“I think what really would make all of us, all Dylan’s friends, happy, is just remembering what a bright person he was. He definitely shed a light of happiness and just overall positivity around the school. I do really hope that positivity can stay, not only just for the good of ourselves, but for the memory of Dylan.”
— Raabia Rehman, 11
“Dylan was genuinely the most inspiring person I've met and had the honor of being friends with. Seeing someone our age pass like this is unbelievable.”
“My memories of Dylan were all positive. Energetic, fun, and helpful. Taught Dylan for a semester in Civics his freshman year, but the most memorable for me was when I would sometimes sub in for his PE classes last year. Enjoyed throwing the football around with him and his friends at the gym courtyard. Most importantly, Dylan helped me get set up and clean up when I didn't know how to operate equipment or where they were. Thank you Dylan for supporting me so I could get my job done. You will be missed.”
— Social Science Teacher Cyril Macasero
“[Dylan was] a huge goofball. He was genuinely one of the most friendly people ever, genuinely … he was genuinely one of the most confident people I knew … I was [once] a stranger, right? It didn’t matter who it was. He’d go up to you and start talking to you. Find ways to talk to you and connect to you, and I feel like that was one of the most beautiful gifts he had, just his ability to communicate and his confidence in himself and his joy and love was just genuinely one of the most beautiful things [about him].” — Sofia Acero, 11
By Padma Balaji & Trisha Parikh
Opinion Editor & Feature Editor
On the evening of August 28, Junior Dylan Reagan tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident. Dylan was an active student at MSJ and in his community, an avid member of the wrestling and baseball teams, and a server at Carlton Senior Living where he served meals to elderly residents. In the days following Dylan’s passing, the tragedy left MSJ in grief, with friends, teachers, and peers all coming together to mourn and remember Dylan’s life. “[Dylan had] a dedication and passion to absolutely everything, the gym, the wrestling team, the baseball team … if he was passionate about something [and] he put his mind to it, he could achieve that,” Junior Sofia Acero said.
“[Dylan had] a dedication and passion to absolutely everything, the gym, the wrestling team, the baseball team … if he was passionate about something [and] he put his mind to it, he could achieve that.”
— Junior So a Acero
Students at MSJ quickly worked hand in hand to plan and organize a vigil for Dylan to be held before school on August 30, spreading the word through social media and asking students to bring flowers, bouquets, cards, and candles. “[We wanted] MSJ to show [Dylan’s] parents that their son wasn’t just a number to our school,” Sean Sawan, Dylan’s cousin, who organized the vigil, wrote in a message that was spread on social media through the MSJ Class of
26’s account. On the morning of August 30, students gathered around the benches in front of the library, where Dylan used to eat lunch, and laid down dozens of memorabilia, such as paintings of Dylan and a few of his favorite things to remember Dylan. For more than twenty minutes after the first bell rang, students and teachers gathered around the memorial for a schoolwide moment of silence. “It was very touching and inspiring that people cared so much and [it] really showed how one person can impact everybody and impact a community,” History Teacher Kim Mathis, who previously taught Dylan, said. The following day, friends and family of Dylan gathered for a second memorial on
Osgood Road, where the accident occurred. Similar to the vigil held at MSJ, loved ones laid flowers and lit candles, giving speeches in memory of Dylan. To honor his legacy, friends gathered and raised a toast with Jarritos. “If Dylan was here today, he’d be drinking a Jarrito with us. So let’s [do it] for him, we’ll give a toast to Dylan,” friends at the memorial said.
Students also organized a Dylan Field Day on September 9 at John Gomes Elementary School, hosting a day of celebration in honor of Dylan’s legacy, complete with food, basketball, baseball, and football. “The field day was really fun, [but it was] definitely under the worst circumstances, but it was nice to just have fun and remember [that] Dylan would have wanted us to have fun … and just be happy in honor of him,” Junior Raabia Rehman said.
In order to offer support and comfort to the Reagan family, the Mission Possible Parent & Faculty Association (MPPFA) came together to organize a GoFundMe. The community responded swiftly with an outpouring show of love and support, surpassing the campaign’s original goal of $50,000 with more than 900 donations in just two weeks. MPPFA has also provided support to grieving students, providing snacks and water for students at the vigil at MSJ and working to arrange sessions with licensed
professionals to help families and students work through periods of grief. “I think what really would make all of us, all Dylan’s friends, happy, is just remembering what a bright person he was. You know, he definitely shed a light of happiness and just overall positivity around the school. So I do really hope that that positivity can stay, not only just for the good of ourselves but for the memory of Dylan,” Rehman said.
“I think what would really make all of us, Dylan’s friends, happy, is just remembering what a bright person he was...he defnitely shed a light of happiness and overall positivity around the school. So I really do hope that positivity can stay, not only just for the good of ourselves but for the memory of Dylan.”
— Junior Raabia Rehman
Chemists at UC Berkeley have discovered a groundbreaking chemical process that can break down common plastics found in water bottles and shopping bags into sustainable and reusable materials. This elaborate process, published on August 29 in Science, involves combining waste plastics with sodium, tungsten, and ethylene in a high-pressure reactor. After heating and stirring, the plastic is deconstructed into its base components, which can be recycled. This newfound, published research opens a gateway of possible promising alternatives to traditional recycling methods, having the ability to reduce the amount of plastic waste in landfills and incentivize more recycling efforts.
Nearly 4 million residents in southern Japan have been notified to evacuate as Typhoon Shanshan hit on August 29, bringing hurricane-force winds, torrential rain, and dangerous storms to Kyushu. Thousands of homes are without power, and authorities have issued warnings of life-threatening conditions due to the potential of severe flooding and landslides. The storm has also led to hundreds of flights canceled and the closure of major factories, including those of Toyota and Honda. Some areas have experienced nearly forty inches of rainfall. The storm is expected to move slowly across Japan, bringing heavy downpours to other regions and causing more emergency evacuations.
Over the week of August 29, three apes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida died of gastrointestinal issues due to shigellosis, a highly infectious bacterial infection. Bulera, a 35-yearold female western lowland gorilla, was first documented as having the disease, which then spread to two brother bonobos, Jumanji and Jenga. Other primates diagnosed with the disease are currently undergoing treatment and receiving fluids, antibiotics, and electrolytes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shigella typically spreads through feces, food, and water and can also affect humans, but symptoms may go away without antibacterial treatment.
On August 22, a German navy warship played the well-known Imperial March tune, also known as Darth Vader’s Theme from the Star Wars franchise, as it cruised down the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, delighting onlookers with its playful and unexpected choice of music. The warship originally stopped in London to collect supplies, but was in the area for training and had the
a
and
and
Starting with the new school year, FUSD has implemented several new changes.
By Padma Balaji, Brittany Lu, Ethan Yan & Alice Zhao
Opinion Editor, A&E Editor, Sports Editor & Web Editor
FUSD has enacted a series of district-wide changes to the 2024-25 school year, including new curriculum, superintendent, digital information systems, mental health resources for the entire community, and more. In this article, the SmokeSignal has compiled five of the most important changes.
In July, FUSD emailed parents with instructions to activate their Aeries account, the new student information system replacing Infinite Campus. Social Studies Teacher Kim Mathis, who previously assisted with the implementation of School Loop and Infinite Campus, is now supporting teachers in adjusting to Aeries by answering questions and providing screen recorded tutorials. “I think the hope and intent are that [Aeries] is a better product of Infinite Campus. My understanding of why the district made this change is because Infinite Campus wouldn’t do elementary report cards, and Aeries would, so they made a change for the whole district on what’s going to work for everyone,” Mathis said. Additionally, FUSD introduced StudentSquare this school year and ParentSquare during the 2023-24 school year to serve as school-to-home communication systems. However, as of this school year, these communication systems are mainly implemented in elementary schools, as secondary teachers have yet to be trained on the platforms, according to Mathis. Although with these new resources, the initial transition to ParentSquare, StudentSquare, and Aeries may be di cult, FUSD aims for these to serve as a long-term solution that o ers a unified experience for all schools in the district.
Following the departure of CJ Cammack, the FUSD Board of Education unanimously approved the appointment of Erik Burmeister as the new superintendent, e ective July 1. Before receiving this position, Burmeister worked in public education for more than two decades, previously serving as Menlo Park City School District’s Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and Principal. He has frequently been recognized for his work and was recently named the 2020 Superintendent of the Year. In 2022, Burmeister departed his role as Menlo Park City Superintendent to found Solutionary Advisors, a consulting firm that provides design and strategy services to schools. “I am excited to step back into the role of superintendent for FUSD. I look forward to applying my experience and commitment to human-centered design to my work serving the students and community in Fremont,” Burmeister said in a FUSD news article.
As a part of his goals for the 2024-25 school year, Burmeister hopes to implement a series of projects within the Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP), a plan that defines the long-term goals for facility planning in FUSD. It would allot $1.6 billion in facilities needs, from facility upgrades to acquiring classroom equipment. Currently, the plan focuses on projects that include implementing solar infrastructure, constructing new high school buildings, and improving athletic learning. On August 5, the Board of Education approved Measure M, placing a bond on the November 2024 ballot that would provide $919 million to allow FUSD to begin projects identified in the LRFP, including replacement buildings and facility improvements in all six high schools across FUSD.
This year, FUSD is partnering with CareSolace, an online coordination service dedicated to making mental health care more accessible to students, faculty, and families. CareSolace provides 24/7 live assistance in any language through video chat, email, phone, or text to connect users to local mental health and counseling services that accept di erent types of insurance. The service also o ers a database of mental healthcare providers, which professionals will search through and contact to determine the best fit for every individual. Access to all of these resources is completely free, confidential, and even anonymized for all FUSD faculty as well as FUSD students and their families. In order to further support staudents’ mental health on campus, MSJ has also made several additions to the Wellness Center this year, which is open throughout the school day at C2. Along with the addition of decor and several new games like cornhole, the school has hired alumna Jennifer Yen as a counselor. “[Teacher Nina LaRosa has] added more activities, crafts like our friendship bracelets, new games, and some plants. It’s a calming place … there are so many di erent things [to do],” Yen said. The wellness center will be hosting monthly sessions with Peer Resource, as well as school-wide events such as the Walk and Roll to School Day on October 9, encouraging students to walk or use other active modes of transportation like riding a bike or scooter to get to school.
California State Assembly Bill 101 mandates that all CA high schoolers graduating in 2030 and later must complete a one-semester long Ethnic Studies course. This year, Ethnic Studies has replaced Civics as a mandatory freshman year class at MSJ. Social Science Department Teachers Cyril Macasero and Joseph Usrey are teaching the course. “We could have started it next year, but, because we’re [MSJ], we’d like to be ahead of things, not behind. We also feel like it’s really important for our students to be educated on people’s di erent backgrounds and cultures and where they come from,” Assistant Principal Jeanna Nightengale said. Ethnic Studies examines the culture, history, and experiences of di erent racial and ethnic groups in the US, particularly people of color and other historically marginalized groups. The course could also draw attention to current social justice issues, such as the Black Lives Matter movement. “[The course is] like the decolonization of history. We examine the system institutions that we have in place, and we learn how we can make it better so that [future generations] don’t end up marginalizing or oppressing certain groups of people,” Macasero said.
By Tanvi Deshmukh & Trisha Parikh Feature Editors
This school year, Social Studies Teacher Keith Kottenbach introduced Drama 1, a highly anticipated seventh-period elective that marks the return of MSJ’s official drama class after several years. Previously, students passionate about theater had to seek opportunities outside of school to pursue their interests. Now, Drama 1 not only provides a dynamic platform for students to hone their acting skills, but also fulfills the art requirement for graduation, serving as both a creative outlet and a valuable academic opportunity.
Kottenbach has been teaching social studies for twelve years, previously at the Quarry Lane School in Dublin before joining MSJ last year. His passion for theater, however, traces
MSJ’s offcial drama class returns after many years.
back to his high school days, when he actively participated in school plays and attended state festivals. He later polished his craft at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, dedicating two years to studying acting, which includes vocal techniques and movement. Now, Kottenbach is eager to share the knowledge he gained through his conservatory training with his Drama 1 students, inspiring a new generation of performers. Last year, Kottenbach began advising Universal Performers, MSJ’s drama and theater club that produces student-run plays and musicals. During the club’s trip to the Lenaea High School Theatre Festival in February, several students expressed interest in resurrecting a drama class at MSJ, sparking the creation of Drama 1. Although Universal Performers and Drama 1 are distinct entities, Kottenbach envisions them as complementary. “I’m at the crossroads of the two worlds, and I want them to coexist and play nicely together,” he said.
“I would absolutely recommend
this class
to
anyone, even if you’re not that
into
theater. It’s a great place to grow with other people and fgure yourself out … I feel like drama is just a great escape.”
—SOPHOMORE ANVI MISHRA
Kottenbach’s Drama 1 curriculum centers around the fundamentals of theater, such as acting techniques and script analysis. The course
begins with improvisation and pantomime exercises to build physicality and action-based skills. “We have been doing theater games and improv exercises to get everyone to understand that theater isn’t just following a script or memorizing lines. It’s also about building a relationship with the cast … and getting comfortable with using your imagination to carry on the scene,” Sophomore Alisha Arora said. Once they master the essential skills, students will progress to memorizing monologues and scene work, focusing on objectives and exploring the performance style of historical Greek theater. In the second semester, the course will shift to a more student-driven approach, potentially involving larger productions, individual scene work, or scriptwriting.
“I have written the curriculum, but there’s also a lot of fluidity, and I really want the students to guide me to ensure that they’re interested in what they’re learning,” Kottenbach said. So far, many students have found the class interesting and enjoyable, particularly appreciating the supportive environment it fosters. Looking ahead, Kottenbach anticipates seeing what aspects of the course resonate with students and whether they discover new interests. If Drama 1 proves successful this year, Kottenbach hopes to continue teaching the class, delving deeper into acting theories and producing well-known plays every spring and fall. ▪
Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964
Vol. 60, No. 1 September 20, 2024
www.thesmokesignal.org
41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539
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SCHOOL POPULATION 1822 students
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Kaylee Liu, Callie Yuan
NEWS Shuhan Jin, Catherine Qin
OPINION Padma Balaji, Keerti Koya
FEATURE Tanvi Deshmukh, Trisha Parikh
CENTERSPREAD Naisha Koppurapu, Ashley Pang
A&E Goonja Basu, Brittany Lu
SPORTS Howard Lu, Ethan Yan
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CIRCULATION Novak Chen, Tushara Devapatla
ADVERTISING Angelina Chen
EVENTS Navya Chitlur
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Gaurasundara Amarnani, Eleanor Chen, Alex Duan, Abigaile Lei, Jennifer Li, Muyang Li, Theenash Sengupta, Rishab Shah, Aarav Vashisht, Megha Vashisht, Matthew Zhang, Aaqib Zishan
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By Keerti Koya Opinion Editor
“ ere’s 26 kids in my school.” I stared at my friend in disbelief, and he mirrored my expression when I mentioned that my school has 16 times that number in just one grade. Over this past summer, I participated in an academic summer program, allowing me the opportunity to meet individuals from a broad range of backgrounds so di erent from my own. As we discussed our daily lives, from school events to city attractions to our hobbies, I found myself in shock by their experiences.
Each person in my summer program came from entirely different geographical, cultural, and socioeconomic contexts. ese diverse backgrounds translated into distinct perspectives not only in our program work, but also in our conversations about education, career aspirations, and life in general. Rather than measuring their success through grades or college admissions, the people I met valued their impact on their community or their ability to properly support their families. ese varied perspectives opened my eyes to the many ways people interpret and navigate the world, challenging the more uniform mindset that often prevails at MSJ.
At our school, it’s easy to nd yourself caught in what we frequently call the “MSJ bubble.” e familiarity of our shared backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives often dominates the environment, creating a sense of comfort and security in our similar views. However, this homogeneity can also
limit our exposure to diverse ideas and viewpoints. While it might feel reassuring to be surrounded by peers with similar experiences, this insularity also comes with signi cant drawbacks. By relying on a narrow worldview and engaging in groupthink, we risk spending our formative years con ned to a singular, often unchallenged, perspective.
As a result, we must take the time to seek out diverse perspectives in today’s interconnected world. Meeting people from di erent backgrounds encourages empathy and a deeper understanding of others’ experiences. As we go on to navigate global challenges or work in diverse teams in the future, it is important to have the fundamental skill of seeing things from another perspective and broadening your own.
By taking part in programs, workshops, or other opportunities that allow us to meet people outside of MSJ or even the Bay Area, we can diversify the way we think. By stepping out of our comfort zones, we open ourselves to new ideas, experiences, and ways of thinking that will serve us well throughout our lives.
As I go o to college next year, I am sure to meet people from across the globe and will certainly be in jaw-dropping disbelief at their lives yet again. However, today, I’m enamored by the beauty of meeting new people and getting to see their point-of-view. Now, I am delighted by the prospect of being surrounded by like-minded individuals in academic settings who lead lives so vastly unlike that of my own. ▪
roughout the past ve years, FUSD has undergone several educational platform changes. e district has struggled to keep a consistent platform for its student information and grading system, from School Loop to In nite Campus to the new Aeries. e district is also implementing StudentSquare, a new communication system, and ClassLink, a platform that allows students to manage their passwords securely. With each new change comes a promise of a more that user-friendly, transparent for educators, students, and parents. Yet, despite the best e ort of administration and teachers to quickly adapt to the new systems, each platform has raised its own issues and di culties. In order to facilitate an e ective transition, the district should ensure full transparency and e ciency, establishing proper communication with all students and allocating time to prepare teachers and allow them to transition to the new system.
In early May, all FUSD students were required to change their passwords as a part of the shi to ClassLink. ough the password change directly a ected students, communication was exclusively directed to parents, leaving many students in the dark. Parents only received a few emails from the district through the Superintendent’s Newsletter, which many parents were not necessarily subscribed to, along with a few messages from the MSJ administration through ParentSquare. Without adequate context from administration and proper context that the reset was
necessary to complete, the email was easily lost to many parents and dismissed as unnecessary by others.
Students who missed the emails and failed to complete the password reset process before August 8 found their FUSD Google Accounts disabled with no clear instructions as to how to restore them. Without access to their FUSD accounts, students were completely locked out of Google Classroom, Aeries, Gmail, and StudentSquare, unable to communicate with their teachers, access important documents, or even use applications like Google Docs. Rather than focusing on the beginning of the school year, teachers and administration had to assist students with nding technological support and personally email students important announcements and assignments.
Teachers have also experienced their fair share of di culty with the newfound changes. Despite the drastic shi from In nite Campus to Aeries, teachers were only introduced to Aeries a week prior to the rst day of school. e lack of ample time for training and adjustment led many teachers to feel ill-prepared to navigate the systems, frequently expressing their frustrations with di culties logging into the website, taking attendance, or accessing student information, ultimately hindering their ability to do their job as teachers.
Large-scale technological changes like the shi s to Aeries and ClassLink have drastic impacts on students and teachers’ educational experiences and, without proper communication,
By Padma Balaji Opinion Editor
Ever since school started, I’ve relished in the familiarity of my routine: getting up early to get a headstart on homework, picking a cute out t for school, coming home to brew a tall cup of co ee to help me power through my many hours of work, and falling asleep exhausted after a long day. Rinse and repeat. Yet, despite the fact that I love my newfound sense of routine, I can’t help but resent how immensely isolating it feels. My tightly packed schedule leaves little room for spending time with my friends without thinking about school — leaving me reminiscing the sheer spontaneity summer o ered, of the excitement of exploring new places and meeting new people, and the joy of simply spending time away from school. is monotony often has me yearning for a place in my routine distinct from school or home: a third place, so to speak. As it turns out, I’m not alone in that. e term “third place” refers to a public space outside of the home, workplace, or school where people can go to connect with the community, socialize with their friends, or simply spend time with themselves. “What suburbia cries for are the means for people to gather easily, inexpensively, regularly, and pleasurably,” sociologist Ray Oldenburg, who coined the term "third place," wrote in his book Celebrating the ird Place
Within the silos of suburbia, especially in one that encourages a rigorous environment where students are frequently overworked, burnt
out, and deprived of genuine social connection, it’s easy to forget that third places are not only fun and convenient but a genuine psychological necessity. According to a study from ScienceDirect on university students, community spaces are fundamental supporters of our psychological well-being and can even o er mental health bene ts. When we nd a third place that matches our identity and needs — whether it’s a co ee shop, library, or community center — we develop a sense of psychological ownership, strengthening our sense of identity and belonging. e rise of the internet, which has replaced much of our social interaction and community interaction, along with the pandemic, which wiped out many small businesses that were previously used as third places, has contributed to the desert of community spaces we currently face. However, it’s important to remember that even as the community spaces available to us start to die out, third places can be forged anywhere we look. It can be a co ee or boba shop where you and your friends grab drinks every weekend, the park where you go to unwind and read on the weekends, or even your own backyard where you can have an evening snack and chat with your parents. What’s most important is not the location, but the opportunity to escape from the seemingly inescapable in uence of school and work, to forge a sense of community belonging that seems to be slipping farther and farther away from us. ▪
lead to widespread confusion among families. As such, when approaching such changes, FUSD must recognize the necessity of diligent preparation and communication, striving to ensure that students and teachers are as prepared as possible. By implementing more consistent communication and ensuring that schools, teachers, and parents are all communicating with their students about what is required for the changes, the district can facilitate stronger transparency for students and educators alike.
As students, we should work to facilitate this transparency as well, doing our part to ensure our peers are aware of teachers’ struggles and supporting our community through the change. It is also imperative that we stay patient and empathetic as the district adapts to new changes, keeping in mind the inevitable adjustment period for new platforms. Although students may not understand the short term bene ts of the changes and criticize them as a result, it is vital to remember that such widespread changes are made with the intent to bene t everyone in the long run. ere are things on our end that you guys don’t see, where things are just a little di erent and challenging,” MSJ Assistant Principal Jeana Nightengale said. Although it is undoubtedly necessary to be vocal about our concerns for more adequate communication, it can be quick to judge without the full context; we should instead strive to be understanding of the perspectives of our faculty and district, balancing empathy with our advocacy. ▪
By Navya Chitlur & Lucas Zhang
By Rajorshi Chatterjee, Ivy Lu & Michael Qu Sta Writers
her campaign social media account adoptng a more casual and meme-oriented approach. Her ofcial account produced many trends to engage
us
Afer Kamala Harris was announced as the new presidental nominee, her presence became viral almost immediately on the internet, with ers, including the coconut tree monologue — “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you” — from one of Harris’s speeches at the White House in 2023. In additon, much of her social media page is inspired by the Brat aes thetc, a trend inspired by Charli XCX’s album of the same name, promotng party animal antcs and cool-girl style. By taking advantage of other social media elements, from edits using Chappell Roan’s music to lower case captons, Harris’s posts aim to campaign herself in a relatable and casual way. Her unique campaign strategy sparked widespread discussion among voters and called into queston the efectveness and implicatons of such unconventonal methods. In a digital age where social media plays an increasingly pivotal role in shaping public opinion, Harris’s online campaigning presents both benefts and drawbacks in appealing to electon voters.
With youth turnout ranging from as high as 37% in some states to as low as 13% in others during the 2022 presidental electons, encouraging voter partcipaton remains crucial for fostering a more representatve democracy. Harris’s digital campaigning appears to be efectve in reaching and engaging younger voters, as seen by one of her TikTok reels featuring a song by breakout pop star Chappell Roan and calling for a “femininomenon” garnering more than 54 million views. Her campaign’s use of trending cultural references and direct interacton with users through social media platorms allows her to present her message in a way that resonates with younger audiences, not only helping her connect with voters who might otherwise be less engaged but also encouraging higher youth partcipaton in electons.
Using social media as a bridge to younger generatons, Harris challenges traditonal politcian stereotypes and redefnes what it means to campaign in a digital age. By engaging directly with users through popular platorms like TikTok, she taps into the potental for increased interacton and connecton, which counteracts the percepton of politcians as out of touch with current generatons.
“Using social media as a bridge to younger generations, Harris challenges traditional politician stereotypes and redefnes what it means to campaign in a digital age."
Advancing campaigns through social media worked in the past, with previous presidental candidates using similar strategies like Harris’s to gain voter support. In the 2012 electon, Democratc presidental candidate Barack Obama utlized social media to gain voter support through Project Narwhal, a data analytcs strategy that streamlined user data to create personalized emails and social media posts catering to each of the targeted groups. Like Harris, Obama recognized the power of digital tools to amplify their reach and engage a broad audience. Harris’s use of technology aligns with past candidates’ digital strategies to connect with voters, but uniquely emphasizes voter relatability over data analytcs.Harris’s partcular style of campaigning can become dangerous when her audience is only familiar with her in
the form of jokes or social media trends. One of her ofcial campaign accounts on TikTok, @kamalaharris (the other being @kamalahq), has posted 48 diferent videos so far. However, in only two does Harris discuss policies that either she or her opponent would implement as president, meaning the viewer watching this short-form content would learn next to nothing about Harris as a politcian. The use of social media ofen prioritzes garnering interest over informing viewers of the full nuances that her policies, plans, or promises come with. Making politcal decisions based on the humor or relatability of a candidate is dangerous when voters ultmately do not align with the candidate’s vision for a country. To the viewer who only knows a politcal candidate through social media, politcs gets reduced to a shallow puddle of entertaining clips.
Harris also risks inadvertently alienatng other key demographics that have a historically high votng group with a campaign so obviously geared toward the younger generaton. Additonally, some may perceive Harris’s use of memes and social media trends as pandering and insincere, since social media trends capitalize on the algorithm, depersonalizing the interacton between creator and viewer. Superfcial engagement leaves a lack of motvaton to learn about her candidacy, with voters swayed by familiarity with current trends rather than a critcal evaluaton of her stances on key issues, which poses a danger when their civic opinions and her policies confict.
In additon, superfcial entertainment does not necessarily translate to the motvaton to learn about Harris’s candidacy. Potental voters run the risk of substtutng current trends for critcal thought when picking the politcal candidate they feel best represents them. Even then, social media is a poor method for citzens to learn about their politcal candidate. The prevailing format of content on social media is short-form, which makes it virtually impossible to even hint at the full nuance of topics presented. A voter who only watches memes and edits to form their politcal opinions would make their decisions based on the entertainment value of 8-15 second videos, trivializing the issues they will vote on. While this partcular method of marketng may reach young voters, it might not help them make beter civic decisions and may even harm their abil to do so.
With high school students soon having the right to vote and the power to shape the naton’s future, they must not let fashy social media trends
media trends distract from the real issues at stake. While Harris’s use of internet trends and memes might make politcs seem more relatable and enjoyable, it is important to dig deeper and understand the policies and ideas each candidate stands for. By reading and corroboratng across a variety of diverse news sources, students can shape a more informed understanding of the current politcs and candidates. In additon, platorms such as MSJ Civics Club, Municipal Journal, SURFBoardE, and Fremont Youth Advisory Commission provide students with the opportunity to broaden their views of politcs and its implicatons on their community. In a world where digital engagement shapes politcal perceptons, Harris’s social media strategy challenges conventonal norms, showcasing both opportunites and risks of modern campaigning in infuencing voter behavior.
“I think that her background and her experience speaks for itself in terms of her credibility. I think that her social media presence and strategy have actually been an attempt to reach across to all kinds of age groups, and is acknowledging that we communicate in diferent ways, and it is her atempt, and her campaign's atempt, to reach out to all of the various age groups and backgrounds and diversity that we have in the United States.” — US Government Teacher Stephanie Kearns
“I don't think Kamala Harris has been using social media to talk about her policy, because her policy is not popular … It's possible to use social media to teach policy, but it is less efectve when compared to traditonal methods like a civics class. I really don't think that [on] social media, where you have to create these extremely compact messages made to go viral you're going to have Kamala Harris explain … the reasoning behind her immigraton policy. It's just going to be an echo chamber for people who already like her.” — Vishnnu Rajaram, 12
“I don't know about trend chasing, but there's been a lot of partsanship and anger, so having joy was supposed to be one of the themes of the DNC, the Democratc Natonal Conventon. Having joy be really central in your campaign feels a litle bit refreshing with people … I think social media is just creatng a new way for people to communicate their ideas. It has some extreme possibilites, where it could organize people to make a change and improve society. But unfortunately, I also think it could be used by politcal actors to further divide us.” — Government/Economics Teacher Katherine Williams
“[Voters] have to educate themselves on what is valuable to them. Do they believe in economic prosperity? Or do they have certain rights that they want to make sure that are protected? Once they fgure that out, maybe they can go explore the politcal partes’ platorms and see which one lines up with their values.” — Civics Teacher Cyril Macasero
“There's a lot of people that will be directly afected by this electon that don't live in the United States … and therefore do not have a say in this electon. Yet, they are the ones that will ultmately have their lives and families lives at stake. It's important to connect to these people across the world and to understand their perspectve, so you have a beter understanding what issues could potentally arise outside of America.” — Sophia Lu, 12
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By Trisha Parikh, Novak Chen, Fiona Yang & Lucas Zhang Feature Editor & Sta Writers
Journalist Aaron Pelczar admited to using artfcial intelligence (AI) to generate quotes from the Wyoming governor and other prominent fgures for artcles published in Wyoming newspaper Cody Enterprise. This incident displays the newfound implicatons of AI in journalism, marking a slippery slope into the growing presence of AI within the news sphere. AI-generated misinformaton could shake the relatonship between the public and media, especially for youth and their over-trustul percepton of media. In order to prevent the contnued decrease in people’s trust in the news due to the increasing usage of AI, people must take proactve and preventatve actons in the regulaton of AI, including disclosure by companies and media regulaton by the government.
The controversy surrounding Aaron Pelczar isn’t the frst tme an AI-related news incident has shaken the foundatons of journalistc standards. In November 2022, the technology-focused media publicaton CNET began using AI to generate its artcle introductons. Its new owner, American media company Red Ventures, aimed to publish artcles that would be highly favored by Google’s search algorithm, as newer and recently updated web pages were prioritzed over those that didn’t see any new changes. Following immediate public backlash, CNET’s editor-inchief at the tme, Connie Guglielmo, claimed the mistakes came about as a failure of their AI detector. However, in a later artcle by Futurism, one former CNET writer said, “They use AI to rewrite the intros every two weeks or so because Google likes updated content.” These actons, elicitng strong public backlash, severely damaged the reputaton of the tech-focused publicaton and potentally spurred the layof of a dozen staf members. According to a report from Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism, “As platorms prioritze AI-enhanced search experiences, publishers fear a shif where users opt for short answers, impactng audience engagement and highlighting the increasing control exerted by platorm companies over the informaton ecosystem.” CNET ’s use of AI in an atempt to adapt to the new age where search engines prioritze engaging, short hooks in content failed drastcally as by the widspread public critcism of CNET ’s use of AI.
CNET ’s situaton is only one example of AI’s dangerous impact on media insttutons. The introducton of AI into journalism marks a drastc shif in the industry, exacerbated by the collapse of local newspapers partly due to the recent technologicalizaton of the industry. A 2023 report from the Northwestern Medill School of Journalism concluded that “by the end of 2024, the US will have lost a third of its newspapers and almost twothirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005.” As local newspaper organizatons die out, news deserts — communites with limited access to reliable journalism converge or credible news — begin to emerge, leaving communites without trusted sources of informaton. Readers who used to read a now-defunct or bankrupt paper may now rely on alternatve sources, which readers may not fnd as reliable as newspapers. Ac -
cording to Poynter Insttute Editor Mark Caro, “[News deserts present an] opportunity for ill-intentoned players to fll the void with misinformaton and disinformaton.” For example, CNET ’s AI-generated artcles exemplify how an organizaton adapts to a decrease in news engagement and the emergence of news deserts. However, its failure demonstrates how distrust towards journalism contributes further to the existng problem of a lack of trusted sources and further pushes people to unreliable media.
Two days before the Slovakian electon, a fabricated audio recording was posted to Facebook revealing a discussion between liberal Progressive Slovakia Party Leader Michal Simecka and reporter Monika Todova about rigging the electon. As the politcal norm in Slovakia is for the media and politcians to stay silent on politcal maters immediately before the electon, it became almost impossible for politcians to speak up and prove the audio’s falsity. Trying to identfy the source of AI-generated misinformaton spread on social media is difcult, especially afer a post goes viral like the aforementoned Facebook post regarding Slovakian politcs. Without knowing the actual source of the informaton, consumers do not know whether or not the informaton is credible or not, which causes great confusion, especially during a misinformaton crisis. People frantcally search for the latest updates, a human tendency that is detrimental because people are more susceptble to media they frst see and latch onto it as the truth rather than fact-checking. Social media algorithms like YouTube directly fuel the spread of AI-generated informaton by recommending them alongside traditonal sources to present seemingly truthful content. This creates a library of content based on how atenton-grabbing and sensatonal media is rather than the validity of the informaton, reinforcing the concept that false content is acceptable as long as it is interestng. Social media algorithms serve to engage users to increase advertsing revenue, rather than to serve as a platorm for disseminatng trustworthy news and informaton. AI’s infuence on people’s trust in news insttutons and social media is especially problematc for youth, whose trust in news organizatons is much lower compared to other age groups. According to a 2022 study by the Pew Research Center, youth ages 18-29 have the lowest trust in local and natonal news organizatons (62% and 56% respectvely) of any age group and the highest trust in social media sites (50%). Instead of traditonal news organizatons, youth tend to turn to social media as their source of informaton. A 2023 Digital News Report from Reuters Insttute for the Study of Journalism showed that 20% of 18-24 year olds rely primarily on TikTok for news, a 5% increase from the previous year. Getng news on social media worsens the misinformaton loop as much of the con -
tent tends to be falsifed. According to a September 2023 research paper posted on SocArXiv, 42% of the editors in 52 news organizatons allow their journalists to use AI to directly edit and update their stories, while 6% of these editors do not allow their journalists to do this. As more and more people produce AI-generated artcles or posts, it becomes difcult for fact-checking to occur. “The race between fact-checkers and those they are checking on is an unequal one … Fact-checkers are ofen tny organizatons compared to those producing disinformaton. And the scale of what generatve AI can produce, and the pace at which it can do so, means that this race is only going to get harder,” Best Practce AI Cofounder Tim Gordon said. In order to mitgate the efects of AI on news and the spread of misinformaton, news insttutons and governments must set rules and regulatons for AI use in journalism and social media. Currently, no government body or organizaton regulates AI usage. Though there have been some regulaton atempts by Congress such as the AI Disclosure Act of 2023, they have not afected the spread of AI misinformaton. A 2024 study by Bynder found that 50% of American consumers could not identfy whether or not artcles were human or AI-generated. Considering this capability of AI to spread mass disinformaton and manipulate the public, government agencies must set standards for AI use in the professional sphere. Because the news can have a large infuence on investors’ decisions across the country, the Securites and Exchange Commission can regulate AI use in journalism with the argument that mitgatng AI-generated misinformaton in the news is part of the agency’s responsibility of maintaining a fair and balanced market in the US. Methods to counteract the spread of AI misinformaton are on the way. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are using AI to develop an early warning system that identfes AI-manipulated images, deep fake videos, and misinformaton online. In another development, researchers from Faktsk.no, a Norwegian fact-checking organizaton, used generatve AI systems like ChatGPT to strengthen fact-checking tools for news artcles. However, this system is not perfect, especially with minority languages. Once these tools become more advanced, regulatory government agencies can use them to mitgate the spread of AI-generated journalism and misinformaton in news stories before they are published, eliminatng the need to fact-check informaton aferward.
"I think AI will probably grow to the point where it is indis- tinguishable from human work and real life events. So I think that research on the part of ourselves, on the part of the people who are reading this information, is para- mount, and I think eventually it will come to the point where the media [will have to be some sort of revolution] because the media will no longer be trustable because they’re always pursuing profts and political movements will be able to disinformation with abandon. So I think it all comes down to stricter legislation.” - Ian Yong, 11
To play their part in the batle against AI-generated misinformaton in the news, MSJ students should know how AI technology works so that they can detect and report AI-manipulated news. In order to learn how to recognize AI-generated works, students can visit educatonal sites such as AI for Educaton. They can also take advantage of tools like GPTZero to check the validity of news artcles by running them through web-based AI detectors. Outside of being more cautous when viewing the news online, MSJ students can also learn more about how AI works and its future in various felds by leading initatves to educate students about AI-generated misinformaton in order to combat the infuence of AI in news. ▪
“Paraphrasing Han- nah Arendt, ‘the purpose of the propagan- dist isn’t to convince them of the lie, but to create a situation where they can’t tell the diference between fact and lie.’ When talking about the social efects of AI, while the specifc incidents [of usage] are important to think about, what I think is also im- portant to look at is the overall efect in agregate - that it erodes the population’s ability to tell fact from lie in an informa- tion environment fooded with AI generated content. Tis inability to tell fact from fction creates a feeling of defeatism and apathy in people—hampering the critical thinking skills that every citizen needs. AI is a direct attack on that ability to critically think.” - English Teacher Brian Rath
MSJ Academic Challenge's 2024 Decathlon is a success.
By Tanvi Deshmukh & Trisha Parikh Sta Writers
MSJ Academic Challenge introduced about 50 students to the club and its competitions through their annual Decathlon event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 10 and 11 at Mission San Jose Community Park. The event aimed to introduce students interested in STEM or the humanities to the five Academic Challenge competitions: Science Bowl, Ocean Science Bowl, Science Olympiad, Quiz Bowl, and History Bowl. The event also featured prizes for winners of each mock competition as well as overall winners of the Decathlon.
To prepare for its third ever Decathlon, MSJ Academic Challenge officers coordinated with the captains of the individual competitions over Summer Break. Each captain planned the format of their event, emulating the official competition, and each proposal was then combined into a schedule. Organizers helped write questions and plan event logistics, later revised and finally used during the Decathlon. The mock competitions were decreased in both difficulty and time duration from their real-life counterparts for the younger participants. Some examples of events featured in the competition included History Bowl, a 40-minute buzzer competition designed to challenge middle school and early high school students. A similar event was held for Science Bowl with science and math-related questions. Yet an-
other event in the Science Olympiad event Forestry focused on trees and tree identification. During this two-day competition, participants rotated between the individual events for 40-60 minute rounds that mimicked the styles of the actual competitions.
The elaborate nature of the Academic Decathlon posed many challenges. For the officers, the greatest challenge in running the event was the low turnout due to the event’s date being set too late. The first day did not run as smoothly as expected, but by the second day, participants were able to improve by better understanding the formatting of the score sheets. Next year, the officers plan to not only start organizing the Decathlon earlier but increase the minimum grade to 6th grade as well due to the unexpected rigor of the event. “If you’re a fourth grader, you get overwhelmed, you get tired, you want to go home,” Quiz Bowl Captain Junior Ashwin Vaidyanathan said. “We’re trying to aim more for the sophomores, freshmen, and even junior [participants], because this year the highest [grade of participants] we have is 10th grade.”
Despite this, Vaidyanathan is pleased. The primary purpose of the Decathlon was to increase participation in the various competitions during their respective seasons. In that respect, “I think we generated massive interest in … all five competitions. … I've put out an interest for History Bowl and … [I got] 12 responses, and that before [the] Decathlon was un-
On August 29, the California legislature signed the Phone-Free Schools Act, a bill that would require school districts to enact smartphone regulatons by July 1, 2026. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently issued a leter to all school districts in early August, urging them to restrict smartphone use in classrooms as the school year begins. Some districts, like Los Angeles Unifed, have already adopted the phone restrictons, calling to atenton the implicatons the law has on schools like MSJ. What do you think is the potental implicaton of this law on students at MSJ? Do you think it will prove benefcial to tackling issues surrounding screen tme and phone usage? Are there potental accessibility concerns for classrooms that rely on technology or students that need their phones for translatons or health issues?
thinkable,” Vaidyanathan said. As for the rest of the year, the officers see great potential for the club’s team. Two members of the William Hopkins Middle School team lost to freshmen entirely new to History Bowl, which shocked the officers. Seeing talent in the incoming members, the officers are happy to see them getting interested in what MSJ Academic Challenge has to offer. MSJ Academic Challenge President Senior Fiona Hsu hopes the officer team can be more active during the year. “We just want to … work together a lot more and probably have more bonding so it feels more like
a community rather than just an academic club,” Hsu said. ▪
“I think the greatest challenge was that we set the date a little bit in August. The turnout was a bit lower because we set it in August. So I think next year, how we would fx that would obviously put it earlier in the year and start planning earlier.”
— AC ADEMIC CHALLENGE
PRESIDENT SENIOR FIONA HSU
I think the biggest implicaton would be restrictng students free will. MSJ students are already high schoolers, one step away from adulthood, and it only makes sense to grant us access to some privileges we didn't get to have back in middle and elementary school. The law defnitely has the right intenton to lower screen tme, but I think it won't solve the issue at all. If the law is imposed, students will stll fnd ways to sneakily use their phones, which is a loss for everyone.
Although it is true that students using phones in class can distract them from partcipatng or learning, the use of phones at school can be more useful than detrimental when used properly. Due to rising cases in school shootngs, many parents ofen require their children to bring cellphones to school as a way of tracking them. Additonally, in many cases of actual shootngs, students’ fnal messages and texts ofen serve as the last form of communicaton a student will have with their loved ones. Banning the use of phones can also cause students to feel more inclined to break the rules as a form of rebellion and use their phones. Many students in multple of my classes have also only just come from China or another country where their use of English is not as prominent, so translaton apps on phones are extremely important to passing their classes. In the case of health issues, advanced technology has allowed for apps on phones to track a student’s heart rate or blood pressure, which when removed can threaten their health.
I guess it would not be benefcial for students at MSJ if this law was implemented. If [teachers] feel that the phone usage is not needed for their class, they'll tell the kids to put it away [or] put it in phone jail, so I don't think it's necessary to have a whole law because there are certain classes that require the phone. For example, I take digital imaging, and we have to go out and take pictures almost every day. Without my phone, I wouldn't be able to do that, and we wouldn't be able to do the class, and it's a really fun class. Implementng that law would be stripping away a lot of opportunites from students, and ... it can have a lot of negatve impacts on students that maybe need translatons or help with speaking [and] communicaton.
I can say that I’ve seen excessive phone use by students be a problem during class in Mission a lot, so I see the reasoning behind wantng to restrict usage for that tme. The potental implicaton here is that phone use gets restricted during class, and I can see that happening for Alameda [County]. I think that for some classes, partcularly those that aren’t heavy on online use or research, can potentally beneft from these restrictons. However, restrictng phones can also be dangerous, solely because of how much we rely on them now. If there is an emergency or something of the sort, people will be late to know. I also feel like phone restrictons alone won’t be enough to solve the issues surrounding screen tme and phone usage, as the teacher’s mindset towards restrictng phone usage is arguably more important.
Before accepting her position at MSJ, Special Education Teacher Sarah Zahid taught at Fremont’s Circle of Independent Learning Charter School for ve years. “I come from a nontraditional school system, so coming back into the classroom has been great,” Zahid said. Thanks to the compassionate and helpful teachers and administration, Zahid has experienced a smooth transition to this new position. Now in her sixth year working in education, she looks forward to inspiring the students she works with and helping them achieve personal goals. Outside of teaching, Zahid enjoys volunteering for a parrot rescue, fostering parrots, visiting coffee spots, and going on drives.
Make A Move
enjoys playing pickleball and spending time with her family at the beach.
she enjoys working with kids with special needs and seeing them succeed. So far, her transition as a new teacher at MSJ has been smooth. “[This school year], I’m just looking forward to just whatever adventures might come up,” Mark said. Outside of school, Mark enjoys
While
to
and teaching
initially doubted his abilities as an educator, he had a positive experience as a behavior technician and felt that seeing the growth of his students over time and building connections with other staff made the role rewarding. Valadez enjoys playing Overwatch, spending time with his friends, and going camping or shing during his free time. “I’m looking forward to seeing the school year through, making more friends with the faculty, [and] seeing the kids grow and succeed in their goals,” Valadez said. He hopes to eventually shift from paraeducation to history.
Physical Education Teacher Spencer Singh began his teaching career last year at Cesar Chavez Middle School in Union City, CA before transitioning to MSJ. With a background in basketball coaching as a hobby, Singh quickly discovered his passion for teaching sports and working with enthusiastic students. Although Singh is still navigating the school operations aspect of his new role, his transition to MSJ has been smooth and he feels warmly welcomed by the community. “I feel very supported here. There is a lot of good staff, especially in the [Physical Education] department, and we all collaborate well,” Singh said. Looking ahead, Singh is eager to get involved in student activities as the advisor of MSJ Poverty Patch-Up and to join in on the fun at school events like Homecoming and basketball games.
Hold On, We’re Going Home
Drake, Majid Jordan
By Kaylee Liu, Catherine Qin & Tanvi Deshmukh Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Feature Editor
Social Studies and Physical Education Teacher Roberto Clemente brings 20 years of teaching experience to MSJ, having spent his previous 15 years at Dougherty Valley High School and 4 years at Eleanor Murray Fallon Middle School. Clemente began his student teaching at MSJ, where he studied under certi ed teachers in a classroom before of cially teaching, and returning this year felt like a full-circle moment for him. Social studies has always been Clemente’s favorite subject in high school and his mentors inspired him to pursue a career in education. At MSJ, Clemente aims to establish orderly classroom routines and learn from his rst year to grow as an educator. “[As] a new teacher, I’m looking for day-to-day structures, and [I’m] just trying to get my feet underneath me,” Clemente said. In the coming year, he hopes to coach during the track season and plans to enjoy the perks of a short, ve-minute commute to work. Outside of teaching, Clemente enjoys spending time with his daughters, being a “dance mom” for his eldest, and coaching sports like football.
Under the Bridge Red Hot Chili Peppers
Having worked as a night custodian at MSJ for the past few years, Alexander Monarrez recently shifted into the supply clerk position. During his previous job as a substitute night custodian, it was challenging to adjust to new school layouts every few days. However, “it was an easy transition to [MSJ]. Everybody, all the staff members are nice,” Monarrez said. During his free time, Monarrez enjoys spending time and making memories with his kids during hiking trips and outdoor adventures.
English Teacher Noah Sales previously taught high schoolers as a student teacher in Irvine, CA, where he discovered his love for teaching and connecting with students. Initially, Sales questioned his decision to follow a teaching path, but found encouragement from his mentor and friends, ultimately deciding to pursue it as a career. After moving to the Bay Area, Sales taught English at Newark Middle School before transitioning back to teaching freshmen and seniors, beginning his journey at MSJ. “My goal is to make English personal for my students. [I want to] create a student-centered environment where the students are the ones investing in their learning, that it’s not just to get a grade but to grow as an individual,” Sales said. During his free time, Sales enjoys drinking coffee, reading, and exploring the outdoors, especially the
By Novak Chen, Navya Chitlur, Howard Lu & Lucas Zhang Sta Writers
Paper mache is a craft that involves using paper and paste, most frequently with materials such as starch, water, adhesive, and glue. Artists use paper mache as an economical building material for projects like carnival boxes, and trays. It was originally used to create warrior helmets during the Han Dynasty. Once it dries, it turns rock hard and can stay that way for lengthy periods of time. is month, four Smokies will battle to see who comes out on top with their paper mache creation.
What is the secret behind creating the perfect paper mache creation? To be honest with you, I have no clue. I’m entering this competition with absolutely zero experience whatsoever. Molding, sticking, and sculpting together wet clumps of newspaper sounds about as glamorous as wrestling a soggy burrito. However, this isn’t my rst time competing in a DieHard TryHards, so I’m familiar with the severity of this competition. My strategy, you may ask? Wing it with con dence, act like I know what I’m doing, and pray to nish on the podium. I’m really hoping my lackluster artistic skills come in clutch for this one time, ngers crossed.
Wow. Not to brag (okay, maybe just a little), but I totally wiped the oor with this one. Honestly, the decision should have been apparent the moment I stepped into the classroom with my adorable creation. Who knew that sticking soggy newspaper together could be so satisfying? e whole crafting process was surprisingly enjoyable. I felt like a third grader lost in the fun of making silly arts and crafts. I’m leaving this competition happy knowing my artistic brilliance was put on full display for everyone to see. Now, my yellow pup sits proudly on my desk like a prized trophy — a daily reminder of my paper mache dominance.
My hopes for this contest are paper thin — I don’t think I have a single memory worth of experience in paper-mache. Still, I’m quite excited to add a few pages to my book of knowledge, if you will. e scariest part of this entire challenge is de nitely going to be the gluing section. I absolutely hate sticky things since they remind me of spiderwebs, but I’m sure that I’d rather ght to glue layers onto my sculpture than ght the glue gorilla. I can’t wait to make my paper mache statue of greatness that the judges will applaud. I’m sure that this will all be worth it. A rst place nish, mayhaps, and a glorious celebration on judging day — hopefully without my creation melting into a pulp under the gaze of the judges.
I’m feeling prepared, coming fresh out of a previous DieHard TryHards competition with experience from building a piñata through a process similar to paper mache. For this challenge, I have decided to transform my creation from the trees that paper originates from to the dinosaurs that once roamed our planet. On paper, this sounds like an easy task, but many things can ma(ch)ke this project a disaster. Still, with immense experience under my belt, I am con dent that I can repurpose all the paper I put aside during the summer to be a part of a lively sculpture that scares the judges — in my favor, of course.
2Ever heard of the rhyme, rst is the worst, second is the best? Yeah, I totally subscribe to that line of thinking (this totally isn’t my way of coping with not placing rst, by the way). My hot air balloon must have kept the judge’s expectations sky high, but my sad newspaper boat might have sunk my chances at rst place. Now, my expectations are about as high as my grade in sixth grade art class (not very high), but with second place secured, I’m sure museums all around the world will be asking me for thousands of commissioned art pieces. I’m sad to not have kept my win-streak in DieHard TryHards competitions, but hey, at least I’ve only ever placed in the
When I brought in my newly-developed Paper-saur by combining many aspects of di erent dinosaurs, I thought that it would be the picture-perfect king of MSJ paper mache sculptures. However, the uniquely bumpy texture of my sculpture seemed to have scared some judges away, which is not what I imagined would happen. It turns out, they just took my construction at face value — after all, it’s just cardboard pieces decorated with a coat of paint on the surface. After all the anxiety I felt while letting the sculpture dry, I can nally breathe a sigh of relief after successfully escorting a miniature dinosaur to school for a well-deserved third place.
I won’t lie, I’m absolutely terri ed of participating in this challenge. I had originally believed that paper mache was a simple craft, but now it appears that my precious weekend will be spent piecing together a sculpture made out of paper, adhesive, paste, and a whole bunch of other materials listed in the YouTube videos that I’ve watched all day long. By the end of this, I’m going to end up mache-d instead of mache-ing. For now, all I can do is hope that none of my competitors turn out to be prodigal paper mache creators, or anything like that.
Okay, well I kind of knew what my ranking would be while I was making it. After scouring the house to nd no balloons for a piñata, resorting to a simple cube instead, and experimenting with corn our for my second layer instead of the regular all-purpose our, my creation was nothing short of a poorly crafted disaster covered in thick layers of paint. I have now come fourth place in both DieHard TryHards Sourdough from last year and now this, but hey, consistency is key! Next time a challenge rolls around, I will mache my way to the top.
By Naisha Koppurapu Centerspread Editor
After the recent 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic games, several gold medals were distributed to the world’s nest athletes, each embedded with a piece from the renowned Ei el Tower in Par is, France. From French swimmer Leon Marchand to South Korean archer Lim Si-hyeon, these Olympians have worked day and night for the chance to take a piece of history home. Each medal follows its own unique journey, from the extensive manufacturing process to its nal position suspended from reach on a living room wall or tucked away in its velvet blue case. As this astounding season ends, follow the life of Nicodème, a gold medal soon to be in the hands of a legendary Olympian.
Oh my, I couldn’t deal with another botched surgery — the pliers and drills poking and prodding at my glamor ous golden skin was my nal straw. So, I packed my bags and shipped myself o to Paris, my last chance at avoiding
a Frankenstein makeover. Surrounded by the most luxurious decor that money could buy, I notice a gigantic sign labeled “Chaumet,” and instantly, I know exactly who I am: simply better than everyone else, duh. However, rolling myself towards a mirror, I can’t help but stare at the gaping hexagonal hole in my chest, troubled by the fact that this dramatically expensive bod felt incomplete.
JULY 16, 2024 8 A.M.
Not many can wake up to the sun’s morning rays shining o their intricately carved golden shell, but then again, not everyone can be me. Today, Chaumet is packed with spectators, so obviously, I’d assume they’re here to admire my dazzling beauty. But no — they gawk as I’m placed in line with a bunch of nearly identical medals! is is outrageous. To think these look-alikes are even close to
adjacent to the infamous Seine River. As we travel even further, I feel the metal in my chest draw forward, and a sense of connection surges over me to face the well-known er. Its majestic lights and I’m almost distract my original plan: to true purpose on this trip. Reaching our we stopped at the cheerful village of Olympic. I’m not one to judge, but I personally could not be cheerful with the Seine in my backyard.
AUG. 11, 2024 9 A.M.
Days have passed, and I nd myself lonelier than ever. With looks that could kill, you’d think I’d have attracted a crowd by now! But the people keep clustering
ere is no higher honor than receiving a gold medal — trust me, I know my worth. Finally, on the way home, I start getting to know this athlete and their mannerisms; they remain ever so delicate when handling such priceless items like myself. Well, at least I thought so, until they posed for a sel e with a fan, picked me up by my neck, and took a bite out of me! Ow — this person has the audacity to sink their teeth into my million dollar skin? I didn’t pay nothing to look like this, I think to myself, praying it doesn’t actually scar. When they put me back down, unscathed and still thriving, I think about what I stand for. After seeing the grin on the young fan’s face and theirs, I begin doubting my initial haughty mindset. Was this the true purpose I had been searching for all along?
You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had. First rule of haut monde : don’t get into unknown cars. After my box was packed and wrapped, I was tossed into the back of a shady van like loose change and got stuck there for 15 whole minutes. With smells of sewage and chemicals wafting towards the van, I knew we were traveling
Since their teenage years, English Teacher Yu Cong Colin (YC) Low gravitated towards English classes, drawn to the way they unlocked new perspectives and understandings. “English teachers were always the ones that challenged me to think and appreciate the world in new ways,” Low said. Low initially looked to pursue a career in creative writing, but their passion for academics and speech writing ultimately led them to shift their focus toward teaching.
a newsletter for a national Singaporean publication further highlighted the critical role of public education and the need for a holistic approach to language and communication. After earning a master’s degree in education at Stanford University in 2021, Low began teaching English at MSJ.
“One of my mentors at [the University of Chicago] taught me that teaching is about supporting your students’ optimism and not necessarily your own.” — E NGLISH T E ACH E R Y C L OW
In 2008, Low received a full-ride scholarship from the Ministry of Education in Singapore to study English at the University of Chicago, guiding them toward further education in the US. “One of my mentors at [the University of Chicago] taught me that teaching is about supporting your students’ optimism and not necessarily your own,” Low said. Furthermore, working in civil service taught Low the real-world application and signi cance of language skills beyond the classroom. Additionally, their involvement in writing
At the start of this school year, Low began their new role as adviser for the Smoke Signal ey were particularly impressed to see how well-oiled the organization is, as a full business managed by student editors. Low de nes their primary role as being an adviser in legal issues and teaching writers how to maintain the professional standards of journalism, such as objectivity and truthfulness. “I trust the students when it comes to reporting and investigating
topics that are timely, relevant, and com pelling for the MSJ community,” Low said.
One of the largest changes Low made to the Smoke Signal this year was the addition of the Professional Development (PD) Team. e team will work on research projects and practice pieces like newsbytes, op-ed columns, and smallscale singles reviews before o cially joining the sta writing team in second semester. rough the PD Team, Low aims to give the organization a broader perspective on other avenues journalists can explore and develop their skills further.
Outside of teaching, Low is the adviser of MSJ Speech and Debate, accompanying students at national tournaments. ey enjoy reading about politics and pop culture, playing video games with their spouse, kayaking, and giving visitors tours of the Bay Area. As an avid movie reviewer, Low enjoys keeping up with movies that have been gaining attention. Recently, Low’s favorite movie has been Parasite
For students passionate about writing, Low advises students to not let min-maxing, or the idea that everything should be targeted towards colleges or jobs, prevent them from writing about something that they enjoy. Low also highly recommends reading often as they have found much of their inspiration from the style of other writers.
“Taking things from writers who inspire you is a really key part of enjoying writing and developing as a writer,” Low said.
After spending hours cramped up in a ed, metal box on the plane, I can tell why many prefer private jets over this. But surprisingly, I don’t mind; I feel dent in my worth and my possessor, and after the wild journey I have been on, I can’t wait to sit idly yet again. At my new home, they walk me down to a large room, just before I am struck with awe — a bunch of other medals stare back at me, although they look quite dusty yet wise. Content with my life journey, I embrace my new place on the wall, eager to spend eternity as more than a piece of decor. As I rest at my nal destination, hook #41, I know that I do more than make the wall look prettier than it was before; I make this house homier than it was before. ▪
For students interested in pursuing a career in journalism, Low believes the rst step is knowing the laws, not just in terms of liabilities and risks, but also in the ways that they empower journalists. Low encourages students, whether pursuing careers in English, STEM, business, or any other eld, to leverage their voice and make a positive social impact. As the adviser of the Smoke Signal, Low looks forward to broadening perspectives and expanding ave - nues of exploration within journalism. “Give a voice to others who need it. Use your platform for good and even to hold others accountable,” Low said. ▪
“Give a voice to others who need it. Use your platform for good and even to hold others accountable.”
By Tushara Devapatla & Michael Qu Sta Writers
On a warm August evening at Pa cific Commons, the sounds of live music and laughter filled the air, promising a night of lively energy and soulful tunes.
At 7-9 p.m. on August 23 at Pacific Commons, the local band East Bay Mudd performed a free concert for the Fremont community. This event is the third of four free concerts in the third annual Pacific Commons Concert Series, which will be held from June 28 to September 27. The series provides Fremont with an op portunity to enjoy an unforgettable evening, while also highlighting lo cal musicians.
The Pacific Commons Concert Series features four live bands that showcase their music at Pacific Com mons on their respective perfor
“It’s always nice with a bigger crowd, and some events are just
On June 28, funk and pop band The Cheeseballs made their appearance. Neon Velvet showcased their tribute to 70s, 80s, and 90s contemporary hits and classics on July 26. Afterwards, on August 23, classic soul and R&B band East Bay Mudd captivated the crowd with their timeless tunes. To end off the concert series with a bang, Foreverland will bring to the stage their larger-thanlife tribute to Michael Jackson on
As the sun dipped below the horizon and anticipation filled the air, the crowd eagerly awaited the next performance. Overlooking the audience on a portable stage next to
Senior Christy Ng began dancing after attending her cousin’s dance rehearsals. Ng was captivated by all the performances, including the competition routines. She joined Lisa Performing Arts when she was eight years old and began her competitive dance journey, now dedicating 10 hours to dance every week and attending four to five classes regularly.
Ng trains competitively in Chinese traditional dance, contemporary, and jazz. When she first began dancing, she faced challenges with the difference in skill sets compared to other students at her studio, most of whom started lessons at just three years old. However, Ng leveraged this opportunity to reach out to her teachers and
from guitars and drums to trombones and horns. As lead vocalist Rico Kemp poured his soul into the mellif luous lyrics, the other band members played with passion and precision, harmonizing effortlessly and building upon each other’s energy. Guitarist Bobby Cedro seamlessly navigated the fretboard as he delivered a series of intricate riffs that captivated the audi ence, while piano player Cote Reese laid down a melodic foundation that accompanied the other instruments’ compelling sounds. Loudspeakers from either side of the stage amplified the band’s performance, immersing the audience in the rich, vibrant mu sic.
As East Bay Mudd delivered hit after hit, the crowd surged forward, sweeping up the infectious energy emanating from the stage. Many of the participants gathered near the front of the portable stage, dancing together to the flow of the music. As the concert continued, many more individuals began coming and listening in on the music, pulling out their own lawn chairs on the outskirts of the concert area to enjoy the show.
As the show came to a close, the band ended by covering more popular songs like “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. Under the dark night sky and facing a sea of satisfied smiles and applauding hands, the band said their goodbyes, calling an end to the concert. “When everything comes together and we’re playing as one, that’s the most gratifying. It’s like a wave. You’re just
By Catherine Qin & Fiona Yang News Editor & Sta
started pretty late. [However], anytime’s a good time as long as you’re passionate about it and are willing to work for the results, then anything is possible,” Ng said.
“I think for me, the hardest thing was I was starting later than all of the other people in my class … but I think I’ve gotten a lot better and I’ve learned how to utilize my resources, like my teachers.”
— Senior Christy Ng
As Ng advanced to the competition level, she faced many mental obstacles that led to a lack of focus and inhibited improvement. In order to confront those mental blocks, Ng prioritizes herself and takes breaks from dancing, such as skipping a recreational class.
In order to help keep up with classes and rehearsals with a full academic schedule, she uses the organization app Notion to manage her schoolwork and other responsibilities. “Besides the time commitment, it’s not really hard for me to balance [school and dance because] … dance becomes like a release for me.
When I go to the studio, there’s nothing else I’m worrying about; I just have to worry about dancing during that In order to help keep up with classes and rehearsals with a full academic schedule, she uses the organization app Notion to manage her schoolwork and other responsibilities. “Besides the time commitment, it’s not really hard for me to balance [school and dance because]
have to worry about dancing during that time,” Ng said.
In the last four years, Ng made the bulk of her proudest achievements, including performing an opening act at the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade and the Golden State Warriors halftime show. Serving as Co-Captain of her senior competition team, she recently led them to victory at a national group in the senior division at the 2024 Starpower Nationals.
However, her success was not without hard work and challenges: attending dance class felt more tedious after a packed junior year. She noticed her team also felt the same way and to
By Callie Yuan Editor-in-Chief
“I hope [people] nd whatever they need to guide them through their life through my mistakes,” singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter said in an interview with Rolling Stone prior to the release of her latest album, Short n’ Sweet, on August 23. Her chart-topping singles, the Italo-disco “Espresso” and ‘80s-reminiscent “Please Please Please” teased her newest work and served as summer anthems for many, but did not clearly represent the sounds of the album. Short n’ Sweet chronicles “a series of unfortunate events I’ve encountered in relationships,” Carpenter said in an interview with Paper Magazine. Featuring a collection of sweet pop tunes paired with sarcastic quips and innuendos, the album tackles all facets of love from crushes and heartbreak to warnings and revenge. Carpenter rst gained fame in 2014 as Maya Hart in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World. After going viral for her playful “Nonsense” outros from her 2022 album, emails i can’t send, and opening for 26 of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts in 2023, Carpenter further rose to international stardom. e singles o Short n’ Sweet peaked at No. 3 and No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively. Carpenter’s most recent project consists of 12 tracks with a total runtime of around 36 minutes, meshing pop with R&B and country melodies. e ve-foot pop star’s sixth album reached 57 million streams on its rst day.
e rst single in the album,
By Sarah Hu Web Editor
Student Recommendation
Title: The Silent Patient
Author: Alex Michaelides
Genre: Psychological thriller
With fve bullets to his face, Alicia Berenson kills her husband when he comes home late from work. Suddenly, her perfect life spirals into the hottest news of local tabloids. Yet she does not speak at all. A criminal psychotherapist, tries to work with her to uncover the truth behind the murder, but ends up discovering more about himself in the process.
“It is easy to read and hooks the reader from the start. The author also builds the story to a twist at the end very nicely.” — Arnav Lingannagari, 12
Staf Recommendation
Title: The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Space, Time, and Motion
Author: Sean Carroll
Genre: Physics
Sean Carroll’s book explains the fundamental theories that make up the subject of physics. Formulas and theories that are usually seen as incomprehensible and abstract are boiled down to their basic ideologies as Carroll carefully walks the reader through them.
“I like the book because I like the universe. It uses quantum mechanics to best explain how the universe works. It uses a lot of mathematical structures to describe life.” — AP Statistics Teacher David Lau
Smokie Recommendation
Title: Hamnet
Author: Maggie O’Farrell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Despite living in the midst of a deathly plague spreading across the country, Shakespeare marriew a peculiar lady. When Hamnet, one of their twin children, contracts the plague and dies at the age of 11, Shakespeare’s marriage and family dynamic are strained. As they navigate through the life of grief, Shakespeare turns to writing and produces a play titled Hamnet
“I feel like the emotion in the writer’s work really comes through, the way that she represents grief and family dynamics.” — Hara Devapatla, 12
“Taste,” sets the tone with tonguein-cheek one-liners like “Well, I heard you’re back together and if that’s true / You’ll just have to taste me when he’s kissin’ you.” e upbeat song feels like a dance party, but underneath the layers of drums and double-tracked vocals lie feelings of betrayal and vindication. She expresses that even if her partner is cheating or in a new relationship, her in uence will still be apparent. With the underlying feelings of vindication, her lyricism in the song emphasizes growth in songwriting as she combines betrayal with pick-meup tunes. Recovering from disloyalty, Carpenter skillfully weaves advice with not-so-subtle threats to her boyfriend in “Please Please Please” and “Good Graces,” urging him not to embarrass her and letting him know she won’t hesitate to leave if he breaks her heart. en in “Bad Chem,” she expresses her desire in almost Shakespearean half-spoken lyrics: “Where art thou? Why not uponeth me?” While the beats are fun to dance to and the lyrics are catchy to sing to,
the songs start sounding derivative of each other with indistinguishable messages rather than introducing something more novel. Tracks like “Sharpest Tool,” “Coincidence,” and “Slim Pickins” end up sonically blending together with their similar lyricism and production.
After all the comically witty messages, the album ends on a tender note of heartbreak with “Lie to Girls” and “Don’t Smile,” in which Carpenter explores how far some people will go to convince themselves to stay in a relationship. Despite the album’s short runtime, Carpenter takes the listener on a journey through love in her twenties. While Short n’ Sweet lacks the cohesiveness and musical diversity of its experimental predecessor, emails i can’t send, the album is lled with charisma and charm. With her sixth album, Carpenter has established herself as a multidimensional singer who is capable of humorous retro-tinged tunes and heart-wrenching ballads.
Grade: B+
By Alice Zhao Web Editor
Whether you know her from her signature makeup look or her viral indie-pop meets alt-rock songs, there’s no denying that singer-songwriter Beatrice Laus, better known as beabadoobee, has experienced an incredibly quick rise to stardom. After two years of anticipation, she released her third studio album, is is How Tomorrow Moves, on August 9. e record shows an experimentation with new genres while keeping her ‘90s and ‘00s grunge sound, melodic voice, and relatable romantic themes that are at the core of the artist’s distinctive music style. One of beabadoobee’s most well known songs is her debut single “Co ee,” which has not only received more than 168 million streams on Spotify but also went viral in the form of a sample on Canadian rapper Powfu’s track “death bed (co ee for your head)” in 2020. Since then, she has performed as an opener for big-name musicians, most notably for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour. She has also become famous for the lilting melodies over sulky guitar chords and nostalgic, catchy beats prevalent in her rst two albums, Fake It Flowers (2020) and Beatopia (2022) and her hit collaborations with fellow indie artists Laufey and Clairo. is is How Tomorrow Moves begins with its lead single, “Take A Bite,” an energetic and upbeat acoustic song re ecting on self-destructive behaviors. e opener sets the tone for much of the rest of the album. Spanning from the jazzy and condent “Real Man” to the sappy, romantic “Everything I Want” to melancholic, self-re ective “Girl Song,” is is How Tomorrow Moves covers a wide range of introspective songs
that revolve around beabadoobee’s romantic and familial relationships, self-image, and personal growth. Each track has its own distinctive sound and in uences even though many of them center around the same concepts, helping the songs stand apart from each other. For example, in “Girl Song,” beabadoobee opens up about trying to grow as a person and her insecurities about her appearance: “Makin’ all the same mistakes / I guess there’s still a lot to prove.” e soft, slow, piano track starkly contrasts the faster, synth-infused song “Ever Seen,” which grapples with many of the same ideas: “It’s been rough, but I’ve felt worse / I’ll pull myself back up, and you know this.” e variety of genres showcased throughout is is How Tomorrow Moves is a large improvement from the tracks of Beatopia, which tended to blend together due to the similarity in production, backings, and vocals. Since the release of “Co ee” in 2017 and her subsequent rise to fame, beabadoobee has undoubtedly grown, shifting away from her soft-spoken, bedroom pop roots to a more mature, diverse style of music in her new album is is How Tomorrow Moves
Grade: A-
By Shuhan Jin News Editor
Released on July 26, the comedy-drama lm Didi explores the coming-of-age journey through the lens of 13-year-old Chris, a Taiwanese-American student navigating the complexity of growing up in the US as a rst-generation immigrant in the early 2000s. Directed by Sean Wang, this lm’s setting has a large focus on Fremont. In fact, some scenes were lmed at MSJ. With actors and crew members also from the Bay Area, Didi is an incredibly personal and detailed representation of teen life for those living in the Bay. Set in the summer before his freshman year of high school, Chris (Izaac Wang) stumbles through his summer break as he experiences the ups and downs of the 13-year-old’s friendships. Chris spends much of his time hanging out with friends, pursuing his crush Madi (Mahaela Park), and occasionally falling under the wrong in uence, leading to
con icts. roughout these relationships, the movie emphasizes the way Chris struggles with keeping friendships and making new ones overall. Even though many scenes were excruciatingly uncomfortable for the audience to watch due to second-hand embarrassment, there was a sense of intentionality behind the director’s choices. What made the lm incredibly intriguing at the same time was its impressively spoton accuracy in portraying teenage life — everyone has experienced the exact same humiliating feelings that Chris has, which makes the reactions of the audience even more signicant. Another relatable concept Didi highlights is how teenage brooding a ects family relationships. As the audience witnesses Chris ghting with his older sister, Vivian (Shirley Chen), helping his ailing grandma, Nainai (Chang Li Hua), or yelling at his mother, Chungsing (Joan Chen), they are able to see parts of themselves and their past familial strug-
gles through Chris and his family. As Chris’s character grows, eventually seeing his mother in a new light, the audience is able to come to terms with their own innerselves, almost as if Chris’s mended relationship with his mother helps heal the audience’s past as well. e cinematography and soundtrack in Didi were also incredibly in-touch with the setting and time frame of the movie. e background music gave a nostalgic feel throughout the lm, and the music Chris listens to was also similar to the song choices that teenagers would enjoy. e lm was also shot using a lens that adds a 2000s vintage e ect to the movie, as if the audience is seeing their past memories unfold in front of their eyes. While the movie does a good job of portraying ideas from growing past the awkward stages of puberty to entering high school to nding one’s identity, there were still a few key factors that felt overdone in the movie. One speci c detail was the in-
tense use of foul language throughout the entire lm. While it is true that teenagers tend to use profanity to seem mature or grown up, the characters in the movie seemed to use profanity any chance they could to an unnecessary degree, even to the point where it seemed as though the actors were forcing the harsh language. Some of the slang used in the lm seemed misplaced and thrown into the lines by the scriptwriters, making it seem as though they did not do enough research as to what the slangs they were using really meant. Overall, Didi was able to near-perfectly capture the idea of coming of age, especially for people living in the Bay Area. e additional touch of lming around Fremont made the story evermore relatable, and is a must-watch for everyone who wants to laugh, cry, and occasionally cringe.
Grade: A-
By Angelina Chen Sta Writer
Suspenseful and striking, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder o ers a fresh lens on a coming-of-age experience amidst murder and intrigue. Released on July 29, the Net ix adaptation of Holly Jackson’s bestselling novel showcases a riveting plot but mixed performances from the main actors and contradictory soundtracks and cinematography.
Directed by Dolly Wells, the series follows Pip (Emma Myers), a high school student who decides to solve the mystery surrounding Andie Bell’s (India Lillie Davies) disappearance and the subsequent suicide
of her boyfriend, Sal Singh (Rahul Pattni).
Convinced that Sal was innocent, Pip partners with Sal’s brother, Ravi (Zain Iqbal), to uncover the truth. e central mystery of the true identity of Bell’s murderer keeps viewers hooked; each minute of the show brings new surprises. e pacing also e ectively builds suspense, as it is nearly impossible to unravel the resistance Pip and Ravi face from both the local community and an anonymous adversary. ematically, the show touches on issues regarding privilege, bias, and the hunger for truth, but it does so with a light touch that sometimes feels unsuitable considering the gravity of the storyline.
While the mystery aspect of the plot is engaging, the charac- ter development is less compel- ling. Characters frequently make deci- sions that defy logic, distancing the audience from any sense of realism. Pip’s interactions with the townsfolk, who conveniently agree to share their deepest secrets with her, strain credibility and undercut the tension the series aims to build. Although Myers delivers a performance that captures Pip’s blend of naivety and stubbornness, the character often comes o as more irritating than endearing because of her one-dimensional persona. Her facial expressions reveal nothing about Pip’s motivations. On the surface, Pip is driven by a vague sense of justice — as unfortunate events befall her, her choice to continue investigating despite the lack of a strong personal motive is questionable.
Meanwhile, Ravi provides a grounded counterpoint to Pip’s impulsiveness, but his role is limited to serving as a sounding board
for Pip’s theories. While Iqbal adds a layer of depth and relatability to Ravi’s character through his split-second yet natural reactions, his performance is ultimately underdeveloped and fails to depict a full range of emotion. e dynamic between Pip and Ravi has potential, but it is not given enough time to grow amidst the unfolding mystery.
Visually, the series plays with Instagram-worthy aesthetics — colorful, well-composed shots of cozy cafes and quaint townscapes — but this glossy style often feels incongruent with the darker themes of crime and deception. e soundtrack, featuring upbeat pieces
alongside more suspenseful compositions, adds to the tonal confusion. e show’s attempt to balance a playful teen drama with a serious detective narrative results in uneven pacing and a lack of clear direction.
Running at six episodes, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder attempts to tackle themes of justice, morality, and personal growth but lacks the nuance to handle these subjects effectively. e series leaves viewers pondering its thematic inconsistencies rather than its narrative twists. While the show attempts to balance the tension of a murder mystery with the lightness of a teen drama, it struggles to nd a cohesive tone, leaving viewers with a series that is binge-worthy but ultimately skewed.
Grade: B
By Hannah Bi & Sarah Hu Graphics Editor & Web Editor
After joining The Peak of Fremont climbing gym in 2017, Junior Maya Dao has quickly risen to become one of the most talented high school rock climbers in the state. Fresh out of fve years of competitive gymnastics, she was ready for a new experience. Although Dao was only tentatively trying out the activity to join her friend, Dao says that “[she] was immediately drawn in as it felt very natural.”
Early in her climbing career, Dao initially fell one spot short of qualifying for the USA Climbing Youth Series Division 2 Championship, placing 11th three years in a row. Motivated to overcome these obstacles, she honed her technique and stamina through intensive training periods, fnally qualifying for esteemed national competitions. “Being able to train and get back up after failing time after time has been a great life lesson that I can apply to many things outside of rock climbing,” Dao said.
“Being able to train and get back up after failing time after time has been a great life lesson that I can apply to many things outside of rock climbing.”
— MAYA DAO, 11
To qualify for divisional competitions, Dao had to place within the top 10 of regional or state competitions. From there, she had to rank in the top six against competitors from Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming to advance to the national championships. Dao competed in six divisional championships in the past three years, excelling in the bouldering and sport climbing categories. Her extreme dedication paid of at the 2021 USA Climbing Youth Series National Championship, where Dao placed 21st in the nation for sport climbing. Traveling across the country, Dao compet-
ed against internationally ranked climbers, gaining invaluable friendships and experiences that she has learned to cherish. “I met tons of new people and found my true passion for the sport,” Dao said.
Beyond her own successful rock climbing journey, Dao is also the founder and president of MSJ Climbing Club. e workings of the club began in Dao’s freshman year when she met students from the Class of 2023 including Caleb Lu, Riley Cheung, and Reina
Shimomura. Together, they shared a passion for rock climbing and she was inspired to create a club that would allow more students in the MSJ community to explore and enjoy the sport. Since the club started in 2023, they’ve held multiple climbing events at The Peak of Fremont and introduced the crimp block challenge — a schoolwide competition to see who can pinch a weighted brick the longest.
“It’s been amazing meeting new people and spreading my love for the sport.”
— MAYA DAO, 11
Through hosting all these events, Dao said “it’s been amazing meeting new people and spreading my love of the sport.”
For the future of MSJ Climbing, she hopes to gain more members and install a climbing wall on campus. As for her own future, “my personal goals for this season in rock climbing include qualifying for another national championship and doing a V10 boulder, ” Dao said. ▪
By Padma Balaji, Ivy Lu & Tushara Devapatla Opinion Editor, Graphics Editor & Staf Writer
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s match against Italian boxer Angela Carini at the 2024 Summer Olympics quickly became an overnight controversy. Khelif delivered a brutal blow that caused Carini to pull out of the match just seconds in, who commented that “[she had] never been hit so hard in [her] life.” The weight of Khelif’s blow caused many anti-transgender infuencers, politicians, and sports fans to level that Khelif was transgender, arguing she had an unfair biological advantage. After receiving vigorous attacks from key fgures on X, Khelif fled cyberbullying lawsuits. This outcry online highlights an ongoing controversy in sports surrounding transgender athletes and whether or not it is unfair and unethical to sports athletes.
Following Khelif’s match against Carini, critics were quick to latch onto Carini’s resignation as evidence of Khelif’s biological advantage, calling out Khelif for being transgender. Well-known anti-transgender vocalists such as author J.K. Rowling, former president Donald Trump, former swimmer Riley Gaines, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, alleged that Khelif was a man who should be kept out of women’s sports on X, leading Khelif to fle cyberbullying lawsuits against them in France. In just a few days, Khelif was mischaracterized as “a violent man who gained pleasure from beating up women” and Carini as a helpless victim whose Olympic dreams had been shattered by an opponent with an unfair advantage. The misinformation continued like wildfre, with former YouTube vlogger Logan Paul tweeting that the match was “the purest form of evil unfolding right before your eyes.” He later retracted his statement and deleted the post, apologizing with “I might be guilty of spreading misinformation along with the entirety of this app.” This was not the frst time Khelif and her genetic advantage have been called into question. In 2023, Khelif was disqualifed from the fnal round of the boxing World Championships alo-
ngside Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting by the International Boxing Association (IBA), which claimed she had high levels of testosterone in her systems in an ambiguous biochemical test. In response to the controversy around Khelif, the IBA president said she was disqualifed for high testosterone levels while the IBA told Reuters that it was the result of a sex chromosome, presenting two diferent accounts of the story. Although Khelif had previously competed for 5 years without issues, she was immediately disqualifed.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), which does not recognize the IBA’s legitimacy, defended Khelif and dismissed her failed gender eligibility tests as “illegitimate.” The IBA had its Olympics credentials rescinded in 2019 after a history of “judging scandals, bizarre leadership decisions, and innumerable fnancial misdeeds,” according to the Associated Press. Additionally, according to KGAN, the organization has also come under fre for being controlled by IBA President Umar Kremlev, who has stakes in Russian state-owned energy and moved much of the IBA’s governing body’s operations to Russia.
The narrative that Khelif is transgender is brazenly unfounded and false, as Khelif was born a woman and has competed for years in women’s boxing. The country from which Khelif hails, Algeria, is a deeply conservative country where transitioning is illegal and gender-afrming care is entirely banned.
Khelif’s treatment by prominent fgures, politicians, and the general public is representative of a larger anti-transgender movement that has embedded itself into right-wing dogma, claiming that the biggest threat — not only to sports but to women in general — is transgender women. Today, 23 states have passed laws excluding transgender athletes from joining teams that align with their gender identities. However, research shows that transgender athletes do not inherently pose risks to other athletes, contrary to the fear-mongering on social media. Additionally, the notion that gender testing can determine sex is a gross simplifcation of the idea of sex, which is not binary but rather a complex interaction between chromosomes, genes, hormones, and sex characteristics in reality. The role of testosterone is specifcally over-exaggerated; not only do women ha-
ve naturally occurring testosterone, but high levels of testosterone do not automatically equate have naturally occurring testosterone, but high levels of testosterone do not automatically equate to an advantage in athletic performance. The rise of the anti-transgender movement follows from the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in America. In 2023 alone, politicians attempted to pass nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures, claiming that transgender people — especially transgender kids — are a danger to women and society as a whole. The attack on transgender athletes seems to be an excuse for anti-transgender fgures and politicians to justify a bigoted agenda targeting transgender people under the guise of keeping sports fair and protecting women. These claims of protecting women in sports ignore that the biggest danger to women in sports is not transgender women, but white, heterosexual, cisgender men. A study from Taylor & Francis that surveyed elite and club athletes found that more than 96% of the perpetrators of abuse were men. White, cisgender men also hold nearly all levels of power in sports leading international and national sports organizations. 85.3% of national Olympic governing bodies are composed of all male leadership teams, according to the Sport Journal, meaning that men are disproportionately the ones making decisions about women’s bodies.
While Khelif’s harassment was one example of hate and transphobia, many individuals face it every day. In order to better understand the concepts of gender and equality in sports, MSJ students should involve themselves in organizations such as MSJ Gender-Sexuality Alliance or MSJ Generation She. As the misinformation-fueled controversy was largely based online, students should remember to take precautions when getting their facts from social media, choosing instead to do their own research and trust credible sources.
By Naisha Koppurapu & Brittany Lu Centerspread Editor & A&E Editor
With a blend of new and experienced players, MSJ Girls Volleyball is excited to see their team chemistry and hard work unfold this season. “I think we have a really solid team set up this year compared to last year; we defnitely have a couple of new people, but we have a lot of potential this year,” Varsity Co-Captain Junior Claribel Chen said. With a promising preseason, including a victory at the 2024 Varsity Pre-Season Stockton Classic, the team is excited to improve their performance from last year with new plays. Recently, they upgraded their gym equipment with a color-coded net to increase hitting accuracy, along with resistance bands to boost their verticals while blocking. Practicing hard every day, they want to ensure that their hard work does not go to waste this season. “Win the league title and go further than we did last year in NCS. That’s my goal for the team this year,” Coach Matthew Walker said.
After reaching NCS Division I last year, Boys Water Polo hopes to build of of their past success. Aiming to win against longtime rival American High School and advance to the last round of MVALs, the team has been working on new skills and drills throughout preseason, utilizing new weight belts during practices to improve endurance underwater. With only two seniors on Varsity, a majority of the team is relatively new, but their raw talent and skills can strengthen the team as a whole. “The whole team could get better because we have a lot of young talent on the team,” three-year Varsity Starter Senior Baylis Hin said. Beyond new members, returning players ofer wisdom and potential, perfecting their teamwork and preparing the team for years to come.
Girls Tennis returns this fall for another exciting season with four new freshmen players joining varsity. After an impressive MVAL win last season, Girls Tennis hopes to keep the MVAL streak that they have maintained since 2008. Although last season, injuries like twisted ankles and sprained wrists prevented the team from performing to their true potential, they still persevered and made it to the NCS semifnals.
While the new year came with the absence of a few key senior players, Girls Tennis remains optimistic and eager to start of their season. “We lost a lot of seniors last year, so with the freshmen incoming, we’re playing to fll in the gaps in our doubles and singles lineup,” Girls Tennis Co-Captain Senior Samhita Bathina said.
Eager to carry on where they left of last season, with second place at MVALs and setting a record for most wins in one season at 19-6, Girls Water Polo plans to build an even stronger team after the departure of 13 seniors. Hoping to utilize their strengths, Girls Water Polo Coach Ryan Tang plans to implement stronger offense through fast-paced drills and additional conditioning. “We have a great new squad this year that will really surprise the other teams … I think our new team built around speed and shooting will catch our opponents of guard,” Tang said. This year’s team has shown promising performance in their frst scrimmage of the season, foreshadowing a successful season.
Girls Golf returns in high spirits for their upcoming season, hoping to defend their frst-place MVALs title streak for the ffth consecutive season. This upcoming season marks Coach Matthew Quintana’s frst year leading the team, having introduced new drills and techniques to enhance backswing and chipping. These improvements were evident in their frst game at Mission Hills Golf Club. Girls Golf secured a victory over American High School with a score of 167-237 and improved accuracy and more powerful swings. However, with their top three starters having graduated and a wave of younger players joining the team, the team faces a new challenge of less experience this year. Despite this, Girls Golf remains optimistic and excited for the upcoming season. “Everyone is fairly new, but I hope our team will be able to get a lot closer and have more team chemistry, which I think will help us win more,” Girls Golf Co-Captain Senior Michelle Woo said.
Cross Country has an impressive record, placing second in the league last season. After having three diferent coaches in the past three years, the team has experienced a variety of training methods, from extensive running to their daily compilation of lunges and leg stretches. Although last year’s team struggled with overtraining on the track, Coach Brian Singleton plans to minimize unnecessary miles and include more focused drills this year, as many athletes returned with of-season practice and increased stamina. “We have a good group of young returning athletes that I want to get better, and to be more competitive,” Singleton said. Additionally, the team has adopted a new home course for meets due to safety regulations regarding the road beside the creek path, navigating around it to be safer and meet cross-country requirements.
