpai Staff Writer

nctimes.com

A youth prosecutor questions a defendant during a trial in Escondido, California.

gram, manages financial decisions of the youth court, and works with their community’s police department and schools to receive juvenile cases. Adult staff includes lawyers, parents, and college students who aspire to work with law.

Youth volunteers also have a wide range of jobs in the court system.

The three main youth positions in court are clerk, bailiff, and attorney.

Clerks authenticate and protect the privacy of cases and documents of the offender being tried. Clerks also administer oaths to jurors, witnesses, and bailiffs. Bailiffs are legal officers that maintain order while court is in session and when the jury deliberates the offender’s sentencing.

Finally, attorneys provide an analysis and summary of their client’s cases and either prosecute or defend individuals in court.

Youth court assists teen offenders in recognizing mistakes in their own behavior, promotes a positive attitude towards authority, and establishes positive relationships between the community and its youth. ▪ Contact Sharon Hollis at sharonhollis@trivalleyyouthcourt.com if interested in Fremont’s youth court program.

Two-story building for MSJ

By Rebecca Dutta Staff Writer

Friday, November 5, 2010

matching funds for special education and modernization and sale of site funds.

Many district parents and students had expressed their concern over the state of disrepair of the school facilities, and the board decided that the cost of fixing old damages on the P-Wing portables would be far higher and less rewarding than the cost of building a new building altogether. All board members were encouraged to vote for the proposition last year.

President of the Fremont Unified School District Board of Education Lara York said on the projects, “I am glad that we have found a way to fund this project.

Anwar al-Awlaki is an American citizen who has allegedly been using the Internet to spread his radical message of violent jihad. What connects him to President Barack Obama? Awlaki is allegedly present on a list of military targets chosen

by Obama. Awlaki was put on the list based on his background: he had ties to both Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood shooting, and Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the so-called underwear bomber.

However, the decision to be placed on this list was Obama’s alone: there is neither a regulatory group to preside over these decisions nor a judge to rule on the decision’s legality. Awlaki’s father felt that the executive branch had overstepped its bounds and filed a legal injunction demanding that the criteria for being added to the list be made public.

Obama has attempted to keep this trial out of the courts and has urged a federal judge to throw out the suit, claiming that a trial would compromise national security and reveal state secrets.

The American Civil Liberties Union said on their website, “Targeting individuals...suspected of terrorism but have not been convicted or even charged—without oversight, judicial process, or disclosed standards for placement on kill lists—also poses the risk that the government will erroneously target the wrong people.” It will be up to the US Federal Court to decide between Obama and Awlaki. ▪

Some of the existing classrooms are far beyond repair … Being able to also add classrooms for special education students will allow more students who live in the Mission San Jose High attendance area to go to their school. Currently many special education students are attending other schools with the appropriate facilities which may be a long bus route each day.”

The board members hope that the new two-story building, projected to open next fall, will improve some of MSJ’s facility problems by taking down some P-Wing portables, as well as attracting more special education students to our school. ▪

corrections

For the September 24, 2010 issue of the Smoke Signal

• On Feature page 6, in the “Teacher Feature” article Biology Teacher

Gabriele Estabrook’s name is misspelled.

• On Photo page 11, Sophomore Maggie Wang’s name is misspelled.

• On Arts and Entertainment page 13, the first segment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out November 19.

The Smoke Signal regrets the errors.

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Smoke Signal

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News 3

Honors classes open up for the first time

By Aishwarya Thakur Staff Writer

For years to come, incoming freshmen will probably struggle through more schedule changes than all of the classes put together.

A policy that was established last year by FUSD will affect all incoming freshmen who wish to switch from College Preparatory (CP) to Honors Biology.

All ninth graders take a course in biology; whether it is CP or honors will depend on the child’s preference and capabilities. In past years, the policy has been that a student must receive scores of 550 or higher on the math and science portions of the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) tests taken in seventh grade to qualify for Honors Biology. Eighth grade science

teachers also look at the student’s first semester grade when deciding to recommend a student for CP or Honors Biology. This does not apply, however, if the child is GATE identified. A GATE-identified student can apply for honors if they have a grade of C or higher in their eighth grade science course.

After consulting teachers, counselors, and administrators, FUSD decided that the standard for non-identified GATE students to qualify for Honors Biology will be lowered to a score of 481 or above on the science portion of the California Standards Test (CST) taken in eighth grade. This was a helpful decision made for those who wished to take Honors Biology, but couldn’t qualify based on seventh grade STAR tests. However, the administration now has to make nu-

merous schedule changes for those students who wish to switch to an honors class. Since the eighth grade CST scores come in after schedule decisions have been made, students must personally request that their schedule be changed to accommodate an honors class if they receive a score of 481 or higher.

Many freshmen choose this route and opt to join Honors Biology if they qualify. For many, this is a well-deserved and appreciated placement. When asked if he made the right decision to move to an honors class, Freshmen Alexander Chamberlain said, “I really wanted to challenge myself, so that’s why I switched [to Honors Biology].”

The teachers and administration are happy to provide this opportunity for the students. Honors Biology teacher Basudha Mukherjee

says that she didn’t have a problem with the schedule changes and adjusting to the new schedules was not a hindrance for either the teacher or the students. In fact, Vice Principal Zack Larsen believes that the standard for accepting students into honors should be dropped lower to accommodate more deserving students. He said that GATE identified students, who have been admitted into the program in elementary school, get to participate in honors courses, but their non-identified GATE peers, who are equally qualified, don’t have the same opportunity. Larsen continued, “AP [classes] need prerequisites, but there are no standards—that would be a solution.” This would allow all students to take honors classes if they wished, similar to the AP policy.

The policy would eliminate the nu-

merous schedule changes students will have to go through and alleviate the excess pressure to do well on CST and STAR tests.

However, AP Environmental Science teacher Lisa Ishimine, who has taught CP and Honors Biology for the past ten years at MSJ, feels differently. She said, “Those that did switch [into honors], struggled.”

Now, every year MSJ will have to drop CP Biology classes and make more Honors Biology classes as the number of students who apply for honors increases. This drop in standards will dramatically escalate the number of students on the honors route. Although MSJ encourages these students to challenge themselves, students should make sure they are not overburdened or pressured to take more honors classes than they can handle. ▪

Possible Treasurer Christina Broadwin attributed the parent donations to better communication between Mission Possible and MSJ parents. This year, the donation form was passed out in the Orientation packets and included an envelope to facilitate donations. In addition it explained what last year’s donations were used for and what Mission Possible hoped to accomplish this school year.

Businesses provided matching funds, which accounted for roughly $9,000. This sum is double what was earned last year, and can be attributed to the letter as well as the link on the MSJ website that explains

the process of matching donations.

Royalties from Scrip and e-Scrip, and fundraisers provided $7,700.

The larger budget translates to more requests for =--money. Last year, each academic department received $1,000 regardless of their expenses. This year, department chairs were asked to submit funding request forms detailing planned expenses. Donations to each department were doubled.

A Special Projects Committee was formed to deal with the funding requests, which totaled $170,000.

Members of the committee included Broadwin, Vice Principal Zack Larsen, and two MSJ students: Ju-

niors Jacqueline Kohler and Charles Lee, among others.

This year marks the first that students were involved in the budget-making process at MSJ. Broadwin believes that Kohler and Lee’s ability to go out and talk to their peers about what their priorities were for campus changed the way the Committee voted on funding.

Many students were concerned by the appearance of MSJ, so $20,000 has been allotted to landscaping the area between the marquee and C-120.

Mission Possible generally tries to focus on aiding academics at school, but $12,000 will be spent

replacing aged lockers in the Boys’ Locker Room. $7,000 has been allotted to purchasing netbooks for classroom use. A student copier has been purchased for the library as well. The copier can print, collate, three-hole-punch, staple, and scan documents. Copies will still be $0.10. $5,000 will be saved to establish a counselor intern on campus next year to help students with the stress of their daily lives.

Mission Possible meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at 7 pm in the faculty lounge.

Students and parents can attend to hear what is happening, to discuss issues, and to vote on proposals. ▪

MSJ budget is $103,000 for school year

By Megan McLaughlin News Editor Mission Possible, the MSJ parent-faculty association, has approved a budget for the 2010-11 school year. The budget was passed on September 30 and includes many changes from last year.

Most notable is the amount of money the organization has at their disposal. The roughly $103,000 budget is a result of increased donations, matching funds from companies, and royalties from businesses in the community.

Parent donations accounted for nearly $94,000 this year. Mission

4 News

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The Smoke Signal

Survey shows students dependent on technology

By Ravneet Kaur and Michael Wu Staff Writers As you walk through the halls of MSJ on any given day, you are guaranteed to encounter multiple students texting on their way to class or bobbing their heads to the beat of an iPod. Our generation is known for instant communication through the touch of a screen and receiving instantaneous responses. Many would say we have become a technologically dependent generation. Students at MSJ are no exception and admit to using multiple gadgets daily. The Smoke Signal conducted a school-wide survey on tech dependency across the grades.

Many of the students surveyed chose computers and cell phones as their favorite technological devices. While on the surface these two gadgets may not appear to be connected, they are both used to communicate rapidly with both classmates and friends. One possible reason for the selection of cell phones and computers is the ease they provide for talking with people through IMs, Facebook, and text

messages. The concept of instant communication also allows for speedy research and homework help. According to Sophomore Caitlin Chiang, “Many teachers only post their homework online. It’s generally not too inconvenient, but it can be a hassle on some days.”

While the average MSJ student spends four hours a day using electronics, tech dependency at MSJ is not as evident in classrooms because the school has not adopted a laptop learning program in classrooms as of this year. Most classes still require students to bring pencil and paper as learning tools. The approval of a laptop program would lead to computer use at staff writer frank chen home and at school, increasing tech dependency overall. The addition of laptops in the classroom would be efficient for instantaneous learning, but could lead to the complete removal of learning through paper and pencil.

Contrasting with all of the benefits of

Friday, November 5, 2010

technology, there are also negative aspects. By becoming addicted to cell phone usage from texting or obsessively playing “Fruit Ninja” on the Phone, productivity drops dramatically as the amount of time spent using cell phones increases. With access to the internet on laptops, students may also have problems focusing on completing school work in a timely fashion, extending nights as they catch up on homework. Many students eventually lose out on this battle of time management, resulting in possible loss of good health and problems staying awake in school after being deprived of sleep. Evidently, spending three hours a day texting your friends or about four hours surfing the Internet while doing homework is not the best way for the average Mission student to finish work quickly.

Students believe that on a scale of one to five, the average rate of tech dependency at MSJ is about a four. The number may see an increase if laptops are integrated into the classroom and the use of the internet remains vital to assignments. As generations become more inclined to using electronic devices, students and teachers alike are adapting to new methods of communication. Technology is viewed as both a learning tool and distraction to the educational process. ▪

news editors gurleen chadha and megan mclaughlin

High-risk pipeline near MSJ How to stay safe at school

By Vishal Bajpai Staff Writer On September 9, 2010, a 24-inch Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) gas pipe exploded in San Bruno, destroying 38 homes and killing eight individuals. After the fire, PG&E accepted full responsibility for the incident and set aside $100 million for the affected community. Now, as the reparations are being paid and families are finding closure a new question persists: Are we safe?

It is hard to answer because PG&E doesn’t divulge maps of all of its pipelines in California out of fear that terrorists will target the pipelines in attacks. PG&E adopts a policy of secrecy not only from the public but also from the state because California, unlike Washington and Texas, does not force PG&E to release a map of all of their pipelines. The San Francisco Bay Guardian reports incidents where firefighters end up fighting gas fires the wrong way because they have to rely on PG&E to tell them about a possible gas line. The only list of pipes in California that PG&E has released is a list of the top 100 most dangerous pipelines in California, along with a plan to fix those pipelines.

According to PG&E, the 14th most dangerous pipeline passes through Fremont. The line starts near where Auto Mall Parkway meets I-880 and extends to where Mission meets I-680. Even though the line doesn’t pass directly underneath MSJ, it comes very close. To put the distance into perspective, the intersection between Mission Boulevard and I-680 is roughly the halfway point between MSJ and McDonalds. Students have been known to walk to McDonalds and back during lunch to buy food. The Auto MallMission line is less than a mile from MSJ. PG&E does not divulge more information about the Auto Mall-Mission pipeline.

The San Bruno explosion, however, damaged houses in a three-fourths mile radius. Not only MSJ but also houses on Palm Street and Mission Boulevard could be damaged by a similar explosion in Fremont.

The Auto Mall-Mission pipeline isn’t as old as the San Bruno pipeline was, but it is

neither the age nor condition of our pipeline that makes it particularly dangerous. PG&E cites earthquakes as their reason for concern over the Auto Mall-Mission pipeline. While it is impossible to predict earthquakes with

pge.com

PG&E gas transmission lines are in gray. MSJ is located at the white marker, the gray one marks the location of a gas pipeline planning segment.

certainty, many geologists claim that California will soon experience a major earthquake and cite Fremont as one of the cities that will be affected by it. An earthquake could cause the pipeline to burst as well, which could result in fire damages in addition to the earthquake damage.

PG&E has scheduled replacement of the pipes underneath Fremont sometime in 2012. Even after the replacement the risk of an earthquake will loom over us; there may even be more pipelines that we don’t know about.

So, are we safe? The proximity of the pipe to MSJ and other residential areas is a concern. Geologists at the US Geological Survey have predicted that there is a 63 percent chance that an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater will hit the Bay Area in the next 30 years, based on the history of faults in the area. PG&E is concerned that the Auto Mall-Mission pipeline may be vulnerable, which is why they have scheduled a repair.

Unfortunately, PG&E’s policies potentially make the situation even more hazardous not only for us but also for firefighters. ▪

By Alice Zalan Staff Writer School safety has never been more important for students. On September 13, an attempted kidnapping took place in the Ohlone College parking lot. A young woman was heading towards her car at about 5:30 pm when an adult male approached her and allegedly proceeded to sit in her car, along with two others who joined him after a short period of time. They then pulled a knife on her and attempted to drive away. However, the young woman was able to call for help, and the three kidnappers ran away towards Mission Boulevard. One person has been arrested in the case, and campus security has tightened to protect the college’s other students.

Schools need to “create and maintain a school climate and learning environment that is safe” according to National Guidelines. Although MSJ is generally assumed to be safe, caution is always necessary. When asked for general guidelines for students to follow, Campus Resource Officer Greg Pipp said, “In order to protect yourself, you have to pay attention to what is happening around you.”

Here are three precautions that can be taken to increase personal safety: 1. If a school activity happens early in the morning or extends to a late hour at night, make sure to be accompanied by another person or a group of people when going to the parking lot or a vehicle. This ensures the

everyone’s safety, and reduces the chance of an assault.

2. If approached by a stranger in the parking lot or on campus, make sure to notify the office or campus security. Simply report the stranger’s presence to the office and direction he or she is heading. This can be done in person or by a phone call.

3. Remember that faculty members are there to help if there is an emergency or a pressing situation involving safety. Do not feel shy about going up to a teacher and approaching them with problems that you might have. They are there to help students and ensure student protection.

To help maintain safety, MSJ recently installed floodlights in the parking lot over the summer. When asked about them, Pipp said, “The lights are there so that in the nighttime it is brighter and easier to see the people. Attempted criminals will try to find a better and different location to act because their biggest worry is getting caught.”

Safety is an important issue that every student needs to keep in the back of his or her mind. Regardless of the situation, it is necessary to be aware of your surroundings, to stay updated on school safety rules, and to proceed with caution if someone or something seems strange. Not only is it the school’s priority to help maintain safety at school, but it is also the responsibility of the student to follow the guidelines to ensure safety. ▪

staff writer kevin zhai

Friday, November 5, 2010

the

Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 46, No. 2 | November 5, 2010

The Smoke Signal

Roger That

By Roger Chen

Editors-in-Chief Alissa Gwynn, Elisa Ting News Gurleen Chadha, Megan McLaughlin Opinion Roger Chen, Arthur Jeng Feature Sonia Dhawan, Audrey Wu Centerspread Aileen Lu, Tina Tseng A&E Vishal Yadav, Jordan Zhang Sports Grace Han, Amit Patankar Graphics Sarah Li, Cassie Zhang Web Mary Lan, Richie Zeng Tech Vaishaal Shankar, Kevin Zhai Business Ravneet Kaur Circulation Matt Farberov Fundraising Stephenie Yuan Marketing Jamie Lin Ads Rebecca Dutta, Joy Xu Events Chelsea Dass, Mekala Neelakantan, Diya Roy

Writers & Photographers

Vishal Bajpai, Ditha Balaji, Leland Bernstein, Anthony Chen, Frank Chen, Sloka Gundala, Andrew Han, Savina Khangura, Allan Ko, Sida Lu, Edward Nguyen, Nihar Parikh, Alekya Rajanala, Maya Ramachandran, Omar El Sadany, Sanjna Shukla, Courtney Tam, Jonathan Teng, Aishwarya Thakur, Angie Wang, Ginger Werner, Connor Williams, Ellie Wong, Michael Wu, Alice Zalan

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.

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

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

Opinion Editor

It was that time of year again, when we broke out the pumpkins, the costumes, that oh-so-delicious candy. So if you weren’t too busy looking for your Bed Intruder costume, you might have noticed that it’s also that time when a fresh batch of controversy gets unloaded on the world courtesy of Stockholm in the form of the Nobel Prizes.

Some Nobel awardees, such as the one in physics for the discovery of graphene, are unquestioned by the international community. Then again, you don’t get much debate over physics unless you’re dealing with students who lost points on physics midterms. We thought the spotlight this year would stay on the Vatican and in vitro fertilization, but along came the Nobel Peace Prize for Liu Xiaobo.

Living in a democratic country, there seem to be few who deserve the Nobel more than Liu. He’s an upstander who has made personal sacrifices to better the lives of those around him, always thinking about the good of the people over the self.

To China, however, the decision is the equivalent of immortalizing a Tibetian protester in the middle of the Forbidden City. They saw it as a sign of disrespect, a cheap shot at China in the midst of their rise to economic power. The government responded by censoring all mention of the award from the Chinese public, placing Liu’s wife under house arrest and then proceeding to accuse the Nobel committee of disrespect for their laws. Even Liu didn’t know until China let his wife tell him about the prize.

Staff Writer

With the world of Internet messaging and communication leaving telephone conversations in the dust, federal law enforcement and national security officials are finding it harder to wiretap criminal and terrorist suspects. The simple days of intercepting phone conversations are coming to an end; many online communication services such as Facebook and Skype, as well as sophisticated phone and e-mail messages, carry encrypted messages that are very hard to crack.

Naturally, the Obama Administration wants police and spy agencies to have the ability to tap into these encrypted conversations, just as the 1994 Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act allowed the government to intercept phone and broadband communications without a specified cause. But the act is much easier said than done. One of the main reasons why many online communication services and phone systems are encrypted is to preserve the privacy and authenticity of the user, protecting them from hackers. Allowing the government to crack the code may be justified to preserve security, but will not be welcome to the average internet user. If hackers realize that the government has a way to decrypt and intercept messages, it is only a matter of time until hackers figure it out.

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Opinion 5

get Jengky with it

By Arthur Jeng

China needs to recognize that it has a serious problem on hand.

It’s the elephant in the room that seems to have been shunted into a corner, placed as a second priority in China’s rise to global domination. There’s no getting around the human rights issue anymore, especially considering the negative publicity their response has generated among the international community. If anything, it serves as a reminder to the world that the remnants of Tiananmen are still around and cannot be avoided.

The problem with the Nobel Prize committee is that in more and more cases (cough Obama), the prize, which is supposed to primarily honor the accomplishments of an individual or group of people, is instead being used to send extremely pointed political messages that are clearly meant to provoke. Although we can all agree that awarding a Nobel peace prize to a controversial figure raises awareness of global issues, we have to question whether or not it is the best way to deal with world problems. Every time a Nobel Peace prize is awarded, more conflict and strife is created rather than the harmony for which the Peace prize was intended.

Alfred Nobel created the prizes to recognize cultural and scientific advances in the world we live in.

Turning it into a pawn for a political game defies his intent to reward outstanding accomplishments in a way that can be seen and recognized by all members of the international community. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

Obama Would Tap Into That

By Mekala Neelakantan

Tech-ing Up

Let’s Talk Peace

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This is not an easy situation to solve, and it places a heavy weight on the shoulders of the government. Every passing, indecisive day leaves the nation vulnerable to the terrorists and criminals who freely and safely communicate using online services. However, Americans are certainly not ready for the government to be able to watch them as they send e-mails, instant messages, or other means of online communication, and neither are the companies involved. Exposing a way of decrypting messages could be very costly for companies, making it easier for competing businesses to steal communications.

Essentially, the circumstances boil down to the fact that we will be quite discontent if the mandate to decrypt online messages is passed next year. Yes, wiretapping is not the solution, but simply stating so will not accomplish anything.

In a situation of such importance to gizmodo.com national security, we must consider the needs of the government and the concerns of the people.

The Obama Administration must find a very watertight, intelligent solution to this dilemma. The government must sit down and decide where the boundary should be drawn between safety and privacy, and look to new, plausible ways of discovering criminal and terrorist threats. They cannot work alone though; it is imperative that we provide input in order for us to be satisfied with our protection, and the government to be satisfied with the nation’s protection. ▪

Opinion Editor

Out with the old and in with the new. That’s MSJ’s new direction, anyway. No, no, that doesn’t mean revamping the B, C, E, M, and N Wings (probably would have been faster to just exclude the A Wing…); our school is still pretty poor with cramped desks and overcrowded classrooms. True, it makes the Industrial Revolution’s sweatshop documentaries in history class so much more real, but unless you’ve been blessed with ignorance, it’s hard to ignore some major changes coming MSJ’s way.

In particular are the new interactive white boards the school plans on using. These interactive boards will allow teachers to project their desktop screen onto any large surface area and use a stylus to write on the projected image. Conversely, the notes from the projection can be sent to the computer like any other file. In effect, the technology is a large touch screen tablet reminiscent of the cool gadgets in Minority Report.

A major concern, however, is that school is the only place where kids are away from technology in their daily life. Additions to the classrooms like the whiteboard signifies departure from more traditional ways of teaching to digitalized, less personal education. But the benefits may be huge. Though MSJ is already literate in social technology, most of us aren’t as fluent in educational technology. Many colleges are now using software such as Matlab, Mathematica, Labview, which students at MSJ generally are uninformed about. Just like ev-

eryone in the generation before us had a typewriting class, MSJ should be preparing us for the future.

But, major changes don’t just happen. It’d be impractical to stick a laptop in front of some students and expect brighter intellectuals. Perhaps a more momentarily amused student but a simple technology change is not a long term solution by itself. The positive effects of using the interactive white boards would still call for interested students to be willing to utilize the advantages of the whiteboard. Students sleeping in the back of the classroom will be taking their naps, whiteboard or no whiteboard. Principal Sandra Prairie commented, “These tools are for engaging the classroom, not an end all be all solution.”

That said, it’s not exactly reassuring that these tools will even have widespread practicality anytime soon. Teachers would still have to be trained to teach with them, let alone learn some savvy skills to quickly troubleshoot any problems that might interrupt teaching.

Funds, somewhat of an anomaly nowadays, would still have to be allocated to implement the technology around the school.

These kinds of problems make the technology change in the classroom relatively inert. Though I support the effort to bring MSJ into the next generation of learning and applaud the admnistration, teachers, and parents working to push this agenda through, I can’t help but be just a little skeptical. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

6 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, November 5, 2010

COMPETITION Fighting apathy in the community continued from page 1 pursue votes from parents, alumni, and even students from different schools.

Another great example of school unity for a purpose is Irvington High School’s green programs. In 2009, Irvington High School was recognized as “America’s Greenest School” and applied for (and received) various grants because of their green activities. They accomplished this by establishing clubs, creating a “Green Commisioner” position in their student government, and hosting large scale environmental service-learning projects. An impressive feat for both of these schools, but obviously, they were doable.

Of course, it’s not to say that we should do exactly as other schools do, but we should take the successes of our neighboring schools as an example for ourselves, knowing

that we too can slowly improve the condition of MSJ if we just work together. And even if we don’t win the prizes, beyond success and victory, we win something greater- a better mentality for the whole of

MSJ. It’s not much of an exaggeration to say that a large part of our students hold one of two attitudes: the “this will make very little impact, so why bother?” mindset or the “it doesn’t affect me personally,

so I really don’t care that much” outlook.

But take a look at our spectacular Homecoming- every year we churn out some of the best festivities in the Bay Area. It takes unity

www.refresheverything.com

to make something that great, and if Homecoming divides the school into four, just imagine our power if all four united as one.

With this power we should actively pursue competitions, grants, and school projects. The small things that take a few minutes such as spreading awareness using the internet or texting a vote through your phone will build up to give something great back to our school.

In the end, we’ll leave a legacy of a better school and a better environment. Hypocrisy and apathy will get us nowhere but further behind from where we first started.

MSJ students are some of the most talented and intelligent students in the country, so it shouldn’t be too hard to follow this very simple concept: if you think that something’s wrong, fix it. Step up and make a difference. ▪

The Class Balance Endangered Humanities staff writer allan ko

By Kevin Zhai Staff Writer

Courses such as multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and AP Physics C may be offered in the 2011-12 school year. However, these possible additions further demonstrate the lack of humanities-based classes at MSJ. There is a conspicuous trend among these new classes and recent course additions before it: they focus solely on math and science.

Last year, both AP Environmental Science (APES) and History of China were potential electives on the course catalog. APES Teacher Lisa Ishimine said about the possible science class, “Being the first year, I expected maybe two sections.” This year, there are six sections of APES while History of China was cancelled due to lack of interest. Although there is

some merit, at least from a cynical point of view, that History of China was not an AP class and therefore did not garner as much attention as APES, it is not the only reason MSJ students seem hesitant to add humanities-based courses.

Government and Economics Teacher Roxanne Ponsi offered several reasons for the paucity of such AP courses. Historically, the Government teachers have been opposed to offering AP classes because it pressures students into taking the class that is perceived to look better on transcripts. “AP classes would become obligations more than opportunities,” said Ponsi. There has also been uncertainty on how to proportion the courses throughout the school year.

If, for example, AP Macroeconomics was offered, the class would focus on macroeconomics up until the AP test, and only after the exam

would the school requisite of government be taught, for only a few weeks at best.

However, US History Teacher Bill Jeffers says, “There is currently genuine interest from the social sciences teachers to have more AP courses, but student disinterest makes it hard to justify adding more classes.” There are, after all, only three sections of AP US History and a lone section of AP World History this year. That’s about half of the number of AP science courses and esentially nothing compared to AP Statistics and AP Calculus classes.

Why then, does a majority of the student body shrink away from these humanities courses? It seems that many choose to boost their transcripts and shy away from classes they have an active interest in. When APES was introduced into the course catalog, other viable

electives were sacrificed by many students in order to make room for APES. “Some students chose APES on the assumption that it would be an easy course,” said Ishimine. By now, it is safe to say that this assumption was not very realistic. If a student takes classes he or she is not passionate about in high school, how long will the pattern continue? The person will apply to colleges that look good, obtain majors in hopefully high-paying fields, and acquire a job he or she really has no interest in. It would be a life not lived to its full potential, full of regret and pondering on what could have been.

If more humanities classes were offered, an entire new path would be open to students. Not everyone at MSJ will become a doctor or scientist, and offering humanities will give students a chance to discover classes in a field they have an active

interest in. For example, a collegelevel course in economics would help to build a solid foundation for anyone interested in pursuing a business career.

Some doubt that new classes could even be added during these times of slashed budgets, but the cost of adding a new class is really not all that high. According to Ishimine, most of the money goes to buying textbooks and getting training. Additionally, most of a class’s funds come from beginningof-year donations, with very little money needed from the district.

Cost is not an obstacle. Teachers are willing to offer new classes.

Once students break away from superficial motives and choose to see what the humanities can truly offer, MSJ can finally begin to offer a broader range of stimulating courses in subject areas other than math and science. ▪

placed the blame on teachers. The program’s emphasis on evaluation based on standardized test scores is designed to weed out the incompetent teachers; lawmakers assume that our education system is riddled with bad apples and a great cleansing is needed for improvement.

Despite the fact that there may very well be incompetent teachers, lawmakers never based their assumption off any hard evidence that teachers were the sole cause of our failing education system. They were influenced by a myriad of other factors, including the considerable decline of respect for the teaching profession and their need to find a scapegoat.

The dangerously prominent mindset of politicians is that teachers are no longer the mentors of the next generation; they are viewed as

the cause of the United States’ decline in global competence. Teachers aren’t the main reason for the stumbling education system; by targeting only teachers, more emphasis will be placed on test-taking rather than actual learning. Part of this problem is the result of politicians who would much rather blame teachers than the budget cuts. The lack of respect for the profession is also visible in the MSJ community; many, if not most parents want their children to become doctors, engineers, or lawyers, because they all pay extremely well. The teaching profession is not usually considered to be as glorious. The relatively low salary of the teaching profession also contributes to the loss of respect.

Lack of respect from society coupled with a relatively low salary

has caused nearly half of new teachers to quit the profession within their first five years, according to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics. Many teachers leave for better-paying jobs in other fields, which only serves to weaken the image of the teaching profession.

Teachers are respected far more in other countries. For example, in China, Teacher Day coincides with the birthday of ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, who greatly emphasized education. Teacher Day is actually widely celebrated in China, unlike in the US, where it is not emphasized by the government at all. In China it is expected to bring gifts for the teachers, while in the US, Teacher Day often goes unmentioned.

Teachers need to be respected

more in the US. They are not the sole cause of the failing education system and should not be treated as such. Enacting more incentives would help reverse the stereotype of the low-paying teaching position, as well as attract the brightest intellectuals to the teaching field.

Salaries aside, though, many teachers choose the profession because they have a passion for helping the next generation.

Teachers must try and enlighten often unwilling students, and it is through their hard work that a new generation is able to develop the skills needed to interact in modern society. Amidst the flurry of statistics and accusations, we must remember that future generations depend on the mentors that guide them and we should treat these people accordingly. ▪

centerspread editor aileen lu

By Anthony Chen Staff Writer

Education has become an even more hotly contested issue in the United States in the wake of higher dropout rates, the failure of No Child Left Behind, and the rising possibility of a reverse brain drain.

A study in 2009, released by The Program for International Student Assessment, ranked 15-year-old students in the United States as 25th in math and 24th in science out of all the countries that participated. The test was administered in 2007 and is called the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Clearly, something has gone wrong, but who or what is to blame?

President Barack Obama’s Race to the Top program has mistakenly

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Smoke Signal

More Traffic than Tolls

By Allan Ko Staff Writer Traffic is indubitably the worst part of driving. It is the conductor of a symphony of honking horns, sprinkled with groans of frustration to accentuate the sinking feeling that you’re most likely going to be late. If only you could go into the carpool lane and cut around all this traffic!

Enter the I-680 toll lane, where the coveted position in the fast lane can be taken by anyone – for a fee.

From September 9 to September 19, workers converted fourteen miles of carpool lane on the southbound portion of I-680 running from Sunol to Milpitas into an “express lane” which opened on September 20. Paying a toll via a FasTrak transponder allows solo drivers to enter the lane at three possible entrance points.

Meanwhile, carpoolers, motorcyclists, and drivers of hybrid vehicles with all-access stickers can use the lane for free. Once a driver enters the lane, he may only leave through one of three specified exit points (separate from the entrance points), as the lane is marked by a distinctive double line that is illegal for anyone to cross during its operating times.

According to the toll lane’s website at www.680expresslane.org, the benefits of this lane are that it “keeps local highways moving,… cuts greenhouse gases, [and] promotes ridesharing and mass transit.” However, this lane simply fails to accomplish these objectives. Because it is only legal to enter at three points and exit at three points along the entire fourteen miles, entering this express lane has little advantage over using the “normal” lanes.

Moreover, those who carpool or use gas-saving vehicles lose much of their freedom, since their lane is now limited to only three entrance and three exit points. Certain exits (such as the northern Mission Boulevard exit, which leads to MSJ) lie inconveniently between two of the exit points. This makes commuting especially difficult for people who must endure the normal morning traffic just because their exit is inaccessible from the express lane. Government Teacher Jaime Richards said, “Once you enter the toll lane about four miles north of the North Mission exit... you can’t leave the express lane to exit at North Mission…. For me and a whole lot of other MSJ teachers, the toll express lane has slowed our commute.”

When actually saving gas and the environment is considered, it is neither ethical nor logical to allow people to have the privileges of this lane by paying a toll instead of conserving fuel. The original purmtc.ca.org pose of the carpool lane was to encourage drivers to save gas by using hybrids or motorcycles, or by carpooling, and awarding these drivers with fast lane privileges. By giving the same privileges to any paying driver, the government is sending the message that it is acceptable to release more greenhouse emissions, as long as you have money. It is difficult to see how such a policy “cuts greenhouse gases” or “promotes ridesharing and mass transit.”

In the midst of economic uncertainty and a large budget deficit, it may have made sense to set up a system like this toll lane to earn the government more money. However, this lane ends up costing more than money and instead impacts the traffic of I-680 and the health of our planet. As such, the government should have thought twice before foolishly capitalizing on a “money-making” idea. ▪

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Opinion 7

From the Graphics Desk

staff writer allan ko

staff writer frank chen

8 Feature

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, November 5, 2010

By Mekala Neelakantan, Alekya Rajanala & Ellie Wong Staff Writers

15 years ago there must have been something in the water, because the 2010-11 freshman class has a total of 8 pairs of twins. Each pair has their own take on their twin experience and what it is like to be both identical and fraternal. Identical or not, all pairs agreed that a twin connection exists. The Smoke Signal would like to share these 8 unique stories that will leave you with double-vision.

Clay & Neil

This fraternal pair is a very unique set of twins. While people do associate them as twins and often mix them up, Clay and Neil are very different in terms of interests and activities. Clay is an avid piano player, while Neil prefers tennis. However, one out of the ordinary interest that the two share is aquaculture, or aquafarming, the breeding of aquatic organisms such as fish. Upon asking them one interesting aspect of being a fraternal twin, they said “For fraternal twins, if you don’t see them regularly, they look identical”.

Saad & Sabah

Meet Saad and Sabah Azam, a pair of fraternal twins who don’t seem like siblings, let alone twins. Accordingly, their personalities, interests, and circle of friends vary as well.

Saad is more into sports, whereas Sabah isn’t the most outdoorsy type. She prefers spending time with her friends and going shopping.

When asked what they admire most in each other, Sabah says that she admires her brother’s outgoing and friendly personality, while Saad respects his sis for her hardworking ability and “smartness” at school.

Ka & Khiem One of the more similar pairs of

twins in interests and appearance, Ka and Khiem Lu definitely feel that their similar genetic makeup makes them quite special. They do notice the name mix-ups and feel somewhat restricted as people, but still prefer to hang out with the same set of friends. In addition the Lu twins share similar interests in activities such as sports and definitely display a strong twin connection.

Natasha & Taania

Natasha and Taania Khan are two athletic girls who both play soccer and enjoy horseback riding. They also admit to simultaneously thinking the same things frequently.

These two twins even took advantage of their similarity once at Hopkins; on Twin Day the Khan girls switched backpacks and classes for the whole day without being caught. “Our teachers were completely clueless,” said Taania.

Although Natasha and Taania are both engaged in similar activities, they have distinct characteristics.

Natasha is more of a tomboy than her sister, and when she “wants something, she works hard to get it,” according to Taania. Natasha said that Taania, on the other hand, is very caring and good to rely on. Just because their former Hopkins teachers weren’t able to tell them apart, these girls are not to be mistaken for one another.

Amelia & Matt

A stranger who doesn’t know Amelia and Matt Daly might falsely describe them as two nonrelated friends. Half of this statement would be right – the Daly siblings are good friends – but they’re fraternal twins as well. Although Amelia looks like their mom and Matt looks like their dad, they are similar on other levels. They share a taste in activities, like watching TV and skateboarding during their downtime, and both also enjoy being with the same group of friends. Matt said one perk of being fraternal is their friends see him and his sister as individuals, not “The Twins.”

Even though the Dalys are similar in character, being different genders creates some major differences.

This just adds to their uniqueness, and the duo agrees that when they’re together, things are never boring.

Harsh & Avi Although they might look somewhat alike, these fraternal twins are very unique individuals. As is the case with many twins, they feel that their individuality is constricted, as they are often called “Avi’s brother”, or “Harsh’s brother”. But they are involved in very different activities; while Harsh loves music, Avi prefers other activities. In addition, the two share vast differences in sports and food. And, although the two do see each other often during classes, they choose to spend lunch and down time with different circles of friends.

Jeff & Jerry

Jeff and Jerry Chung are identical twins who share not only their faces— although Jeff claims to be better-looking—but similar interests as well. Both Jeff and Jerry enjoy football and basketball and even share the same circle of friends. The two do admit, however, that being a twin sometimes makes them feel their identities are taken away.

When it comes to these twins’ age gap, it turns out Jerry is older than Jeff by only 30 seconds. However, 30 seconds can be significant, since their parents usually let Jerry get the first pick just because he is older.

Sally & Sherry

Sally and Sherry Wei are not your classic, carboncopy twins. In fact, it’s their polarity that makes them such a dynamic pair. Sally is the writer and artist, while Sherry is the thinker and creative visionary. Together they enjoy taking on projects, including an upcoming story. Sherry is currently working on building the plot while Sally puts the adventure on paper. Although the two don’t normally finish each other’s sentences, they still share a connection that makes collaborating easy.

“We can also play tennis together since we’re about the same skill level,” remarked Sally when asked about other benefits of having a twin.

Sometimes being a twin can be tough, however.

“We’re the same age and we’re subject to the same environment. Competing with each other can be frustrating,” said Sherry. Either way the two agree having a twin is helpful and never lonely. staff writers alekya rajanala, connor willliams, mary lan, graphics editor sarah li

& feature editor sonia dhawan

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Smoke Signal

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Saying ‘Hallo’ to Germany

By Courtney Tam Staff Writer

Ethnic Studies Teacher Risha Krishna is offering 10 to 15 of her students the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange program in Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany this upcoming summer.

The students engaging in this excursion, projected to be approximately ten days, will leave for Göttingen in June of 2011, shortly after school ends. To prepare for this exchange, her Ethnic Studies students have begun to blog, since October 14, 2010, with the students of the Otto-Hahn Gymnasium for the duration of twelve weeks on teacher-delegated topics in order to gain, as Krishna says, “a taste of German culture.”

The MSJ students will stay with host families and attend classes alongside German students at Otto-Hahn Gymnasium, a high school that yields an academic atmosphere strikingly similar to that of MSJ’s. The MSJ students will have a bustling itinerary by attending the sporting events to the ten to twelve classes a German student attends regularly. The students will convene with Krishna and other MSJ students in the evenings for outings in the university town.

Krishna was prompted to establish this program after traveling to Germany herself on a Fulbright Scholarship, sponsored by the Fulbright Commission. During her time abroad, she was exposed to the German school system. There, she learned that German students are divided and placed upon three routes: a vocational school path, a college-oriented path, and an intermediate path after undergoing an exam at the end of fourth grade.

She was paired with the Otto-Hahn Gymnasium, a high-profile high school on the college track that has been an active advocator of cultural exchange programs and hopes to establish a lasting connection with MSJ.

courtesy risha krishna

Because this is the first time that this program has been offered at MSJ, Krishna hopes to test the waters of this pilot program before establishing it as an annual practice. However, she has great faith in and expects great success from the MSJ students who will participate in this rare opportunity. If all goes well with the exchange this year, the German students hope to come to MSJ in 2012.

When asked what she hopes this innovative cultural exchange program will bring to MSJ, Krishna said, “I think that I would like to emphasize that [the German Exchange Program] is not only to build cultural awareness, but [also] to build cultural competence. It is a strengthening of the inner core of a person: when one begins to experience so many different things out there, we begin to develop ourselves and realize that there is a world outside of this little cocoon called Mission.” ▪ For more information on the Germany trip, contact Mrs. Krishna in room B23.

Club Spotlight: Project ME

By Gurleen Chadha News Editor

Project ME is one of MSJ’s newest clubs with a great purpose. The Smoke Signal sat down with club President Pulak Goyal to talk about what the club is doing to help MSJ in these tough economic times.

Smoke Signal: What is Project ME about?

Pulak Goyal: The ME in our name stands for Mission: Education, but we also liked the name because [we think] that each student needs to take charge of his or her own education. Our main focus is to raise money to support school-related budget pitfalls, like buying more textbooks. The secondary focus is to help student organizations like the Smoke Signal, Yearbook, and Phoenix, and with the money left over, we will help fund clubs. We want to put the money where it’ll have the most impact on students.

SS: How do you raise the money?

PG: We partner with a biofuel company called Sirona Fuels. The Project ME members register restaurants that use cooking oil to fry food (like McDonalds, Burger King, and P.F. Chang’s) and Sirona Fuels will pick up their used cooking oil periodically. They then convert the oil to biofuel, sell it, and give MSJ 20% of the profit.

SS: How will you distribute the money?

PG: By January, we will have a grant application process. Teachers, organizations, and clubs will fill out a form that asks how much money they need, what they need it for, and by when they need it.

DEAR DIARY...Morning Traffic November 5, 2010 6:45 AM Nnngmnff...

Mrs. Krishna visited the Otto-Hahn Gymnasium while in Germany.

graphics editor sarah li

Secretary Megan McLaughlin, Treasurer Ashwin Ganesh, President Pulak Goyal and Vice President Viraj Reddy pose for a group picture.

Then our four officers [Goyal and Seniors Ashwin Ganesh, Viraj Reddy, and Megan McLaughlin] and three advisors [Vice Principal Zack Larsen, History Teacher Bill Jeffers, and Math Teacher Mehebub Karmali] will evaluate the applications and will select which causes will get money.

Again, we want to support the causes that will have the biggest impact on students.

(Applications will be accepted year-round.)

SS: What do members do?

PG: Club members spread the word about the program, get restaurants to sign up, and tell us about what the school needs.

SS: Have you raised any money so far?

PG: We currently have 15 restaurants signed up and our first check will arrive mid-October. Our goal is to raise $10,000 by July 2011. ▪

Feature 9

By Cassie Zhang Graphics Editor

6:57 AM Good morning, World. Although my alarm clock went off at 6:45, I decided to wake up fashionably late. It’s always more fun listening to the radio alarm anyway, and my soft delicate features need the beauty sleep. It prevents premature wrinkles and boosts mental health.

Haha, who am I kidding?

I just never get up on time.

7:16 AM Everyone flocks to school at the same time, down to the second, like a swarm of lunatics. Being the clever student that I am, I am leaving right now, ten minutes before what I like to call “the point of no return” - 7:26 AM. 7:18 AM Did I forget something...?

7:20 AM Now I’m leaving, just in time to meet the point of no return. Bring it on.

7:21 AM The best drivers can weave in and out of traffic with grace and ease without any honking, profanities, crushed bumpers, or pedestrian gore. Road kill is not necessary, I assure you. Today I will maneuver this

metal babe as smoothly as a butter cuts through knife. ...Oh. I mean as a knife cuts through butter. I suppose my beauty sleep didn’t work today.

7:27 AM I’m at the end of the line of an estimated 18573643 motor vehicles.

The pedestrians are moving faster than I am. Oops, almost ran that one over. She’s saying something. ….What? Stop screaming. I didn’t run over your foot... Psh...

7:28:10 AM That girl walked away and with this speedy traffic, I’ve gained four feet of distance. One minute. Four feet.

Snails are beating me at this pace.

There are six clouds in the sky.

7:29:51 AM The man in the car in front of me better be the daredevil that he was born to be, and cross that intersection. You are holding up traffic. Palm Avenue is not where you’re meant to be anyway. Be brave, young one. GO. 7:35 AM I’m on time! I’m rolling into the parking lot. I’M ON TIME! AHHHH HA. HA. Beauty sleep, you have served me well.

7:42 AM I’m late. Left my physics project in the car, had to go back. My efforts were futile.▪

10 Photo

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, November 5, 2010

sxc.hu, photos by staff writers frank chen, sida lu, angie wang, michael wu & graphics editor cassie zhang

Friday, November 5th, 2010

The Smoke Signal

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Centerspread 11

“Overall, the freshmen tried hard and looked like they had fun performing, which is all that matters in the end.”

-Bryan Nakasako, 12

By Frank Chen & Matt Farberov Staff Writers

“They didn’t

“Fresh what!? FRESHMEN!!” So began the freshmen Homecoming. Every year, the freshmen are the ones charged with setting the stage. They perform first during Homecoming Week; their decorations and airbands sometimes give the other classes a much needed boost of confidence.

Let’s face it, it’s hard being a freshman, and it’s even harder to kickoff Homecoming amidst the staring eyes of the upperclassmen. This year, the Class of 2014 took on the challenge and kicked off Homecoming with generally commendable skits, decorations and airbands.

Due to the new Homecoming regulations, decorations are limited to the amphitheater, N-wing and the office. Even though the freshmen’s decorations were themed, featuring interesting figures like Alice in front of the pine tree and the Mad Hatter near the office, they lacked quantity. With only a few balloons and scarce posters, the decorations did not leave a memorable impression.

The freshmen did strike a goldmine by starting off the skit with a class unifying song. It was effective and clearly showed thoughtfulness for the upperclassmen. The skit itself, on the other hand, could have used a bit more work. The lacking quality and quantity of props gave some hope for clarity in the skit. Unfortunately, the freshmen plot was just as confusing as past freshmen skits. The story started off with an alternate beginning, which was a nice change from the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Though each main character was unique, they showed little development throughout the skit. The plot itself showed poor preparation because it only showed the story in a “Hero vs. Boss” form, where the group encounterd a different villain every time the airband finished their performance.

The ending was very predictable, but by supporting the MSJ

have a lot of spirit, but I think that if they unite more, they can really challenge the other classes in coming years.”

-Kunal Shah, 11

Football team, it did bring up the theme of class unity. Despite the slow transitions and the short performance, the actors and actresses were very energetic and were completely into the skit. For once, the microphones were on the freshmen’s good side and sound quality was excellent all the way through.

The freshmen’s airbands were a much needed relief from the confusion of the skit. Despite having only five airbands perform, the quality far surpassed the quantity. The second hip-hop airband managed to draw cheers and applause from all the classes, a near unheard-of rarity for a freshman airband. By compiling elements of hip-hop such as tutting, breakdancing, and the robot, this airband might have been the most memorable performance for freshmen day. Hopefully the freshmen will be able to present more talented performers next year.

Freshmen wooed the crowd with their passionate display of support for their skit but only when called upon directly. It took a little while for them to recognize when to cheer, but the gradual increase in volume gave an inspiring close to the performance. The volume was far from dominating, but it was an encouraging start to the Class of 2014’s future Homecomings. Most credit is due to the contingency of freshmen girls in the front rows pumping up the rest of the crowd towards the rear. Needless to say, the spirit had the potential to be so much more intense had more of the freshmen had cheered with energy. Maybe the all-nighter wasn’t such a great idea after all.

Overall, the few shining freshman strengths overpowered the lacking decoration and spirit and gave for an entertaining and fun-filled freshman day. Given a clearer plot, more posters, balloons, color, and more airbands, the Class of 2014 may be a force to be reckoned with when they return to the stage next year as sophomores. Clearly, a new precedent has been set as the freshman Class of 2014 rolls out of Wonderland into the real world of MSJ Homecoming. ▪

fundraising: 4th airbands: 4th deco & props: 4th skit: 4th overall: 4th

“The freshmen were very spirited, even though they sometimes didn’t know when to cheer. And the skit was decent, but the transitions could have been better.”

-Waylan Khuu, 10

photos by staff writers alekya rajanala, edward nguyen & richie zeng; layout by aileen lu & tina tseng

12 Centerspread

The Smoke Signal Friday, November 5th, 2010

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Friday, November 5th, 2010

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“I’d say the juniors impressed me a lot, especially the airbands. The dances were pretty coordinated and related well with the skit.”

-Sara Au, 12

“Although a few parts of the skit felt lengthy and the airbands were lacking in number, the sophomores did a great job in their overall presentation, especially with their stunning decorations.” -Steven Wong, 12

fundraising: 2nd airbands: 3rd deco & props: 2nd skit: 3rd overall: 3rd

“Their skit was phenomenal and easy to understand.”

-Harrison Wu, 10

“The boys’ booty dance was the best thing I have ever seen. The deco was [also] very pretty, and the skit was really cute.” –Anvitha Pillati, 9

By Sonia Dhawan & Sida Lu Feature Editor & Staff Writer

“It was actually pretty good for sophomores.

They had a good plot and a couple of memorable airbands.”

-Lauren Taylor, 11

The Sophomores of Neverland have never looked so stunning. As we entered the amphitheater, we were pleasantly surprised to see that yellow decor spanned from the N-wing to the edge of the library. The prominently portrayed teepees proudly displaying 2013, while a concept borrowed from the seniors, were impressive, and the cheerful character cutouts reminded the students of MSJ that they were in Neverland now. The artfully painted panoramic backdrop set the tone for a potentially brilliant skit. The sophomores obviously put a lot of time and effort into decking out the amphitheater and surrounding areas in their trademark color.

Sadly, even Peter Pan couldn’t save the sophomores from their long and sometimes confusing skit.

What started off as a promising performance with a smoothly-executed opening hip-hop airband, quickly spiraled into a clichéd production. Although the voice-overs were clear and the freshman character was well-thought out, the story’s main plot was hard to follow. Cameos by the Native Americans and the mermaids, while appropriate to the theme, dragged down the overall message of unity and fruitlessly tried to be funny. The only highlight to those appearances was that their costumes were obviously well made. The mermaids’ accents were also amusing but lost their ingenuity after the first few lines. The only group that really stood out was the “Lost Boys,” who managed to be cute without being redundant. With a flagging skit, the sophomores quickly lost the attention of the other classes.

In addition, the sophomores ignored one of the most important rules of Homecoming skits: including all classes equally in the performance. The seniors certainly had their panties in a bunch when they were not immediately introduced. Even after the senior Wendy appeared, the crowd in red drowned out close to three to four minutes of the presentation.

Almost all of the action and dialogue went to the sophomore, with the other classes’ representatives left playing second fiddle. The only time the other classes were equally involved in the sophomores’ skit was during the Lady Gaga song medley, when talented singers from each class came together for a

Centerspread 13

memorable performance.

In terms of the plot, the purpose of Tinkerbell’s rescue wasn’t quite clear, and Captain Hook didn’t seem to represent the rival school until the very end. The Mr. Smee character was also unnecessary, and the dialogue poking fun at his stupidity became quickly redundant. In fact, the Homecoming game wasn’t even mentioned until the very last moments of the performance.

Overall, the sophomore’s skit felt too long.

Perhaps the main reason the skit seemed so dry is because the sophomores did not integrate any airband other than the boys’ booty dance into the skit, instead pushing them all to the end. However, some of the dances themselves were very impressive, such as the ones led by sophomores Jason Vu, Tessa Shanley, and Nichole Tan. Their intricate choreography and formations captivated the crowd and their energy lent greatly to the routines.

On the other hand, the Bollywood and contemporary dances were well-planned but lacked the smooth execution of the other airbands. The former dragged on for a while, and the latter relied on moves that were a bit played out. Same goes for the boy’s booty dance—the participants had great energy, but their moves were overused and sometimes too vulgar. The three airbands, however, provided fresh diversity and a break from the usual order of hip hop dances. Altogether, the airbands were extremely varied, with differing energy levels and techniques.

The best part of the overall performance was the sophomores’ spirit. Every time Peter Pan spoke or moved, the sophomores were up on their feet cheering for him. What they lacked in ingenuity or cleverness the Class of 2013 made up for in enthusiasm. Compared to the freshmen on Monday, it was a vast improvement. The energetic front-row flag wavers managed to excite the sophomores, who showed their class pride in a sea of yellow.

It was pure pandemonium during the skit and airbands, and the Class of 2013 showed that 13 is a lucky number after all. ▪

photos by staff writers anthony chen, sida lu & vaishaal shankar; layout by aileen lu & tina tseng

By Vaishaal Shankar & Vishal Yadav Staff Writer & A&E Editor

Wednesday was Junior day, a chance for the upperclassmen to show the underclassmen how Homecoming is done with two years of experience.

With the strong wind working against them, the juniors did their best with decorations. However, it was still a little disappointing to see empty spaces without decoration after the sophomores went all out the day before. However, the backdrop was eye-catching and did a good job presenting the theme to the audience. The class also continued covering the amphitheater grass with tarp, which doubled as a creative decoration and a way to prevent discomfort from the wet grass.

The opening of the junior performance, though, left something to be desired. Although it was well-performed, after both the freshmen and the sophomores opened with vocal performances, the singing just felt repetitive and redundant. The juniors quickly made up for this with the baton twirling force Junior Melissa Brandle, who drew unanimous praise from all classes for her world-class talent.

What truly made the juniors stand out was their skit.

Aside from a few sources of confusion (the relationship between the race and the football game wasn’t very unclear) the juniors definitely put a solid effort in their script, which was fairly entertaining and easy to follow. The actors were convincing in their roles, especially the Newark Memorial High School character, Cha Cha, who stole the show with her energy and enthusiasm. However, the skit did little to promote class unity. They only referenced the other class themes through puns, and all the characters donned solely Grease-themed attire. The skit even instigated unneeded class rivalry between the sophomores and the freshmen, with their respective characters constantly in argument. The human tunnel at the end of the skit though, gave all the classes a chance to show their spirit.

The integration of skit and dances was a definite plus: the main characters dancing to Grease soundtrack music, along with the other airbands using eighties music, helped the Class of 2012 continue its Grease theme throughout the performance rather than restricting it only to the skit. The standout was definitely the large dance at the end, when all the juniors who were in the Homecoming performance danced to a choreographed piece before the rest of the class rushed to the stage.

The airbands, though not on the same level as the skit, had a couple of highlights as well.

The boys’ booty dances

fundraising: 3rd airbands: 2nd deco & props: 3rd skit: 2nd overall: 2nd

traditionally push the boundaries of indecency, and this year was no exception.

What made the junior ones surpass the normal booty shaking fare was their novelty. The internet references – from the Old Spice guy to double rainbows – catered to the web-savvy of the MSJ audience.

The closing hip hop dance was also a crowdpleaser. All six girls were clearly excellent dancers, their precise movements and coordination unmatched by any of the previous performances.

None of the girls fell behind as well; each could easily hold her own on stage.

However, these two “Everyone told me the were the only gems in an otherwise lackluster set juniors were going to of airbands. None of the be great, but wow. I other performances had the “wow” factor of previwas pretty much sitting ous years’ airbands and left in shock the entire time! the audience yearning for something more. The second They were more than boys’ booty dance felt like amazing, and they aban awkward rehash of the moves and songs from the first solutely inspired me to booty dance. The girls’ Tahitian kick it up a notch next dance, which has always been a hit with the crowd, suffered from year!” improper song choice: Shakira’s “Waka Waka” (the official song -Asia Koliner, 9 of 2010 FIFA World Cup) was too fast-paced for the choreography. This dance did succeed in giving the seniors a chance to cheer with two dancers from the senior class, who represented the class both with red skirts and by pointing to the seniors at the end of the performance.

And whatever flaws their airbands may have had, the juniors made up for with sheer spirit. The juniors were determined to show their spirit all the way from yelling in the morning rallies around campus to cheering till the end of the Wednesday lunch performance. It was a definite improvement from last year, when it took the class a couple days to start making some noise.

Whatever the problems they might have faced, the juniors’ efforts showed through from start to finish. They’ve definitely improved since last year with this performance and have earned the right to represent the red next year as seniors. ▪

photos by opinion editor roger chen and staff writers allan ko & frank chen; layout by aileen lu & tina tseng

14 Centerspread

The Smoke Signal Friday, November 5th, 2010

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“Seniors just rocked the house. Plain awesome!”

-Anna Zeng, 9

“The decorations were downright awesome! I was especially astounded by the amazing walkway. It was one of the coolest decorations of all my years at Mission.”

-Shiwen Chen, 11

“I have never been more impressed and thankful to be surrounded by such beautiful people, and I love my Class of 2011...

We have grown tremendously since our freshmen year, making our last Homecoming one to remember for years to come.”

-Caitlyn Grundy, 12

fundraising: 1st airbands: 1st deco & props: 1st skit: 1st overall: 1st

By Diya Roy & Angie Wang Staff Writers The excitement was tangible Thursday morning as the air filled with blaring horns and pounding drums.

The amphitheater was decorated, or rather, covered, all around with red streamers, tape, and posters. The Class of 2011’s spirit was visible from all around, setting the mood for the rest of the day. All morning, the seniors paraded around the school, showing off their red pride. Horns and drums were heard from all ends of the campus.

Everyone rushed to the amphitheater when lunch time finally rolled around. The seniors were soon energetically chanting their traditional “Ooh, aah, you wish you were a senior!” Although not as loud as previous years, the seniors’ energy was still pervasive. Some decorations were not as spectacular as expected, such as the haphazardly-strewn red caution tape. On the other hand, the balloon archways spanning the amphitheater and the red tunnel stretching from the stage towards the office were definitely impressive. The backdrop was colorful and eye-catching, although a bit chaotic. It was difficult at times to take note of what was going on with the backdrop and still pay attention to the skits and airbands.

Departing from this Homecoming week’s norm, the seniors began their performance with a high-energy dance. The dance was a great way to start off their last Homecoming and get the whole crowd pumped for the rest of the show. The second the skit began, it was easy to see the directions in which the characters would develop. For example, the freshmen characters acted timid for the majority of the skit, while the sophomores were somewhat indistinct. Incorporating the Class of 2011’s different past themes was a good touch; it made the skit significantly more inclusive.

The plot of the skit, however, did not progress much as the storyline continued. It promoted unity by having each class overcome an important obstacle, but there were

insults to the different classes. The actors and actresses were convincing, but weren’t given enough to work with. Senior Margaret Ju’s portrayal of Alice was especially commendable. At times, the storyline was unclear and seemed to lack substance. It simply seemed like the characters were skipping from one “challenge” to another, with no connection between them.

The most refreshing parts of the entire performance were the airbands. The first boys’ booty dance was one of the most unique dances of the week, with Senior Thomas Lee riding a unicycle.

The first unity hip-hop dance had all the classes cheering and further engaged in the performance. While the flagwork at the beginning of the colorguard airband was negatively affected by the wind, the performers soon got their act together for the rifle and dance segments. The Tahitian dance, which included performers from various grades, definitely stood out. The dance was coordinated and well choreographed, grabbing the whole crowd’s attention. The traditional girls’ booty dance also made a definite impact on the performances, partly because of its sheer number of participants. One of the best airbands came at the end, the G-Bags. They were very much in sync and complemented each other well. The second boys’ booty dance, like the first, was especially memorable due to its provocative nature. Another notable high-energy performance was the jazz dance. The performers were coordinated as well as talented, leaving the crowd cheering them on.

With this conclusion to the seniors’ Homecoming career, the Class of 2011 has definitely left its mark on the students of the MSJ campus. The seniors made plenty of memories and expressed levels of energy during the performance that this class will never forget. Overall, the seniors gave an impressive show and a great final Homecoming. ▪

“The senior class’ unity will be as eternal as Carlton’s dance.” -Audrey Huang, 10 photos by staff writers vishal bajpai, courtney tam & aishwarya thakur; layout by aileen lu & tina tseng

Friday, November 5, 2010

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Feature 15

Top 10 Homecoming Themes Sophomores

Freshmen

Class of ’97 When the star quarterback falls through the TV and has to go to the Homecoming game, the “Freshmen of MTV” are there to save him.

The class of ’97’s entertaining skit and awesome airbands to the songs, “Numb” by U2 and “No Rain” by Blind Melon, impressed the judges and the school. Their Homecoming float, which was a section of Homecoming decorations back then, featured a 10-foot Beavis and Butthead and sealed their second place finish.

Juniors

By Sloka Gundala, Nihar Parikh & Maya Ramachandran Staff Writers

Class of ‘80 Even though they passed through MSJ 30 years ago, the “Circus Sophomores” showed the same spirit we do today. They were considered the most spirited and colorful class. The whole class dressed as circus performers, such as ringmasters, clowns, acrobats etc during the week. In addition, they decorated the amphitheater with many immense props, including a circus tent, a fat lady, a tall man, and a paper-mache elephant.

Class of ‘09 Class of ’09 burst onto the Homecoming scene, winning third place with their freshman theme “Freshmen, Inc.”. Their skit centered around Mike, Boo, and Sully who are employees at Freshmen, Inc. When the evil Randall Boggs manages to steal the spirit meter, there is a school-wide power outrage.

Mike, Boo, and Sully are then forced to go on a wild goose chase through a series of doors in order to recover the spirit meter. The class was praised for their ability to encourage school unity and their well-executed airbands.

Class of ’03 The “Junior Knights” in 2002 transformed MSJ into a medieval wonderland, complete with a brick structure castle atop the stage surrounded by a glistening moat. When the star Junior quarterback is sacked in the Homecoming Game, he is transported back in time into a land of knights, dragons, and damsels in distress. With the help of the red, yellow, and blue knights of the roundtable, he defeats the evil rapping dragon, named “P. Diddy,” and returns to win the game. Using airbands that featured songs “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas, “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar, and “Splish Splash” by Bobby Darin and distinctive costumes, Class of ’03 slashed their way into a strong second place finish.

Class of ’99 The “Safari Sophomores” were led by sophomore Jane, who searches for the star quarterback, Tarzan. But on the way, someone gives Tarzan a TV, forcing Jane to replace Tarzan and score the winning touchdown. Their airbands, featuring songs “Let me Ride” by Dr. Dre, “Girls Wanna Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper and “Tootsee Roll” by 69 Boyz, were the deciding factors in their first place finish.

Seniors

Class of ’89 The seniors took MSJ on a trip when several students were thrown “Around the World” by a tornado created by evil Kennedy alumni. The entertaining skit and creative airbands ultimately helped MSJ win the Homecoming game. The decorations were out of this world, consisting of many famous landmarks, including the Great Wall, and 17-foot Big Ben, a 17-foot Eiffel Tow-

Class of ’96 The crowd watched and cheered as the “Super Seniors” took the Homecoming stage. Superhero tryouts for the football team were held, but unfortunately no one was spirited enough to make the team. The janitor then gives the team a secret sauce, which helps them win the Homecoming game. In the end it is revealed that spirit, not sauce, helped them win.

Class of ’07 James Bond Juniors 007 was the perfect theme for the class of ’07. In their skit, Bond defeats an evil scientist in a one-on-one battle, saving Mission with a suave flick of his little finger. The little details, including the red carnations printed on the lapels of the class shirts, the absolute synchrony of the contemporary airbands, and the British accents used by the actors in the skit made this Homecoming brilliant. The overall effect of the theme, combined with the successful use of every James Bond stereotype imaginable, made for a memorable Homecoming. The class of ’07 definitely wanted their day to be “shaken, not stirred.”

Honorable Mention Class of ’02 In “Revenge of the Seniors,” Class of ’02 declared at the beginning of their Homecoming performance, “This year won’t be anything like you have seen before.” This class defied many longstanding traditions by blazing the whole school in vivid red. In all the years prior to ’02, classes only decorated the amphitheater and immediate surroundings. Everyone in the vicinity of MSJ knew it was Senior Day. Class of ’02 also broke the Homecoming status quo by exhibiting a rapid-fire performance that comprised of short humorous skits with an underlying theme of unity. Since many Teacher Skit in ’93 As a humorous addition to Homecoming, the teachers put on a skit during Green and White Day. Former teachers, including Alda O’ Neill and Neil Evans, embodied several high school stereotypes including the wannabe gangster, the nerd, the preppy

courtesy yearbook archives

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Friday, November 5, 2010

Friday, November 5, 2010

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Feature 17

Fashion Fads

By Ditha Balaji, Chelsea Dass, Maya Ramachandran & Stephenie Yuan Staff Writers

Military Jackets Yes, it’s true. Military jackets are in again! Whether it’s the olive color (not camouflage), parallel embroidery, large button ups, padded shoulders, or fitted curved shape, military jackets are a strong piece of clothing for both girls and guys that certainly is no less stylish than a leather jacket! This fashion trend has stuck around since 2008 and is resurfacing to dominate the fashion industry. Military fashion was inspired by the military uniforms of the Georgian and Victorian eras.

Leather Bags: As an alternative to backpacks, these scuffed yet sophisticated leather bags are seen frequently around campus. In shades of deep browns, blacks, or even blues, these “pleather” bags (faux leather) are a trendy way to carry around our otherwise boring binders and notebooks. They are often sported either across the chest or on just one shoulder and have risen to be a fashion staple among many of the female students.

Tom’s Shoes: These comfortable, organic, handmade shoes are the perfect complement to any outfit. Universally made, for both guys and girls, they complete the urban chic look with a unique wrap-around style that attracts just the right amount of attention. They also go towards a good cause – providing shoes to impoverished villages in Africa.

Jasmine Chen, 11 Jason Chen, 12

Tall Boots/Booties: We’ve all seen them: the cloth or leather boots that are spotted frequently over the skinny jeans of female students. They are a great way to stay warm and add a touch of femininity to any outfit. These can be purchased at basically any store that sells shoes – from the typical Forever 21 to the more expensive Baker’s.

Kelsey Mukai, 12 Plaid Shirt Plaid’s popularity is here to stay. Though associated with lumberjacks in the past, this new staple item has transformed into a cool and casual new look. These button-downs come in a variety of color patterns, making it easy to find just the right one. Plaid shirts, especially flannel ones, are comfortable, yet stylish, offering an effortlessly dressed up look while still feeling dressed down. Whether tucked in or not, the plaid shirt is something a guy can just throw on and voila, an outfit.

Sunny Chen, 9 Varsha Roopreddy, 11 Silly Bandz: The colorful rubber bands spotted on many of the wrists of MSJ students attacked the campus like the late-December flu.

Popular among even younger kids, these stretchy, neon bracelets have become a craze that’s literally sweeping the nation east to west. Often traded among friends, these bands are reminiscent of the late- seventies/ early-eighties trend of neon sweatbands.

Wayfarers The wayfarer is back from the eighties. These frames are a simple add on and a powerful statement, making anyone look stylish and sharp. They have gone through their ups and downs over the decades, but have nevertheless remained a modern classic.

Jonathan Chew, 9

Charles Nguyen, 12

Rolled Sleeves Usually associated with laborious jobs, this trend has actually been seen everywhere from the runway to the office. Rolled sleeves allow any guy to create that summer to winter transition without having to purchase a new wardrobe. The loose and slightly crinkled rolled up cuffs add to a smooth laid-back look.

American Apparel Jackets Perhaps the popularity arose from the sales of American Apparel jackets at a discounted price by various organizations, but American Apparel Jackets have become a favorite among high school students. American Apparel jackets have not only become a strongly established trend for women, but also for men. Recently, more men have been open to wearing more vibrant colors to stand out. It’s a simple design with no logo, but the colors are what catch peoples’ eyes. They can be worn on a daily basis, matching them up with other clothes to create completely new outfits. These American Apparel Jackets have been selling at record rates based on organization sales, but they are not only stylish—they are also known for their comfortable fabric.

Allen LeiYoung, 12

Dark Jeans Denim can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Finding the perfect pair is usually known to be a difficult task, yet once found, the feeling is like magic. Now, form-fitting darkwashed jeans are even more appropriate come the cooler weather. The deep indigo, black, and shiny sheens make these comfortable bottoms virtually accessible to any occasion. Be it a casual tee or a collard shirt, dark denim will always be a match.

staff writers ditha balaji, chelsea dass, courntey tam

& feature editor audrey wu

18 Arts & Entertainment

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The Smoke Signal

Sun Comes Down on Kings of Leon

Old Guys Have Still Got It

By Sarah Li Graphics Editor

Boggs (John Malkovich), Morgan (Morgan Freeman), and Moses (Bruce Willis) question Alexander Dunning (Richard Dreyfuss).

By Megan McLaughlin News Editor

Red opens with a shot of Frank Moses (Bruce Willis) looking jaded and old. Moses is a retired CIA agent whose social life consists of chatting with a woman at a call center and watching an avocado grow in a jar. Moses abandons the fruit to show the audience why he is rated RED: Retired, Extremely Dangerous.

Fellow RED agents and former coworkers Victoria (Helen Mirren), Joe Morgan (Morgan Freeman), and a kooky Marvin Boggs ( John Malkovich) join Moses as he sets off to discover why the CIA has ordered them to be assassinated. The source of the command winds all the way back to a special operation in Latin America in 1981. It would seem far-fetched in any other movie, but the age and matter-of-factness of the actors lends it credibility.

Red is an action comedy, but the beauty of having experienced actors

who are willing to put aside their egos is not to be underestimated.

The metronome of machine gun fire segues effortlessly into moments of poignancy between Moses and his love interest, Sarah Ross, played by the comparatively youthful MaryLouise Parker.

The diverse group delights in outmaneuvering the hapless FBI and CIA agents who follow them from city to city. The multiple changes of location would be hard to keep up with, but scenic postcards are utilized to keep viewers along for the ride. Red’s artistic touches shine through in the set designs, especially the fascinating Deep South bunker where Boggs lives. His home appears to be rundown riverside cabin, but it turns out it is just a decoy and his actual residence is an underground dwelling reminiscent of a bomb shelter that can only be reached through the hood of a rusted jalopy.

Though Moses is the main char-

That person wasn’t there before...

By Sanjna Shukla Staff Writer

The much awaited sequel to last year’s surprise hit has succeeded in establishing the Paranormal series as must-see films. Before the movie’s release, many skeptics said that Paranormal Activity 2 would not be able to recreate the realistic atmosphere that made the first movie such a blockbuster favorite.

However, the movie retained the authenticity and added some new details.

This movie, loaded with new camera angles, serves as a prequel to Paranormal Activity. The story revolves around Kristi, the sister of the main character of the first film, Katie.

The movie begins with Kristi, her husband, and her stepdaughter welcoming Hunter, the newborn baby boy. The next scene cuts to Katie holding Hunter in her lap. A frame then flashed up on the screen that said “60 days before the death of Micah Sloat,” establishing the events of Paranormal 2 as preceding those in the first. This unexpected plot keeps the

filmofilia.com

acter, Boggs steals the scenes. He was subjected to daily, governmentsanctioned doses of LSD for eleven years, causing paranoia-induced twitchiness. People in the theatre laughed out loud as they watched Boggs in turn hide in bushes, fondle a stuffed pig, and hurtle after the Vice President of the United States while clad in a suicide bombers’ vest completed by sticks of dynamite and a garish cartoon clock.

Even outbursts of this sort don’t prevent some of the dialogue and plot twists from becoming predictable. The plot also plows through a few preposterous scenes without offering an explanation. Still, Red is a welcome respite from the abysmal features this past summer. It has action with minimal gore, romance without soppiness, and humor that isn’t slapstick or childish. Red is a masterfully executed film that can satisfy every movie-goers’ needs without going overboard. ▪ Rating: B

‘Paranormal’ is Better than Normal

movie interesting and creepy. After a breakin, the family decides to install cameras in various rooms around the house as aroundthe-clock surveillance.

The several cameras provide more opportunity to catch strange events and also keep the audience on edge.

The movie contincitypaper.net ues with most of the action occurring at nighttime, similar to the first movie. It is revealed that the demon that is haunting Kristi is the same one that was present in the first movie. Unlike the first movie, however, the demon is after Hunter, the baby. Kristi and her husband will go to any extreme to save their son, even if it means sacrificing someone else. Towards the end, a strange and heartbreaking twist of events links the first and the second movie.

The plot and the twist could not have been better, but the screams that the movie delivered were too familiar. In the first movie, Katie was being dragged across the hallway; in the second movie, Kristi was dragged down the stairs. A few scenes were overdone and caused the audience to laugh when it was unintentional.

Overall, the sequel is a well-done movie, and is suspenseful enough to keep the audience on edge. If you’re into horror and thrill, Paranormal Activity 2 is a movie you wouldn’t want to miss out on.▪ Rating: B

Friday, November 5, 2010

Kings of Leon shot to mainstream fame in late 2008 with their soulful Southern crooning in their Grammy-nominated album Only by the Night. Their fifth album Come Around Sundown, however, too plainly reveals the pitfalls associated with a band too eager for greater success and a broader audience.

Overzealous in their attempts both to appease appetites of current fans and to appeal to new listeners unaccustomed to their garage rock twang, Kings of Leon have produced an album trying to build upon their sound in Only by the Night by saturating their new songs with guitar hooks and choruses. The band’s attempt to channel an ’80s post-punk rock vibe ultimately falls through with a lack of emotional depth that comes off heavy and melodramatic. Imagine a socially unaware, hipster U2, and you’ve got a good picture of the Kings of Leon of 2010.

A few gems can be found among the otherwise erratically pieced together songs of Come Around Sundown. “The End” and “Beach Side” evoke the feeling of a Kings of Leon still holding onto their Tennessee grunge roots, while “Back Down South” is at once experimental and definitively Southern, resonating with the country spirit in us all. “Radioactive” and “Pony Up” are perhaps Kings of Leon’s only commendable (at best) efforts at an increasingly mainstream sound.

The Southern rock band can’t be blamed entirely for their lackluster response to stardom, but it’s still no excuse for an album that drags on (and on and on), resulting in a grating mess of mostly indistinguishable tracks. The final product is one that makes audiences who were previously wary of the band grateful for how much better Only by the Night is by comparison. It’s Kings of Leon’s attempt to be too much at once that leaves their sound muddled and listeners tired. ▪ Rating: C

The Kings of Leon fail to impress in their new album.

gigsport.com

Swift Gets Her Say in ‘Speak Now’

By Richie Zeng Staff Writer

Yo, yo Taylor, I’ma let you finish, but Fearless was your best album of all time! That’s what many critics thought would be the case.

Speak Now is Swift’s chance to show that she still has the creative flair and that she isn’t becoming bland.

The album opens with “Mine” a classic Taylor Swift style country song that many fans will find familiar. The tune ends up sounding exactly like her older songs, however, and ends up coming off as unoriginal. The introductory song sets a precedent for the first half of the album, as Swift seems to refuse to take risks and sticks to her old style.

That’s not to say the songs aren’t enjoyable though. The title song “Speak Now” is incredibly catchy and fun, and “Back to December” has a soothing affect reminiscent of “Teardrops on my Guitar.”

Swift’s begins to show a flare of creativity with “Mean,” a playful and childish song that seems to be referring to one of her bullies in grade school. This song signals a transition in her album, as she transitions to a series of exciting pop rock songs like “The Story of Us” and the indescribably cute sounding “Never Grow Up.” By far the most unique song would be “Haunted.” The instrumentals and the inflection in Swift’s voice as she sings are similar to that of a less angsty Evanescence, very fitting to the song’s title and completely opposite of what listeners would expect from Taylor Swift.

Speak Now is a stylistic roller coaster.

There are many songs where Swift seems too conservative, sticking with her old style and coming across as dull. She has shown that she has the talent to escape her comfort zone, and when she does, her music is brilliant. Hardcore fans will still love her conservative songs, while many others will enjoy her more experimental music, but overall, Swift has clearly proven that she has not gotten bland. ▪ Rating: B+

Taylor Swift continues to impress.

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Friday, November 5, 2010

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Arts & Entertainment 19

Music for all Moods

By Andrew Han and Jamie Lin Staff Writers

We all have our favorite music, but sometimes when we’re in a certain mood, it just doesn’t cut it. Here are our music suggestions to provide the soundtrack for whatever mood you’re in.

CALM It’s been a long day, and all you want to do is kick back and relax with some soothing, peaceful music.

Or, you need a tune that won’t distract you while you attempt to do homework. Try beautiful piano ballads like “Kiss the Rain” by Yiruma or lovely “Morning Lullabies” by Ingrid Michaelson. For something more upbeat but still low-key, check out Anya Marina or Coldplay.

Also listen to: Billy Joel, Mara Carlyle, Jack Johnson

DANCE

Admit it, we all have those moments when we want to dance like no one’s watching. For those times, join the “Circus” of Britney Spears or go “In for the Kill” with La Roux. But if you want to spice things up a bit, give the Latin-infused Bajofondo a listen with “Pa’Bailar”, or go straight to the rave scene with pulsing beats from European DJs Tiësto and Basshunter.

Also listen to: Headhunterz, Attack Attack!, Cascada

SAD

Everyone has times when they feel blue. No worries, gothic rock band Evanescence has a variety of melancholy songs ranging from heavy singles such as “Going Under” to soft piano ballads like “My Immortal.” Or, if you’re looking for something with screamo undertones, try Dead by April’s “A Promise” or “Losing You.” The Killers also have some soulful, woeful pieces like “When You Were Young” or “A Dustland Fairytale”.

Also listen to: Mayday Parade, The Postal Service, Stars

ANGRY

Feeling angry lately? Well, perhaps you should take a listen to some screamo or metal. Bring Me the Horizon’s “Diamonds Aren’t Forever”, “Chelsea Smile”, and “Pray for Plagues” have a fast-paced and discordant feel that is perfect for any bad mood you might find yourself in. Or perhaps you could browse through some of Slipknot’s hits, such as “(Sic)”, “Psychosocial”, and “Gematria (The Killing Name)”.

Also listen to: Asking Alexandria, Three Days Grace, Miss May I

ROCKOUT

You feel like you could take on anything. What to do? Turn on the speakers and blare some System of a Down, Bullet for My Valentine, Paramore, or Muse. System of a Down’s raucous “Chop Suey!” and “B.Y.O.B” along with BFMV’s “Tears Don’t Fall” are the perfect combination to supplement your mood.

Paramore’s rousing “Brick By Boring Brick” will ensnare you with its dark fairytale, or you could start an “Uprising” with Muse.

Also listen to: The Strokes, Queen, The Hives

HAPPY

While summer is long gone, we can reclaim those happy feelings with lighter, freer music. Sara Bareilles provides beautiful bubbly pop, not always “Love Song”s, while LIGHTS is essentially the female Owl City with her dream-like electronica songs that exude contentment. Bright and upbeat songs can be found from indie superstars Vampire Weekend, whose African-infused music brightens any mood, and Phoenix, which has more of a classical rock feel with “Lisztomania”.

Also listen to: YouTube artists Clara C, Sam Tsui, Kina Grannis ▪ graphic by staff writer frank chen

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, November 5, 2010

Horror Movies: How to Avoid No More American Idol Worship Killer Boredom

By Savina Khangura Staff Writer

As the days of Fall give way to the mysterious and fun holiday of Halloween, people everywhere raid Blockbusters and theaters for their horror movie classics. But what is it that makes a horror movie scary and what makes it a bust?

It’s the elements of the extreme that grab and hold a viewer’s attention. Elements of the extreme exaggerate something as simple as the killer’s look and their actions, just like the zombie look of the young boy in The Omen. In the first Saw, Jigsaw, the maniac killer, forces his victims to participate in bloody survival games that lead to mutilation and pain.

Each game is scary because they aren’t impossible to win, allowing viewers put themselves in the victims places, which makes the scene that much more terrifying. In movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th, the villains’ extreme looks strike fear in the hearts of their victims and the audience. An average Joe walking around with a huge chainsaw killing people, wouldn’t be nearly as scary as a mutilated, disgusting monster of a man walking around doing the very same. Only on some occasions can a normal person be made unbelievably scary. For instance, in the classic who-did-it movies, viewers are drawn in by the suspense and are terrified when they find out the killer was someone living right

next door. It’s scary to think that just a few doors down there could be a killer living in your neighborhood. Also, a character who is extreme in their mannerisms, like Jigsaw, who plays up his psychotic demeanor with a killer attitude, is much more terrifying.

No horror movie would be complete without a chilling soundtrack accompaniment. A killer running around in a dark forest silently looks comical, but when a high-energy thriller soundtrack is put in, that killer is now horrifying as the audience screams for the victims to look behind them. In mov-

Leatherface strikes fear with his extreme looks and chainsaw.

ies like The Hills Have Eyes, eerie sound effects create an atmosphere that leads the viewers to feel anxious as each new scene approaches.

In order for a horror movie to turn out exceptional, directors have to place the foreboding tunes in a way that doesn’t come off as cheesy. An example of a cheesy horror movie moment is when music is placed right before the scary parts as this ruins the surprise in most cases, like in The Blob and the first Dracula.

In a great horror movie, the amount of gore isn’t over the top either. Movies like My Bloody Valentine 3D spend their whole storylines trying to figure out how to kill people in absurd ways that are unnecessary. A good horror film should have a killer with a motive for each of his actions like Scream, which stays true to the horror movie genre. Another example of a horror movie that doesn’t heavily depend on gore is Paranormal Activity. Focusing more on inspiring fear through psychological methods and the unknown, Paranormal Activity is much more terrifying and has no need for bloody gore in every scene.

So, when picking the perfect horror movie, choose movies with killer soundtracks, gore that isn’t overdone, and plenty of extreme characters and situations. ▪

By Diya Roy Staff Writer

The phenomenon known as American Idol is dying a slow and painful death. Beginning with Judge Paula Abdul leaving last year, the show has been on a downward spiral ever since. The departure of Simon Cowell after eight seasons as a judge on the show was a another major bombshell for fans. However, the announcement of the new judges on the show may have been just as big a surprise; joining veteran judge Randy Jackson are Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Sure, these two are big names in the music industry but what does this mean for American Idol?

After Paula Abdul left, the show’s viewership fell to 29 million, the lowest since season three.

The second judge departure from the show will only decrease viewership further. Cowell was considered by fans to be one of the pillars of American Idol, one of the aspects of the show that made it a success. His trademark phrase, “I don’t mean to be rude but..” made fans cringe and come back for more. His bluntness, openness and truthfulness are what made him one of the most hated and most loved figures in reality television.

What made the judging panel of the first seven seasons so beloved was not only their individual

personalities, but the chemistry between them. Paula and Simon’s arguments, Randy’s interventions, and the overall camaraderie between the three gave the show a new dynamic. Viewers didn’t tune in only to hear the singing, they also wanted to hear what the judges had to say to each other.

That’s not to say that incoming judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler won’t prove to be good judges. Lopez is no stranger to musical fame, with over 25 million albums sold to date. Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith, a popular rock band of the 80s and 90s, has had his fair share of success as well. However, neither of the new additions to the judging panel have significant TV experience. While they may be talented artists, an entirely different set of skills are required for judging a reality TV show. Judging requires not only insightful critique, but humor, witticism, and the ability to engage a large audience, all unscripted and on the spot. It also requires being able to handle large amounts of criticism themselves, on live television.

By some crazy turn of fate, it may turn out that American Idol’s last attempt to save the show works.

The new judges could surprise everyone and turn the franchise around. We’ll just have to wait and see when the new season kicks off in January. ▪

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Artist Spotlight: Thomas Feng Out of the original three judges, only Randy Jackson (left) is still part of the show.

but I never touch it anymore because I never really learned to play it. And I’ll compose for any instrument; it’s just a matter of learning how each instrument works. Right now, I’m starting a piece for viola, flute, and harp.

Thomas Feng demonstrates his flute-playing skills.

By Mary Lan Staff Writer

Thomas Feng first started composing after the initial spark of a Final Fantasy song played by a friend.

He has since composed a violin sonata that won this year’s ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Competition. The Smoke Signal sat down with this aspiring composer to see what music means to him, what his plans are for the future, and how he is inspired.

Smoke Signal: Can you describe

your style of music?

Thomas Feng: I’m really into the more classical side so I guess you could call it “art music”? It’s a more formalized tradition of, well, I wouldn’t compare myself to Beethoven, because it doesn’t sound like him at all. I guess you could call it modern classical, or contemporary classical.

SS: What makes it unique then, as “contemporary classical”?

TF: Over the 20th century, people have developed harmony and

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rhythm to a much farther extent than what Beethoven has. Now there’s so much liberty to do whatever—it’s not like it sounds very strict or forced: it’s far-removed— you can get influenced from pop music or rock music or classical.

Everything is coming together in a fusion.

SS: What instruments do you play, and what instruments do you compose for?

TF: Flute and piano, a little bit of guitar (laughs). Well, I have a guitar,

SS: What are your sources of inspiration and musical influences?

TF: I’m inspired by the beauty of everyday things. It’s like, oh, what’s so good about this? The real question is, why can’t you find something beautiful? And when you do, it’s very inspiring. As for musical influences, Kaija Saariaho, Aaron Copland, Maurice Ravel and George Crumb are the composers I really, really look up to because of how they can communicate while still being original and not having to dumb down their musical language.

SS: What kind of environment do you work in? Do you have a “music mode”?

TF: I think about writing, like daydreaming, when I’m walking home, working out, or even in class.

I actually put my thoughts to paper whenever I have free time, and whenever it’s quiet.

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SS: So tell us your history—what got you started and going.

TF: I started composing when I was twelve, I do believe because my friend was playing a Final Fantasy song. I thought, wow, I could do that. And I tried, but it didn’t go very well. I didn’t come back to it until I was fourteen. There was a piece I heard called “Vox Balaenae”

by George Crumb. It was a very eye-opening experience because he used these really unusual sounds and ways of playing instruments. At first, I was attracted to how weird it was. It demonstrated a lot of sonic possibilities and so it was really inspiring because it showed that there is a lot of “uncharted musical territory”, so to speak.

SS: What have you planned for the future? Are you going to explore uncharted musical territory?

TF: I know it’s really hard to make a living as a composer, so I’ll probably be teaching on the side. I like teaching. I won’t go into anything revolutionary because so many sounds have been uncovered already. I just want to be able to write music in the future. My goal is to write music that will pass the test of time. ▪

Friday, November 5, 2010

The Smoke Signal

Marching Band

By Audrey Wu Feature Editor

While most students were still enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation, MSJ band was at Marching Band Camp, preparing for the upcoming season. Like other fall sports, the band block, colorguard, and percussion began training in the summer, starting from August 18 to August 24 for up to 12 hours a day.

Led by band directors Monica Kraft, Veronica Pieffer, and drum majors Senior Edward Leu, Junior William Leu, and Sophomore Andrew Lee, the MSJ marching band has been making progress this season. After school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the band practices around the MSJ track and parking lot until 5 or 6 PM. Through their hard work they were able to place in

graphics editor cassie zhang

Marching band prepares for their next competition in one of their many after school practices.

Right on Beat

On October 21, the MSJ boys’ water polo team faced off against American High School. Up to this point in the season, the Warriors had much success, doing well in pre-season tournaments and also defeating Logan, Newark, and American. The game was held at American’s fairly new pool com-

sophomore Brandon Law, senior Grant Huang, and Tang. By the end of the first half, MSJ held an 8-0 lead.

The Warriors’ success continued in the second half, overwhelming the Eagles with their attack. Towards the end of the 4th quarter, head coach Alex Schmeel implemented the “mercy rule,” and instructed the players to only play

staff writer stephenie yuan

Senior Edward Leu leads the band in their march during the Newark Days Parade.

numerous categories in the September 18 Newark Days parade and win $500 worth of prize money. On their first band review, which was held in Del Mar on October 2, the band represented MSJ by placing 5th for Guard, 2nd for marching band, and 3rd for Jazz band. They also competed in the Foothill Band Review on October 23 and will attend the annual Oakland Holiday Parade on December 4, where they will march down the streets with decorated instruments and Santa hats.

Although they will not be attending as many competitions as in previous years due to budget cuts, they are still going strong. Marching band coach Harrison Cheng said, “The band has grown a lot in the last few years. Despite some growing pains, we have a great group of kids,

and the freshmen this year seem very excited.”

Lord Mayor of Westminster Catherine Longworth recently visited MSJ to formally invite the marching band and guard to perform in a 2011-12 trip to London.

The reception was held on Monday, November 1, in C-120, where band members dressed in full uniforms and marched into the room, playing their pieces while the drum major conducted on stage.

With competitions, trips, and events to look forward to, the marching band continues to spend countless hours training after school. They are honored to represent MSJ during assemblies, football games, and parades across the Bay Area. ▪ For more coverage of the Lord Mayor’s visit, see www.thesmokesignal.org.

Sid Selvasekar

Although they aren’t widely recognized as a sport in the United States, martial arts are revered events in many countries in eastern Asia. Senior Sid Selvasekar has mastered the martial art of Taekwondo, the national

Boys’ Water Polo Easily Handles American

By Ginger Werner Staff Writer

Athlete Spotlight:

By Amit Patankar Sports Editor

Sports 21

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and, how did you get started?

Sid Selvasekar: I got interested in the martial arts about a good 12 years ago, when I was five years old. I got started mainly because of my dad. He showed me Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” movie and I immediately fell in love.

tion. Like most martial artists, I don’t teach for the money. I teach for the art and the lifestyle of a martial artist.

staff writer ginger werner

Sophomore Alex Hancock reaches for the ball in an attempt to gain possession.

plex and the water was heavily chlorinated, causing eye discomfort for some of the players. However, this didn’t hinder the Warriors, who easily prevailed.

Although the Warriors began without their starting goalie, sophomore Scott Havard, this did not have a negative effect on the result. Within the first minute of the game, senior Anson Fan scored the first goal. Shortly after, sophomore Ryan Tang earned an ejection for his opponent, who was banned from the game for one possession.

Junior Austin Peng took advantage of this opportunity and scored a goal that gave the Warriors another important offensive advantage. Fan then scored again, and this was followed by goals from

with their weak hands. However, this did not deter the players from continuing to play well, and Fan impressively scored the final goal left-handed. The game ended with a final score of 14-0 and the Warriors came out victorious once again.

This victory adds to an extremely successful season thus far for the boys’ water polo team, which has a solid chance at earning second place in MVAL finals this year.

Senior Captain Grant Huang said, “With a fierce offense and flawless defense, we played a perfect game against American High. Using the knowledge and experience gained from this game, we will continue to prepare for the rest of the season.” ▪

SS: What awards, recognitions or competitions have you won?

S. Selvasekar: I’ve competed and

SS: Can you briefly explain what type of martial arts you do and how they differ from the others?

S. Selvasekar: Actually, I don’t do one specific type of martial arts. I was brought up on Taekwondo primarily during my beginning years, then I transitioned into mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts, also known as MMA, is not one specific type of martial arts. It’s a blend of everything, such as Muay Thai, Brazilian Jujitsu, boxing, TKD, escrima/arnis (Filipino stick fighting), pressure point fighting, and much more.

won in several tournaments and I usually place in the top four in sparring and forms. I’ve also won a couple of pick-up tournaments for grappling and street fighting. I really competed primarily up until I achieved my 3rd degree black belt. After that it was mostly giving back value to my dojang by teaching and helping out there.

SS: What’s the most enjoyable part of martial courtesy sid selvasekar arts?

Sid Selvasekar holds up one of his numerous martial artist awards.

S. Selvasekar: I love everything about martial arts. However, what sport of South Korea. Selvasekar I like the most is either teaching has earned numerous awards and or competing. As a teacher I can plans to test for his fourth degree pass on what I’ve learned from my instructors to my students. black belt in 2012.

This is not only limited to techSmoke Signal: When did you niques, but also morals, key valget interested in martial arts ues, and most importantly, tradi-

SS: How do you plan to incorporate your love for martial arts in the future?

S. Selvasekar: I plan to keep learning and teaching martial arts for pretty much the rest of my life. For example, as of the current moment, I am training for my 4th degree black belt in 2012 and will continue to train for higher degrees as long as I live. ▪

Sophomore Brandon Law attemps to block the pass of an opposing player.

staff writer ginger werner

NCS Bayshore looking at Realignment staff writer matt farberov

By Grace Han Sports Editor

As part of the realignment process it goes through every four years, the North Coast Section’s Bayshore Conference recently submitted a proposal that could be implemented as early as the 2012-13 school year.

The changes were brainstormed

by Arroyo Principle Larry Smith and would include the addition of Moreau Catholic to the MVAL. Other changes offered in the proposal would send Alameda and Encinal to the Hayward Area Athletic League, De Anza to the Bay Shore Athletic League, and Albany to the Alameda Contra Costa Athletic League.

To be implemented, the plans must be first approved by the NCS’s Alignment and Classification Committee and then voted on by the NCS Board of Managers in April.

Athletic Director Tom Thomsen believes the current MVAL struc-

dyestatcal.com

ture should remain intact, but will welcome changes as long as they don’t “disrupt the continuity of the league”. “There is a great parity within the league in terms of skill level and proximity of the schools,” says Thomsen. If enforced, the realignment doesn’t look to present too much of an impact on the MVAL. The addition of Moreau may make travel a bit tougher, but the level of competition should remain on par. It would also allow the league to have an even number of teams and therefore negate the need for a bye week. With that said, we can only wait until Spring to see if the changes will be in effect. ▪

22 Sports

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, November 5, 2010

continued from page 1

GIRLS’ TENNIS | MSJ Defeats Washington her match in two easy sets with a final score of 6-1 and 6-0. Sophomore Audrey Huang continued the winning streak, demonstrating her strength and determination as she secured her victory. She angled her shots in such a manner that her opponent was forced to be fast on her feet and had to quickly shift from corner to corner. Her match concluded with

sports editor grace han

Sophomore Audrey Huang hits a big return against the Huskies.

a final score of 6-1 and 6-2. Strong performances from Junior Raashi Goyal and Senior Aneesha Desai concluded the singles domination over the Huskies. Goyal fought off her opponent 7-5, 6-1, and Desai prevailed with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

The singles players were not the only ones that contributed to the remarkable victory.

The doubles team of Senior Captains Sonia Fan and Sahana Kribakaran played an amazing game against their Huskie opponents, coordinating smoothly and going to extreme lengths to keep the ball in play. With strong effort, they came out on top winning 6-3 and 6-2. While they dominated, Junior Lakshmi

Subbaraj and Senior Indu Subbaraj came through with a straight sets win, 6-4, 6-4.

Seniors Jasleen Kaur and Sabrina Merchant played with intense spirit, closing off the match by defeating their opponents 6-1, 6-3.

Each member of the team contributed an important role in cinching the coveted 7-0 win. After the match, Fan and Kribakaran said, “We lost a lot of our players this year, but we have been conditioning a lot, and we have seen the growth and development of our team.” The Warriors have clearly demonstrated this, as they are ranked first in MVALs, with a league record of 9-1, and look forward to advancing in NCS. The team continues to dominate their opponents and works together to go as far as they can. If they continue demonstrating exceptional skill and showing that they really are the “bosses,” there is no doubt that the Warriors will qualify for NCS and may even go beyond. ▪

staff writer alice zalan

JV Coach Danny Yee, Senior Captains Sahana Kribakaran and Sonia Fan, and Head Coach Bill Nandor have led the girls’ tennis team to another noteworthy season.

ADMIT it with GRACE

By Grace Han & Amit Patankar Sports Editors

part deux: “Rules Can’t Play” Yes, the rules are the rules. Some are more questionable than others, but you can’t ignore the fact that they all have a logical purpose.

Or do they? To confirm, the role of rules in sports is to maintain the best possible standards for fairness and keep possible controversies from getting out of hand. But fairness doesn’t mean that instant replay in baseball can only be used when it is clearly needed to elucidate other cases. Nor does it mean that a coin toss in an overtime football game should give the winning team an advantage.

A few weeks ago, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson caught what seemed to be the game-winning touchdown against the Chicago Bears (he had both feet, his bottom, and back on the ground with possession of the ball), but the score was negated because he used the football to help him get up and “did not complete the process of the catch,” says an obscure regulation in the NFL rulebook. Johnson’s grab clearly should’ve been ruled a catch. In one survey, even 80% of Bears fans agreed.

This past season, the Duke Blue Devils won the college basketball national title.

The team included sophomore guard Seth Curry, who participated in every practice and learned all the plays, but couldn’t play in games because he had transferred from Liberty the year before and by NCAA rules had to sit out one season. Only recently however, Curry also found out he would also be ineligible to receive a championship ring as NCAA bylaw 16.1.4.2 states they are only awarded to players “eligible to participate in the championship event.” As a player who was as much a part of the team as anyone else, Curry deservedly earned a ring, even if the NCAA doesn’t believe so.

Although NBA referees were called out

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The new rules imposed in the NBA have stirred up much debate and led to growing referee discussions during games.

for their lack of authority in preventing players from getting away with basically anything on the court, this year’s new guidelines seem to be the harshest ever. Commissioner David Stern seeks to minimize player referee conflict during games and has enforced tough new technical foul guidelines. However, most fans are disappointed with the new rules and claim that this prevents players from playing with a high emotional level, something the NBA is famous for. The initial problem on the court was players getting away with throwing elbows or knees during the game when the referee’s back was turned. Since the league has a very restricted policy on allowing referees to use replay, most offenses seemed to be dismissed. But simply increasing the number of technical fouls does not stop dirty players from playing dirty. It takes passionate players like Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan out of the game for simply showing their feelings toward a call.

There may not be an easy solution to the issue, but the amount of controversy that has arisen definitely calls for some improvements. Piling on rules year after year has taken the emotion out of an activity that was created to take advantage of the competitive spirit of humans. ▪

Team Spotlight: Cross-Country

By Omar El-Sadany Staff Writer

Running Off the Charts

Not many sports teams can boast having three State qualifying-caliber athletes, two formidable squads that are competing for the league championships, and the participation of over a hundred athletes. Even with these impressive characteristics, MSJ’s Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams are often denied the limelight because of the sport’s lack of instant gratification and exhilarating highlights. Far from the school’s attention, however, the teams continue to epitomize all the attributes that are revered and associated with competitive sports: athleticism, dedication, hard work, mental fortitude, and most importantly, success.

niors Avery Kruger, Dinakar Guthy, Madison Hirsch, Erica Cherk and Senior Allison Lenci have all excelled in various league meets and invitationals in the early season, and Coach Marden specifically singled out Hirsch, Cherk, and Lenci for praise when he said, “I think they have a shot at qualifying for the state meet.”

However, the team itself has suffered some

sports editor grace han

First row: Freshman Taylor Jang, Juniors Erika Cherk and Madison Hirsch, Sophomores Lindsey Dobyns and Gurubala Kotta, Senior Allison Lenci Second row: Juniors Avery Kruger and Andrew Zhu, Freshman Aamir Rasheed, Junior Dinakar Guthy, Senior Vishal Yadav, Junior Connor Williams and Sophomore Nicholas Ha Not pictured: Seniors Vaishaal Shankar, Joey Uken and Michael Wu, Sophomore Marisa Lenci

graphics editor cassie zhang

Sophomore Lindsey Dobyns runs the last stretch of the race against American.

Since early July, the team has been diligently training five days a week, in anxious preparation for a season that is expected to reach, and possibly surpass, some of the high goals that were attained last year. Coming off of a season where both teams combined for a 12-0 record, in addition to two MVAL championships, the team has built upon last year’s, working through intense mile repeats, long runs, and numerous invitationals and races. Aiming to repeat as defending champions, both the boys’ and the girls’ teams are motivated by the pursuit of the title, which is now a legitimate possibility for this well trained group.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Jack Marden and Assistant Coaches John Hotch-

kiss and Linda Addison, the team has done well to bounce back from the loss of many prominent members to graduation. The boys’ side has had to deal with the departure of three prominent athletes (out of a team which only had seven members to begin with), including last year’s Captain Teddy Fong and First Team All-Leaguer Arjan Bains. The girls, have also had to work around the graduation of three of their varsity athletes. However, new underclassmen additions to the varsity teams, including Freshman Aamir Rasheed, and Sophomores Nicholas Ha, Lindsey Dobyns, and Gurubala Kotta have helped MSJ maintain its impressive form.

Cross Country has also benefited from the influence of its star veteran runners. Ju-

graphics editor cassie zhang

The boys’ varsity squad huddles before a big race.

early setbacks. Senior Captain Joey Uken has missed the majority of the early season with an injury, and the team suffered a devastating loss to its rival Washington High School, only losing the boys’ race by one point. The group is still confident however, and is using the loss to the Huskies, a team ranked second and fourth in NCS for boys and girls respectively, as a learning experience and motivational factor. Uken best summed up the optimism and expectation surrounding the team when he said, “Even with the loss to Washington, I still think we can accomplish our major goal: win the league. All we have to do is win at MVALS.” ▪

Friday, November 5, 2010

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, November 5, 2010

By Nihar Parikh & Jonathon Teng Staff Writers

A great turnout and never-ending spirit from the cheerleaders and crowd set the scene for this year’s highly anticipated Homecoming game at Tak Fudenna Stadium against the Newark Memorial Cougars.

In spite of the result, the game capped off an exciting week of festivity and competition as the school united in support of the football team.

Earlier that day, the Green and White Assembly had helped stir up the students’ spirits before the game. A video shown during the assembly revealed the strenuous preparation the football players had endured throughout the whole year. This included workouts during the previous winter and intense training under the blazing heat in summer and spring.

However, their valiant efforts still proved to be lacking as Cougars made a statement with a 0-42 blowout.

The game began with a kickoff return by the Cougars. Right off the bat, Cougars’ running back Andrew Reams caught a 43 yard touchdown pass, catching the Warrior defense off guard. The offense responded by advancing to the Newark’s 20 yard line with running back Junior David Kim contributing significant yards, but they were unable to score and turned the ball over on downs. For the rest of the quarter, the Warriors’ solid defense kept the score at 7-0.

Coming out in the second quarter, the Warriors looked fresh and hungry for a touchdown. Despite the Warriors’ stout defense, Newark’s wide receiver Jacob Rael managed to score another touchdown. Once more, the Warriors returned the kickoff in hopes of putting up points of their own, with running back Junior Wilson Zhang quickly bringing the ball up the field. Unfortunately, the Warriors only reached their 27 yard line and were eventually forced to punt. Play after play, the Warriors attempted to drive downfield for a score, but the Cougars resisted and in turn obtained four more touchdowns, ending the first half leading 35-0.

At halftime, the players headed to the locker room for a midgame pep talk, while the stadium was set for the Homecoming Court. This year’s homecoming court nominees included Tarang Patel, Dillon Chang, Abel John, Eric Yai, and Bill Cheng representing the men and Aditi Amlani, Theresa

Liu, Maggie Chang, Ashyln Iwatani, and Emily Sutedja representing the women. In an atmosphere filled with an aura of excitement and anticipation, Leadership Coordinator Ben Breazeale promptly announced Dillon Chang as Homecoming King and Theresa Liu as Homecoming Queen.

The short break proved quite effective for the Warriors, as they only gave up one touchdown in the second half. This touchdown came on Newark Memorial’s first possession of the second half, highlighted by a long run from Cougar running back Hunter Rockwell.

The Warriors did not take advantage of the next possession, but they played strong defense to force Newark to their first punt.

After drawing a holding call, the Warriors held the Cougars at MSJ’s 48 yard line on three consecutive plays, resulting in another punt. This outing for the Warrior defense was the strongest of the game.

After the punt, the Warriors took over deep in their own territory. After three unsuccessful plays, they capitalized on a mistake by one of Newark’s special teams players. The punt by Senior Captain Robyn Torrence was mishandled, and the Warriors recovered the ball. The offense then drove the ball for three first downs, keeping Newark’s offense out for the whole fourth quarter. Unfortunately, they failed to convert a fourth down near the goal line and came up short once again. This turnover on downs would end the game and MSJ’s hopes for avoiding a shutout.

The Warriors played valiantly but came up short in key areas on the offensive and defensive sides. The running game was quite effective for Warriors, as Kim rushed for 101 yards and averaged five yards per carry.

Regrettably, the passing game didn’t fare as well; the combined quarterback completion percentage was below 50 percent. On the other hand, Senior Jeff Norton shined with three tackles and had a close interception, but overall the defense gave up too many big plays to the Cougar offense.

The Warriors came out and never let the pressure down during their Homecoming Game. Although the game ended with a disappointing loss, the players carried away the fan spirit and support and hope to make MSJ proud throughout the rest of the season. ▪

layout by staff writer diya roy and sports editors grace han and amit patankar, photos by graphics editor cassie zhang, sports editor grace han, and staff writers vishal bajpai and angie wang, msjwrestling.com