Volume L, No. 2

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. 50, NO. 2

October 23, 2014

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

MSJ Varsity Football Wins Spike Bowl

By Harshita Gupta Staff Writer

They trained, they played, they believed - and they won

MSJ’s Varsity Football team brought home the Golden Spike on Friday, October 10, defeating the Irvington Vikings 29-13 in the Spike Bowl rivalry game at Tak Fudenna Memorial Stadium. The Spike Bowl is a rivalry game beween Irvington High School (IHS) and MSJ that started three years. ago. Outfitted in their new “retro” uniforms to commemorate MSJ’s 50th Anniversary, the players finished strong. The victory is the first for the football team since 2005, and their powerpacked play has reestablished them as a force to be reckoned with.

The Warriors started the game with a touchdown from Junior Adil Bari and finished the first half with a 14-10 lead when Senior Jacob Walter threw a 48-yard touchdown to Senior Raymon Mays. The team maintained the lead during the second half, with two touchdowns from Walter. Junior Hansie Ponnikannan scored an extra point after the first two touchdowns and finished the game with a field goal in the last quarter, contributing a total of five points.

With Junior Jason Chen and Junior Bubba

Principal Zack Larsen, the Varsity Football team and coaches, and cheerleaders pose with the Golden Spike, the trophy that the winners of the Spike Bowl pass between each other every year.

Guzman leading with four and five tackles respectively, MSJ’s tight defense kept the Vikings limited to a total of 16 points. Chen mirrored IHS quarterback Austin Walker for most of the game, and MSJ Head Coach Samuel Baugh credits Chen with preventing the Vikings’

quarterback from furthering their offense.

The Spike Bowl victory breaks the nineyear losing streak that the football team has been fighting against. Baugh calls it a “monkey off our back”, and is proud of the team for going down in the record books as “the team

staff writer harshita gupta

who did it.” He said, “For these guys, they just have to begin to believe it. Once they start truly believing, as you began to see during

See SPIKE NEWS Page 2

MSJ Senior Fall Leadership Conference 2014 Telugu Approved Interact District 5170 gathers at Independence High Wins Brower for FUSD Credit Language worth foreign language Youth Award credits

Shuck receives one of six given in North America

By Apoorva Rajanala Staff Writer

By Sarina Chitre Staff Writer Senior Lynnea Shuck received The Brower Youth Award, one of the most renowned environmental awards for youth in North America, on October 21. It is a prize that is annually presented to six environmental and social justice leaders from ages 13 to 22, who are selected from a highly competitive pool of around 600 applicants from the US, Canada, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, and the US Territories. The award is in honor of David Brower, founder of the Earth Island Institute, and his work mentoring emerging environmental leaders. In addition to a $3,000 cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend the award ceremony at the Nourse Theater, winners will receive ongoing support and mentoring from the Earth Island Institute staff and other environmental leaders.

Shuck spearheaded the creation and implementation of the Junior Refuge Ranger Program at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This program educates youth about the critical role wildlife refuges play in protecting threatened and endangered species through a series of labs, habitat hikes, birding expeditions, and more. The Junior Refuge Ranger

See BROWER NEWS Page 2

of service that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, and promotes international understanding and peace.” District 5170 itself is the largest Interact district in the world with more than 7,000 members.

FLC is one of District 5170’s biggest events of the year and has been growing every year since it first began in 2003.

This year, attendance increased by more than 1,000 people. Lasting a total of eight hours, FLC helped participants gain essential leadership skills and knowledge which deepened their passion for service through inspirational speakers and workshops.

A Pre-FLC event for all Area 5 members on Friday, September 26 at Buena Vista Park in Fremont gave attendees a chance to meet the people from their Area. The actual

The FUSD Board unanimously passed the Indian language Telugu as an official world language to be offered ‘for credit’ in FUSD high schools on September 23. The Bay Area organization that teaches the language, Silicon Andhra, was founded in 2001 with a goal to maintain and perpetuate the Telugu culture, literature, and tradition among those who speak the language and originate from the Indian States, Andhra Pradhesh and Telangana. This organization founded the Telugu school, “Mana Badi,” in order to encourage young children to learn their mother tongue to develop confidence, self-esteem, and a unique identity in the global world. Since then, 2000 students in 20 different states have developed and taken on the teachings that Mana Badi provides for children in the Bay Area.

Mana Badi leaders Raju Chamarthi, Santhi Kuchibotla, Sridevi Ganti, and Venkat Konda have been working tirelessly for the past three years in order to get Telugu passed as a FUSD world language. After multiple meetings with Telugu professors in the United States and countless revisions to meet FUSD and CA standards, high schools students are now able to enroll in a Mana Badi class in order to receive high school credits for four years. Any child of any ethnicity can enroll in these classes from the age of five.

See FLC NEWS Page 2

See CREDIT NEWS Page 2

Interact’s Area 5, which includes students from MSJ, poses at Independence High School.

By Andrew Choi Staff Writer Thousands of high school students from all across the Bay Area gathered at Independence High School in San Jose for Interact District 5170’s Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) on September 28. District 5170 consists of 97 schools including MSJ, and stretches all the way from Oakland to Gilroy. Of the 13 different Areas in the district; MSJ is part of Area 5. According to MSJ Interact Secretary Kate Lin, out of more than 4,200 total attendees, 130 were from MSJ. Interact is one of the largest clubs at MSJ, with more than 250 members. It is also one of the largest service clubs in the world with 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. District 5170’s website describes Interact as “an international organization

lockdown procedures Read about Irvington HS’s lockdown on October 15, and what MSJ’s procedures will be in the event one occurs on our campus. today

princess kaguya Check out MSJ’s thoughts on the release of The Tale of Princess Kaguya, a movie created by the same people behind Spirited Away. tomorrow

tutors donate to fusd Over the summer, students from MSJ offered tutoring services to raise funds for the school district. tomorrow

girls golf spotlight Coached by Jason Cain, the MSJ Girls Golf team is on the road to a successful season. oct 27

courtesy interact d5170

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BROWER| Award

SPIKE| Win

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Program teaches children age 8 to 11 important lessons about conservation, endangered species protection, habitat restoration, and environmental awareness. The participants come away with an appreciation of nature and the critical role they play in protecting it. Shuck hopes to expand the program to all the 560 refuges within the National Wildlife Refuge System. To make that possible, she has created a how-to guide so that every refuge can implement the program with ease.

Shuck’s interest in creating this program stemmed from her experience volunteering at the Refuge herself, and from her Honors Biology and AP Environmental Science classes and teacher Lisa Ishimine. She said, “All the people at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, the rangers, the educators, the wildlife manag-

the third and fourth quarter of the Irvington game, once they start gaining that momentum, they can be very dangerous.” Baugh sees the potential in this year’s team, and compliments their resilience and cohesion. “This is a special group. I’m excited for them,” he said.

The team has had many last-second losses this season, and the players attribute the Spike Bowl victory to the fact that they did not tire out and finished strong. “In past games, when something happened to us, we tended to fold over and get down on ourselves. In this game, we stayed loose, gelled as a team, and played a lot better overall,” said Walter. He reflects on the hard work that went into preparing for the game: “The last couple of weeks, we have really been practicing a lot harder and getting more time efficient. So I think that played into how well we played. We made a lot less mistakes than we have in the past. We all went out and played a really great game.”

The support of the roaring crowd kept the

“All the people at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, the rangers, the educators, the wildlife managers, taught me everything I know about the refuge.”

-Senior Lynnea Shuck

ers, taught me everything I know about the refuge. They are so kind, so knowledgeable, and so dedicated. Ms. Ishimine gave me the knowledge base that I needed to create the Jr. Refuge Ranger program. It is the science concepts that I learned from her classes that I applied to the refuge and that are taught in the Jr. Refuge Ranger Program.”

FLC| Interact continued from page 1

FLC event began on Sunday at 7:45 AM as participants received wristbands for admission, face paint, and t-shirts. Attendees were then greeted and welcomed by Governor of District 5170, MSJ Senior Lillian Zhao. The large crowd was soon separated into small groups, and for the next few hours, attendees participated in various leadership workshops.

Afterwards, attendees gathered in the main gym again to listen to keynote speaker Ro Khanna, one of the candidates for

courtesy lynnea shuck

Shuck at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Shuck has created hands-on activities that are not only fun for the children to partake in, but also teach them valuable lessons about refuges and the environment. “I learned that no matter how old a kid is, they can learn really complicated concepts in environmental science if they are taught in the right way,” she said. Shuck is passionate about preserving endangered wild life, and explains that it is so important because all species in an ecosystem are connected, and the extinction of one could lead to devastating results for many others.

There are many exciting upcoming projects for the program as well as the Refuge. Shuck says, “A major goal of the refuge is restoring man-made salt ponds back to the salt marsh habitat that many native species call home. Toward this end, the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast is taking place at the refuge. There is so much going on and I feel so lucky to be a part of it!” ▪

team energized and, as the band played the fight song after every touchdown, the players bounced back with renewed vigor. “When I scored, and I heard everyone screaming, it was the best feeling in the world. That’s the loudest I’ve ever heard it at Tak in three years,” said Bari. “With everyone cheering behind you, knowing that’s your school, that’s your family, it’s amazing,” said Junior Elliot Tu. The victory has renewed MSJ’s athletic spirit and pride in the football team. “After the game, I climbed up into the stands to high-five the band, and all these kids I don’t even know were grabbing me, and slapping my back, and yelling things to me. It was crazy,” said Tu. “It’s stuff you see on TV in an NFL game.

When the players jump up into the crowd and everyone goes crazy– it’s that kind of stuff– you don’t think that it will ever happen to you, but it happened.”

Winning back the Golden Spike has boosted team morale and confidence. The team has four games left in the season, and will be playing the Kennedy Titans at TAK for the Homecoming game on Friday, October 31. ▪

staff writer harshita gupta

Junior Adil Bari runs a play past the Irvington team.

CREDIT| Telugu

California’s 17th Congressional District.

Khanna’s speech was followed by the unveiling of both the District’s International and Community Project for the year. Sev-

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“I think this year’s FLC went really well. You could really feel the energy bouncing off the walls in the gym as everyone cheered for Interact.”

-Sophomore Kate Lin

eral guest speakers also spoke about the purpose of Interact and the difference students could make in their communities and in the world.

courtesy interact d5170

Interact District Governor Senior Lillian Zhao leads the conference.

Sophomore Kate Lin said, “I think this year’s FLC went really well. You could really feel the energy bouncing off the walls in the gym as everyone cheered for Interact.”

The entire Interact family hopes that FLC can continue to grow and that students who missed out on this year’s event can attend in the fall of next year. Students can also attend Interact club meetings to find out more about future events. ▪ Interact International Coordinator Elizabeth Hoang gives a speech to FLC attendees.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

courtesy interact d5170

The enrollment for the 2014-15 school is closed.

Starting in the 2015-16 school year, students will receive high school credit if they meet the requirements of the class. Taking the first two levels of Telugu will also fulfill the college requirements for two years of the foreign language. The class is held at MSJ on Sunday mornings for the 2014-15 school year, but the venue may change for following years, depending on enrollment numbers. Mana Badi is the only school to receive this recognition internationally. “This recognition means a lot to the hundreds of volunteers who work for Mana Badi. This recognition is only the beginning as several other school districts across USA are going to recognize the Mana Badi curriculum in the near future,” said Chamarthi.

The class is taught by a group of dedicated and educated volunteers over the course of four years. Each semester ends with a midterm and final exam to ensure that the students learn the curriculum fully. Each test includes written and oral examination so that the correct pronunciation and nuances of the ancient language are captured by each and every student. Mana Badi conducts an annual day in which students showcase what they have learned through poems and plays.

The school plans to not only teach a language, but also immerse the students in the cultural aspects of southern India. ▪

corrections for the sept. 26, 2014 issue

Opinion Page 3: Opinion Editor Alice Cheng took photos for MSJ Voices.

Feature Page 9: Staff Writer Grace Dong, News Editor Michael Hsiu, and Centerspread Editor Vivian Liu took photos for the New Teachers spread.

Pittsburg High School was misspelled.

A&E Page 12: Rosamond Pike’s name was misspelled.

Sports Page 16: The Philadelphia Phillies’ team name was misspelled.

Photo Page 20: The Boys’ Basketball photos were from 2008, not 2014. The 50th Anniversary logo was by Staff Writer Hairol Ma and Senior Annette Cheng. Layout was by Staff Writers Grace Dong and Hairol Ma and Graphics Editors Kevin Chen and Lillian Zhao.

The Blue Angels perform during Fleet Week.

Compiled by Staff Writers Didi Wu, Chakshu Hurria, and Brian Tseng

sfgate.com

San Francisco hosts Fleet Week San Francisco’s annual Fleet Week lasted from October 9 to October 13.

Notable events included art exhibitions, the Parade of Ships, and aerial displays by the US Navy Blue Angels.

Fleet Week was started in 1981, as a result of San Francisco’s role as a naval base during World War Two. Fleet Week draws huge crowds of tourists and it is estimated that local businesses take in more than 100 million dollars during the week.

latimes.com An artistic rendering of Omar Gonzalez’s court appearance on October 1.

New charges filed against White House trespasser Omar Gonzalez, the man who climbed the fence of the White House and entered the premises with a knife on September 19, was hit with new charges on October 16 including assault, resistance of officers, unlawfully entering a restricted building while carrying a deadly weapon, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The Secret Service, which faced backlash after the initial breach of security, is spearheading the trial against Gonzalez.

carbonated.tv Several climbers have been victims of avalanches on the Himalayan peaks.

Blizzards rage in Nepal Blizzards in Nepal have killed over 20 people, and nearly 85 others have been reported missing. Among the dead in the region’s Mustang district are nine locals, three Polish nationals, three Israelis, and one Vietnamese.

Four Canadians and an Indian died in the neighboring district of Manang.

This incident is one of many blows to Nepal’s tourism industry, along with the death of Sherpa guides on Everest and the expedition cancellations of six trekking companies.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

the

The Smoke Signal

Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 50, No. 2 | October 23, 2014 www.thesmokesignal.org

41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600 Editors-in-Chief Tingting Bi, Laura Chen News Michael Hsiu, Tiffany Huang Opinion Alice Cheng, Catherine Wang Feature Megan Ren, Katie Sun Centerspread Katrina Cherk, Vivian Liu A&E Melissa Peng, Andrea Tam Sports Arti Patankar, Abigail Wong Graphics Kevin Chen, Lillian Zhao Web Jacinta Chang, Nithya Rajeev

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define perfect

Sleep on it

AnAliceis

Catalyst

By Catherine Wang Opinion Editor

“I never get sleep, sleep, sleep/ No I just reach, reach, reach/I can feel it on the ends of my fingers/ And taste it on the tips of my teeth.”

I listen to an Allen Stone song and blearily check the clock before diving Tech Santhosh Paramasivan, Peter Qiu back into chemistry homework.

Business Anand Balaji 12:00 AM? Let my night begin.

Circulation Hairol Ma Ads Grace Dong, Madeline Zheng The scariest thing about academicsEvents Tanvi Raja, Apoorva Rajanala induced sleep deprivation is that it happens to so many people, especially Writers & Photographers at MSJ. I can’t count how many Andrew Chen, Kylie Cheung, Sarina Chitre, conversations I’ve held that started Andrew Choi, Sayan Ghosh, Purvi Goel, with, “How are you?” “Tired.” “Same.”

Harshita Gupta, Pratham Gupta, Chakshu Hurria, Amrith Krishnan, Ansh Patel, Gelsey Surrounded by peers who are also Plaza, Iyesha Puri, Deeksha Raina, Rishab always tired, it seems invalid to say to Ramapriyan, Shivane Sabharwal, Neha others, “I’m going to back out of this Shah, Ruiwen Shen, Annie Tang, Monica Tang, Brian Tseng, Hanson Wang, Didi Wu, because I need a break.” When my dad Rebecca Wu warns that I’m going to crash if I do not get more sleep, my automatic reply Advisor Sandra Cohen is that everyone else is going through Send letters to the editor to opinion@the this too. Worse, sleep deprivation can smokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words even be a badge of honor. “You’re so may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliahardworking,” we tell the kid who spent tion. The Smoke Signal reserves the right the whole night studying for three tests. to edit for clarity and length.

A heavy workload often causes lack The Smoke Signal’s right to freedom of of sleep, but more than that, it’s a mindset speech and press is protected by the First problem. There’s no need to cite sources Amendment of the Constitution. arguing that sleep is important because, well, duh. We can discuss strategies for efficient sleep schedules, like taking thirty-minute naps or waking up earlier To advertise in the Smoke Signal, e-mail ads@thesmokesignal.org. instead of sleeping later, but none of Advertising that is included on the pages of, or carried within, the Smoke these shortcuts work for me – I still end up feeling chronically exhausted.

Signal, is paid advertising, and as such is independent of the news and My problem (and I think it’s a problem feature content. for many of us) is that I misunderstood what it means to be a good student. I

figured if I could burn the midnight oil tirelessly, then my perseverance would translate into the grades I wanted.

When those grades didn’t happen, I blamed myself for taking on too much and being unable to deal with a tough schedule as well as others could.

I wasn’t being a good student because a good student recognizes what matters. Trying to pick and choose from the “impossible triangle” of sleep, school, and social life makes no sense because sleep is a prerequisite for doing well in anything else. For me, spending time with my family matters more than the conventional social life.I feel guilty about the days when I eat dinner by myself, after napping through everyone else’s meal time. Since last year, my mom and grandparents go for a walk every night, but I was so often asleep or holed up in my room that I didn’t even notice their routine for weeks. In my patchy, irregular sleep cycle, I simply didn’t make room for others. How can I think about being a good student if I’m not even being a conscientious family member?

Of course, sleep deprivation is so problematic because even after recognizing that sleep matters, acting on it is difficult. I’ll never have a catch-all solution for how to sleep more without sacrificing the other items that matter, but at least I’ve learned the hard way that sleep is not something to casually include at the end of a to-do list. It’s the reason to make a to-do list. We should do everything else in the time left over from sleep, not the other way around. ▪

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Editorial: One Class, One Color “Freedom of choice,” we hear ourselves saying. At a young age, we learn to value and protect the right to make our own decisions: from choosing classes to choosing our wardrobe, from deciding how to spend our lunches to deciding how to spend our lives. At an October 8 board meeting, FUSD decided that “Students in their junior year will work with their ASB organization to select the color(s) of their gown(s) for graduation. Students may select a single color or two colors. If two colors are selected, they may not be assigned by gender.” In a survey concerning graduation cap and gown colors that ASB issued to MSJ students over Facebook, nearly 80 percent of all students surveyed voted to give students a choice between two colors.

Given these results, it’s safe to infer that most students would prefer to choose between two colors. After all, isn’t freedom of choice what we’ve been taught to value?

In this case though, issuing one cap and gown color for all students to make everyone feel welcome is more important than having individual freedom of choice.

We need to pause and rewind to think about why a new policy is being considered in the first place. For years, MSJ male grads have worn green while female grads have worn white. But what if some of us don’t identify as one gender or the other?

Forcing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) students to make a dichotomous choice is not only uncomfortable, but also unfair. Eliminating color as a gender-stereotype would ensure that everybody feels included, no

Opinion 3

matter how they identify themselves. Yes, a mix of two colors may be more pleasing to the eye, but sacrificing aesthetic preferences is a small price to pay to ensure that everyone feels comfortable. Wanting a choice between two options is instinctual, but let’s choose to actively fight for something larger than ourselves.

We are human. Many of us don’t fall neatly into one category or another, and we shouldn’t have to. Standardizing one color for graduation caps and gowns is about being inclusive, but more importantly, it is a matter of principle: no one should feel pressured to fit themselves into one of two categories, especially if two categories aren’t enough. Acknowledging and embracing our differences will pave the way for future efforts to create an open environment for all students in FUSD, no matter how well they fit or don’t fit conventional labels. As we weigh this issue, let’s consider what graduation is really about and the legacy we want to leave after we shake hands, receive our diplomas, and toss our caps into the sky. Five years from high school graduation, we probably won’t remember or care about what color our caps and gowns were. But a sense of togetherness on our last day with a group of people we spent four years with? That’s a memory to last a lifetime. ▪

Send letters to the editors to: opinion@thesmokesignal.org

By Alice Cheng Opinion Editor I tell really good jokes. (What are a cow’s favorite subjects at school?

Moosic, cowculus, and psycowlogy.)

I’m also pretty good at drawing and playing baseball in the big leagues. I mean, what can you say? I’m practically perfect. But I’m not the only one who wants to be perfect. In an environment like MSJ where everyone is pressured to be brilliant, it’s easy to believe that perfection is desirable and that anything less is bad.

As stated by Mel Schwartz, the author of A Shift of Mind, perfection “suggests a state of flawlessness, without any defects. To be perfect implies a condition whereby your action or performance attains a level of excellence that cannot be exceeded.”

As students immersed in a culture that promotes goal attainment, success, and productivity, we are perpetually unhappy with our weaknesses. Dwelling on my mistakes and comparing my weaknesses to others’ strengths, I’ve also been victim to this negative mentality. In our heads, it’s easy to emphasize what we’re not good at instead of where our strengths lie. It’s difficult to shut out all the achievements of the people around us, but sometimes we just need to sit down and focus on what we’re doing right instead of constantly comparing ourselves to others.

Though it certainly doesn’t hurt to progress in an activity, an obsession with being excellent at everything can cause overwhelming and unwarranted stress.

According to Cognitive Daily, people with perfectionist attitudes tend to face more anxiety out of fear of failure. As Schwartz states, perfectionists often have an exaggerated sense of their own shortcomings and thus, tend to judge themselves more harshly. By underscoring what they do wrong instead of what they do right, people are distracted by their emotions instead of channeling the energy to further develop their strengths.

Under the pressure to be flawless, we want to be perfect in every way, but we have to realize that we’re not infallible. Instead of dwelling on our weaknesses, we need to come to terms with them. It’s important to understand that we’re all human and that there’s a beauty and uniqueness in who we are and what we’re good at as well as what we’re not-so-good at.

With that said, I’m still realizing that instead of getting frustrated over what I don’t do well, I should appreciate my strengths, enjoy the process of learning, and give myself the fair judgment that’s been overdue.

So the key question is: do we have the guts to say: “Even though my jokes are not funny, I like them”? Can we come to terms with the fact that there will always be someone better? Well, we can certainly start by changing our mentalities about something small.

And, in that case, I am going to keep telling my really good jokes, drawing stick figures, and playing baseball with my dog. ▪

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 5

mod•ern fem•i•nism

By Kylie Cheung, Harshita Gupta, Peter Qiu, Rishab Ramapriyan & Ruiwen Shen Staff Writers

definition

Neither “feminist” nor “feminism” existed as standard terms for the better part of history. If either had, it is unlikely that they would have been popular. Think of history’s most controversial women – Cleopatra VII, Anne Boleyn, Marilyn Monroe. Resentment toward them, in their time and ours, stems from their defiance of patriarchy. If feminists did exist in earlier eras, they would have been fighting for very different rights from what modern feminists are fighting for – rights such as the freedom to choose their husbands, legal defense against domestic violence, and maybe even education, public office, divorce, if they were daring enough. In many parts of the world, the fight for these basic human rights rages on today. However, the majority of modern feminists are fighting for various social justices – the end of beauty standards and sexual objectification; more freedom in sexual expression; support in political, corporate and scientific pursuits; and on a far graver note, legal reform for sexual assault cases.

The differences between what modern feminists are fighting for today and what “feminists” of history might have fought for indicate that we have evolved as a human race. But in a society where women have the right to education and participation in politics, where many are world leaders, prominent scientists, or bestselling authors, what is modern feminism?

modern misconceptions

“The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians,” wrote conservative Pat Robertson in 1992. His ludicrous words, albeit exaggerated, still ring true in the minds of a surprising number of Americans more than 20 years later. Many still see feminism as the “crazy cult,” and society’s perception of modern feminism has been twisted to mean the strangest things. Aggressive, muscly, misandrist, matriarchal: the negativity tied to a feminist knows no bounds. There is no lack of misconceptions and accusations against feminism, so let’s set the record straight. What is feminism? Feminism, as defined by Merriam Webster, is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.”

Feminism is not encouraging women to never marry – it is ensuring that women have as much of a say and responsibility in their marriage as men. Feminism is not encouraging women to stop caring about the way they dress – it is ensuring that they have as much freedom in their choice of dress as men. Feminism is not telling all women to take on leadership roles – it is making it as accepted for them to rise into one as it is for a man. Central to understanding feminism is realizing that this equality swings both ways. When a woman chooses to be the breadwinner in a marriage, a man can also step away from the expectations of hyper-masculinity and choose to be a stay-at-home parent. If a woman is not expected to dress in a feminine manner, neither is a man expected to dress in a masculine manner. The “feminist agenda,” contrary to Robertson’s belief, is about political, economic, and social equality for the sexes.

yes means yes

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The “Yes Means Yes” bill, also known as the “Affirmative Consent” bill and Senate Bill 967, targets the prevention of rape in California college campuses. This bill surpasses the previous “no means no” policy by setting the bar higher for what counts as sexual consent.

Senate passed the “Yes Means Yes” bill on August 25, and Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill on September 29.

The bill states that both parties must give obvious consent for a sexual encounter to occur legally; this exceeds the requirements of the previous “No means no” policy, by which it is not considered rape if one party, who is not inebriated or physically incapable of speech, does not dissent.

“No means no” put all the responsibility of the encounter on the shoulders of the victim. There was something inherently wrong about this reasoning. It didn’t discourage rapists; instead, it gave them all the more leeway to attempt sexual assault, because their victims were responsible for keeping them in check and there was nothing wrong with going ahead and attempting sex. Silence meant okay. “No Means No” burdened the victim with trying to inhibit the offender.

“Yes Means Yes” demands that people obtain their partner’s permission beforehand and continuously during sex. This is a step in the right direction. It demands that people actually pay their partners basic respect to their privacy. It demands that all excuses like lust, and privilege be stripped away and people be held accountable. It demands that people treat their partners as equals.

pro

The “Yes Means Yes” bill states that sexual encounters are only legal if there is “an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity” for both parties.

The government should not interfere in and cannot successfully regulate people’s private sex lives. People have complained that the bill is insensitive to people’s tastes and has tainted a bond between partners with its regulations. The bill reduces their sexual relationship to cautious encounters devoid of preexisting tru st.

There is much ambiguity surrounding this bill. Cynthia P. Garrett, from Families Advocating for Campus Equality claims that many innocent college students will be accused of sexual assault because of this new bill. Some interpret “Yes Means Yes” as strictly repeated verbal consent, some employ vague guidelines about body language signals, and there is no formal criteria for communicating consent. Then, should the unavoidable sexual assualts occur, there would be no way out of the inevitable hesaid-she-said conundrum.

Also, this law only applies to people enrolled in colleges or universities. People of the same age who are not enrolled in a college or university are just as likely to get sexually assaulted as those who are. If this bill is to make an impact, it must not just strive to protect one sliver of the population. Doing so won’t discourage rapists; it will just drive them to target other sources of victims. Instead of plugging up the leaks of this sexual assault problem, the “Yes Means Yes” bill only introduces more complications.

reverse patriarchy

The recent controversy concerning whether soccer player Hope Solo deserves similar censure as football player Ray Rice for committing domestic abuse brings up the issue of male perception of the feminist movement. Viewing domestic violence as a crime that is simply male against female has shifted attention away from female-oriented abuses like the Solo incident.

An emergence of a reverse patriarchal system has resulted in the over victimization of males. The movement for gender equality will be incomplete until we recognize the other side of feminism and eliminate male power stereotypes.

The feminist movement aims to take action against all forms of violence and discrimination towards women and girls, but frequently omits the problems faced by men and boys. The women’s movement has rightly fought for increased attention to domestic abuse and sexual violence, but male victims of such crimes have received far less publicity and societal outcry.

Traditional gender norms treat victimhood at a woman’s hands as unmanly. Today’s mainstream feminism, combined with stereotypes of hyper masculinity, regards domestic abuse and sexual violence as byproducts of male power over women, reinforcing rather than challenging such male biases. The failure to recognize that females can also victimize others is illustrated in the perception of the Solo incident versus the Rice incident.

Emma Watson, United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador, calls upon all men to participate in the “HeForShe” campaign, which aims to achieve gender equality. However, unless feminism actively combats male stereotypes as well as female oppression, many men will remain reluctant to join the movement.

con

Modern western feminism is a far cry from the olden days of Susan B. Anthony and Betty Friedan. Many important aspects of equality, such as the right to hold political office, vote, and hold many of the same jobs as men, have already been achieved. Of course, gender inequality is still present in the pay gaps of these jobs and the disproportionate representation of women in the workforce, but many of the original motives behind feminism have already been achieved.

This is not to say that feminism is irrelevant. Sexual harassment and a perpetual glass ceiling in the workplace need to be addressed, along with a host of other issues.

However, it is important to keep modern feminism in the US, the feminism we are used to seeing perpetuated by the media, in check with a global perspective. There are women in the Middle East and Asia who lack access to basic education, are forced to marry out of fear, and suffer physical abuse on almost a daily basis. In comparison, western feminism is being viewed as a catfight over privilege and “man-hating”.

“Telling someone they can’t be sad because others have it worse is like saying someone can’t be happy because others have it better.” The same logic applies. Feminism shouldn’t restart, just refocus. Being preoccupied with smaller issues takes away from the primary focuses of feminism, such as equal pay, sexual and domestic violence, and reproductive rights. The feminist movement cannot push forward when it is fragmented by many different goals, because spreading the movement so thin weakens it on all fronts. America has largely defined the feminist movement, as we are in a position of tremendous influence through our diverse culture and far-reaching media. In this position of power, it is vitally important that feminism becomes sensitive to the problems of women around the world and understands that change is not one size fits all. ▪

global perspective

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Smoke Signal

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Imagine waking up early on a Monday morning: eyes drooping and drool falling from your chin.

Wiping it away in annoyance, you stumble into the bathroom. You look at a tube of toothpaste and wonder why every day is always the same— go to school, do homework, sleep, and repeat.

Your mother suddenly bursts into the bathroom, checking to make sure that you are awake, but instead finds the “morning monster” falling in and out of sleep. She deposits a new, exciting tube of toothpaste in the bathroom. You squeeze some on the toothbrush to clean those pearly whites and happiness surges through your veins as the

Pump kin

Spice

pUMPKIN SPICE SPICEYOUR YOURLIFE LIFE essence of pumpkin spice enters your mouth for the first time in forever, awakening your senses.

Walking towards the kitchen, you detect a wonderful aroma wafting your way. Images of delectable goodness float through your mind and your mouth oozes in anticipation. Nose in the air, you walk in a trance-like state excited to see the pumpkin spiced pancakes drizzled with pumpkin spice syrup that await! As you devour your meal, you realize that seasonal drinks are now available. You beg to get one before school, claiming you had a long night and need a little coffee to jumpstart your day (but really you’re just in it for the PSL)—pumpkin spice latte so renowned that it has its own abbreviation. The searing hot drink travels down your throat as soothing thoughts enter your noggin, and you’re more awake than ever before.

Throughout the day, you come to the conclusion that pumpkin spice is a staple. You hit up your local grocery store during lunch and hungrily eye every single product that has “Pumpkin Spice” on its label—from scented candles to nail polish that you know you’ll never use.

You hoard entire baskets full of chips, yogurt, Oreos, hummus, breath mints, cookies, chocolates, cupcakes, and cinnamon buns— all pumpkin spice flavored. You go home

Feature 7

By Neha Shah Staff Writer

feeling utterly content and peacefully finish your homework in a pumpkin spice coma.

As the day draws to a close, you find yourself more excited than usual to take your daily shower You notice your normal shampoo and conditioner are nowhere to be found. Instead, they have been replaced by pumpkin spice-scented hair products. While washing your hair you feel the scent work its magic, extinguishing all stress from the day. The warm, inviting coziness of autumn takes over your body. Your hair tingles, and it feels magically marvelous.

Getting out of the shower is difficult, but you haul yourself out to administer pumpkin spice lotion—the one you just bought! Afterwards you brush your teeth one last time and then crawl into bed, lulled by the pumpkin spice scent, before “falling” into a deep slumber.

images.google.com

By Pratham Gupta Staff Writer

JESS MCCAULEY

SPECIAL ED

Jess McCauley taught English at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale before joining MSJ this year in the Special Education Department. After being inspired by his own high school English teachers, he says, “I love getting my students to love reading and writing.” He hopes to find a balance this year between work and relaxation, as well as completing his credential. He loves to see his students mature and learn. His teaching philosophy is that students learn better through making connections between academics and things relevant to their own lives.

An avid rock-climber, he has climbed a 20,000 foot peak in the Himalayas.

images.google.com, photo by staff writer pratham gupta

MSJ SPOTLIGHT

By Madeline Zheng Staff Writer

Catherine Castillou joins the MSJ community this year as our new Career/College Specialist, running the Career Center. Over the course of her own career, she has worked as a buyer for Macy’s California and for Santa Clara County as well as a librarian for Glenmore Elementary School.

Castillou is now eager to work with high school students.

In addition to managing Career Center services and college visits, Castillou aims to elevate the center’s technology to a 2014 level: she plans to implement a better web page, online forms, and general electronic access for students’ convenience. Her long term goals include acquiring more computers for the Career Center and improving the level of organization within the center.

Castillou loves her job. “It’s really wonderful to be around such motivated students,” she said. She’s an MSJ parent; thanks to that experience and a welcoming staff and student body, she has already assimilated into the culture here. She welcomes any suggestions on what students want to see offered in the Career Center, and looks forward to a brilliant time at MSJ.

career center catherine castillou

DI D Y O U K N O W ?

NEW TEACHER

the career center 1

This treasure trove of a place contains information on every single college you could want to research.

2

Test prep booklets are available for three-day checkout.

3

Practice SAT and ACT test booklets are also available for free.

4

The Career Center’s defining characteristic has always been the array of college pennants that hang from its ceiling.

castillou 1

Castillou lived in Hawaii as a child—but contrary to popular belief, no, she did not go to the beach every day.

2

She’s a Girl Scout.

3

Castillou remains close with her six best friends from high school. Most of them live in the same area and still meet up occasionally.

4

Like many students, she loves going out for boba and frozen yogurt.

photo by staff writer madeline zheng

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Smoke Signal

Happy Halloween From “harmless” pranks to heaps of sweets, Halloween is a fun day for all... except dentists, that is. Join the Smoke Signal to find out what to do (and what to avoid) on October 31.

Dear Diary: Memoir of the Unspirited Parent

By Brian Tseng Staff Writer

October 31, 6:00 PM

The neighborhood is festooned with carved pumpkins, thatched scarecrows, dancing skeletons, and forbidding tombstones. What an eyesore. Who in their right mind would take a perfectly good front yard, ruin it with so-called “decorations,” and wait for children dressed in outlandish costumes to come by and take their candy? Unfortunately, my “dear” neighbors, who belong in an insane asylum and have in fact decorated their house to look like something close to that, disagree. They have strongarmed me into participating in this ridiculous cultural phenomenon through their poisoning of my son’s mind with the influence of their own brats. If only he could ignore what those foxes say.

October 31, 7:00 PM

My eyes…. You cannot imagine the horrors I have seen. My wonderful little boy has been transformed into a thief of the high seas, a one-eyed, one-legged, one-handed pirate. As if anyone should strive to imitate such a despicable figure, but no, his “friends” insisted that he be one to round out their freakish group of zombies, clowns, and non-glittery vampires. To add insult to injury, the parents of those noisy brats, some of them my aforementioned neighbors, are apparently too busy giving out candy to make sure their own children don’t get lost in the night. They’ve decided to make me take the kids around the neighborhood. Do they not realize that not decorating my lawn or giving out candy means that I do not buy into this sham of a holiday? Why am I the one forced to take the kids?

October 31, 8:00 PM

I’ve locked my door, turned off the lights, and posted my “Vacant” sign on the front door to prevent greedy trick-or-treaters from repeatedly ringing my doorbell in their attempts to rob me. In fact, if anyone’s going to be robbed tonight, it’ll be the foolishly enthusiastic parents (especially with my pirate on the loose). As a small measure of revenge, I drop the kids off in front of my neighbors and watch as they struggle to deal with the horde of children. Such fools, to open their doors to these brats (and my son). I doubt the kids dressed as zombies will find any brains tonight.

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Feature 9

Horrorscopes

By Monica Tang SCAREPIO (October 23-November 21) Staff Writer When cloaked strangers come charging at you with an axe and a blender, summon all your courSAGITTERRORIUS age and pass away with honor.

(November 22-December 21) CAPRICORPSE Death will invite you to (December 22-January 19) his Halloween party on Your life seems to be at a standstill October 31. Rumors say that at the moment. This may be be- the decorative corpses in his cause of your imminent death, cemetery look just like the so you should use this time to real thing. plan an extravagant funeral. AQUAEERIEUS (January 20-February 18) PUMPKIN PISCES Your fierce individualism will (February 19-March 20) take you great places—in Hide in the tallest kitchen for afterlife, that is. Focus on safety—but don’t expect to make your following the crowd to prevent it out alive. Hungry children can from getting lost while trick-orbe extremely persistent when it treating. comes to cravings for pumpkin pie.

CEMETARIES (March 21-April 19) Your life had such potential; unforTAURANTULA (April 20tunately, a wild tiger will slaughter May 20) you during your African safari. You The day is ripe for exploring will be sorely missed—for a year the world. Just remember to or two, anyway. plan out your last words so that you can go out with a REAPER bang when a witch zaps you GRIMINI (May 21-June 20) with lightning.

It seems as if everyone is avoiding you these days. Changing your wardrobe and stowing CANDYCER (June 21-July 22) away any threateningly sharp Is that a vampire? You’d bet- objects may help. ter run. Don’t be batty; your candy Lifesavers most definitely SKELEOTON (July 23-August 22) will not help Conflicts with your friends will arise, but a humerus outlook will you. help you pick up your spirits— especially when you decompose into a fine powder.

VIRGHOUL (August 23-September 22) Overindulge today and enjoy life because it won’t last long, judging by the looks of the zombie standing behind you. Mmm, fresh meat.

CANDELIBRA (September 23-October 22) Your future is very bright, for tomorrow you will be burned at the stake at 10:21 PM sharp.

Ghost Strawberries

By Iyesha Puri and Santhosh Paramasivan Staff Writers Fresh

Ingredients: strawberries Chocolate Chips White chocolate 1. Melt the white chocolate over the stove.

To prevent the white chocolate from burning, use a double-boiler; fill a pot with boiling water and place a bowl inside of it. Wait until the chocolate chips melt into a smooth texture.

October 31, 10:00 PM

After taking a well-deserved nap in the car, I wake up to an attempted prank by the children involving a string, cobwebs, and an amazingly realistic spider decoration that absolutely did not cause me to scream like a little girl. I was not amused. To teach them a lesson, I threw the spider out onto the road and ran over it, before glaring pointedly at the would-be-prankster. That’ll let the joker know I’m serious. After confiscating half of their candy as payment for my services, I allowed them to run off screaming in terror — I mean, I dropped them off at their homes. Sigh. At least the torment is over. Time to practice shooting fat birds in preparation for one of my favorite times of the year, the day when I convince everyone to come help me shop during Black Friday.

2. Dip each strawberry in the melted white chocolate and carefully place it onto a plate.

3. Store the plate in the refrigerator for 5 minutes, allowing the chocolate time to cool and harden onto the strawberry.

4. Add three chocolate chips to each strawberry - two for the eyes, and one for the mouth.

images.google.com

10 Centerspread

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Centerspread 11

Unscramble the words to reveal a hidden message. The unscrambled words are all subjects taught at Mission.

Find Mission Man hiding among the crowds of people in the image below.

Several campus landmarks and murals are depicted below. Can you guess in which wing or location each picture was taken?

Guess the teacher or organization using the following clues.

Are you tired of cramming for tests and endlessly doing homework? Take a break from studying and enjoy the various puzzles and games below. Submit your answers for Campus Landmarks, Guess It, Word Games, and Bonus online atwww.thesmokesignal.org. Compete to win prepaid admission movie tickets! Answers to the sections in light blue will be posted online.

By Gelsey Plaza, Deeksha Raina, Tanvi Raja, Monica Tang & Brian Tseng Staff Writers

“Be good, be true.”

You pass the same murals every day. How well do you really know them? Test yourself and see if you can spot the six differences in the two sets of murals.

Find each hidden Mission Man throughout the paper. Submit the articles and locations you’ve found them in through the form online at www.thesmokesignal.org along with the answers to Campus Landmarks, Guess It, and Word Games. Compete to win prepaid admission movie tickets!

STAFF WRITER TANVI RAJA, IMAGES.GOOGLE.COM

Homecoming 2014:

14 Arts & Entertainment

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by the numbers

The Smoke Signal

Homecoming is fast approaching, and each class is busy preparing.

InSmoke orderSignal to gain aFriday, deeperSeptember insight 26, 2014 The into what goes on behind the scenes (and backdrops) of Homecoming week, the Smoke Signal has gathered information from each class regarding their preparations for this exciting week.

20-30hrs

1-10hrs

skit

30+hrs

air

dec

The average student involved in Homecoming spent...

d n a b 30+hrs

1-10hrs

30+hrs 1-10hrs

10-20hrs

20-30hrs

10-20hrs

20-30hrs

10-20hrs

# of tshirt

*Results are based on a survey conducted on Facebook by the Smoke Signal of 311 MSJ students from all grade levels.

Expenditures:

Number of class orders:

DECO

HC t-shirts

$1000 Freshmen 300+ $900 Sophomores 350+ $400 Juniors 240+ $750 Seniors 320+

Have you ever seen hipster instagrammers who secretly buy everything from Brandy Melville? Well, the Smoke Signal is here to drop a shocking truth: they are not actually hipster. Rule of thumb: if they’re wearing a plaid shirt tied around their waist, the likelihood of actual hipster is below one percent. If you’re thinking, Oh no! That’s me!

I wear a plaid shirt tied around my waist with combat boots! Then don’t fear- the Smoke Signal will teach you the true path to being a hipster- the art of thrifting.

The Smoke Signal’s

Guide to

10

Staff W rite a quest r Hairol Ma em to crea outfit. te a 1 barked on 00% th In one ri she p tr ip to Eco fted ieced togeth T er this hrift, look.

Deco

468

designs submitted Freshmen 6 Sophomores 4 Juniors 4 Seniors 2

students involved in HC 2014

iimages.google.com, layout by news editors michael hsiu and tiffany huang

Thrift Tips

Thrifting

By Hairol Ma and Rebecca Wu Staff Writers

Discovery Shop

Under $

Skit

Airband

By Anand Balaji, Chakshu Hurria, & Pratham Gupta Staff Writers

o

Thursday, October 23, 2014

75 187

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206

12 Feature

40733 Chapel Way Ab, Fremont

The clothing is sorted on circular racks in rainbow color order, and most items--including designer labels--are priced at $5. All its proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Eco thrift 25891 Mission Blvd, Hayward

Eco Thrift in Hayward has a huge selection of products at cheap, affordable prices. The average tee costs only around $2, and half the items are usually on sale.

Thrift stores are filled with lots of hidden gems. Take a second look at a lot of knick knacks you may run across- they have potential to spice up your living environments in a totally mundane yet super spicy way.

Black and brown 850 The Alameda Ste 20, San Jose

Although this place is pretty pricy for a thrift store, Black and Brown sells true vintage clothing.

The shop is neatly organized and has a true hipster/grunge feel to it.

Thrift Town

41200 Blacow Rd, Fremont

Besides everyday apparel, you can also find vintage and evening dresses, jewelry, and records. Shoppers can receive a 50 percent discount on any item labeled with a price tag that matches the color of the day.

If you’re a girl, don’t just limit yourself to the ladies’ section. Tops are extremely versatile and can be found in virtually any size or gender. As for sizing, don’t stray away from XL if you’re an XS- there’s nothing a little DIY can’t fix.

It’s all about the mindset. If you buy a shirt with a big stain on it but has cute buttons, you could remove the buttons and use them for something else. But remember, don’t buy something unless you absolutely love it.

images.google.com, photos by staff writers hairol ma and rebecca wu, layout by a&e editors melisa peng and andrea tam bgfons.com, officialpsds.com, yelp.com, photos by staff writers hairol ma and rebecca wu,

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Smoke Signal

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Arts & Entertainment

13

By Purvi Goel & Ansh Patel Staff Writers

This fall’s premieres introduce a flurry of shows, dominated by superhero portrayals (The Flash, Gotham, Constantine, and MARVEL’s Agents of Shield), while also promising a peaceful continuity of veteran shows. The Smoke Signal brings you a look into this new crop of TV shows.

www.images.google.com

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Tutoring Gurus

14 Arts and Entertainment

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Tutors: UC-Berkeley, UCLA grads

Score High Stay Ahead

SAT I, SAT II, AP 300 points increase from diagnostic SAT I score - guaranteed $100 early registration discount!

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Finest tutors (UC-Berkeley, UCLA grads)

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8 wk in-depth English/Math review (most offer short 4wks-5wks)

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G7-12 Tutoring One grade up in a quarter - guaranteed 

Small class size (2-3), highly experienced tutors

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Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Cal, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Computers, Statistics, English, Biology, G7-8 Math/Science (510)449-9233 info@tutoringgurus.com www.tutoringgurus.com 3755 Washington Blvd, #202, Fremont, CA 94538

Thursday, October 23, 2014

FALL PLAY PREVIEW:

Into the WOODS

The Smoke Signal

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Lorde Delivers Glory and More

By Andrew Chen Staff Writer

This fall, MSJ students will perform Into the Woods, a unique re-imagining of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytales. Addressing the stumbling blocks in life rather than focusing on a traditional Happily Ever After ending, the musical will run in the MSJ Little Theater from November 7, 8, 14, and 15.

The story focuses on a baker and his wife, their wish to start a family, and their journey to break the curse that prevents them from doing so.

The production incorporates characters from many different fairy tales, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk), resulting in a masterpiece with laughter, tears, and the beauty of live theater. In particular, this year’s play features beautiful backdrops and realistic animation projections.

“Into the Woods is inspired by the stories that we tell and teach our children to help them in the world, and the consequences of choices we make,” Drama Teacher Tanya Roundy said, “We hope to inspire everyone to see the fears and hardships in life and find the ways to learn and grow.”

Tickets can be purchased at www. showtix4u.com: $12 for general adult admission, $10 for student admission, $8 with a discount card, and $5 for children under 12. The show will be playing at 7:30 PM on 11/7, 11/8, 11/14, and 11/15. ▪

A&E

Updates

By Sayan Ghosh Staff Writer

Bay area science festival

By Grace Dong Staff Writer

With the 17-year-old singer-songwriter sensation from New Zealand in town, hundreds of Bay Area fans flocked to the Greek Theatre, an outdoor venue in the University of California, Berkeley, on October 2. Lorde brought her amazing vocals and thrashing dance moves to Berkeley as part of her North American tour in support of her debut studio album, Pure Heroine.

The concert opened with a little known but promising electronic/ indie pop duo, Majical Cloudz. Majical Cloudz, comprised of Canadian singer-songwriter Devon Welsh and producer Matthew Otto, fits right in with Lorde’s style of music and consequently, the crowd loved them. With the sun setting just above the Greek Theatre and the copious amounts of fog sprawling, Majical Cloudz closed their act with “Silver Rings” as the audience pumped their fists along with the bass.

After what seemed like the most tedious stage crew transition ever, the audience’s restlessness abruptly

diffused after every single light in the theatre shut off. Out from the darkness rose the lyrics of “Glory and Gore” as Lorde stepped out on stage. Decked out in her traditional flowy outfit, complete with chiffon wing-like attachments, Lorde delivered her phenomenal vocals with a bizarre, yet fitting dance style that emphasized the thrashing of her torso and wild hand gestures. Only accompanied by her drummer and keyboardist, Lorde proved her live singing to be just as good, if not better, than that of her recorded album.

In quick succession, Lorde whipped out her more upbeat songs like “White Teeth Teens,” “Tennis Courts,” and “400 Lux.” Throughout the concert, close up footage of Lorde live was projected on the stage behind her underneath a sign that read, “Tonight: The Tragic and Wonderful Triumphal Procession of Lorde.” With no background dancers, Lorde alone captivated the audience.

Lorde slowed down with the next set of music. With songs like “Biting Down” and a cover of Bon Iver’s “Heavenly Father,” the audience

san-francisco-theater.com

transitioned from wild jumping to gentle swaying. Lorde played every part the haunting yet beautiful angel as the lighting darkened and fog bubbles were released until Lorde herself seemed to be singing under a halo of light.

With no reprieve, Lorde launched straight into her 2013 hit single, “Royals,” which had the audience singing along enthusiastically. Then, Lorde surprised everyone as she introduced a never before performed song from her upcoming Mockingjay album, “Yellow Flicker Beat,” leaving fans filled with anticipation for more of Lorde’s beautifully written songs.

Despite the lack of ostentatious costuming and staging, Lorde more than delivered when it came to pure talent and passion. At only age 17, Lorde has proved her vocals to be incomparable and her songwriting to be powerfully mature. Only time will confirm, but Lorde seems to have already established herself as the next great artistic genius in the music industry. ▪ Rating: A

A Pilgrimage Worth Taking

AT&T Park will host Discovery Days, the concluding event of the Bay Area Science Festival. Several thousand people of all ages are expected to attend the event, which will include more than 150 exhibits and activities, as well as experiments and shows, all free of charge.

the endless river

Sonic highways

Foo Fighters | 11/10/14 American rock band Foo Fighters will be releasing its eighth studio album. Featuring eight songs recorded in eight different cities, the release will follow an accompanying HBO documentary series.

mockingjay Part 1 PG-13 | 11/21/14 The highly anticipated film, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and Julianne Moore is the first of a twopart adaption of Suzanne Collins’s Mockingjay, the concluding book of her popular Hunger Games series.

15

Steve A-OK

By Hanson Wang Staff Writer

AT&T Park | 11/1/14 11 AM – 4 PM

Pink Floyd | 11/07/14 As a tribute to deceased keyboardist and former member Richard Wright, English rock band Pink Floyd will release its 15th album, its first in 20 years. The album will mostly contain instrumental music.

Arts & Entertainment

seejy.files.wordpress.com

By Hairol Ma Staff Writer

In his recently released novel Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage, Haruki Murakami paints a painfully beautiful vignette of a thirty-six year old man’s psychological shortcomings.

By interweaving elements of Franz Lizt’s haunting “Le Mal du Pays,” the first of three suites collectively titled as Books of Pilgrimage, Murakami creates a powerful metaphor about a story of psychological trauma and a pilgrimage of recovery. Translated by Phillip Gabriel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage is able to connect to any reader through Tsukuru’s life.

The book begins with the introduction of colorless Tsukuru Tazaki, who has been stripped of a central part of his identity: his four best friends.

After they abandoned him abruptly without explanation, Tsukuru sinks into a time of suicidal thoughts and depression. We see him recover, but his life becomes mechanical- each day a monotonous routine. Though Tsukuru reflects on the series of

events sixteen years later, he notes that even now he has not fully recovered from the incident. Something is missing, and Tsukuru has become neutral and empty. With the urging of his girlfriend, Tsukuru embarks on a bildungsroman-esque journey to find out what exactly had happened sixteen years ago.

By using color as a tangible element to separate Tsukuru from the rest of his friends (who all had different colors in their names), Murakami is able to create a symbolic gap that leaves Tsukuru believing himself to be an empty and colorless individual.

Murakami also uses music as a powerful metaphor throughout the novel.

Lizts’ “Le Mal du Pays” is a recurring theme, and we see it as a bridge to his past.

Beautiful language is interspersed throughout the novel. “His feelings were wrapped in layer upon layer of thin membrane and his heart was a still blank, as he aged, one hour at a time.”

Even after its translation to English, the language still retains its delicate

quality. There is a sense of prevailing fragility, and yet the resilience of human nature throughout the book.

Murakami has created a dynamic character who is a bold introvert: a seeming paradox. He has masterfully pieced together a multifaceted character who is undeniably human.

Unlike the complexities of The Windup Bird Chronicle or Kafka on the Shore, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage is a fairly approachable book and proves easy to understand. There is a certain level of the fragile nakedness within the novel that all of us can relate to and appreciate. Tsukuru’s loneliness and abandonment is tragic yet inspiring, showing that even the seemingly most bland of characters is a “beautiful and attractive vessel.”

One of Murakami’s finest works, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his Years of Pilgrimage is a novel of healing and identity. Achingly beautiful, it is a must read for anyone. ▪

One of the most prominent artists on the electronic dance music (EDM) scene, Steve Aoki explores the transformation and evolution of man and music in his new album Neon Future I. Aoki, known for his pulsating, trancelike beats and for throwing cake at his fans during concerts, crafts a futuristic and transcendent tone that pervades the whole album.

Both the introductory speech by Ray Kurzweil and the concluding monologue by Aubrey de Grey discuss a future where technology is embedded in our DNA, radicalizing communication, art, and human life in general.

Although Neon Future I only includes eight true tracks, it showcases a wide array of music genres. “Back to Earth,” featuring Fall Out Boy, is an album highlight because of its energetic pulses and vocals that strike a near perfect balance; the line “Are you living your life or just waiting to die?” coincides perfectly with the drop. While the beat takes a backseat to the lyrics at times, the difference complements the other electro-heavy songs nicely.

For dubstep fans, “Get Me Outta Here” features the familiar booming bass of Flux Pavilion. While it is barely more than a brief foray into the realm of dubstep, the song contributes smoothly to the overall diversity of the album. The most popular track, “Delirious,” is a minute-shorter rehash of an earlier released collab called “Boneless,” with a voiceover

by Kid Ink. Although the pounding electronic bass still manages to catch the attention of listeners, Kid Ink’s choppy verses don’t fit the flowing instrumental of “Boneless” or add anything special to the song. Most of the vocal heavy lifting is done by the strong chorus that drives along the beat until the drop.

A couple obvious downsides of the album are the presence of lackluster vocals and generic EDM. For instance, in “Rage the Night Away,” listeners will roll their eyes at Waka Flocka Flame’s line “on the floor, on the floor, on the floor, get on the floor.” Similarly, Neon Future sticks to the standard EDM mold: intro, buildup, vocals supporting the buildup, drop, repeat. The stunning repetition of this cycle for six straight minutes combined with a dull drop creates one of the least exciting songs in the album.

Unlike Wonderland, Aoki’s first album, Neon Future I definitely embraces vocals in an attempt to complement the music. It signals a transition from strictly electronic beats to incorporating vocals that provide an additional kick. With Neon Future I, Steve Aoki shows that we should be looking forward to the neon-bright future of EDM. ▪ Rating: B+

Rating: A+ indscene.net

allmusic.com

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The Smoke Signal

Kathy Liu:

Dance Spotlight

By Andrew Choi Staff Writer Senior Kathy Liu recently qualified to be one grams, probably a few in Canada and some here of only seven American dancers at the Royal in the United States. And from there, hopefully Academy of Dance Genee International Ballet I can go audition for a company and maybe get Competition that took place from September 18 a contract. I’m thinking of taking a gap year beto 25 in Antwerp, Belgium. The Smoke Signal in- tween high school and college but if I start dancterviewed Liu to talk about her accomplishments ing professionally, I’ll definitely go back to college as a ballet dancer, her experience in Belgium, and once my career is over since a dance career is pretty short. her future goals.

Smoke Signal: How long have you been dancing?

Kathy Liu: I’ve been dancing ballet for 13 years with the same studio, Rachel’s Ballet.

SS: What got you started with ballet?

KL: When I was young, I was watching TV with my mom and the ballet, The Sleeping Beauty, came courtesy kathy liu on. We started watching that together and I just Liu posing in the Museum aan de Stroom in Antwerp, really loved the way the dancers looked on the Belgium . stage. Afterwards I said, “I want to do that,” and SS: How did you feel after learning you qualified for the competition in Belgium?

I’ve been dancing ever since.

KL: I actually started crying. I was so happy and I was just on top of the world. It was just that feelSS: Who’s your greatest role model in dance?

KL: I think Yuanyuan Tan with San Francisco ing that nothing can bring you down.

Ballet. She has such a great history with her training and her company. I just love the way she danc- SS: How big of an accomplishment is it to qualify for this competition? es and the passion that she has.

KL: I’m the first one to ever qualify for the competition from my dance school and it’s been around for about 15 years. I’m also one of just seven Americans and 57 from around the world to make it to Belgium for the competition.

courtesy kathy liu

Liu performs in Rachel Ballet’s 2013 Nutcracker.

SS: What are your plans for dance? What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

KL: I hope to join a professional company going out of high school, but I know that is a difficult task. So I want to audition for some training pro-

SS: What did you do at the competition? How did you do?

KL: We learned a new solo choreographed by Ricardo Amarante and I performed in the semifinals. I didn’t get to the finals but only 12 of the 57 made it there.

SS: What are some words of advice you want to tell to some younger, aspiring dancers?

KL: Just never give up. It’s tedious and hard work but it’s definitely worth it when you get to perform on stage. ▪ clipartbest.com, weheartit.com

MSJ’s Athletic Hall of Fame

By Didi Wu Staff Writer

The nomination of candidates for induction standing athletes and coaches. into MSJ’s Athletic Hall of Fame is ongoing.

The Hall of Fame honors former outstanding athletes and coaches, whose names can be seen on the upper wall encircling the gym quad. Athletic Director Thomas Thomsen is in charge of this process, which began August 1 and will end October 30.

There are four categories that applicants can be nominated for: athletes, coaches, teams, and boosters and administrators (B&A). Nominees must first meet certain requirements before qualifying for selection. For athletes, candidates must have graduated from MSJ at least five years ago and shown integrity and sportsmanship before and after graduation. Coaches must have coached at MSJ for at least 10 years and shown integrity and citizenship in their respective sport.

The teams and B&A categories are new additions. Regarding the addition of the B&A category, Thomsen felt that it is important to recognize the work of individuals who are strong supporters of MSJ’s athletic program.

A committee made up of nine people, including Thomsen and two head coaches, one from a girls sports team and the other from a boys sports team, will choose about 20 to 25 qualifying nominees to induct in November.

The Hall of Fame was started in 2001 by Physical Education Teacher Pete Vaz. Current members of the Hall of Fame include Kristi Yamaguchi, figure skater and 1992 Olympic champion in ladies’ singles; Joseph McVein, a handball player who competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics; Scott Fisher, National Basketball League player and former head coach of the Perth Wildcats; and about 40 other out-

www.thesmokesignal.org

Sports 17

MSJ Football featured for concussion prevention protocol

By Rishab Ramapriyan Staff Writer

MSJ’s football team was featured by televi- ers will gradually return to school for limited sion channel KPIX-5 on October 2 regarding the helmets used by the team to prevent concussions. Prevention is a major part of the concussion protocol and the team uses the highest quality football helmets available.

Helmets are crucial elements in concussion prevention, but coaching and a post-concussion protocol have significant influence on the outcome of such incidents. For example, players are taught to use a method of helmetless tackling, which involves a defensive body posture that prevents the clash of two players’ helmets. However, coaching techniques, although crucial to prevention, do not completely eliminate the possibility of a concussion.

Before the start of the season, all players go through an Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) pre-evaluation, which establishes a neurocognitive baseline for each player. This is done through partnership with Fremont Orthopedic and Rehabilitative Medicine (FORM).

MSJ football is the first team in the Mission Valley Athletic League to utilize ImPACT preevaluation testing. If a player is suspected of having a concussion, game footage is immediately sent to doctors at FORM. The player is then re-ImPACT tested and the results are compared with their baseline that was established as part of the pre-evaluation. The baseline evaluation helps the physician determine whether a concussion has occurred.

Only after all symptoms have subsided, will doctors prescribe a post-recovery period, typically eight to 14 days. MSJ Football has also developed a “Post-Concussion Return to Play” plan, which involves cognitive rest followed by gradual return to school activities.

The entire plan is coordinated between the treating physician and the MSJ football team’s own Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC). Play-

amounts of time before returning to school full time. After the student athlete is cleared by the treating physician for further activity, they may begin light exercise supervised by the ATC. Eventually the player will go through more rigorous activity and training until they are ready to go back into the game.

The emphasis of the post-concussion recovery protocol ensures a safe return to the learning environment before the student gets back on to the field. “Every player is first a student and then an athlete,” said Football Coach Sam Baugh, recognizing that a student’s education must be prioritized. There is a difference between returning to learn and returning to play. The student should be able to effectively engage in a learning environment.

Techniques and protocols for concussion prevention employed by MSJ football are consistent with those used by professional football leagues. In the case of a concussion, the team’s protocol will ensure a safe recovery back to the classroom and eventually to the field. Baugh said, “Our concussion protocol is so comprehensive. The people who treat our kids know our kids.” With new playing techniques, higher level coaching, and quality equipment, the team aims to prevent all concussion incidents. ▪

staff writer harshita gupta

Players recover after a collision at the Spike Bowl.

NBA Season PreVIEW

By Peter Qiu Staff Writer

graphics ediitor kevin chen

Physical Education Teacher Jack Marden and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Doug Sakamoto are also members. As a member of the MSJ Class of 1979, Marden was an accomplished track and field runner and has now been the track and field coach at MSJ for more than 25 years. Sakamoto was the MVAL boys’ singles tennis champion in 1983 and 1985 and played tennis at the University of Hawaii. Regarding his induction, Sakamoto said, “It was one of my biggest individual athletic honors… [and] nice to see my name on the wall along with the coaches I had, as well as athletes that I followed growing up.”

One current nominee is MSJ Alumnus Kevin Tan, a six-time Penn State All-American gymnast. He took the Visa Championships’ still ring titles for three consecutive years and was the captain of the 2008 Beijing Olympics’ men’s gymnastics team, which won the US the bronze medal.

The last MSJ Hall of Fame induction was 11 years ago. According to Thomsen, MSJ’s 50th Anniversary was a catalyst that helped jumpstart the current induction.

Thomsen said, “I hope it gives current athletes something to strive for and hopefully [being in the Hall of Fame] gets to be one of their goals.”

Vaz added, “We have a rich tradition and history of athletic success at this school and it’s important for everyone to know it.”

Chosen inductees will be announced in December. A banquet is tentatively scheduled for May 6 at the Fremont Marriot, to celebrate the inductees’ selection and to officially commemorate their achievements with awards. ▪

The 2014-15 NBA season kicks off on October 28, and the season is gearing up to be an interesting one. Blockbuster trades, returning superstars, and a healthy dose of speculation make a definitive champion hard to pinpoint.

Here are some teams to look out for.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made a remarkable rise from obscurity. After LeBron James announced he was leaving Cleveland, they set alltime records for the biggest single season drop in wins and the longest losing streak, but James is finally coming home. He returns to Cleveland in style, with the love of fans who hated him just a few years before. The Cavaliers have also traded number one picks Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins for power forward Kevin Love. This new “Big Three” of James, Love, and guard Kyrie Irving looks to be even stronger than the old “Big Three” of the Heat: James, power forward Chris Bosh, and guard Dwyane Wade. The Cavaliers will come out fighting to give Cleveland its first ever championship.

The Cavaliers aren’t the only ones trying to make a comeback. The Chicago Bulls will be fierce competition this season with explosive guard Derrick Rose coming back after a two year absence due to an ACL tear and a torn meniscus.

With the addition of forward Pau Gasol, the Bulls’ veteran players, talent, and experience will give the Cavaliers a run for their money. Also on the list of returning superstars is Kobe Bryant, coming back to the Lakers after a yearlong absence. He will face stiff competition from his own city, as the Clippers’ have a healthy Jordan Farmar and Matt Barnes, which makes the team a tough matchup considering Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and Chris Paul. For the Lakers, making the playoffs will be their main goal.

Rounding out the teams to watch out for are recent champions and Texas natives: the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs have their own “Big Three”, who never seem to age. Forward Tim Duncan and guards

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been going strong before some of today’s superstars were even drafted. Though many naysayers predict when they finally wear out, they’ve proved they’ve got plenty more in the tank. Forward Kawhi Leonard, last year’s Finals MVP, will certainly improve the Spurs’ championship chances. The Mavericks have solid performers in forward Chandler Parsons and center Tyson Chandlers. Chandlers was a key defensive player in the Mavericks’ championship year, and along with forward Dirk Nowitzki’s offensive talent, the Mavericks will be serious contenders.

analyticsgame.com

San Antonio’s Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan are Spurs’ strondholds for a chance at the upcoming title.

Look for the Spurs to clinch another championship this year. They have shown a consistent ability to perform, and Leonard will offset the lowered production of their Big Three due to age. The Cavaliers are undeniably strong, but last time LeBron James switched teams, he didn’t win a championship in the first year first year. The Cavaliers need to gel as a team to win, while Rose’s long departure from the NBA will throw off his offensive capability. The Bulls and the Cavaliers will duke it out in the East, but the Cavaliers will come out on top to face the Spurs.

However, teams across both conferences have gained considerable talent, and the championships are just a small part of a season that does not look like it will disappoint. ▪ time.com

18 Sports

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

bringing you our ‘a’ game

By Arti Patankar & Abigail Wong Sports Editors

Keeping our athletes safe,

one game at a time.

“The battle scars are the best part” is the common mentality surrounding the fact that injuries are an inevitable part of sports. Injuries are often seen as a sign of an athlete’s dedication to their sport and their team. However, injuries are not to be taken lightly, no matter how small they may seem. While physical contact in sports may be unavoidable, sports organizations must start taking more concrete steps to protect their players. As cliche as it may sound, safety should always come first.

The absence of injury regulations and protocol becomes more appalling when the number of serious injuries – and even deaths – are taken into account. We have all seen footage and pictures of players who are obviously subdued or in pain but feel the need to stay in the game. It’s exasperating to think that an athlete who is so obviously injured can be allowed to re-enter the competition. Headlines such as “Third high school football player dies in a week,” an actual headline from CNN.com in early October, have become commonplace.

Yet why hasn’t any definitive action been taken?

Maybe it is because an ESPN’s headline read “Football deaths tragic but not a trend”. Maybe it is because Steven Cohen, superintendent of Shoreham-Wading High School, called athlete Tom Cutinella’s death a “freak accident.”

Cutinella was 16. A varsity football player and a student at Shoreham-Wading High School, he passed away on October 1 on the way to the hospital after an on-field collision.

Demario Harris Jr. was 17. He died after making a tackle on September 28. Isaiah Langston

was 17. He slumped during warm-ups and passed away on September 29.

nydailynews.com

Tom Cutinella’s memorial leaning on the fence of Shoreham-Wading River High School football field.

If four days, three games, and three high school athletes at eternal rest are still considered “freak accidents” or “not a trend,” we dare you to silently wait for ten more days. Every single day, high school, college, and professional athletes are facing the risk of losing their lives on the field - how can this be allowed to happen?

As in Langston’s case, not all injuries have instant repercussions. According to Southwest Athletic Trainers’ Association, fifty percent of the people with “Second Impact Concussions”, brain injury after a premature return to the sport, die. Beyond the debilitating physical effects of sports injuries is the frightening connection between sports injuries and mental health. Studies from Boston University School of Medicine suggest that repetitive and direct impacts to the head may be an instrumental cause of the rising prevalence of depression and suicide in professional athletes. These

findings emphasize the dire need for change.

In order to combat this problem, all sports associations at high school, college, and national levels must enact and enforce laws that do not allow an athlete to continue playing if there is even the slightest possibility of a serious injury. We should not need a Kevin Ware bone-sticking-out-of-leg type of injury to know whether or not a player is hurt. At the college and professional levels, referees, coaches, and trainers should be closely watching athletes for signs of head or other serious injuries.

Ultimately, trained medical staff should make the final decision whether or not an athlete should be removed from the game. All sports associations should follow the Premier League model to address head injuries by allowing doctors to make the call. During the season, athletes should have access to frequent medical exams in order to gauge their state of physical health. How many more athletes have to pass away before we see the point?

Some may wonder how we as a high school should address this issue. The key is education.

We must educate athletes about the realities of injury. MSJ Football has made impressive strides by instilling a strict post-concussion protocol and using high quality helmets to protect its players from severe head injuries.

However, impact sports that do not mandate protective gear such as basketball and soccer have yet to develop a constructive concussion protocol to protect and inform their athletes about the risks of severe injury. From a young age, athletes must be taught that serious injuries can change their lives both in and out of sports. It is the coaches’, trainers’, and parents’ responsibility to constantly let them know that

their health is more important than everything else.

To the student athletes out there: we get it.

We are young, strong, and invincible. From the perspective of an athlete, falling down and getting hurt is just a part of the process. Many athletes are understandably passionate about their team’s success and determined to do what they have to do for their teammates and their fans. Many coaches want their star players to continue to shine to have the best chance at winning. While this willpower and loyalty is admirable, it is exceedingly foolish to risk good health for the sake of the score or your ego.

There is a balance wherein players must take care of themselves while simultaneously being athletes who are not afraid to test the boundaries of skill. However, when it comes down to one or the other, the individual always comes before the competition.

usatoday.com

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz leaves the field during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles after sustaining a knee injury.

In the end, sports are a celebration of skill and talent. But in honor of the athletes who have lost their lives, we all have the responsibility to keep our players safe. ▪

courtcareuk.com, openclipart.org, sportsdimensions.net. panhandlevarsity.com, socalaquatics.com, topfemaletennisplayer.com

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Thursday, October 23, 2014

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Photo 19

photos by staff writers andrew choi, harshita gupta, pratham gupta, santhosh paramasivan & web editor nithya rajeev

20 Special

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The Smoke Signal

Thursday, October 23, 2014

By Sayan Ghosh, Hairol Ma, and Shivane Sabharwal Staff Writers

STAFF ALUMNI In this installment of the 50th Anniversary Series, check out this #throwbackthursday of your MSJ alumni instructors.

The Smoke Signal only featured teachers who responded to the outreach email. Dr. Frydendahl (class of 1980), Ms. Mattingly (class of 1972), and Ms.Neilson (class of 1974) are also MSJ alumni.

photos courtesy costanoan yearbook, images.google.com, coverage led by staff writers grace dong & hairol ma, layout by staff writer grace dong