Vol. XLVIII, No. 6

MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL

VOL. XLVIII, NO. 6

March 1, 2013

41717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

Campus update

Investigative Report: MSJ Bathrooms

By Nina Krishnan & Supriya Yelimeli Staff Writers The bathrooms at MSJ lack supplies and adequate sanitation.

Many necessities such as toilet paper, paper towels, and soap are often depleted, and basic sanitation necessities are not met, such as toilet seat covers and sanitary disposal lids in the girls’ bathrooms. The lack of supplies can be attributed to funding cuts, use and misuse of existing supplies, and the communication gap between students and administration. Although bathroom cleanliness is generally considered a taboo topic, it directly affects the students’ learning environment, and therefore must be addressed.

The first reason for the state of the bathrooms stems from the numerous budget cuts that have hit the FUSD. The budget for

The Smoke Signal investigated MSJ bathrooms to determine exactly how much supply the student body uses, as well as reported reasons behind the state of MSJ’s bathrooms.

MSJ is underfunded and understaffed. The department has drastically shrunk in size in the past four years, cutting a total of ten employees. In 2008, seven full-time custodians and two supply clerks worked during the day. That number has since been reduced to two fulltime custodians and one supply clerk.

Usage is the second reason for the state of MSJ’s bathroom facilities. Certain bathrooms such as the B-Wing and C-Wing are used more often than others, resulting in a more rapid depletion of supplies e a r l i e r.

“If you

“If you come to school at 7:15 in the morning, you can see the actual conditions of the bathrooms before the traffic begins.”

-Zack Larsen, Vice Principal come to school at 7:15 in the morning, you can see the actual conditions of the bathrooms before the traffic begins.” said Vice Principal Zack Larsen.

With a school of more than 2,500 students, it is difficult to constantly monitor supplies during the course of the day. Special orders are required to replace many items and these cannot be filled out unless

the maintenance and custodial departments comes from district funds, which the individual school then allocates to each department based on necessity and priority. Maintenance and custodial services are amongst the first departments to be cut. Classroom supplies and staffing have priority over bathroom supply and staffing. As a result, the custodial department at

Unlimited crab and pasta

By Tingting Bi Staff Writer MSJ Booster Club will be holding their annual Pasta and Crab Feed this year on Saturday, March 9 at Newark Pavilion on 6430 Thornton Ave. from 6 PM to 10 PM. One of the largest fundraisers held by the MSJ Boosters Club, the Crab Feed is aimed to

support the athletics, spirit, and visual and performing arts departments. Proceeds from this event will directly benefit student activities.

More than 450 people buy tickets to attend this popular occasion every year. Tickets are $45 each and include all-you-can-eat crab, vegetarian pasta, salad, garlic bread, and dessert. Revenue

March 7 Open House 7 PM

March 8 Minimum Day 8:00 AM 12:15 PM

is also generated via the basket raffle and the silent auction, both of which support individual programs. You can help support MSJ’s sports and visual arts programs by purchasing a ticket to this MSJ traditional event.

Order forms can be found at http://tinyurl.com/crabfeed13. For more information, email msjhscrabfeed@hotmail.com. ▪

March 10 Daylight Savings Time Begins

By Lindy Zeng Staff Writer In December last year, tractors started tearing down the old portables in the MSJ parking lot in preparation for the new twostory building. During the next few weeks, the old buildings were reduced to rubble. Earlier in February, construction was halted due to an issue with a subcontractor regarding where the dirt will be placed. The original projected completion date, May 2013, was postponed.

As soon as the issue was resolved last week, the digging to lay down substructure pipes began.

Meanwhile, the actual building being constructed off site is on schedule for its delivery in April and will be delivered based on how far construction has progressed. The closed off portions of the parking lot will most likely reopen during summer break and the portables will be removed when the new structure is ready for student use. Principal Sandra Prairie commented, “As in all construction, the best laid plans [change]; when construction occurs with public funds and with state oversight, many small details have to be resolved prior to moving forward.” The project is now moving forward at top speed to make up for lost time. ▪

the administration is aware of the problem. Manager of Maintenance for FUSD, Gene Wheatley, stressed that students are as responsible for clean bathrooms as the administration. The main reason the administration has been unable to reintroduce toilet seat covers and other sanitary supplies is because of the vandalism that has previously occurred (such as clogging toilets with toilet seat covers), which then leads to more work for the understaffed and overworked custodial department.

Misuse and vandalism of bathroom supplies is a third critical reason. It is important to keep in mind that the custodians do the best they can to keep the bathrooms clean and well-stocked with a tight staff and strained budget. It is the responsibility of the students to respect the bathrooms by conserving supplies whenever possible, and avoiding the vandalism and misuse of the bathroom facilities.

The communication gap between students and the

See IR, NEWS Page 2 graphics editor angie wang

New English Course

By Laura Chen Staff Writer Beginning this year, FUSD’s high school juniors can register to take the Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC,) a fullyear college preparatory English class designed by California State University (CSU) faculty. All six FUSD high schools are including ERWC in course registration for spring fashion Check out which trends and outfits are in season and popular this year.

Feature

the 2013-14 school year and will offer classes based on the number of students who register for ERWC and its minimum class size of 25 students. “My expectations are that most [FUSD high schools] will have a class or two next year,” said FUSD Secondary Education Director James Max-

See ERWC, NEWS Page 3

charity badminton Find out how to join this annual charity badminton tournament to “serve a birdie and save a life” News

model school Robertson High School, was recently announced as a model coninuation school.

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The Smoke Signal

News in Brief IR | A deeper look into the state of MSJ Bathrooms continued from page 1

Report confirms Chinese hacking Cybersecurity company Mandiant released a much anticipated report on February 19 that tied a secret Chinese military unit in Shanghai to years of cyber security attacks on US companies. The report states that People’s Liberation Army Unit 61398 has stolen hundreds of terabytes of data from at least 141 US government organizations. The Chinese government has denied involvement in these cyber-attacks and instead claimed that China has also been a victim of hacking; some from the hands of the US.

administration is the final reason for the state of MSJ’s bathrooms.

Without student responsiveness, it is difficult for the administration to address the concerns of the student body. Principal Sandra Prairie suggests that the best way to change a problem such as the lack of supplies in a specific bathroom is to talk to the administration or to a janitor, and alert them that there is a problem. “Whenever we get a concern or comment about students finding something amiss, our first response is to talk to a level [of authority] that can take care of the problem,

sfgate.com

Mississippi ratifies the 13th Amendment On Thursday, February 7, Mississippi became the last state to ratify the 13th Amendment, which abolishes slavery. The state’s position regarding this amendment came to light after Mississippi resident Ranjan Batra watched Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln, and found that Mississippi had voted to ratify the amendment in 1995, but never officially ratified it. As a result of Batra’s in-depth research, Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann finally sent the Office of the Federal Register a copy of the 1995 resolution, and the Federal Register made the ratification official.

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Contrary to popular belief, Mississippi hadn’t passed the 13th amendment until Feb. 7, 2013.

Coach mauls Bears player All coaches become entangled in basketball games, but this time Mike Montgomery went one step too far. In a game against rival team USC, Cal Bears basketball coach, Montgomery, got caught up in the heat of the moment and shoved one of his players with brute force. Although the player was fine and actually improved his performance after this encounter, Montgomery will be facing an undisclosed punishment from the league.

From February 16 to 18, MSJ Debate competed at the Berkeley Invitational tournament, one of the most competitive tournaments of the year, on the campus of UC Berkeley.

After a brief suspension six years ago, the revived debate team is now growing steadily.

At the height of its success, MSJ’s original speech and debate team was ranked first in the nation. In 2003, the team won first place in the Lincoln-Douglas debate category at the Tournament of Champions.

The team achieved consistent success thanks to skilled coaches, strong training programs for novice members, and opportunities such as outof-state competitions. However, the group disbanded in 2007 as a result of disobeying rules for attending overnight tournaments.

In 2008, Director of Athletics Thomas Thomsen helped revive MSJ Speech and Debate, but speech later separated from debate to accommodate increasing club size. Physics Teacher Jack Fendell joined the debate team as the co-advisor with Thomsen before Speech and Debate split in 2012.

In the past years, lack of student leadership in the club and limited resources slowed the development of the new debate team, and many students had to rely on self-learning to compete. However, in recent

years, though, MSJ Debate has experienced rapid growth. Senior Leah Dickstein, current president of the team, began debating as a freshman and later organized and managed the team. This school year, MSJ Debate hired Coach Stephan Brooks, a graduate of James Logan High School’s nationally recognized Speech and Debate program and a debate coach at Olive Children’s Foundation, with parent donations. “Parents have been extremely supportive and crucial to the development of the team … having a coach has been an immense help to the team, and we wouldn’t have a coach without the fundraising from parents,” said Dickstein.

When it restarted, the club consisted of about 30 members. Now there are more than 150 members.

Funds for the team have also swelled; this year, the team collected roughly $20,000 in parent donations. Besides Lincoln-Douglas and policy debate, the team also began teaching public forum debate this year. Participation in the three categories is currently evenly distributed, though Dickstein predicts that public forum, a category that focuses on school-related issues, will gain popularity in the future.

Besides attending regional competitions within the Coast Forensics League, students now compete at many major invitational tournaments, such as the Berkeley Invitational, Stanford Invitational, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational (MLK). This year, students

sfgate.com

COMPILED BY STAFF WRITERS ARUSHI ATLURI, ISHAN GOYAL, & SANJAY SREEKUMAR

“...we are very responsive to student complaints, they can be resolved but the problem must first be mentioned.”

-Sandra Prairie, Principal

stallation and maintenance costs, it may happen in future years when there are funds to cover the costs. ▪

have placed beyond preliminaries at University of the Pacific, Stanford, MLK, and Berkeley; semifinaled at College Preparatory; and finaled at Santa Clara University. At Berkeley, Sophomore Anand Balaji, the Lincoln-Douglas captain, reached the first elimination round.

Though MSJ’s current debate team has not reached national success yet, it expects significant progress in the years to come. The team anticipates an increase in club participation and hopes for the administration’s approval to compete at overnight tournaments. Plans for the second annual summer debate camp are also underway. Brooks stated, “We’ve been going to more tournaments and doing well at them. From what I’ve seen this year, there’s been a lot of growing…I’m already in gameplanning mode for next year.” ▪

staff writer supriya yelimeli

Sophomore Anand Balaji, the MSJ Lincoln-Douglas captain, reached the first elimination round at the Berkeley Invitational.

FEF honors Officer Pipp

staff writer nina krishnan

Office Pipp is honored as MSJ’s Resource Officer.

By Laura Chen Staff Writer On Friday, February 22, the Fremont Education Foundation (FEF) hosted its 11th annual Excellence in Education Gala at the Fremont Marriott Hotel to benefit the Innovative Education Grants Program and honor outstanding contributors to FUSD students. One of the six School Resource Officers honored at the gala was MSJ School Resource Officer Gregory Pipp, who serves under the Fremont Police Department to maintain a safe and secure environment at MSJ. “I’m very honored at the award.

I think it’s a great opportunity to strengthen the partnership between the police department, the school district, and of course all the volunteers at the education fund,” said Pipp.

“The Gala [was] a wonderful night out to support a good cause innovative programs in FUSD that supports academic achievement, leadership development, fitness, character education, and arts appreciation. This year, we honor those that have greatly impacted our educational community in Fremont, while enjoying an evening of fun that brings many people in Fremont together,” said FEF Gala Co-Chair Sherea Westra.

The FEF Gala is the only fundraising event in Fremont that celebrates excellence in education at the K-12 level. In addition to honoring FUSD’s six School Resource Officers as Excellence in Education FUSD Honorees and FEF Associate Board Member Nina Moore as the Excellence in Education Community Honoree, it also raised funds to continue its longstanding tradition of awarding grants to FUSD classrooms. ▪

RC Club competes at Drift Showdown

By Anjali Kanthilal Staff Writer Sometimes, all it takes is a group of high school students who are bored of the usual schoolwork and online games to start a club on campus. MSJ RC Club is one of the new up-and-coming clubs on campus, formed late last year, but already competing around the Bay Area.

Led by Senior Adam Bao, the MSJ RC club has expanded itself in its short existence from just drifters, cars designed to slide for style, to planes,as well. RC club is for students who are interested in remote

courtesy tina ong photography

Senior Adam Bao (left) finished second in Round Two of the Drift Showdown racing competition.

controlled vehicles, , but on a more affordable and fun manner.

The club recently attended its very first competition: Drift Showdown presented by All Speed Hobbies in South San Francisco. RC

for the feb. 1 2013 issue

Montgomery loses control at the USC vs. Cal Bears basketball game.

towel dispensers with eco-friendly electric hand dryers. Although this is not currently feasible due to in-

MSJ Debate’s comeback

By Catherine Wang Staff Writer

The report tracked the hacking to this building, which houses Unit 61398 of the Chinese army.

we are very responsive to student complaints, they can be resolved but the problem must first be mentioned.” Prairie said in response to concerns about bathroom sanitation. Custodial bathroom runthroughs are every morning, so if soap or paper towels run out later in the day, the custodians would have no way of knowing. Students can also bring up concerns at parentfaculty group meetings such as the monthly Mission Possible meetings. In previous years, students and parent groups have brought up the issue of replacing the paper

Friday, March 1, 2013

News page 1: Garrett Chan was not pictured in the CBDA photo.

News page 1: Angie Wang gathered information for “MSJ Gives Back.”

A&E page 18: Pragathi Guruprasad is a freshman.

Sports page 22: Sai Chilakapati’s name is misspelled.

Photo page 24: DJ Okawari’s name is misspelled.

Photo page 24: Shirby Wang’s name is misspelled.

Photo page 24: Shirby Wang took photos.

Racing is very similar to real racing.

Though the same car is used for every race, adjustments are made between races based on the needed speed and direction of the track. In January, Bao attended round one of the competition, and placed fourth.

Bao said, “It’s nerve-wracking, it’s never easy seeing how good you are against a largely unknown group of people, but I’m happy with my finishing position, given the circumstances.”

On February 17, Bao returned to round two, along with three more competitors: Sophomore Shazib Elahi, Junior Nicholas Gadjali, and

Senior Yu-Chien Kuo. Bao, referring to Round Two, says, “My Prius [and I] managed to finish Second Overall in a field of more than 20 [racers], and MSJ’s presence was definitely noticed, with more than nine wins among the four of us.

Nicholas, Shazib, and Yu-Chien all displayed incredible talent at the track, and I know that their experience from Round Two will definitely motivate them and prepare them for Round Three.” Gadjali finished 24th, Kuo 15th, and Elahi 12th.

With Bao’s consistent high finishing positions, he may be in line for a Grand Prize or an Overall Novice Championship. These results will be announced during Round Four. For those interested in watching MSJ’s RC Club Competitors, Round Three and Four will be held on March 9 and 30, respectively, in South San Francisco. ▪ All Speed Hobbies 230 South Spruce Avenue South SF, CA 94080 March 9 & 30

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Smoke Signal

Flashback: Pilot saves MSJ

By Aamir Rasheed Staff Writer

Forty-eight years ago, on Jan. 11, 1965, a selfless navy pilot sacrificed his life in order to prevent his failing plane from crashing into MSJ and the surrounding residential area.

It was to be a routine training flight. The two pilots involved in the accident, Lieutenant Commander Harford Field and Commander Henry T. Stanley, noticed the engine torched on the first start, but appeared to be working normally prior to takeoff. The plane left the Naval Air Station in Alameda on Jan. 11, 1965, at 2:30 PM. During the planned ascent to 28,000 feet, all was normal except that the engine’s revolutions per minute (RPM) was fluctuating between 90 and 98 percent capacity. Just prior to reaching 12,000 feet, both pilots noticed an “odd noise associated with the engine” and Cmdr. Stanley ordered a descent to 3,500 feet. On the way down, Cmdr. Stanley, taking notice of the continuous noises coming from the engine, briefed Lt. Cmdr. Field about ejection procedures.

Upon reaching 3,500 feet, Cmdr. Stanley attempted to increase the throttle, and the RPM dropped to 20 percent capacity, tilting the plane down into what both pilots knew would end in a crash landing. In the meantime, Cmdr. Stanley had been in constant contact with the Oakland Airport Approach Control, saying that “he couldn’t see a clear

afterwards landing safely in the Niles area.

By the time Cmdr. Stanley spotted the fields next to Palm Avenue southwest of MSJ, the plane was at 2000 feet, a height far too low to ensure safe ejection. When he was certain the plane would not endanger anyone’s life, Cmdr. Stanley ejected from the plane. However, the ejection was not completely successful and he landed irregularly, still attached to his seat, in the Hopkins Junior High School field, dying upon impact.

After Cmdr. Stanley’s ejection, the plane just missed MSJ, skimmed over rooftops, and crashed so hard that the entire body of the plane was buried beneath ground level. The investigation afterward revealed that one of the blades on the planes turbine was damaged.

The playground between Hopkins and MSJ was soon afterwards dedicated to Cmdr.

Stanley as a tribute from the City of Fremont during the official Navy ceremony where Cmdr. Stanley was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for selfless heroism. The award was given to Mary Stanley, Cmdr. Stanley’s wife.

Later, in 1997, one of Cmdr. Stanley’s sons, Bill Stanley, upon visiting the park, noticed that the plaque was run down and vandalized. The city soon commissioned another plaque, gave Bill the old one, and renovated the park. The new plaque still stands today in a small circular orchard between the park and

This plaque dedicated to Cmdr. Stanley honors his heroic efforts and his sacrifice.

area, and that he would try a second time for a clear area or he wouldn’t quit the aircraft.”

He would stay with the plane as long as it took for him to find a safe place for it to land, even if it meant losing his own life.

Then, as per Cmdr. Stanley’s orders, Lt. Cmdr. Harford ejected out of the plane, soon

staff writer aamir rasheed

MSJ tennis courts.

Cmdr. Henry T. Stanley was bold, selfless, and heroic. Without a second thought, he willingly sacrificed his life to protect MSJ and the nearby residents. This incident should never be forgotten when remembering the history of MSJ. ▪

ERWC | New English course for incoming seniors continued from page 1

well.

Prior to FUSD’s adoption of the course, a CSU representative contacted Maxwell and then met with FUSD’s high school principals, vice principals, English department chairs, and counselors, respectively. A four-day ERWC training session provided some FUSD staff, including English Teacher Nina LaRosa, with the course materials, a theoretical understanding of ERWC, and strategies for teaching the module.

ERWC is suitable for students who know they will be studying primarily nonfiction in college or are simply ready for a change from the regular English class. Students who enjoy speech and debate might also enjoy taking a stance on more contemporary and controversial subjects in ERWC. The class is less test-based and instead focuses on in-class activities, such as examining articles, essays, interviews, documentaries, and occasionally poetry. Furthermore, ERWC curriculum spans a varying breadth of topics, including fast food, fashion and media, juvenile justice, and racial profiling.

To analyze material and defend their own opinions, ERWC students would work by themselves or with partners to break up articles into smaller pieces to study, write essays, give presentations, take part in class debates, and make mini-documentaries. “I want students to be able to think critically about things that are presented to them, to be able to express themselves in class, in person, and also in their written work, to be persuasive… and to just have fun,” said LaRosa.

Although some CA high schools, including James Logan High School, offer ERWC as the only English alternative to AP Literature, current MSJ juniors can register to take AP Literature, English 12A, or ERWC in their senior year. The new option qualifies as an A-G English class, but students can also take it as their elective. Any student who takes and passes this course with a C or higher is exempt from CSU English placement tests and clears the way to enter freshman English in college with no remediation, whereas English 12A students may have to take up to four semesters of remediation.

Unlike English 12A and AP Literature, ERWC is designed to prepare students for

“The overall goal is to really make sure that students are prepared to tackle all the nonfiction reading and analysis that they’ll do in college, and then of course [that] they can respond to it in writing.”

-Nina LaRosa, English Teacher

the focus on nonfiction reading and writing in college. While ERWC meets the UC and CSU college preparatory requirements, it is unique in that it emphasizes expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing. “The overall goal is to really make sure that students are prepared to tackle all the nonfiction reading and analysis that they’ll do in college, and then of course [that] they can respond to it in writing,” said LaRosa. ▪

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Smoke Signal perSonali speaking

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 48, No. 6 | March 1, 2013 www.thesmokesignal.org

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

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

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

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

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Testament to Tears

By Sonali Toppur Opinion Editor

Angst sells. It becomes apparent pretty quickly that the more popular books and movies of our time are tearjerkers that often deal with loss and painful experiences. But what is it about loss that makes it so appealing to audiences in the first place?

For one thing, it’s easier to express sad sentiments. Poets throughout the decades have shown us how sorrow can be expressed most eloquently through words and even provide a sense of catharsis for the writer. In cases of some particularly skilled writing, catharsis can be reached on the side of the reader as well. Loss and grief are emotions that are universal and that at some point have touched everyone’s lives. Loss is something that carries the stigma of a resilient and strong individual, and people who have had loss affect them on an intimate level come out of the experience with a perceived strength of character.

However, when loss is dramatized and thrown into works of fiction, I find myself questioning the line between conveying a meaningful message and disrespecting an emotional trial. On one hand, the actor or character in a book, could be respectfully trying to relate loss to an audience, but sometimes even wellintentioned portrayals come across as two-dimensional or lacking. How many times have we seen Nicholas Sparks set up his romantic movies with at least one character “romantically and tragically” develop cancer or some other lifethreatening disease and the couple fight

for their love heroically? Too many.

What makes overcoming loss so heroic is perhaps the fact that it tests the strength of a relationship or connection.

If you stick it out with each other, your relationship is stronger and means a lot. While this is a test that works, is it really one that is necessary? I am the first one to agree that the reason we watch movies and read books is to escape our lives and place ourselves in the shoes of others. These forms of entertainment are excellent endorsers of promoting empathy and show us how to connect with others on different levels of understanding and complexity. I don’t think that we need to create this concept of romanticized loss, at least to the level that it is headed towards at the moment.

Grief is difficult and hurts far more often than it tends to create real love stories. I think it’s a question of our mentality and the way we choose to approach our lives. There’s nothing wrong with a healthy dose of optimism now and then. While media is going to exploit extremes and strong emotions to elicit strong responses, I feel that it’s important to remember that angst in a movie isn’t going to translate the same way to real life. Let’s not go chasing these situations and feelings, instead experiencing them, appreciating them for what they are, and remembering to let them go. ▪ Send letters to the editors to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

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Opinion 5

right on Q

$pread My Wing$

By Kyle Qian Opinion Editor

I want to fly, can you take me far away? Give me a star to reach for. Tell me what it takes, and I’ll go so high, I’ll go so far. My feet won’t touch the ground. Stitch my wings and pull the strings; I bought these dreams that all fall down.

This is the hook, sung by a children’s choir, for hip-hop artist Macklemore’s song “Wing$,” about Macklemore’s misguided childhood obsession with basketball shoes.

I wanted to be like Mike. I wanted to be him. I wanted to be that guy. I wanted to touch the rim. I wanted to be cool, and I wanted to fit in.

The song starts off sounding almost like an anthem for the sneaker culture, but instead develops into an emotional, semi-autobiographical critique of blind consumerism.

My movement told me “be a consumer” and I consumed it. They told me to “Just Do It” and I listened to what that [Nike] swoosh said.

With a premise like that, the last place I would have expected to find this song would be in a promo video for the NBA, perhaps the biggest contributor to the success of companies like Nike and Adidas.

But yeah, that’s exactly what happened.

Macklemore and “Wing$” were featured in a promo video to generate hype for last month’s NBA All-Star game. I have no problem with the video itself; it was very well-made and succeeded in creating buzz.

But for those who’d heard the song before, some were outraged and others were just confused. Furthermore, it didn’t exactly help that Macklemore himself actively participated in the video, rapping on

camera in an All-Star jersey.

Strangled by these laces, laces I can barely talk.

That’s my air bubble and I’m lost if it pops. We are what we wear, we wear what we are…These Nikes helped define me, but I’m trying to take mine off.

The message of the song is pretty transparent here. But of course, in order to fit a new purpose, “Wing$” was chopped and screwed to omit lines like the above. What resulted was a dilution of a multi-layered critique of consumerism to a one-dimensional chant to complement images of basketball stars.

These are what make you cool. And this pair, this would be my pair of shoes gonna make me fly.

After the video reached its climax, it quietly winded down with the image of Macklemore sitting on top of a basketball hoop, rapping those lines. Before then, the edited song was purposefully vague, but these last lines were a slap to the face, shamelessly contradicting the last lines of the actual song and the message of the song as a whole: This dream that they sold to you for a hundred dollars and some change, consumption is in the veins. And now I see it’s just another pair of shoes.

Some say we should be happy for Macklemore, an independent artist who’s finally making it big. I fully agree, and no one yet knows how much say Macklemore had in the production of the video.

Whatever the case may be, I just found it a shame that a work of art like “Wing$” had been so grossly misused. ▪ Send letters to the editors to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

EDITORIAL: Focusing on the Problem The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board A college student asks his psychiatrist to prescribe him over 90 doses of Adderall, a medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), despite his parents’ claims that their son did not have ADHD. Eventually this previously well-adjusted and sociable young man became addicted to the drug and even spent a week in a psychiatric hospital.

That college student, Richard Fee, committed suicide on February 3rd, after showing symptoms of depression from his drug abuse. This may be an extreme case, but Adderall abuse has significantly increased in the past few years, with even high school students gaining access to it illegally.

Using drugs like Adderall, students are able to retain focus on a singular subject for an extended period of time, allowing them to fully concentrate on studying for that upcoming final or major test. The Smoke Signal editorial board is focusing its attention on this issue, because there exists an undercurrent of MSJ students currently using Adderall for such purposes.

Oftentimes critics of MSJ lay the blame on the difficulty of tests and high expectations set by teachers on all assignments for behaviors such as this. However, procrastination by students does play a significant role in this issue.

Although MSJ is known for its tough academic curriculum, teachers rarely structure tests or assignments in a way that requires students to work long hours in one sitting. Teachers generally give suf-

ficient notice for the work they assign, yet students often choose to start it the night before the due date. This culture of leaving assignments until the last minute has fostered a generation of students unable to utilize their time wisely. To reduce the severity of this issue, students must learn to manage their time wisely and to execute stronger study skills from a younger age.

They need to understand the value of using the time at their disposal and how to use the time to work ahead. If students develop a habit of sitting down for a set period of time and focusing on their work, they would not find the need to take drugs like Adderall.

Another cause of the increase in such drug usage amongst teenagers is overscheduling. Too often, students take on a large number of Honors and AP classes on top of after school activities, overloading their daily schedules. Poor prioritization also contribute to the overwhelming stress that students experience. This problem most likely stems from excessive parental and self-inflicted pressure some students feel to get good grades and to be accepted into prestigious colleges.

Although there are a number of variables contributing to the issue surrounding Adderall usage, the tragic story of Richard Fee will hopefully encourage changes in the mindsets of students currently taking or planning to take drugs like Adderall. ▪

staff writer hairol ma

Send letters to the editors to opinion@thesmokesignal.org staff writer aamir rasheed

6 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 1, 2013

By Marisa Lenci Staff Writer

Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is a renowned youth organization that was established in 1910. Its purpose for the past 102 years has been to foster the youth of America and to create a safe, loving environment in which to nurture the upcoming generation.

Since its establishment, BSA has relied on religiously based values, and those in accordance with Christian beliefs. As such, BSA has historically denied membership to homosexuals. In recent times, a proposed policy revision regarding homosexuals in the organization has created a controversy that has swept the nation.

The idea of revising the policy was brought up in 2012 when Boy Scout Ryan Andresen from Moraga, California was denied approval of his Eagle Scout award. The reasoning behind this was that he didn’t qualify according to the organization’s standards as stated in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. The discrep-

ancy within this ruling is that Andresen began his pursuit of the Eagle Scout award long before he revealed to anyone that he was gay.

Recently, the Supreme Court ruled in BSA v. Dale case that it’s legal for BSA, as a private organization, to deny homosexuals membership. It was ruled that BSA is protected under the First Amendment right to expressive association.

Since BSA is legally allowed to continue their current membership policies, the controversy is no longer a discussion of legality, but one of morality and societal acceptance. The boundaries that prevail today may be obsolete tomorrow, and as our society learns to accept other views and preferences, our policies must demonstrate these changes.

Members who support the current policy state that under the Scout Oath and

Scout Law, BSA members must uphold their duties to God and live a “morally straight” life. Proponents claim that those who are openly gay do not reflect these values.

However, many members of BSA argue that those initial values were instituted by the organization at its birth, and that since then, new values and perspectives have evolved. The Constitution, which we continue to uphold, has amended many of its original rulings to fit the changing society. Like the Constitution, organizations we associate ourselves with must learn to keep pace with our ever-changing morals.

In a further push for change, active

sponsors of BSA who support revision, such as UPS, have revoked their sponsorship as they refuse to support organizations that discriminate. BSA is losing approval and funding from not only its members, but its sponsors as well.

As citizens within this prosperous and growing society, it is our duty to continue our pursuit of a better future, and to bring about change for future generations. We must come together to promote equality in every way possible, and only through this can we will foster the youth of America. ▪ aliexpress.com, emaratiya.com

Back to the Kitchen

By Anita Alem Staff Writer

As Americans, we have a duty to protect and defend the weaker, inferior members of society: women. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s recent removal of the 1994 ban on women in combat continues to threaten the sanctity of female life.

The US military is only encouraging the delusions that plague girls’ minds today: that they live in a world where men and women are equal.

Women in the military have a higher risk of being assaulted by a fellow officer than of being killed by enemies in combat. The Pentagon estimates that only 14 percent of these assaults are reported. It’s obvious that women don’t belong in combat if they are distracting men and driving them to sexual acts. Men in the battlefield must be able to fulfill their jobs; soldiers are too busy defending American liberty to be tempted by women.

Clothed in camouflage and firing rifles provocatively, women create a hypersexual image of themselves that can harm a male soldier’s psychological condition. There have been no significant improvements to the situation after multiple investigations, and in fact, the government shouldn’t have to waste its time on sexual harassment cases in the military.

There is only one solution left for this blatant problem: it is up to us as women to step down and recognize ourselves as a nuisance on the field. Of course, we may still serve our nation by returning to earlier roles that we carried out successfully, such as nurses, factory employees, and secretaries. According to the Defense Department, one in three military women would no longer risk sexual assault, permitting a safe

return to the one in six chance of sexual assault that exists for civilian females on a daily basis.

This would be a step towards feminism, as opposed to Panetta’s decision to integrate the army, a move he was forced into by four pushy female soldiers who were suing to be allowed to serve in combat. Women don’t have to be distractions—we can be efficient, devoted soldiers off the battlefield.

The inclusion of women in infantry positions also raises concerns of physical limitations.

Our bodies are not strong enough to take on the strict physical requirements of the army, including the ability to handle 100 pounds of gear and carry a fellow combatant off the field.

The Defense Department wisely determined this in 1994, and deputy assistant Vee Penrod disclosed specific details on their ruling, stating that it was “based on experience with the leadership and experience in combat.” This explains why the Pentagon has honored their ban for the past twenty years, allowing only 800 injuries and 140 deaths to female combatants, few of whom received the same honors awarded to their male counterparts.

Their sacrifice for our nation is an embarrassment to Congress, for who’s to say that they didn’t die due to weak arm muscles?

So, instead of giving them more rights, let us continue to remind women of their inferiority through institutionalized sexism. If we continue down the dark path that Panetta has introduced, then what’s next, infants in the army? Society must continue to show young women, each and every day, that they are simply not as good as men. And through a mix of fear and shame, one day, the 14.5 percent of the military made up of women will become zero. ▪

depositphotos.com

Your Eighth Grade x

By Grace Wu Staff Writer

A majority of MSJ students have completed geometry by the end of their freshman year.

However, in a few years this may not be the case.

Recently, the California State Board of Education decided to drop the Algebra I requirement from the California eighth grade math standards.

Algebra I has been a mandatory course for eighth graders for 15 years, but California has now adopted solely the national Common Core standards which don’t include that requirement.

The new course will resemble a preparatory algebra class because it only requires students to know the 28 standards in the Common Core curriculum as opposed to the 72 standards in California’s old curriculum. The Common Core curriculum touches on the most basic algebra concepts such as recognizing the existence of irrational numbers and working with radicals.

Each California school district will have to decide whether or not to offer Algebra I and the prerequisites for the course. Starting from the 2013-14 school year, eighth graders will have the option of taking Algebra I, if their district offers it, or the alternative class. STAR testing will be based on the Common Core curriculum.

“

...the class will consist of more word problems and questions asking why.

”

-Scott Sugden, Math Department Chair

California has consistently been at the bottom of the barrel among national education. The Algebra I requirement was implemented as a step forward to better prepare students for college.

Taking away this requirement is detrimental to minority and underachieving students because it has been largely successful in increasing enrollment among those students. According to the San Jose Mercury News, the percentage of African

Americans taking algebra grew from 24 percent to 60 percent while the percentage for Latinos tripled to 63 percent. Without mandatory Algebra I, minority and underachieving students may gravitate towards the easier alternative course.

The gap between high-achieving and underachieving students will certainly widen with the new requirements, leaving underachieving students feeling discouraged and less prepared than ever for college.

Even more disheartening is the potential for racial profiling this allows. Under the new policy, schools do not have to use objective factors to determine placement in math classes. In fact, some districts indirectly use racial profiling to determine their placement. Once the new policy goes into effect, districts will have the undue power to determine each student’s course, and in turn, determine whether the student will be on the college-readiness path. Minorities are already grossly underrepresented in top universities; people of Hispanic origin made up 38.1 percent of California’s population in 2011 but only made up 16.6 percent of those enrolled at University of California campuses in 2009.

Undoubtedly, some students are just not ready for Algebra I in the eighth grade. MSJ math teachers who support the new policy have a valid point: it will be beneficial for students who need to go at a slower place. The new policy does offer a temporary solution, but underachievement is a deep-seated problem. Dropping the standards is not an effective solution that leads to progress; instead, it only brushes the real problem under the rug. We have to ask ourselves why only 44 percent of junior high students tested proficient in math in 2011.

Instead of dropping standards we must be crusaders in the face of a challenge: implement programs statewide for underachieving students, start teaching the fundamental concepts of algebra in elementary school, and strive to exceed the Common Core standards. ▪

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Smoke Signal

Be Spontaneous Getting that girl you like random presents is always a positive. The last thing she will expect when she walks into her APUSH class is a warm and huggable teddy bear with Roosevelt’s face waiting for her. If it’s a rainy day and her umbrella is being blown away by the wind, pullover and offer a ride even if you have to kick out a bro. Your friend may despise you for a couple days for your impertinence, but deep down he is proud of you. If you see her stressed out or depressed, grab her hand and take her on an exhilarating journey through the haunted Fremont Time Tunnel where you heroically save her from ghastly spirits. If you are spontaneous within ordinate limits, she’ll eventually notice you care and will start to reciprocate the friendship.

www.thesmokesignal.org

By Ishan Goyal Staff Writer

Feature 7

Act with Class Everyone loves to think that people don’t judge based on physical appearance, but that’s a huge lie when it comes to girls. When they see you every morning, they will first notice and register exactly what you are wearing and how you smell instead of your greeting. Thus it is essential you dress up appropriately and make sure you look dashing. If you are having a bad hair day or wore the most ridiculous shirt, make sure she doesn’t see you.

Spending time with the right people is also essential. You need to convince all her best friends that you are worthy of being her date because they can be extremely influential. Learning a language like French would be the icing on top of this plan.

Even if you end up saying the most offensive phrase in the language of love, she will take it as a compliment without resort- ing to a translator.

Y o u do want to avoid girls who take French as a class because they may take offense to your comments. This air of grace and sprezzatura works quite effectively and it often dupes the girl into thinking that you actually have “swag”. ▪

graphics by staff writer ishan goyal

By Arushi Atluri Staff Writer

encouraging the student to pass on the flower This year, Peer Resource has held a myriad of and a compliment note to someone appreciated. events for MSJ students. From their light up the Throughout the day, Peer’s compliment flowers darkness roses, to their popular “You Are Stronger and the smiles that accompanied them could be Than You Think” shirts, to their simple, welcom- seen in the hands and on the faces of MSJ stuing, morning hot chocolate giveaways, Peer has dents, and several pictures of these happy students successfully been able to spread the love through- holding their flowers were posted on Instagram out MSJ, and Valentine’s Day was no exception. with the hashtag “lightupthedarkness.”

On Thursday, February “Valentine’s Day 14, Peer is a great day to ex-

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air o ReAk uns er elo lan r source d sJ gi un students ve io ou r A came to school t r nja os li es Ka bright and early to in nth th ila get ready for their sure la m n prise Valentine’s Day event. ornin d Se g n As students slowly began trick- . ior ling onto campus, they found themselves greeted at the bell tower by music and eager Peer students handing out donut holes, red velvet cupcakes, and colorful frosted cookies.

“We’ve been having a couple of these [giveaway] events throughout the year, and we hope to make them more common in years to come,” said Peer Resource President Junior Praveena Fernes.

In addition to these sugar-saturated morning treats, Peer Resource further amped up the sweetness by handing out compliment flowers to passing students. Each flower had a note attached to it wishing the student a happy Valentine’s Day, and

press both romantic and platonic love,” said Peer Resource Secretary Senior Sonam Mokha.

“Giving out and passing around these compliment flowers helps us cherish our relationships and thank all the people we have in our lives.”

Whether students celebrated with their counterparts or spent the day basking in their singleness, most could agree that Peer Resource definitely managed to start the day on a high note and continue to brighten the day of love. “It’s been a tough couple first weeks of the semester, especially for sophomores and juniors, so we wanted to make sure that students ended the week well and started the four day weekend out right,” said Fernes. “Our goal for this event was to spread the love, and I think ultimately we were able to do that.” ▪ photos by graphics editor sherry xiao

September 5, 2010 Dear Diary, I recently picked up my own copy of Make Your Child a Doctor or an Engineer in America. It said to keep a log of your child’s progress to track his development, so here goes!

It was his first day at high school today, a day I’d expected him to be happy and enthusiastic about. He said he had “gotten the best teachers” and had “all of his friends in his classes,” but when I asked him about it, he said, “It was fine.”

Perhaps it’s just the culture shock.

December 4, 2011 Dear Diary, My child is going through some very nervewracking changes. But it’s okay, Make Your Child a Doctor or Engineer in America said that that was natural. It said I might be jarred at the words he might be saying, the American customs he was assimilating to. I’ve been as tolerant as I can these past few weeks, but today crossed the line.

He came home with a “D” on his math test today. A “D,” and he wants to be an engineering student when he goes to college! I sat down with him and tried talking to him about school, but it was like trying to open a can without a can opener. I could get nothing out of him.

When I asked about his social life, and how his friends are doing, he said “lol”. When I asked about his social life, he said “swag”. Then finally, when I asked about his “D”, he replied, “YOLO.” The only dictionary I could find anywhere that had this “YOLO” was a website called urbandictionary.com. On this website, it says “YOLO” is an abbreviation for You Only Live Once. Well, at least he is learning to value something in his life.

By Aamir Rasheed Staff Writer

October 11, 2012 Dear Diary, What is this homecoming? We never had homecoming back when we were children. Where is the home? Who is coming? What does it have to do with all the noises and shouting and face-paint and dancing and decorations anyway?

My child tells me it’s a tradition they celebrate every year. The four classes (I think he meant grades) put on a sort idiotic mix of dancing, music, singing, and heavy audience participation of arbitrary but passionate cheering.

My son came home today, I almost called the police. His face was completely black, even his lips!

He had a horn in his hands and he was tooting it as loud as he possibly could. I sternly asked him to stop, just as the Make Your Child a Doctor or Engineer in America said I should, but then he put his hands over his head and gave himself a high five.

Is he going mad?

January 29, 2014 Dear Diary, My child is maturing. He is just about to finish his fourth set of high school finals, and he has stopped freaking out about it as he did in his freshman year. He studies hard, goes to sleep early, and even sings to himself in the shower. He finishes all of his breakfast and cleans up after himself. I even caught him humming himself to sleep the other night.

Perhaps I have done my job after all. Thank you very much, Make your Child a Doctor or an Engineer in America. You were absolutely useless. I found that the days I stopped taking your advice and parented from my heart were the days he was most receptive and respectful. So I’m going to stop keeping this log, too. I know my son is in his own good hands now. ▪

graphics by staff writer irisa lee

8 Feature

www.thesmokesignal.org

The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 1, 2013

“I would ‘Raichu’ a love song. Get it?”

-Shirin Purkayastha, 11 “Put the fire type Pokemon in rooms that are too cold and ice types in rooms that are too hot.” -Ben Lei, 12 “I’d get a Pikachu and have him conduct electricity so I wouldn’t have to pay PG&E.” -Claudia Shao, 10

“ We a r the tightest shirt I can find and rip it by flexing.” -Raghu Dhara, 11

“I would probably violate dress code and improve my mile time by 700 minutes each time.” -Kimberly Saigusa, 10

a

“If I were issued a six-pack, I would use it as washboard to wash my clothes.” -James Fu, 11

“What kind of six-packs are we talking about? I’d rather have a six-pack of Coke than a six-pack of abs.”

-Ruchit Majmudar, 10

“I think t h a t “Why would I want to w o u l d get rid of two of my abs?” be a great -Nicholas Cai, 10 idea because it would save the crisis on gas and global warming. Also, unicorns poop rainbows and fairy dust so it wouldn’t leave any residue.” -Sungbin Yoon, 11 “Great! Can I pet it?” -Katy Kuei, Chemistry Teacher “I’d have it run my miles for me.” -Nicholas Cai, 10 “I would get a unicorn and ride it through the meadows.” -Mark Ruppert, 12 “If everyone was issued a personal unicorn, I would want rainbows everywhere in the school as roads so we can ride the unicorns to “I would c l a s s e s. ” –Yvonne set up races Chen, 9 with other students like Fast and Furious.”

-Muddit Mittal, 10 “I’d ride them all around campus with friends. “ -Larry Liu, 11 “I wouldn’t walk anymore.” -Sean Li, 10 “I’d use it to pick up boys.” -Alisha Matharu, 10 “I would put all my textbooks and backpack on it then drag it around like a roller backpack, like back in the days of elementary school life.”

-Kelly Lee, 10 “If I were issued a Segway, I would feel so weird standing and moving at the same time.” –Melissa Huang, 11

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graphics by staff writer shirby wang

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Smoke Signal

Do-si-dos are the perfect cookies to satisfy any peanut craving, or any craving actually. Diaries of cowboys from the Wild West included ravings about the perfection each Do-si-do brings. In fact, these cookies are so popular that a dance was named after them, and that was 100 percent fact.

Each Do-si-do is made of oatmeal and the creamiest peanut butter filling, and without any artificial color or flavor. You may be wondering, is there any jelly with this peanut butter? For your own sanity, no. The addition of such a powerful additive to an already strong peanut butter would cause your taste buds to start singing in happiness. It will get annoying, trust me. Eating simply one Do-si-do provides enough optimism and peanuty joy for at least four score and seven years, not to mention a box of eighteen.

Of all the cookies, Trefoils are the treats most suited for royalty. A simple classic shortbread cookie, Trefoils make decisions uncomplicated and straightforward. In accordance with the social manners of elegant royalty, these cookies are delicate and refined.

Their tastes are so rich that they challenge the profuse wealth of the finest kings and queens. Most important even, Trefoils never fail to satisfy even the most picky of their consumers, showing as much conviction as all exceptional nobles would when sweeping down to rescue their dismayed and helpless peasants.

Despite being in a different language, Dulce de Leche sounds purely refined. Literally, it means milk caramel, and that’s exactly what it is – shortbread cookies spotted with milk caramel chips. It is a bold mixture of intellect and wisdom, a pathway to the abundance of knowledge that the each MSJ student covets with all their heart. The taste is sure to inspire the development of true sagacity from anyone, whether aged enough for the wisdom or not.

Think of the best thing you’ve ever tasted. Can you taste it?

Does it bring a smile to your face? Good!

Throw it away – it’ll never reach the deliciousness of this cookie. The bits of cranberry strewn throughout a maze of white fudge make a pleasant fruity surprise, unlike this cookie’s evil counterpart, the oatmeal raisin cookie, where every raisin dashes your chocolate-y hopes. But wait, there’s more.

It’s been empirically proven that instead of flour, these cookies contain authentic fairy dust. In addition, witnesses have told the Smoke Signal that Cupid tips his arrows with these cookies. So, if you’re looking to get closer to that special someone, save Cupid some work and generously gift that fortunate person with heaps of Thank U Berry Munch cookies!

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Feature 9

A single bite into the delicacies known as Thin Mints conjures up the glorious image of the purest shade of pale pistachio green. You suddenly find yourself in a world of nature, where the emerald grasses flutter to and fro in the cool spring breeze. Gifted with crisp, crunchy chocolate coats and the light tint of refreshing peppermint, Thin Mints are the cookieenvoys from the universe of relaxation. Whether it’s minutes prior to a particularly monstrous test or the day that college acceptance letters arrive, eating a Thin Mint is sure to put your mind at ease with its invigorating minty taste.

Make no mistake, the name “Savannah Smiles” is no convoluted lie crafted by evil marketing agents.

So what if they are not the Fairest of Them All when it comes to outer appearance? As the trite yet undeniable saying goes, “True beauty is on the inside”. Just peek past the powdered-sugar outside and discover the mouth-watering soft yet zesty spirit of the cookie within. Overflowing to the brim with the sour savor of lemons, each Savannah Smiles provides just enough of the delicate sweet-and-sour blend to fuel even the most hyper toddler’s sugar-highs for a week. After being devoured, Savannah Smiles – true to their name – are sure to bring sunny, possibly sugar-induced grins to your face.

Imagine the two best tastes in the whole world combined into one magnificent peanut butter chocolate cookie. Well, you no longer need to imagine, for it exists – in the form of Tagalongs. Each Tagalong has a crunchy case that eancloses a creamy peanut butter covered with the smoothest chocolate. As implied, to do more than merely tag along with your friends, one has to muster up enough courage to be different. Of course, this amount of bravery doesn’t just magically sizzle and emerge out of nowhere. But have no fear; Tagalongs are here!

Whoever thought that a simple cookie could contain a variety of tastes as diverse as the rainbow? Samoas, crispy cookies with thick layers of caramel and chocolate, coated with a sprinkle of coconut, create visions of heaven and dashes of imagination from this once-mundane earth.

Creativity and fantasy worlds ooze out with every bite, and invite you to any utopia of your choice. May it be a world with unicorns or flying whales, just close your eyes and imagine, for this cookie enhances each of your desired visions to perfection.

It only takes one mention of Girl Scout cookies to render even the most strong-willed people into helpless salivating slobs. After all, these delectable morsels of fun

By Vivian Jair, and happiness are more magical than the Gingerbread Man, and you don’t have to worry about foxes eating your share. However, deciding which cookie is right Anjali Kanthilal & for you can be a daunting and often impossible task. Those who struggle making a decision will find themselves buying all the cookies, leading to a fat belly and a Peter Qiu skinny wallet. Luckily for you, the Smoke Signal will lay down the facts on these cookies and their phenomenal effects on life. For those of you looking to invest in an Staff Writers epic treat, but are unsure which is right for you, read on to learn more about every delectable type there is – but be careful not to drool all over the page! gsneo.org, graphics by staff writer anna zeng

10 Centerspread

The Smoke Signal

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Lace Collar: (Materials: Lace doily, pearl button, elastic band (thin), sewing supplies) 1. Take the doily and cut out the center of it, so that you’re left with the surrounding lace. The structure should be circular, like an o.

2. To create the collar, cut a v-shape into the circle. Be sure to cut neatly and along the patterns of the lace. When stretched out, your collar should now resemble half a circle.

3. Sew on the pearl button to one end of the collar.

By Ha 4. Make a c-shape (or half of an infinity iro lM shape) from the thin elastic and sew it a, Sh irb onto the other end of the collar. y Wa This will hold the button in Sta ng ff W , A place. rit nna ers Ze Ran out of 5. When buttoned ng & Christmas and Lin together, it makes dy birthday money?

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Let’s dive into the latest trend to be innovative and self-sufficient: Do-It-Yourself! The Smoke Signal presents this handy guide to the world of DIY, where anyone can make what money can buy with a few simple supplies and a touch of creativity. Impress those around you and discover new possibilities of doing it yourself!

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1. To measure the size of the headband, wrap a piece of ribbon around your head and cut the desired strips of elastic, lace, and ribbon.

2. Begin sewing the top of the elastic to the lace.

3. Once the elastic is completely attached to the lace, sew the solid color ribbon over the lace. Since there are stitches over the lace, this will cover it up. Make small stitches in the front so stitches are barely visible. Be sure to use similar colored thread!

4. Sew the two ends together to make a circle.

5. If you like, tie a bow from leftover ribbon and sew The Classic it onto the back of the Off-Shoulder T-Shirt headband.

1. Find a slightly over-sized T-shirt with a cool design on front and a blank back.

2. Cut the neckline low and wide.

3. Fold the back of the shirt in half. Make sure the front of the shirt is out of the way!

4. Cut evenly-spaced strands following a diagonal line, then flatten and stretch each strand so it curls in.

5. Weave each strand over the one before it, and secure the last strand to the shirt with a loop of thread.

6. Roll up the sleeves. Secure with a loop of thread.

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The Smoke Signal

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Apples, Strawberries, Mangos, Tangerines, White Mushrooms, Cheese, Pepper, Ice, Water, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, Whipped/Heavy Cream, Italian Seasoning, MicroFor ice wave-Safe Bowls, Oven Pan, Vegetable Peeler, Knife/Apple Corer, cream: Plastic Wrap, Ziploc Bags, Utensils, Blender, Lighter, Cups 1. Add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup Main Meal: Cheese Mushrooms whipping cream, 1. Take stalk of mushroom and twist off, leaving mushroom cap. and 1/4 teaspoon va2. Fill caps with cheese. nilla to a smaller Ziploc bag.

3. Sprinkle small amounts of pepper and Italian seasoning.

2. Seal the bag securely.

4. Bake in conventional oven for 15 to 20 minutes until cheese has 3. Add ice and lots of salt to larger Ziploc bag. melted.

4. Place smaller, sealed bag into the larger bag with ice.

Beverage: Apple-banana-tangerine smoothie 5. Seal larger bag and shake for 10 to 15 min1. Peel apples, bananas, and tangerines. To peel tangerines, cut with utes. Wear gloves if necessary. knife around circumference and carefully peel into two halves, 6. When contents have solidified into ice cream, leaving the stem and white inner part of the fruit intact. Save peel serve with microwave “baked” apple. for candles.

2. Place peeled fruit in blender. Add several spoonfuls of your ice Tangerine Candles cream.

1. Use saved tangerine halves for candles.

3. Blend fruit together. If too thick, add water or milk.

2. Find the non-stem half of the peel and use knife to cut a 4. Serve in cups of your own choice. hole. (For example, a circle or a star shape) 3. Fill the tangerine halves with stems with vegetable Dessert: Micro-baked apple w/ ice cream oil, leaving the “wick” above the oil.

For Microwave “baked” apple: 4. Set the “wick” on fire with a lighter and place 1. Peel and core two apples. other half on top.

2. Mix two tablespoons of brown sugar, and one teaspoon of cin5. Watch the tangerine glow and smell namon. the aroma in the air. Arrange food, 3. Sprinkle mixture over apples and in center where the cores used utensils, and decorate the table. to be.

4. Cover with plastic wrap, which is microwave safe, and microwave for 3.5 to 4 minutes.

5. Serve with ice cream.

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Centerspread 11

Lace Headband: (Materials: Elastic band, lace and solid ribbon, sewing supplies)

Colla ace

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Friday, March 1, 2013

Friday, March 1, 2013

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Sharpie Mug

Dyed Denim – Ombre Style 1. Pick a pair of denim pants or shorts to dye, and rinse but, don’t dry them.

Get liquid dye, measuring cup, and a bucket for your pants to soak in.

2. Mix 1/3 cup of dye with 2 gallons of water. Dip your pants halfway into the mixture for 10 minutes. Ring out excess dye.

3. Add another 1/3 cup of dye into the same bucket and dip just a third of your pants in the mixture, this time for 5 minutes.

4. Add 1/3 cup of dye again and dip the tip of your shorts or 1/5 of your jeans into the dye for another 5 minutes.

5. Rinse until water runs clear, dry, wash, and wear!

6. If you want to go for the starry tye-dye pattern, wrap your pants up into a tight bundle and toss it into a bucket with 2 gallons of water and a cup of dye for 10-15 minutes.

Freezer-Paper Stenciling 1. To complete the quest, gather the following: freezer paper, X-acto knife, scissors, fabric to stencil on, iron, an image, foam paint brushes or just foam on a stick, and fabric paint of your color.

2. Trace your image onto the dull side of the freezer paper, then cut out the colored parts of the image, as the freezer paper sort of acts like masking tape for clothing.

3. Iron the freezer paper to the fabric very well, with the shiny side down. If not ironed well enough, paint may leak between freeze paper and fabric.

4. Add a layer under the layer of fabric being stenciled to prevent bleeding paint, then coat stencil with two to three layers of fabric paint, with at least one and a half Yarn-Wrapped hour of drying time each layer.

Letters 5. Make sure the paint is dry, lift a corner of the freezer paper, 1. Gather cardboard, pencils, rulers, and just peel it off. Iron scissors, lots over the stencil again, of yarn, glue, and heavy, flat objects. with some cloth be2. Cut out two layers of tween the stencil cardboard in the shapes and iron. of your letters.

3. Begin wrapping the yarn around the letters.

Add some glue to the back of the cardboard to make sure the yarn will stay. Place heavy, flat objects on top when drying the glue.

Repeat for two or three layers.

4. Hang them somewhere! Be creative!

Personalize your beverage-drinking experience and reveal your inner artist! With a few simple tools, you can mark a cup as yours or create a lovely gift for all occasions.

Materials: a blank ceramic mug (can be found in thrift stores or craft stores), oil-based paint marker Sharpie (a regular Sharpie will not work), oven, a spark of inspiration 1. Design your mug with the Sharpie.

2. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 F. 3. Let cool and drink! Handwash only.

12 Arts & Entertainment

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Friday, March 1, 2013

By Jad e & PShi, M ete ar r X isa L u en rs

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Though their time together as a band has not been long, One Direction has proven to stand in a league of its own—breaking records and breaking hearts with their melodious tones. One Direction’s debut album Up All Night was the fastest-selling debut album in the UK in 2011 and in 2012 debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making 1D the first British group in US chart history to do so, and landing them a spot in the Guinness World Records. Their lead single “What Makes You Beautiful” reached number one in the UK and number three in the US and won the 2012 BRIT Award for Best British Single. Both Up All Night and One Direction’s second album Take Me Home received mostly favorable reviews from critics; Take Me Home met 1 million in US sales by December 16, 2012, making the group the first act to sell 1 million copies of two different albums in the same year since 2009. One Direction is set to grace the world’s stage with a 2013 World Tour, which opened in London’s O2 Arena on February 22. Commercially, the tour has been incredibly successful; sold-out shows and a demand for more tickets led to an addition of 100 shows in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and the UK.

Sony Pictures Entertainment announces that a 3D 1D film is in production. It will be released on Aug. 30, 2013.

One Direction performs “What Makes You Beautiful” at closing ceremony of 2012 Summer Olympics in London. All Olympics, past and future, are immediately rendered inferior.

Debut single “What Makes You Beautiful” climbs to first on UK Singles Chart.

Following singles are also enormous hits.

Columbia Records signs record deal with 1D, bringing the boys to North America.

Massive success ensues as expected.

Harry was born on February 1, 1994 in Cheshire, England. He is accountable for the main vocals in almost every 1D song, and is the youngest band member. Prior to auditioning for The X Factor, Harry was the lead singer of the band White Eskimo, along with three school friends. He used to work in a bakery and is well-known for his ridiculously bad tattoos, currently recorded as 37 and counting. The band refers to him as “The Flirt.”

Harry’s inspiration comes from Elvis Presley, Foster the People, and Coldplay. He is the band member who came up with the name One Direction.

After performing in front of Queen Elizabeth II and selling out a show at Madison Square Garden, the band sets out on its 2013 World Tour.

Liam was born on August 29, 1993 in West Midlands, England.

He is the only band member to have auditioned for The X Factor twice, the first time on his own.

Liam’s childhood dream was to become an Olympic runner. He chooses not to drink alcohol because he only has one functional kidney. He is known as “The Smart One.” His inspiration comes from Justin Timberlake and his favorite artist is British pop star, Leona Lewis. He has 4 tattoos, and to all fellow fan girls - he’s no longer single, since he got back together recently with his former girlfriend Danielle Peater.

Second album, Take Me Home, is released. Lead single “Live While We’re Young” finds its way into the top ten of several countries.

Album sells 540,000 copies in its first week of US release.

It is the fifth bestselling album of 2012 in the US.

As the band’s oldest member, Louis was born on December 24, 1991 in South Yorkshire, England.

His parents divorced when he was a young child and he took on his stepfather’s name. He has four younger half-sisters, is called “The Leader” of the band, and his favorite band is The Fray. Louis has an impending fear of birds that has yet to be cured. He is renowned as the messiest band member, along with Styles, who he, ironically, moved in with. His musical infatuation began in childhood when he began playing the piano. Louis has 11 tattoos, and is currently dating Eleanor Calder.

1D’s debut album, Up All Night, is released in North America a week earlier than planned due to overwhelming fan demand. Album tops the charts in 16 countries. By December 2012, over 3.6 million copies of Up All Night had been sold worldwide.

Zayn (whose real name is spelled ‘Zain’), was born on January 12, 1993 and is from West Yorkshire, England. Due to his mixed heritage, Malik expressed difficulty in fitting in when he was younger. Zayn has 3 sisters, and his inspiration roots from urban music.

Zayn’s favorite artist, whom he hopes to collaborate with musically in the future, is Bruno Mars, who is also a source of his inspiration. He currently has 23 tattoos, runner up to leader Harry, and he’s known as “The Vain One.” Up until the filming of the music video for “What Makes You Beautiful,” Zayn had a fear of water.

Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry, and Louis each audition and are eliminated from The X Factor.

Judges recognize their talent and form One Direction, which places third in the show. Simon Cowell signs them on to Syco Records and the rest is history.

Niall is the band’s very own blue-eyed, blonde-haired beauty.

He is the only 1D band member not born in England. He was born on September 13, 1993 and grew up in County Westmeath, Ireland.

His musical career began in childhood when he picked up the guitar for the first time. Prior to auditioning for The X Factor, he had performed in Dublin along with his school choir. He’s known as “The Funny One” in the band. Niall’s most unknown secret us that he’s a natural brunette but has been bleaching his hair since he was 12.

Niall is also the only One Direction member with no tattoos!

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Friday, March 1, 2013

The Smoke Signal

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Arts & Entertainment 13

Spring Musical Preview: Once On This Island

By Anita Alem Staff Writer

MSJ’s spring musical, Once on This Island, is all set to serve up romance and drama with a Bollywood twist. The Little Mermaid-inspired fairytale depicts the plight of an orphan girl who uses love to unite members of all social classes. Saved from a flood by gods, Ti’Moun is adopted by a poor family, and pines for a fuller life. To prove whether death or love is stronger, Papage, the god of death, and Erzulie, the goddess of love, play with Ti’Moun’s future in typical mischievous godly fashion.

While the latter introduces love in the form of socialite Daniel Beauxhomme into her life, the former aims to kill Daniel and keep the two lovers apart forever. The rich versus poor and evil versus good storylines culminate in a sacrifice that is sure to make even the toughest of audience members shed tears.

“The story is universal across time and cultures,” says Drama Teacher Tanya Roundy, “It’s a play for everyone of all ages.” Roundy chose such a unique storyline because of its flexibility in casting. No character is too small or too large, so the play can be presented with a large or small ensemble. The spring musical met with unprecedented enthusiasm, and to maximize the roles available, MSJ’s rendition has a split cast with actors from all classes.

Sophomores M.C. Mendonca and Gelsey Plaza play Ti’Moun, and Junior Daniel Zopfi plays Daniel Beauxhomme. Seniors James Gao, Lucy Shen, Leena Yin, Mars Sartori, and Shivani Ariathurai, Sophomores Lynnea Shuck and Ahsas Sood, and Freshman

Soukhya Inamdar are also a part of the cast.

Inamdar, who plays Erzulie, goddess of love, emphasizes the variety within Once on This Island. “There’s romance, drama, and comedy,” Inamdar says, “It’s a fun play!”

The idea of the Hindu/Asian twist came in later. Once on this Island was already an amalgam of cultures before the Bollywood influence, featuring Caribbean and Frenchinspired music. The costumes are flowy tunics and saris, and the choreography is a mashup of classical Hindu, Bollywood, and hip-hop. The music ranges from drumheavy rock all the way to Caribbean ballads.

Senior James Gao, who plays Papage, the god of death, encourages MSJ students to come to the play, stating, “This is a great way to kick off the renaissance of the drama department.”

Daniel Zopfi, 11, Ahsas Sood, 10, and Lynnea Shuck, 10, dance and sing to the music.

Gelsey Plaza, 10, sits at centerstage as the rest of the cast gathers around her.

Vanessa Morales, 9, smiles as she and Joshua Roundy (Washington HS) interact on stage.

Daniel Zopfi, 11, leads a chorus of cheering and singing.

Once on this Island runs from March 14-16 and March 21-23 in MSJ’s Little Theater. ▪

Leena Yin, 12, and James Gao, 12, enact a dramatic musical scene.

Leena Yin, 12, and John Roundy (Vista HS) place their arms around Gelsey Plaza, 10.

‘SHEER’AN PLEASURE

By Anusha Rijhsinghani Centerspread Editor

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On February 8, hundreds of eager fans gathered at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco to watch the live performance of British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Teenage girls circled around all four sides of the theater, waiting in anticipation for hours before the doors opened. Waiting in line seemed endless as the performance grew nearer, but the line moved rapidly once the doors opened promptly at 6:30.

The only drawback to having floor tickets, however, was that it was general admission, meaning spots were first come first serve.

Although the show was supposed to begin at 7 PM, the opening acts came on closer to 7:30 PM, leaving the audience restless and even chanting “We Want Ed.” As soon as the lights dimmed, however, the crowd went wild with energy, welcoming the first opening act of Foy Vance. Preparing the audience for Ed Sheeran's calmer music, Vance sang three of his singles, closing with his popular song “Guiding Light.” The Rizzle Kicks provided a pleasant contrast to Vance, the duo energizing the crowd with their British hip hop music and infective dance moves.

Jordan Stephen’s rapping and Harley Alexander-Sule’s melodies combined with their exuberant stage presence brought the crowd to their feet, clapping along to the rhythm.

After an hour of performances by the

opening acts, the pop sensation we had all been anxiously waiting for entered the stage, the cheers from the crowd reaching a deafening level as he began singing “Give Me Love,” his last single released in his + album. Rather than having background singers, Ed Sheeran utilized the crowd, splitting them in half and teaching an upper and lower harmony. These harmonies perfectly combined in the background with his powerful vocals, producing an incredible effect that resonated through the theater.

Making his way through his album, Sheeran performed covers of songs by other artists, as well, including “Be My Husband" by Nina Simone. He refused to begin singing until the entire audience was pitch quiet and told everyone to gently stroke the person next to them if they made any noise, his quirky sense of humor shining through in his personality.

Complying with his wish, pin-drop silence rippled through the audience as he began the soft lullaby. Only in the last thirty seconds of the song when he brought the microphone back near his mouth did everyone realize that Sheeran was singing without one, an incredible feat that made the audience go wild.

Throughout the night, Sheeran used an instrument called a loop pedal in lieu of background vocalists and players. The loop pedal allowed him to build up a beat with his own guitar, bass, and harmonies that would loop in the background as he sang. Using this, he remixed his two hits “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You” and “Red,” even surprising the audience when he threw in a few lines from “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore.

With only a mike, a guitar, and a looper, Ed Sheeran belted out perfect vocals for a consecutive two hours. His powerful voice engulfed the Warfield Theatre and closing with his first single “A Team,” he left the audience with a night they would remember forever. ▪ Rating: A+

photos by staff writer catherine wang

14 Arts & Entertainment

These Foals are on Fire

The Smoke Signal

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‘Identity Thief ’ Steals our Money Under the Radar: The PianoGuys

By Hannah Shih Staff Writer

Foals, a five piece band from Oxford, returns after a two year hiatus with their third album Holy Fire, released on February 12. The alternate, indie rock band has finally released an album that lives up to its mainstream popularity. Their previous albums Antidote (2008) and Total Life Forever (2010) resulted in widespread recognition, two sold out shows at the Royal Albert Hall, and a Mercury Prize nomination, but both lacked the diversity and maturity to truly establish their music as more than just “math rock”.

Holy Fire, produced by Jono Ma as well as Flood and Alan Moulder, is an eclectic album described by lead singer and guitarist Yannis Philippakis as “unashamedly funk” with “heavier moments and some dirtier moments”. It starts out with “Prelude”, a haphazard accumulation of different styles that seem arbitrarily grouped together, a weak beginning to a stellar album. The album’s lead tracks, revealed prior to the album release date, are “Inhaler” and “My Number”, songs that declare the band’s bid for festival slots. “Inhaler” is the more dynamic of the two, but both share a gradual build up to raging guitar riffs and drops. “My Number” hearkens back to their debut album, Antidote, as does “Out of the Woods”, another strong number on the album. “Out of the Woods” and “Late Night” both represent a departure from the lyrics by Philippakis in the past to more relatable, almost confessional themes of love and friendship. “Milk and Black Spiders” also stands out due to the rush of strings at its crescendo, and impacts of the early 80s as well as faintly African beats.

Though the album has its refinements, certain tracks like “Providence” and “Stepson” seem forced and repetitive despite the heartbreaking soulfulness of Philippakis’ voice.

The line “I’m just an animal, just like you” is parroted a good dozen times and takes away the brilliance the pressure builds in the music. The less stellar pieces are eclipsed, however, by the overall improvement and variety of Holy Fire, an album sure to charm both Europe and America. The Foals have grown up. ▪ Rating: A-

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Friday, March 1, 2013

By Tammy Tseng Staff Writer

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By Leah Feuerman Staff Writer

Identity Thief, despite having a promising cast, confirms the unspoken rule: movies that come out at the beginning of the year are never good.

The film opens in Denver, with a glimpse into the frustrating life of finance worker Sandy Patterson (Jason Bateman), the underappreciated employee of a boss who is a complete jerk. He is then offered an exciting career opportunity that is almost revoked, after he is arrested over crimes committed by a woman in Miami. The woman, Diane (Melissa McCarthy), taking full advantage of Patterson’s unusually feminine name, also claimed to be Sandy Patterson when she was arrested, using the same license, social security number, and credit cards as the original Pat-

terson to embark on lavish shopping sprees. His economic and social situation on the brink of collapse, the real Patterson is then forced to drive out to Miami to confront the woman and drive her back to Denver, where he can clear his name.

The result is a series of ridiculous and yet still predictable chain of events in which Sandy and Diane try to make it to Denver, but inevitably run into every imaginable obstacle on the way. Almost every situation feels forced, trying to make humor purely out of the absurd circumstances the characters are put in. The plot is evenly-paced, but still meanders in directions that feel like meaningless detours from the actual story.

Interesting characters, like the drug lord who wanted Diane dead after she gave his lackeys a bad credit card, are introduced, but are later forgotten about.

The script lacks originality, relying on clichéd situations and jokes to create humor. The jokes themselves are gross and raunchy, and although occasionally they draw laughs, more often than not they fall flat. The only aspect that truly shines in this film is the acting. Bateman is convincingly funny with his exceptional comedic delivery, and the supporting roles earned their own fair share of laughs. McCarthy is perhaps one of the greatest talents on the screen—a fact that is apparent despite a relatively unfunny script restraining her.

Her ability as comedian through physical and vocal humor is clearly visible throughout the movie.

The film, however, is inescapably mediocre. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of risqué humor, you are probably better off spending the time and money elsewhere. ▪ Rating: C

‘Safe Haven’ Plays it Safe

By Angela Wang Staff Writer

Heart beating wildly and lungs heaving for air, she runs frantically down the street to a neighbor’s house. As she pounds on the door, her eyes never cease to search her surroundings, but what is she running from? After two hours, the viewer learns of Erin’s (Julianne Hough) dark past and her path to a better life in Safe Haven.

A movie remake of Nicholas Sparks’ most recent novel, Safe Haven revolves around romance, much like other movie remakes of his novels, with a thriller element designed to draw male viewers. The plot focuses on Erin’s relationship with sensitive widower, Alex (Josh Duhamel), in a small seaside town after escaping an abusive marriage in Boston. As Erin re-invents her identity, changing her name to Katie, and starting her life anew, her alcoholic husband, Officer Tierney (David Lyons), tracks her down using his police powers.

While the plotline is well thoughtout, the film takes a while to fully take off and once it does, it feels rushed. Erin and Alex’s relationship develops too fast and without much depth. Throughout the movie, there are also numerous cuts between

suspenseful moments with Tierney obsessively trying to find Erin and happy scenes of Erin’s developing relationship with Alex and his two children. While this offers a change to the usual predictable plots of Nicholas Sparks movies, the cuts are random and do not flow well with the entirety of the film. The thriller element does build up the suspense and, at times, even caused viewers to sit at the edge of their seats, but it never truly goes anywhere.

The cast itself is mbixed with those who successfully portrayed their characters and those who slowly faded into the background.

David Lyons does an exceptional job with displaying the aggressive and psychotic characteristics of Officer Tierney. He steps into the shoes of

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an alcoholic and showed just how damaging its effects could be. One of the main actors, Julianne Hough successfully played the part of the spunky yet mysterious Erin, but the same cannot be said for Josh Duhamel, as he seemed to be overshadowed most of the time by Hough.

Although the film did touch upon various important issues such as domestic violence, alcoholism, and death, it doesn’t develop them enough to evoke passionate emotions. While it is true that most Nicholas Sparks movies tend to be great successes, the same cannot be said for Safe Haven. Rather than watch it in the theater, wait for the DVD to come out. You’ll save the money and disappointment. ▪ Rating: B-

ThePianoGuys is a five-personrun Youtube channel that performs a wide variety of instrumental pieces.

The group is made up of the five talented members: piano store owner and videographer Paul Andreson, music producer Al van der Beek, videographer and editor Tel Stewart, who make up the behind-the-scenes team, and pianist Jon Schmidt and cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, the two musicians who arrange and perform the pieces. ThePianoGuys’ videos combine the best of both worlds: flawless cinematography and brilliant musicianship. They pursue innovative new musical techniques – all while staying true to their commitment to pure, beautiful sound. Try their cover of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful,” in which one piano is used in countless different ways, from plucking at the exposed piano strings to percussively drumming the piano surface. Also look out for their equally creative cello quartet playing “Rockebel’s Canon”, a jazzy spinoff of the traditional Pachebel’s Canon in D. ThePianoGuys’ cinematography crew is also hard at work in every video– they’ve filmed everywhere from Bryce Canyon to Hawaiian beaches to the middle of an ice rink (often prompting the question, “how did they get a piano there?”). Their creative spinoffs of well-known pieces will entertain even the least musically inclined viewers –the musicians in their cover of the Mission Impossible theme song sneak past security guards and navigate laser-filled hallways all while playing their instruments, and their Star Wars medleyfeatures an accordion-playing Darth Vader and cello bows as lightsabers.

By combining a stunning musical sound with impressive theatrics, every one ofThePianoGuys’ videos captures the audience.

ThePianoGuys will appeal to a wide variety of viewers, whether it is music buffs who appreciate the quality performance given by the musicians, people who love the creativity in every performance, or just anyone who enjoys a great video. Check out their channel now to watch all of their amazing videos! ▪ Rating: A

youtube.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Smoke Signal

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16 Sports

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By Kenny Jacoby & Vishak Menon Sports Editors

the superstar LeBron James. Kevin Durant. Carmelo Anthony. If money makes the world go round, then the Earth must be rotating around professional athletes. In the NBA (National Basketball Association) the names of these men and others are thrown around quite often, and seen as role models to today’s youth. The reason that gifted athletes are so idolized in today’s media cannot be solely attributed to their income. A combination of their salaries, commercial endorsements, talent, and charisma, however, have allowed some players to rise to the level of “superstar”. Nevertheless, the emergence and evolution of a true star has affected the dynamics of major league sports in ways that were previously unforeseen.

It has become popular belief that signing one of these superstars can fix a team of broken parts. In some cases this can be true.

Often times teams who are struggling need a leader, and the experience that comes along with a big name player may be exactly what is needed to turn things around. But it takes more than just a few all-stars to put together a solid lineup.

In the 2010-11 season, after acquiring LeBron James and Chris Bosh over summer, the Miami Heat were favored ridiculously to win the NBA Championship. Why? Because it seemed impossible to analysts and fans across the nation that a team with some of the most talented and highest paid athletes in the league could not go all the way to the Finals. But therein lay the problem.

The Heat did make it all the way to the Finals but lost in six games to the Dallas Mavericks, leaving the league in disbelief. Suddenly

the bandwagon had turned around. Many accused James of “not showing up in the fourth quarter” or blamed the loss on the Heat’s aging guard Dwyane Wade. But the real problem was not a lack of superstars, it was a failure to put these key pieces together cohesively. The Heat went back to work, and returned with a passion they carried all the way back to the Finals, where this time, they were victorious.

James was named the MVP, averaging an astounding 30.3 points per game in the postseason. The Heat continues to excel in 2013 and are likely to make another postseason run. But another team just like their 2011-12 counterpart is lurking in the background.

The Smoke Signal

title, right? Wrong.

In the NBA, everything boils down to team chemistry, and the Lakers have none.

After a 1-4 start to the season, Head Coach Mike Brown was replaced by Mike D’Antoni, former coach of the New York Knicks.

D’Antoni’s fast paced style is different from that of Brown and many players are still struggling to adjust. Howard is plagued with back pain from an offseason surgery and has now injured his right shoulder as well. Nash is still attempting to fit into the Lakers offensive scheme, which is difficult after being used to running things back at Phoenix. And Nash isn’t just aging, he’s old, and so is Bryant. Defensively the Lakers have been terrible, and their lack of athleticism shows when younger teams are able to run it past them in fast break situations. Los Angeles is riddled with prob-

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The Los Angeles Lakers have long been known for excellence from the fabled days of Magic and Kareem, all the way to the not so distant past of Shaq and Kobe, and across the decades have won 16 NBA championships, second only to the Boston Celtics who have 17. And in 2012-13 season, Los Angeles was preparing itself for yet another year of epic proportions. Their large budget allowed them to acquire Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic in the offseason, and both men are superstars in their own right. It’s easy to think, if Nash and Howard led their teams individually to great success, alongside veteran Kobe Bryant, the Lakers are sure to be contenders for this year’s

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lems, and their all-star cast is falling apart.

The Lakers are slowly running out of time.

If Howard has a speedy recovery, maybe it will give the team a much needed boost. But the moral to be taken away is that superstars don’t always equal success, and not every multi-million dollar signing will lead to a championship.

Building team chemistry takes time and practice and often results may not show in the first season. With perseverance and determination anything is possible, but with the postseason not far off, now is the time to get to work. ▪

Friday, March 1, 2013

newark.patch.com On February 13, Newark Memorial High School’s beloved Athletic Director and Football Head Coach Rich Swift passed away at age 60, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Swift had been coaching at Newark for 35 years, making him the longest tenured coach in the Bay Area. This year Swift managed to lead the Cougars to an undefeated regular season and the teams’ first MVAL championship since 1983. Swift was an MSJ alumnus from the class of 1970, and his name can be found in the gym quad adorning the walls of MSJ’s Wall of Fame, in recognition of his athletic excellence. “Rich was undefeated as a wrestler as well as being undefeated on our football team that year [in 1970],” said PE Teacher Pete Vaz. [He] was a strong willed advocate for sports as well as [for the] the students and teams at Newark Memorial HS. A good man has left us.” On Saturday, February 16, a moment of silence was observed by attendees of the MVAL Wrestling Finals in MSJ’s gym, followed by thunderous applause in his honor. Our prayers and condolences go out to the Swift family as well as the students and faculty of Newark Memorial. Swift’s legacy as a dominant athlete and an incredible coach is sure to live on for years to come. ▪

Squashing the Competition

By Tiffany Huang Staff Writer

staff writer tiffany huang

Palak Goel and Purvi Goel are competitive squash players at MSJ. They have competed in many prestigious tournaments and are widely considered to be among some of the best squash players in the region. Squash is a high intensity sport requiring extreme physical and mental agility. Similar to tennis, participants are given racquets with which they hit a “squash” ball back and forth; however, squash is played indoors on a four-walled court. The Smoke Signal had the opportunity to sit down with them to talk about their participation in the sport.

Smoke Signal: When did you start playing squash, and how did you first get involved in the sport?

Palak Goel: My family friend recommended squash to me when I was in the sixth grade, and I thought that I would give it a try. It turns out that I really liked it!

Purvi Goel: During seventh grade, I was getting a little bored of the sports that I was doing at the time, so I decided to give squash a try, since Palak was playing it. I really enjoyed it.

SS: What competitions have you participated in and how often do you compete?

Palak: We compete at least once or twice a month in many different types of tournaments.

Recently, I finished third place at the Rose City Classic in Oregon, and first place at the Illinois

Junior Open in Chicago.

Purvi: I’ve been to the Meadow Mill Gold in Baltimore a few times, and placed second and third in the last few times I was there. I also placed second in a tournament in Santa Clara called the West Coast Closed Tier, which is basically the West Coast Regionals. Also, because of how I placed in that tournament, I’m considered the best girl squash player under seventeen years old on the west coast.

SS: What do you think is the hardest part of playing squash?

Palak: The physical stamina required for the sport is pretty demanding, since it’s pretty fast-paced. Time commitment is also something that is hard to manage, especially when it comes to balancing school work and squash.

We practice every day, which adds up to over fifteen hours a week.

Purvi: You definitely have to put in a lot of time everyday and yearly commitment if you want to get better. Fitting the sport into my schedule is hard, particularly when it interferes with other activities. It’s pretty difficult to choose between hitting a few shots on the court and studying for a test the next day.

SS: What are your goals for the future?

Palak: We still have about a year and eight months in our division, so I’m currently trying to get into the top twenty ranking-wise in my division. I definitely want to play in college, and if squash gets added as an Olympic sport, then I might try out for the 2020 Olympics.

Purvi: I also want to play squash in college, and try out for the 2020 Olympics. However, once I graduate from high school, I think I’ll just keep squash around for fun as a hobby.

SS: What is your favorite part of squash?

Palak: Winning. Hitting a nice shot gives me a lot of satisfaction. Seeing myself improve feels really good too.

Purvi: Winning is definitely pretty exhilarating.

We train really hard every day, so seeing your practice pay off feels really good.▪

Friday, March 1, 2013

The Smoke Signal

NCS girls’ basketball: MSJ vs foothill rejuvenated, and their newfound energy clearly reflected in the game. The star of this quarter was Senior Alexa Iwatani, who furiously and heedlessly charged past the Falcons for several baskets. Although both teams made very impressive plays offensively, the quarter ended with a slightly larger margin of 25 – 20 in Foothill’s favor.

At the last stretch, the Warriors visibly turned up the heat, logging in more field goals than in any of the three previous quarters.

With five minutes left on the clock, MSJ had an electrified offense as the crowd synchronized their chants to cheer on their teammates.

Building on their momentum in the two previous quarters, Foothill became extremely aggressive, racking eight fouls to MSJ’s three in the last five minutes. Halfway through the last quarter, MSJ was only short by one point, but despite their aggressive tactics they could not get past their opponents. As time was running out, MSJ put in an extra large dose of effort, strategically fouling to stop the clock, but Foothill consistently scored almost every free throw they were awarded, ensuring their victory in several single-point increments.

Despite the loss, MSJ’s strong showing as the underdog provided the spectators with a gripping game that will be remembered. ▪

By Genevieve Huang Staff Writer

On Tuesday, February 19, MSJ Girls’ Basketball played their NCS game in Pleasanton at Foothill High School against the Falcons. MSJ was seeded tenth with a 16-10 record, Foothill seventh with a 14-12 record. Although the Warriors lost their game, they fought ferociously in each quarter, keeping a close margin throughout the game and pumping out extra effort as the game intensified in the last quarter and began to wind down to a close. Senior Grace Lee, co-captain, cheered her team on from the sidelines due to injury.

As the game began, it soon became clear to the crowd that the teams were evenly matched.

Although both teams were aggressive, they put extra effort into defense, resulting in a low scoring game. Throughout the first quarter, the point differential was no larger than two points, culminating in an intensified last minute of the quarter, when Foothill scored two baskets and the Warriors dramatically closed the first quarter with a last-second basket to make it 6 – 5 in MSJ’s favor.

After playing great defense during the first quarter, both MSJ and Foothill clamored aggressively for points. Neither side would back down – Foothill charged ahead with three baskets only to be matched again by MSJ’s three consecutive shots by Junior Leah Feuerman and Senior Shannon Chua. A few rebounds on MSJ’s part allowed Foothill to claim a small victory at halftime, at 16 – 14 in Foothill’s favor.

Both teams took wellstaff writer genevieve huang earned breaks during half- (From left to right) Seniors Alexa Iwatani, Shannon Chua, and Alysha Bedell hold time, returning to the court firm against the Foothill offense.

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Sports 17

MSJ Wrestlers excel in postseason

By Vishak Menon & Supriya Yelimeli Sports Editor and Staff Writer placed second after falling to Artemio Flores of James Logan. Freshman Eric Yang and Junior Zeki Yasar also placed second and were among the few MSJ wrestlers who qualified for NCS at Newark Memorial High School alongside Dornfest and Yang. The team arrived ready to wrestle on February 22.

Only Dornfest and Terry Yang advanced to Day 2 of the arduous NCS tournament.

Yang was eliminated in the top msjwrestling.com The 2013 NCS Tournament was held at Newark Memorial from February 22-23. twelve after falling to an opponent from Ukiah High School.

Over the past few years MSJ’s wrestling After returning from an injury which forced team has retained its reputation as one of him to miss last season, he finished this one the strongest wrestling programs in the state. with no regrets. “People ask me why I wresStarting off this year with the loss of several tle,” Yang said. “They say it must be tough to seniors, including four who placed in NCS, it diet and practice for three hours a day. But was difficult to say whether the team would that challenge to excel against the odds, thats succeed as it has in the past. But with grueling what makes it all worth it.” practice and hours of training, once again the Dornfest battled his way through the tourWarriors have returned strong and exceeded nament and brought home a 5th place medal expectations. after defeating a tough opponent from Sono MSJ maintained a 5-1 league record in loma Valley High School. cal dual meets, with their only loss to James Junior Andrea Ayad will be the only girl Logan. This outstanding achievement allowed advancing to Girls’ State after placing 3rd in the Warriors to place second in league as a this year’s Girls’ NCS tournament. A first year team and advance to the NCS Duals, a tourwrestler, Senior Angela Dong also placed 6th. nament MSJ had not competed in since 2010.

Hopefully the coaching technique of Coach On February 9, MSJ managed to gain a team Thompsen as well as the passion of returning victory against Dougherty Valley, but faced wrestlers will allow the program to continue De La Salle next, and suffered a tough loss to to flourish in years to come. “I am a wrestler.” the number one seed. said Dornfest. “My life is stressful, exhaust The following week, on February 16, the ing, and miserable because I am a wrestler. My Warrior Wrestling team participated in the life is exhilarating, disciplined, and rewarding MVAL championships which were held in because I AM A WRESTLER. You’d have to the MSJ gym. Senior Terry Yang placed first to be crazy to be a one, but damn, am I proud and was the only MSJ wrestler to be crowned to be a wrestler.” ▪ MVAL champion. Senior Alex Dornfest

Exclusive Interview: Kris Watts

By Jason Chen Staff Writer

the draft was coming up?

KW: The months leading up to the draft were extremely hectic as I constantly got letters and calls from interested teams. The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, the two teams that were most interested in me, held sit-down interviews with me. As draft day came, I couldn’t help but ponder when my name would get called. Fortunately, the Pirates called my name on the first day.

milb.com

Kris Watts spent time on the Pittsburgh Pirates AAA affiliate Indianapolis Indians in 2011 and 2012.

Recently, the Smoke Signal had the opportunity to talk with Washington Nationals Double-A catcher and MSJ alumni Kris Watts.

Watts graduated from MSJ in 2002 and attended Santa Clara University before the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB June amateur draft. Kris is currently in Washington Nationals spring training camp trying to make the most of his opportunities.

tremendously throughout my baseball career.

Smoke Signal: How did you first get involved with baseball?

Kris Watts: I’ve played baseball ever since I could swing a bat.

Kris Watts has been around baseball for his entire life. Although raised as a catcher, Watts also played first and third base throughout his Little League experience. By junior high, Watts had become the best player on the team. At MSJ, Watts further honed his skills that led him to have a standout career at Santa Clara University. The Smoke Signal then asked Watts about his experiences as a professional baseball player.

SS: How did your experiences at MSJ prepare you for your baseball career?

KW: Even though MSJ isn’t a standout program, back then the school took baseball much more seriously. There were several of my teammates who consistently performed at a higher level than I did. They motivated me to practice harder and improve daily, habits that helped me

SS: I heard you are still involved with the MSJ and Fremont community. In what ways do you contribute?

KW: Early in my career when I still lived in Fremont, I hosted Little League camps for players under 12 and I also coached for the Little League.

SS: After college, can you tell me a little bit about what was going through your mind as

nitely not given up his dream of reaching the majors as he remarked that a strong showing in camp could potentially earn him a promotion to Triple-A again. When Watts is not playing baseball, he likes to workout, go hiking, four wheeling, and attend outdoor events.

Watts is not only a standout baseball player but also an inspiration to MSJ as one of the few players from our school to ever play professionally. ▪

SS: As you progress through the levels, you face better pitchers more frequently. How did you improve your game to be able to compete with those guys once you got to Double and Triple-A? KW: Playing becomes a game within a game, my strategy against his strategy. Since the pitchers at these levels are much better at manipulating their pitches, you really need to analyze their tendencies. To do this, I usually communicate extensively with my teammates.

SS: What are your impressions with the minor league lifestyle?

KW: The minor leagues are a grind. The lower levels were especially tough because of the lack of amenities. Once I reached Triple-A, things settled down as the team gave their players nice hotels, buses, and stadiums to play in.

Watts said he has defi-

courtesy john m. setzler, jr.

18 Sports

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, March 1, 2013

Wall of Warriors

By Sanjay Sreekumar & Peter Xu Staff Writers

One prominent landmark at MSJ is the “Wall”, the honored list of past Mission athletes and coaches that adorn the gym quad.

Making the “Wall” is not an easy task; alumni need to be nominated by someone else and need to meet the lofty standards set by previous MSJ students. The Smoke Signal has investigated some of these athletes to find out what they did at MSJ and what they achieved after graduating from the school.

Name: Dave Hengel Class: 1980 Sport: Baseball Dave Hengel graduated from MSJ in 1980 and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played baseball for the Golden Bears. In the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft, Hengel was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round. He made his MLB debut September 3, 1986 and was an outfielder with the Mariners from 1986 to 1988. In 1989, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians, with which he played his final year of professional baseball. In Hengel’s career,

Name: Ryan Edwards Class: 1993 Sport: Soccer Ryan Edwards was part of MSJ boys’ soccer team that were MVAL league champions in 1992 and 1993. After graduating in 1993, Edwards attended the University of Washington, playing for their team from 1994 to 1997. He turned professional in April 1998, and played the position of defender for the Seattle Sounders, the Bay Area Seals (now defunct), and the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer (MLS). Edwards retired after the 2005 season and now coaches

he had a batting average of .186, four homeruns, and 18 runs batted in.

soccer at the collegiate level.

Name: Joe Krakoski Class: 1981 Sport: Football Joe Krakoski was part of MSJ Class of 1981 and played football for the school. Krakoski was heavily recruited out of high school and choose to attend the University of Washington, where he played for their football team. He was a star linebacker at Washington and played for a Washington Huskies team that went to two Aloha bowls, a Rose bowl, and an Orange bowl.

After injuring his knee before the 1985 Orange bowl, Krakoski was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Houston Oilers (now Houston Texans). Knee problems derailed his NFL career, but Krakoski went back to finish his degree at Washington. Currently, he is the Director of Business Development at a tech company called CSNI.

Name: Jan Frydendahl Class: 1980 Sport: Swimming Jan Frydendahl (know as Dr. Fry around MSJ), was a varsity swimmer for the school team for three years and specialized in the butterfly. He nearly broke the school record for the 100 butterfly in 1980, and came back to coach the MSJ varsity swim team. Frydendahl coached for 15 years and his teams compiled a 117 - 3 overall record, placed top 10 for NCS several times, and took second at NCS in 1994. Frydendahl has been teaching mathematics at FUSD for 21 years and currently teaches AP Statistics and Finite/Discrete Mathematics at MSJ.

Name: Scott Fisher Class: 1981 Sport: Basketball Scott Fisher is a former American-Australian basketball player and former head coach in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia. Born and raised in California, Fisher attended MSJ until he graduated in 1981. Six years after he graduated, Fisher began his professional career in the NBL as a member of the North Melbourne Giants. He was awarded the NBL’s MVP, the Grand Final MVP, and his first championship while playing with the Giants. In 1993, he left the Giants to join the Perth Wildcats. He would then go on to represent Australia in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where Australia placed fourth. After his NBL career, Fisher went on to coaching the Wildcats and then became Assistant Coach at the University of Hawaii in 2011.

Name: Lev Kirshner Class: 1987 Sport: Soccer Lev Kirshner played soccer, badminton and ran cross country while at MSJ. He decided to pursue a professional career in soccer and was a member of the U.S. soccer team that won bronze at the 1993 Maccabiah Games, an international Jewish athletic event. He would return to the Maccabiah Games in 1997 as the captain of the US team. Kirshner later joined the Reno Rattlers.

After his professional career, Kirshner became a coach for various colleges, and is currently the head coach of San Diego State University’s soccer team. ▪

staff writer sanjay sreekumar, davfal.powweb.com, digplanet.com, millercards.net, zeably.com

Friday, March 1, 2013

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Photo 19

photos by staff writer nina krishnan