By Alekya RajanalaStaff Writer

MSJ honored once more

See DISTINGUISHED,NEWS Page 3

See SILENCE,NEWS Page 3

See SHOWCASE,NEWS Page 3

By Mekala NeelakantanStaff Writer

VOL. XLVI, NO.8 MISSION SAN JOSE HIGH SCHOOL April 21, 201141717 PALM AVENUE, FREMONT, CA 94539

By Courtney TamStaff Writer

May 2-13April 22-29AP TestingSpring Break

No SchoolSTAR Testing Memorial Day

No SchoolAwards Assembly;Spring Chorale Concert

May 9-20 May 30 May 31

Day of Silence

Speech stars display skills

On April 15, students and teach-ers across campus joined together to battle homophobia and transphobia with a Day of Silence organized by Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). GSA members and supporters par-ticipated in the event by taking a vow of silence that represents the silence endured by the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning) community every day.

The goal of GSA is to help cre-ate an atmosphere in which MSJ students and staff can learn to re-spect and accept all people, regard-less of sexual orientation or gender identity. In conjunction with this objective, participants of the Day of Silence aimed to peacefully pro-test the ongoing existence of ha-rassment due to homophobia and promote awareness of homophobic

MSJ’s Speech and Debate Club hosted its first Forensics Showcase on Sunday, April 10, 2011 from 4 to 6 pm at MSJ in C-120. The event featured performances from stu-dents involved in MSJ Speech who currently have bids to the state tour-nament in San Diego, the national tournament in Texas, as well as the Tournament of Champions.

The performers included: Senior Speech Captain Abel John (origi-nal prose and poetry), Sophomores Silvia Zannetti (original oratory), Emily Chen (original prose and po-etry), Frank Chen and Dillon Cho (duo interpretation), as well as sur-prise guest performer MSJ alumna

On Wednesday, April 13, 2011, MSJ received the 2011 High School California Distin-guished School Award. While this award did consider the school’s Academic Performance Index and other measures, it pri-marily focused on the school’s ability to show improving excel-lence in all students and to bridge the “achievement gap,” or notable disparities, between different groups of students based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. As part of the selection process, schools were asked to submit an application and a description of two trademark practices imple-mented at the school, that were geared toward narrowing the “achievement gap.” This award was different in its focus from that of past awards, concentrating on the school’s ability to provide a strong education to all students, rather than the more general view of MSJ academics as a whole.

MSJ was singled out as the re-cipient of the award due, in part, to its two signature practices that were deemed exemplary: the Stressed-Out Students (SOS) program, MSJ’s team of teachers, administrators, parents, and stu-dents who work toward improv-ing the school experience and re-ducing student stress levels, and English Teacher Jennifer Moore’s “Read to Achieve” program, a

class geared toward strengthening the reading and comprehension skills of students with standard-ized test reading scores of Below Basic or Far Below Basic.

The visiting team from the California Distinguished School Program reported, “At this his-

abuse. According to the national GSA website, the Day of Silence was first organized by students at the University of Virginia in 1996, and the silent movement has since spread to many other colleges and high schools across the country. Over the years, hundreds of thou-sands of students have gotten in-volved with the Day of Silence.

Students and teachers who par-ticipated in the Day of Silence re-mained silent throughout the day except for when necessary during class time. When asked the rea-son for choosing to stay silent, Freshman Anvitha Pillati said, “I thought it was not fair for people to be judged based on who they are, and this was just my way of stand-ing up.”

GSA President Sophomore Zarrie Samiezade-Yazd is pleased with the results and is pleasantly surprised that more people than expected got involved. The club is grateful to teachers for being ac-

-Tom Torlakson, sTaTe superinTendenT of public insTrucTion

“Becoming a Distinguished School is a direct reflection of the dedication, hard work, and vision of each school’s educa-tion community. ”

torically high-achieving high school, the four validation team members were particularly im-pressed with the comprehensive

adoption and expansion of the SOS program to support students and parents. Every team member witnessed, and every stakeholder group reported, that there is in-creased communication, respect, collaboration, and commitment at this 2200-student high school

since the adoption of this school wide program. Connectivity and engagement are evident among students, teachers, and parents

both socially and academically”. The team also commented

on the overall cohesion be-tween teachers and students at the school, and the impressive amount of group activities and class interactions. Teachers were praised for their instruction and depth of material, as well as their optimistic attitudes and resource-fulness, given various restrictions such as room sizes. In addition, MSJ students were noted for their spirit and overall apprecia-tion and care for the school.

In the past, MSJ has received the California Distinguished School Award four times: in 1987, 1996, 2003, and 2007. Based on

Sarah Thomsen (humorous inter-pretation).

The event was inspired by the Fo-rensics Showcase that James Logan High School organized and MSJ’s Speech and Debate Team’s success this year.

John said, “Words cannot express my sheer happiness...We went from being a team that was shut down four years ago to a team that qualifies for state and nationals in the third hard-est league of the nation.” John and the speech team’s coaches Benjamin Cruz, Karen Joshi, and Thomsen began organizing the event within Speech. They hope that the event will aid in generating revenue for the club and bring publicity to the team.

Senior Speech and Debate Presi-

dent Justin Sha said, “[We] felt that a Forensics Showcase would be the perfect medium to highlight our

Science Teacher and GSA Advisor Nathania Chaney-Aiello shows her support for the LG-BTQ community by wearing a button that reads “got pride?” and a shirt that reads “eat, drink, and be gay.”

staff writer mekala neelakantan

graphics editor cassie zhang

staff writer aishwarya thakur

Soon, a new banner will display MSJ’s achievment on the wall of the gym.

Sophomore Silvia Zannetti, Senior Abel John, and Sophomore Emily Chen performed.

Census2010

white72.4%white

57.6%black5.8%

asian12.8% asian

4.8%other*18.9%

two+ races4.90% other*

7.3%

two+ races2.90%

California United Statesblack6.2%

white56.1%

asian25.4%

other*1.5%

two+ races3.8%

black13.2%

37.6%of whites who identify as hispanic or latino

of whites who identify as hispanic or latino

21.9%

*other includes Native American, Alaska or Hawaii Native, Pacific Islander, and other

16.3% of whites who identify as hispanic or latino

Alameda v. CA v. US

Alameda Co.

2 News www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

News in Brief

Lukashenko, here in front of Belarus’ flag, strongly denounced the attack.

morrisonworldnews.com

COMPILED BY STAFF WRITERS SIDA LU, ALICE ZALAN, AND

KEVIN ZHAI

lawyersclubofphiladelphia.org

McLaughlin (far left) stands with her fellow lawyers.

Belarus attacked once moreOn April 11, a shrapnel filled

bomb was dropped on the sub-way system in the capital of Be-larus, Minsk. Twelve individuals were killed from the resulting blast and around 150 more were injured by flying debris. President Alexander Lukashenko respond-ed by stating that “anyone ‘inter-ested in disturbing the peace’ was a suspect.” This is reminiscent of the 2008 bombing in Minks, at Belarus’ Independence Day cele-bration, where 50 people were in-jured. As before, the government is not sure who is responsible for the bombing and is not willing to disclose any other information. It remains to be seen if there will be any action towards finding the culprits.

Judge rules on braceletsPhiladelphia federal Judge

Mary McLaughlin declared on April 13, 2011 in a preliminary ruling that “I ♥ Boobies” bracelets cannot be banned by public school officials who find them offensive. “The bracelets ... can reasonably be viewed as speech designed to raise awareness of breast cancer and to reduce stigma associated with openly discussing breast health,” wrote McLaughlin, and also said that the school district had not shown the bracelets would be dis-ruptive in school.

Robbers in computer chip heist caught

Unigen Corp, located on Warm Springs Boulevard, was robbed February 27 by 15 armed men who took roughly $37 mil-lion worth of computer compo-nents. Five suspects were arrested and charged on counts such as kidnapping and armed robbery, as well as an “excessive taking” count for attempting the Bay Area’s largest computer-chip robbery to date. The five men are currently being held without bail and au-thorities are continuing to track down the remaining suspects.

modefreund-news.de

staff writer nihar parikh

About $37 million worth of computer chips, such as those shown above, were stolen.

Teachers march to ask FUSD to use the $26 million that they have in reserve.

for the march 25, 2011 issueNews page 1

• IISME is the Industry Initiative for Science and Math Educators.• 101 teachers were interviewed in the Investigative Report.• Staff Writer Sida Lu and Graphics Editor Cassie Zhang took photographs.

News page 2: Staff Writer Jonathon Teng took photographs.News page 4: Inakkhi Majumder is a Public Relations Officer.Centerspread page 13: www.lookbook.nu was improperly credited.A&E page 15: Freshman Benjamin Lin plays the drums.Sports page 24: Ariel Cheng’s name was misspelled.

Census shows major shift in Bay AreaBy Edward Nguyen

Staff Writer

The 2010 Census is a report of the races recorded every decade and reported by citizens. The Cen-sus was unique in that it allowed people to check off more than one of the following as a represen-tation of their race: Cau-casian, African Ameri-can, Japanese, American Indian, Chinese Fili-pino, Hawaiian, Korean, and other. There was a 12.9 percent rise in the number of people who indicated two or more races on their forms in California.

The Asian popula-tion in many Bay Area cities has more than doubled since 2000, from 15 to 36 percent in San Ramon, and 10 to 27 percent in Dublin. Elsewhere, Asians have become the majority. In Cupertino, where whites were the predominant race, 63 percent of the city is now Asian. Asians and Latinos are increas-ingly organizing into formidable voting blocs. Overall, there is an increase in diversity that is per-vasive throughout the Bay Area, California, and MSJ.

In the Bay Area, there is no ma-jority. The Latino population has grown by 88,000, while the Asian community has added 46,000, according to census figures. The

Caucasian population has de-clined by about 48,000, while the African-American population rose by 6,700 - this is remarkable in a state where the black popu-lation is declining overall. The

2010 figures show the statewide population being now 57.6 per-cent white, including 37.6 percent Latino, 12.8 percent Asian, and 5.8 percent African-American. The growth rates of both Asians and Hispanics remain high, but it is considerably less than it was in the 1990s. These statistics don’t necessarily imply emigration, but

more likely, they show that fewer Asians and Hispanics are moving here.

The term “bright flight” may be used in this case. Bright flight is used to describe young people

moving from the suburbs into cit-ies. Cities have theaters, sporting arenas, and transportation hubs. In addition, being environmentally conscientious plays a large role too. Living in a city puts people closer to entertainment and work while reducing the driving distance.

At MSJ students have said that they are not always well represent-

ed. When other schools think of MSJ, they do not refer to us as a cultural melting pot. Instead, the school is regarded as the stereo-typical “Asian” school. This means that students from other schools

believe that at MSJ, ev-ery student takes six AP classes and manages to ace every single one of them. We may laugh and shrug when we hear these myths, but in reality, all students have misconcep-tions of other schools they don’t know thoroughly. An issue at MSJ is that we recognize ourselves as another “Asian” school as well.

Class of 2009 alumnus Jiaao Chen said, “MSJ is very diverse; there are many kinds of Asian.” In retrospect, his words are very true. MSJ has greater cultural and eth-nic variety than many other Fremont Unified School District schools, even though it is not rec-ognized to be. As of the 2005-06 school year, 75 percent of the students at MSJ were Asian Ameri-

c a n . As MSJ blurs the lines between different Asian cultures, the census is gradually showing the distinction between race, eth-nicity, and national origin. In the future, adjustments may have to be made in order to make MSJ’s community more unified, while continuing to support the student population’s distinct races. ▪

By Allan KoStaff Writer

Staff takes stand for contract

On Wednesday, April 13, FUSD teachers, staff, parents, and students marched from the Raley’s supermarket parking lot in Gate-way Plaza to the FUSD School Board Meeting at the Fremont City Hall to demand a contract settlement that is “fair to Fremont students and teachers,” according to the Fremont Unified District Teachers Association (FUDTA), organizers of the rally.

At the Fremont City Hall, the red-clad marchers chanted slogans (“Show us that you really care; your proposals just aren’t fair!”), sang the song “Solidarity Forever” to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and waved signs (“I am a teacher, not a volunteer”). They then entered the FUSD School Board meeting and lis-tened as FUDTA President Bran-nin Dorsey addressed the Board about the marchers’ concerns.

FUDTA members say that

FUSD “rainy day reserves” (stores of money to be used in emergen-cies) currently hold $26 million, over five times the amount re-quired by the state. Meanwhile, cuts are being made to educational programs and instructional days. FUDTA proposes that FUSD uses money from the reserves to lessen cuts and create a contract that “protects and promotes qual-ity education for the students in Fremont.”

FUDTA also adds that 120 teachers and counselors have lost their jobs in the past three years while the number of district ad-ministrators remained constant. As Math Teacher Jan Frydendahl said, “We want a [fair] contract, [and] we want it now.”

“The various fixes that the [FUSD School Board] propos-es for the budgetary problems are consistently targeted on the classroom,” says English Teacher Brian Rath. “Getting rid of the 20-to-1 [student-teacher ratio] in freshman classes, increasing

kindergarten class sizes, cutting teachers’ prep time…the actions of the [FUSD School Board] are ultimately against teaching.”

“We are one and united for the cause of the education of stu-dents,” said Dorsey in her speech. She went on to explain how teachers have continued to edu-cate successfully despite budget cuts, increasing class sizes, lack of resources, and furlough days, and therefore deserve to be recognized and supported instead of laid off and further limited in time and resources.

After Dorsey finished, other parents and teachers also testified about their experiences with the teachers’ hard work and sacrifice. “I’ve been left feeling unsupport-ed and unappreciated…as student

resources decrease, as valuable preparation time decreases, [and] as the number of my colleagues decreases,” said one teacher.

“I’ve seen teachers go out of their pocket to pay for more sup-plies,” said a parent to the board. “They maintain constant profes-sionalism in spite of challenges, but face more loss of pay, more furlough days…the reserves are for tough times; well, now is tough. It’s as bad as it’s going to get – now use [the reserves.] Do the right thing for our students, teachers, and schools.”

The FUDTA bargaining team will continue to return to the FUSD School Board to negotiate the new teachers’ contract. The current teachers’ contract expires on June 30. ▪

2010.census.gov, news editor megan mclaughlin

staff writer mekala neelakantan

English Teacher Suzanne Vargas stands in front of her whiteboard on the Day of Silence. She participated in the event.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org News 3

SILENCE | Students’ awareness increasescontinued from page 1

SHOWCASE | Forensics impressescontinued from page 1

DISTINGUISHED| MSJ awarded continued from page 1

cepting and supportive of their students’ choice to remain silent. Samiezade-Yazd said, “I hope that through the work of GSA we

achievements before wrapping up our 2010-11 season.”

The money generated from this event will help pay for Speech and Debate coaches next year and fund the upcoming national foren-sics tournament, which costs approximately $4000.

The Speech and Debate officers hope that the Forensics Showcase will be successful enough to become an annual MSJ event while bringing attention to the club. John says, “…I hope everyone in Mission can learn to love Forensics!” ▪

can increase tolerance and reduce homopho-bic abuse in the MSJ community. Overall the Day of Silence had a good turnout and I am excited about GSA’s future events.” ▪

criteria met by state and federal standards, and two programs with the potential to be shared across schools, MSJ has once again become a California Distinguished School for 2011. Principal Sandy Prairie said “I think it is really exciting because the award recognizes and honors two pro-grams that we have worked hard on for our community: the SOS program, which involves parents, teachers, and students, and the Read to Achieve program, which is a support system for entering students that has been very successful.” ▪

4 News www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

boilr.net

MYTH: The 2010 school year will end on

a Wednesday and the finals schedule will also follow the typical Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday schedule.

DEFINITION:Many MSJ students are con-

fused as to what the ultimate dates for graduation and finals are because the 2010 academic planners fail to include the exact dates. The end of the year dates were not finalized at the time of publishing.

RESULTS:Furlough days were allocated

throughout the year and one of them was the last day of the school year. Therefore, the accustomed Wednesday as the last day of the school year was moved up to Tues-day, June 14.

As for the graduation ceremony, the budget cuts did not affect the date. All graduation schedules are set for five years as schools rotate the date of graduation. Two high school ceremonies are scheduled a day and take place Monday through Wednesday. This year as a part of the cycle, MSJ was designated Monday 7 pm for the graduation ceremony.

FACTS: The teacher’s union and school

district were still in the bargaining process regarding furlough days and pay cuts. The final consensus reached was five furlough days taken off the school year. As a result, the school

By Ravneet KaurStaff Writer

Finals will be on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday; although seniors graduate Monday, they must attend school on Tuesday

news editor gurleen chadha

news editor megan mclaughlin

bbc.com, cnn.com, nytimes.com

graphics editor cassie zhang

year was reduced from 180 instruc-tional days to 175. ▪

MYTH:Seniors do not have to attend

school Tuesday, June 14, since they will have already graduated on Monday.

DEFINITION:Since graduation is one day prior

to the last day of school, seniors throughout MSJ are keen to know if attendance is required on June 14, the last day of scheduled classes.

RESULTS:Seniors will graduate on Mon-

day, and Grad Nite will take place on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Many se-niors are curious as to whether they have to attend classes on Tuesday. Although most senior class finals take place before actual “final days”, all students are expected to attend school through June 14. Accord-ing to Assistant Principal Diana

School’s Out: Fact or Fiction?

Brumbaugh, “All students enrolled in public schools are expected to at-tend their scheduled classes.”

FACTS: These unusual circumstances are

results of budget cuts and varying schedules. Although this is the first year finals will be taken on Friday, all other procedures will remain the same and school will be released at 12:10 pm. Seniors are still expected to attend all classes despite graduat-ing early and can pick up their di-plomas on Tuesday from Secretary Karleen Densmore, who will have them until June 17 ▪

Staff Writer

the Smoke SignalMission San Jose High School

Est. 1964Vol. 46, No. 8 | April 21, 2011

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Editors-in-ChiEf Alissa Gwynn, Elisa TingnEws Gurleen Chadha, Megan McLaughlinopinion Roger Chen, Arthur JengfEaturE Sonia Dhawan, Audrey WuCEntErsprEad Aileen Lu, Tina Tsenga&E Vishal Yadav, Jordan Zhangsports Grace Han, Amit Patankar GraphiCs Sarah Li, Cassie Zhang

wEb Mary Lan, Richie ZengtECh Vaishaal Shankar, Kevin ZhaibusinEss Ravneet KaurCirCulation Matt FarberovfundraisinG Stephenie YuanMarkEtinG Jamie Linads Rebecca Dutta, Joy XuEvEnts Chelsea Dass, Mekala Neelakan-tan, Diya Roy

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

advisor Sandra Cohen

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

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

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

By Arthur JengOpinion Editor

Maybe you were busy poking fun at that one kid with the yellow sweater, while your friends were trying to signal to you that the dude was behind you. Or perhaps you were casually sporting your new T-shirt and playing it cool by half-flexing your chest muscles to make you look buff without try-ing, before ultimately tripping over your ego. And certainly, there’s nothing like walking through the amphitheater on the way to 4th every day, making eye contact, and not knowing whether or not to greet your semi-friend. You know, the one you talk to in class because you have to (read: no one else to talk to).

Awkward situations happen. As a seasoned awkward situation sur-vivor myself, I’ll break precedence and say that the best way to ap-proach these situations is to men-tion it. Like any other pervasive condition, don’t be in denial.

Say you bump into your lab partner from last year. You guys used to have a thing going on but haven’t talked since then. At first, the conversation starts out slowly, but the other person starts ram-bling and talking about your per-sonal life that there’s no way they could know about. Even though your stalker RADAR is flashing, you enjoy the attention. After the other party realizes they said too much, everything goes quiet. At this point, two things can happen.

If you don’t mention the awk-wardness, there will probably be an awkward silence. You and your companion will part ways and con-

tinuously think about that awk-ward moment throughout the day, and what each of you could have done to diffuse the situation. You might even lose concentration, unintentionally ignore your other friend, say something that doesn’t make sense, and perpetuate more awkward situations.

Alternatively, you can choose the road less taken by and talk confidently of the awkwardness. Just ignore the sign that says turtle crossing.

To avoid any unnecessary si-lences, keep an arsenal of remarks. After your friend gives a lengthy discourse on his or her dream last night that no one else cares about, an easy go-to method is to say “Cool story, bro”, give a coughed laugh, say just kidding, and con-tinue on with the conversation.

Or, if your personality can pull this off, you can always sarcasti-cally recap the moment right after it happens. “Thanks for sharing. I especially liked the part where you stopped talking. Anyway, here’s some water. I know you must be out of breath right now.” In some other specific situations, it’s always good to have the decency to give out a “safety” warning, before your friends get a whiff.

Remember, awkward situations and silences can be very power-ful, and putting someone in it can ruin their day. For the sake of your friendships, think hard before mak-ing awkward comments, and when they do come, bring the situation at hand into control. ▪

Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

By Roger ChenOpinion Editor

So you’ve gotten into the school of your dreams. I applaud your ef-forts of the past four years. All those years of plotting and schem-ing and generally hard work have paid off. Now how are you going to pay for tuition?

Higher education is without a doubt one of the most overinflated assets of American society. Al-though the median family income rose by 147 percent between 1982 and 2007, the cost of college tuition increased by an astounding 439 percent, leaving college students in a cat and mouse game with their debts. Students and parents buy into the concept that going to a prestigious university gives a person security in their future career path. Along the way, many incur incred-ible amounts of student debt, be-lieving that it is worth the rewards that can be reaped through higher education. Think of it as a quarter million dollar insurance premium with variable coverage. Even with the recovering economy, there are plenty of graduates from top-tier universities who live at home simply because they are unable to find a job, or decide to head off to grad school, hoping that in three or four years, an advanced degree and a (hopefully) better job will lead to future success. Who can blame them? The banks may have failed and the housing market may have crashed, yet the “connect” between a great education and achievement of the American Dream lingers strong in our minds.

If you ask investment mogul Peter Thiel, he’ll tell you to apply

to his Thiel Fellowship, in which twenty applicants under twenty years of age are given $100,000 to create a company over the course of two years, under the condition that they drop out of school. Many think Thiel is crazy, but keep in mind that he enabled Mark Zuckerberg to drop out of Harvard to pursue Facebook. He believes that there are more Zuckerbergs out there who, rather than incurring more debt by staying in college, should explore their potential. A graduate of both Stanford University and Stanford Law School, when asked how much of his success could be attributed to his education at Stan-ford, Thiel replied, “I don’t know”. And to be honest, nobody really knows anymore.

For some, college has turned into a very costly four-year party. Ma-joring in philosophy while enjoy-ing your four undergraduate years of college is great, but chances are you won’t have a job upon graduat-ing unless you took some courses in other more marketable areas. Even if tuition rates could be lowered, they would instead be increased to maintain selectivity rankings.

Bottom line: a university degree, no matter how prestigious the uni-versity is, does not guarantee suc-cess, and is instead a risk that ev-eryone now accepts as a necessity. A dramatic miscalculation of the estimated future value of college education is forcing many people to reconsider whether or not the cost of college is an acceptable price to pay in achieving their goals. ▪

Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

get Jengky with itRoger ThatKeeping Things in Perspective

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Opinion 5

staff writer richie zeng

PSA:Diffuse Awkward Situations

centerspread editor aileen lu

staff writer ellie wonggraphics editor cassie zhang

6 Opinion www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

By Michael WuStaff Writer

After the UCs announced another budget cut in January, the number of out-of-state stu-dents being accepted is expected to increase in the following years. Although the UC sys-tem has yet to release admissions statistics for 2011, the question remains: has the UC ac-ceptance rate changed over the years?

On Jan. 10, 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown proposed cutting $500 million from the UC system to try to cover budget shortfalls. These pressing monetary concerns have lead to the UC system accepting more out-of-state students who have to pay much higher fees for their tuition. This announce-ment has proved effective as the UCs have see an 11 percent increase in out-of-state ap-plications for the Fall 2011 term as well as a 22.5 percent increase in international student applications than it did for Fall 2010 term. In-state residents pay $11,124 per year which contrasts sharply with out-of-state residents who pay more than $34,000 per year. While many MSJ students have been complaining about the seemingly low acceptance rates this year, is the UC system really to blame?

One anonymous MSJ senior has stated, “[I have] a 3.7 GPA, am in many clubs, and have taken a lot of hard classes while at Mission including AP Statistics and AP Biology. Why did I not get admitted to UCLA, UCSD, or UCB?” This general muttering is not unique to the class of 2011. In fact, each year the UC system is just as selective, if not more so, than the last. Although the number of students applying to and being admitted to the UCs continues to rise every year, the idea remains that deserving students are being unnecessar-ily turned down by the system.

However, the data states otherwise. Admis-sion statistics from the year of 2009 say that out of MSJ’s 254 applicants to UC Berkeley, 93

people were admitted and 64 students eventu-ally attended the institution in Fall 2009. In October 2009, Chancellor Robert Birgeneau said that UC Berkeley would admit about 600 fewer in state students to offset budget cuts from Sacramento. Yet in the year 2009-2010, MSJ again sent 64 students to UC Berkeley. All across the UC system MSJ students of the recent class of 2010 have been admitted in ap-proximately the same percentages and num-bers as the students of previous years.

According to UC undergraduate-ad-missions director, Susan Wilbur, “About 85 percent of UC applicants generally qualify for admission, though not necessarily to the campus of their choice.” Indeed the onus of blame cannot be placed upon the UC system or its financial woes; there is still a spot within its campuses for the majority of MSJ’s senior class. Instead, the perceived reduction of ac-ceptance rates is just a symptom of ever in-creasing standards used to judge students for the top UCs. MSJ students actually have an advantage over their out-of-state competi-tors who are held to a much higher standard of academic performance than their in-state counterparts to receive admission. Neverthe-less, some people will continue to cling to the idea that they deserved admission.

Perhaps the most significant impact of the budget cuts is their effect on class sizes and the quality of education on UC campuses. As budget shortfalls cause crowding within class-rooms and the removal of many student pro-grams, MSJ students are looking elsewhere for their education. MSJ alumnus Dawei Liu was accepted into UCB, UCLA, and UCSD. However he decided to attend Duke.

“The UCs are understaffed and the re-sources are just not the same as they would be in a private school,” Liu said. “I’d say that budget cuts and the California economy par-tially affected my decision to come to Duke because they made California schools not as attractive.” ▪

By Alissa GwynnEditor-in-Chief

Last year, 180 students signed up for AP Environmental Science (APES) at MSJ. This year, that number plummeted down to 20 souls willing to brave the waters so clear-ly labeled with a bright yellow “CAUTION” sign by their peers. Why has this stigma been cast upon APES? Well, because, believe it or not, APES is actually….an AP course.

I must admit, I too believed that APES would be my easy way out. After a blissful science-free Junior year and realizing that, well damn, I need to take another year of science, I was singing my praises to the School Gods above for sending me a miracle in the form of non-physics lab science. Just in time for my senior year! The textbook has two adorable apes (the humor wasn’t lost on me either) on the cover! I would probably frolic in nature!

Now, with only a little more than a week between the AP test and myself, I must say that APES did not fulfill my low expecta-tions; I didn’t kick up my heels and navigate the course on cruise control. Like any other class, especially an AP course, I had to put in the effort to earn the grade and master the material. In fact, according to the Col-legeBoard, 55 percent of test takers scored a three or higher on the AP Chemistry exam in 2010, compared to only 50 percent of APES test takers.

That’s not to say, however, that there weren’t some major obstacles throughout the year. The APES teachers were like par-ents eagerly raising their first child: they had under $6,000 from donations and used al-most all of it to set up the curriculum. Ap-proximately 220 new books were purchased by the district, and they were excited about the unexpected level of interest (six sections of APES!) in the new course.

They learned as they went along, mak-ing mistakes and trying to rectify them. Lisa Ishimine, one of the the APES teachers, said, “Now that I have a better idea of what the students know prior to entering the class…the major changes I’d make include: having some textbook-based lectures reduce the disconnect between the reading home-work and classroom activities, and include more lab questions that make more direct connections between the textbook and the lab activity.”

It’s unreasonable to have expected APES to be perfect the first year, and personally, I don’t believe APES deserves the harsh feed-back it’s been given after a one-year test run. If anything, I am disappointed that the class didn’t live up to its full potential in terms of opening up class discussion and inspir-ing students to actually bring about envi-ronmental change. After the Japanese natu-ral disasters and subsequent nuclear power plant crisis, for example, there was a golden opportunity to connect what we had been reading about in our textbooks with cur-rent events, yet we spent class time coloring a map in groups for a city-designing proj-ect. But perhaps that’s a problem with the AP system in general: in order to cover the breadth of material tested in the AP exam in May, teachers often have to sidestep subjects they’d like to cover with topics they have to. Students should know before signing up for an AP course that there isn’t as much room for flexibility in lesson plans as there is in non-AP classes.

Ishimine says, “I think that the class can be a lot of fun, if you’re genuinely interested in Environmental Science and how it ap-plies to your world…It’s not easy…APES is a college-level course, with college-level expectations…the nature of Environmental Science is inquiry-based, so what you put into the class is what you’ll get out of it.” ▪

Students No Longer Going APES

Verdict: Rumors of UC trends greatly exaggerated

Seven classes this year becomes a single class this year Perceived decrease in acceptance rates at MSJ not consistent with data

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Opinion 7

By Sida LuStaff Writer

When I was at Hopkins, many of my friends took the Art I class offered there. I wasn’t a huge fan of drawing and my hand-writing should have indicated that I would be terrible at it, yet even so I begged my parents to let me take the class. Once the class got start-ed, I discovered that I was indeed terrible and ended up being miserable for the entire year, struggling to draw the simplest of things.

With lowered Honors requirements, the students of MSJ are at risk of making the same mistake I made in junior high: follow-ing in the footsteps of my peers rather than choosing what was right for me. The Honors requirements used to be GATE identification or a minimum of 481 on the STAR test in the relevant subject. Now, the 5-person School Board has decided to increase student choice by lowering the requirements to merely Ad-vanced on the STAR test (high 300s to low 400s) and receiving an A or B for the current semester. Students can also take Honor classes if they have 3 semesters of As in the subject

The effects are already beginning to show, with 60 percent of the incoming freshmen electing to take Honors English and more than 100 eighth graders currently choosing to take freshman-level Geometry at Hopkins, which will allow them to take Calculus their junior year and Linear Algebra/Multivariable

Calculus their senior year. These numbers are almost sure to go up as more and more people take advantage of the lowered requirements, which brings up an important question: are there really over a hundred qualified students every year who will succeed in a class that sec-ond year college students take?

Taking classes on the Honors track is per-fectly fine, as long as it’s being done for the right reasons. But students who simply take the class because their friends are taking it or because the word Honors sounds smart are only hurting themselves. The Honors curric-ulum is significantly faster and will not slow down for the stragglers to keep up. Students who are out of their depth will often find themselves overwhelmed and spending far too much time failing a subject—time that can be better spent working on their other classes. Even worse, students that fall further and fur-ther behind may eventually give up, wasting an entire school year and slot on their schedule that could have been spent on a more person-ally suitable and worthwhile class.

These added choices become an especially terrible burden for the young and inexperi-enced freshmen; the same freshmen who have no idea what high school is like, much less the difference between an Honors course and a regular course. They will be asked to decide how their entire freshman year will go without the guidelines you and I enjoyed.

The Honors requirements were there to

prevent students from being overambitious and their parents from drooling over the “add-ed prestige” from the word “honors.” Without these requirements, it is inevitable that stu-dents will begin to take on more than they can handle—already a common occurrence at a school where four weighted classes are the norm and six weighted is nothing special.

Then factor in that requirements were not outrageous to begin with and class registration can become a real problem. It’s great that the student has more power in his or her educa-tion but as good old Spiderman has taught us, “with great power comes great responsibility.” And when students are too easily enticed to take such responsibility, MSJ will end up with flunking students who are unable to transfer out due to budget cuts and class overcrowd-ing.

Let’s not even start on the potentially toxic dichotomy that relaxed Honors requirements may cause. With more and more students leaning towards taking the Honors track, the regular track students will face more scrutiny and pressure to conform. When all of your friends are taking Honors courses and you choose to take the regular course, more often than not people will look to IQ as the differ-ence. Nobody wants to look stupid, so this mistaken impression will only drive more stu-dents to the wrong choice.

If everyone was given admission to Har-vard, would Harvard still be Harvard? ▪

By Anthony ChenStaff Writer

Interested in earning a quick million bucks? I thought so. There’s an easy way to do it. You don’t have to become famous or do anything illegal. Welcome to the wonderful world of finance.

We too often only see the richest kingpins with their yachts and caviar, but we already know they burn hundreds to light their fine Cuban cigars; what about the normal folks? If a col-lege graduate (mind you, we’re talking about just four years of college education here – not even graduate school) is a stel-lar candidate, first year payouts are anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 or more as a package (including salary, signing bonus, and bonus). For some jobs, the hours are absolutely brutal (in-vestment banking hours can go up to 140 hours a week), but if you survive, your salary may just be a million dollars. If you go solo after that and you make it big, then congratulations, my friend. Welcome to East Egg. Enjoy your caviar.

But wait. It all seems too easy. Sure the work is hard, but I’m betting that you’d be willing to lose some sleep for some millions. Why doesn’t everyone hop onto the band-wagon?

And that’s where our problem lies. The truth is, too many talented people are going to Wall Street; the money is just too good

By Vishal BajpaiStaff Writer

Last week was Multicultural Week here at MSJ. There is no doubt in my mind that everyone partook in the ceremonial event where we convert our dull and bor-ing horse-shoe into a crowded and vibrant bazaar straight out of a busy Indian market place for a week. I am also certain that, other than the experience of being in a crowded third-world market place, with all the pushing, long lines, and inflated prices, the average MSJ student doesn’t learn much about other cultures.

It sounds believable, and for a time even admirable. Allow clubs to sell food from different cultures. You kill two birds with one stone—fundraising for clubs and ex-posing students to new cultures—but, just as any other effort where money is involved, greed takes over. Clubs start selling more popular Americanized foods to raise their profit margins; we have come to the point where clubs sold In & Out, KFC, hot dogs and chocolate chip cookies. For those of you who were unaware, hot dogs were first made in St. Louis, Missouri and chocolate chip cookies are an all American inven-tion as well. There are some clubs that sell multicultural foods, such as the gyros; but does eating gyros really teach me anything about Greek culture, or does it only serve to help another club fulfill its fundraising needs?

I will admit, though, selling food dur-ing Multicultural Week has taught me many important lessons. Freshman year, I learned that when you have an hour for lunch, walking to McDonalds isn’t that hard. Sophomore year, I learned that when you are selling ice cream cupcakes it pays to over emphasize the heat. This year, I learned that hot dogs are a hot commodity, and that eating at La Victoria’s (a Mexi-can restaurant near Moreau Catholic High School) is cheaper than eating a whole lunch at MSJ.

With important lessons like those ready to be learned, it is understandable that cul-ture sometimes becomes a second priority. When clubs make hundreds of dollars sell-ing popular and easy to pronounce entrées, I can see why the emphasis on multicultur-alism is so easily brushed aside.

Even the Multicultural Assembly at the end of the week seemed to have the same Americanized problem. Most of the performances fit into certain stereotypical ideas, such as the Chinese martial arts act (which is truly very cool) or the Indian Bol-lywood dance number. Some performances have nothing to do with extending multi-culturalism at all, such as the contempo-rary dance or hip-hop dance routine.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to eat good food and watch incredible performances. But as a Junior with a car, the only reason I didn’t go out to lunch every day during Multicultural Week was to help the clubs I am a part of. Leaving campus means I get better food for the same price, and I might learn something other than how to sell gullible students more food than they need.

Here at MSJ we pride ourselves on being culturally diverse. For the first time ever, the majority in the Bay Area is no longer white Americans. We have a lot to share and a lot to learn about our cultures, and our experiences. We should have another, true MultiCULTURAL Week where we have the opportunity to actually learn from one another and celebrate the differences and similarities that make us all unique. ▪

to pass up, and our economy is suffering as a result. “Financialization and Its Entrepre-neurial Consequences,” a study done by the Kauffman Foundation, essentially concluded that the expanding financial sector is imped-ing economic growth. It’s draining not only talent, but also capital, leading to decreased

levels of entrepreneurship and decreased job creation.

The problem is especially important nowa-days because the financial sector now hires people with advanced degrees in math and science to help them. Instead of gut instinct, firms are now relying on extraordinarily com-plicated algorithms and computer models to trade financial instruments. It’s also not just

the act of trading that has risen to rocket-science level – the creation of some of these financial instruments requires PhD knowl-edge too. Engineers and scientists who should be helping us program software or cure cancer are suddenly running quasi-random Monte Carlo simulations to guess the future. In

2006, 25 percent of MIT’s graduates went to work in the financial sector. To quote the study, “Their talents have made them well-suited to the design of these complex instruments, in return for which they of-ten make starting salaries five times or more what their sala-ries would have been had they stayed in their own fields and pursued employment with more tangible societal benefits.”

In a couple of years you’ll be choosing a career path. The laws of supply and demand have currently drawn college gradu-ates towards Wall Street, and for good reason; you’ll prob-ably have college debt and bills to pay too. The issue should not

be polarized, however. Those who decide to join Wall Street

should not be automatically labeled as heart-less, selfish people, and those who pursue en-gineering aren’t saints either. The current state of affairs regarding Wall Street and college graduates is a rather complicated social and economic problem that we have, but in the end everyone is just trying to live. Whatever career path you choose, just remember to at least give back to the society that raised you. ▪

Monopolizing Talent

staff writer frank chen

Money Cult

Week

Analysts believe the convergence of engineers on Wall Street is causing the economy to suffer.

Requirements Fall

staff writer kevin zhai

8 Feature www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

Fremont Video34241 Fremont Blvd, Fremont, CA 94555

FremontBy Rebecca Dutta

Staff Writer

By Alekya RajanalaStaff Writer

With the recent closings of Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Block-buster, Fremont residents are scrambling to find new stores from which to buy or rent books or DVDs. Here are a few in the area that could get you started in finding the best remaining stores.

If you are wondering where to purchase your AP and SAT books now that Fremont’s go-to bookstores are gone, Media Star may be the best place. They specialize in test preparation books for all ages and do not carry anything other than educational lit-erature. The prices are slightly higher than Borders or Barnes & Noble, but the store is very reputable, and you will be sure to find the test prep book you are looking for.

Half Price Books has often been a favorite of stu-dents especially because of the extremely low prices. Unlike most chain stores, it has the look and feel of a tiny book store. However, since most of their books come from independent sellers, their stock is rapidly changing. Books are separated by interest groups, and you can usually find great selections of novels in good condition, even though they are probably second hand. If you come early enough in the testing season, you should be able to find a study guide from the most re-cent year at a drastically reduced price. Keep in mind that other newly released books will probably not be at a second hand bookstore. Also, some books may have markings in them since they are second hand.

If you are just looking to stock up on books for your personal library and are fearful of the exorbitant prices of other chain stores, this semiannual booksale is the best place to do so. Organized by the Fremont Main Library, the booksale hosts second hand books that can be purchased on the Satur-day of the booksale for 75 cents per inch of books, or on Sunday for just $3 for a bag of books. Again, new releases are hard to come by, but you will definitely see all the clas-sics and a pretty extensive collection of fic-tion. The next booksale will be on July 9th.

Although most students are unaware of

Fremont Video, the store is actually really large and had quite an amount of public in-terest before more well-known video stores opened up nearby. They are generally very up to date with movie releases. Many custom-ers have complained, however, that older movies are hard to find due to some lack in organization and very few copies per movie.

Redbox distributes DVDs for $1 per night from their characteristic red kiosks. Redbox has become a quick and cheap way to rent movies. As long as that movie is returned within 24 hours no fees are added, however, each additional day you keep the DVD, you are charged $1. Each kiosk can hold 600 DVD’s, which means they have space for around 150 of the newest rentals, updated weekly. Most Redbox kiosks can be found outside big retail stores such as Walmart or Lucky.

If you find it impossible to find the book or DVD you are looking for, the best option is always Amazon. With its amazing reputation and limitless merchan-dising possibilities, it is no wonder that they have sur-passed so many great companies. You will be sure to find whatever you are looking for at a reasonable price. ▪

Media Star4452 Technology Dr, Fremont, CA 94538

Half Price Books43473 Boscell Road, Fremont, CA 94538

Friends of Fremont Library BooksaleTeen Center behind Fremont Main Library

Redbox at Walmart: 38003 Mission BlvdFremont, CA 94538

FoodMax: 39441 Fremont BlvdFremont, CA 94538

Amazonwww.amazon.com

Book Videostoresstores

1.

2. 3.

5.

Are the statewide budget cuts making you nervous? Feeling unsure of how MSJ will be able to survive the budget crisis? Check out the Smoke Signal’s brilliant (perhaps unusual) suggestions to the administration for new policies to reduce costs.

4.

Starred Budget

Utilize human energy sources

The poor P.E. students are made to suffer running those painful miles; why not take advantage of their ag-ony? Forcing P.E. students to gener-ate energy by running on treadmills in the weight room might help foot the monthly bill. Extra credit for those who can top five hundred watts!

Sneeze, please

With allergy season in full swing, look no further for a definite cash cow than the Kleenex business. Charge students 25 cents per tissue, and the school could rake in hundreds of dollars daily. Think about it this way—every runny nose is another gold mine waiting to be discovered.

clker.com, technicaljones.com, maximumpc.com, graphics editor sarah li, staff writers vishal bajpai, nihar parikh & connor williams

staff writer alekya rajanala

Withstand Arctic temperatures

It may be surprising how quickly heating costs can add up during the winter, but wait: there is a way to pro-tect ourselves from such a worry. Sim-ply keep the temperature at a steady 45° C and advise students and teachers to dress in a fashion similar to that of an Eskimo. If classrooms begin to re-semble iceboxes, extra textbooks and unused desks should be kept handy to be burned in a bonfire for warmth.

Parting words

Apply these handy tactics for cutting education costs, sit back, and revel in your sav-ings. As a warning, you may want to keep an eye out for possible complaints from con-cerned parents. Maybe we could charge for listening to complaints! If you have creative cost-cutting suggestions, why not let us know? Post ideas in the comment box on this ar-ticle online at www.thesmokesignal.org and we will showcase the best ideas in June. ▪

Turn out the lights, the party’s over

While we’re on a roll with this energy-saving scheme, here’s how to reduce consumption of electricity too. All those fluores-cent lights on at every minute can be simply blinding. There would be no need for lighting in classrooms if every student brought a headlamp to school every day. Miners use them; why can’t we?

Hire aquatic custodians

Rather than wasting money cleaning the pool every week, we present a per-fect alternative. According to aquarium experts around the world, purchasing bottom-feeder fish can do wonders for keeping your tank clean. Considering that our swimming pool does parallel a giant fish tank, adding a few catfish might certainly downsize the potential algae breeding ground at the pool’s bottom.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Feature 9

By Vaishaal ShankarStaff Writer

By Edward NguyenStaff Writer

By Courtney TamStaff Writer

A. Ms. Roxanne Ponsi(World History & Gov/Econ)

B. Mrs. Prairie(Principal)

C. Mr. Jaime Richards(Gov/Econ, Psychology, Peer Re-source) D. Mrs. Risha Krishna (Ethnic Studies & World History)

E. Ms. Jennifer Moore(English 10A) F. Mr. Jeff Evans(US History & World History) G. Mrs. Nancy Benton(Gov/Econ & AP World History) H. Mrs. Tori Ha(AP Psychology & Gov/Econ)

I. Ms. Lisa Ishimine(AP Enviromental Science)

J. Ms. Elizabeth Waller(English 9H/11H)

____ Worked as a United States Air Force of-ficer. Also worked for the California School for the Blind.

____ Drove a school bus for a camp.

____ Was a Paleontological Field Monitor who “cracked rocks” while looking for fossils.

____ Read textbooks and recorded his/her voice onto a tape for a blind student.

____ Was a bartender.

____ Worked at a tanning salon.

____ Worked on an assembly line making Sony televisions. Also put options on Ford trucks and delivered warehouse supplies to Fremont schools.

____ Worked as an insurance claims adjustor who worked with attorneys, went to court, and dealt with property damage after the Rodney King verdict in Los Angeles was published.

____ Worked at an ice cream factory and filled half gallon cartons by hand and filled popsicle boxes by hand.

____ Worked on the stereos in Terrell Owens and Ice T’s cars. Also worked at Little Ceasars, Subway Sandwiches, Carls Jr., Anchor Blue, Or-chard Supply Hardware, and Trader Joe’s.

Think you know your teachers? The Smoke Signal is putting your knowledge to the test. Match the teacher or administrator to the correct occupation(s) held before becoming a

teacher at MSJ.

Check your answers online at www.thesmokesignal.org

April 5, 20116:00 pm

There’s finally a new episode of House on Fox (after like a month) but I have a Physics midterm tomorrow, and I really should study. I can always catch House on Hulu, but then I have to wait eight whole days. I know! I’ll watch the first five minutes of the show, and if it seems promising I’ll sit through it, and spend the rest of the night studying for phys-ics (I have until the morning anyway).

April 6, 20114:07 pm

I hate House. Last night’s episode was two hours instead of one, and it wasn’t even that great. The worst part is that I was up until 11 watching the stupid show, and I still hadn’t started on Physics. Long story short, I got an F on Physics. From this day forth I am never going to watch House M.D. ever again!

April 7, 20117:16 pm

I HAVE to watch the next episode! The teaser said that “something is go-ing to change forever...” What can that mean?

April 12, 20118:30 pm

So apparently the president has the power to come on TV whenever he likes to make a speech and CANCEL every single TV show during a time slot. What has the world come to when a guy can’t watch House in peace?! Now I have to wait a week to find out what that teaser clip meant.

DEAR DIARY...drama addictionRyan yung, BeatBoxeR

Teacher Quiz

April 14, 20111:22 pm

The wait is killing me. I started watching old episodes for clues, and so far I’ve gone through the first fifty and there’s absolutely nothing that provides any answers.

April 15, 20113:43 pm

I went back to the forums just to check around a bit more, and there’s a theory that House might kill him-self and the show might end just like that. This cannot be happening! I JUST started watching this year and I invest-ed so much time sacrificing sleep and study time just so I could catch up with the newest episode.

April 16, 20114:11 pm

I wrote a four page letter detailing all the reasons why the show should not be canceled. Hopefully if all the fans band together we can save the show. Two more hours! I can’t believe I want-ed to stop watching this show.

April 17, 201110:09 pm

Wow. I hate House. That was the most anti-climatic episode EVER. One of the minor characters got preg-nant and that was it. I’m done with House forever for real now.

April 18, 20118:08 pm

This teaser looks really promising, just one more episode...▪

Smoke Signal: How did you become inter-ested in beatboxing?Ryan Yung: During Freshmen orientation, I decided to look at all the clubs with my friends, but nothing really piqued my inter-est, until I saw Perfect Noise, the beatboxing club. That was the first time I was exposed to the art of beatbox. Almost every week for the next two years, I would keep telling my-self I was going to go visit the club and try to learn how to beatbox, but that never hap-pened. Then last October, I was inspired by a video on Youtube. I was completely amazed, so I decided to watch some beatbox tutorial videos, which taught me the basics, and here I am.

SS: Are there any individuals in particular that inspire you to beatbox?RY: There are a lot of artists that I’ve seen on Youtube who inspire me to beatbox, but my main inspirations would have to be Reeps One and Skiller. Reeps One is a beatboxer who specializes in creating beats that mimic electronic music, and Skiller has a reputation as the fastest beatboxer.

Junior Ryan Yung is known for his musical talent as a beatboxer. He has been beatboxing for about six months now and is currently honing his skills in order to peform at competitions in the future. His remarkable beats are inspired by electronic music, hip-hop, and other beatboxers on Youtube. The Smoke Signal recently got the chance to talk to Ryan Yung about his experience.

SS: What do you love most about beatbox-ing?RY: The thing I love most about beatboxing is that it allows me to express myself through the beats that I create, and the fact that I can do it wherever I want.

SS: Have you performed at any functions or events?RY: I have not performed at any events yet, for a few reasons. One reason is because I wanted to spend the first half a year or so of my beatboxing career simply practicing, to perfect my craft as much as possible.

SS: What would you like to tell people about beatboxing?RY: I would like to show people what beat-boxing really is. Most people think of beat-boxing as the simple kick drum, snare drum, kick drum, snare drum that is performed in acapella groups, when beatboxing is much more intricate than that.

SS: Where do you see beatboxing taking you in the future?RY: I would love nothing more than to per-form in talent shows. Also, I would like to see my beatboxing hopefully take me to places such as the American Beatbox Champion-ships one day. From there it would be very nice if I could perform at shows and do beat-boxing for a living. ▪

staff writer alekya rajanala

By Ginger WernerStaff Writer

10 Feature www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

Coffee Review

By Angie WangStaff Writer Winter Guard Winter Percussion

Coffee is a mildly addictive staple in the work force and a delicious drink that appeals to millions of adults. Here are some more reasonably priced and equally tasty alternatives to popular coffee shops.

Upon entering Peet’s Coffee, coffee lovers are immediately hit with the overwhelming aroma of roasting coffee beans. Senior Ali-son Lenci says, “The taste [of Peet’s Coffee] is definitely for those who enjoy the actual taste of coffee. Not those who are looking for a sugary or milky coffee drink.” They had an excellent selection of freshly baked scones, muffins, etc. A con is that there is an addi-tional charge of 30 cents for whipped cream in each drink, while many other places pro-vide it for free. Although Peet’s Coffee has several franchises in the United States, it definitely has a personal and homey feel.

Although Mission Coffee parking is a bit of a hassle, the treacherous walk across Washington Boulevard proves well worth it. It seems to be one of the more popular lo-cal coffee shops in Fremont, and is usually packed with people. They offer a huge selec-tion of teas and coffees, and the mug sizes are generous. They do offer a few sandwich choices, and although they are on the ex-pensive end they are made from very fresh, healthy ingredients. “I like going to Mis-sion Coffee because of the great cozy atmo-sphere,” said Senior Kelsey Mukai. “It is a nice place for me to get homework done and their coffee and hot chocolate is delicious.”

Bay Street Coffee is located in the corner of Bay Street and Washington Boulevard. The entrance is fairly unusual, with a mural of a woman painted directly onto the wall. The atmosphere is very warm and friendly. I or-dered a mocha latte, and it was way too sweet for my taste. The selection of snacks was very limited, with only a couple of pastries and ba-gels. I noticed a few customers had trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi network, but others were happily browsing the Internet. On the plus side, they are open until 12 am every day except for holidays, offering students more time to study in a pleasant environment.

The Daily Bagel Café, more familiarly known as the “Bagel Shop” is conveniently lo-cated five minutes from MSJ. The Bagel Shop offers about five different varieties of coffee, and customers can add their own cream and sugar as they please. Although Starbucks is just a few doors down, many students opt for the Bagel Shop’s coffee because of its cheaper price. The quality of the coffee is fairly in-consistent; I have had watery, diluted coffee one day and strong coffee the next few times. Of course, the delicious bagels, muffins, and sandwiches sold at the Bagel Shop are a pleasant complement to any coffee drink. ▪

Never underestimate the power of thir-teen teenage girls with auxiliary weapons. MSJ’s 2011 winter guard team brought home the big trophy after competing at the NCBA Nor-Cal Winter Guard and Percussion Championships on Saturday, April 2, 2011.

Winter guard begins at the start of Janu-ary when MSJ’s marching band and color guard season comes to an end. Color guard is similar to winter guard in terms of the equip-ment used, but is otherwise a completely dif-ferent sport. During marching season, the color guard marches in time with the rest of the band and follows many rules and regula-tions of marching etiquette. During the win-ter season, the team focuses more on dance and performance aspects rather than the strictness of marching and keeping time with the band. Practices are also indoors instead of out on the track.

The team practices for three and a half hours on Tuesdays and for around two and

a half hours on Thursdays. During practices, Coaches Maggie Taylor and Candice Bonelli write and choreograph equipment work that incorporates the use of sabers, flags, and rifles. This year’s show incorporates the concept of secrets spilling out of the diary, as shown in the dance work at the beginning of the show. The routine was choreographed to the song “Secrets” by One Republic.

After their first two shows, MSJ’s winter guard team was moved up from the Novice A division to the Intermediate division, where they competed throughout NCBA Champi-onships. The team then earned the champi-onship title in their division, out of the six teams that competed at Champs.

If you’re interested in performing with the team next year, don’t miss your chance to audition for the upcoming season. Contact Band Director Monica Kraft or any of the girls on the team for more information about auditions. Experience is not a prerequisite.

Remember the amazing musical circus act from last year’s Spring Sports Assembly, with percussionists dressed as monkeys, lions, and clowns? That was only one of the few annual performances for MSJ’s winter percussion ensemble. This year, their theme is billiards with each percussionist dressed as an aspect of the game. Senior Atisheel Kak and Sopho-more Daisy Rong act as the billiard players. The mallet percussionists play the cue stick, Freshman Rohan Mathuria acts as the white ball, and the rest of the percussionists play a different colored billiards ball, leading to the a simulation of a billiards game.

Like winter guard and color guard, winter percussion is different from what percussion-ists do during marching season. While per-cussionists march with the band block during marching season, the percussionists are given the opportunity to create a show that is to-tally up to the imagination and expertise of Band Director Monica Kraft and Percussion Coach Steve Slater.

Winter percussion takes several aspects

into account. Members of this ensemble re-hearse once or twice a week and hold the re-sponsibilities of memorizing music as well as a drill routine. Slater and Kraft often work with the members to alter and improve drill spots in order to enhance the overall effect of the show.

MSJ’s 2011 winter percussion team com-petes in the Novice A division, which is extremely competitive at the high school level. The ensemble placed well throughout the season, and finished in fifth place at the NCBA Nor-Cal Winter Guard and Percus-sion Championships held at Del Oro High School in Loomis, California on April 2, 2011.

If winter percussion sounds like some-thing you’d like to participate in, make sure to contact Ms. Kraft.▪

staff writer angie wangcourtesy malcolm hoar

Location: 2780 Mowry Ave.Ambiance: A-Quality of coffee: ASnacks: AOverall: A

Location: 151 Washington Blvd.Ambiance: AQuality of coffee: A-Snacks: BOverall: A-

Location: 4000 Bay St.Ambiance: AQuality of coffee: A-Snacks: BOverall: A-

Location: 40061 Mission Blvd.Ambiance: BQuality of coffee: B-Snacks: A Overall: B+

Peet’s Coffee Mission Coffee Bay Street Coffee The Daily Bagel

staff writer vishal bajpaistaff writer vishal bajpai staff writer connor williamsstaff writer connor williams

Peet’s Coffee - Mission Coffee - Bay Street Coffee - The Daily Bagel Cafe

africa&pacific islands

Junior Mina Wardak sported a Moroccan Pull-over Abaya. The outfit is a traditional overgarment worn throughout the Middle East and in certain African countries. The Abaya is a traditional form of the Hijab in Muslin cultures. Usually, it is worn over household cloth-ing as a convenience garment. Styles can differ, from brightly colored abayas to darker and more solemn ones. Wardak said that she wore the garment to participate in the festivities of Multicultural Week and to get the chance to show different cultural clothing.

A T T I R E

americasScience Teacher Nathania Chaney-Aiello donned a Sarape,

a colorful garment worn by people living in Mexico, Central America and South America. While it may resemble a pon-cho, the Sarape is actually rectangular and is wrapped around the body, compared to being worn over the head. The cow-boys of Guatemala were the first to wear them, using them as cloaks and for saddle padding. They come in a wide variety of colors, but most feature various geometric designs. A ma-jority of the design patterns are based on Mayan legends and motifs. Sarapes continue to be a staple for those who live in the Americas.

Senior Chelsea Dass was clad in a traditional Oaxacan dress from the Oaxaca region in Mexico. The dress is made of cotton and features an extensive assortment of embroidery. Oaxacan native weavers still use ancient cultural motifs in their work. The bright colors of the thread on Dass’ dress are used to bring attention to the elaborateness of the piece. Dass said, “Wear-ing clothing from a culture different from my own led me to research and explore more about Mexican attire and traditions. I dressed up for fun and to support one of my clubs, Ethnic Race Relations Committee (ERRC).” She topped off the look with a woven bag and sandals to keep herself cool and prepared.

ing de grees of width, and a pair of sandals. Traditionally, only young boys wear this outfit, with older men prefer-ring a more cylindrical style. His drum, called a Daf, is used to induce a trance-like state in listeners. When asked why he wore this outfit, Ritter said, “I’m half-Iranian, so I decided to wear an Iranian outfit.” Together with his drum and his clothing, Ritter walked around campus, showing off his style.

Sophomores Lucy Shen, Elaine Lau, and Jenny Fu were partners in dressing up, donning a Yukata, a stylized Kimono, and a Manchurian Qipao (dress), respectively. Fu said, “We just wanted to wear these outfits for fun and to get publicity for the Anime Club.” A Yukata is a Japanese garment made of light cotton, and is worn by women of all ages usually in summer. A Kimono is different from the Yukata because it is made of silk and is more formal. The Qi-pao is a very stylish and popular dress in China. Shen topped off her outfit with an open Japa-nese hand fan, generally used to cool oneself off.

Showing her love for Polynesian and Hawaiian culture, Junior Malinda Cheung dressed in both an aloha shirt and lei. The lei was first introduced to the Hawaiian islands when early Polynesian voy-agers presented leis as friendship gifts to the islanders. Leis can be made with flowers, leaves, seeds, or anything that can be strung into a pattern. In Hawaiian culture, however, a lei is most commonly worn as a wreath of flowers draped around a neck presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. Leis are often presented during many occasions, such as birthdays, graduations, or weddings.

asia

europe

By Jonathon Teng & Alice ZalanStaff Writers

represented one’s social status, marital status, gender, and age. For example, age is defined by the color of your garments, the darker the red, the older the woman or man. Also, the intricacy and amount of the embroidery woven into the clothing represents one’s social status. Junior Anna Demchuk wanted to display her pride in her Ukrainian roots and Anna said, “…wearing these clothes definitely drew me closer to my heritage.”

The Vyshyvanka (shirt) and Plakhta (skirt), the Ukrainian traditional costume, bear centu-ries of history mixed with ele-ments of Ukrainian ethnic em-broidery roughly tracing back to the pre-Christian period. Usually, the clothing one wore

Holding an eye-catching drum, Fresh-man James Ritter was resplendent in his Lori, a traditional Iranian outfit, on Asia Day. The entire look consists of a felt cap, a shirt and vest, long pants of vary-

ETHNIC

lookbook

photos by staff writers frank chen, andrew han, edward nguyen, alekya rajanala, courtney tam, jonathon teng, aishwarya thakur, angie wang, alice zalan & kevin zhai

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Centerspread 11

Multicultural Week is a time for MSJ staff and students to join in the fun and dress up in ethnic attire. Varying from a traditional Ukrainian outfit to a

modern version of a Japanese kimono, the clothing throughout the week did not fail to impress.

From left to right: Soleman Karim, 11; Makenzie White, 12; Katie de Guzman, 10; Silvia Zannetti, 10; Sterling Engle, 10; Imanaswini Avvari, 11; Andrew Mueller, 11

M U L T I C U L T U R A Lfood

FROOTI

DONUTS & ICE CREAM

COFFEE ICE CREAM FLOATS

PASTA & BREADSTICKS

PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICHES

SANDWICHESCAJUN FRIES

By Ditha Balaji, Leland Bernstein, Frank Chen & Diya Roy Staff Writers

This year, MSJ Yearbook decided to share a common food, pasta, from a not so common restaurant. Pasta Presto is an Italian food chain founded in 1992. What sets them apart is their daily made ingredients, straight from Nonna’s, Maria Parotta DePaola’s, family recipe. The pasta, available in an Alfredo-based sauce and a Marinara sauce, sold out quickly. The pasta’s popularity may have also been due to various Yearbook members walking around with and wearing signs advertising the food. Hopefully, this new favorite food will be sold again in the future!

MSJTV, MSJ’s own TV network, joined in on the Multicultural Week fes-tivities by selling the down-south staple: Cajun fries. Purchasing these savory potato snacks from the newly-opened burger joint, Five Guys, MSJTV aimed to raise money to buy supplies to support their network. Cajun fries origi-nate in New Orleans, Louisiana as a part of the diverse culinary culture of that area. Cajun cuisine comes from the French Riviera scene, consisting of a typi-cal three-course meal of a meat-based main course, rice, and cornbread or some other grain. Also closely related to Creole cuisine, Cajun cuisine is heavy on the use of exotic spices such as cayenne pepper, sassafras, and sugarcane.

SAMOSAS

GYROS

TACOS

PAD THAI

While ice cream floats are generally assumed to be classic Ameri-can food/drink, the Italians beat us to the punch with a dessert called an affagato. Italian for “drowned”, an affagato requires a scoop of va-nilla gelato or ice cream with a shot of hot espresso or coffee poured all over it. The coffee ice cream floats from Food for Thought did not disappoint their Italian counterpart. The ice cream was delicious and the coffee was great. Food for Thought also let you liberally drench your dessert in chocolate or caramel syrup, and plenty of whipped cream.

Cycling Club brought philly cheeses-teaks to MSJ this year. The original philly cheesesteak hails from a Philadelphia hot dog stand near the Italian market. What began as a simple variation of steak sand-wiches, philly cheesesteaks have become immensely popular, and Bob’s Hoagy Steak’s version is amazing. There is a big difference between normal cheesesteak sandwich steak and the steak used at Bob’s, which resembles Korean barbeque. Re-gardless, the beef was delicious, and there was a perfect balance of grilled onion and cheese.

The best-selling mango drink in India, Frooti became popular for its refreshing taste and its sim-ple TetraPak design. Launched in 1985 by Parle Agro India Pvt. Ltd., Frooti is currently exported to more than 20 countries across the world. Model United Nations (MUN) introduced this beverage along with egg rolls that originated from East Asia, offering a combination of two favorites from two distinctive cultures.

Pad thai from Reach for the Sky was a great bang for your buck during Multicul-tural Week. A steaming bowlful was only four dollars, and quality came with the quan-tity. Pad thai hails from Thailand, and was made popular by prime minister Luang Phi-bunsongkhram in a campaign to reduce rice consumption to boost rice export.

by American restaurant owner George Apostolou. This year, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) brought this Mediterranean delicacy to MSJ’s student body. To pre-pare this dish, pieces of meat, such as lamb or chicken, are placed on a tall skewer that rotates around a broiler. The meat is then cut into thin, crispy shavings served with onions, tomatoes, and a special sauce called tzatziki, all wrapped into a round slice of bread called pita.

A very popular choice of food around the world, sandwiches originated from the Middle Ages, where they were commonly described as a late-night snack. These portable, easily made, and inexpensive sandwiches from Phoenix Art & Literary Magazine were a preferred choice among students, selling out almost every day. Hailing from Amia Bakery, these sandwiches had a variety of fillings, such as mediterranean spinach, chicken pesto, hot pastrami, and BBQ chipotle chicken with bacon.

A popular snack in India, samosas have now also become a new favorite here at MSJ. Bridging the Gap sold the spicy and savory snack with chutney, a type of dipping sauce. Traditionally, samosas are eaten as a midday snack or an on the go kind of food all across India. With it’s inexpensive price and unique taste, it’s no wonder samosas have been popular with the MSJ population and have sold out consistently!

During Multicultural Week, American Cancer Society (ACS) sold local favorite SuperTaco’s tacos. The club decid-ed on this Fremont staple by choosing something that would be a crowd-pleaser and easily transportable. The club chose tacos due to a desire for something that would draw in more people than last year’s fried rice. ACS ordered 40 of this tra-ditional Mexican item, which sold quickly within the lunch period. The taco originated in Mexico, where the first type of taco was a kind of fish taco eaten by the indigenous people of the Valley of Mexico region.

MUSUBISProject ME vendors put out donuts and ice cream to raise money for

their charity-based group and grant program. The club sold the donuts, donut holes, and ice cream all for under $2. The food was chosen due to the members’ love for Vasy’s Donuts (where the donuts where pur-chased) and simply because the combination seemed appealing. The do-nuts themselves attracted plenty of attention throughout the week due to the generosity of the servings and thrifty price. The history of the donut is not fully certain, but most say they were created by Dutch settlers in the 19th century. The ring-shaped donut is claimed to be invented by Hansen Gregory in 1847 aboard a lime-trading ship at the age of 16. Since then these deep-fried delicacies have become an American symbol of tradi-tional breakfast foods.

MSJ was also graced with a taste of Hawaii this year, courtesy of Interact. Chicken teriyaki musubis from Ohana Grill were sold for an affordable $2.50 each and became a fast hit. This food is traditionally a snack or lunch food in Ha-waii and is made in the tradition of Japa-nese onigiri. They consist of rice and chicken terriyaki wrapped in seaweed. However, these Hawaiian treats were gone within 20 minutes. If you missed out this year, musubis are hopefully something to look out for next year!

A traditional Greek meat cuisine, gyros were first in-troduced to North America

photos by staff writers frank chen, andrew han, edward nguyen, alekya rajanala, courtney tam, jonathon teng, aishwarya thakur, angie wang, alice zalan & kevin zhai

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Centerspread 1312 Centerspread www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

From April 11 to 14, students packed the horseshoe during lunch, eager to eat their favorite foods. The delicious aromas wafting from the food and drinks proved savory and sweet, drawing in crowds to devour new and familiar treats alike.

PHOTOreview

S O WHballet folklórico

case By Andrew Han & Aishwarya ThakurStaff Writers

k-popTo start off the assembly, mem-

bers of Korean club performed their carefully choreographed K-Pop routine. K-Pop, short for Ko-rean Pop, is a genre of music that fuses electronica, hip-hop, pop, and R&B. Originating in South Korea, K-Pop has since evolved into a subculture that has become viral in Asia, and of course, at MSJ. The performers, clad in classy black-and-white apparel, captivated the audience with bold moves and smooth dance routines from songs such as “Genie” by SNSD, “Luci-fer” by Shinee, and “Abracadabra” by the Brown-Eyed Girls.

PERFORM

ANCE

recap

photos by centerspread editor aileen lu, graphics editors sarah li & cassie zhang, and staff writers ditha balaji, edward nguyen, maya ramachandran, & jonathon teng

tiniklingpersian

japanese algorithm march

14 Centerspread www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

The National Dance of the Philippines, tinikling (or “bam-boo dance”) amazed the audience with the dancers’ speedy yet delicate footwork. Traditionally, one or more people dance in between two bamboo sticks that are beaten against the ground and moved to the beat of the music. Gradually the rhythm of the music gets faster, and the dancers must be quick to move their feet to stay on beat and not get caught

Smiles cracked and eyebrows rose when the Japanese Algorithm Marchers stepped onto the gym floor. Featuring a series of cleanly executed and precisely timed actions, the Algorithm March originated from a Japanese children’s tele-vision show on the NHK educational channel, a Japanese public broadcasting service. Japanese Teacher Julia Madsen originally taught her students the rou-tine for the Festival of Love as a part of the Foreign Language performances. In addition to the performance, Sophomores Lynn Huang and Anny Huang made shirts depicting all eight steps to accompany the performance.

Ballet Folklórico is a folkloric partnered ballet ensemble that has roots in Mexican culture. Perhaps the most striking feature of Ballet Folklórico is its use of costumes that reflect the traditional culture of Mexico. The ballet and its accom-panying music also reflect the folk music of various regions of Mexico. Led by Senior Trina Duarte, the per-formers practiced an intricate cho-reography for two months before delivering a unique performance at the assembly.

A new and different dance was add-ed to the list of Multicultural dances performed this year. A group of stu-dents performed Persian dance, taught to them by MSJ alumna Negari Pirooz. Persian dance, originating from Iran, involves slow and understated move-ments of the torso, unlike Middle East-ern belly dancing. Usually a Turkish harem pant is worn along with a vest and loosely fitted top. The students who performed this dance wore col-orful skirts and vests along with their outfits.

hbicHead Bosses in Charge (HBIC) caught the attention of the audience as they

began their performance with swift, bold, and rhythmic movements to an eclectic mix of hip-hop music. Perhaps the most innovative part of their performance was when the lights turned off abruptly and a series of spinning lights appeared amidst a near pitch-black gym, dazzling the cheering crowd. HBIC began choreographing and practicing their routine at the beginning of February and successfully pre-sented a fresh and aggressive hip-hop performance. In a heartfelt shout-out, Junior Sarah Ching says, “We’ll miss dancing with you seniors!”

As the week came to an end, staff and students eagerly anticipat-ed Friday’s Multicultural Assembly. The performances truly show-cased the diversity of culture present at MSJ. Below is a sample of the

talent of our school, community, and beyond.

in between the sticks. The farmers of the Philippines imitated the movements of the tinikling bird as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The students who performed this dance practiced for nearly two months to grasp the com-plex footwork perfectly.

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Photo 15

16 Ad www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Arts & Entertainment 17

‘Hanna’ No Ordinary Girl

“I want to speak to Marissa Wieglerz requests 16-year-old Hanna (Saoirse Ronan), shining with the innocence of a child. Yet the circumstances are grave, and this sets off alarm bells of suspicion. When agent “Marissa” enters, Hanna dispels all misgivings by crying and wrapping her arms around the woman with heartbreaking vulnerability. Then she shows her true colors when her embrace snaps her victim’s neck.

Up until now, this teenage assassin has lived in a remote Arctic forest. Her only human contact has been her fa-ther (Eric Bana), who raised her to ex-act revenge on Marissa Weigler (Cate Blanchett). Apart from endless combat and language, training he reads Hanna encyclopedias as bedtime stories. Their isolation has no modern distractions,

but Hanna understands theories. Hanna is an unconventional action

thriller that takes the perspective of a girl who has been growing up exposed to all the wrong things. With a heavy symbolism of Grimm’s fairytale fantasy and sci-fi edge, Hanna takes on our modern world, alien to the household objects and human interaction we take for granted. Ronan’s curiosity is com-pellingly pure; from a quizzical gaze to a frightened wonder of ceiling fans, her ethereal face looks ten years younger than it actually is until she whips around and easily dispenses bullets. Then we are reminded that the driving force of this story is a design for revenge.

The plot itself is loose, somewhat predictable, and reluctantly reveals a disappointing backstory, usually indi-cators of a bad movie. In Hanna’s case, however, the power of cinematography dominates with focused and skillful

precision, and more than makes up. Hanna’s visual stylization captures

feeling that makes up for the lack of words, which is analogous to Hanna herself. This girl can recite facts such as the population of any country, but the words are dry and meaningless compared to when she lives and in-teracts with people. Hanna is able to describe music and longs to experience it. Hanna is a metaphorical experience of music; visual film language synchro-nizes masterfully with sound design to convey sensations nearly indescribable in words and far more powerful.

Many raw emotions echo in the aesthetics of this very human, very empathetic film. Although the story of Hanna is not a movie that will stick with you for weeks after watching, it is one that will sweep you up in the en-ergy of the moment. ▪Rating: B

From the makers of Ice Age comes Rio, an animated flick which follows Blu ( Jesse Eisenberg), a Spix Macaw who, as a baby, is sto-len from his habitat in the Brazil-ian rainforest and raised in wintry Minnesota by a girl named Linda (Leslie Mann). Fifteen years later, Linda is persuaded to return Blu to Brazil to mate with female ma-caw Jewel (Anne Hathaway) to save his species from extinction.

Big names Jamie Foxx, will.i.am, Tracy Morgan, and George Lopez join Hathaway and Eisenberg, and help bring their characters to life. Eisenberg channels his dorky side previously showcased in The Social Network, and makes his character awkwardly endearing. Hathaway holds her own quite well, al-though her Jewel is not as memo-rable as Eisenberg’s Blu. Foxx and

will.i.am are lovably over the top as bird friends Pedro and Nico and bring a breath of fresh air with their spunk and attitude.

The animation and imagery im-merse the audience in Rio de Ja-neiro culture with action-packed scenes through the streets of Bra-zil. Watching the movie in 3D is well worth the time as the effects intensify the scenery and make ev-erything vibrant and crisp.

Rio stands out amongst other animated films like Megamind with its serious message. The prob-lem of smuggling plays a large part in the plot and is done in a charm-ing way that makes the movie eye-opening, yet enjoyable for all ages.

Rio impresses with its bold im-agery and witty dialogue. All audi-ences will find something to relate too, as Rio brings back some of the lost Disney magic our generation loved. ▪Rating: A-

On April 8, the world was graced with the fourth album from Australian indie pop band Architecture in Hel-sinki. While their indie status makes them relatively unknown in the United States, they have toured in various American cities with more well-known groups such as Death Cab for Cutie.

What makes Architecture in Hel-sinki unique is their use of a wide vari-ety of instruments, like the glockenspiel, trumpet, tuba, clarinet, and recorder, as well as the standard rock set. The band, most of whom can play multiple in-struments, currently consists of Camer-on Bird, Gus Franklin, Jamie Mildren, Sam Perry, and Kellie Sutherland.

Despite various lineup and label changes since their start in 2000, the songs on their latest effort, Moment Bends, are as catchy as ever. The album

The Foo Fighters released their sev-enth studio album this month, Wasting Light. After a four year production gap to allow for touring and creative explo-ration, the Foo Fighters have returned to their original gritty hard rock sound instead of their most recent soft rock. The entire album was recorded in lead vocalist Dave Grohl’s garage and has a more organic and less overproduced

gets off to a lively start with light tracks “Desert Island” and “Escapee,” but it re-ally gets going with lead single “Contact High.” The electronic stylings through-out the song lend a very fun 80s vibe, but there are enough modern hijinks here and there to make it original and enjoyable to a modern audience.

While the vocals in each song are good, it’s when Sutherland jumps in with her pretty soprano voice that good songs are made better by another layer of harmony and depth. “I Know Deep Down” especially showcases the ben-efits of duet vocals and is one of the standout tracks of the album.

As Moment Bends begins winding down, Architecture in Helsinki gives us “Everything’s Blue,” a song that startles with its classical strings opening before launching into the electronic groove typical of their other songs. There’s something about the 80s feel of the electronics in this song that seems to

recall Michael Jackson, and it easily be-comes a favorite track of the album.

As they end with “B4 3D,” a calm, peaceful, lullaby-esque track, it leaves the listener wanting to hear more of their other songs. Their first three al-bums, Fingers Crossed, In Case We Die, and Places Like This are worth a listen, as well as their remix album, We Died, They Remixed.

Architecture in Helsinki has a unique sound that’s all their own, a fun and quirky style that’s perfect for summer soundtracks or curing win-ter blues. Fans of Vampire Weekend and Phoenix will appreciate that light quality, while their strong electronic basslines add a touch of Daft Punk. While sometimes the tracks sound a bit too similar, each song generally has enough singular qualities to distinguish it from the rest. In short, Architecture in Helsinki is amazing. ▪Rating: A-

Birds Lay an ‘A’

Under The Radar: Foo Fighters Rock

By Jamie LinStaff Writer

By Connor WilliamsStaff Writer

than many of their latest albums.The album opens with “Bridge

Burning,” an intense and edgy first look into the Foo Fighter’s astounding return to production. “White Limo” has a similar feel, and shows that Grohl is not afraid to use a little heavy metal to get his point across.

The album then moves to a softer, but no less powerful set of songs. “These Days” is a commentary on time passing. “One of these days, the clocks will stop and time won’t mean a thing. One of these days, their bombs will drop and

silence everything,” really evokes the slightly regretful but hopeful feeling of the song. With a driving drum beat reminiscent of a ticking clock that stops and bursts into a furious crescendo of guitar and vocals “These Days” is really a gem in the scope of the album.

There are some letdowns, such as the bland and melodramatic “I Should Have Known” which lacks the charm of the rest of the album. But the album is saved by the brilliant ending track, “Walk”. It is a story about “learning

to walk again,” and listeners can really feel the emotion and passion they put into their music. The song finishes the album with fury and eloquence.

The lyrics for “Arlandia,” “Fame fame go away, come again another day” really show the message that the entire album is going for. The Foo Fight-ers have conquered the modern rock world, but are still all about the music. If you can stand some heavier alternative rock and want to express some of your discontent, check out Wasting Light. ▪Rating: A+

By Mary LanStaff Writer

By Savina KhanguraStaff Writer

Architecture inHelsinki

filmonic.com

billboard.com

architectureinhelsinki.com

stardustrailers.com

By Sloka Gundala & Amit PatankarStaff Writer & Sports Editor

18 Arts & Entertainment www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

Since our middle school days, we have grown accustomed to the mind numbing sounds of hip-hop, generic techno, and the oc-casional Green Day song. As we matured, so did our taste in music and how we dance to it. In 2007, the craze was pop/techno superstar Basshunter, followed by rapper Flo-Rida, and then the flamboyant Justin Bieber. Fortunate-ly, just as the sounds of standard dance music were becoming too routine to bear, a new genre hit the clubs. In 2008, no one thought that the “dirty” techno sounds of dubstep would be anything more than a short trend. But this is not the case.

As the phenomenon sweeps the nation, more and more people are sucked into its luring sound. The Dubstep invasion is in full swing. Originating in late 1999, dubstep didn’t hit the main stage until mid 2010. The musi-cal trend has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals," by Allmusic Records. What started in Southern England as an un-derground scene for thrill seekers worn out with the house and electronic beats, managed to wind its way into every single American club and mainstream radio in only a few years.

Dubstep’s easily recognizable sound has become an institution in high school dances across the nation and a nuisance to many peo-

ple as well. The well-known “wobble bass” is a signature trademark of the dubstep sound. Wobble bass is essentially a prolonged bass note, in which the volume, tone, and distortion are manipulated. During its initial rise to fame, dubstep was very generic in its form, featur-ing an intro, build, and bass drop. However, as more DJ’s begin to mix their own dubstep beats, the scene is wildly changing. Several art-ists of different genres utilize dubstep beats in their music to push the intensity of the song, including Britney Spears in her single “Hold It Against Me.” As the genre became more and more popular, people were initially reluctant to accept the new “hit thing.” However, some were drawn to the scene by popular remixes of mainstream songs such as Ke$ha’s “Tick Tock” or even Rebecca Black’s “Friday.” YouTube art-ist Chrispy has remixed dubstep tracks of to-day’s most popular songs such as “Bulletproof ” by La Roux, “Rude Boy” by Rihanna, and childhood favorite Inspector Gadget theme song.

Since the dubstep explosion, hundreds of aspiring artists and DJ’s have entered the scene both mixing existing songs and creating their own beats. As the craze has found its way into several genres, it is unlikely that dubstep will go anywhere but further into the mainstream. Next time you go to a dance or find yourself browsing YouTube, search or request dubstep. Some popular artists that may thrill your hear-ing include Chrispy, Mt. Eden, Bassnectar, or TGunn. ▪

Tucked away in a small hub on Walnut Ave, Il Porcino is a small restaurant that strives to offer its patrons an authentic Italian experi-ence. Rather than the usual pizza and pasta fare, it offers a wider variety of dishes from all around Italy. Ambience and Service The small size of the restaurant gives it a slightly claustrophobic feeling. The dimmed lights, candles, and crowded tables make it ideal for a date, but not for a night out with friends. The waiters were quick and polite, seating us right away. The restaurant was slightly understaffed with only two waiters so at times, service was slow.Grade: B+

Food We ordered the Fettucini Al Porcino, and Chicken Cannelloni. The cannelloni was per-fectly cooked and the chicken was marinated nicely. The vegetable medley inside the can-nelloni offered a nice texture to the otherwise soft canelloni shell. The dish was served with a decadent cream sauce that complimented the meat perfectly.

The pasta, which was one of numerous veg-etarian options, was served in a thick tomato cream sauce with a medley of vegetable and topped with parmesan cheese. The dish was a bit of a letdown. The pasta seemed dry and the cheese was a bit overpowering, making the dish slightly bland. For dessert we ordered the homemade ti-ramisu. Layers of moist, fluffy cake, almond mousse, and whipped cream served with driz-zled chocolate, this dessert is a must have. Light, but decadent, it melted in one’s mouth.Grade: A-

Price: The price was slightly high, but overall the food was worth it. The appetizer was rather expensive at $8.95, but the entrees were mod-erately priced at around $11.95. The desserts were also extravagant at around $6.00 apiece. Grade: B-

Although slightly overpriced, the food at Il Porcino is the main reason it draws such a large crowd even on a Monday night. Overall, despite the dark atmosphere, the food, espe-cially the tiramisu, and friendly service made Il Porchino definitely worth another visit. ▪Grade: B+

By Matt FarberovStaff Writer

thebingoballs.com

Dubstep Revolution Restaurant Review: Il Porcino

Chrispy’s trademark lion face superiomposed on La Roux. Dubstep remixes of La Roux’s songs are among the most popular dubstep tracks.

MSJ’s stereotypes don’t do our school justice; we are more diverse than our reputation gives us credit for. Amongst our math and science geniuses are some amazing artists as well. Here are four talented young artists, taking art beyond the boundaries of hobby and profession, who are heading off to some of the top art schools in the country.

Art Style: Traditional, DigitalMedia of Choice: Oil

Michelle Lee was inspired by and fell in love with art at a young age. From arts and crafts in kindergarten to growing up watching Disney movies and TV cartoons, drawing has always been a part of her life. She started getting serious about art in high school and worked diligently on tradi-tional artworks. She dreams of one day animating for Pixar. “When people ask me why, it’s because animators can make their imagination a reality and inspire people at the same time.” She has ten-tatively decided to attend Columbia University for a Visual Arts major. Visit her portfolio at: www.mikahla.carbonmade.com/

Art Style: IllustrationMedia of Choice: Oil or Acrylic

Justine Park has been into art since her parents enrolled her in classes at the age of five. From then on, her relationship with art was very tumultous, from switching between six art studios and lack-ing parental support when she got serious about art in her freshman year of high school. In fine arts, she has a dynamic style that uses a lot of vi-brant color, composition, and interesting subject matter, and recently chose to major in illustration. Her dream job is to work in advertisment. Justine is currently deciding between the Otis College of Art and Design and the Art Center College of Design. Visit her portfolio at: www.facebook.com/justi-neepark

Art Style: Digital ArtMedium of Choice: Photoshop, Paint Tool SAI

Mika Tohmon has been doodling since she was young, but the first time she really thought about pursuing art was in 7th grade, when she met a Japanese school friend who planned to attend UCLA for art. She mostly draws expressive por-traits and human figures.

Tohmon is considering RISD, UCLA’s De-sign Media Arts program, Carnegie Mellon and USC’s fine arts major, and a few more programs. As of now, Mika is not sure what career she is pre-paring for, “I think I’m pursuing communication design for right now. I’ll always continue taking fine arts classes too, since that’s a passion I have as well, and I want to keep improving my art skills.” Visit her portfolio at: www.clovercafe.com ▪

Art Style: RealisticMedium of Choice: Charcoal and Pastel

Judith Zhu has been drawing since she was young especially when she would get distracted from homework. She never considered the pos-sibility of majoring in art until high school, when she started taking fine art classes. Zhu discovered that her favorite style of art is realistic, but she also enjoys creating surreal works as well.

She is not sure what career path she wants to take and plans to explore her many options in college. She was admitted to Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, and USC as a fine art major. She was also accepted to RISD for an illustration major, and UCLA for a design major. She has not decided on one yet.

Artist Spotlight : Visual MediaBy Rebecca Dutta & Joy Xu

Staff Writers

courtesy michelle lee graphics editor cassie zhang staff writer connor williams

sports editor amit patankar

courtesy mika tohmon

Senior Michelle Lee Senior Judith Zhu Senior Justine Park Senior Mika Tohmon

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Arts & Entertainment 19

EXPAND YOURMULTICULTURAL HORIZONS

European ElectronicThis popular style of music combines the hard beats of techno with the infectious

rhythms of disco dance music. Also known as Eurodance, this music originated in the 1990s and has evolved into a modernized style with hip-hop influences, including rapped verses and melodic vocals that are usually female. Artists use regional influences and beats to make their music unique.

For example, Edward Maya, born in Bucharest, inserts his Romanian heritage into all of his songs through the use of instruments. In his most famous song, “Stereo Love,” the harmony is played on a melodious and unusual Romanian accordion. Martin Solveig, a French electronic music DJ and producer, blends house, funk, soul, and disco with the indigenous beats of Africa. SMASH, Solveig’s fifth studio album released in April 2011, is already topping the charts with its first single, “Hello,” featuring Dragonette. Another famous artist is Afrojack, from the Netherlands, with his song “Take Over Control,” featuring Eva Simons. Some other famous Eurodance artists are Benny Be-nassi, Basshunter, and Cascada

Asian PopAsian pop includes pop music from Korea, China, and Japan. This genre of music is usually

upbeat, with complex, extravagant music videos and huge fan bases.KPop, or Korean pop music, is very similar to American pop music, relying on American forms

of R&B, hip-hop, rock, and techno. One internationally recognized member of this Hallyu move-ment (the spread of Korean pop culture) is Rain, sometimes called the Korean Justin Timberlake. Rain was one of the “100 Most Influential People of 2006” in TIME magazine, along with being named one of People magazine’s most beautiful people in 2007. Other popular KPop groups include BIGBANG, SNSD, and BoA.

CPop, or Chinese pop, music has a smaller American influence with a larger emphasis on act-ing. The most famous CPop artist is Jay Chou, a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He is a classically trained pianist, known for composing and writing all of his own songs. His most famous songs include “Silence” and “Listen to Mother’s Words.”

JPop, or Japanese pop music, is the most diverse Asian pop with the least American influence. This music tends to be happier and less flashy than KPop. Popular JPop bands and artists include Arashi (boyband), Morning Musume (girl group), Ayumi Hamasaki (female soloist), Keri Hirai (male soloist), and UVERworld (a Japanese rock band)

World Television DramasEvery country has its own version of the soap opera, exemplified by cliché plotlines

that are regionally specific. In Korea, for example, these romantic shows have created “Drama Fever,” or the spread of Korean dramas to countries such as Japan, Latin Amer-ica, and the Middle East. Almost Shakespearean in its complexity, Winter Sonata, the first South Korean television drama to gain popularity in other countries, follows the blossoming of the relationship between two long-lost childhood sweethearts. Other well-known Korean dramas are Boys Over Flowers, The Coffee Prince, and You’re Beauti-ful.

In India, dramas are usually about romance and relationships as well. The longest running soap opera in India, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi (Because a Mother-in-Law Was Once a Daughter-in-Law, Too), describes how a daughter-in-law tries to win over her new husband’s family. The Mexican telenovela Corazón Salvaje has all aspects of a good soap opera, including twins who fall in love with the same pirate. ▪

Bollywood (India)Bollywood, or the Hindi-language film industry, is the portmanteau of Bombay, a

city in India, and Hollywood. When it is combined with other Indian film industries, it is considered to be the largest in the world in terms of the number of films produced and tickets sold. Bollywood films are usually musicals; therefore, all famous actors and actresses are also skilled at modern Indian dancing, a combination of classical Indian dance, Bhangra, and other folk dances.

The music of a Bollywood movie usually makes or breaks the film, and the most popular music in India is from movies. One of the most well known Bollywood movies is Lagaan, starring Aamir Khan.

Famous movies: Devdas, 3 Idiots, and DhoomFamous singers: Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu NigamFamous actors: Sharukh Khan and Hrithik RoshanFamous actresses: Aishwarya Rai (Miss World 1994) and Priyanka Chopra (Miss

World 2000)

African MusicAfrican music is extremely diverse and heavily influenced by regionalism. The most

characteristic aspect of this genre is its reliance on the distinctive beats of Africa, created by drums, cymbals, and clapping hands. One well-known artist is K’naan, a Somalian-Ca-nadian musician with Ethiopian-jazz and hip-hop influences. Compared to the American rapper, Eminem, K’naan speaks about politics and the economic state of Africa in many of his songs. His most famous song, “Wavin’ Flag,” was featured in the 2010 World Cup.

Other African artists: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Toumani Diabate

Fusion GenresSweden: Movits!

This atypical band’s music is a mixture of swing, jazz, and hip-hop, and their songs are entirely in Swedish. Movits! has been featured on The Colbert Report and is currently signed with Comedy Central Records.Germany: Culcha Candela

Culcha Candela’s music is a blend of dancehall, which is reggae and R&B, and hip-hop. This combination is made more interesting because all of their songs are in German, and their lyrics range from political issues to party songs. The band is renowned for its songs “Monsta” and “Hamma!”

Artist Spotlight : Visual Media

By Maya RamachandranStaff Writer

Cast of Korean drama The Coffee Prince.

vectorstock.com, hulu.com, edwardmaya.com, behindwoods.com, movits.se, knaanmusic.ning.com, snsdkorean.com

Edward Maya

3 Idiots

K’Naan Movits

SNSD, formerly Girl’s Generation

By Kevin ZhaiStaff Writer

Cody Thompson: Nascar Driver

20 Sports www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday April 21, 2011

The San Francisco Giants’ victory parade is finally over. The vuvuzelas have died down and the die-hard fans have retreated to their homes. As a new season begins, the reigning World Champs are back to square one. There is a reason no National League team has repeated as World Series Champions since 1976; the magic eventually runs out.

However, most believe that this year’s starting squad is a vast im-provement over last year’s. The team is deeper and better than the group that started in 2010, mostly due to a more seasoned Buster Posey and the additions of rookie Brandon Belt and veteran Miguel Tejada. Pablo Sandoval also looks to be a differ-ence maker this year after losing 38 pounds and maintaining a rigorous training regimen.

The bullpen, as always, is the core of the team, and weathered Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jona-than Sanchez, Madison Bumgar-ner should prove to be an imposing force on the mound. Barry Zito is also finding his stride in the Na-tional League, something he wasn’t able to do in his past four years in San Francisco. The group should repeat as the best rotation in base-ball if they can mirror their numbers from last year.

Unfortunately, there are some reasons to be concerned. Closer Brian Wilson and outfielder Cody Ross, a postseason hero, are not a hundred percent to start the season. Pitcher Matt Cain has recovered from an elbow inflammation but the injury could prove disastrous if it resurfaces. The Giants cannot af-

Senior Cody Thompson has been racing since he was a kid and was admitted last year to the NASCAR Racing Career Development Pro-gram to help further develop his racing career. Thompson received his license on April 5, 2011. The Smoke Signal got the chance to talk to him about his passion for racing. Smoke Signal: What was the first form of competitive racing you were introduced to? Cody Thompson: I was first intro-duced to something called quarter-midgets. They’re open-wheel cars and they’re a quarter of the size of full midget race cars. Now I’m in what’s basically a NASCAR stock body with the front end cut off, and it’s called a modified. Next year, I’ll be in a late model which looks ex-actly like the cars you see on TV. SS: At what age were you first in-troduced to racing? CT: I was nine years old when my family was watching NASCAR on TV. I was playing baseball at the

time and I told my dad, “I’m tired of baseball. I want to race.” So my dad started looking up stuff on the Internet for me. SS: How does racing fit into your daily schedule?CT: Racing is right after school. I start by working on the car. My dad and I work on the car itself, set it up, and check to make sure everything is square and ready to race for the weekend. It’s every day, all day. On Friday, I go out to practice. On Sat-urday, I race. SS: Are there any special licenses you need to get from the DMV? CT: You need to get a license from NASCAR itself, but not the DMV. You have to race for a couple of

years, not too hard, submit an appli-cation and NASCAR gives a license to you. SS: What kind of special equip-ment do you have to wear? How do you go about buying it? CT: I have a five-layer fire-retar-dant suit, fire-retardant Nomex un-derwear, fire-retardant gloves, and a Hans device. The Hans device is for your neck to make sure it doesn’t snap out of place when you’re rac-ing. The suit will last 15 seconds on fire and the Nomex will last 10. Af-ter nine years, you get used to it and it feels like part of your body. I have a dealer who gets discounts from a bunch of different places, and I buy straight through him. SS: Tell us about the NASCAR Racing Career Development Pro-gram.CT: There were 724 applicants that submitted to the program. Of those 724, 36 got to test and get in a car to show what they could do. Out of those applicants, ten drivers were chosen to be in the program, and I was part of the ten. I’ll be racing in California for a couple years then move back to North Carolina to be showcased in front of NASCAR teams. SS: Have you faced any criticism for what you do?CT: A lot of it is about the environ-ment. My response is that people on the highway are hurting the en-

staff writer alekya rajanala

Thompson poses with his car.courtesy cody thompson

vironment more than the racers are because we burn methanol, which is cleaner to the environment than gasoline is. SS: People also say that NASCAR is just people racing around in a cir-cle. What do you have to say about that?CT: It’s like baseball: if you watch it, it looks really easy to hit a ball, but it takes a lot of hand-eye co-ordination. For NASCAR, you’re going 200 miles per hour, and you have to be able to turn and hit the brake points at the exact same spot every lap. SS: Do you have plans on continu-ing your education? CT: I’m planning on going to Ohlone College to get a business major, and I plan on continuing to race through college. I have racing as my main goal and will fit college

around it. SS: What kind of support do you get?CT: My parents support me 100 percent. They’re at every race cheer-ing me on, and my dad’s working on the car all the time with me. I’ve also made a lot of new friends. This year, I’ve gone to Stockton, Roseville, Las Vegas, and Irwindale to race. SS: How have your goals changed over time?CT: I’ve always wanted to be in NASCAR ever since I started rac-ing and the only way it’s changed now is that I want to own a NA-SCAR cup team. So, I plan on be-coming a business owner like Tony Stewart [of Stewart-Haas Racing, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team co-owned by two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and Gene Haas]. ▪

ford an injury to the bullpen if they want to be a commanding force. Tejada didn’t have a strong spring training and may be destined for a downswing after his many years of strong play. The batting lineup should provide more runs, but it is still far from being a force that will carry the team.

These concerns have significantly

On April 6, the MSJ Boys’ Baseball team stepped on their home field to take on the Newark Memorial Cougars. This match, on a windy Wednesday, was a highly anticipated game, but with out-standing defense and offense, the Warriors easily defeated the Cou-gars and took over first place in MVAL.

In the top of the first inning, MSJ started on defense while the Cougars were up to bat. Senior Captain Matt Imhof started the game with his fast pitching that averages 87 mph. After a strike, the Newark batter popped the ball up, but third baseman Junior Bran-don Fuhs caught the ball to put the batter out. Throughout all seven innings, the Warriors played phe-nomenal defense, with memorable catches by Senior Captain Coren Randall and Senior Chris Gaines. After Imhof struck out the third Newark hitter with one of his fast balls, the Warriors switched to of-fense.

Senior Larry Price started off the Warrior offense as he stepped up first to bat. After four balls, Price drew a walk to first base and Gaines stepped up to bat. During his at-bat, Price stole second base with a slide, blinding the Cougars in the dust as the umpire called “safe”. After an impressive swing by Gaines, Imhof was up to bat. The starting pitcher rocketed the ball and Price scored a run, with Gaines advancing two bases. Se-nior Captain Kevin Roche pre-pared to swing next while Imhof

stole second base. The first inning ended with the score 2-0, with the two runs scored by Price and Gaines.

As the Warriors switched to defense to start off the second in-ning, fans perked since the War-riors started off the game with such great athleticism—from stealing bases to catching fly balls, the Warriors seemed to have noth-ing to fear. Imhof continued to pitch fastballs, keeping the Newark players off of the bases throughout most of the seven innings. Bases were only filled once during the game because Imhof ’s pitching made it quite difficult for the Cou-gars to score a run.

Key moments in the seven in-nings included Senior Joey Cant-rell’s and Price’s triples. Cantrell hit the ball in the deep mid-field in the third inning for Randall and Roche to score runs while Cantrell himself sprinted to third base for a standup triple. Fuhs came in after Cantrell and the Warriors finished off the third inning leading 6-1.

By Nihar ParikhStaff Writer

Senior Matt Imhof’s superb pitching led to an impressive Warrior victory over the Cougars.courtesy yearbook

The Warriors rarely allowed any runs by the Cougars in the entire match, but the windy dirt gushing in the air blinded the Warriors’ de-fense in part of the fourth inning. This led to two Newark runs, but the Warrior defense stopped the Cougars from scoring after the fourth inning. Gaines caught two fly balls in the fifth inning, which deflared the Cougar spirit but only pumped up the MSJ crowd.

At the end of the seven in-nings, the MSJ Baseball team defeated Newark with a score of 8-3. With the number one spot in MVAL, the Warriors are look-ing for more wins in the upcoming weeks. After the game, Imhof said, “We’re doing pretty well this sea-son, [with an overall record of ] 7-2 and 3-0 in MVAL [so far]. Today we played really hard, and it was a team effort.” Randall finished off by saying, “My hope for this sea-son is to win first place and noth-ing less.” Come support our MSJ Baseball team on May 4th as they take on American at MSJ. ▪

By Elisa TingEditor-in-Chief

theepochtimes.com

Pitcher Tim Lincecum is set to lead the Giants’ bull-pen to another impressive season.

emerged in the opening weeks of the regular season, with the Giants starting out at a modest 6-6. Pat Burrell, Aubrey Huff, and Belt have struggled, and the other players have not been able to elevate their game to complement the Giants’ strong pitching. Tim Lincecum pitched well enough in the opener to win, but the lineup only managed to earn one run, leaving his efforts in vain.

The Giants seem to be on their way to a successful year, but only if they can stay away from injuries and ignite their clutch batting. Just like last year, the World Series seems like a distant goal for the Giants, but the Giants have the means to get there. ▪

Baseball breezes by NewarkBegins season 3-0, takes over first place in MVALs

Giants are ready for another shot at champions’ glory

courtesy cody thompson

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Sports 21

Team Spotlight: Boys’ Golf By Jonathon Teng

Staff Writer

There are few sports where players spend minutes examining the course, the wind, and the angle the ball needs to be hit. That’s why hardly any sports can compare to the immense precision and knowledge required in golf. Players have to mentally envision the height and strength of their drives or putts and com-mand their muscles to replicate it. However, even a single piece of grass or a slight breeze can completely throw off the trajectory of the ball. Despite these extreme factors, the MSJ’s Boys Golf Team has had much success this season, starting off with a record of 8-1.

Beginning their season in early February,

the team, led by Captains Senior Kevin Oh-kura and Junior Ian Dickeson, has definitely worked hard this year. Every day the team holds practices, rain or shine, at the Sunol Valley Golf Course. Each day they either practice in the range or hold practice rounds. Furthermore, players often spend their own time practicing on the weekends. All this preparation has definitely helped the team set their sights on placing 1st in MVALs.

They emerged with a 15-1 record last year and placed 2nd in MVAL, but only Junior Ian Dickeson qualified for NCS. This year the team hopes to capture first place and as a re-sult qualify the whole team into NCS. Early

in the season, the team started strong by plac-ing 2nd out of 16 teams overall in the Classics Golf Tournament held in Monarch Bay. After defeating Washington and Newark Memorial High School, the team again suffered a close loss to its rival Irvington High School, the only team they lost to last year. Dickeson said, “Our season has been relatively successful so far, but we need to work hard in the MVAL playoffs if we want to make it to NCS.”

Luckily, the team lost only one senior last year, so this year has simply been built off last year’s solid force. Under Head Coach Scott Sugden and Assistant Coach Tom Thompson, the team has improved greatly with veterans

Ohkura and Dickeson leading the team again. However, the newest underclassman addition, Freshman Hayden Shieh, has proved to be a main driving force of the team. Placing 2nd in the Classics tournament and performing brilliantly in every match, Shieh has already proved to be one of the best competitors in the league. Last October, Shieh won first in the Montverde Academy Junior All-Star In-vitational in Florida, where he competed with many of the best junior players in the world. In the Northern California Golf Association Tournament, Shieh also placed third in the Boys’ 11-13 division.

Even with the crucial loss to Irvington

From left to right: Coach Thompson, Senior Kevin Ohkura, Sophomore Adam Bao, Freshman Hayden Shieh, Junior Ian Dickeson, Sophomore Sai Chilakapati, Freshman Bryan YanNot Pictured: Juniors Shiva Sher and Haebin Liew, Sophomores Andrew Ren and Adam Curtis, Coach Sugden

staff writer jonathon teng

Coaches’ Corner: Track & FieldBy Omar El-Sadany

Staff Writer

The largest team on campus with over 200 athletes, the MSJ Track and Field Team is also one of the most competitive. With the spring season in full swing, the Smoke Signal got the opportunity to speak with Sprints Coach Brian Singleton, Long Distance Coach Lin-da Addison, and Jumps Coach Sean Jones.

Smoke Signal: How did you first get in-volved with the sport? Did you play at the high school or the collegiate level? Coach Addison: I got involved in the sport mainly because my next door neighbor grow-ing up was the senior Coach Marden. He was the Cross Country and Track coach at Mission so I joined the teams. I loved the experience, so when given the opportunity to coach I was thrilled.Coach Singleton: I first got involved in the sport by competing in track in high school. I also continued running in college.Coach Jones: I began running distance in my 4th grade class in a program run by my 4th grade teacher Coach Marden ( Jay, Jacks younger brother). I went out for Cross Coun-try and Track my freshman year at MSJ. I competed for four years at Mission and five years at the collegiate level in the pole vault.

SS: How long have you been coaching track and field? CA: This is my seventh year coaching at Mis-sion. It is my first Track and Field coaching job, but I coached some other sports prior.CS: I have been a track coach for about 7 years. I coached six years here at MSJ, and one year as an assistant coach at DePaul Uni-versity where I competed.CJ: This year is my 4th year at MSJ. I first started coaching as an athlete in junior col-lege coaching high school kids under my coach for our track and field club team: the Willamete Strider’s Track club.

SS: Having participated in Track and Field as both an athlete and a coach, which role do you think is harder?CA: I think coaching is harder than playing because you have the responsibility of trying to help so many athletes feel successful and that they are an important part of the team.CS: Coaching is very different from compet-ing. As an athlete, I was only responsible for motivating myself to compete. As a coach, it

graphics editor cassie zhang

is my job to try to get an entire group moti-vated to compete at their highest level, and different athletes are motivated in very dif-ferent ways. CJ: Coaching and competing are two entirely different worlds. Understanding a concept and teaching a concept are very different. Organization is another big part of coaching, not just yourself but for your group of ath-letes, which makes it more difficult for me. I feel more in control when I’m competing than when I’m coaching.

SS: The track and field team is one of the largest teams on campus. What challenges does the size of the team create? CA: The size of the Track and Field team creates many challenges from paperwork, logistics, training and accountability. Meets take longer to run because we have so many heats of each event. With 230 athletes on our roster, we try and monitor attendance, but we know some fall through the cracks and are not being held accountable. But the hardest part about the size of the team is that you can’t always give the individual attention you would like to each athlete.CS: We do have a large program in track and field, in fact the largest team in our league. I rely heavily on our team captains to help monitor the workouts, a job that they have very willingly taken on. Although I am the head coach, I don’t think of my job as trying to “control” the team. I would rather “manage and guide” the team. I want my athletes to learn to make wise and informative choices for themselves concerning competitive future as an athlete. CJ: With coaching four different events, it

staff writer jonathon tengSophomore Adam Bao prepares to chip the ball out of the bunker.

Linda AddisonLong Distance

graphics editor cassie zhang

Brian SingletonSprints

graphics editor cassie zhang

Sean JonesJumps

is tough to keep all the athletes on task and organized in general. We are very fortune to have such a great staff. Having two jumps coaches helps out a lot especially because we have the biggest pole vault group in the MVAL. To be honest, it really comes down to the athlete and how bad they want to get better because I will give more effort to those athletes who give me their all, because at the end of the day Track and Field is an individ-ual sport.

SS: The MSJ Track and Field team is often very competitive. What are you goals for this season?CA: My goals for the season are to contin-ue to see improvement for each individual athlete. If at league finals a majority of the athletes achieve their personal best times, the season is a success.CS: My goal for our sprints program is to build it to a level that is not only competitive in our league, but also very competitive in the entire Bay Area. MSJ has been known for a strong history in the area of distance running. I would like to bring to sprint program to at least the same level to provide us with a well rounded program.CJ: My goal for the team this season is to learn the basics and grow from there. For the Jumps, we are very young and have many new athletes. The overall goal every year, however, is to be as prepared as possible for league and to send as many athletes as possible to NCS and State.

SS: What is the most rewarding thing about being a coach?CA: The most rewarding part of coaching is

to watch your athletes succeed and to share their excitement. I think what I usually feel the proudest about is having an athlete that joined the team because they wanted some-thing to put on their college applications, but ended up acquiring a love of running. I love when a former athlete comes back to visit and shares that they are now the president of the running club at their college, or they send me results from races they ran. I know my ex-perience with running has always been very positive and to be able to share and see some-one else get the same enjoyment is a gift.CS: There are many rewarding things that come with coaching. I feel very rewarded and satisfied when the athletes achieve goals beyond what thought they could achieve. When athletes continue to return season af-ter season, I get a sense of satisfaction that they are getting something very useful from our program. I would have to say the proud-est moment I have had was taking the 4 x 100 relay team last year to the Meet of Champi-ons. It was the first time in well over a de-cade that we had been there, and it showed me that our overall program is moving in the right direction! CJ: The most rewarding thing for me as a coach are the relationships I have built with my athletes and the chance to teach them the tools that I received from my high school coach that helped me not just on the track but off of the track as well. My proudest mo-ment so far is having some of my athletes like Alvin Cheng (MSJ class of 2010, competes for UC Irvine in the Long Jump) and Danny Tieu (MSJ class of 2010, competes for De Anza Community College in the Long and Triple Jump) at the collegiate level. ▪

Right on par

High School, the team aims their hopes high in winning MVAL. Coach Sugden said, “This season, with our new star addition and re-turning players, we are potential contenders for winning NCS Championships and we are really excited about it.” ▪

staff writer jonathon tengSophomore Sai Chilakapati carefully eyes the angles on the green.

22 Ad www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday April 21, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Sports 23

Fact or Fiction: Performance enhancers

By Grace Han & Amit PatankarSports Editors

Take Eight: “one and done”

A few years ago, the NBA imposed a rule that requires basketball athletes to attend at least a year of college before making the jump to the league. The idea behind this was that players coming out of high school were not emotionally or physically suited to compete at the professional level, and needed to build some experience before turning pro. There are some obvious exceptions to this notion (notably LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Kobe Bryant), but the vast majority who have made the jump have not yielded the results they hoped for. Still, many of the na-tion’s top players coming out of high school only satisfy the minimum requirement and are dubbed “one and done” athletes.

Duke Freshman Kyrie Irving recently declared for the NBA draft after playing one year of college basketball. It’s not un-common for a top-rated player like Irving to choose this path, but considering the cir-cumstances, it was a decision that raised a multitude of questions about the policy. Not only did Irving become the first player in 12 years to leave Duke after his freshman year,

he only played in a total of 11 games due to a toe injury he suffered early on in the season. 11 games - that’s less than a third of the number of games that comprise the full season. When Irving returned along with the start of March Madness, he did do well in all three games Duke played, but that performance didn’t make up for the 26 other games he missed in the season. So when Ir-ving revealed he would be heading to the NBA, it left many, especially Blue Devil fans, in a state of shock. Yes, he probably would be a top three pick in the draft. Yes, he would be making millions more dollars if he left (that is, if there is no NBA lockout next season). But Irving’s decision was debatable and im-mature. Granted we do not know the whole

span of the situation, but his choice was a blow to his teammates and the coach who worked so hard to recruit him.

Collegiate coaches spend an unprece-dented number of hours and effort to recruit the top athletes out of high school. Even a hall of fame coach like Mike Krzyzewski, who has three NCAA Division 1 champi-onships, a world championship, and a gold medal all under his belt, has to compete in persuading the nation’s top incoming fresh-men to play for his school. In Irving’s case, he was one of Krzyzewski’s all-time high-est recruits when he arrived in Durham. In fact, Irving was the first player Krzyzewski ever allowed to wear #1 at Duke. Although Coach K did agree that the time was right

for him to leave, it’s undeniable that Irving taking off that jersey after a mere 11 games is disrespectful to the coach who has showed him so much approval.

Should Irving have been able to leave? The league allows it, but they should highly reconsider the repercussion of such short stints by these “one and done” players. Be-cause they will no longer be a part of the school and their grades will not affect the outcome of their future, many of these ath-letes blow off their 2nd semester at school. You might as well not require one year of college ball and have the stars head straight to the NBA from high school.

By declaring, Irving is leaving three years of a world-class education behind, among other essential experiences. For a 19 year old like him, there is still much to learn from playing more years of college basketball, es-pecially under a coach who is known for im-proving his players every year. For a decision that took little time to make, the risk taken was tremendous. Irving left no time for speculation, making his choice public only a few days after the end of the NCAA tourney. Will he be like Derrick Rose? Or will he end up like another Kwame Brown? The answer is unclear, but no matter the result, Irving has left a stain on whatever legacy he has left at Duke. ▪

By Sanjna ShuklaStaff Writer

Nowadays, sports supplements have become a staple to the diets of a wide variety of athletes. Even the occasional tread-mill-user feels compelled to have a stash of the new Gatorade G-Series after seeing Derrick Rose get a triple-double in one of Gatorade’s overly convincing ads. There are a multitude of supplements on the market right now, most of which can be found in a grocery or local sports store. Ionized wrist bands, sports drinks, and nutrition supplement bars are just a few of the most popular. But do these really make a significant impact on the athlete’s performance?

Sports drinks, such as Gatorade and Powerade, are by far the most widely-used forms of athletic enhancement. Found in nearly every grocery store, sports drinks have become sym-bols of a true athlete. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded with advertisements telling us that because Quarterback Pey-ton Manning drinks Gatorade, we should too. These drinks claim to be able to restore electrolytes that eventually increase the stamina and endurance of the player.

However, many of the athletes who drink sports drinks regularly do not need the electrolytes that they provide. At the same time, water can’t replenish the body in the same way Gatorade can. These electrolytes are intended to help a player recover faster after a long, grueling workout. Gatorade is not as beneficial after a short workout because of the amount of sugar in the drink. Athletes who practice for hours on end could benefit from this type of supplement, but the aver-age gym go-er has no need to stock up on calories that they haven’t even lost.

Sports DrinksThese wristbands, although not as popular as the sports

drinks, have gained momentum among athletes in the past year. These wristbands have been advertised to have a variety of uses that can benefit any type of athlete. Allegedly, they send out negative ions that can increase energy levels on a day to day basis. Other kinds of magnetic bracelets are sup-posed to help various aches and pains after a workout and restore equilibrium.

Athletes who wear these wristbands are supposed to keep them on as much as possible to maximize the effect. Ini-tially used as just experimental technology, these wristbands have now become mainstream. Their effectiveness, however, is debatable. The amount of ions that the wristbands re-lease is minimal and would have no visible effect for quite some time. It’s noted that people are encouraged to wear the bracelets at all times, but considering the other variables in an individual’s workout, they seem unlikely to have a signifi-cant impact.

Ionized Wristbands

The TestThe Smoke Signal conducted an experiment to test out the

effectiveness of sports drinks and ionized wristbands on one of MSJ’s own students. Junior Madison Hirsch, who runs both Varsity Track and Cross Country, was timed in a 60 meter sprint to see if Gatorade and an ionized wristband actually improved her performance.

In order to accurately test out each variable, Hirsch’s times were compared against a “control” time. Without the Gatorade or wristband, Hirsch ran a 60-meter sprint in 7.29 seconds.

After the first sprint, we tested out Gatorade. This sports drink is supposed to be effective after some time, so Hirsch drank some, and then waited nearly 10 minutes before run-ning again. After drinking the Gatorade, Hirsch ran the same distance in 7.02 seconds.

The wristband was much more difficult to test out. Hirsch, an owner of the Nike Ion wristband, took it off for the day in preparation for the experiment. These wristbands are sup-posed to work in anywhere from 20 -30 minutes, so after the Gatorade test, Hirsch put on the wristband and waited 30 minutes before the next test. Hirsch ran the same 60-meters in 6.97 seconds.

ConclusionAccording to our results, both Gatorade and the wristband improved the athlete’s performance. However, there are other factors to consider when evaluating the results of this test. Con-

sidering that these were all conducted on the same day, within the span of an hour, Hirsch could have just been warmed up after the first two sprints, therefore performing better on the third sprint. Also, the 60-meter run was relatively short, so there could have been some miscalculations with the timing. The wristband’s effectiveness is difficult to gauge, but the Gatorade is effective in providing a form of hydration, and a quick burst of energy. This form of energy would be most useful for an athlete who is in the midst of an intensive workout, and needs a constant source of quick energy.

Although Hirsch’s performance increased, the uncertainties of this experiment still leave me skeptical. If you’re the kind of person whose daily form of exercise is thinking about hitting the gym, stick to the agua.

7.02 sec 6.97 sec

7.29 sec

sportsbusinessdigest.com

graphics editor cassie zhang

newsobserver.comLeft: Irving was the first player his coach ever let wear #1. Right: He spent roughly two-thirds of his season on the bench with an injury, yet chose to forgo the last three years of college ball to enter the NBA.

espn.com

Control

GatoradeWristband

graphics editor cassie zhangHirsch runs the 60m.

Ionized bracelets are said to increase energy levels in athletes. Popular sports drinks like Gatorade include electrolytes to aid athletes’ performances.

24 Photo www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Thursday, April 21, 2011

photos by staff writers edward nguyen, angie wang, and graphics editor cassie zhang