On Tuesday, March 30, 2010, MSJ teachers gathered on Palm Ave. and Mission Blvd. before and after school to protest the proposed budget cuts.

This month, the editors picked their favorite spring-time love songs.

Zerg Rush was one of the two teams from MSJ’s Math Club that entered the 2010 Stanford Mathematics Tournament on February 28. This all-day competition was composed of four subject tests (algebra, geometry, advanced topics, and calculus), a general test, and two team tests. The team placed second, with several members placing in individual rounds. Zerg Rush is composed of eighth-grader Lewis Chen, Freshman Matthew Jin, Sophomores Jonathan Chen, Michael Choi, Merry Mou, and Juniors Bowei Liu, Carl Gao, and Eugene Choi. This worldwide competition attracted math enthusiasts from as far as Beijing to participate, as well as the New Jersey team that won.

Having been a competitive player for over 33 years and now head coach of the MSJ Boys’ Tennis team, Coach Barry Poole shares some thoughts on his goals for this season. Poole is undoubtedly engaged during practices and even called out to his players, “Let’s go, guys! We’re burning wind here!” as he shared his thoughts with the Smoke Signal.

On February 8, the University of California (UC) Board of Regents released a bulletin announcing that eight UC campuses, all excluding Merced and Los Angeles, will adopt a waitlist procedure for the Fall 2010 freshmen and transfer admissions. This procedure will also apply to the California State University (CSU) system.

Three simple, yet incredibly loaded words: second semester senior. This phrase has reached legendary proportions. Apparently, students can cut class on a regular basis with no consequences. Homework and exams? Unheard of. Overall, students believe that being a second semester senior grants you the right to give up on formal schooling and to experience true “freedom.” Well, guess again.

I admit it; I used to be someone who used Sparknotes indiscriminately. Temptation lured me to err at 2:30 AM, after hours of diligent work (and sneaky procrastination). Completed the history notes? Check. Reviewed for the biology lab? Check. Studied for the pre-calculus test? Triple check. Finished reading chapters one through eight of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Che– oh, shoot. Guess I should read the abridged summary online then.

All that you should keep in mind for dressing right for spring!