Report card Academic distribution Decathlon delayed competes
City searches for new police chief By Madison Amido Staff Writer South Pasadena City Manager Mr. Sergio Gonzalez has begun the process of searching for an interim chief of police, as former South Pasadena Police Chief Mr. Joseph Payne submitted his resignation on January 22. Gonzalez hopes to find an interim Police Chief within one month. Payne was appointed as South Pasadena Police Chief in 2010. According to Gonzalez, Payne had previously served the city in various positions such as police officer, sergeant, and lieutenant. His service to the city amounts to more than forty years. Payne could not be contacted before press time, but Gonzalez stated that Payne’s resignation was not an unexpected decision. “This was a result of several dialogues and mutually agreed upon by both of us,” said Gonzalez. “His decision did not come out of nowhere. However, due to strict personnel rules, I cannot elaborate any further.” Gonzalez faces two options when selecting an interim police chief: to conduct a formal recruitment, which can take up to five months, or to conduct a focused recruitment, which allows Gonzalez to interview potential candidates. “As city manager, I have the authority to ‘appoint’… If I find that a candidate meets the qualifications required for the position, I can move forward without a formal recruitment,” said Gonzalez. “I need to hire the candidate who would serve the South Pasadena management team, and above all, the city, best.”
in this issue:
5
Opinion:
Why Aeries is ineffective, suspension is not a good punishment, and students should pick majors early.
10 Feature:
Erini Katopodis publishes her poetry, reviews of Oscar-nominated movies, and a closer look at Urban Sustainability.
16 Sports:
Girls basketball sets SPHS record for wins, soccer vies for the league title, and wrestling continues to CIF.
Rachael Garner
Junior Megan Srisutham and senior Jason Qiu play skeeball during Winter Formal at Universal City Walk. See more photos on pages 8-9.
Winter Formal “Lights Up the Night” By Petra Barbu Staff Writer Uncharacteristically rainy Hollywood weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of more than 550 South Pasadena High School students flocked to Jillian’s Billiards and Bowling for arcades, bowling, dancing, pool, and a well-stocked candy table. The 2013 Winter Formal, themed “Light Up the Night,” ran from 8:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M. on February 2. Commissioner of Activities senior Ryan Stone organized and coordinated the school-wide event with the help of the rest of the Associated Student Body. “People from every social group were able to spend the night together, and that’s what made Winter Formal so great,” said Stone. “So much work was put into this dance, and all of the ASB class deserves credit for making this night spectacular.” Ticket sales exceeded the expected 450 with a total of 556 tickets sold, the highest in recent history. “The dance had something for everyone,” said sophomore Elise Takahama. “If you didn’t like dancing, you could bowl, play pool, or check out the games.” Students were able to bowl for free and play unlimited arcade games all night. Principal Ms Janet Anderson
and Assistant Principal Mr. Terrance Dunn escorted students out of the dance at 12:00 A.M. to ensure the event ended on time. “I really loved this year’s Winter Formal,” said sophomore Hanna Crowley. “The location was perfect. It was really versatile and allowed everyone to have a good time.”
By Heather Vaughan Copy Editor
By Jason Wang Business Manager
After a delay of nearly two weeks, students received their first semester report cards during third period on February 1. Principal Ms Janet Anderson attributed the wait to technical difficulties surrounding the Aeries database used to track and submit grades. Two district employees spent time attempting to regulate the issues. Before report cards could be released, each teacher was required to double check that all grades were accurate, which Anderson cited as the reason for the late distribution. Many seniors were affected by the delay, as prospective universities required their grade reports to complete their applications. “I received notifications that I’ve [missed] deadlines and that I needed to send the grades myself when there was really nothing I could do,” said senior Hannah Rips. “Colleges are extremely strict about deadlines, and I don’t know how this will affect my admission chances.” Even students who did not need the grades for colleges were impatient to receive them, sometimes pressured by parents who were concerned about the postponement. “The delay was ill-timed,” said senior Ashim Shrestha. “It was a nuisance, but as long as we learn from it, we are okay.” No teachers were available for comment.
Few classes require their students to form a group of nine and hole up in a classroom for over eight hours on a weekend to compete in intense academic competitions. Eighth period Academic Decathlon calls on its students to do this twice. On January 26 and February 2, the members of the South Pasadena Academic Decathlon team faced off against 63 schools in Los Angeles County in two consecutive Saturdays of competition, with both days focused on the overarching theme of Russia. On the first Saturday, every student was required to complete an interview, speech, and essay that were reviewed and scored by a panel of judges. On February 2, the Decathletes completed seven different written exams on topics ranging from arts and music to Economics and science. Students were also pitted against each other in a super quiz relay round, encompassing all the subjects in a fast-paced intellectual battle. A maximum of nine schools will advance to the statelevel competition with eligibility determined by the results of both competition days. This is the first Academic Decathlon that SPHS has competed in for more than twenty years. Advisor Mr. Oliver Valcorza returned the program to SPHS and has built a young but dedicated See “Academic Decathlon” on Page 2
Urban Sustainability receives SPEF grant By Andrés García Staff Writer The newly founded Urban Sustainability Club is planning the construction of an aquaponic growing system to tend to the vegetable garden at South Pasadena High School. The project will be funded by a $1,000 grant that the club received from the South Pasadena Educational Foundation in early January. The aquaponic system will include a live fish tank linked to the school garden. Water will be pumped from the tank and through the garden, where it will be purified before returning to the tank. Seniors Austin Kahn, Ella Hardy, and Angelise Slifkin established an Urban Sustainability independent study at the beginning of the school year, and founded the club and applied for the SPEF grant in October. During
Urban Sustainability’s first meeting on January 24, the group began to gather a construction committee of SPHS students who will assemble the aquaponic system. A marketing committee will focus on promoting Urban Sustainability in the community, and an aquaculture committee will regu-
late the system once it is installed. “We hope that it will open the community’s perspective of making food, rather than buying it from corporations and companies,” said Kahn. “Hopefully, families and other schools will consider changing their mindset.” For more information on the club, see “Urban Sustainability” on Page 10.
Matt Winkel
Seniors Ella Hardy, Angelise Slifkin, and Austin Kahn created volunteer committees during the Urban Sustainability meeting on January 24.
News 2 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
News
Around Campus
Juniors Jason Wang and Jenny Wang received Scholastic Writing Gold Key Awards for the sustainability research papers they submitted to their AP Lang classes. According to the Scholastic website, the contest accepted approximately 1,400 submissions from California alone, and approximately 10% of all regional submissions were recognized with Gold Key Awards. The essays will now be considered for national-level recognition. /Remeny White
PCC assists with FAFSA
Physical Fitness Test pass rate increases 1.3%
By Andrew Shults Staff Writer A single year at a college institution costs anywhere between $20,000 and $60,000. The federal government provides financial aid to 47% of undergraduates, distributed based on information from students given in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Pasadena City College collaborated with South Pasadena High School to provide seniors with one-on-one assistance to complete the FAFSA on January 31 in the SPHS library. The financial aid workshop also outlined other government assistance forms, such as the Cal Grant, which provides aid for California students attending schools in state. “It’s a shame that there were not more parents here, because they could have completed the entire application in one night,” said SPHS counselor Ms Olinda Cazares. Ms Kim Miles, the Assistant Dean for the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at PCC, stressed the importance of turning in the form by February 14 to allow ample time to make edits before its final due date on March 2.
Sophia Arriola
Pasadena City College representatives explained the FAFSA on January 31.
By Shine Cho Assoc. News Editor
Siria Medina
Freshman Alcina Chen auditioned for the spring musical, “Sweeney Todd”, on February 4. Vocal auditions and callbacks were also held this week to determine the final cast.
Sweeney Todd selected for spring musical By David Yang Staff Writer Although Drama Director Mr. Daniel Enright originally announced the spring musical would be Once Upon a Mattress, he switched the selection on January 25 to Sweeney Todd in a sudden stroke of inspiration. The newly-chosen musical chronicles the murderous rampage of a nineteenth-century barber in London, England. “As soon as I picked [Once Upon a Mattress], I knew I couldn’t stand listening to the music for three months,” Enright said. “I feel like Sweeney Todd will give the community a chance to see something a little more edgy.” Vocal and script auditions began on Monday, February 4. Thirty students auditioned on Monday and 21 auditioned on Tuesday for the preliminary round of cuts. “I was pleasantly surprised about
the amount of new talent we got this year. This year’s musical seems like it will be truly fantastic,” said Assistant Director junior Tatiana Joyet. Auditorium Director Mr. James Jontz and the stage crew will start construction on the set after completing their obligations to the annual elementary school musical. “I’m really excited for the show,” said stage crew member senior Adam LaBrie. “Nothing is set in stone yet because we’re working on Aladdin, but I’m almost certain we will be building a slide, and that will be crazy fun.” The show is set to premiere on April 26 at 7:00 P.M. and will run five performances over the course of two weekends. “This year’s musical is really going to be something with a little more meat in it,” said Enright. Vocal auditions and callbacks will be completed before the end of the week. Enright will announce the final cast list on Monday, February 11.
The Physical Fitness Test (PFT) pass rate at South Pasadena High School increased 1.3% from the 2010-2011 scores for a total of 86.9%. The South Pasadena Board of Education interpreted the 2011-2012 districtwide PFT results during its meeting on January 29. FITNESSGRAM®, the State Board of Education’s specific process of testing, measures six different areas of fitness: aerobic capacity, body composition, abdominal strength, trunk extensor strength, upper body strength, and flexibility. Students must meet five of the six requirements to pass the test. All school districts in California are required to administer the test to students in grades five, seven, and nine to promote healthy lifestyles and assess student fitness. The goal for all California schools is for 100% of students to pass the PFT. On a district-wide level, 80.2% of students who participated passed the Physical Fitness Test. SPUSD plans to continue to build success at the high school by testing consistently and structuring mini-lessons to meet specific student needs in order to move closer to the 100% target.
South Pasadena residents rally for Measure S By Kea Hudson Staff Writer Registered South Pasadena voters will receive a mail-in ballot during the week of February 11 containing the option to renew Measure S, which is set to expire in June if it is not approved by a 66.7% majority of votes. Measure S places an annual $288
parcel tax on each family to provide local funding for the South Pasadena Unified School District. More than the required twothirds of voters approved Measure S in 2009. On December 14, 2012, the South Pasadena Board of Education voted unanimously to place a measure on the ballot to renew Measure S for five years and to increase the parcel tax by $98.
Matt Winkel
Local phone bank volunteers work to raise awareness for Measure S. South Pasadena residents will vote whether or not to renew the measure on February 11.
Volunteers throughout South Pasadena are working to publicize and fundraise for Measure S through phone banks, during which groups of volunteers call local residents to inform voters about the measure and its effects in the community. Activists have also organized precinct walks to spread the word around local neighborhoods. “If we don’t renew the parcel tax, we will lose 37 teachers district wide,” said freshman Jenna Giulioni, who volunteers regularly at the phone bank. “We’ll have the same number of kids, but 37 less teachers. Take a look around your classrooms. Can you imagine trying to fit more kids in?” According to Ms Helen Lauderdale, the treasurer of the measure’s committee, renewing Measure S is crucial in order to preserve the quality of South Pasadena schools and to protect stable property values. “The State has cut $18 million from our schools since 2008,” said Lauderdale. “We need to renew Measure S in order to retain local funding for our schools that Sacramento cannot take away.”
Sophia Arriola
The School Board discussed the Physical Fitness Test results on January 29. From “Academic Decathlon” on Page 1 team that has studied countless hours both individually and as a group. Despite the team’s inexperience, Valcorza views advancement to the state level as a very tangible possibility. “A young team has its advantages and disadvantages,” said Valcorza. “Experience is a big weakness, especially in comparison to other well-established teams, but all the members are dedicated and willing to study and work hard. We as a group have put in the time and effort to make advancing to state a possibility, and a lack of experience won’t change that.” The Decathletes will receive their results on February 13 and, if they are chosen to continue, will participate in a state competition on March 15 and 16 in Sacramento.
3 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
News
Calculus students raise more than $8000 for Door of Hope charity By Sofi Goode Editor-in-Chief Mathematics teacher Ms Ruth Moonesinghe visited a personal friend on the night of January 13 with the intention of picking up homemade chicken curry for her husband’s birthday. She walked out the door with a check for $4,310 and without the platter of food. Moonesinghe went back for the dish, but the money—which matched the funds raised by South Pasadena High School students through an annual mathematics tutoring fundraiser earlier that day—was donated to Door of Hope Pasadena later that week. To raise the other half of the funds, 215 students gave up three hours their Sunday afternoon to come to school and receive tutoring for their math final. Moonesinghe and 35 of her students organized the event. For a $20 fee, students received a packet of practice problems made by their math teacher and three hours of tutoring from students who had previously taken their class. Math teachers Mr. Philip Bliss, Mr. Garrett Shorr, Mr. Ian Merrick, Mr. Andrew McGough, Mr. Shane Mills as well as math coach Ms Janet Bryson supervised classrooms and tutored in their own subjects. “This program is great because it not only helps the students but also helps the tutors,” said senior Ryan Stone, the primary student organizer of the event. “They get review and help with communication skills, planning skills, life skills that they will need in
the future.” The fundraiser made over $4,000 that afternoon. All of the proceeds were donated to Door of Hope, an organization in northern Pasadena that helps homeless families and single parents with children find jobs and permanent housing. “This money will be able to make a huge difference because we’re a relatively small organization. We provide their house, their meals, [and] case management. Help them get jobs, help them save money, and get them into permanent housing,” said Door of Hope Executive Director Tim Peters, who attended the fundraiser. South Pasadena City Council member Mr. Robert Joe also attended
the event and works on the Board of Directors at Door of Hope. “[I was amazed] to see the number of students and the involvement of the teachers to be able to provide a program where something that is useful but at the same time the donations help a charitable organization like the Door of Hope,” said Joe. “To hear that high school students are this involved is beyond comprehension. Moonesinghe, Stone, and SPHS Principal Ms Janet Anderson delivered the $8,620 proceeds of the event to Door of Hope on January 15. “[The money] will actually provide a huge portion of [our services] for homeless families in our program,” said Peters. “It literally is life transforming.”
The South Pasadena School Board plans high school renovations The South Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education is using surplus Measure M funds to construct new science buildings at the high school. Depending on how much money is left over in the budget after other projects are funded, the School Board may also renovate the Tiger Patio. The proposed timelines for each project were announced during the January 29 meeting. According to the tentative science building construction timeline: • • • • •
Construction is set to begin during the summer or early fall of 2013 The projected budget for the entire project is approximately $3 million The four new laboratory classrooms will be placed adjacent to the softball field and the main parking lot Construction will be completed by January of 2014 The rooms will each be separated by a storeroom to hold science materials
If Measure M money provides sufficient funds to renovate the Tiger Patio: • • •
Rachael Garner
Ms Ruth Moonesinghe and her Calculus students hosted a math tutoring fundraiser for semester finals on January 13. The charity event raised $8620.
•
Construction would begin during the summer of 2014 The northern senior lawn would be expanded and refurbished with additional grass and plants The area outside the cafeteria would be extended, and more tables would be added to reach the Tiger Patio Construction would be completed by August 20, 2014
4 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
“Speed Dating”
Yoon Lee (11)
Vesta Javaheri (12)
Q: What are you plans for the Zombie Apocalypse?
Q: What would you do if you were Ryan Stone for a day?
“I would get ALL of the Twinkies, and then I’d go to Jason Wang’s house. He’s an expert, you know.”
“I’d hang out with my mom because they’re honestly better friends than we are.”
Q: Pirates or Ninjas?
Q: How would you fit a cow into a Volkswagen Beetle?
“Ninjas, because you know, ethnic reasons.”
“In pieces, probably.”
Q: What would your last meal be?
Q: If you could have any celebrity as a parent, who would it be?
“Bowl of rice and kimchi. Extra rice with the rice because I like to keep up with tradition. Tradition is everything. Oh, and poison. The best poison.”
“I’d add Johnny Depp as a supplementary parent.” Q: If your car broke down in the desert and you didn’t have any cell phone reception, what is the first thing you would do? “I’d probably take a nap, honestly.”
Q: If you were a house, what would you be made out of?
“Diamonds, because I’m expensive.” Q: What part of your body do you think would make the most money if you sold it on the black market?
“My hand. I would say it was Ryan Gosling’s hand.”
Devna Desai (12)
Janty Woojuh (12)
Q: What would you do if you were an orange?
I might grow into an orange tree…spawn more oranges. That’d be insane.”
Q: If you were a racecar driver, how would you decorate your racecar?
Q: What exactly is in the milkshake that brings all the boys to the yard?
“I’d cover it in a collage of hot guys… oooh, in lavender!”
Q: If you could be any baked good, what would you be?
Q: Would you rather be on a date with Flo the Progressive Girl or Jarrod, the Subway Guy?
“He’s not curvy enough for me. It’s all about Flo.” Q: What are you like when you’re hangry?
“When I’m hangry? I want hugs!” Q: If your partner was a baked good, what would they be?
“They’d be a good corn muffin, because they’re cute like corn.” Q: What would you do if you were an orange?
“If I was an orange, I’d try to be sweeter.”
“Arsenic is what brings the boys to the yard, honestly.” “I’d be like an apple fritter or a bear claw...Or I’d just have an ego and be a soufflé or a cake pop.” Q: If you could have a conversation with God, what would you ask?
“Probably some pretty fundamental questions. Why don’t dogs like it when you blow in their face, but they like sticking their heads out the window? Why are pizza boxes square, when pizzas are round?” Q: What are your phobias?
“Mirrors. Mirrors are extremely creepy.” Page by Sofi Goode, Pictures by Rachael Garner, Managing by Jessica Moog, Illustration by Amber Laird, Text by Jessica Moog
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Tiger understands that not everyone has a date secured. The life of a teenager is busier than ever and spending a whole night getting to know a crush isn’t always possible. SPHS “Speed Dating” solves the time crunch and takes the hassle out of finding a companion. Looking for love or friendship, twenty students sat down on a Sunday afternoon, armed with name tags and snacks, to answer the questions that really matter. Everyone knows that a match made on the Tiger Patio is a match made in heaven.
America Hall, 12
Ryan Stone, 12
Nick O’Brien, 12
Q: What would you do if you went back in time and accidentally killed your grandfather? “I’d want to do it in a really cool way so that when I was re-born I’d be like ‘Oh my gosh, my grandpa was killed in a really cool way.’”
Q: If you found Cinderella’s slipper, how would you return it (think greatest efficiency)? “I would put it on Craigslist. ‘Found: Glass slipper. Man seeking uni-shoeular woman. If it’s yours, we’re in love.”
Q: If you were a racecar driver, how would you decorate your car? “I’d cover it in clothing. I’d buy shirts and tape them onto it. I’d cover it in teeth. Yes, teeth.”
Sam Benzoni, 10 Q: If you could have a two-minute face-to-face conversation with God, what would you talk about? “Why do lunch meats come in circles?”
Ryan Stone, 12
Hanna Crowley, 10
America Hall, 12
Q: What are your phobias? “Getting no likes on a selfie.”
Q: What would you do if you went back in time and accidentally killed your grandfather? “As soon as you killed him, wouldn’t you, like, blow up into oblivion?”
Nick O’Brien, 12
Max Robertson, 12
Q: What would you do on a desert island? “I’d befriend the desert animals and they’d take me to where I need to go.”
Q: What are your phobias? “I’m afraid of being on stage and being the center of attention.”
Q: What are your plans for the Zombie Apocalypse? “Costco! They’ve got food, TVs, beds, really good meat, fruits and almonds.”
Max Robertson, 12 Q: Describe your dream date: “Lots of Cubans. That’s my dream date. Lots of Cubans.”
Ryan Stone, 12
Q: What’s at the end of a rainbow? “Neil Patrick Harris.”
Ryan Stone, 12 Q: How would you fit a cow into a Volkswagen Beetle? “Leather seating.”
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Tiger
Opinion
Opinion
5
Yeah Boi
B
oo to the 49ers and Ravens for interrupting Beyoncé’s concert. Nobody cares about your little tussle.
B
to Taylor Swift for lasting a few weeks without releasing a breakup single. We were expecting “Not So Styleish” to be topping the charts within hours. ravo
B
oo to the security at Winter Formal. Even the TSA doesn’t confiscate Trident Layers.
By Sofi Goode Editor-in-Chief
B
ravo to the combination of CAHSEE testing, National Pancake Day, and free Menchies for driving up senior absences this week. You’re the reason I won’t be walking at graduation.
B
to the San Marino crowd for holding up newspapers when SPHS players walked onto the basketball court. If you’re going to read a newspaper, read Tiger. oo
The Tiger Established 1913
CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 CSPA Gold Medalist 2011 Editor-in-Chief Sofi Goode
Annie Lu
Aeries policy is inefficient
How the system isn’t living up to its potential Staff Editorial
Managing Editor Jessica Moog News Remeny White, Editor Shine Cho, Associate Opinion Natalie McLain, Editor Kira Gabriel, Associate Feature Rhian Moore, Editor Sarah Stukan, Associate Sports Christian Miyamae, Co-editor Clem Witherall, Co-editor Copy Editors Amber Laird, Shyam Senthilkumar, and Heather Vaughan Photography Rachael Garner, Editor Matthew Winkel, Associate Photographers Sophia Arriola, Siria Medina, Anastasia Velicescu Senior Staff Writer Kelsey Hess Staff Writers Madison Amido, Petra Barbu, Matt DeFulgentiis, Andrés García, Kea Hudson, Brandon Kim, Andrew Shults, Pooja Vyas, Jason Wang, Jenny Wang, Jordan Xiao, David Yang Tiger Online Writers Karen Hsueh, Talia Wun-Young Staff Illustrators Evan Davis, Rachael Lee, Annie Lu, Amanda Stewart Managers Marcy Kuo, Ads Jason Wang, Business Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Vol. XCIX. No. V distributed on February 7, 2013. Distribution: 1528 students; 70 community. 1600 copies printed. Distributed by Tiger staff free of charge. Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 FremontAve, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Layout and photo imaging are completed on-site. Printed by American/Foothill Publishing Co., Inc., Tujunga, CA. Signed articles appearing in Tiger represent the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, student body, faculty or administration of SPHS. Contact the publications office at (626) 441-5820 ext. 2615 between 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. for advertising rates and subscriptions. Tiger welcomes articles, letters or rebuttals for publication in the print and online editions. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be withheld upon request. Tiger Newspaper’s mission is to provide a reliable news outlet for SPHS and the local community. Through a variety of coverage, Tiger empowers/enables students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, solve problems, set and reach goals, and work cooperatively and independently as responsible citizens. Tiger is a forum for student free speech, in accordance with California Ed Code 48907. Visit Tiger Online at www.tigernewspaper.com for additional content.
At the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, the South Pasadena High School administration instructed all teachers to use the Aeries online database to record and file their grades. In addition to allowing teachers to easily update assignments and scores, Aeries is intended to help parents track their student’s academic progress. The system is supposedly efficient and effective, a theoretical advantage for everyone involved. But as much as Aeries is promoted as being convenient, this potentially useful tool falls flat due to misuse. For three weeks preceding, during, and following finals, the Aeries portal is closed to students and parents. This creates major problems for students who are trying to see their most recently updated grades going into exams. The most common argument to justify the closing of the site is that teachers imputting several grades before the semester ends would have to fend off emails from parents about potential mistakes directly before, after, and during exams, a time in which they are undoubtedly busy. However, closing the grade books creates an environment of little accountability for teachers entering grades. If there is a recording
error, such as 10/100 input instead of 100/100, students have no way of knowing about or fixing the inaccuracy. And between the work of 180 plus students, such mistakes seem like less of a possibility and more of a probability. In addition, the school says that the Aeries portal is a service for parents only. Parent email is used to register, and a parent must physically come into the school office to activate an account. This ideology is counterintuitive; students should be active in tracking their progress in class to gain a better understanding of which areas they need to improve. This contradicts the idea that one of the purposes of high school is to prepare students for adult life, a life in which they will have to be largely independent. This includes monitoring and being responsible for their own grades. The idea behind Aeries is ideal: a system for teachers to easily enter grades, and for those grades to be easily accessible to parents and students. However, the policy surrounding the grading software creates nothing but confusion, frustration, and more stress for students, parents, and faculty alike. The best solution is to require grades to be updated at least every other week, keep the grade book open at all times, and encourage students to track their own grades.
There are several days at the end of the semester between when teachers finish computing their grades and when report cards are sent home to parents. For teachers, this period is a time to relax after grading hundreds of tests and rejuvenate for when classes resume. For students, it is known as the rapidly closing window to go beg teachers to bump up grades. Some students bring cookies, others bring tears, and still others bring parents, but there is no denying that a substantial number of students approach at least one teacher during this time. These students asking for better grades are undermining the integrity of the teacher, their classmates, and themselves. Our grading system is set up to be incremental. In each class, the teacher assigns letter grades based on student percentages, and, as such, not everyone can earn an A. According to South Pasadena Unified School District policy, a 90% to a 100% is an A. An 89% is a B. Some teachers have their own twist on the policy, but by asking them to defy this code, the student is diminishing the achievement of those who actually earned their As. The truth of the matter is that the difference between an A and a B in one class is not going to be instrumental to a student’s future success. Either way, they will get into college and several years from now, no one will remember or care about that grade. But what should matter to high school students is their integrity. Our actions now shape the people that we will become, and asking a teacher to raise your grade by crying or flattering or even bribing shows a belief that your emotions are more powerful than the system, and that the establishment should conform to your desires. That’s simply not the reality of the workplace. Students need to understand that after high school, work is judged completely on its quality, not your emotional attachment to a reward. If you aren’t satisfied with the grade that you earned in a class, that little A on a report card is not worth the collective moral sacrifice needed to procure it. Preserve your integrity, let your classmates enjoy their success, and don’t ask your teachers to raise your grades unless they were incorrect based on district margins.
I’m an aspiring English major in Calc BC By Remeny White News Editor Now that the holiday season is officially over, teenagers across America can wipe the fake smiles off their faces, discretely return unwanted gifts, and stop mumbling noncommittal answers to the dreaded question posed by every relative over the age of thirty: “So, what are your plans for the future?” A typical answer for a South Pasadena High School student consists of a college education and an eventual high-paying job, but the specifics are often undecided. These vague life goals coin-
cide with those of the rest of the country, as approximately 80% of high school graduates enter college with an undeclared major, and nearly half of all college students change their major at least once, according to research conducted by Pennsylvania State University. The competitive nature of the college admissions process contributes greatly to this nationwide uncertainty. An overpowering need to appear well-rounded often encourages high school students to take classes that they are genuinely uninterested in, just so that they can have a fighting chance at being accepted to the school of their
choice. The brutal confluence of sleep deprivation and information overload has deluded teenagers into thinking that acceptance into a prestigious school is the key to future success. Unfortunately, this shortsighted outlook often proves fruitless later in life. According to researchers Alan Krueger and Stacy Berg Dale, the students who earn admission to elite colleges earn the same income twenty years after graduation regardless of whether or not they decline acceptance to a top-tier university. A college student with a definite passion and the drive
to pursue it has the potential to become more prosperous than a Harvard graduate who entered college with an undeclared major. Regardless of which university he or she attends. Accordingly, it is imperative that high school students utilize their limited free time to explore possible careers and discover their interests, rather than blindly singing up for extracurricular activities that they may not even enjoy. After all, the ultimate purpose of a college education is to prepare students for a job in their chosen field, not to simply sound impressive on a résumé.
6 Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Tiger
Opinion
Ensuring maximum public safety By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Gun violence has once again been highlighted in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The Guardian states that in 2011 there were 8,583 firearm murders in the United States, compared to 550 in England. It seems to be no coincidence that England also has relatively stringent gun laws in comparison with those in the U.S. The data strongly suggests that the U.S.’s citizens’ easy access to firearms has a direct correlation with our higher murder rates. This correlation must be directly addressed by placing heavier restrictions on the purchase and ownership of firearms. The Federal Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) had prohibited civilian ownership of semi-automatic firearms for a decade but it expired in 2004 as per its sunset provision. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California has stated that she aims to produce a proposal that would be similar to the AWB, but would also prohibit the sale of magazines with more than 10 rounds. A ban similar to the AWB would not violate the second amendment because citizens would still be able to arm themselves, albeit in a different way. It is true that violence will not simply vanish with a ban on guns. A Chinese man in the Henan province wounded 22 students with a knife, on December 14, the same day as the shooting in Newtown. The Chinese massacre was tragic, but its number of deaths pales in comparison to 28 in Newtown. The only difference between the two incidents was that one person had a knife and the other a gun. Violent incidents are almost universal, but they are only made worse by the easy access to firearms in the U.S. This is why legislation similar to the
Gun control policies are misguided
Federal Assault Weapons Ban should be enacted to prevent people with homicidal tendencies to carry out their desires. Another way to limit gun violence would be by limiting access to firearms via more thorough background checks. Currently, only 60% of gun sales in the U.S. require background checks of the potential buyer. Universal background checks would
By David Yang Staff Writer
not guarantee the absolute disappearance of gun violence, but will be crucial in its reduction. This would be complemented well by more frequent updates of gun purchases in all U.S. states. The complete disappearance of firearm possession in the United States is virtually impossible. Americans must do everything else they can to prevent gun violence from taking place on a regular basis. Tighter restrictions on guns would undoubtedly lead to a safer nation for all Americans, and would minimize the chances of shootings and deaths taking place.
for these intense emotions to be temporarily suspended in order to evaluate the issue calmly and logically. Arguing both in favor of and against increased gun-control legislation in the United States based on the experiences of another country is an endeavor that is essentially shameless speculation. It is far more useful to do an internal analysis, because decisions based on data collected in America take cultural attitudes into account and result in legislation that fits snugly into the mosaic of American society. There is little doubt that America’s citizenry is better armed now than during any
Amidst the highly agitated gun debates provoked by a slew of recent shootings, it’s tempting (and perhaps natural) to question current gun laws, enshrining tragedy over reason in an attempt to legislate away grief and fear. However, rational decision-making calls
other point in the nation’s history. Americans, comprising only 5 percent of the global population, own 50 percent of all guns on earth. A report by Factcheck.org, a reputable information verification website, states that gun manufacturing and ownership have both gone up in recent years. Even with the increased availability and distribution of guns in recent years (beginning in 2007), the number of gun related assaults, robberies, and murders has actually declined, according to Factcheck. If the data is correct, it would serve to demonstrate that, on a national scale there seems to be little correlation between increased gun ownership and gun related violence. Proponents of gun control will often frame the desire to ban semi-automatic weapons as stemming from the “excessive” nature of the weapons. The previous Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 that expired in 2004 is commonly referenced in support of a further ban on high-capacity weapons. Although the bill successfully lowered the incident rate of massshootings, its success was Amber Laird punctuated early on by the Columbine massacre that killed 13 people. By any measure of modesty, those deaths are excessive. Furthermore, the ban lasted a short 10 years, which is hardly enough time to establish a correlation, considering that mass shootings are generally rare. Advocating against further gun control despite the fact that guns kill people does not represent complacency towards the deaths resulting from their use. A more fitting description of the position would be that opponents of gun control do not find the claim of “fewer guns leading to fewer gun related deaths” to hold true.
Suspension, or extended vacation? By Petra Barbu Staff Writer
Rachael Lee
Suspensions are an accepted, even commonplace part of high school life. But despite the frequency with which this practice is threatened, it seems like there has not been an in-depth analysis of the logic, or lack thereof, behind it. Suspension gives students a quasi vacation from school, and focuses on hurting their grades as punishment rather than helping them curb their behavior. If the school truly wants to promote the educational best for its students, it is time for this archaic practice to be discontinued, and some serious thought to be given to constructing more effective methods of reinforcing positive behavior. Because students are not allowed to do any work during the suspension, when they return to school, they have piles of work to finish as well as tests to make up and concepts to grasp. If a student is receiving a suspension, or multiple suspensions, chances are that he or she needs as much help as possible to succeed in a typical high school setting. All suspension does is push the student further from success, forcing him or her
to fall behind in classes, hurting his or her grades, and creating a less-than-ideal disciplinary record. The most frustrating part of the suspension system is that better options exist, but aren’t considered as harsh or as effective as a one-week break from school. Multiple detentions or Saturday schools would be seen as a much harsher punishment in the eyes of most students and would force the individual to work on his or her assignments instead of encouraging the student to forget about school. This kind of disciplinary action does everything a suspension doesn’t: it generates genuine worry in most stu-
dents, forces rather than prevents schoolwork, and has the potential to boost an individual’s grades and improve his or her study habits. If a student has committed an infraction worthy of a suspension, he or she is not likely to be upset about missing school, and will probably see the time off as less of a punishment and more of a blessing. As education moves towards an environment focused on nurturing good behavior rather than punishing the bad, this out of date, inefficient, and ineffective disciplinary policy needs to be suspended.
SPHS suspension policy According to the SPHS Tiger Guide, the recommended grounds for suspension or expulsion are assault/battery, possessed/sold/otherwise furnished firearms, unlawfully possessed/used/sold/otherwise furnished controlled substance, extortion/robbery, willful damage of property, stolen property, unlawful possession/use of tobacco, habitual vulgarity/profanity, unlawfully possessed/offered/arranged/negotiated to sell drug paraphernalia, disruption/defiance [which includes gambling, reckless driving, parking in unauthorized areas on school property, false identification, forgery, freedom of expression, student attire, violation of suspension, visiting other campuses, tardies/truancies, throwing any kind of object or liquid, plagiarism or cheating], stolen property, imitation firearm, sexual assault/ battery, harassment, selling/arranging to sell/unlawfully offering the prescription drug Soma, hazing, and bullying. Source: CA Ed Code 48900.
Opinion
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Tiger
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Essays are unfit to serve as finals By Jenny Wang Staff Writer Stress, late night cramming sessions, and comfort food are all associated with dreaded semester finals. While finals are an inevitable and necessary evaluation, they must be as objective-oriented and summative as possible to accurately measure a student’s knowledge base. However, this is difficult to achieve when there are variations in how each test is graded. Essay finals are particularly susceptible to such inconsistencies, and generate a whole other host of problems which make them unfit to serve as cumulative assessments of a semester’s worth of knowledge. It is nearly impossible to grade essays without subjectivity. Teachers cannot simply turn off their emotional receptors and personal preferences when reading student papers. How a student structures and conveys his or her ideas most definitely affects how a teacher will judge the paper, even if structure and style has very little to do with the subject at hand. Additionally, there are only a few days between when finals are administered and when grades are due—a far smaller amount of time than teachers have to grade essays throughout the academic year. This condensed grading period is too short to ensure that each final exam is given the attention and care it needs to be properly scored. It seems reason-
able to assume that after reading a certain number of papers on the same topic, a teacher’s ability to focus and remain interested in the subject at hand decreases. Consequently, there can be a significant difference between the amount of time and attention one essay receives in comparison to another. Perhaps the first few essays a teacher reads are graded strictly, but after hours upon hours of reading, the last few essays are likely to be judged on a far more rudimentary level. While essay writing is an important skill to have, its susceptibility to subjectivity and time-demanding grading make it
impractical as a testing method for finals. Rather than focusing on conveying their own opinions and ideas, students are more concerned with writing something that appeals to the teacher, which completely contradicts the concept of finals being cumulative tests of knowledge. Teachers, too, are burdened with balancing thoroughly grading papers with working on a short deadline. Perhaps with more time, essays could be effectively used as finals, but given the current system regarding these exams, they neither accurately measure a student’s knowledge nor reflect an objective assessment of skills.
Amanda Stewart
Seven new teachers joined the SPHS staff this year. Mr. Ian Merrick provides an insider’s view on what it’s like being an outsider. appears more apathetic than usual. I become obsessed with the same questions night after night. Why When I was in high school, don’t these students love math the teaching seemed like the easi- way I do? Why can’t I make them est job in the world—work from see the beauty in logical reasoneight to three, pass on life lessons ing? What more can I do? In my shor t three and a to teenagers, and take summers off. Boy, was I right! Just kidding. half years on the job, I have been This short editorial is to give the a teacher, counselor, confidant, readers a brief insight into the life advisor, therapist, doctor, judge, jury, advocate, friend, and much, of a teacher. much more. As soon as I’ve been that bell rings, it’s The curtain is up, the screamed show time. The curtain is up, the stage stage lights are on and at, cried to, lights are on and the the audience is eagerly, hugged, gloaudience is eagerly, I I certainly hope, waiting rified, beaten down, vercertainly hope, waitfor the performance bally abused, ing for the perforof a lifetime. and physimance of a lifetime. cally threatAnd I’m scared. I’m ened. scared that I’ll fail. And for what? Why do I do Scared that the students will fall asleep, scared that they’ll end up this to myself ? The simple answer hating math, scared that they’ll is: I love it. I love the students, the colleagues, the platform, and finally realize how scared I am. Once the performance is most of all, the summertime. So over and the audience has left, from the bottom of my heart, I the fear gives way to obsession. I say thank you; thank you for givignore the compliments that I re- ing me the opportunity to have ceive and focus all my attention on some impact, for better or worse, that one student in the back that on your life. By Mr. Ian Merrick SPHS Mathematics Teacher
Tiger Newspaper Asks: Finals are presented in a multitude of formats. Which do you believe is the most effective way to demonstrate what has been learned throughout the semester? Which is the least effective? What are better alternatives to the current system? Ryan Stone, Grade 12 The most effective way to demonstrate what a student has learned over the course of the semester is to do some sort of real-life application. Now, this is very difficult for most of the classes at SPHS, so teachers of course go for the final test. I feel that this test is a good way to measure what we learned, as it goes over all of the semester material. It is also not worth over 20% of a student’s grade, which I think is very fair. The final system we have in place now is effective. Most of the grade is from student’s work and tests throughout the year, and if they are doing well on those, they should do well on the final. Thus, it encourages hard work throughout a semester, which benefits both student and teacher. I feel that all final exam methods have their drawbacks, and the administration has chosen the best one for our school.
ally, I think people learn best when they are enjoying themselves. Even in challenging classes, the students know their favorite subjects best out of everything. Although I understand the necessity of the current tests used during finals, I believe that the pressure of these tests can render some inaccurate results. Fiona Bock, Grade 9 I think the best way to measure semester success is in your final grade. Finals are not necessary to measure your semester success. I think that they’re too much pressure and it’s too much to condense into one test at the end of a semester. I think a mixture [of question types] is good because everyone has a different way of learning and taking tests. So, if you have a mixture of that, at least there’s a way that appeals to everyone.
Courtney Chu, Grade 11
Austin Kahn, Grade 12
Honestly, a single test will never truly capture what a student has learned during the semester. If someone would like to attempt to measure the amount a student has learned, that person’s best bet would be to ask the student to write, in as honest words as possible, their favorite parts of the class and why. Gener-
You’ll often see with distressed Facebook posts about how teens consider finals to be the most stressful thing in the world. Crazy late nights with last minute studying should not be necessary if throughout the semester, students are learning and internalizing the material. Obviously this point pertains to certain classes
more than others (mostly those without ridiculous amounts of mindless memorization). Also, it partially requires a teacher who is capable of motivating the kids enough over that 4-5 month period they consistently care about what they’re learning. This point, however, applies across the board: if we aren’t accustomed to final exams in high school, we will all be up [a] creek in college when they matter a lot more. In a way, our finals double as evaluation of our retention/comprehension over the semester as well as preparation for higher education. Julia Primuth, Grade 10 I think that the best way to measure semester success, personally, is that if somebody fails a chapter, they should take a final on that chapter, but if they pass that chapter, then they shouldn’t have to take a final on it at the end of the semester. I think you measure success with grades, and homework, and not with testing because some people, like me, are really bad at testing. I think finals should be mandatory for those who don’t pass a certain area of study. And they should be optional to help your grade if you want. But if you already have an A and you passed everything, then I don’t think you need to take a final.
Claire Bilderback, Grade 11 The best way to measure success is with essay questions where you can talk about the concepts… because I feel like ideas are more important than points, so if you can show that you understand by explaining, I think that’s better than just multiple-choice questions. [With] multiple-choice questions…you just have to study and memorize, as opposed to reading and understanding. I just don’t think finals are really good at all, because all you have to do is memorize things. It doesn’t mean you learned anything, it just means you’re really good at studying. I just feel that finals right now are not an efficient way to see how smart a person is. Alec English, Grade 10 Are you satisfied with your own performance? That’s what matters. The most effective way to demonstrate what has been learned throughout the semester is to test your student with a final. [The format] depends on the class. Like, you can’t have an essay for math. [I think] tests that aren’t multiple choice [are the most effective]. You have to find the answer, but you don’t have the choices. Multiple choice you can guess and get things right, which is stupid.
8 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Tiger
“It wasn’t just your typical dance; it was a social experience.”
~ senior Lauren Riley
As students made their way down the famous Universal Citywalk in the nighttime drizzle, it was Jillian’s glowing neon sign that directed them toward a night of dancing, bowling, and desserts. SPHS students immediately found themselves on the flashing dance floor as they entered the event. Just around the corner was a full, unlimited arcade where students could rev their engines and test their skeeball skills. Stepping outside the vi-
brant venue, cool air welcomed those who wanted to relax and take advantage of a candy station that kept the night as sweet as the couples cozying up at tables. Up a curving set of stairs, students could escape to an even less traditional atmosphere and spend the night bowling with friends. With a fresh and energetic setting, this year’s Winter Formal kept students’ faces lit up with smiles and proved an unforgettable night. /Jessica Moog
SPHS WINTER FORMAL 2013 PAGE AND pHOTOS BY: rACHAEL gARNER gRAPHIC bY: tHOMAS cHANG
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Out and About If you love expressing yourself through choreography, now is your chance to bring your talent to the school. Advanced Dance auditions are taking place tomorrow in the dance studio, from 3 to 5 P.M. Bring thirty seconds of your best dance moves. /Rhian Moore
Katopodis publishes Roots By Kealia Hudson Staff Writer
Matt Winkel
Seniors Angelise Slifkin, Ella Hardy, and Austin Kahn use their independent study period to work on the Urban Sustainability Club’s current projects, which include the garden in front of the science building and the cafeteria’s compost pile.
Urban Sustainability to install aquaponic growing system By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer In the middle of the concrete pathways of South Pasadena High School is a small series of wood planters bearing a variety of homegrown herbs and vegetables—everything from basil to squash. These edible gardens are the most visible form of the Urban Sustainability Club’s commitment to being environmentally friendly, but that may soon change as the club just received a $1000 grant from the South Pasadena Educational Foundation. Urban Sustainability founders seniors Ella Hardy, Austin Kahn, and Angelise Slifkin plan to construct an aquaponic growing system that will make planting vegetables much more efficient for the school. The term “aquaponics” comes from the fusion of aquaculture and hydroponics, the practices of fish farming and grow-
ing plants in water. This particular form of agriculture is a relatively new science, but many experts believe that it may be the key to saving water in desert areas such as Southern California. “[Aquaponics is] a closed-loop growing system that reuses its own waste in such a way that it requires 95% less water than traditional soil agriculture,” said Kahn. Used water from fish tanks is circulated through plants, whose roots extract by-products as nutrients, and the purified water is then sent back to the fish with next-to-no water loss. Prior to deciding on aquaponics, Kahn, Hardy, and Slifkin researched a variety of practices that would make the school more environmentally friendly. They found inspiration at the Clean Air Car Show last summer, where Slifkin and Kahn met a local urban farmer, Andrés Ramos, who gave them the idea of constructing an aquaponic system. “Andrés was there marketing for his
last company, and after they discussed some similar interests in edible gardens and organic architecture, he began meeting with us to improve the community,” said Hardy. The three students founded the Urban Sustainability Club at the beginning of the school year as a way of gaining support for the project and finding the variety of skills necessary for its construction. More than sixty students attended the first meeting in January, and showed interest in helping with the process of fundraising for, building, and advertising the aquaponic growing system. “We hope that through Urban Sustainability, especially [with] enthusiastic underclassmen, our efforts will truly be sustainable and our project will grow and carry on,” said Kahn. For more information on the grant and meeting, see “Urban Sustainability” on page 1.
At just seventeen, senior Erini Katopodis is a published author. Her first formal writing project, Roots, a 192-page collection of poems that she worked on for five years and completed in December, is available for purchase on Amazon.com and Createspace.com. “The title is pretty literal, as it’s about my roots as a person,” said Katopodis. “Roots reflects the past few years of my life; it is the cornerstone of my childhood.” Katopodis did not originally intend to selfpublish the poems; rather, she used them as an outlet to express her emotions. For Katopodis, writing has become essential and routine. “This is kind of cliché, but I can’t not write,” said Katopodis. “Writing is how I express myself. So when I read my work, I can look back and see how I saw the world at that point.” Twentieth century writers, such as Ray Bradbury and Neil Gaiman, greatly inspire Katopodis. Their influence can be seen in Katopodis’s use of inventive, metaphorical language in her writing. Roots is separated into chapters by feelings, with each section eliciting a different emotion from the reader. Though the book is not rigidly structured, many of the poems are linked by a dark, mysterious theme. “I used a lot of references to skeletons and bones. I tried to use metaphors in a literal sense, to get under people’s skin,” Katopodis said. The book’s cover is as dramatic as the poetry it holds: a black and white photo of an eerie, bare tree, taken by senior Jackie Huang. “Erini is an inspiring and amazing writer,” said Huang. “I loved her book; it provided an insight to how her creative mind functions. Through observations of her daily life, Erini is able to leave her unique mark by supplying us with a glimpse of the world she knows through her eyes.” Katopodis sees Roots as just the beginning of her writing career, and she hopes to someday venture into screenwriting. She is already working on her next project, a collection of science-fiction short stories, and hopes to complete the work by her freshman or sophomore year of college.
Personality Profile: Collin Kennedy By Kelsey Hess Senior Staff Writer The phrase “he wouldn’t hurt a fly” doesn’t come close to encompassing senior Collin Kennedy’s instinctive kindness. He is so in touch with his surroundings that he not only notices the minute details that many walk past, but also stops to examine and attend to them. “This one time, he picked up a bee that was dying and put it on a flower so that it would have a peaceful death,” said fellow senior Madeline Brogdon. Though the essence of his friendly and free-spirited personality is not conducive to verbal description, his thoughtful actions and various passions speak loudly to others. “Collin is the kind of guy who I would call to go star-gazing with,” said senior Sidney Sekula when asked to describe Kennedy.
Kennedy has lived in South Pasadena his entire life and has been inspired by his surroundings to push creative barriers. He finds a sense of fulfillment from testing the boundaries and exploring the depths of his multi-faceted artistic inclination. Kennedy has been involved in several experimental music groups, and often finds himself looking to “weird, old German music from the ‘70s” for inspiration. In second grade, Kennedy began to play guitar. He has since changed instruments and now “shreds” at the freestanding bass. His favorite types of music range from grunge-jazz bands to the Wu-Tang Clan, an eccentric hip-hop group. “Someone once described my music as what you would hear while spiraling down a tunnel,” said Kennedy. “That’s the most flattering description I’ve heard.”
Although Kennedy discovered a passion for musical expression early on, he has continued to expand his artistic horizons. He uses film photography to capture what he describes as “subtle abstractions and shapes that are not worldly.” Kennedy also enjoys classic movies, in addition to science fiction and Japanese films. As far as his interest in creative writing goes, he makes an effort to let his personal style influence his class assignments and writes poetry in his free time. But to Kennedy, what matters is not the medium but that his art truly expresses his thoughts and emotions. “I like to personify metaphysical things,” said Kennedy. “But, it doesn’t matter what we come up with as long as it comes from those Siria Medina tiny, random spots in the brain that Kennedy has found many ways to express his individuality no one really knows about.” artistically, from film photography to the freestanding bass.
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Personality Profile: Desiree de Guzman
Sophia Arriola
At last summer’s Philippine Weekend festival, an annual celebration of Filipino culture and tradition, de Guzman offered free hugs to all attendees. By Emily Markese Staff Writer At first glance, seemingly shy senior Desiree de Guzman might not seem like the kind of person who would have the nickname “Swagapino.” Anyone who gets to know her will soon realize that this term, used to describe de Guzman’s eccentric style and Filipino heritage, is a surprisingly accurate description of her quirky personality. De Guzman’s Filipino family of eleven aunts and uncles and 24 cousins comprises a large part of her life. She is very close with all of her extended family and sees them frequently.
“My family and I always joke around about how much we miss each other constantly,” said de Guzman. “My cousins all have different personalities that mesh well when we are all together. There’s never a dull moment when the de Guzman kids are together.” De Guzman and her family get a chance to celebrate their Filipino culture every year at a festival in Delano called Philippine Weekend. Last summer, de Guzman and her cousins walked around the festival with “Free Hugs” signs, embracing everyone who accepted. Her family connections led de Guzman to discover a passion for
music. After watching her cousins play, de Guzman picked up a guitar in seventh grade and taught herself how to play the ukulele a year later. De Guzman performed at the Homecoming Picnic earlier this year and plays her guitar every Sunday in the choir at Holy Family Church. “When I play for an event I’m nothing but excited. I love that feeling of butterflies in my stomach and the nervousness I feel just disappears when I start to play,” said de Guzman. The musician is not limited to just instruments: when de Guzman is not playing the guitar or ukulele, she can be found beatboxing or free-style rapping with her friends. R&B, hiphop, blues, and rap are particularly influential in her life, and she enjoys listening to artists such as Miguel and A$AP Rocky in her free time. Although de Guzman loves music, she hopes to pursue a future in athletic training. Her interest in the subject stems from her passion for both watching and playing sports, especially basketball and tennis. De Guzman has begun to follow this path by enrolling in sports medicine at SPHS. “She’s always filled with silly jokes and funny stories,” said senior Diane Huang. “She’s the kind of friend you go to when you’re feeling down or when you need a good laugh.”
To see what has happened in the story so far, visit tigernewspaper.com.
By David Yang Staff Writer On a sublime afternoon blessed with cool weather, culinary conquistador senior Ryan Stone, armed with a blazing skillet and plentiful medical insurance, set out to make Bananas Flambé. Because Stone had never prepared the dish before, he took a moment to assure me of his ability before diving into the recipe. “I’m like a secret chef,” said Stone. “I don’t usually cook, but when I do I’m really good at it.” After stripping down the bananas, he halved the bananas lengthwise before further dissembling the strips into pinkie length chunks. Stone set the stove to medium heat and tossed in a knob of butter (somewhere around ½ cup) and 6 tablespoons of brown sugar, although the recipe only called for 2 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of brown sugar. “My feelings towards butter are mixed,” said Stone. “I love butter. It’s my best friend, but it backstabs me. It likes to sneak up everywhere and be a part of my life and sometimes I’m just like, ‘Hold up, I gotta eat healthy.’ Bananas Flambé was not one of those healthy butter experiences.” Once the sugar began to caramelize, Stone added the chunks of banana to the mix and cooked them for one minute before adding ½ cup of whiskey and lighting the match. As the alcohol burnt off from the pan, the flames were mesmerizing and inspiring. In a strange way, it was almost as if the traditional campfire of primal humans had been replaced with burning pieces of banana, instead; the moment felt touching, but somewhat idiotic to ponder. Not one to dwell deeply on the existential significance of burning bananas, Stone said, “That smells really good. Let’s eat.” Stone served the flame-broiled bananas with a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrasting flavors and temperatures of fire and ice were unusual and unforgettable. “Bananas Flambé is the perfect dish because it is impossible to make it without fiery passion,” said Stone. “Without passion, food is just a means of living. But passion makes food an experience, a destination, and a way of life.”
Zero is realistic and compelling this month in Pop Culture
By Andrés García Staff Writer
5/5
Praised for her gritty realism and precise depiction of war, Kathryn Bigelow returns to the helm with the deeply controversial and powerful Zero Dark Thirty. Contrary to Bigelow’s previous films, Zero focuses on a female character, Maya (Jessica Chastain), a CIA operative working on locating Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. After assisting fellow operative Dan (Jason Clarke) in torturing Al-Qaeda prisoners and having several colleagues killed in terrorist attacks, Maya becomes remorseless and obsessed with finding the mastermind behind 9/11. While the film at times lingers on the bureaucracy, the screenwriting and acting are brilliant and deserving of their Oscar nominations. Jessica Chastain delivers the best performance of her career, capturing the determination and frustration of a woman who is a constantly ignored outcast in a boys’ club agency. However, the plot leaves the other actors with little to work with, as the film revolves solely around Maya’s character and lacks development for the rest of the cast. Although the secondary characters lack emotional depth, screen-
writer Mark Boal delivers the smartest and boldest script of the year. He has been widely criticized for using classified CIA information in the film, but the use of real scenarios gives Zero an authenticity not possible with a fictionalized storyline. Boal’s harshly realistic writing combines with Bigelow’s graphic style in the final half hour of the film, during which Navy SEALs descend upon Bin Laden’s compound. The finale is one of the most intensely lifelike stealth scenes ever portrayed on screen, and gives viewers an adrenaline rush worthy of one of the most risky military missions of our generation. Much of the controversy in Zero is generated by the opening scene, in which Dan brutally tortures a detainee for information regarding Bin Laden. This sequence challenges America’s standard of treatment towards prisoners of war and leaves the morally confusing message that torture often produce results. However, these are issues that our government must actually address, and Zero’s depiction only adds to its realism. Although the focus on an intense plot leaves some characters lacking, Zero Dark Thirty is an electrifying story about the greatest manhunt of our time, and an unforgettable performance from the cast makes it by far one of the best films of the year.
albums, movies, concerts Ellie Goulding at the Hollywood Palladium (2/12) Azealia Banks: Broke with Expensive Taste (2/12) Beautiful Creatures (2/14) Ed Sheeran at the Nokia Theatre (2/17)
Awards Season! The Grammy Awards (2/10) The BAFTAs (2/10) The Academy Awards (2/24)
Rachael Garner
Be sure to visit tigernewspaper.com for the complete recipe in this issue’s Food for Thought.
EOVER heard Illustrations by Amanda Stewart
12 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
By Madison Amido Staff Writer Many campus clubs cease to exist once seniors graduate and underclassmen fail to continue the club’s legacy, but there is one club on campus that has been meeting consistently for more than 25 years. The Science Club has been running since 1986 and is currently led by president junior Jack Bishop and advisor and science teacher Mr. Don Wielenga. At a typical weekly meeting, the club discusses and prepares for key upcoming events. Once the competition season ends in March, the club meetings consist of guest speakers from various scientific fields. In the past, scientists such as Dr. Harry Atwater, who discussed solar energy and plasmonics, and Dr. Joe Kirschvink, a geobiology professor, have spoken to the club about their specialties.
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“We have guest speakers when we can get them, and this year we are looking into off-campus lectures that we can go to as a club,” Bishop said. “Guest lectures are open to anyone who wants to come.” The Science Club is currently preparing for the annual Los Angeles County Science Olympiad. The event features two contest formats for a wide range of categories, including written tests to be done in small teams and engineering events where teams bring a specialized device constructed in advance. “This year we competed in the JPL Invention Challenge and the LA County Science Olympiad. In the past, students have entered the national science bowl,” said Wielenga. “I usually allow the club officers to decide which competitions they want to enter and then support them.” Attending the Olympiad is a longstanding tradition for the Science Club, and participating members have already begun construction of a magnetically levitated vehicle, an elastic launched glider, a vehicle powered by gravity, a boomilever, and a thermodynamic insulator. “We have already started several
Gangster Squad is stylish but shallow By Sarah Stukan Assoc. Feature Editor 3/5
Anastasia Velicescu
Fifteen club members will be participating in this year’s Olympiad. of the engineering devices and each event team is starting to study and compile resources to bring to the event,” said Bishop. Junior Matt Chan has been a member of the Science Club since his freshman year, and has found it to be a unique and truly worthwhile on-campus experience. “Students interested in the club should get ready for one of the most fun, challenging, and explosion-filled times of your life,” Chan said.
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Packing an intense deluge of blood, violence, and gore, Gangster Squad stays true to the classic style of the mob thriller. On the surface there is much to admire, such as a classy ensemble and remarkable costume design. But amid the blizzard of bullets, the characters are as flat as cartoons in a comic strip, and the film packs more of a literal than an emotional punch. The year is 1949, and gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) has a plan to turn post-war Los Angeles into his underworld empire. When chosen to take down the notorious mob boss, Sgt. John O’Mara (Josh Brolin) puts together a squad of officers, featuring Sgt. Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling), to take down Cohen by any and all means possible. Gangster Squad reconstructs the late 1940s period through a lustrous lens, embracing the most dazzling and elegant elements of the era. The beautiful Hollywood costume, saturated colors, and visual effects each contribute to a glamorous portrayal of the City of Angels. But despite having “inspired by true events” tacked onto its opening credits, Gangster Squad’s overly dramatized fight sequences have the audience believing otherwise. The squad comically fumbles its first raid on a gambling hall, but is soon hijacking antique cars, infiltrating Los Angeles landmarks, and diving out of the way of flaring machine guns. As the movie unfolds, it also becomes apparent that excessive violence is simply a cover-up for a predictable and lackluster script. The audience loses interest when presented with unrealistic scenes such as O’Mara’s pregnant wife surviving an attack on their home and giving birth moments later in a bathtub. Unfortunately, the suspense and surprise that separates a great movie from the ordinary ones fails to make an appearance. Gangster Squad is a crowd-pleasing tale of police officers and brutal criminals, but under the surface lie bungled characterization, frivolous attempts to tie the fictional narrative into “real life,” and underwhelming moments of style over substance.
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Tiger
Advanced Placement Student Artwork
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Inspired
AP Art students showcase talent in semester portfolios (1) Artist: Flora Leung
Grade: 12 Medium: Calligraphy ink, colored pencil, and charcoal “It’s a depiction of growing up, and my mother watching me, because my name is literally ‘flowers.’ The Chinese characters in the background represent a letter that my mom wrote to me. The picture is representative of my mom’s impact on my life, and I’m proud that she’s watching me grow up.”
Spenser Atlas (2) Artist: Grade: 11 Medium: Graphite “I like surrealism, and I was trying to mimic some of the surrealistic style with this picture.”
(3) Artist: Sang Oh
Grade: 12 Medium: Clay, branches, cardboard “My favorite thing about this piece is that the abstraction allows for a variety of meanings and interpretations to take place.”
Photos by Jennifer Orr, Page by Sofi Goode
Erika Chung (4) Artist: Grade: 11
Medium: Tempura paint “I really like colors and I think sunsets are romantic. I’ve always wanted to travel to Hawaii, and this is the way that I pictured it.”
Shizue Iwayanagi (5) Artist: Grade: 12
Medium: Arcylic paint “I passed by Little Tokyo and saw the shrine and thought it was perfect. I love that although the focus is on the shrine, the latterns pop out.”
(6) Artist: Dylan Anselmo
Grade: 10 Medium: Ink “I’ve never worked with ink before, so I wanted to try something creative. This depicts how magazine ads changed through the ages.”
Paul Messana (7) Artist: Grade: 12
Medium: Photography “I was particularly interested in the enormity of suicide bridge, so I tried photographing it from a different angle by scaling it from below.”
Jackie Duan (8) Artist: Grade: 12 Medium: Graphite “I like the precision, detail, and shading, and I really like realistic drawing. You can do so much with the shading when you’re working with graphite.”
(9) Artist: Nikolas Cachu
Grade: 11 Medium: Ink “It’s a surrealist self-portrait, and I have an emotional attachment to this depiction of me because it’s not realistic, and I feel like it shows my personality.”
(10) Artist: Lauren Miller
Grade: 12 Medium: Ink, acrylic, and pencil on wood “It’s a picture of me with Saran Wrap against my face, because I feel like I’m being pulled every which way because of the stresses of high school and college.”
14 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
Charlie Gleeson
Sports
father introduced her to the sport, she traces her inspiration to the USA women’s soccer team. “Ever since the USA women’s soccer In Ireland, women’s soccer doesn’t exist on the scale that it does in America. So team won in 1999, I grew up liking women’s when half-Irish senior Charlie Gleeson started soccer,” said Gleeson. “Women have been siga game with her unsuspecting male cousins, nificantly under recognized in sports, and the women’s soccer team served as role models for they were stunned by her deftness and ability. “I was able to prove myself to the guys, me to take on the sport.” Gleeson’s dedication to soccer has and they were surprised that I could take them on,” said Gleeson. “It definitely shaped my shaped her into one of South Pasadena’s most skilled players. She particularly enjoys the competitive drive as a player.” The two-year varsity starter found a team atmosphere and credits it for her ability. “I love the feeling of playing together as passion for the sport at the age of eight when she began playing on an American Youth Soc- a team. You don’t get that type of environment cer Organization (AYSO) team. Although her anywhere else,” said Gleeson. “It trains you to be tough, and it grows character.” Gleeson is the team’s starting midfielder, and holds a record of a twelve second goal, the fastest goal ever recorded in South Pasadena history. She was named Second Team All-League her junior year and is currently serving as team captain. During the off-season, Gleeson stays in shape by competing for the Crown City United Soccer Club, and more recently the Crescenta Valley Soccer Club. “[Charlie] is an instinctive and skillful player,” said teammate junior Emily Figueroa. “She knows how to keep the team Siria Medina together and is one of the best role Senior captain Charlie Gleeson juggles the ball. models a person can have.” By Andrés García Staff Writer
By Heather Vaughan Copy Editor
Jason Qiu
All it takes is one look at senior Jason Qiu, and he stands out as an athlete. With a 6’3” stature and naturally sporty build, Qiu has been athletically inclined his whole life, taking on volleyball, martial arts, and his current focus, basketball. Qiu began his career in eighth grade playing for the South Pasadena Middle School team. Although he didn’t immediately excel, he continued steadily, moving to the junior varsity team his freshman year. Qiu’s turning point was a camp he attended during the summer preceding his sophomore year; two weeks of concentrated training helped him improve exponentially. “I eventually found out why [basketRachael Garner ball] was so fun. I had all these new skills, so I could participate and compete more, and Senior forward Jason Qiu completes a that inspired me to train even harder.” lay up in the recent game against Blair. Newfound abilities in hand, Qiu For Qiu, the biggest challenge in returnmade the varsity squad his sophomore year, but decided not to participate in the basket- ing to the sport was the intense conditioning ball program during his junior in order to have and training that was required to get back in more time to focus on schoolwork. He main- shape to keep up and earn a starting position. tains that it was the right choice, but missed be- The team atmosphere pushed him to improve and encouraged him to keep trying when his ing a part of the team. “Last year felt kind of empty,” he said. year off put him behind. Although Qiu has not yet committed to “I didn’t have anything to do during winter.” Watching the Tigers beat San Marino in a university, he is interested in playing in the an exciting matchup last winter was one of the future if given the opportunity. “I’m just glad I’ve made the most of my factors that inspired Qiu to return to the squad. Another was the team atmosphere, which Qiu senior season,” he said. “The experience has been so worth it.” cited as being “like a separate family” for him.
Sports
Thursday, February 7, 2013 - Tiger
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Girls soccer fighting for first League title rests on San Marino result By Jason Wang and David Yang Tiger Staff Continuing its undefeated league season, the South Pasadena girls soccer team won a crucial victory against Blair High School on Tuesday, bringing its record to 5-0-4 and leaving the girls second in league. The Tigers defeated the Blair Vikings in a heated battle that resulted in a sweeping 5-0 victory. Juniors Alexis Velasco, Lenja Suey, and Kelly Brady, along with sophomore Emmy Keenan and senior Charlie Gleeson, each contributed a goal, allowing the Tigers to overwhelm the Vikings on their home field. Last week on Friday, February 1, the girls faced off against their perennial rival, the San Marino Titans, in a decisive match with the potential to determine the league title. The 2-2 tie satisfied neither team, but ultimately placed San Marino one step ahead
of the Tigers. Junior Lenja Suey’s corner kick in the first half resulted in an own goal for the Tigers when a San Marino girl mistakenly headed the ball into her own net. Junior Kelly Brady single-handedly scored for the Tigers after outmaneuvering San Marino’s goalie, and shooting with her non-dominant left foot. Brady’s play was a source of morale for the Tigers throughout the game. “It was the most beautiful goal I have ever seen. I was going to cry,” said junior Emily Figueroa. “Kelly was extremely focused and nailed in the goal with the utmost composure.” The San Marino Titans are currently locked into first place, with one fewer tie than the Tigers. However, South Pas still has a shot at the title, depending on the performance of both teams in their final games of the season. If the Titans either lose or tie in their game against Monrovia this afternoon,
Rachael Garner
Junior Kelly Brady dribbles past a Blair defender in a 5-0 Tiger win. Brady has played a key role in the Tigers’ attacking force and has scored in each of her last two games. South Pas will be able to steal the league title provided they defeat La Cañada. Nonetheless, Gleeson believes that the team’s chief focus is performing today in their 3:30 game on the Spartans’ field and finishing their season strong, regardless of the championship.
“How San Marino does is out of our hands,” said Gleeson. “To win the [championship game], we have to stay focused for all eighty minutes on the field. We need to get our head in the game.” See tigernewspaper.com tonight for coverage of the championship game.
Boys basketball making league comeback Water polo set to continue into CIF
Rachael Garner
Senior David Hughey shoots amidst a double team of defenders. By Jessica Moog Managing Editor South Pas boys basketball is making up for a painful start to season by packing excitement into its final games
and is on a three-game win streak following last minute victories over Monrovia, San Marino, and Blair. On Tuesday night the Tigers clinched an impressive 60-54 win over the Vikings at home. The squad jumped out to an early lead despite a lackluster game pace, finishing the first quarter up 12-7. Blair closed the gap and challenged the Tiger defense as they put in 17 points to the Tigers’ 9. Following the half, the Tigers trusted the lineup that earned them the previous victories, looking to senior Daniel Grant and freshman Greg Luck to add an offensive threat and leave seniors Nico Sullivan and Darren Wong free under the basket. “[Senior captain] David Hughey was pushing the ball effectively which gave us easy baskets,” said Luck. “Also, we pounded the ball in the post and got second chance opportunities.” Up by one point going into the final quarter, the Tigers held on through tight back and forth drives. Blair’s fi-
nal possession saw a shot from Blair’s Ronny Corvino, a junior and former SPHS student, miss. Following the air ball, Luck put in two final free throws of his own. The Tiger victory bumped the team to fourth place in league standings. Last week, varsity faced both Monrovia and San Marino on the road, picking up its first two league wins. The Monrovia victory avenged an earlier 5442 loss and gave the Tigers momentum for the February 1 rivalry match up. The game also came down to the final minute; Tiger defense applied heavy pressure and prevented San Marino standout Jasper Hwang from putting up a final jumper to win the game. The final score was 39-38 as South Pasadena fans rushed onto the court to join the team. The Tigers close out their season tonight with a home game against second place La Cañada at 7:00. See tigernewspaper.com for full coverage of the game.
Wrestling looking to continue win streak from qualifying to CIF as a team. South Pas will instead be counting on individual wrestlers like senior captain Albert Estrada and juDespite the concluding its Rio Hondo nior standouts James Yun and Aaron Refoua League season on Saturday, South Pasadena to be champions. “Our coach was very proud of the way High School’s wrestling team will be far from inactive for the next few weeks as it has seven James, Aaron, and I wrestled,” said Estrada, wrestlers who have qualified for CIF. The Ti- who pinned his final opponent from Monrogers performed admirably at the tournament- via. Juniors Nick Min, Charlie Barrone, style league finals held in Monrovia on February 2, but usual forfeits prevented the Tigers and Ryan Bell, along with sophomore Angel Amaral, will also be representing South Pasadena at CIF for individual wrestlers. Despite the success, seven is a smaller number of qualifiers than in previous years. Increased competition from schools like San Marino made the competition at finals considerably Matt Winkel more challenging Junior Aaron Refoua pins his opponent in the league finals tour- than years past, and nament. Refoua is one of seven Tigers moving on to CIF finals. several flukes led to a By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer
few expected wrestlers not qualifying. “Three guys who were we really counting on didn’t qualify, and one of them was a fairly major upset,” said coach Al Shuton. Despite the setbacks, Shuton is still optimistic for those who did make it. “We’ve been consistent for the last three years with sending at least one wrestler to Masters, and I want to continue that streak,” said Shuton. Only the top five placers in each weight category at CIF continue to the Masters tournament, so the Tigers will be doing additional training in the next two weeks to maximize their chances. Overall, the Tigers have seen success throughout the wrestling season. Wins against St. Paul and Hoover were expected but served as good practice, and defeats at San Marino and La Cañada provided valuable experience. The individuals remain focused on their sport, and Yun believes that the Tigers will continue to and succeed in the later stages of CIF. “Now we are concentrating on those who qualified for CIF and need to look forward to bigger goals such as Masters and the state tournament,” said Yun.
By Matthew DeFulgentiis Staff Writer With only one game left in league play, the South Pasadena girls water polo team finds itself on the verge of an undefeated Rio Hondo league championship for the fourth consecutive year. The girls faced off against the Temple City Rams this past Tuesday in the final away game of their league season. There was a feeling of déjà vu in the air at the Temple City pool deck as the Tigers started off sluggish and lethargic, with the same lack of energy as the previous Thursday in their game against San Marino. “We just had a bad first half… We were playing terrible team defense and just looked panicked and scared to be out there,” said South Pasadena head coach Robert Echeverria. “Luckily the second half was a lot better. We got our stuff together and managed to calm down. We started executing our counter attack which led to us being able to out the ball away.” Despite the shaky start, the Tigers managed to gather their spirits and energy, and overpowered the Rams by a score of 16-8. The victory over Temple City leaves South Pasadena undefeated in league play with a record of 7-0 and a total season record of 14-9. “We’re ready,” said Echeverria, “I’m glad we have the opportunity to be league champs again, but we need to go into the game with the same focus we’ve had all season. If we can do that we should have no problem with La Cañada and can start preparing for our real goal of CIF champions.” The Tigers play their final home game t oday again st t h e La Cañ ada Spartans at 3:30. The girls are eager to maintain their perfect league season and achieve the title of Rio Hondo League champions. See tigernewspaper.com tonight for full coverage of the match.
1/30 2/5 2/1 SPHS v. SPHS v. SPHS v. Monrovia San Marino Blair 27-4 W 16-8 W 17-8 W
16 Tiger - Thursday, February 7, 2013
Sports
Sports
B. SOCCER
So. Pasadena La Cañada Monrovia Blair San Marino Temple City
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La Cañada So. Pasadena San Marino Temple City Monrovia Blair
Fig twins suffer identical injuries By Clem Witherall Co-Sports Editor
Anastasia Velicescu
Junior Zachary Dunn kicks the ball down the field in a 1-0 victory against Blair to help the Tigers remain in first.
Boys soccer prepares for decisive final game By Andrew Shults Tiger Staff With the league title on the line, South Pasadena boys soccer heads into its finalgame of the season this afternoon against La Cañada High School knowing that a tie or win would give the boys program its first championship win in seventeen years. The Tigers have dominated throughout their season and continued their undefeated run in league with victories over Blair and San Marino in its latest matches. Blair gave South Pasadena a tough match, but ultimately fell to the Tigers 1-0 on Tuesday. South Pasadena applied relentless pressure before halftime, but was unable to convert on its creative plays. Junior Zachary Dunn scored on a penalty kick in the first half, the first and only goal of the game. South Pas faltered in the second half and
played more defensively, but still secured its seventh consecutive victory in league play. “I don’t think the score reflects how well we played but a win is a win and I’m happy nonetheless,” said senior captain Charles Slocum. Earlier in the week, South Pasadena came away with an easy 3-0 victory versus San Marino on Sunday February 3. The Tigers scored two goals in the first half while managing to shut out the Titans entirely. South Pas added another goal early in the second half, putting the game out of reach of San Marino. Junior Daniel Zurita led the attacking force for the Tigers by scoring a pair, and Dunn added another for the total of three. “We are still suffering from little injuries but still have the skill and determination to get the results we need,” said Dunn. Although South Pas is currently first in league, the boys are considered the
underdogs heading into the match against La Cañada. The Tiger squad has a slight advantage heading into the game as the Spartan’s top scorer Armand Bagramyan, who has scored forty goals this season, received a red card in La Cañada’s most recent game against San Marino. When a player receives a red card, he is automatically suspended for one game. “We have confidence that the Spartans can be beaten,” said junior Leo Parker. “Defensively, we have to play as if Bagramyan is still in the game so we don’t lose our intensity. We can make history.” See tigernewspaper.com tonight for full coverage of tonight’s championship game.
1/30 2/5 2/1 SPHS v. SPHS v. SPHS v. Monrovia San Marino Blair 1-1 T 1-0 W 3-0 W
Girls basketball breaks SPHS win record By Andrés García and Shyam Senthilkumar Tiger Staff The girls varsity basketball team made South Pasadena history on Tuesday, breaking the school record by capturing
Matt Winkel
Sophomore Jillian Gleeson attacks the hoop in a 58-40 victory against Blair.
its twentieth win of the season. The game against Blair High School ended in a blowout 58-40 win and left the team with a dominant 20-4 season record. Numerous factors have led to the record-breaking play this season but senior captain Amber Partida accredits the success completely to the Tiger’s team chemistry. “It’s just the teamwork, honestly. Having twenty wins and breaking our school record was one of the biggest accomplishments and again it’s the teamwork. You can’t do it individually. It’s a team sport,” said Partida. “We put in so much work throughout the summer, preseason and hopefully we will get a chance to prove ourselves in the postseason as we go into CIF next week.” South Pas defeated the San Marino Titans last Friday by a margin of 46-19. The win was especially significant as the Tigers lost to the Titans 48-47 by a buzzer beater on January 16. The Tigers have received strong play from sophomore Lexie Sholtz, who averages a team-high 11.2 points per game.
Much of the success can also be accredited to senior captain Wen Zeng, who has played a major role in leading the team. “We knew we had to come out strong and not take any of our opponents for granted. We’ve focused a lot on defense this season. That’s always been the most important factor in our success,” said Zeng. South Pas has its final game of the season at home today at 5:00 against La Cañada High School. The Spartans hold a 17-8 season record and are currently tied with the Tigers for first place in league. The winner of the game will go home with the Rio Hondo championship title. “I’m just really proud of my girls, and to be able to go down in the record books with this team means everything to me” added Zeng. See tigernewspaper.com tonight for full coverage of tonight’s championship game.
1/30 2/1 2/5 SPHS v. SPHS v. SPHS v. Monrovia San Marino Blair 56-31 W 46-19W 58-40 W
Twin sisters juniors Samantha and Emily Figueroa started kicking a soccer ball around together 12 years ago, excelled at the club level side by side, and have become two of the leaders of the successful SPHS soccer program. Now, both face a lengthy period on the sideline after suffering torn anterior cruciate knee ligaments. “When my dad first told me that the doctor said it was torn, I thought he was joking,” said Samantha. The ACL is a small piece of tissue about the width of a pencil that is responsible for connecting the femur to the tibia. It serves to stabilize the knee and, for unknown reasons, tears at an uncommonly high rate in female soccer players. Recovery typically requires six to nine months of grueling rehabilitation. Emily tore her right ACL against Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy on December 13, and her ligament reconstruction surgery is scheduled for February 15. The injury and recovery process are all too familiar to Emily, as she tore her left ACL in eighth grade. “I heard a pop but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the last time I tore my ACL. If it wasn’t for my mom being so worried I would have gone back out on the field,” said Emily. Less than a week after Emily’s injury, Samantha shredded her right ACL when she was on the receiving end of a tackle against Flintridge Prep. Along with tearing her ACL, Samantha partially tore her meniscus and suffered small fractures in the femur. Her more intensive surgery took place on January 18 and she has since begun rehabilitation. “I just thought my kneecap dislocated and popped back in,” said Samantha. “Physical therapy is going well and I’m starting to walk on my leg now.” Studies indicate that female soccer players are three to six times more likely to tear their ACLs than male players. There are several theories as to why—ranging from different muscle and skeletal structures to the way girls and boys turn—but there is no conclusive evidence. In the past two seasons alone, seven girls in the SPHS soccer program have sustained torn anterior cruciate knee ligaments. The boys program has escaped with zero. Despite their unfortunate circumstances, the Figueroa twins are determined to get back on the field to play for the Tigers and in college. “No question that we will go back to soccer,” said Emily. “It’s bad luck but I mean that’s life and stuff like this happens. I think from every bad experience we can learn something.”
[inside] Read up on the boys basketball team’s recent improvement. Matt Winkel
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