Volume LV, No. 2

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 55, NO. 2

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

October 25, 2019

The Olive Festival: Preserving Fremont’s Community Annual festival strengthens community ties and Fremont traditions

By Sabrina Cai & Larry Shi Staff Writers Surrounded by blooming olive trees, the Dominican grounds behind the Mission San Jose Church were packed with members of the Fremont community on October 5. The Olive Festival is a family-friendly event staged yearly to promote local talent and

businesses. Attendees and vendors roamed around while listening to lively entertainment.

The event featured a performance by the MSJ Marching and Jazz Bands.

For the third consecutive year, MSJ Band performed live at the festival. Led by Band Director Monica Kraft, students performed classic rock songs, including Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” for attendees, who watched the performances while browsing the festival’s selection of wine, olive oil, and gourmet foods.

Regarding why MSJ Band performs at the Olive Festival, Kraft said, “We need to give back to the community, and the Olive Festival is the perfect event to show that our school is out and about and treating audiences to live music.”

The Olive Festival has changed a great deal over the past few years. Early coordinators created the event more than 20 years ago with the purpose of bringing a sense of community to Fremont. Festival Coordinator Gael Stewart said, “It took a lot of generations to build on, but [the first organizers] thought that the festival did not have to be fancy. It used to have a wine tasting period and a chef demo in the corner.”

Now, local vendors selling their food and wares occupy much of the grounds, as arranged by the Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce, an organization dedicated to preserving Fremont’s historic Mission San Jose area. Washington Township Museum of Local History Program Manager Dianne

MSJ Marching Band performs at the Olive Festival.

Holmes said that the various cultures displayed at the festival contributed to the “small-town flavor” of the event, as if “one dipped into all of the cultures of Fremont and dumped them all at the Olive Festival.”

The Olive Festival is a tradition among many in the Fremont community. However, as the festival ages, one of Mission San Jose Chamber of Commerce Presidents Esther Gonzalez’s goals for future events is to have “more presence through social media and more of the millennial community and youth involved into this event” to keep it thriving. With the purpose of strengthening the social ties within Fremont, the Olive Festival will continue to inspire a stronger sense of community into the future. ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER LARRY SHI

First MissionHacks hackathon sparks new ideas The student-led event focused on solutions for education in communities

By Tanisha Srivatsa & Alina Zeng Staff Writers MissionHacks, a Bay Area nonprofit founded by four students from MSJ and Moreau Catholic High School, hosted their first hackathon at Big Switch Networks’ headquarters in Santa Clara. On the morning of October 5, around 160 middle and high school students gathered for the 14-hour event, which included a competition to design the best coding program.

The event kicked off with an opening ceremony, followed by a keynote speech from Founder of Makeschool Jeremy Rossman about the applications of computer science to the real world. As the afternoon continued, the MissionHacks team lead workshops covering topics from machine learning to how to build websites. At the end of the event, the highly anticipated awards ceremony featured

select teams’ projects, which received prizes such as Snapchat Spectacles and Arduino units. Winning projects were chosen based on ingenuity and efficacy.

Participants clustered in teams inside Big Switch Networks’ cubicles and created projects specific to the theme of education.

Sophomore Sahil Metha lead team IneptAtEverything to design an app that inputs random numbers and generates electron configurations and quantum numbers for each of them. Another team designed “The Cheater Detector,” a motion sensor headband that detects when students look away from their papers during a test.

The creative projects showcased in the MissionHacks hackathon could not have come to fruition without the event organizers, the MissionHacks team. The MissionHacks team is comprised of Sophomores Founder Yash Jain, Director of Sponsor-

ships Gokul Narayan, Director of Technology Mihit Shukla, and Director of Publicity Hridhay Monangi, and is mentored by Big Switch Networks Product Manager Hans Kumar and Princeton University freshman Sahil Jain. The event took four months to plan, with the help of partners such as technology companies Hack Club and Bluestamp, which provided MissionHacks with mentorship and $4,000 in funds. As a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, MissionHacks prides itself on its mission of spreading computer science knowledge to Bay Area teenagers. “It seemed like the perfect opportunity to give back to the community,” said Narayan, who is interested in hardware and computer science.

The event’s theme was centered around education in communities, specifically addressing the possible improvements to the education system. Jain said, “I think that there are many solutions to [improving]

During the closing ceremony, participants were asked to raise their hands if they enjoyed the event.

JOKER MOVIE REVIEW Todd Phillips’ dark and gritty Joker will leave you deeply uncomfortable yet entertained.

Check out the Smoke Signal’s review on the compelling origin story of one of the most iconic villains in comic book history.

the current education system ... [and since] there are many students here who are in high school, [they can create] solutions that would help them in their own school or community.”

MissionHacks’ hackathon was unique in how the event was planned by students for students. Shukla said, “We hope that they would actually learn real-world skills ... we’re giving them a professional work environment to work in. And we hope that they can actually collaborate and work together and learn all of these skills like coding, marketing, [and] passing on their product.”

“The space was pretty good, and it was nice that the organizers came around to answer questions,” Mehta said. Moving forward, MissionHacks hopes to hold annual hackathons and workshops for coding novices and experts alike. The team hopes that this hackathon will inspire people to continue coding and turn their projects into something great. ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS TANISHA SRIVATSA & ALINA ZENG

FALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Read coverage on the annual Fall Leadership Conference, where Interact club members from throughout the district participate in games, workshops, and speaker sessions.

FOR MORE COVERAGE,

VISIT www.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG

2 News

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NEWSBYTES

The Smoke Signal

MSJ Debate Commences New Season with Voices Invitational Eight Public Forum pairs and one Lincoln-Douglas debater competed among 160 teams at invitational

Compiled by Megh Basu, Kruthi Gollapudi & Mingxin Wang Staff Writers

LOCAL mapbox.com

The earthquake measured 4.5 on the Richter scale.

Earthquake sends tremors throughout the East Bay An earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale shook the San Francisco Bay Area on the night of October 14. The epicenter was located around Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek, near the Concord-Green Valley Fault, which runs around 80 miles long. The tremor caused delays in the Bay Area Rapid Transport (BART) system and was preceded by a 2.5 earthquake ten minutes earlier. No major damage or injuries were reported to the local police departments.

Friday, October 25, 2019

PHOTO COURTESY SABRINA CAI

Senior Rithvik Koppurapu, Sophomore Nihar Duvvuri, Seniors Dylan Zhang and Krish Kothari, and Sophomore Advika Bhike pose with their awards.

By Megh Basu & Gokul Ramapriyan Staff Writers

contestants advancing. Elimination rounds involved double-octofinals, octofinals, quarterfinals, and semifinals before finally advancing to the final round.

The MSJ team placed highly in Public Forum with three of eight pairs entering the elimination rounds. Out of the three advancing teams, Juniors Raj Saravanan and Darren Tang dropped at double octofinals, Seniors Rithvik Koppurapu and Dylan Zhang dropped at octofinals, and Sophomore Tushar Dalmia and Senior Yash Dalmia advanced until the quarterfinals.

Competitors had the opportunity for a quarterfinal bid, an award that debaters can win by advancing to the later rounds of the invitational. If contestants win at least two bids at reputable tournaments, they qualify for the esteemed Tournament of Champi-

ons (TOC). Yash and Tushar Dalmia won a bid for making it to the quarterfinals.

Debaters are able to earn speaker points based on how well they can convey their rhetoric. Yash Dalmia won the Third Speaker award with a total of 176.10 points. Among those in the top ten, Tushar Dalmia placed sixth and Koppurapu placed tenth.

Despite the awards won, there were obstacles facing the team. “We had a huge problem finding coaches this year ... coaching debate is essential because there’s no other way to prep and do well at these big competitive tournaments,” MSJ Speech and Debate President Senior Krish Kothari said. Luckily, the team gained a new coach, Alexander Scherer, who joined the team prior to Voices.

Furthermore, the team faced numerous competitors from other prestigious prep schools. LD Captain Sophomore Advika Bhike said, “Since we’re a public school, we don’t have as many resources as schools with bigger debate programs, supported by funding from the school.”

Despite multiple setbacks before the season started, MSJ Debate placed highly at one of the most challenging tournaments of the year. “I think we’re on track to do well this season. We’ve had a great opening start, and I know that if the team continues to work hard we’ll keep doing well,” Coach Brandon Stewart said. ▪

MSJ Debate gathered at Presentation High on the weekend of October 11 to 13 to compete at the Voices Invitational. This tournament attracted competitors from prestigious, high-performing schools across the country as one of the first and the most competitive tournaments of the season.

MSJ competed among a pool of more than 160 teams at the invitational and sent eight Public Forum (PF) pairs and one varsity Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debater. PF debate gettyimages.com deals with legislative issues and is a partner PG&E is shutting off power to more than two million Californians Speech and Debate will attend invitationals in an effort to limit liabilities and prevent further wildfire deaths. event, whereas LD deals with ethics and is at Arizona State University from January one-on-one.

The invitational consisted of PG&E blackouts affect millions across CA 10-12 and UC Berkeley from February 15-17. six preliminary rounds, followed by eliminaThe acific Gas and Electric Company tion rounds, with around half of the original (PG&E) has announced it is shutting down the power in many fire-prone areas of CA. The company trails its peers in technology to track winds and isolate the areas where equipment is at highest risk of sparking fires. It is also running far behind on several of its most important safety efforts, including this year’s tree-trimming campaign, which is less than 50% complete.

Thousands march to raise money and awareness for breast cancer The corporation’s failure to maintain the safety of the power lines has sparked public outcry.

As the crowd grew, laughter and singing support one another, is really important.” MSJ

By Mingxin Wang & Brooke Zheng filled the originally quiet, still morning air, ACS Juniors President Sriansh Pasumarthi, Staff Writers drastically changing the atmosphere. Partici- Secretary Asavari Gowda, and Treasurer AshThousands of breast cancer survivors, pa- pants swarmed the streets at the blast of the wath Ekambaram attended the event as well. tients, and awareness supporters came togeth- starting horn and supporters lined up along Commenting on the change in atmosphere of er at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer the sidewalk, cheering on the walkers as they the participants at the walk compared to peoWalk on the morning of October 6 in Walnut passed by. Through the help of MSJ ACS, ple they interact with in everyday life, EkamCreek. Supporting their loved ones and cele- volunteers, survivors, and caregivers, more baram said, “It was just nice to see that the nytimes.com brating their stories of breast cancer, attend- than one million walkers will help to raise the people attending are happy about what they About 160,000 Kurds were forced to flee from Turkish forces. ees gathered behind the pink ribbon starting targeted $60 million toward breast cancer re- were doing even though a lot of them have Turkey invades northeastern Syria after US line to raise money and awareness for those search this year. been through tough times before.” withdraws forces Because of the impact breast cancer has affected by the disease. On the bustling street, Booths and activities lined the end of the The northeastern portion of Syria used to marchers wore matching T-shirts, fluffy tutus, walk as participants neared the finish line. had on people around the world, the ACS also be controlled by an American-backed, Kurd- and satin ribbons in honor of the cause. MSJ Colorful tents displayed the walk’s sponsors, created an environment where patients and ish militia called the Syrian Democratic Forces American Cancer Society members and Relay and many local business owners gathered to survivors alike can feel accepted and support(SDF). But on October 6, the US pulled back for Life adviser Jennifer Nash also volunteered display their hand-crafted items and sell their ed throughout their hardships. ACS Executive their protection and Turkey invaded the Kurd- at the event to support the participants of the food. There were vibrantly decorated photo Director Gina Alessio said, “When the paish territory, propelling Syria into more chaos five kilometer walk. booths for participants to commemorate the tients come out and they see so many other during a national war spanning eight years. About Since its founding in 1913, the American event, and many were smiling from complet- breast cancer survivors, there’s definitely a , urds were forced to flee the attack by Cancer Society (ACS) has grown into a na- ing the five kilometer walk, knowing that they sense of community [that makes them] realize Turkish forces, clogging roads to neighbor- tionwide health organization with the priority had contributed to fighting a disease that is that they’re not alone. Sometimes they come ing territories and overloading refugee camps. of fighting cancer through research funding, predicted to affect more than 270,000 Amer- out and don’t realize that their neighbor four houses down is also a breast cancer survivor patient support, and fundraisers. The organi- icans this year. corrections — and they see that for the first time here.” ▪ This supportive environment aligns with zation hosts the walk, one of 14 in CA in the for the SEPT. 27, 2019 issue month of October alone, in order to foster ACS’s mission to raise money and awareness News Pg. 1: Sujata Singh is misspelled. a sense of unity among those battling breast for a cure. Nash said, “Just to have that visi- Relay for Life will take place at MSJ from Opinion Pg. 4: The ALS Association received 20 times the cancer and to raise money for research on ble, for people to see that there are resources April 25-26. donations from the previous year. and services and people who are willing to Opinion Pg. 5: The Amazon produces 9% of the world’s finding a cure.

NATIONAL

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk attracts waves of pink

INTERNATIONAL

oxygen.

Opinion Pg. 5: The FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council.

Opinion Pg. 5: The Amazon stores 100 billion tons of carbon in plant life.

Centerspread Pg. 8: Vivian Lam, Irene Chang, and Caleb Chiang are misspelled.

Centerspread Pg. 8: MSJ Impromptu description is incomplete.

Centerspread Pg. 8: Question should read “What stood out the most to you during MAZE Day?” Feature Pg. 10: Rancho Higuera Historical Park is misspelled.

Feature Pg. 10: Galindo-Higuera Adobe is misspelled.

Feature Pg. 10: Palmdale Winery is from the 19th century.

A&E Pg. 12: Death Magnetic is an album.

A&E Pg. 12: National Institutes of Health is misspelled.

A&E Pg. 12: The Line of Best Fit is misspelled.

Sports Pg. 14: Hana Nip is a Track Team Co-Captain.

Participants gathered behind the pink ribbon starting line to raise money and awareness for those affected by breast cancer.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER BROOKE ZHENG

Friday, October 25, 2019

THE SMOKE SIGNAL Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 55, No. 2 | October 25, 2019 www.thesmokesignal.org 41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 510-657-3600, ext. 37088 MISSION STATEMENT The Smoke Signal’s mission is to represent the voices of the MSJ community and serve the public by providing accurate, meaningful, and engaging information presented through print and digital mediums.

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

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

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

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

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

The Smoke Signal

Opinion 3

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JOSEPHINE'S JOURNAL

ARIA'S APPROACH

Beauty conversation is only skin-deep

Changing the perception of the MSJ student

By Josephine Chew Opinion Editor

By Aria Lakhmani Opinion Editor

I don’t consider myself attractive. Most days, I look in the mirror and see skewed brows, uneven eyes, lopsided hair, and a shapeless nose. During my compulsive daily scroll through Instagram, I reflexively compare myself to other girls and wish that I was skinnier, prettier, had nicer teeth or a thigh gap, longer legs or a smaller waist.

The statistics say I’m not alone — Dove found that 61% of women in the US feel anxious about the way they look, and the Australian Psychological Society found that 45% of Western men are unhappy with their bodies.

However, the frequency of serious body image discussion I’ve experienced hardly reflects such a high percentage. We teens often comment on how people look — scroll through any student’s Instagram page, and you’re met with a storm of pithy positivity: “Omg hi gorgeous.”

“UR SO BEAUTIFUL ILY.” “AWW ur so cute.”

While these confidence boosters are nice to receive, we shouldn’t apply this flippancy to every conversation about appearance, treating it like something that can be captured by a mere dozen characters.

A few days ago, I asked a friend how she was doing, and she said, “I’m feeling very not pretty.” Without thinking, I replied with “Nooo you’re beautiful!” She rolled her eyes, and I instantly regretted my word choice — I was so used to slapping band-aids over people’s insecurities that I inadvertently invalidated her experience. Instead of creating space for her to talk about what was bothering her, I cut off discussion with a well-meaning but throwaway statement.

I have another friend whose Messenger conversations often go like this: a friend tells

her that she’s pretty, and she responds with angry reacts and “ewww no I’m ugly.” These discussions never go beyond the surface of self-image — the friend fires back with “what no ur so pretty,” and the conversation loops over again. By avoiding genuine discussion, we perpetuate stigma and leave people isolated. Back when I was deciding whether or not to attend the senior Waterworld trip, my biggest qualm was being seen in a swimsuit. However, when friends asked why I didn’t want to go, I cited reasons like the hefty price tag; I was too embarrassed to bring up self-image.

A few days later, I stumbled upon a similar sentiment in an anonymous Facebook post: “who else is dreading being in a swim suit at Waterworld :( .” I think we can assume that whoever posted this didn’t feel comfortable openly discussing body image. I considered commenting “me” but then decided against it — I felt like it would be embarrassing to admit how strongly self-image affected me.

There’s no perfect solution to body insecurity — it might always be a part of your life, but being willing to have a thoughtful conversation about it rather than gloss over it is powerful in itself. Perhaps then, people will realize that their experience is universal.

Perhaps they will gain a sense of solidarity and feel a little less tied down by self-consciousness.

If someone tells you that they feel ugly, consider opening a space for discussion rather than rebutting with a presumed panacea like “No you’re pretty.” And if you feel ugly, I hope that after reading this, you feel a little less alone — a little more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable in your skin. ▪

“Oh you go to MSJ? You must be super stressed/super smart/really good at math!” Whenever I introduce myself as a MSJ student, I’m met with raised eyebrows, wide eyes, and some variation of those comments. Though I used to admittedly feel a bit proud when I received these reactions, I’ve realized that these compliments disguise an ugly truth. There is a pervasive stereotype about the qualities that people believe all MSJ students embody: pursuing STEM, having an intense schedule with multiple weighted courses, and feeling constantly stressed.

This stereotype has not only shaped other peoples’ views about us but also how we view ourselves, creating a culture where we base our decisions on striving to fit this mold of the MSJ student. An example that most of us are familiar with is the “sleep deprivation competition.” Walking through the halls, you can overhear at least one conversation along these lines, “I only got four hours of sleep last night,” followed by another student exclaiming, “You think that’s bad? I only got two!”

We’ve become so used to regarding stress and exhaustion as essential traits of a MSJ student that boasting about our stress is second nature because we believe it is normal.

The mentality that we have to fit the image of the MSJ student also influences the classes we take, leaving students who choose college-prep or unweighted classes feeling out of place. This becomes the most evident when we choose classes for the

next school year, as students prioritize taking weighted classes: “You want to take this course? Why don’t you take an AP instead?” or “Why aren’t you taking honors?” These remarks often pressure students into enrolling in more weighted courses than they feel comfortable with.

This heavy emphasis on weighted courses also causes many to discredit humanities classes. Some weighted humanities courses, such as language APs, require years of prerequisites. Those looking to simply add another weighted class tend to deem those unweighted prerequisites a “waste of time,” making students who genuinely want to learn the language feel insecure. It’s a lose-lose situation: the students feel out of place if they continue pursuing their interests or feel conflicted if they give up a class they’d like to explore for another AP. We need to recognize that this stereotype is harmful as it makes students feel limited in what they can do and results in lost opportunities. Rather than let the perception of what a MSJ student should be define our lifestyle, we need to embrace the fact that we are all different. Simple changes to everyday actions can help prevent reinforcement of the stereotype. Let’s change the dialogue: it’s more than okay if you got more than five hours of sleep or want to take a college-prep class. Let’s stop ridiculing courses that aren’t weighted and discrediting those who want to take them. Let’s realize that there are no set characteristics you must embody to be an MSJ student: attending this school and learning with your peers is enough. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Getting creative with our creativity

Do you think the gate test shoulD Determine placement in honors or college prep?

“I think GATE is a good way to evaluate students’ testtaking skills ... As a third grader they are being put under pressure for a system they don’t really understand, which is unfair. But overall, it’s acceptable since … there are more opportunities to change their learning paths in school."

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“I don’t think it should because it’s one test that defines so much … The test doesn’t really test on whether or not you’re honors-ready, and it is taken at too early of an age to mean anything.”

Do tests like gate contribute to a split between honors anD college prep stuDents?

“I don’t think that the GATE test contributes to the split because there are people who were not GATEqualified in elementary school but worked their way up to a place where they are most serious about school and academics. Meanwhile, there are kids who were GATE-qualified, who weren’t quite ready for those classes.”

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may seem to be the only subjects that require creativity, it’s also a key part of STEM. Work like computer science projects and advanced math problems also require innovative ways of thinking.

Creativity isn’t an attribute exclusive to artists or writers or photographers. Without it, where would the mundane resolutions to group project conflicts or the moments where you finally figure out how to solve physics problems come from? Whether you realize it or not, whenever you open your mind to new, conceptual ideas, you’re exercising creativity. Creativity’s versatile and abstract nature makes it hard to truly understand, but acknowledging that fact and beginning to appreciate ourselves will go a long way in helping bring out the best in us.

As Albert Einstein famously said, “Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” By surrounding oneself with a diversity of creative and positive peers, you can help your own creativity blossom.

Even when writing this editorial, we’ve had to take countless breaks from staring at our screens for hours waiting on elusive ideas. Behind every article lies hours of headscratching and sudden epiphanies that form the basis for most of the content you read.

Don’t lose hope — everyone has inherent creativity that just needs a little spark to come alive. Even simple things like solving a sudoku puzzle or looking for new origami crafts every day can help sharpen your mind and satisfy your creative side. ▪

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A stark white Google Doc stares back at you. You simply can’t come up with the innovative thesis or thought-provoking anecdote you need. Whether you’re a senior working on college applications or a freshman starting a Civics essay, you can probably relate to being in the doldrums when it comes to creative ideas. In times like these, our natural inclination is to blame our obvious lack of imagination.

Even a simple task like brainstorming project ideas in class without direction or help from the Internet can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, without the needle or the haystack. It’s easy to feel like you’re losing your creativity when relying on autopilot to complete mountains of work. Such “busy work” may be great for helping students synthesize knowledge, but they certainly don’t help bring out our creative sides, like more engaging assignments such as presentations and projects can. Being on autopilot to get through busy work or feeling too burnt out to think doesn’t mean you lack creativity. Our imaginations dominate all aspects of our lives, from what we decide to wear in the morning to what music we listen to, and often all we need to do is take a step back and think of the ways we’ve turned seemingly hopeless situations into inspiration. By appreciating our previous acts of creativity, we can step into a growth mindset that empowers us to feel more confident about our creativity.

Although there is a prevailing assumption that the humanities and arts require an active imagination while STEM doesn’t, creativity is central to all fields. Everyone has their own unique creative imaginations. Some are great problem solvers, some are great visual thinkers, and some excel at facilitating discussions by coming up with innovative ideas on the spot. While writing and other visual art forms

The GATE Test

“Yes, because when a student is ‘GATE-identified’ they are more likely to join honors classes, similarly if a student was not GATE-identified they would not feel as good about themselves and probably enroll in a college-prep class.”

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS ANVI KALUCHA & ALINA ZENG.

4 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

“Sksksks” and “and I oop-” are just some of the phrases we associate with “VSCO girls.” The term “VSCO girls” comes from the photo editing application VSCO: Photo & Video Editor (VSCO), popularized by its preset filters that give any picture a filmlike effect with a single click, ranging from rainbow light to a hazy, grainy effect. As confusing as it is, VSCO girls aren’t called VSCO girls because they are avid users of the application. Rather, they are characterized by oversized T-shirts, scrunchies, metal straws, and Fjällräven backpacks. A couple years ago, messy ombré hair and high-waisted shorts defined “Tumblr girls,” who were known for their hipster attitude. Recently, the term “e-girls” has been used to brand girls who like punk rock; sport vibrant hair, winged eyeliner, and mesh T-shirts; and exist almost exclusively through their digital personas. These groups of girls have one thing in common — all three are stereotyped because they look and act a certain way on social media. It appears that there is no end to the classification and denouncement of young girls for their interests and aesthetic choices.

VSCO girl shaming further internalizes the misogyny that is ever-sopresent in society today.

Internalized misogyny refers to how women shame, doubt, and undervalue themselves and other women, stemming from years of patriarchal oppression and being criticized for having a voice and personality.

The popular claim that “I’m not like other girls” is a classic example of internalized misogyny. Girls who join in on the plague of belittling VSCO girls enforce the belief that

The Vindication of the VSCO Girl Is mocking VSCO girls really as humorous as it seems?

By Lily Oh & Gokul Ramapriyan Staff Writers

girls who don’t flock to trends are superior to ones who do. The statement is based on the premise that there is a “typical” girl. As the phrase often precedes a traditionally “unfeminine” trait — for example, “I don’t care about my looks” — it enforces traditionally feminine stereotypes. Girls who embrace their femininity are faced with immediate judgement, and those who don’t add on to the judgement by saying that they are “not like other girls.”

Classifying girls simply based on the trends they choose to partake in creates a label that traps these girls. It portrays them as people who are following trends just to fit in with the crowd, when in reality they are simply expressing themselves.

The State News writer Karly Graham acknowledged herself as someone who falls into the category of a VSCO girl, but she expressed that she doesn’t like that she falls into the category. Graham said, “I know I shouldn't have shame because of the things I like, but the way that VSCO girls have been portrayed throughout social media makes me feel like I'm not an original person because I'm interested in certain trends.”

Any attempt at self-expression by girls seems to be met with online hate and ridicule. If a girl doesn’t follow trends, she’s a tryhard for trying to stand out.

If she does, she’s unoriginal. This Catch-22 situation of being scorned for either choice is a constant dilemma for girls.

In contrast to the prevalent judgement of girls throughout the rise of social media, boys have never been so widely shamed for their in-

Friday, October 25, 2019

terests. Although males typically have interests like sports and games, they are rarely made fun of for liking those things. They aren’t judged for enthusiastically discussing the Warriors’ players, unlike how girls are taunted for apparently being ludicrous fangirls when they rave about their favorite bands. Despite the two interests being almost identical, one is met with so much more scrutiny simply because it is the subject of a girl’s enthusiasm.

The casual mocking of VSCO girls, such as the posting of content like “how to be the ultimate VSCO girl” and “5 minutes of annoying TikTok VSCO girls” might seem to all be in good fun. After all, nothing online should be taken seriously nowadays; with countless “trolls,” just about everybody has something to feel irate about.

However, humor is only harmless if both parties involved — in this case, media and VSCO girls — find it amusing. While there are VSCO girls that enjoy even negative attention, the mockery leads to unreasonable, public criticism of all the girls that fall into the “VSCO girl” category, and can make girls who simply want to enjoy cute trends feel trapped.

The abolishment of mocking girls who follow trends is idealistic; however, what is realistic is spreading awareness of the misogynistic implications behind ridiculing VSCO girls. Those who are aware of what derogatory connotations and stigma such mockery conveys need to open up conversation with the people around them who might not have thought about the situation the same way.

VSCO girls, if you want to use three scrunchies for your ponytail and wear five more on your wrist, go for it. The popularity of your interests does not invalidate them. ▪ GRAPHICS BY PICSART.COM & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCIA LI

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Friday, October 25, 2019

The Smoke Signal

WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG

Opinion 5

Leave GATE at the Gate Should a test taken in third grade determine high school course pathways?

Many MSJ students look back at their experiences with the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) test as their first exposure to hours-long exams, debilitating test anxiety, and frantic cramming before the bell rings. The GATE exam is one of the first standardized tests that FUSD students take, testing them on a variety of subjects including verbal comprehension, figural reasoning, and quantitative reasoning. The 98th percentile of students are recognized as “Gifted and Talented” and receive specialized education from GATEqualified educators at the elementary and secondary levels. In FUSD, GATE-identified students and non-GATE-identified students separate for math and English classes as early as middle school. This exam prematurely splits students at a young age, negatively impacting their mental and emotional health. The exam is not an accurate representation of a student’s potential to be “gifted” or not, and students should not have to worry about their perceived intelligence and corresponding course placements.

However, it is important to note that the GATE exam arose from a need to accommo-

By Amanda Pang & Tanisha Srivatsa Staff Writers date different students’ learning abilities and not to stunt them. GATE was originally meant to identify students with different learning abilities at an early age and to provide students with similar academic and intellectual abilities the chance to interact in a classroom setting.

With a program designed to accommodate high-achieving students in place, GATE-identified students are given the chance to develop their academic skills in an environment that fits their individual needs while receiving resources to fulfill their potential. However, since the GATE exam is often utilized in determining the prerequisites necessary for honors and college prep classes after elementary school, the exam is wrongfully seen as a single measuring factor in determining a student’s intelligence. Misinformed parents and students often link better scores on the GATE exam to higher intelligence levels, exacerbating a split between GATE-identified and nonGATE-identified students.

In order to take advantage

of the divide, concerned parents feel pressure to enroll their children in SAT-style boot camps designed specifically for this test. Instead of identifying naturally gifted students, as stated by its original intentions, the GATE exam measures how well a student has prepared for the exam, skewing results toward students that can pay for these expensive prep classes or are compelled to attend them.

The GATE exam itself has also shifted from being an accurate identification of gifted students to a meaningless test students take with little correlation to their later performance. In a study conducted at the Saint James School of Medicine, researchers found that the brain undergoes a rewiring process until the age of 25. Many of the brain’s constantly-developing lobes and synaptic connections manage necessary developmental skills students need for success in school. When third graders take the GATE exam, their brains have not finished developing, making it unreason-

able to expect their scores on this exam to be an accurate predictor of their future potential.

While the GATE exam has its flaws, it is important to note that the exam is merely meant to provide students of different learning abilities with materials to nurture their academic development. GATE in itself does not strive to divide children based on perceived intelligence levels; it is students and parents who do this. By promoting a mindset where students who are not “Gifted and Talented” are looked down upon, the division between GATE-identified and non-GATE-identified students worsens, and the pressure to be part of this “gifted” minority increases.

Students should not define themselves by a single test; they should look past the GATE exam to appreciate their own unique skill sets and talents. The impacts of GATE reach further than the number of courses a student can take — the misinformation surrounding the exam has caused students to create an unnecessary divide between themselves. In the end, the divide between honors and college prep students lies not in GATE, but in parents’ and students’ misconstrued perception of it. ▪

When third graders take the GATE exam, their brains have not finished developing, making it unreasonable to expect their scores on this exam to be an accurate predictor of their future potential.

GRAPHIC BY PNGGURU.COM

The Profit Behind the College Board's "Nonprofit" Does the College Board live up to its title as a nonprofit?

By Anika Arora & Tavish Mohanti Staff Writers

This year, the College Board enforced new policies regarding AP exams, adding a $40 cancellation and late registration fee on top of the $94 needed to register. Testing fees — whether for SAT subject tests, SAT exams, or AP exams — have always been high, costing $26 for the cheapest tests. Although the College Board claims to be “a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success,” its unreasonable prices reflect a monetary rather than charitable motive, incongruous to its label as a nonprofit organization.

Nonprofits, according to the National Council of Nonprofits, are technically prohibited from operating for any monetary gain.

While the College Board claims to abide by this requirement, their earnings show otherwise. With a yearly revenue of $1.1 billion in 2017, according to www.totalregistration.net, the company is worth more than In-N-Out Burger, which had $575 million revenue the same year. Even more concerning, according to Fox News, former College Board President David Coleman earned a base salary of $550,000 and a total compensation of $750,000 in 2012. This extravagant amount had already been reduced due to complaints about the previous president’s base salary of $1.3 million. And despite the initial salary re-

duction, Coleman’s salary grew to just under $1 million by 2016, according to the news organization Reuters.

Although the College Board claims to be “a mission-driven not-forprofit organization that connects students to college success,” its unreasonable prices reflect a monetary rather than charitable motive, incongruous to its label as a nonprofit organization.

Because there are only a few major testing organizations like the College Board, they are able to operate as monopolies under their “nonprofit” facade and charge steep prices.

The statistics of these so-called “nonprofits” do not align with their proclaimed values of helping people rather than accumulating profit.

Further, the company’s recent changes in policies reflect an even more financially motivated goal.

Although not explicitly stated, it is widely believed that the College Board changed the SAT scale in 2016 from 2400 to 1600 in order to compete with the ACT, which had recently surpassed the SAT in popularity. Creating an easier version of the test to attract more students, the College Board combined the two 800-point writing

and reading comprehension sections into one cumulative 800-point section and removed the guessing penalty. Simultaneously, the essay became optional rather than mandatory. This easier version proved effective: according to news journal Education Week, the SAT had reclaimed its status as the most widely used test by 2018.

It stands to reason that the College Board may have changed the format solely to compete with their rivals, the ACT, therefore playing to

Most MSJ students are able to overlook these fees because of their socioeconomic privilege. However, these steep prices can act as a barrier for less-privileged students. their own financial gain rather than focusing on the legitimacy of their tests.

With regards to the new AP fees introduced this year, most MSJ students are able to overlook these fees because of their socioeconomic privilege. However, these steep prices can act as a barrier for less privileged students. For example, the SAT test fees are absurdly and unnecessarily high, ranging from $49.50 to $64.50, and prevent many students of low-income families from taking the standardized tests. Coupled with limited access to tutoring services and test preparation centers, low-income students are at a severe disadvantage, deprived of the same opportunities as their peers nationwide. Of course, the College Board addresses this issue with a seemingly simple solution — fee waivers. Fee waivers are offered to students who

fall within certain income eligibility guidelines.

These fee waivers, though, involve a lengthy, difficult process, which includes large amounts of paperwork and requires heavy school administration involvement, and has tight restrictions on the number and value of fee waivers provided. They also limit how many times feewaived students can retake tests like the SAT. Students who use waivers are only allowed two free SATs, contrasting with many students at MSJ who retake the exam three or four times to receive an ideal score. The College Board forces students to pay hefty prices and half-heartedly hands inaccessible and inadequate “fee waivers” to hide the organization’s blatant, greedy practices.

“Nonprofit” is more than just a label. This designation often comes with benefits including exemptions from certain taxes and eligibility for personal grants. Although the College Board reaps the rewards of being a nonprofit, it functions with the purpose of making a profit. It is inconsiderate and selfish for the College Board to impose high costs for a test that is required for a majority of college applications, especially under a “nonprofit” label. Rather, more attention should be brought to their malpractices, and the organization should not be allowed to continue to operate as a nonprofit. If the College Board wants to continue being labeled as such, they must align their vision with their practices by making tests more accessible to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds, and allocating their funds to truly “connect students to college success.” ▪ GRAPHIC BY PNGLOT.COM

6 Feature

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, October 25, 2019

Dear Diary: Writer's Block

By Lily Oh Staff Writer

Friday, September 20: I have been summoned onto the mortal lands for the sole, virtuous purpose of blessing a lucky human with my presence. I will be a total life changer for that person. A true shame that I only affect one human at a time; I know humans think sharing is caring, but they’ll have to deal with the misfortune that I can’t personally bless them all. Oh, have I mentioned what I am? It appears that I have not.

Behold… I am Writer’s Block, the barrier between you and your ideas!

Saturday, September 21: I have found a suitable subject! I was cruising around a school campus, on the lookout for the most deserving human of all, and for a while it seemed today wasn’t going to be my day. But lo and behold, there he was — sitting at the lunch table, ignoring his friends, and typing away at his computer. I knew at first sight that we would be a perfect match. However, just to make sure that I would be compatible with him, I followed him around. Thankfully, he didn’t disappoint, and I have now taken over.

His writing ideas are now under my control — well, somewhat, at least. I can see his ideas floating around him, and I can make them move away from him.

Sunday, September 22: Today was an amazing day. This boy and I are a match made in heav-

en. He had so many neat little ideas coming at him. I still can’t believe how intense it was! It was so much fun to flick them all the way across the room and watch his fingers pause on the keyboard. But today was more of a warm-up, as I haven’t blessed anyone in a while. Tomorrow, he’ll receive the full extent of my care. It’s a pity that I can’t chat with him; I’m sure he’d be excited if he knew about it. Well, he’ll know tomorrow!

Monday, September 23: As promised, today was different from yesterday. My performance today represents the best of my abilities.

Can you believe it? I didn’t let a single idea through! There were so many littles ones flying in left and right, but I guarded my human vigorously.

I couldn’t bear to let an idea in and bother my human — he was working vigorously towards baldness, pulling out handfuls of hair! Aren’t I sweet?

Tuesday, September 24: My human is conspiring to get rid of me using … me? I am incredibly puzzled. I heard him talk to someone about going to something called “Writer’s Block” to try to get over me.

Are they my doppelganger? Am I going to die? What’s gonna happen?

Wednesday, September 25: So, as it turned out, “Writer’s Block” is just a bunch of mortals who help other mortals with writing. First

Caffeine Queries

GRAPHIC BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCIA LI

and foremost, did my human really think he could get rid of me simply through the help of another measly human? That’s just disrespectful.

Second of all, my human is such a party pooper! I didn’t mean any harm. I just wanted to have a bit of fun. Why is he treating me like a snotty tissue? He’s so mean… I’m not hurt at all. Not at all...

Thursday, September 26: So, I’ve been thinking. I’m gonna let my human go. He can have his ideas hit him freely. I mean, it’s not because he went to that so-called “Writer’s Block” yesterday or anything. I thought we were a perfect match, but I think my greatness is too much for him. No, I really don’t feel bad at all!

I’m almighty … I don’t pity humans, I swear ▪

The school year has just begun, but sleep deprivation is already the norm for many students. The Smoke Signal has compiled the most effective caffeine sources to keep students awake while simultaneously dispelling any myths around caffeine.

By Megh Basu, Sabrina Cai, & Monisha Saxena Staff Writers

Caffeine Content:

Myths:

Nescafé Classico Dark Roast Instant Coffee 10.83 mg/fl oz

5-hour Energy 100mg/fl oz

Starbucks Caramel Macchiato 9.375 mg/fl oz

Arizona Black Tea 1.875 mg/fl oz

McDonald's Iced Coffee 6.05 mg/fl oz

Monster Energy Drink 10 mg/fl oz

Chick-fil-A Sweet Tea 3.875 mg/fl oz

Starbucks Triple Shot Energy 15 mg/fl oz

One of the most pervasive myths is that your body will become addicted to caffeine. The National Institutes of Health reports that people can become dependent on caffeine, but not addicted. Over time, our bodies become accustomed to the rush of energy, and form a dependency on the substance.

However, the surge in dopamine that caffeine causes is very small compared to the imbalance that other stimulants such as drugs can cause, which is why it is not as extreme as an addiction.

Another myth is that caffeine increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Although caffeine does cause a temporary rise in blood pressure, there is no definitive link between caffeine consumption and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, caffeine can exacerbate existing heart conditions.

In addition, caffeine will not dehydrate your body. In a 2014 study conducted by the University of Birmingham, researchers asked 50 men to drink either four cups of coffee or four cups of water per day. The results showed not only that caffeine does not cause dehydration, but also has similar hydrating effects to water.

Effects: According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 80% of adults in North America consume caffeine daily to alleviate fatigue and improve focus. While caffeine is fast-acting and stimulates productivity, negative side effects include headaches, insomnia, and rapid heart rates. Caffeine also adversely affects long-term health, causing issues like increasing symptoms of anxiety, a rise in blood sugar, and frequent exhaustion.

Frequently Asked Questions: Is coffee or tea more effective to keep you awake?

Since coffee contains three times the amount of caffeine that tea has, it is more effective to keep you awake. However, this means that the negative effects of caffeine, such as symptoms of anxiety and higher susceptibility to headaches, are stronger when you drink coffee rather than tea.

Which type of tea has the most caffeine?

Black tea contains the most caffeine, with about 60 to 90 mg in an 8 oz cup.

How long does it usually take for caffeine to kick in?

Although the amount of time differs based on how the caffeine is consumed, it takes about 45 minutes to be fully absorbed by the organs.

How long does it take for the effects of caffeine to wear off ?

People tend to have different sensitivities to caffeine. However, on average, the effects of caffeine wear off in four to six hours.

How much caffeine is in one cup of coffee/tea?

An 8 oz cup of coffee contains around 95 mg of caffeine, while a cup of tea of the same size has 27 mg.

Is drinking coffee/tea then taking a nap more effective than doing either individually?

Scientists have theorized that drinking coffee then taking a nap can boost energy levels. This is because taking a nap rids your body of adenosine, a chemical that makes you drowsy. Caffeine prevents the remaining tiring chemical from being received by the brain, which lessens fatigue.

GRAPHICS COURTESY PIXABAY.COM, JESSICA AND LON BINDER, RUSTY CLARK, LISA FOTIOS, MIKE MOZART, DAVID SANABRIA & SHARDAYYY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Smoke Signal

WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG

Feature 7

drinking the water

By Anya Agarwal, Christine Dong, Kruthi

T h e D i eGollapudi H a rStaff d& Amanda Tr y HPang a r d s Tr y Writers

Wat e r Ta s t i n g Bottled water manufacturers claim their products come from exotic sources with different additives and minerals that ensure the crisp taste that consumers crave. But do the so-claimed unique blends of minerals and filtration actually make something as seemingly tasteless like water truly flavorful? In a taste test, four aspiring sommeliers of water sampled six different brands of bottled water while blind-folded in hopes of putting the myth of tasteless water to rest. They ranked the waters based on flavor and revealed if price is truly correlated to a water’s quality.

By Anya Agarwal, Christine Dong, Kruthi Gollapudi & Amanda Pang Staff Writers

Water Brands (lowest to highest price)

TAP WATER $0/ 16.9 fluid oz.

a n ya When

ARROWHEAD

CRYSTAL GEYSER

$0.15/ 16.9 fluid oz.

$0.15/ 16.9 fluid oz.

christine

thinking

ACQUA PANNA $1.25/ 16.9 fluid oz.

SMARTWATER $1.25/ 16.9 fluid oz.

kruthi

VOSS

$2.09/ 16.9 fluid oz.

amanda

about

As the saying goes,

Water: so simple, yet so

I am a picky eater.

soda, juice, or even milk,

“Hydrate or die-drate.”

sophisticated. This trans-

After 15 years of hard-

specific flavors come to

I haven’t died yet, which

lucent liquid has been an

core pampering, I have

mind. What about water? But

means I’m no stranger to

essential part of my life since

cultivated my taste buds

water is tasteless and serves only as a necessity

hydration and the cool, refreshing feel of high

I left the womb sixteen years ago, and because I

to differentiate between every subtle detail of

for life. So, bottled water and tap water should have

quality H2O. Although water of different brands

possess extensive knowledge of its many properties

what I eat and drink — water is no exception.

the exact same taste, right? Wrong. The simple, pre-

and origins may look the same and, to the unen-

and attributes, I self-diagnosed myself a water con-

The crystal-clear liquid is said to have no taste,

dictable taste of tap water is no match for the cool,

lightened, even taste the same, I know differ-

noisseur. Bottled, filtered, straight from the tap — I

but through thorough sampling of each water’s

crisp tone of bottled water. Each refreshing sip is a

ently. With years of water-sampling experience

have tried it all. I am no stranger to the range of flavor

body profile and finish, I know for a fact that

journey exploring an icy mountain in a faraway land.

on my side, I’m confident in my ability to pick

water carries; each covalently-bonded molecule of di-

I will be able to distinguish the unique blends

My friends and family shrug indifferently as I ask them

out even the most minute of differences in fla-

hydrogen monoxide contributes to the coarse texture

of minerals in spring water from the artificial

which brand of water they prefer. But finally, I am able

vor, finish, and feel with ease.

or silky aftertaste the substance leaves in my mouth.

taste of filtered water. For once, my hypercriti-

to put my advanced tastes to use and bring to light

And today, testing my expertise in order to cement my

cal taste buds will be put to good use.

the different flavors and subtle features of water that

position as a water specialist, is truly the opportunity

distinguish between high-quality and cheap water.

of a lifetime.

PERSONAL RANKING OF THE WATERS (LOW TO HIGH) 1. Arrowhead 2. Tap 3. Acqua Panna

3rd

1. Smartwater

0/6 correct

3. Acqua Panna

2. Arrowhead

2nd 1/6 correct (tie)

1. Crystal Geyser 2. Arrowhead 3. Voss 4. Smartwater

2nd 1/6 correct (tie)

1. Tap 2. Crystal Geyser 3. Acqua Panna

1st 2/6 correct

4. Arrowhead

4. Smartwater

4. Tap

5. Voss

5. Crystal Geyser

5. Arrowhead

5. Smartwater

6. Crystal Geyser

6. Voss

6. Tap

6. Voss

THOUGHTS AFTER It turns out that I do not have the proper palate

I hold true to my claim of water expertise. Between

Well, I am thoroughly astonished. I thought I knew

I somehow managed to correctly classify an

for tasting and testing various types of water. What

each of the six samples, I could identify variations in

water like the back of my hand, but I was wrong.

astonishing 2/6, which was both expected and

a shame. I had severely overestimated my skills of

acidity, flavor, mouthfeel, and the ever present, sick-

My expertise is nothing but a lie, proven by my final

unexpected. I went into the challenge thinking my

matching the water to the brand and sadly received

ly-sweet tinge of plastic. However, it turns out that

score of 1/6 The lush, full-bodied texture of the es-

picky eating habits would provide the gateway to

a final outcome of 0/6. What I believed to be high-

I’m terrible at connecting taste with prices — my

teemed Smart Water was so foreign to me, I deemed

my success. Sure, my exquisite taste buds picked

end water brimming with minerals turned out to be

top choice for best water due to its crisp, refresh-

it to be an attribute of the overpriced Voss. And even

up on some differences in mineral and filtration

the simple and cheap Crystal Geyser. I must admit,

ing flavor ended up being tap water, the cheapest

worse, I believed Crystal Geyser’s moderately dry

levels. But turns out, after chugging down so many

however, that even though I couldn’t tell if the wa-

option. Conversely, the least palatable water I

flavor and supple, tart finish to be that of tap water!

cups of water, my taste buds decided to shut down.

ter was a pricey Voss or a generic Crystal Geyser,

sampled, Voss, which left an overwhelmingly sweet

Good gracious! I am so ashamed. At least I identified

Smartwater began to resemble Voss, which then

I could undeniably discern the differences in the

flavor in my mouth long after I had drained the cup,

the crisp consistency of Acqua Panna spring water

resembled tap water. Every cup of water seemed to

taste, whether it be the sweetness level or the

was the priciest. I don’t feel like I’m wrong in my

that graced my palate with its delicate touch. Even

have the same disgusting finish that lingered onto

flavor intensity. Yes, my taste buds may be lacking

rankings, even if I only got 1/6 right; if anything, the

though I am embarrassed by my failure, I feel bless-

the following sample of water, muddying most of my

when it comes to analyzing water quality, but I can

price tag and companies are wrong. My taste buds

ed to have been given this wonderful opportunity to

analyses. In the end, it was my guessing abilities

still take pride in my ability to detect the subtle

don’t lie, and I firmly believe that the market should

reassess my prowess as a water connoisseur.

that truly participated in this challenge and won me

differences in taste of the most essential liquid in

rearrange itself to suit what I find valuable in water.

the victory.

the world.

PHOTO BY FEATURE EDITOR KELLY YANG, GRAPHICS CREDIT ARROWHEADWATER.COM, CRYSTALGEYSERASW.COM, ACQUAPANNA.COM, DRINKSMARTWATER.COM & VOSSWATER.COM.

8 Feature

WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG

The Smoke Signal

Friday, October 25, 2019

Organization Spotlight: GENup

By Sumani Alem & Nishi Bhagat Staff Writers

PHOTO COURTESY ALVIN LEE

Amid the growing number of teacher strikes and educational funding inequity problems among students and educational funding disputes, Junior Alvin Lee founded grassroot organization GENup to spark change. GENup fights for student advocacy and youth perspectives on all facets of education with the goal of creating a unified student-advocacy community throughout CA. The organization’s specific goals range from restoring $11 billion a year for public services, such as community college and schooling, to reforming commercial property taxes. On a local level, GENup leads campaigns to rally against certain FUSD policies. On November 9, members will attend the “March 4 Education” protest, where

they plan to march for a better quality of education: advocating for an educator’s fair, living wage, a reduction in student loan debts, and extreme budget cuts for K-12 schools.

To accomplish these goals, Lee and his team work extensively with other student organizations and teacher associations, such as Bay Area Student Activists and United Teachers of Richmond. MSJ members of GENup include Seniors Yukati Gupta, Ishaana Kodnani, and Emily Zou and Juniors Alvin Lee, Hasika Sridhar, and Ani Tonoyan. In particular, Kodnani’s passion for student activism started in 2018, when she was involved in an organization called StudentsRise that helped plan the student walk-in in March, protesting in solidarity for

an increase in teachers’ pay. Although she has only recently joined GENup, she said “Working on the GENup team has already been such a rewarding and eye-opening experience for me. It helps me be well-informed of the injustices underprivileged educators and students face.”

Beyond their team at MSJ, GENup works with a variety of community partners, but identifying strong community partners to join the cause was one of the biggest challenges GENup faced; Lee said, “Establishing credibility with our affiliates was undoubtedly one of our biggest challenges [however], we were able to build up an adult coalition comprised of community organizations from across the bay area, and the state.”

Despite these challenges, GENup has grown to have more than 18 affiliates today, and ee hopes that the organization’s public presence continues to advance. In regard to how he hopes GENup will continue to help students, he said, “By bringing awareness to these education injustices, I hope that many more students will see the need to get involved in their own education before it’s too late — nothing should ever be taken for granted, especially one’s own education.” ▪

Want to get involved?

for more information visit www.generationup.com

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Freshmen

AVENGERS c/o 2023

Centerspread 9

By Sumani Alem & Nishi Bhagat Staff Writers After months of anticipation, students arrived on Monday morning to an amphitheater filled with gleaming blue balloons for the first day of Homecoming. Captain mericaʼs bold colors brought the draping backdrop to life, and the “2023” posters on the side transformed the amphitheater into a blue-tinted Marvel inspired scene. As the MSJ community assembled for the first performance, the freshmen donned their blue gear and eagerly waited to scream their new class chant: “23, MVP.” The skit began with eager middle schooler, Steve Rogers, anticipating the joy of going to high school and planning Homecoming. ith the help of r. Erskineʼs super-serum, Rogers finally enters high school, awaiting his first Homecoming experience. illed with humor, suspense, and wit, the script follows Rogersʼ journey as he and his fellow superheroes overcome obstacles such as the theft of the Homecoming funds when planning for homecoming. In the end, the plotline emphasizes the importance of unity through the four classes' collective efforts to work through these challenges and to recover the funds necessary to pull off Homecoming. The audience also appreciated that the freshmen did not adhere to the usual assignment of classes to characters; the skit highlighted the camaraderie between the classes rather than displaying the differences. Such differences set the skit apart from previous freshman Homecoming performances and filled the campus with laughter and enthusiasm, establishing a solid start to Homecoming week.

Exuding zeal and talent, the airbands dispersed throughout the skit built a lively and engaging atmosphere, highlighting the obvious effort put into the performance by the freshmen. The lyrical airband garnered huge cheers as they gracefully danced to beloved hits such as Christina Perriʼs “Human and illie Eilishʼs “idontwannabeyouanymore. The crowd swayed to the music and sang along with the freshman vocalists. The performance wrapped up with a lively Bollywood dance, featuring upbeat songs that drew roaring cheers from the crowd. Easily the largest airband, the Bollywood airband rejuvenated the crowd in the oppressive midday heat. Clad in sparkly navy outfits, the dancersʼ choreography to the Hindi-English songs “Shake t Saiyyan” from Rascals and “Maahi Ve” from Kal Ho Na Ho was energetic and unique.

While the performance suffered from a few technical difficulties with the soundtracks, skit volume, and line delivery, the temporary disturbances were minor hiccups. With the overarching themes of unity and class comedy, the freshman class successfully pulled off their first Homecoming performance with striking spirit and exuberance.

“[The most memorable part of the performance was] definitely the spirit… The people backstage were screaming really loudly.”

— Andria Luo, 9

“The ending was the most memorable part because they all gathered to the middle of the stage and bowed. ʼve never seen other classes do that before so it was really cool seeing freshmen do that.”

— Celeste Yen, 11

“The [freshmen] were really organized. Their uniforms were all synchronized, and their Bollywood [airband] was really good. The skit was also pretty well written out, well rehearsed, and well performed, and I overall really liked their performance.”

— Jonathan Tao, 10

“I think their Bollywood performance was really good, and they were really good about timing… I think that that was really well done. I also liked the Billie Eilish song, [“idontwannabeyouanymore.”] That was pretty memorable and everyone seemed to enjoy it a lot.”

— Eshika Aggarwal, 12

PHOTOS BY GRAPHICS EDITOR KIMBERLY HUANG, STAFF WRITERS MAHEK BHORA & MAGGIE LAI, GRAPHICS COURTESY CLASS OF 2023.

10 Centerspread

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“The sophomore K-pop airband was the best. Their routine was very well prepared. It was very clean and coordinated. They also had very good stage presence. Their song choices were very good for hyping up a large crowd.”

— Etta Sou, 9

The Smoke Signal

“Everyone's hard work and effort really shone through ... and its really difficult to chose a best part since everything was so good. I think the most memorable part of hoco was definitely when the sophomore trainers' backdrop was replaced with the pokemon meme backdrop. Deco did an amazing job with that, and it was pretty well hidden so even a lot of us very really surprised to see it happen.”

— Aditi Morumganti, 10

“I think they were very impressive with their airbands, and they were very unique. I thought the airbands were very energetic and hyped up. I saw a lot of cool tricks and stunts which left a deep impression on me, and made the airbands all really engaging and fun to watch.”

— Elaine Leiyoung, 11

Friday, October 25, 2019

“There were so many people on stage and just by sheer quantity you feel the excitement. You want to cheer, you want to dance. It was really exciting too when the sophomores started waving their hands, and they were really getting into it.”

— Alison Zhang, 12

“The airbands were the best because they improved the most from freshman year. It was obvious they put a lot of effort into the airbands, and it was very fun to watch them. The part that everyone remembers is when they replaced the backdrop with the Pickachu meme.

I'm sure everyone was surprised by that, and it was funny.”

When they took down the poster and the Pikachu meme came out, I think that was creative. What I liked the most was how united ...

Bollywood [was] because there were so many people but they still [included] everyone.

— Sabeen Al-Khasib, 10 Misty - Freshman

— edward lu, 12

SOPHOMORE TRAIN ERS ERS

By Anya Agarwal & Brooke Zheng Staff Writers

Bold yellow and white balloons pleasantly greeted the audience on Tuesday morning, complementing a sunset backdrop. Silhouettes of Ash, Team Rocket, and Pikachu set up the scene for the world of Pokémon. The sophomores were in high spirits and covered with yellow face paint throughout the day as they chanted, “22, better than you.”

As audience members filled the grassy amphitheater, they were greeted with a performance by Gregory’s Big Band, a student jazz group, hyping up the crowd for the upcoming performances.

The sophomores loosely based their performance on the TV show Pokémon, in which Team Rocket, Jessie, James, and Meowth try to steal Pokémon from Ash, Misty, Dawn, Brock, and Professor Oak. After Team Rocket stole Pokéballs from Professor Oak’s lab, the sophomores dropped their original backdrop to reveal the legendary “Surprised Pikachu” meme.

The stunt was received with deafening cheers from all four classes. After clashing with each other when deciding the best method to gather their captured Pokémon and failing to do so independently, the characters all learn the importance of unity and working together towards the common goal. Exceeding the audience’s expectations, the sophomores smoothly incorporated airbands throughout the skit and created a memorable performance that had all classes roaring in excitement.

The crowd was high in spirits and sang along as the singing airband performed Taylor Swift’s iconic “22.” The sophomores also enthusiastically danced to recreated music based on the Pokémon theme song, referencing popular dance moves. Audience members reacted with delight to the different twists in this airband, such as using masks to display a more mysterious vibe and incorporating unique robotic dance moves.

The rest of the sophomore airbands’ performances went without any significant technical difficulties. Meanwhile, the crowd grew increasingly loud and more spirited. During the energetic K-pop airband performance, the stage was crowded with dancers in bright colors, while songs such as “Love Shot” by EXO and “Victory Song” by Stray Kids played in the background. The climactic suspense of the fight scene mesmerized the crowd, with the fighters throwing punches and doing dramatic flips. The realistic routine kept the crowd anticipating each successive move and left the audience cheering with joy as they witnessed the fighters battle to upbeat music.

The sophomores closed their performance with the tireless and spirited Bollywood airband striking their last pose. Afterwards, all the performers rushed onto the stage cheering their class chant, marking a perfect closing scene.

PHOTOS BY CENTERSPREAD EDITOR KAREN LI, STAFF WRITERS NISHI BHAGAT & SUMANI ALEM, GRAPHICS COURTESY CLASS OF 2022.

Friday, October 25, 2019

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Centerspread 11

The

Wizarding world of 2021

By Mingxin Wang & Alina Zeng Staff Writers Excitement filled the air as students settled down in the amphitheater for the juniorsʼ Homecoming performance on October 9. Dark cardboard trees lined the railings, and colorful balloons, representing all four houses from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, hovered above a captivated audience. Wooden numbers stood atop the hill, painted with the colors of the night sky. The backdrop accentuated the style and flair of the theme, depicting an ominous image of Hogwarts looming over the stage. Along the bottom of the stage stretched a banner with the iconic Harry Potter line: “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.”

The skit wove a story based on the four Hogwarts houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw from the original Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The story follows Freshman Hermione Granger, Sophomore Ron Weasley, Junior Draco Malfoy, and Senior Harry Potter as they attempt to save Magic San Jose High Schoolʻs Homecoming Ball. Along the way, they learn the importance of unity through defeating Tom Riddle together.

The skit evoked endless laughter with well-written jokes, once referring to MSJʼs iconic pun of the day. Their references to MSJ culture kept the audience engaged, and added life into the performance.

Woven into their skit, the juniors had many airbands that bubbled with spirit. The performance kicked off with the singing airband, accompanied by a live band and energetic cheerleaders. The audience sang along to “Sucker” by the Jonas Brothers and “a lot” by 21 Savage ft. J. Cole and waved their hands along to “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. Shortly afterward, the jazz and lyrical airbands impressed the crowd with their technique and flexibility. Different from the graceful airbands preceding it, the contrasting songs and choreography in the hip-hop airband brought the audience to their feet cheering, especially as Chance the Rapperʼs “My Own Thing” ft. Joey Purp energized the amphitheater. The Garba/ Raas and Bhangra airbands danced in unison with light footwork, persevering through some technical difficulties with the audio. Pairs stood out in the Ballroom airband for their challenging stunts and graceful movements. As the dancers were lifted into the air, the audience sang along to “Paradise” by Bazzi and “Lost in Japan” by Shawn Mendes. At the climax of the skit, an intense, action-packed fight scene was executed dramatically, backed by an electronic remix of the Harry Potter theme song. The crowd cheered to support the protagonists as they came together to defeat Tom Riddle. The last airband filled the stage with Bollywood performers dancing side by side. At the end, Class of 2021 surged onstage, drowning out all other sounds in the amphitheater as they chanted, “twenty-one.”

The Wizarding World of 2021 transformed the amphitheater to reflect the magical atmosphere of Harry Potter. With flags, vuvuzelas, and cheering, their class unity shone above all else, making their performance a memorable part of their second-to-last Homecoming.

“ The best part of the junior performance was probably the deco because it was so authen tic and realistic to their theme of Harry Potter. You can tell that their deco team worked really hard on it. I think the mo st memorable part was how loud the crowd cheered for the airbands, and the airbands themselves were really good too.”

— Jackie Wang, 9 their good… hey s is year... a w well again th ough and] hronized. T ly al b re ir d a di [ s nior clas s even th ryone s sync ip-hop “I think the ju commitment really show memorable their h od and it wa spirit too. Eve tions t h g d u os an o o the m t of yg cora “I th their spirit a busy year… their spirit… their as reall and had lots liked the de orest. I w ch su o is e r ar I d cho to be af junior ye would have ally lou eering… o.” ] into e on it and of the class were re class was ch [the railing ally pretty to 0 rt ent lots of tim hyped.” sp pa ey th e e lik e e 1 r ed h d and ok from t w] they ma ackdrop was Ria Kolala, decorations lo they were also very spirited hi Jain, 12 b — o h ir — Ris t the [and though

probably the “The most memorable part for me was y hyped up beginning of K-pop because the crowd was reall everyone cheer in the beginning, and it felt good to hear was the first p so loudly when we started. Since K-po a good time up set y airband that I performed in, it reall rmances.” perfo my of rest the for — Sophie Cui, 11

PHOTOS BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCIA LI, CENTERSPREAD EDITOR SHREYA SRIDHAR, STAFF WRITERS LILY OH & TANISHA SRIVATSA, GRAPHICS COURTESY CLASS OF 2021.

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“The most memorable part of the performance was the ending of the skit. It almost made me tear up a tiny bit because it’s our last Homecoming and that was like the final speech, and the bow at the end was so sad because it felt like a goodbye from our characters throughout our high school years’ Homecoming. It’s honestly really hard to believe that we’re seniors already, and homecoming will definitely be one of my best memories of high school.”

“The senior class had the best skit, because the actors and actresses played their roles well, incorporating their characters’ personalities into each line of the performance.

The senior skit had a sweet storyline and engaged the audience.”

Friday, October 25, 2019

“The most memorable part for me was probably the decorations. Deco always goes full out, and this year was really cool, probably because they used my favorite movie. I really liked seeing the Baymax plushie next to the graduation year.”

— Mariana Zepeda, 11

— Christine Wouang, 12

— Chloe Wang, 11

big hero

seniors oweiafhreiugheuighrwepighr o ohwuihwe wphf uire huiwiufghreuigriueog riuoh4 ui3guiofgeruifgeiorbrieobriebiu

“I thought that the senior class really came together today.

Despite the extreme winds this morning, we still used our deco to its full effect, and the performance went without a hitch. Class of 2020 has never been more hype.”

— Daniel Geschke, 12

“I think every part of the performance today was really memorable, so it’s hard to pick just one moment. I’m definitely going to remember how everyone in the audience stood up towards the end of the performance. I remember being a little confused when that happened, but it felt like everyone was united in that one moment. The seniors did amazing and they definitely set an example. It was a bittersweet ending to to homecoming week.”

— Jennie wang, 9

By Mahek Bhora & Maggie Lai Staff Writers

“The most memorable part was the senior class’s enthusiasm because no other class was that enthusiastic. [In the] Ballroom [airband], no one dropped anyone and many people participated in it.”

The final day of Homecoming performances began with the Class of 2020 yelling their signature “Oo-Ah! You wish you were a senior!” chant while marching to the amphitheater. As they flooded in, a sea of red covered the lawn and roaring cheers stayed strong throughout the entire performance.

Lined with red and white balloons, the amphitheater was adorned with decorations that clearly displayed the seniors’ theme of Big Hero 6. Eye-catching paintings and cardboard cutouts of the major characters like Hiro and Honey Lemon could also be found throughout the whole area. The seniors decided against the traditional four strings of balloons from the archway down to the amphitheater due to the strong winds that day, choosing instead to frame the backdrop and railings with balloons. They also decorated the pathway leading down to the stage with photographs of themselves, adding a unique, personal touch. Off to the side, the vibrant red numbers and two large Baymax dolls created a popular photo zone for students.

The senior skit stayed true to the storyline of Big Hero 6 while simultaneously making it relevant to MSJ culture. Motifs of friendship, understanding, and trust were woven through the lines of the actors: Freshman Fred, Sophomore Honey Lemon, Junior GoGo, and Senior Hiro. Keeping the storyline true to the movie’s, the skit follows the journey of the four characters, led by Hiro, to find who sabotaged Homecoming. They work together to find the enemy while simultaneously learning to trust one another. In the end, the four show the enemy, Callaghan, that Homecoming is a time for inclusivity and class spirit. The skit continually rallied the audience together with the actors’ smooth transitions on and off stage and served as a perfect example of MSJ students uniting and working to achieve a common goal.

The senior airbands were filled with high energy and a unified spirit.

Starting off strong with the Singing airband, the seniors hyped up the audience with song choices that brought out their class’s bold spirit, like Demi Lovato’s “Sorry Not Sorry,” which had the whole senior class singing along and cheering proudly. Even with dance airbands like Urban and Bollywood having a full stage of performers, they were still full of swift formation changes: sharp, synchronized movements; and entertaining facial expressions. EZM, MSJ’s K-pop group, elicited a roar of cheers the moment they stepped on stage. Their moves were dynamic and executed cleanly, and their tracklist, which included high-energy songs such as “Cherry Bomb” by NCT and “Like It” by CLC had the crowd jumping in excitement the entire time. The Ballroom airband was a heart-warming performance, with the dancers holding roses in their hands while spinning to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” Every minute of the fight scene was explosive and action-packed. Performers delivered realistic blows that had the audience cheering and gasping at the same time. The stunts and flips were natural and fluid, further indicating the amount of practice and effort the seniors put into their performance.

The seniors’ final Homecoming performance was the perfect end to their journey through high school, from their days as Ohana Freshmen to Big Hero Seniors. The entire audience felt the nostalgia and excitement from the traditional senior roller coaster crowd move. With high spirits and riveting performances, the Class of 2020 left a lasting mark on MSJ that will be remembered for years to come.

— Ragalina Palaka, 10

PHOTOS BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCIA LI, GRAPHICS EDITOR SELINA YANG, STAFF WRITERS BROOKE ZHENG & ANYA AGARWAL, GRAPHICS COURTESY CLASS OF 2020.

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Arts & Entertainment 13

C R I T I C S’ C O R N E R The Addams Family Is Terrifyingly Tepid

IMDB.COM

By Tavish Mohanti Staff Writer The Addams Family, based on the comics by Charles Addams and the 1960s sitcom by the same name, is a fa-boo-lous letdown — complete with an underdeveloped plot and an excessively saccharine message. The film contributes little, relying on references and iconic elements of the original series to please the audience and capitalizes on the fan-following of the television series and the characters masterfully created

by Charles Addams. A message about being unique, the film need only take a page from its own book.

The directors of the film, Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon, specialize in comedy-horror, and fortunately, there is an abundance of the latter. Throughout the film, there are tiny details — nooses as pigtails, a toy guillotine, and more — that add to the overall frightening atmosphere, a hallmark of the television series. Complete with a feisty and flesh-eating plant named Cleopatra, a Frankensteinian but-

G a m e By t e s untitled goose game

ler, and a haunted house, the film succeeds in creating a world of monsters, ghouls, and witches reminiscent of the beloved comics.

Unfortunately, the dreadfully clichè plot makes the movie a dull, tedious waste of potential. The television series and the comics provide mountains of material to refer to and build off of, and the film heinously squanders it. Throughout the film, it is easy to predict the outcome, as it lacks any substantial plot twists or unexpected developments. The plot of the film is at best incredibly boring, with a painfully basic message of the importance of being yourself. It preaches that people should appreciate everyone’s uniqueness and embrace their flaws and love everyone. Great — but what’s new The film stays true to the reference material when building the characters. Each character is distinctive and quirky, expertly and artfully designed to create visual masterpieces. However, this was to be expected, as the comics and television series already provided fully fleshed out characters.

The humor helps save the film from becoming a dragging, abominable mess. The comedic timing of each joke is impeccable, and a variety helps keep each joke fresh and hilarious. A disembodied hand provides slapstick humor throughout the film, and witty puns keep the movie limping along. The mixture of dark and surreal humor from absurd situations and wordplay create a masterful blend of jokes that keeps the audience from being lulled to sleep by the lullaby that is the plot. If the film had not been so unbearably predictable, it would have actually been enjoyable.

Through and through, The Addams Family fails to maintain the charm of the sitcom and preys upon the nostalgia of the audience to succeed. However, the true horror of the film is its obvious inadequacy compared to the series and comics. The Addams Family will forever be a stain on a once glorious franchise, saved from the guillotine only by the sentimentality of fans. ▪ Rating: C+

fandom delivers diverse pop punk

By Christine Dong Staff Writer Pop punk band Waterparks is known for their genre-pushing, eclectic style, and their third album FANDOM is evidence of their innovative sound. After five promotional singles and lead singer Awsten Knight’s aggressive endorsement of FANDOM on Twitter, anticipation has built up for their October release. Fortunately, FANDOM lives up to the hype, as the band redefines pop punk with insightful commentary on relationships and their expectations with their trademark highly-personal lyrics.

Compared to Waterparks’ previous releases, FANDOM is much more ambitious in its meaning, which critiques relationships, both personal and parasocial, and the expectations that come with them. Although the band is no stranger to love and break-up songs — multiple tracks off their last two album releases, Double Dare and Entertainment, are exactly that — they explore novel territory with their commentary on the eponymous fandom and its lofty expectations. Their drive to innovate rather than stagnate is obvious and impressive, and it extends to their sound as well.

The album opens with the cinematic, sweeping “Cherry Red,” and the momentum it builds doesn’t falter for a moment through the album, even as it weaves between genres. Harsh rock sounds fit neatly next to upbeat pop and

GENIUS.COM

electronic rap, with short, experimental interludes punctuating more traditionally structured songs. Despite the contrasting styles, transitions from track to track are seamless and smooth. The end of the final track “I Felt ounger When We Met” even samples the beginning of the first song, bringing the album full circle — FANDOM is a cohesive, dynamic package made to be played on repeat.

However, despite the sonic diversity, the album’s atmosphere is heavy. This constant angst and inner turmoil begins to wear on listeners, yet standing out from the slog of frustration and anger is the cheery “Telephone.” Describing immediate, exciting infatuation, the track brightens up the album and offers a brief respite that still ties well into the album’s overall mood, with cynical lyrics like “I can be your best yet / Future favorite regret.”

Such lyrics are both a strength and a weakness. In an interview with the Daily Bruin, Knight said, “I want to keep it very blunt because I don’t want anything to be misinterpreted.” His honesty allows for a compelling delivery of the lyrics, especially noticeable in “[Reboot]” as night rapid-fire delivers, “And now you box me out I’m out the ring But the only ring I want / Is the ring around your finger.” et at times, the highly personal nature makes it seem like Knight is oversharing or rambling, leaving listeners feeling like awkward voyeurs. The song “I Miss Having Sex But At east I Don’t Wanna Die Anymore” exemplifies this vent-like, chaotic nature, as Knight bounces from mocking “stan culture” to ranting about peer pressure to expressing mixed feelings about a past relationship.

Waterparks’ new album is ambitious in sound, structure, and theme, and for the most part, it doesn’t miss the mark.

Despite a mood and lyrics that are just a little too relentless, FANDOM remains a sonically and thematically interesting album that certainly exceeds expectations. ▪ Rating: B+

Gemini Man fails its star-studded cast

By Sreetama Chowdhury Staff Writer Untitled Goose Game is a charmingly absurd puzzle game that stands out for its sheer silliness. Released on Sept.

20, 2019 by developer House House, its premise is simply summarized as “It is a lovely morning in the village, and you are a horrible goose.” Players play as a malevolent goose whose mission is to irritate the people of a village as much as possible. Priced at $19.99, Untitled Goose Game is currently playable on Mac, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

What makes Untitled Goose Game so entertaining is how straightforwardly slapstick it is. There’s no need for character development or plot twists — throughout the game, the goose is just unapologetically awful. It single-mindedly annoys, attacks, and steals from the villagers with no motive the game’s first mission, for example, is to break into a farmer’s garden, mess up the farmer’s machinery, and take all his food. The simplicity of the plot is refreshing and enjoyable.

The visuals of the game, featuring rounded shapes in soft colors, are minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing.

The soundtrack, on the other hand, is far more dynamic; 18th century French composer Claude Debussy’s Preludes swell or soften based on how much havoc the goose is currently wreaking. It’s engaging and adds another dimension to a game otherwise characterized by uncomplicated gameplay and objectives.

Untitled Goose Game is, overall, wacky and relaxing fun. The undiluted obnoxiousness of the main goose and the easy gameplay combine to form an excellent game for casual entertainment.

Rating: A-

IMDB.COM

By Sakshi Umrotkar Staff Writer Gemini Man, an action-thriller film following the troubles of hitman Henry Brogan’s (Will Smith) fight against his clone, is sadly burdened by an overarching plot. Directed by the critically acclaimed filmmaker Ang ee, this film satisfies in some aspects with its thrilling action scenes and Smith’s skillful portrayal of his guilt-ridden character, but is let down by a lackluster storyline.

The plot reveals that Brogan’s clone, Junior, was created when villain Clay Verris (Clive Owen), the head of government organization GEMINI, realized that cloning the hitman would yield a younger, equally skilled assassin. This revelation is a segue into GEMINI’s covert operation of building an army of soldiers using solely Brogan’s DNA. et, the scenes depicting how Junior was raised and trained by Verris evade

rather than explore the film’s central question of the ethics behind human cloning — a debate which could have made Gemini Man a breath of fresh air in the action-thriller genre.

While the film’s dialogue is well-written and easy to follow, even Smith’s brilliant acting proved ineffective in hiding the two-dimensionality of Brogan’s character, defining him only by the incessant guilt he is plagued with due to his profession.

Much of his character, including his excellent marksmanship and the news of his impending retirement, is already established by the opening scene. et, his backstory is left unexplored save for scattered, untimely childhood flashbacks that add to his character’s ambiguity — counterproductive since his enigmatic personality is left unexplained in the end and rather reemphasizes how inconsistent his character truly is.

Despite the darker side of the film being superficial, the film has

many memorable moments, including scenes featuring Will Smith’s witty banter with fellow agent, Danny Zakarweski (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). A classic protagonist duo, their dynamic celebrates the spirit of comradery amongst Brogan’s fight for survival. In contrast, the majority of Brogan and Junior’s encounters are riddled with extensive fight scenes and Brogan’s feeble attempts at opening Junior’s eyes to Verris’ true intentions — causing the plot to be shallow and less deserving of the thriller aspect that its supposed genre carries.

The use of CGI animation to create a realistic, younger clone of Will Smith is commendable and representative of director Ang ee’s characteristic curiosity with new film technology. Despite concerns over whether ee would succeed with his experimental cinematography, the use of a high frame rate amplified the action scenes to make them more

immersive.

Though the technical aspects of the film were highly impressive, the concluding act falls flat as the fastpaced action sequences between Brogan and Junior regress into a prolonging game of cat and mouse that drags on for longer than necessary.

As the film nears an emotional end, the story wraps up predictably with no plot twist to jolt the audience as an action-thriller usually does. Sadly, the storyline fails to delve deeper into the relevance that cloning technology and ethical code has to the modern world, instead jumping from Brogan’s guilt to the unnecessary introduction of new bureaucratic villains.

Despite stemming from a riveting concept, Gemini Man, in failing to convey a deeper analysis, only grazes the surface of what the film could be.

Rating: B-

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Guide to Relaxing Games

By Alisha Chhangani, Monisha Saxena, & Carolyn Qian Staff Writers

Introduction When stress balls, guided meditations, and cute animal photos aren’t enough for students to let loose and unwind, the Smoke Signal’s top recommended relaxing games will surely do the trick! Read on to learn more about bite-sized, relaxing games available on mobile and PC devices.

Alto’s Adventure

Arts & Entertainment 15

Monument Valley

Designed to keep the player moving forward, frustration-free in its execution, “Monument Valley” is a rare puzzle game that puts the players in the tiny shoes of Ida, a princess in a world of bizarre and fanciful geometry. The game is available on iOS for $3.99 and Android for $0.99. The game requires the players to go through a series of 3D puzzles, where one simply taps the screen to guide Ida through endless stairs and bridges to find her way out. With excellent puzzle design and a warm atmosphere, the game intrigues its players.

“Alto’s Adventure” breaks the mold of conventional sports games. Rather than focusing on gameplay or the adrenaline-rushed excitement of sports, the snowboarding game emulates the enthralling, rhythmic nature of snowboarding. The game is set in stunning mountain landscapes, illuminated in various pastel palettes based on the time of day and accompanied by orchestral music and wildlife sound effects. Controls simply require the player to tap the screen to jump and perform tricks, allowing the player to become immersed in the overall experience of the game.

Alto’s Adventure is available on iOS and Android devices for $5.

Audiosurf

With nearly 85% of the reviews “overwhelmingly positive” on Steam, “Audiosurf” by developer Dylan Fitterer is a music-adapting puzzle racer game available on PC for $9.99. Players can upload audio from their own music library, and the game will create a personalized track based on the music. Audiosurf allows players to unwind to their own music on an aesthetic track, with the shape, speed, and mood of the ride being completely unique to each song.

A moving rocket icon on the racetrack can be controlled by moving the cursor side to side to hit music blocks to the beat of the song, which is simultaneously both therapeutic and challenging.

Grow Home

“Grow Home” started out as a tool for Ubisoft developers to experiment with procedural animation, but it turned into a full-fledged game. The game is available on PC for $7.99.

Players use the character BUD (Botanical Utility Droid), a robot who is trying to save his home planet by harvesting the seeds of a giant alien plant. On his quest, BUD discovers a new world of floating islands that happens to be home to some strange plants and animals. These findings can be used to fulfill missions and as a way to get back home. Players can sit back for hours as the game blends a distinctive visual identity and a humorous tone to create a fresh and relaxing experience.

With over 19 million downloads, “Neko Atsume” by developer Hit-Point is a cult-favorite among cat enthusiasts.

The gameplay is simple: players put out toys and treats in their backyard to attract neighborhood cats. The adorable cats and the soft, playful background music can take the edge off of a hard day as you slowly become a kitten connoisseur. Players can keep track of all the different visitors in their “catbook” album and add different balls and snacks for their furry friends. The mobile game is available for free on the Apple store and Google Play store.

Neko Atsume

Florence

Mountains, a small, tight-knit indie development studio, sought to explore relationships and self-growth realistically, concepts that are often disregarded in video games, with its internationally acclaimed debut “Florence.” The game follows 25 year-old Florence Yeoh, whose life settles into a monotonous routine until she pursues a relationship with a young street performer, inspiring renewed ambitions and self-growth. It takes an unconventional approach to storytelling: the awardwinning soundtrack, puzzle gameplay, and scroll-through comics direct the game’s narrative instead of dialogue.

The wordless, simple storytelling conveys Mountains’ intentions, depicting mundane aspects of life that provide a candid snapshot of Florence’s life and relationship.

The game is available on mobile devices for $2.99.

PHOTOS COURTESY MONUMENTVALLEYGAME.COM, WIKIMEDIA.ORG, FLICKR.COM, UNITY.COM, FLORENCEGAME.COM

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Friday, October 25, 2019

MONTH IN PHOTOS

PHOTOS BY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCIA LI, GRAPHICS EDITOR SELINA YANG, STAFF WRITERS ANYA AGARWAL, NISHI BHAGAT, TANISHA SRIVATSA, LARRY SHI & BROOKE ZHENG, GRAPHICS BY SVGSILH.COM & PIXABAY.COM.

STAFF PICKS: MOVIES & TV

By Varun Upadhyay Staff Writer

“WHAT GENRE OF MOVIES DO YOU PREFER TO WATCH?” “I’m big on all movies in general, but I’m big

“WHAT SHOWS WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO STUDENTS?”

on horrors specifically [...] I feel like I’ve been watching horror for such a long time, so it’s like comforting in a way, which is

“I think [...] The Big Bang Theory. It is a good mix of comedy and also shows that even though you

By Varun Upadhyay

may not be within societal norms, you can still be Staff Writer

weird to say because they’re scary [..] like that.”

— Counselor Jitin Sharma

successful.”

— School Resource Officer Mike Cordero

“Well, This Is Us. It’s about the vicissitudes of life.

There are complications of life, and it’s about how they work with kindness, with caring; I just love the characters.”

— Records Clerk Jean Faust

“WHAT SNACK DO YOU BINGE-WATCH WITH?”

“Plain Fritos with the hottest sauce I could put on it.”

— Campus Supervisor Brandi Speier

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS MEGH BASU

“ARE YOU CURRENTLY BINGE-WATCHING ANY TV SHOWS?” “The last one I did was the Umbrella Academy. It’s about boys and girls who are born randomly all over the world with different powers, and they don’t realize they have them. Then this guy starts adopting all of them, giving them numbers, and he tells this one of his adopted daughters she won’t amount to anything, but she ends up being the strongest of them all. It’s really, really good.”

— Math Teacher Yunor Peralta

& MINGXIN WANG.

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MINGLE’S MANGO

By Anvi Kalucha & Maggie Lai Staff Writers

Arts & Entertainment & Sports 17

Located at 46529 Mission Blvd, Mingle’s Mango is an anime-themed restaurant that opened in late August, focused on delivering an Asian-fusion experience. They specialize in handmade Chinese soup dumplings and savory street-style food, featuring unique takes on popular dishes from all over the continent.

OVERALL: 3.5/5 TASTE: 3.5/5

AMBIANCE: 4/5

A wide array of foods is offered, but many do not stand out individually.

While dishes like the braised pork hand-pulled noodle soup incorporate the right amount of rich broth with tender meat, others are not as impressive. The Badboy Corn, cheese and corn baked with Hot Cheetos crumbs and topped with nut bits, lacks moisture and does not have any unique taste to it. Aside from that, the overwhelming amount of mayonnaise in the Nightmarket Street King, grilled chowmein with shrimp, results in an unpleasant burst of grease and excessive creaminess.

The restaurant’s interior captures customers’ attention with its predominantly red and yellow scheme. People can enjoy manga magazines and Japanese board games in a nook located close to the entrance, which includes a seating area with beanbags that add to the cozy, welcoming atmosphere. The anime theme stands out due to several elements, including walls plastered with vibrant illustrations of popular anime characters and projector screens displaying episodes for restaurant-goers to enjoy while eating. Their choice of incorporating anime into the dining experience gives the restaurant a creative feature, bringing it to a level higher than the typical Asian eatery.

SERVICE: 3.5/5

VALUE: 3/5

With only two servers managing 15 tables in the bustling restaurant, there was not much individual attention from the waiters. Service was minimal, with waiters performing basic tasks such as stopping to pour water on one occasion. The servers were also difficult to communicate with, having little time to answer questions about specific foods and ingredients. However, the ordered dishes came in a fairly quick procession, along with a complimentary starter of shrimp chips.

Like other Asian cuisine spots, Mingle’s Mango offers hand-folded shrimp and pork xiao long bao; their cost of seven dumplings is $12, slightly steeper than other casual cafes, which serve 10 dumplings for a similar price. Their appetizers are also on the pricier side, charging $6-7 for simple corn and potato dishes. For a high school student searching for a lunch spot, Mingle’s Mango is not optimal, charging about $15 for main course dishes. Two people can easily rack up a $50 lunch, which is costly for a streetstyle location. However, for families and bigger parties, it offers excellent value for contemporary Asian cuisine. & MAGGIE LAI

College Athlete Pay Revisited

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PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITERS ANVI KALUCHA

On September 30, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom signed State Bill (SB ), making CA the first state to pass legislature allowing its college athletes to seek endorsements. The bill, proposed by CA senators Nancy Skinner and Steven Bradford, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023 and allow student-athletes to receive compensation for their names, likenesses, and images.

Although SB 206 is a step in the right direction for college athlete rights, it has drawn both notable support and opposition from all parts of the sports world. Professional and former college athletes such as Los Angeles Lakers small forward Lebron James, Los Angeles Chargers offensive tackle Russel Okung, and former Stanford Volleyball outside hitter Hayley Hodson have expressed their support for the bill on social media and before Congress. However, the Universities of California, the University of Southern California, and Stanford University have expressed their official disapproval of the bill.

In an official letter from Stanford University to the CA State Senate, athletic director Bernard Muir said that the bill would “present serious challenges for higher education institutions and to the collegiate sports model.”

Opponents of SB 206 have also argued that the bill would create an imbalance of power in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): top D1 prospects would be attracted to CA colleges because of the financial incentives. NCAA president Mark Emmert went as far as to threaten banning CA universities from national competitions.

However, the bill’s purpose is to be a catalyst in forcing the NCAA to revise its harsh bylaws and regulations.

In fact, the NCAA strictly forbids student-athletes from gaining money for allowing “his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend, or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind,” as stated in Article 12 of their Division I Manual. This means that college athletes are not allowed to accept any payment for autographs or have monetizable social media channels. These strict regulations frustrate many young athletes, who believe that they should be allowed to gain money off their hard work. According to an audited NCAA financial statement in , college sports teams

By Ian Park & Yusuf Rasheed Sports Editors rake in close to $1.1 billion in revenue for the NCAA each year.

Thus, it would only be fair to compensate the college athletes for this, or at least allow them to gain money off their name.

In addition, Pennsylvania is now interested in joining CA with a similar bill to SB 206. PA representative Dan Miller shares the same sentiment as many college athletes who feel extremely restricted by the NCAA. He said, “We are telling 18 to 23-year-olds that they can’t exercise what other 18 to 23-year-olds can because they play college athletics. It’s an economic issue.” With a bill that is, according to Miller, estimated to be “about 95% similar” to SB 206, PA also hopes to support college athletes seeking to benefit from their athletic careers.

For decades, college athletes have devoted countless hours for high risk and little reward. According to a study by Drexel University and the National College Players Association, among NCAA Division 1-A Football schools, 82% of full-scholarship athletes who live on campus and 90% of full-schol-

arship athletes who live off campus are at or below the federal poverty level. Furthermore, only 1.2% of men’s basketball players and 1.6% of football players will make it professionally, so college is the only time for most of them to profit from their athletic talent.

The dedication, hard work, and perseverance of college athletes are being overlooked by the NCAA. These athletes are not receiving the reward they deserve for the success they bring to the NCAA, and thus it is time that they are compensated for their talent. The current restrictions on them are extremely unfair, given that most other students of their age are actually able to earn money off their talent. SB is the first major step towards fixing this issue, but more states must follow CA’s lead to make a nationwide change. Each state that signs a similar bill to SB 206 is a step closer to creating a fair playing field for all college athletes. ▪

PHOTO COURTESY SPORTRESSOFBLOGITUDE.COM

Former Texas A & M University quarterback Johnny Manziel flashes his trademark “money sign” in a game.

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, October 25, 2019

Girls Volleyball Suffers 1-3 Loss Against American

By Kruthi Gollapudi Staff Writer Girls Volleyball went head-to-head against the American High School Eagles on October 10. The Warriors got off to a slow start on their home court, but they picked up the pace as the match progressed. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to hold on tight enough, losing 1-3 in the best of five sets.

The Warriors had just recently won against Kennedy High School 3-0 on October 8, and carried that enthusiasm with them into this conference match. MSJ held a 0-8 league record before facing Kennedy, so the win provided them with a much needed confidence boost. Warriors Coach Donald Hui said, “In terms of our mental stability, we’ve gotten better at it... We tend to be an up-and-down team, so we finally solved that problem.”

The match began with a strong serve from the Eagles, but the Warriors were up

Libero/opposite hitter Senior Cleo Lin serves the ball.

3-0 in no time. The Eagles quickly came back and tied the score 5-5, and it wouldn’t be until the next game that MSJ would regain the lead. Despite their persistence, the Warriors made several attack and ball-handling errors.

Their resilience proved to be insufficient when the Warriors ended the first game at 17-25.

“Even though it was a tough loss, it was great to see how we stepped up as a team and played some of the best volleyball we have ever played.”

— Co-Captain Junior Anya Guliani The Eagles carried the momentum from their first game victory with a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set. However, MSJ wasn’t going down without a fight, as shown when Co-Captain and outside hitter Junior Anya Guliani served three consecutive aces to bring the War-

A team huddle with Coach Donald Hui A team huddle with Coach Donald Hui.

riors up 7-6. Despite their best efforts, the Warriors couldn’t stop the Eagles from dominating offensively with multiple attack plays and kill hits, resulting in a final second game score of 15-25.

After losing two straight games, the Warriors began the third game with a newfound determination and took a 4-1 lead. However, the Eagles recovered soon after and the two teams were neck-and-neck. Tied 16-16, outside hitter Sophomore Karen Gao spiked the ball to give the Warriors a 17-16 advantage. After a stellar performance from Gao, who scored more than 20 kill shots overall in the match, the Warriors came together to play as a united front, dominating against the Eagles to end the third game 25-19.

With the Eagles up 5-9 early in the fourth game, the Warriors struggled to keep up with the their fast-paced offense. Even the Warriors’ motivation and resolve following their third game win wasn’t enough to keep the Eagles at bay.

The Warriors’ defense had a difficult time holding up against the Eagles’ aggressive attacks. In the end, the Warriors fell short, defeated 19-25 in the fourth set to close out a 1-3 overall loss.

Reflecting on the match, Guliani and Hui were both proud of their team for giving it their all and taking initiative offensively in the third and fourth games. In support of their effort, Guliani said, “Tonight’s game was really competitive as we were playing the third best team in the league.

Even though it was a tough loss, it was great to see how we stepped up as a team and played some of the best volleyball we have ever played.”

In the future, Hui wants to build a sense of self reliance among the girls and help them conquer their fear of failure. Hui said, “We’ve taught them all the information, now they just have to do it on the court and self coach … They have the tools, they just need the confidence to do it and not be afraid to fail or succeed.” ▪ PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER KRUTHI GOLLAPUDI

Outside hitter Junior Janice Ji serves the ball.

Middle hitter Junior Jennifer Gu directs her teammates.

Friday, October 25, 2019

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Sports 19

Varsity Girls Water Polo: Coach Juan Madrigal

By Anvi Kalucha & Varun Updahyay Staff Writers

A new addition to the MSJ athletic community, Juan Madrigal is the coach for the Girls Water Polo team, and he was previously the water polo coach at Irvington High School. Raised in Fremont, Madrigal is excited to give back to the community that sparked his passion for sports.

Throughout his childhood, Madrigal had a close connection to aquatic sports, having participated in swimming and water polo for the majority of his life. He first began playing water polo at Irvington High School and continued at Ohlone College, for a total of five years. He said, “[Water polo] was something that meant a great deal to me, to be able to know that I could compete in the water with people who were much bigger than me, to learn new skills, and to know that I was able to do that was very rewarding.”

Madrigal has an extensive background in coaching as well as competing, having spent five years teaching aquatic sports. He coached water polo at Irvington for the last three years and spent two years with the Mission Valley Swim Club swim team. Not wanting to experience the restricting lifestyle of a professional athlete,

Madrigal instead chose to give back to his community through coaching. He said, “To be able to be effective in the water – it’s a very powerful experience – and this sport can be transformative for a lot of people.”

Not only is it his first year coaching at MSJ, but Madrigal is also teaching English at Thornton Junior High School. He had previously been a substitute and student-teacher, but never a full-time faculty member. Balancing coaching with teaching has been difficult for Madrigal; he spent many weeks with little sleep when grades for his English classes were due.

He is learning how to manage his time effectively and hopes to improve by next season.

“What I hope is that each girl is looking for ways that she can get better every game.”

— Girls Water Polo Coach Juan Madrigal As a water polo coach, Madrigal uses the growth mindset philosophy to encourage his players to improve their play. His goal with athletes is to encourage

them with positive reinforcement while also pushing them to perform their best. He said, “What I hope is that each girl is looking for ways that she can get better every game: when a girl makes a mistake ... [she’s] reflecting on [her] performance and [says], ‘What can I do better?’ rather than ‘What did I do wrong?’”

Due to a problem with the pool’s entrance in late August, Madrigal was forced to begin coaching the Girls Water Polo team two weeks late into preseason.

Despite this setback, they are working hard to sharpen their fundamentals and improve their offense. Madrigal said, “When [MSJ athletes] commit to something, they do so whole-heartedly and with a determined mindset.”

With the MVAL tournament approaching on October 30, Madrigal and the team are preparing for their last two matches. About his goals related to future seasons, Madrigal said “I’ve really enjoyed working with everyone at MSJ, and I look forward to the opportunity to really take it from the start of the season and see how much more we can develop as a team.” ▪

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER ANVI KALUCHA

Varsity Boys Soccer: Coach Seena Sajadieh

By Anvi Kalucha & Varun Updahyay Staff Writers

Seena Sajadieh is an alumnus of the Class of 2012 and played for the Boys Varsity Soccer team.

After pursuing his interest in soccer with numerous other teams, Sajadieh is now returning as the new head coach for the Boys Varsity Soccer team. The Smoke Signal interviewed Sajadieh about his plans and goals for this upcoming season.

Growing up on the East Coast, Sajadieh found his way to Fremont in 2007. He attended Hopkins Junior High School, went to MSJ, and graduated into UC Berkeley. After earning his degree in psychology, Sajadieh graduated from the university in 2018, but not before developing an interest in coaching.

“There’s no right answer about what values make a successful team. I think it’s having this idea of growth mentality, where you create a positive environment.”

— Boys Soccer Coach Seena Sajadieh Through volunteering as an assistant coach for the Men’s Soccer program at UC Berkeley and talking with the head coach, Sajadieh was able to learn the various aspects of coaching and developed a strong passion for the job. He went on to become the assistant head coach for the Boys JV soccer team at Head-Royce School and led his athletes to win their league title.

Last year, Sajadieh worked at San Ramon Valley High School as the assistant coach for the Boys Varsity Soccer team, which made the playoffs this past season as well. Through these two well established, successful soccer programs, Sajadieh has developed an impressive repertoire and now seeks to bring his coaching skills to the Boys Varsity soccer program at MSJ. Along his journey of coaching, Sajadieh has encountered many obstacles which have helped him mature and develop a better mentality. He said, “I think one main obstacle that I constantly face is that athletes aren’t being … taught to lead the game. I think that that’s something that I am trying to teach play-

ers, and it’s really difficult when players themselves haven’t been taught in their youth-playing days.”

The obstacles that Sajadieh has overcome have refined his coaching style and allowed him to approach student athletes at MSJ in a very innovative way.

Sajadieh brings a new perspective to developing student athletes. He said, “Students at Mission San Jose … are all intrinsically competitive students. If you guys have a B you’re going to put in those extra hours to get an A. Those traits are transferable to the soccer field. If you put in those extra hours at practice, if you use your intelligence on the field, there’s no reason why we can’t be successful.”

With the two previous coaches and many seniors leaving last year, the Boys Varsity Soccer team is in the process of rebuilding. An important part of restructuring a team is that improvements are not an “overnight switch,” as Sajadieh said. “There’s going to be a lot of hard work that needs to go into place.”

made huge strides to get to where we are today.”

This is Sajadieh’s first time as the head coach of a soccer program, and as the season draws nearer, Sajadieh is keen to work with the new and returning athletes. He said, “I think there’s an opportunity for something special here (at MSJ), and I think the first team in this first season, is really going to be a building block for just absolute success going into the future. Long term success.” ▪

“I think there’s an opportunity for something special here (at MSJ), and I think the first team in this first season, is really going to be a building block for just absolute success going into the future.”

— Boys Soccer Coach Seena Sajadieh Sajadieh plans on using his first year coaching as time to lay the foundations of developing a successful team. Success in his mind isn’t characterized by wins or losses, but by personal growth. He said, “There’s no right answer about what values make a successful team. I think it’s having this idea of growth mentality, where you create a positive environment, and through that positive environment, you’re constantly encouraging athletes to develop and create bonds with their teammates.” By the end of this year, Sajadieh hopes that his athletes will be able to look back on their season and be able to say, “Wow, we have come a long way, and we have

PHOTO COURTESY SEENA SAJADIEH

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Friday, October 25, 2019

events

TO CHECK OUT * more information / dates available on the websites of each event

HAUNTED RAILROAD

The Ardenwood Haunted Railroad will have guests climb aboard the historic narrow-gauge train for a spooky ride through Ardenwood Historic Farm. The train passes through a dark forest, illuminated only by scenes separated by Halloween themed inflatables.

The conductor provides a narration that links the child-friendly trip with historical events.

Ardenwood farms pumpkin patch for J.E. Perry Every year the Ardenwood Historic Farm hosts a weekend full of old-time country fun during their harvest festival. Guests can enter a world set in the late nineteenth century: experience cider pressing, corn harvesting, historical crafts, and more. Children can also pick out their own unique pumpkin and take a little piece of their historic adventure back home.

Candle Lighters’ Ghost House & Carnival Throughout the month, Candle Lighters hosts the Ghost House to celebrate Halloween. Guests can visit the haunted house and attend special events such as the Zombie Dance Party. Popular lighthearted carnival games also entertain families. High school volunteers can be seen running the different booths or dressing in terrifying costumes to scare the guests in the haunted house.

G&M Farms features a four-acre pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, and a challenging six-acre corn maze. On weekends, attendees can also ride their popular ponies and cow trains. In 2018, G&M Farms Pumpkin Patch and Cornfield Maze was voted Best Seasonal Attraction in the East Bay by Diablo Magazine.

Pirates of Emerson Halloween Haunt

The Pirates of Emerson is a seasonal theme park located at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Guests are taken back to the Golden Colonial Age of Piracy on a six-acre lot filled with mazes and haunted houses. This pirate-themed park is not for the faint-hearted; according to the East Bay Times, it has been listed as one of the most frightening Halloween haunts of the year.

GUIDE TO

By Alisha Chhangani & Anvi Kalucha Staff Writers

RAHA Srinivasan, 10

Rachel Hsiao, 12

EMILY MARCELIS, 10

Jaiminy qiu, 12

G&M Farm Pumpkin Patch & Giant Corn Maze

autumn

As we welcome the season of autumn, the Smoke Signal has compiled events, recipes, and art to help you navigate through fall.

CARAMEL APPLE PUDDING 1 large apple, diced 2 tablespoons butter ½ cup sugar 2 eggs 1 egg yolk ½ cup sugar 1 ¼ cups milk, warm Whipped cream 1. Preheat oven to 320 degrees. Prepare a round cake pan with butter.

In a saute pan over medium heat, add apples, butter, and sugar. Stir with a wooden spoon for about 5 to 6 minutes, until it turns a golden caramel color. Remove from heat.

Pour into a prepared cake pan and smooth the top.

In a mixing bowl, add the eggs, egg yolk and sugar. Whisk until combined. Gradually stir in the milk.

Pour into the cake pan through a sieve. Bake for 40 minutes.

Cool in the refrigerator. Turn upside down onto a plate and garnish wuth whipped cream.

PUMPKIN SPICE WAFFLES 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 pinch salt 2 eggs ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 1 ⅔ cups milk 4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled Mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in a large bowl.

In a second bowl, add eggs, sugar, pumpkin, milk, and butter; beat well.

Gently fold in the flour mixture.

Cook according to your waffle iron directions. Make sure they come out a deep, golden brown.

INKTOBER

Every October, artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day for the entire month. The Smoke Signal has collected some Inktober examples submitted from students to celebrate their skills.

PHOTOS BY STAFF WRITER ANYA AGARWAL, PHOTO COURTESY PIRATESOFEMERSON.COM, GRAPHICS BY SVGSILH.COM, PEXELS.COM, GOODFREEPHOTOS.COM, MAXPIXEL.COM, & WIKIMEDIA COMMONS.