Run-off elections finalize Commission By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer Run-off elections for the 2012-2013 ASB Commission ended on Tuesday when junior Blake Benavides was elected next year’s Commissioner of Publicity. Three hundred and nineteen students voted in the final run-off, a drop from the 581 who went to the polls on April 20 for the first round of run-offs. Benavides and Gloria Kim were the only candidates that had to campaign early this week. “It was such a stressful process, and for basically three backto-back weekends, I had no life. I would get super dizzy from spraypainting so many shirts,” said Benavides. “It would get harder as the weeks progressed because people would tell me that they
Katie Whitworth
Sophomore Michael Chang will be the Commissioner of Clubs.
Junior officers prepare for prom By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer Junior ASB officers and SPHS faculty are hard at work planning this year’s prom. Themed “The Secret Garden,” the dance will be held on May 12 at the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens. Tickets are on sale in the student bank every lunch. Counselor Marcile Vadell-Strickland and senior Kellyna Fox are organizing a dress drive in which students can donate old dresses and claim donated ones. “This year, we’re trying to make prom more interactive,” said junior class secretary Shannon Zheng. In addition to the traditional dance floor, prom will also feature a photo booth and gambling tables. See “Prom preparation” on Page 2
supported me in their hearts, and I would have to say thank you, but that it would mean much more if they would actually go out and vote for me.” Eight candidates ran in the initial election on April 13, and Benavides emerged as the winner after two rounds of run-offs. As Commissioner of Publicity, he will be responsible for creating campus posters and spreading information to the school and community. The other run-off elections were decided last week. Junior Thomas Chang was elected as Commissioner of Noontime and junior Bryan Bednarski was chosen to be next year’s Commissioner of Athletics. Junior Wen Zeng will serve as Commissioner of Academics, and sophomore Michael Chang will be Commissioner of Clubs. “All of the current commissioners really made themselves available to help out candidates,” said next year’s Commissioner General Will Jones on the election process. Current Commissioner General Ben Lee is excited about the 2012-13 commission. “With assets such as the comic Nick O’ Brien and the charismatic Peter Seo, this fine group of commissioners is absolutely something to look forward to,” said Lee. See page 4 for more coverage of Commission Elections.
Jennifer Kim
Senior Michael Abelev, pictured above, made his stage debut as Lt. Frank Cioffi in Curtains, the spring musical. The show ran from April 19 to April 21. See page 10 for more coverage.
Curtains attendance low; some cite lack of extra credit By Clem Witherall Assoc. Sports Editor Attendance for both the Thursday and Friday performances of the spring musical Curtains was down from last year’s The Sound of Music. About 120 people attended each performance. The show ran from April 19 to April 21; the cast performed four times over the course of the weekend. The lower attendance has been accredited by some to multiple teachers discontinuing attendance at the musical as an extra credit opportunity. “In a sense, it is nice to get the people who actually want to see the show and not those who go and
Seniors meet to pick graduation seats By Erin Chan Staff Writer Seniors met on Thursday morning to attend a mandatory organizational meeting. The event was originally planned as a picnic, but was moved to the gym due to inclement weather.
“I think it went pretty well considering we had to reschedule because of the rain,” said senior class secretary Janelle Li. The annual event is traditionally held at the pool while freshmen, sophomores, and junior take STAR tests. See “Senior picnic” on Page 2
Rachael Garner
Seniors had to choose between “Send Me On My Way,” “All Star,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” for this year’s senior song.
put earbuds in their ears during the performance,” said director Daniel Enright. “On the other hand, some people who go originally for the extra credit end up having a great time.” Turnout was higher for the Saturday performances. Over 200 people attended the 7 P.M. showing. Ticket sales, along with a generous donation from the school board, helped the drama department turn a profit of about $2,000. “The school board presented us with a nice $6,000 donation,” said senior Sara Patterson, the president of the drama club. “We also made about $6,000 in ticket sales and spent around $10,000 overall.”
The musical follows a murder mystery set in the 1950s. Senior Michael Abelev played Lieutenant Frank Coffi, a local detective with an interest in theater who is investigating the murder of the show’s leading lady. Senior Clair Fuller played Broadway producer Carmen Bernstein, and senior Libby Rainey portrayed Georgia Hendricks, a songwriter who steps in to replace the leading lady. “The musical was a character-builder and I think I might give drama a shot in college,” said Abelev, who made his stage debut in Curtains. “It was an enjoyable experience and something I will hold onto.”
Oneonta scholarship recipients announced By Marcy Kuo Staff Writer The Oneonta Club Foundation of South Pasadena awarded seniors Sara Patterson, Libby Rainey, and Montane Silverman with $10,000 scholarship awards on Monday. The seniors received congratulatory phone calls from Carl von Bibra, who organized the selection process. “I ignored the unknown phone call at first,” said Patterson. “But when I checked the voicemail and heard that I received the scholarship, I had a heart attack…in my kitchen. My mom and I even did a little happy dance.” Senior applicants for the prestigious award were required to write letters detailing the reasons they deserved the scholarship. Ten finalists were granted interviews, which were conducted late last week.
Patterson, Rainey, and Silverman will attend the Oneonta awards dinner on May 14 to be officially recognized for their academic success and community involvement. Other scholarship opportunities are still available for seniors attending a four-year college in the fall. Karl Kwang, the former president of the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club (SPCC), will be awarding $2,000 scholarships to two seniors by the end of May. The “Most Improved Student in Chinese Language” will be given an additional $500 scholarship. Applications for SPCC scholarships must be submitted to English teacher Ms Denise Gill by April 30. The SPHS PTSA will also be awarding scholarships. Seniors who have demonstrated exceptional volunteer service benefiting the school and community can apply for $500 grants. Applications for the PTSA scholarship are due by May 1 in the Counseling Center.
News
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News
Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Around Campus
STAR testing continues next week on Thursday and Friday for students in grades 10-11. Testing is scheduled from 8:00 A.M. to 10:20 A.M. both days, and the first class of each day starts at 10:40 A.M. Freshmen will spend May 3 and 4 in the gym for state-mandated physical fitness proficiency testing. This will be followed by a pool party. /Devin Mitchell
Festivus Assembly prepares students for STAR Testing
By Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer Commissioner of Assemblies Lee Miyauchi and Principal Janet Anderson hosted the annual Festivus Assembly on Monday morning in the auditorium. The assembly aimed to encourage students to take the STAR testing seriously. “We wanted this assembly to be brief and act like a little shot in the arm for people—reminding them about some of the key points about testing,” said Anderson. “We also wanted to explain why we try to make so many fun activities around testing time.”
Anderson previewed plans to award prizes and utilize the school’s t-shirt gun at the lunches following this week’s testing periods. The assembly also featured taped interviews with actor Will Forte and writer Steven Levitan. The two were in South Pasadena shooting a television show, and Anderson recorded short segments with them. In addition to discussing the actors’ careers, Anderson quizzed Forte and Levitan with CST questions from years past. After answering the questions successfully, the celebrities offered advice to students. In the second assem-
bly, a vocal minority of students started thunderously clapping to a point where almost nothing could be heard. “Some kids got a little rowdy in the second assembly,” said Anderson. “It was really disruptive and disappointing to see.” SPHS teachers were also featured in the assembly. English teacher Mrs. Kim Kadletz took the stage to stress the importance of high test scores. Social science teachers Mr. Sean Regan and Mr. Richard Martin appeared in a video intended to reinforce a message of CST success while poking fun at their longstanding, good-natured rivalry.
Students stay silent to support LGBT peers By Harry Yadav Staff Writer
Siria Medina
English teacher Mrs. Kim Kadletz lectured students about the importance of performing well on the CSTs.
Students exchange rejection letters for ice cream By Carlton Lew Assoc. Opinion Editor
Theo Mandin-Lee
Senior Trent Kajikawa served ice cream to fellow seniors on Tuesday in exchange for college rejection letters. From “Senior meeting” on Page 1 This year, however, students had to check in at the meeting. Those who failed to attend will receive truancies. “We made it mandatory because otherwise we wouldn’t have had any other way to get graduation seating done effectively,” said Li. “But most of the names were crossed off the [attendance] list.” Students were treated to doughnuts and juice and were free to roam the gym to vote for the senior song and choose graduation seating. Seniors decided between “Send Me On My Way,” “All Star,” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” the three finalists narrowed down from a longer list of senior song nominations compiled earlier this month. The senior song will be announced sometime next week. “I was just kind of disappointed that it wasn’t a picnic,” said senior Joyce Alexander. “I guess there was no other way to do graduation seating, but I didn’t understand why the lines were so long.”
ASB hosted the annual senior Ice Cream Rejection Day on Tuesday during lunch on the Tiger Patio. Seniors were encouraged to bring letters from colleges that denied them admission and exchange them for scoops of ice cream. The event has been a tradition at South Pasadena High School since the 1990’s. “We wanted to treat the seniors especially well since the college admissions process was particularly tough this year,” said senior class treasurer Phillip Kim.
The event was organized and hosted by Kim and senior class vice president Janelle Li. ASB ordered approximately fifteen gallons of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream for the senior class. In years past, members of the South Pasadena Fire Department watched over the event as seniors burned their letters and then received ice cream. This year, however, ASB had difficulty obtaining permits, and opted to shred letters instead of burning them. Senior Kevin He felt that providing ice cream was
a good way to soften the blow of rejection. “Being rejected from schools is a big disappointment, but ASB was able to twist the denials into something positive,” said He. “It’s definitely a great excuse for ice cream.” Students that were wait-listed were not able to exchange their letters for ice cream. Senior class president Alex Park was offered a spot on the wait-list by several universities. “It was disappointing because I am not guaranteed admission to the colleges, yet I still don’t get ice cream,” said Park.
Drug dogs to sniff out middle school By Remeny White Assoc. News Editor SPMS principal David Kubela signed a contract with Interquest Detection Canines last week, the same drug dog and detection service used at SPHS. In an effort to prevent drug use among middle school students, a drug dog will make random visits to South Pasadena Middle School throughout the school year once the contract is finalized. Kubela and Interquest held a student assembly in the middle school auditorium and a parent meeting in the faculty lounge on Wednesday night to explain the logistics of the program. The drug dogs and their handlers will visit lockers and classrooms unannounced each month to search for incriminating items. The middle school administration will immediately
Siria Medina
A representative from Interquest Detection Canines joined SPMS principal David Kubela at the April 25 parent meeting. launch an investigation should any contraband be found. The presentations served as a forum to address community concerns and answer questions about the program. According to Kubela, the contract is purely preventative, as there have been only two minor drugrelated incidents at SPMS dur-
ing his tenure as principal. “[Interquest Detection Canines] is just another resource for our school,” said Kubela. “We have a zero-tolerance policy and hope this will be a noninvasive measure to keep students drugfree. The goal is not to make the kids feel like criminals, but to keep the campus safe.”
Students showed their support for members of the LGBT community last Friday on the 17th annual Day of Silence by refusing to speak. The national event, founded by students in Virginia in 1996, is promoted at SPHS by the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. “It is important to take part in the Day of Silence to demonstrate to the greater world the pains of LGBT people who are discriminated against, bullied, or otherwise have their rights taken away,” said senior Zach Gershman. “LGBT students are just regular people struggling to gain their deserved rights in a contemporary landscape.” Participants in the Day of Silence are part of a national movement against LGBT bullying and harrassment. According to the 2009 National School Climate Survey, nearly nine out of ten LGBT students report harrassment at school. The report also said that more than thirty percent of LGBT students missed at least a day of school per month due to bullying. “It was tough to be silent all day but I feel that the silence sends a powerful message,” said sophomore Kendall Corey. “I did it for any victim of bullying, not just members of the LGBT community,” he said. From “Prom preparation” on Page 1 According to junior president Ashim Shrestha, the additional features are intended to make the dance more appealing to males. Ticket sales so far have been lower than expected. According to ASB advisor Casey Shotwell, about 150 tickets were sold as of this week. Shotwell anticipates more tickets will be sold as prom approaches. Next week, tickets will cost $85 for students with SAC cards, $95 for students without them, and $100 for non-SPHS students. Around 550 people attend the dance every year, and ASB expects similar attendance this year. “I’m really excited for prom,” said sophomore Tatiana Joyet. “I think it’s a great venue; it’s really beautiful. I have never been and I know it will be a fun experience.” Students will also elect a prom court the night of the dance. Nominations for king and queen will be held at school in the week leading up to the dance, and final voting will occur the night of. ASB will also award honors such as “Best Dressed” on prom night.
News
Friday, April 27, 2012 - Tiger
City Council visits School Board Office By Devin Mitchell News Editor
Rachael Garner
Senior Yee-Lum Mak, the co-captain of the Knowledge Masters Open team, answers a question during the April 24 competition.
KMO improves from last year By Natalie McLain Staff Writer SPHS students made a strong showing at the annual Knowledge Master Open trivia competition on Tuesday, scoring 1,387 total points, preliminarily placing third in the state and 93rd in the nation. Participants answer questions on a variety of subjects, such as American history and physical science. “KMO always has a lot of fun, but in recent years we haven’t done very well in the competition,” said SPHS co-captain YeeLum Mak. “This year brought a complete overhaul as we selected the
team based on teacher recommendations and committed to a practice schedule.” Several members attribute the group’s newfound success to the higher level of organization and teacher support. This year was the first in many that KMO participants had to obtain recommendations from teachers in order to join. It was also the first time there was an organized practice schedule. “It was a lot more organized and KMO itself is a very fun and unique competition that I enjoy participating in,” said sophomore Jeffrey Xiong. “This year was significantly better. Everything, from our teamwork to our score, outshone last year,” he said.
The city council and school board held a rare joint meeting Tuesday night at the District Office Board Room to discuss issues affecting both the school and the South Pasadena community. The potential sale of the SPUSD office property was at the top of the agenda. “We understand that the District is interested in what is most financially beneficial,” said Councilman Phillip Putnam. “But from a city perspective, this stretch of Mission Street is viewed as gap. The parking lot has a negative impact on the city business district.” Steve Norris delivered a report several weeks ago appraising the property, recommending that the Board wait to sell. The board took no action on the report and is still considering several proposals. Councilwoman Marina Khubesrian also weighed on the property, proposing that the lot be used for evening parking for shopping and dining. The two groups also discussed emergency preparedness procedures in the wake of the windstorm in December. Confusion over whether SPUSD schools were open the following day prompted discussion of current policies. Superintendent Joel Shapiro offered an update on
what the District had done to be more prepared for a natural disaster. “Should something like the windstorm happen again, we now have a joint emergency operations center,” said Shapiro. Shapiro also briefed the elected officials on initial efforts to renew the parcel tax. He informed them that they are aiming to schedule the election for next February, and the District will be conducting polling on the issue in upcoming months. He also emphasized the importance of the tax renewal. “We do not see how we can continue to provide the same level of programs without the parcel tax,” said Shapiro.
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at & around SPHS: April 27-28: Relay for Life May 5: Eclectic Music Festival & Art Walk
May 7-18: AP Testing May 14-18: Class Election Week
May 17 & 18: Spring Dance Recital
May 19-20: Fun Fair May 20-25: Senior backpacking trip to Yosemite
May 31: Instrumental Music Concert
Theo Mandin-Lee
Councilman Bob Joe expressed concerns about the city‘s emergency communication capabilities at Tuesday night’s meeting.
4 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Commission Elections
Commission Elections
The three-week rush of bright posters and lunchtime campaigning has finally come to a close. Thirteen commissioners for the 2012-2013 school year were chosen this month, but not without hours of effort, and a total of 1,528 student votes. /Libby Rainey
Meet your 2012-2013 Commission General
Will Jones
Internal Affairs
Peter Seo
Correspondence Finance Academics Activities Assemblies Athletics
Shannon Zheng Phoebe Ou-Yang Wen Zeng Ryan Stone Nick O’Brien Bryan Bednarski
Clubs
Michael Chang
Noontime
Thomas Chang
Publicity Blake Benavides School & Community Spirit
Isabel Chin Lauren Riley
Campaign Week Posters went up before the sun rose. At 6:00 A.M. on Monday, April 9, commission candidates lined up outside the SAC Room, campaign materials in hand. Once released, the candidates took off and canvassed the campus. Thus began a week of Meet-the-Candidates sessions and lunchtime campaigning. Handouts ranged from slap bracelets made by future Commissioner of Assemblies Nick O’Brien to candidate Alyssa Emerich’s dream catchers. The candidates’ efforts all led up to the elections assembly on Friday, April 13. Seven candidates were elected; six run-off elections were scheduled. Only Blake Benavides and Gloria Kim continued into a third week of elections. 319 students voted on April 24 to elect Benavides as next year’s Commissioner of Publicity.
“A week just didn’t seem like enough time to talk to so many students on top of handing things out and running around putting up posters that had fallen down and stressing about what to put in a sixty-second speech and things like that.” - Lauren Riley, Commissioner of Spirit 2012-2013
“It really does make one’s day when you say “I’m supporting you!” - Peter Seo, Commissioner of Internal Affairs 2012-2013
“It is amazing how polite and kind the SPHS student body is. They all politely listened to my introduction and were very kind in either accepting or denying a backpack tag.” - Ryan Stone, Commissioner of Activities 2012-2013
628 students voted in the initial election 581 students voted in the first run-off election
Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Opinion
Opinion B
5
Yeah Boi
Diminishing standards indicate larger problem for LAUSD
ravo to Senior Ice Cream Rejection Day. Who knew that feelings about Stanford tasted like chocolate?
B
to Southern California’s tempremental weather. We were really looking forward to our senior pool party... oh wait. oo
B
ravo to the koala that peed all over One
Direction. Some animals are clearly more intelligent than we give them credit for.
By Elizabeth Ford Rainey Editor in Chief
B
The Los Angeles Board of Education is attempting to lessen a series of rigorous graduation requirements that will go into effect next year. While the plan originally required LAUSD students to pass college-prep classes with a “C” grade or higher in order to graduate, the board is now considering reforms that would allow graduation with a “D” in prep classes. The board is also considering a change from a minimum of 230 credits for graduation to 170 credits. Board members and other advocates have cited a number of valid arguments in favor of the plan to lower graduation requirements, among them avoiding a massive increase of high school dropouts. But these points ignore the larger issue at hand. Lowering graduation standards is not only a last-ditch effort to shove LAUSD students through the graduation process regardless of their preparation, it also directly contradicts the mission of public education and the goal of raising the bar for graduation in LAUSD in the first place: preparing students for higher education and success in the workplace. A “D” grade in a college-prep class does not leave a student more prepared for high school graduation or a place at a twoor four-year college. In fact, any grade below a “C” in a course does not fulfill the A-G requirements necessary for admittance into a Cal State or University of California. Furthermore, dropping class requirements by sixty credits may result in a higher graduation rate, but it eliminates requirements such as health and journalism, elective courses that could be incredibly valuable to a student body in need of vocational and hands-on instruction. Reverting back to minimal standards is an indication that the Los Angeles School District isn’t preparing its students for success beyond high school. The correct response to concern about a rising high school dropout rate isn’t lowering expectations; it’s reforming the school system to support students in need. Administrative focus cannot be on student success in high school alone; it must keep in mind the reality of life beyond graduation. LAUSD would be well advised to take note of SPUSD’s rising standards and college-oriented curriculum.
to the inexplicable presence of a trash can on top of the flag pole this past weekend. We thought there was no way our national symbol could possibly be improved. #YOLO ravo
B
to the cast and crew of Curtains. Months of rehearsals clearly paid off... not that we’re biased or anything. ravo
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 Libby Rainey Managing Editor Jennifer Kim News Devin Mitchell, Editor Remeny White, Associate Opinion Clair Fuller, Editor Carlton Lew, Associate Feature Sofi Goode, Editor Rhian Moore, Associate Sports Jessica Moog, Editor Clem Witherall, Associate Copy Editors Alex Tranquada and Max White Photography Theo Mandin-Lee, Editor Kathryn Whitworth, Associate Photographers Rachael Garner, Siria Medina, Matthew Winkel Senior Staff Writer Harry Yadav Staff Writers Madison Amido, Jackson Atwater, Erin Chan, Matt DeFulgentiis, Kelsey Hess, Anne Kitchens, Marcy Kuo, Amber Laird, Natalie McLain, Christian Miyamae, Rachel Newhall, Meghan Roche, Joshua Roquemore, Heather Vaughan Tiger Online Thomas von Bibra Staff Illustrators Rachael Lee and Daniel Willardson Managers Alexander Prescott, Ads Shyam Senthilkumar, Business Webmaster Makenna Sidle Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 Fremont Ave, 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 witheld upon request. Tiger is a forum for student free speech, in compliance with California Ed Code 48907.
Daniel Willardson
Lessening the chaos: commissioner election reform Staff Editorial The weeks of bright, flashy posters and eager candidates urging peers to vote for them has finally come to a close. The 20122013 commission has been determined, but the system by which they were elected does not adequately serve the candidates or the students that elect them. While elections have been conducted in the same manner for years, the system is not without flaws; many changes could be made to improve the election process, make students more aware of the candidates they choose to elect, and create a more informed and prepared ASB class. The primary round of voting should take place on Thursday of the first week of campaigning. The candidates have more than an adequate amount of time to roam the campus gaining support, and runoff elections could then take place the next day. This would limit runoff campaigning to just one day, which would take an enormous amount of stress off the shoulders of the students. A more condensed elections process would also improve the political efficacy of student voters; students would be more likely to choose candidates based on
their speeches and qualifications, since the speeches would be delivered the previous day. A two-day voting process would elicit more informed voting and more excitement about campaigning. The voting process would also be made more accurate and efficient by excluding the senior class from the process, since they will no longer be students when the commissioners take office. Seniors are more likely to cast hasty votes than students who will be affected by their decisions for the next school year. Revoking the seniors’ privilege to vote would also preclude any attempts by the seniors to maliciously elect an unpopular candidate. Keeping the vote within the hold of those who will be affected by it will make students more contentious about the vote that they cast. Elections will always, by nature, be chaotic; without this element of frenzy, the process would be much less exciting. Nevertheless, implementing these few adjustments would greatly improve the elections process for both candidates and constituents.
Solving the English department problem By Devin Mitchell News Editor The absence of writing assignments in English classes, particularly longer pieces that require work outside of class, has long been conspicuous to many students at SPHS. With CSTs and AP tests assessing what students have learned this year over the space of the next several weeks, it is alarming to take a step back and realize how little meaningful writing most students have done in English classes this year. Writing is hardly the only way to learn in English
courses, but the seemingly meaningless and irrelevant assignments that students are required to complete are not acceptable substitutes. Endless multiple choice tests, trivial beginning-of-class exercises, and worksheets and packets that will be lucky to get more than a few seconds of attention from a teacher are staples of daily life in English at South Pasadena High School. Research papers requiring a great deal of time and effort are not. Completing one or two worksheets that don’t provide much lasting value isn’t excessively damaging. But it is
unacceptable for students to have inadequate conceptual and analytical skills because of four years of this curriculum, as is often the case. To be fair, teachers aren’t entirely at fault here. Class sizes need to be dramatically reduced, one of many reasons that education needs to be better funded in the district. Otherwise, high-level class discussions are difficult and carefully grading writing assignments is too time-consuming. The test-based system also contributes to the problem, as readiness for standardized tests encourages practice completing mundane multiple-
choice tests and writing essays that are brief and formulaic. But there are steps teachers can take now within the existing system. Setting a serious tone in class and making students feel that their time is being used wisely goes a long way toward combating the daunting student/teacher ratio. Assigning thought-provoking writing and providing extensive feedback will produce students that score well on standardized tests without the mindless hassle of multiple choice drills. Good SPHS teachers already do these things. The school would be better off if more did the same.
6 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Opinion
Porous borders? More like porous policy By Madison Amido Staff Writer Perhaps more than any other issue, illegal immigration sparks fierce and very personal debates among both politicians and U.S. citizens alike, especially in border states such as California. The default method used to eliminate illegal immigration is reinforcement of stricter border patrol, particularly along the Mexican border. But the U.S. must now consider what to do with the estimated eleven million undocumented residents currently in the country. The era of mass migration from Mexico to the U.S. seems to be slowly coming to an end. The undocumented population within the U.S. reached its peak in 2008 at a roughly-estimated twelve million, then dropped to eleven million in 2009 and has remained relatively constant since then.
With illegal immigration seemingly at its slowest, and with the 2012 presidential election around the corner, the time is ripe for reform. But most politicians continue to mistakenly focus on prevention instead of actually dealing with the problem at hand. GOP candidate Mitt Romney’s official website goes into detail on his views on immigration. The webpage states that Romney plans to “strengthen our immigration system so that it… carries on America’s tradition as a nation of legal immigrants.” Romney emphasizes that the Mexican border is in desperate need of stricter patrol. “A porous border allows illegal immigrants to enter the United States,” Romney says on the website. The GOP candidate promises to strictly enforce and increase border patrol with a high-tech fence to bolster America’s southern border.
No one questions that a tighter border is necessary to keep immigration from increasing. But it must be realized that the most pressing item on the agenda is tackling the arduous process of accounting for current undocumented residents. Only after documentation can the millions of illegal residents move on with their lives without fearing deportation and contribute to society as tax-paying Americans. Some believe that major reform should be delayed until the border is secure, but from a logical standpoint, it is pointless to put effort into preventing the now-constant influx of illegal immigrants, especially with nearly eleven million immigrants already securely rooted within the country. It’s time to shift the focus from prevention onto a practical and effective method of documenting the illegal immigrants that are already here.
Rachael Lee
Students weigh in... Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will almost certainly be the GOP presidential candidate for 2012. What do you think Romney’s chances are of defeating current president Barack Obama? Who would you vote for in November? Why?
STUDENT VOICE: “Mitt Romney stands for everything that the Occupy movement is protesting, which is part of the reason why I would vote for Obama. [Romney] needs to get the moderate votes in order to win, but that might be hard for him since most of the things he supports are anti-American.” -Madeline Chin, junior By Daniel Enright Drama Director Selecting Curtains as the musical to perform this spring at SPHS probably was not the wisest of decisions, at least not financially. I have produced plays for two years here and am still learning. Apparently, the students at the high school as well as the community at large want their musicals to be known products, things they have seen again and again. We put on Sound of Music last year and made $15,000 because of how much of the town came (with a nice boost from SPHS students getting extra credit). This year, we did Curtains, a relatively unknown play. We did it because it was new, provocative, hilarious, had great songs and dance numbers—and it had a complex story with something for everyone. While we publicized the play a lot, not many people actually came out to see it. Of course, the school no longer offers extra credit, so few students were in attendance. Rarely do students do something if they don’t get their “credit.” I naïvely thought that if one put on a good play, the audience would come – that doesn’t always happen. Some students have stated how horrible the plays are at SPHS. I admit that this is not Broadway, but I feel that we have some very talented performers here at SPHS. Don’t people still go to our football games even though college football is a thousand times better? Don’t we still come out and support the team? I have told the English teachers about the importance of incorporating “viewing a play” into their curriculum. Plays are meant to be seen, not read. Of course, if teachers don’t support theatre, it is likely that their students won’t as well. At South Pasadena High School, all of the teachers are overextended, but it would be nice if “seeing a play” wasn’t thought of as an obligation, but rather as a fun way to spend a couple of hours. Modeling is everything. I saw my first play when I was two. I took my daughters to plays when they were three. We are all role models. We all need to help nourish the next generation of artists. Our students are that next generation.
Faculty and staff members interested in contributing to this section can email us at opinion@tigernewspaper.com.
“I’m 100% in support of anyone who would replace Obama. I like smaller government and I want to get rid of Obamacare, so if that means I support Romney, then that’s fine and I really hope he wins.” -Hannah Rips, junior “I think that Romney has a very good chance of beating Obama. With all of the scandals that have rocked the Obama administration and his complete flip from a positive message to one that equates to blaming the big, bad corporations and the grandma-hating Republicans, I don’t think that he has any real advantage.” -Michael De la Torre, senior “I am really in support of Obama’s liberal policies, and I think he could do a lot if given four more years. I think he has a really good shot at getting re-elected and I’m voting for him.” -Anna Schlueter, junior
By Natalie McLain Staff Writer
The madness of Festivus
CSTs. According to most people, they’re vital to school ranking, student placement, and the spending of funds within the various academic departments of the school. According to the Festivus itinerary, however, the test has some strange, simultaneous connection to Hollywood stars, San Marino, interminable applause, and random prize drawings. Students are not inclined to like testing. It is not an enjoyable experience. But trying to make an unpleasant experience more acceptable through a random string of seemingly unrelated promotional events is not the way to go about improving scores. If anything, Festivus only adds confusion to the process, while the overly-zealous staff involvement in pushing up API scores breeds resentment among the student body. Something needs to be changed. Immediately evident is the fact that Festivus week is not well organized. The idea of rewarding students for participating in the schoolwide test makes sense,
in theory. Higher attendance would most likely result in higher scores, and the test results would better reflect the actual academic aptitude of the school. But the system currently in place, in which any student who shows up to testing is entered into a drawing for various prizes, is highly ineffective. Instead of spending school funds on
small prizes for anyone who “shows up,” money should be allocated to a singular fund to replace the discontinued scholarship program of years past. The program previously awarded money to students for performing well on the CST, and while the scholarships were not funded by SPUSD directly, it would seem more prudent to use current funds to build a new scholarship program within the district rather than to randomly dole out money in the
form of various gift certificates. This hodgepodge of aimless incentives needs to be refocused and revamped, as the current combination of T-shirt guns, celebrity interviews, and less-than-welcome counselor DJing is one lion tamer away from a three-ring circus. And instead of creating any feelings of studiousness or affection towards the CSTs, the administration’s antics serve more to produce an almost clownish atmosphere around the already-ridiculed test. If SPUSD wants the CSTs to be attacked with any sort of seriousness on behalf of students, perhaps a reassessment of promotional strategies is needed. Daniel Willardson Many SPHS students, in reality, know very little about the CST. Whom does it benefit? What is its purpose outside of teacher evaluation of incoming students? Why are the school board, and the teachers, and the administration, so completely obsessed with pushing up scores? In the midst of all of these questions and so few answers, perhaps a little information would be more helpful than a leftover SPEX T-shirt shot at one’s face.
Friday, April 27, 2012 - Tiger
Opinion
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Kony 2012 suffers from short attention spans, inertia Following up on viral campaign of internet activism By Jackson Atwater Staff Writer
Rachael Lee
Virtual nostalgia gone too far By Shyam Senthilkumar Business Manager Whether actually at the concert or watching the stream on YouTube, it’s safe to say that fans were all taken by surprise when the late Tupac Shakur took the stage at Coachella 2012. What is even more shocking, however, is that representatives of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are currently talking logistics of a tour involving the two performers and a hologram of Tupac. Some claim that creating apparitions of past all-time greats and having them tour all over the world could be the future of the music industry. But the trend of virtual artist performances in full-length concerts is one that should stop before it starts. Coachella, however, made it work. Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg led the concert, while holographic Tupac made a brief appearance in just two songs. Coachella gave fans just enough to appreciate. A full-length concert could have elicited very different reactions. An image dominating the stage for hours on end would leave concert-goers grasping for some form of reality. There isn’t much of a difference between watching that hologram and watch-
ing a Tupac video on YouTube. When you’re sitting in the stands cheering on “Tupac,” stop and think what you’re actually watching: computer graphics on an empty stage. There is an abundance of great artists who don’t get the exposure that they deserve, and yet we’re caught up trying to live in the past. “After seeing a rapper who has been dead for fifteen years perform live, I feel the possibilities of what the entertainment industry will attempt next is limitless. Tupac was amazing to see, but an entire concert would get boring,” said junior Thomas Chang. The manner in which Coachella brought Tupac back to life, as well as the fact that virtual concerts are still considerably new, made the show quite memorable. If other concerts incorporate virtual musicians in a similar fashion without letting them become the main attraction, these concerts could become a staple of modern entertainment. Otherwise, they could become part of a long list of failed experiments. Tupac is one of the greatest rappers of all time, but his time has come and gone. The industry must let new musicians and artists take the stage and Tupac rest in peace.
is a great tactic for raising awareness, the effectiveness of the overarching campaign The highly controversial and very hinged on a transition from emotional to popular Kony 2012 video that went viral moral and logical agreement, a transition last month urged activism and support for that did not occur. While this is unfortunate for the the capture of warlord Joseph Kony. An integral point of Kony 2012 was to be the campaign, it has even bigger implications “Cover the Night” campaign, in which for the campaign’s message. Kony 2012 was specifically about supporters were supposed to hang posters, paint murals, and post flyers on the night capturing Joseph Kony, but it also repof April 20. The idea was that on one day, resented a much bigger idea: citizens of the world would wake up plastered in sym- the world recognizing each other’s problems, voicing support bols of the Kony 2012 for those facing these campaign, successfully [Kony 2012] didn’t sucproblems, and taking transitioning activism action to fix them, with from the web to the cessfully transition from no personal interest. real world. the web to reality, but Although the The campaign it did show that people c a m p a i g n wa s u l t i wa s, i n t h e l a r ge s t had at least a basic demately unsuccessful sense of the word, a flop. sire for this kind of gobal in achieving its vision, Kony 2012 was one of Po s t e r s, w h e n unity and action. the most viral videos not absent, were in history, and people sparse, murals were nowhere to be seen—in short, the cam- showed strong emotional responses on paign completely failed to make the jump social networks. It didn’t successfully transition from the web to reality, but it did from the internet to reality. A mix of detractors probably caused show that people had at least a basic desire this—among them Invisible Children for this kind of global unity and action. Kony 2012 proved that its goal is founder Jason Russell’s involvement in an exhibition scandal, as well as considerable certainly possible—with effort. The issue flak from people arguing that the video was was that while supporters were willing to oversimplified, inaccurate, or just a scam. empathize with the less fortunate, they This caused many to shy away from pursu- seemed less able to take action to help them. The lesson here is that the road to ing continual support for the campaign. In addition, the video for Kony 2012 what the Kony campaign attempted to do was based on the goal of eliciting an emo- is still there, but that the path is much more tional response from viewers. While this difficult than it seemed.
Tiger Newspaper Asks: Commissioner elections take up a substantial amount of time and energy, with extensive campaigning and a week of runoffs. Do you feel the elections are run as efficiently and effectively as posible? What reforms would you make to the process? Jennifer Thompson, Grade 11 Commission elections are very stressful, but it is such a rewarding experience, regardless of the outcome. When you run to become a commissioner you get to meet new people who you wouldn’t normally talk to, which I think is great. But campaigning does take up most of your spring break....so....that was something that wasn’t too great. Spenser Atlas, Grade 10 Elections are run as effectively as possible! A lot of people complain that campaign week is stressful and ineffective but part of running for a commissioner position means that you must be fully prepared to put up with competition. Also, getting free pencils is a plus. I would make no reforms. Patrick Gan, Grade 11 Although mandatory classroom voting would effectively garner more votes for candidates, the current voting system better reflects those who actually support candidates. If voting were to take place during class, it would be difficult indeed to avoid campaigning under such situations. If I recall correctly, campaigning in class is against the rules of the game, and voting in class could seriously attack the integrity of elections. Additionally, it is much easier to form voting blocs and unfairly skewer results in a classroom setting where
votes may be unfairly cast — several generally apathetic students might vote for a person they really don’t care about just to appease their classmates. On the other hand, it is up to the student himself (or herself) to vote when voting is held during lunch or after school. If he cares, then he votes; if he couldn’t care less, then he ignores the stream of voters and proceeds with his life as is. Ultimately, it is those who truly care about the future of their high school careers, or care about the candidates, who should be left to shape the subsequent year’s commission.
didates, there is a change I would make. Instead of having one place and time where students vote, I think that it would be more efficient and accurate if ballots were sent to individual classrooms (like for homecoming princesses and GQ), creating a much larger population of voters. If this were the case, you would receive a much more accurate representation of the students’ views, rather than just those of the students who waited in the line during lunch.
Hannah Rips, Grade 11
Commissioner elections take up a ton of time and effort and are usually described as very stressful for the candidates. With an entire week of campaigning, I’m sure every candidate wishes that everyone who was campaigned to would vote. Of course, having more votes would give ASB a better representation of what the student body wants, but only if everyone cared. Instead of sending ballots out to everyone and risking a very inaccurate vote due to an apathetic majority, I envision a future where more than a fifth of the student body cares enough about elections to take a couple minutes out of their day to stop by the SAC room and vote.
Along with mandating that commissioner voting be conducted in classrooms, I strongly believe that the communication between the candidates and the student body needs to be changed. Commissioner Facebook groups prove to be nothing but painful spam, but at the same time, candidates are hardpressed to conform or potentially fall behind the competition. My solution? Ban them. It’s awkward to see someone decline your request to your campaign group, or see your friend support someone else. Cole Teague, Grade 11 I think that indeed it is a stressful process, with various required documents and deadlines. Although this does a good job of shaping the can-
Michael Chang, Grade 10
Michael Amerine, Grade 11 I feel that voting should not be mandatory; students who are apathetic
about the elections would simply vote for a random candidate, reducing the election to sheer luck. Also, I would like to know what the process is for penalizing candidates for improperly disposing of posters. I feel this system could be misused to give candidates an advantage. Devna Desai, Grade 11 The elections are definitely run as effectively as possible. Libby, Mr. Shotwell and the rest of the commissioners have done a great job putting it together. Our questions were answered anytime and it was all well-organized. Personally, I dislike the idea of handing out items. I believe that it is very time-consuming and tedious; also, you lose money if you lose. Some people say, “Who has the best stuff? I’ll probably just vote for them!” or, “Oh hey! I love the free stuff, I want it! But I’m probably not gonna vote at all.” This, to me, seems like nothing but bribing the students for votes. There’s competition between the candidates for who’s giving out the coolest stuff. Even though this is a great opportunity to show the student body the amount of time and effort you’re willing to put into whatever you will be doing the following year (if elected), it just seems unfair to those who may not be able to afford the ‘coolest’ things to give out. Also, online publicity isn’t effective. It only bugs people when you invite them. However, [running] was an exceptionally exciting experience.
8 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
AP Studio Art
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AP STUDIO ART PORTFOLIOS While most AP students are given numerous tests and large amounts of homework to demonstrate their knowledge, AP Studio Art and AP Photography teachers and examiners grade students on their creativity. In three weeks’ time, students from both classes will be submitting a total of 24 works that demonstrate a variety of skills and media that they have been working on since September. Here are a few examples of works that students at SPHS will send to the College Board. 1. Victoria Carlos (12) 2. Helen Lee (12) 3. Daniel Willardson (12) 4. Emily Leung (12) 5. Daniel Willardson (12) 6. Katie Whitworth (12) 7. Flora Leung (11) 8. Emily Leung (12) 9. June Kim (11) 10. Sophia Arriola (10) 11. Tiffany Diep (11) 12. Helen Lee (12) 13. June Kim (11) 14. Jimmy Don (11) 15. Flora Leung (11)
Page by Jennifer Kim and Rhian Moore
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Feature
Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Feature
9
Out and About Tryouts for the 2012-2013 pep squad are approaching. Students who are interested should attend a mandatory student and parent meeting next Monday, April 30, in the cafeteria at 7:00 P.M. /Sofi Goode
Festivus for the rest of us By Clair Fuller Opinion Editor
Rachael Garner
Principal Janet Anderson spoke about California State Testing during the Festivus assembly. Festivus occurs every year during state testing to boost morale and give students an incentive to perform well on the tests.
Curtains exceeds expectations By Rachel Newhall Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School Drama Department’s performance of Curtains overcame low expectations and put on a show worthy of praise. Curtains, centered around a play within the play, follows Lt. Frank Cioffi in his search for the murderer of multiple actors. Meanwhile, the theatre company continues with rehearsals of its failing production of Robbin’ Hood. Cioffi, a theatre buff, looks for clues and critiques the show along the way. The impressive trio of senior Libby Rainey, sophomore Sophie Negrini, and freshman Julia Primuth beautifully harmonized several renditions of “In the Same Boat” throughout the play. While the other two were featured in solo songs, Primuth performed an impressive dance number with freshman partner Adam Espinoza.
Senior Clair Fuller, who played Robbin’ Hood producer Carmen Bernstein, also gave an applause-worthy performance. She commanded the stage throughout the show with her dynamic and witty personality. Her voice and attitude shone in her solo song, “It’s a Business.” The actresses were not the only crowdpleasers; senior Michael Abelev and sophomore David Yang showed off strong acting and vocal abilities throughout the show. Thanks to auditorium upgrades, Curtains featured professional-quality lighting and sound. The show opened with an interesting effect; cast members took their bows for the show Robbin’ Hood with their backs towards the real audience, bright lights shining towards the rest of the auditorium. This gave the illusion that the audience was behind the curtain, able to witness the off-stage murder. The second act began with a different lighting effect and the full-company song “He Did It.” The curtains opened on the
cast sleeping in a dark, quarantined theater. Throughout the song, cast members shone flashlights on their faces instead of standing in spotlights, adding to an already eerie and suspenseful feel. While the show had noteworthy points, there were also several mishaps. Microphone volume continually changed while an actor was mid-song, leading to distracting changes in the dominant presence on the stage. Additionally, some of the cast members could have used more rehearsal before taking the stage; the musical contained more than a few awkward pauses as an actor tried to remember his or her next line. Forgettable mistakes aside, Curtains was unexpectedly witty, emotional, and suspenseful. The play was well-done and enjoyable for its audiences. “The combined efforts of the cast, crew, and band made each and every performance excellent,” said senior stage manager Hyrum Judkins.
Most SPHS students probably know Festivus as an event in April that Principal Ms Janet Anderson affectionately calls “Festivus for the test in us.” An earlier generation, however, would be more familiar with the event as a humorous winter holiday popularized by the sitcom in 1997 as “Festivus for the rest of us.” The name “Festivus” was originally borrowed as a name for the weeks around the California State Tests twelve years ago, but the holiday was originally conceived and celebrated by writer Dan O’Keefe. It found its way into popular culture via O’Keefe’s son Daniel, a screenwriter for Seinfeld. In “The Strike,” the holiday is introduced by character Frank Costanza as an alternative to the frustrating commercialization of other winter holidays. Throughout the episode, the tongue-incheek traditions of Festivus are revealed, some of which were actually practiced by the O’Keefe family. An unadorned aluminum pole stands in lieu of a Christmas tree, and the traditional Festivus dinner begins with the “Airing of Grievances.” During this ceremony, family members list the various ways they have been disappointed by each other and the world. As Costanza says in the original episode, “I got a lot of problems with you people! And now, you’re gonna hear about it.” While SPHS’s brand of Festivus ends with the ninth grade physical fitness test, the original Festivus celebrations conclude in a much more interesting manner: physical violence. Following the Festivus dinner, the head of the household selects one other family member to compete with in a wrestling match, called “the Feats of Strength.” Traditionally, Festivus only ends once the head of the household has been pinned. Festivus at the high school is less-thanloosely connected to the origins of the “holiday,” and exists as an attempt to liven up a dreary week of CSTs—though perhaps the administration could better achieve this goal by taking a page out of O’Keefe’s book.
Personality Profile: Atty Blatt By Josh Roqumore Staff Writer Senior Atticus Blatt is all about lasting impressions. While she has enjoyed a lifetime of exciting travels and experiences, it is her sense of humor and easygoing personality that make her unforgettable. “I get my sense of humor from my dad,” said Blatt. “He’s kind of the comedian of the family, and apparently it rubs off.” Blatt’s constant and easy wit isn’t her only talent. She has been a member of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus for the last six years. Being a part of this prestigious choir group has taken her around the world to places such as Finland, Sweden, Estonia, and South Africa, and allowed to her perform at the Hollywood Bowl and Disney
Concert Hall. “Not many teenagers get to have the kind of experiences I have had with LACC,” said Blatt. “I love it, and although it was nerve-wracking, I am really glad I auditioned in sixth grade. My next big accomplishment will be learning how to whistle.” Blatt uses her lighthearted humor and highly-recognized singing voice to entertain and teach students in Sunday school. She and her family attend a Jewish temple in Temple City. “I love being Jewish because all of the holidays involve food somehow,” said Blatt. “I also really like how family-oriented it is.” Blatt plans on attending Roger Williams University this fall in Bristol, Rhode Island. At the moment, she intends to major in History and minor in Film, and use
her education to become a television set designer. Blatt hopes that a background in history will allow her to design intricate, historically accurate sets. The senior’s mother is a TV hair stylist—she did Miley Cyrus’s hair for Hannah Montana—and her dad is a production designer. Blatt accredits her ease on set and professional goals to her time spent with her parents during their work over the years. Years from now Blatt may be found designing the set for the next big TV series or movie. Until then, she intends to continue leaving her impression on people in softer, more sublte ways. “Atty is really funny,” said Blatt enthusiast Wilson Muller. “She pays for my food, loves magnets, and feeds the homeless. She is awesome.”
Katie Whitworth
Senior Atty Blatt is known around campus for having a lighthearted and witty sense of humor.
10 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Feature
AbilityFirst
No, South Pasadena High School sophomores aren’t saving the world, but with the time and effort they put into this second-semester Honors World History project, it certainly seems like they might be attempting to do so. The project is infamous for being extremely difficult and time-consuming. Students every year select an unresolved world issue to address, dedicate hands-on hours at one or two related organizations, and put together a hefty portfolio recording their efforts. This year, a majority of the groups worked with disabled or disadvantaged youth at places such as AbilityFirst, HOLA, and the Boys and Girls Club.
Sophomore Sonny An hands a cup of water to a participant during the 5K Santa Anita Derby Dance.
Boys and Girls Club
AbilityFirst is a Southern-California-based organization that provides services for children and adults with disabilities. They operate housing units and offer employment, recreational, and socialization services.
The Boys and Girls Club of America is a national organization that is dedicated to aiding disadvantaged children. It is an after-school and summer program that provides kids with a fun place to play and hone their skills.
“I love volunteering at AbilityFirst. It never ceases to amaze me how people would be thinking that I am the one helping these people when I feel that the opposite is true—these individuals are the ones who are helping me.” - Andrea Rogando, AbilityFirst
“It was a satisfying experience at AbilityFirst for me – I felt that they had a greater impact on me than I did on them. Volunteering at AbilityFirst opened my eyes to look beyond their disabilities and focus on their capabilities.” - Sonny An, AbilityFirst
Sonny An
“The disadvantaged children are just in a bad area and even though they have to live with all these problems, they still act like kids. They play, they laugh, they’re always optimistic, and they don’t really dwell on their problems.” - Angela Zhao, Heart of Los Angeles
HOLA Heart of Los Angeles, or HOLA, is an L.A.-based organization that works with inner-city children. These kids are given the opportunity to participate in after-school arts, academic, and atheletic programs to develop their poten-
Rachael Garner
Sophomore Kea Hudson shows off her hands after fingerpainting with the financially-disadvantaged kids at HOLA.
“It is an endless attempt to connect history to real life. It’s about connecting the past to the present. Most students this year volunteered at youth organizations like HOLA, Ability First, and Mach 1. Dealing with a different group of people can really change their views on [disadvantaged] youth.” - Mr. Sean Regan, Honors World History Teacher Reporting by Madison Amido, Marcy Kuo, Rhian Moore, and Erin Chan
Personality Profile: Dan Qi By Libby Rainey Editor-In-Chief In the everyday flood of orange admits and tardy slips attendance clerk Ms Ruth Carlson encounters, the names and identities of SPHS students rarely stand out. Dan Qi is the exception. “Most years, I have at least fifty absences a semester,” said Qi, whom Carlson can now recognize from his handwriting alone. The senior doesn’t always show up to class, but when he does, fellow students take notice. “Dan is really into spontaneous acts of kindness, especially bringing baked goods to our Econ class,” said senior Katherine Morales. “One time, he brought us donuts and another time he brought boxes of sponge cake. He likes doing things just to make people happy; it’s really sweet.” Random generosity and a Senior big, excited smile are trademarks of Qi’s quirky personality. When not passing out treats at random and actually pinned down to a desk, Qi proves to be a natural learner and an intelligent student.
Typical
Mayla, the pets live in a huge cage in Qi’s room. He drove for over five hours with his sister to purchase Mayla, who routinely bites anyone who touches her. Despite the chinchilla’s temperamental disposition, Qi hopes to take both of his pets to Santa Barbara when he moves off campus in his sophomore year. Chinchillas are messy animals, and Qi cleans his entire room every week to keep their cage manageable. When not consumed with chinchilla maintenance, he spends his free time singing, sleeping and eating. He loves ballads, and his favorite singer is Christina Aguilera. On the weekends, he typically sleeps until two in the afternoon, and stays up late into the night talking with friends and listening to his favorite songs. Qi hopes to continue with his irregular sleeping patterns in college, and also plans Jennifer Kim to join a choir to more actively Dan Qi shows off his pet chinchilla, Mayla. pursue his love of music. One thing’s for sure: his warm perthe switch from living in South Pasadena sonality will make Qi popular quickly deto dorm life isn’t the cramped space or find- spite a new environment, especially if he ing a roommate; it’s finding a new home continues his inclination to share sugary for his two chinchillas. Named Amber and sweets with strangers. His academic success gained him admission to UC Santa Barbara, where he plans to study actuarial science next fall. “I chose UCSB for its genuine college life,” said Qi. Qi’s main concern about making
By Daniel Willardson
Like this comic? You can view it in full color at tigernewspaper.com.
Han releases mixtape online By Jackson Atwater Staff Writer Senior Yihai Han recently released his mixtape, The Nomination of C.I.C., with seven original hip-hop tracks that feature several other rappers. The Nomination of C.I.C. is Han’s first released musical work. It has over 300 streams from listeners online, and has received decidedly mixed reactions from students. The tape does not exemplify any particular rap or muscial style, and is instead based on Han’s own unique mixture. “I have artists that I like, but I don’t want to copy them and be fake. I want to make my own stuff, not just take other people’s,” said Han. “This was one of the best mixtapes I’ve heard. Pro rappers have some competition with Yihai’s clever lyrics,” said senior Brandin Sato. Han continues to publicize his mixtape on Facebook and Twitter, and through word-of-mouth. “I believe he has broken the stereotype that Asians can’t rap with this groundbreaking release,” said senior Bryce Cheng. Senior Harry Yadav, junior Christian Christmas, and SPHS alumni Allison Doolittle and Kris Bonk are all featured on different tracks of the mixtape under various stage names. The mixtape has received over 2200 views on soundcloud.com and datpiff.com, where it is available to stream and download.
The Nomination of C.I.C. Track List 1. Intro 2. First Time (prod. Blake) 3. OG Private Reserved (feat. TheSkiwalker) 4. Four-Twenty (feat. Scooby_doobieee)
5. So Cal 6. The Uprise 7. Bomb (feat. Scooby_doobieee) 8. One Day (feat. Allison Doolittle) /available on Datpiff.com
Feature
Tiger - Friday, April 28, 2012
Roman Reloaded does not play to Minaj’s strengths
Directions from SPHS: Travel north on Diamond Ave. Turn left onto Monterrey Road. Turn left onto Brunswick Ave. Turn left onto St. Albans Ave. Continue onto Hill Dr. Turn left onto Peterson Ave. Turn right onto Hanscom Dr. Drive until you like the view.
By Christian Miyamae Staff Writer 3.5/5
By Sofi Goode Feature Editor
Nicki Minaj’s second album, Pink Friday… Roman Reloaded, is predictably mainstream and overproduced. Released on April 3, the album incorporates a wide range of songs, from upbeat pop to slow-tempo rap. Minaj’s work on her previous album, Pink Friday, was more hip-hop- and R&B-based. Roman Reloaded focuses more on uptempo pop numbers that struggle to showcase her talents for singing and rhyming, which are overwhelmingly apparent in her slower numbers. Her ability hasn’t disappeared in Roman Reloaded, but the album doesn’t lend itself to her strengths. Minaj’s hooks and high-pitched vocals fuel the fast-paced pop numbers, making for empty, catchy songs such as “Whip It” and “Right by My Side,” which features artist Chris Brown. The electronic backgrounds and high-pitched vocals of “Automatic,” “Beautiful Sinners,” and “Marillyn Monroe” create an almost Gaga-like feeling that does not suit Minaj. While enjoyable at first, her fastpaced songs don’t emphasize her voice and are nothing special; they quickly begin to blur together. The other upbeat songs on the album return to her traditional rap style, a much better fit for Minaj. However, despite her talent, “Come on a Cone,” “I Am Your Leader,” and “HOV Lane” all emphasize unnecessary outcries. The songs also feature heavy background bass that nearly covers up Minaj’s lyrics. “Beez in the Trap” and “Starships” are prime examples of the type of over-produced background tracks that characterize Roman Reloaded. “Champion,” which features Drake, Young Jeezy, and Nas, is the only song of the same quality as Minaj’s previous hits. It stands out among the loud, head-banging tracks of Roman Reloaded and maintains a very refreshing and smooth background. This song, the only slow-paced track on the album, successfully brings out the artist’s soft flow. Harsh backgrounds, attention-based gags, and a lack of focus on her talents leave Roman Reloaded in the shadows of Nicki Minaj’s previous work.
Upcoming L.A. Concerts Old-school rock star Bruce Springsteen will be performing with the E Street Band at the Staples Center on April 26. collegedj.net
We set out to find the prettiest sunset in Los Angeles, naturally, during the cloudiest week of the month. In spite of the weather, we armed ourselves with several possible locations and the hope that the sun would break through the clouds, and took off in the late afternoon light. Watching a sunset has two basic necessities – food and a comfortable place to sit. Thankfully, our car had roof large enough
for all of us to sit on, but others may need lawn chairs or cushions to enjoy the view. Food was our next item to collect. Primal cravings brought us to McDonald’s and a twenty-piece container of chicken nuggets. Sufficiently armed with our questionable sustenance, we took off to our selected location, based on a tip-off from junior Ryan Stone. This spot is buried deep in Monterey Hills, just over the South Pasadena/Los Angeles border, and faces west over down-
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes will be playing at the Greek Theater on Friday, May 4 at 7:30 P.M. 2or3lines.blogspot.com
British alternative band Coldplay will be playing at the Hollywood Bowl on May 1, 2, and 4 as part of their Mylo Xyloto Tour. pigeonsandplanes.com
sights. Despite the lack of the promised brilliant colors, the view from this location (directions above) is still rather spectacular. Other great locations to watch the sunset include the Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica beach, and the La Cañada hills above Rose Bowl. Every night, each of these places offers a slightly different sunset, from the vibrant pinks of a sandy beach to the shiny reflections of twilight off of the L.A. skyline. Just make sure that you check the weather before you go.
Picture Show is a lackluster transition By Natalie McLain Staff Writer 2.5/5
Much anticipation surrounded the release of the new Neon Trees album, Picture Show. Habits, the band’s first full-length album, garnered significant attention from its hit singles “Animal,” “Your Surrender,” and “1983.” Picture Show, however, fails to live up to the expectations set by Habits and the hype preceding its release. The new album is an odd mixture of electronic beats with a shadow of the band’s more classic, beachy rock sound. There is also a darker, more dance-inspired feel to Picture Show that contrasts with foot-tapping, upbeat spirit of Habits. While this transition
can and has been accomplished by numerous bands in the past, Neon Trees’ attempt falls short. The old and new sounds clash in an awkward, jumbled mess of identities. Even when removed from comparison to Habits and left to stand on its own, Picture Show is still lackluster. A large majority of the songs are four to six minutes long, with instrumental or electronic breaks that occur at random and often stretch on for as long as a minute. The lyrics are less than impressive and, while aiming to address and appeal to darker subject matter, are repetitive and cliché at best. “Mad Love” repeats the word “really” seven times in the song’s hook: “We’ve got a really, really, really, really, really, really, really mad love.”
Despite the album’s largely disappointing content, it does have its bright spots. The single “Everybody Talks” has received much radio playtime, and “Still Young” is a slower, but sweet and simple, ballad that asks, “Can we kiss, like we do in my head?” The album also included a catchy but short demo from the band’s pre-label days by the name of “Drop Your Weapon.” “Moving in the Dark” is performed with a similar flair. Perhaps Picture Show was an attempt at a more mature sound, at being more risqué with its frequent mention of drugs and one-night stands. But the material, both lyrically and rhythmically, falls short of anything impressive. The album’s saving grace is its select few songs reminiscent of Habits.
The Lucky One is classic Sparks movie 2/5
store.ticketmaster.com
town and the rolling hills of L.A. Things were looking promising as we drove up into the hills; the sun was visible between houses and more and more of Los Angeles came into view as we climbed higher. However, after we turned one particular corner, we found the sun completely buried in clouds. The sunset may have been a lost cause, but we were determined not to let that ruin our evening. We arrived at the location and sat on the roof of the car for an hour, enjoying the
Photos by Rachael Garner
By Meghan Roche Staff Writer
Jack White will be performing at the Mayan Theater on April 30 at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are still available!
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Predictability and sappiness make for an unfortunate pairing for moviegoers looking for anything beyond a typical date-night chick flick, and The Lucky One, the latest in a long line of Nicolas Sparks page-to-screen adaptations, is drenched in both. Former High School Musical star Zac Efron is cast as steely, war-scarred Sgt. Logan Thibault, who has returned home from his third tour in Iraq. Logan has made it his goal to seek out the beautiful subject of a photograph he found in the rubble of the battlefield, whom he credits with keeping him alive. Armed only with a vague idea of where she might live, Logan walks from Colorado to Louisiana to find the
woman. Once he somehow tracks her down, he ends up taking a job at her kennel, where she trains and walks dogs when she’s not substitute-teaching, cleaning house, running through creeks at sunrise, or looking troubled in a wardrobe seemingly consisting of nothing but daisy dukes and sheer white tops. The occasionally cheesy and often predictable plotline is otherwise solid enough, but extensive use of montages and make-out scenes is an obvious ploy to appeal to a very specific audience. Lines like, “You should be kissed: every day, every hour, every minute,” are unfortunately abundant as well, though it is clear that Efron did the best he could with them and his ohso-predictable role.
He has clearly grown as an actor since his time as a leading Disney Channel man, but going from playing a high school dreamboat for the majority of his career to playing a war-scarred marine in his mid-twenties off his third tour in Iraq is just too huge a jump. Efron’s and leading lady Taylor Schilling’s nonexistent onscreen chemistry definitely does not help matters. Of course, there are some positives. The scenery is gorgeous, the cinematography and lighting are well done, and Blythe Danner is fantastic as Schilling’s mother, adding much needed humor and subtlety missing from the rest of the cast. In the end, though, The Lucky One is just a romantic drama based off a Nicolas Sparks novel, and audiences expecting anything more or less are fooling themselves.
12 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Feature
Iz, Short for Izz
By Amber Laird
Like this comic? You can view it in full color at tigernewspaper.com.
Marley captures carefree essence music. The film shows everything from his first home, the ghetto of the Trench Town neighborhood in Kingston, Jamaica, to his last minutes alive. The documentary reaches an emotional climax with the story of Marley’s death from cancer in the holistic clinic in his final home in Bavaria. The story’s poignancy is enhanced by the stunning Jamaican scenery shown in the clips. The video of Marley performing gave tremendous insight into his personality, and the most engaging aspect of the entire film was the accuracy of Marley’s persona. He is conveyed as a passionate, peaceful, and positive influence on the musical culture of his time. The film captures Marley’s neverending attempts at peace, as well as his ability to look at the big picture. These traits set him apart in his time as a musical icon.
By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer 2.5/5
Bob Marley’s signature charisma, radical wisdom, and revolutionary reggae music are showcased in the allencompassing documentary, Marley. Oscar-award-winning director Kevin Macdonald gives the audience powerful insight into Bob Marley’s colorful childhood and career with spectacular concert footage of the reggae artist. The film shares personal interviews with his friends, family, as well as old clips of conversations with the artist himself. However, the footage of Marley performing in front of live crowds is far more emotionally telling about the artist and his lifestyle. Marley accompanies a montage of the artist’s life with his own soulful
Prom?
Being a die-hard Marley fan or a vague music enthusiast makes no difference when watching this film; Marley’s positive outlook and stories of overcoming adversity will inspire any and all. Bob Marley’s sole concern was always creating more spiritual and heartening music while enjoying the life that he had been given. In one memorable scene, when an interviewer asked what Bob Marley did every day after becoming wealthy, the artist swept his dreadlocks off his cheek and replied nonchalantly, “I don’t know, I only consider myself rich on life.” Marley’s constant assurance and grounded attitude in spite of his fame are clearly depicted in this memoir. His casual and carefree essence make Marley an enlightening and enriching cinema experience for everyone, from the greatest fan to the casual moviegoer.
May 12th is quickly approaching. With it come flowers, signs, and candles, all with the same motive: prom. Below are some of the most creative ways SPHS students popped the question.
E OVER heard Illustrations by Daniel Willardson
Yosemite groups announced seniors prep for annual hike
Claire Kieffer-Wright & Tim Szu Sophomore Claire Kieffer-Wright was taking notes on a World War II PowerPoint presentation in second period when her own name popped up on the screen. History teacher Ms Annalee Pearson headed for her classroom door, which she opened to senior Tim Szu. “Prom?” read the next slide.
Laurel Kitada & Bennett Kopperud Senior Laurel Kitada enlisted the help of the SPHS track team to ask senior Bennett Kopperud to Prom. Senior Alex Tranquada distracted Kopperud while Kitada and others hung signs that spelled out “P-RO-M?” from the stadium railing. Kopperud walked out onto the track ahead of schedule, but they managed to get the posters up in time. He said yes.
Alexis Velasco & David Shackleford Senior David Shackleford brought a bowl of live goldfish to school on Thursday, April 19. When sophomore Alexis Velasco walked into her fifth-period class, the goldfish were waiting for her on her desk. A sign next to the bowl read, “Out of all the fish in the sea, will you go to prom with me?” She carried the live animals around with her for the rest of the day.
Alan Shen & Jessica Ng
Couple senior Alan Shen and junior Jessica Ng were in San Diego when Shen popped the question. They boarded a roller coaster at Belmont Park and sat behind friends Angela Peng and Edwin Tan. When they reached the top, Peng and Tan held up a sign reading “Prom?” Ng said yes as the roller coaster descended.
Sidney Gerst & Gio Fata Senior Sidney Gerst went about prom the casual way, and it worked. Gerst popped the question via Facebook. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, so I asked him if he was going at all. He said maybe, and I asked if he wanted to go with me. He said ‘sure,’ and I responded with ‘yay.’ It was really chill,” said Gerst.
By Libby Rainey Editor-In-Chief Thunder, birdsong, sierra wind, rushing water, and voices in your head are among the many noises the sixty seniors traveling to Yosemite this May can expect to hear on their five-day backpacking adventure. This year’s trip is themed “The Sounds of Yosemite,” and the students and advisors attending gathered in the science building on Wednesday night to discuss equipment and small group organization for the annual Yosemite trip. After an extensive overview of camping equipment (no cell phones), hygiene (no deodorant) and wardrobe (no cotton), the teachers arrived at the most anticipated part of the night: group assignments. While the sixty seniors all drive up to Yosemite together and sometimes participate in large-group activities, the majority of the trip is spent in groups of twelve students, one teacher, and two guides. Mr. Shane Mills, Ms Melissa Muntz, Mr. Casey Shotwell, Mr. Joshua
Whitney, and Mr. Don Wielenga will be leading the small groups through four days of backpacking. Instead of simply reading off group lists, advisors instead gave each student a puzzle piece. The seniors were then left to match their pieces with fellow group members, eventually forming five unique puzzles. The rest of the evening was spent in smaller groups, reviewing logistics and bonding. “I am definitely looking forward to going camping for the first time,” said Isabelle Rosenthal, who is in the Rushing Water group. “I was a little intimidated by all the preparations that we are going to be going through and about the fact that we are going to be wet, and cold, and dirty the entire time. But I think it will be fun and I am looking forward to making friends.” Seniors attending Yosemite are all expected to wear hiking boots to school on Friday, May 4 for Boot Day. They will also be partaking in group dinners and equipment checks before they depart for Yosemite on Sunday, May 20.
Rachael Garner & Austin Kahn Junior Austin Kahn was planning on asking sophomore Rachael Garner to prom, but she beat him to it. With the help of freshmen Shine Cho and Jenny Luo, Garner strung up the words, “Austin, Prom?” between two trees at the Arroyo. When Garner and Kahn hiked through the area later that day, he found the sign. With a big smile he said the obvious answer, “Yes.”
What: Secret Garden Prom When: May 12 Where: L.A. River & Garden /Libby Rainey
Rachael Garner
ASB Director Mr. Casey Shotwell instructs seniors on Yosemite gear.
Friday, April 27, 2012 - Tiger
Coachella
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is highly revered among an eclectic group of music enthusiasts from all over California. The following are excerpts from South Pasadena’s favorite, most memorable shows.
The Head and the Heart
- pollstar
The Head and the Heart performed songs from its debut album, including “Lost In My Mind,” “Rivers and Roads” and a new song called “Gone.” These types of shows were arguably the most enjoyable at the festival, as true fans were able to fight their way to the front with little to no bloodshed; a lucky few might have even been able to catch the lead singer’s gaze before they disappeared behind the palm trees. / Anne Kitchens
Kevin He
Despite an invasion of bros, heightened security, and two-hour-long waits to shower, Coachella provided me with an amazing and unforgettable experience.The non-stop music and variety of activities kept me busy for all three days, but my favorite acts had to be St. Vincent, Justice, Beirut, and tUnEyArDs. All in all, it was a spectacular weekend.
/ Joyce Alexander
13
Page by Jennifer Kim and Katie Whitworth
Dada Life
- facebook.dadalife
The two eccentric Swedish electro house producers Olle Corneer and Stefan Engblom form the prominent electro house duo Dada Life. The duo is known for putting on the best live shows in the EDM world; this was proven true at Coachella 2012. Inflatable bananas and champagne bottles were tossed around the crowd as tracks created with the duo’s patented sausage fattener created a party-like atmosphere for their fanatical fans. / Matt DeFulgentiis
I can honestly say Coachella weekend was the best three days of my life. Everyone was there to enjoy one thing: the music. From electronic dance DJs in the Sahara tent to Radiohead to Tupac’s suprise entrance, the music couldn’t have been any greater. You haven’t lived if you haven’t experienced what Coachella has to offer.
Sean Ehrlich /
Florence and the Machine
- theatlantic
The alternative band Florence and the Machine performed one of the festival’s most overlooked shows on Sunday night. The bright flashing lights only contributed to the powerful performance, which featured hits such as “Ceremonials” and “Dog Days Are Over,” and left all those who chose Avicii, who performed at the same time, full of regret and a sense of missed opportunity. “Never Let Me Go” closed the performance and held the audience for a long, nostalgic moment—before they rushed off in chain-linked arms to Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. / Anne Kitchens
Coachella gives music fans the chance to connect in an environment where everyone is looking to have fun. It’s great to be able to meet with others who share the same musical interests. The positive energy of the crowd has a contagious effect and one can’t help but dance. And the bass feels good, man...
/ Michael Cachu It’s something about the combination of seeing musicians I would otherwise never get the chance to see and the surrounding people, who are just as enthusiastic about seeing them. My favorite shows were St.Vincent and Flying Lotus because Michael, Aritra and I were in the front row. It was unbelievable. And the Dr. Dre and Snoop show was on another level entirely.
Flying Lotus
- pitchfork
Providing great contrast to many of the other DJ/electronic acts at this year’s Coachella, Flying Lotus played his signature blend of hip-hop and electronic beats in one of the best acts of the festival. Some of the highlights of the performance included reworks of “Ni**as in Paris,” “Yonkers,” and a track by Erykah Badu. The crowd especially enjoyed the premiere of tracks from Until the Quiet Comes, Fly-Lo’s next album due in September. / Theo Mandin-Lee
Mackenzie Forman / Coachella was super sick. Although previous years had much better lineups, the experience as a whole proved to be worth the $350. Childish Gambino and Madness were amazing acts, but the Brainfeeder cast (especially Gaslamp Killer) stole the show for me. They were, freakishly, more amazing than ever before.
/ Michael Christian Allen
Madeon
- billboard
A seventeen-year-old electro house producer hailing from Nantes, France, Hugo Pierre Leclercq orchestrated one of the liveliest and most energized performances at the festival. Better known by his stage name Madeon, the teenager’s almost 15,000 fans were in disbelief that the person conducting the uncontrollable dancing at the Sahara Tent wasn’t even allowed to enter Coachella’s beer garden. / Matt DeFulgentiis
The Black Keys - hollywoodreporter
Saturday night at Coachella was by far the most amazing experience I’ve had in my life so far. I got to see St.Vincent, Flying Lotus, and Radiohead one after another after another. Annie Clark’s amazing voice combined with Flying Lotus’ incredible beats and Thom Yorke’s stunning dance moves just made the whole night extremely memorable.
Radiohead
- blogs.laweekly
Fans packed the main stage for Saturday’s headliner, Radiohead, which delivered an almost two-hour set that included two encores. The band performed old favorites, like “Karma Police” and “Idioteque,” as well new material like “Identikit.” Perhaps the most memorable moment of the show was the end of the first encore, when they played a cover of Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush” that fell into “Everything in Its Right Place” from their 2000 album Kid A. / Theo Mandin-Lee
Aritra Bhattacharya /
Kevin He
- ranquer
14 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Sports
Melissa Payne
Matt Winkel
Adamson has twiced been named to the Junior Olympics All-Tournament team.
Thomas Adamson Senior Thomas Adamson is not just an offensive threat and a defensive nightmare on the court; he is the backbone that supports the SPHS volleyball team. A dedicated player since the age of thirteen, Adamson began playing noncompetitively at a summer camp preceding eighth grade and quickly developed a love for the game. Eager to pursue his newfound hobby, he joined the San Gabriel Elite Volleyball Club, and began dedicating more and more time to training and conditioning as his skills became more refined. “Ever since I started, I’ve tried to play as much as I can,” said Adamson, whose younger brother and two next-door neighbors often engage in backyard games with him. Adamson even transformed his yard’s tennis court into a volleyball court after he started playing regularly. Adamson has attended the summer Junior Olympics with his club team for the past four years, and was honored with the
“All Tournament” award, which recognizes only a handful of exceptional players, each of the last two years. This year, as the captain of the SPHS varsity team, Adamson is learning to assume responsibility and guide his teammates. “He’s definitely stepped up, and helped our guys deal with pressure at game time,” said coach Ben Diaz. “He’s an example and someone that his teammates look up to.” A league championship is close for the team, which is currently in first place. However, Adamson is already looking towards his post-high-school plans; he hopes to join the successful Division 3 team at UC Santa Cruz. “I’ve already communicated with the coach, so that will give me a better chance of making the team,” said an enthusiastic Adamson. “This will be a massive part of my college experience as well as the rest of my life.” ~ Heather Vaughan
the sun’s out. And while many girls fear them, Payne has an inexplicable love of all natural critters – including bugs, butterflies, worms, and caterpillars. She admits that her outgoing personality compels her to “speak her mind way too much,” which may intimidate those around her. Payne has been a competitor her entire life, so it comes as no surprise that when looking back on her softball career, Payne is most noticeably cheerful when thinking about the ruthless Tiger vs. Titan rivalry. “My favorite memory this year was definitely beating San Marino 4-0,” said Payne. ~ Erin Chan
Varsity softball shortstop Melissa Payne comes from a family of ball players. Her mother and father both played in high school and started their little girl with the sport back in second grade. Payne has been an integral part of the South Pasadena softball community ever since. The ongoing spring season marks Payne’s fourth year of high school softball and her third on the varsity team. Payne’s experience with the sport has made her an ideal candidate for the position of captain this year. “She is a great teammate, and a great leader. She always does what is right for the team,” said senior co-captain Marissa Baca. Payne’s favorite aspects of softball reflect how much of her heart lies in the sport. “I enjoy the camaraderie. It’s really fun to play with the team because I’ve known a lot of them since Little League,” she said. Watching Payne in action can bring excitement to an otherwise slow game. “One of my strengths is aggressiveness – I’m not afraid to dive for a ball or take a risk while running bases,” said Payne. The senior’s boldness out on the field reflects her all-around fun and fearless personality. “She will dance in public just to embarrass me,” said friend Caroline Tuason. Katie Whitworth Payne also loves the outdoors, and can be found wake- Payne has been playing softball for eleven years and has boarding and inner-tubing when stepped into the role of varsity captain for SPHS this season.
Friday, April 27, 2012 - Tiger
Sports
15
Girls swim takes title; boys flounder into playoffs By Shyam Senthilkumar Staff Writer
Siria Medina
Sophomore Devin Grab competes in the 100 yard butterfly for the champion girls squad.
Golf hits stride in time for CIF By Carlton Lew Assoc. Opinion Editor Despite a season that has seen its share of twists and turns, the Tigers are now solidly in second place with one game remaining in the season. The Tigers have won four of their last five games, with victories over Temple City and league rival San Marino. Their lone loss came at the hands of La Cañada. “With the season coming to a close, I expect us to stay strong through the rest of the season and secure our second-place finish in league,” said junior Kenneth Rodriguez. The Tigers’ most recent game against Burbank resulted in an easy victory. Senior captain Harry Yadav led the team, shooting a round in 34. “Burbank was a great win for us, because we had lost to them earlier in the season,” Yadav said. “I felt the team really rallied together and put out a strong effort.” The Tigers’ most important match in the last few days came against San Marino. The victory over the Titans vaulted the Tigers into a tie for second place with their rivals. La Cañada remains the number one seed in the Rio Hondo League. The Tiger win also marked the first time in four years that SPHS has qualified for the team CIF divisional round. Sophomore Henry Sue led the team against San Marino, shooting two under par at 34. Junior Cole Teague shot one under par at 35 and Yadav added a solid 38. Rodriguez followed Yadav by shooting a 39 and junior Kevin Ryu rounded out the day, shooting a personal best 40 for the course. “I felt that we had the potential to beat San Marino, but it would take an entire team effort,” Sue said. “Our whole team pulled together and we were able to shoot the best score so far in the season. It definitely took an entire team effort to beat them.”
The South Pasadena girls swim team was already assured a league title when they raced to a 97-73 victory over La Cañada last night. Boys swim was unable to replicate their teammates success, closing out league with a 55-119 loss to the Spartans. The girls were able to secure the title in an earlier 93-77 triumph over San Marino on April 19. Both wins mean a second consecutive championship for the girls. Their victory over the Titans
was highlighted by a record-setting finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of Grace Wakabayshi, Samantha Zavala, Liza Echeverria, and Kate Iio finished with a time of 1:43.66, a CIF consideration qualifying mark. “I credit the great results of our team to our coach,” said sophomore Echeverria. Her brother, Robert, is the team’s head coach. “He’s been our coach for about six years now and he’s pushed us to always try our best. We couldn’t have broken the record without his support.” The boys again faced de-
feat, this time losing 94-78. Although the Tigers were able to outscore the Titans in certain events, they were unable to finish first in any race. Senior captain Sarp Elaziz provided a spark with two close second-place finishes. Elaziz finished the 100 butterfly in a time of 55 seconds and the 100 backstroke in a time of 59 seconds. “I think the team is doing an excellent job. We have a really young team this year, with only four seniors, but lots of young talent. We have been training hard to prepare for the upcoming Rio
Hondo League meet, and I think we are definitely ready to show the other schools what South Pas swimming is all about,” said senior Calvin Chan. “The end of the season is a real gut check,” said senior captain Carlton Lew. “Nobody is going to give us anything; we have to go out and take it. Our guys will swim well at league prelims and finals; we feel really prepared.” Both squads look forward to competing next at the League Championships on May 2, where they hope to send multiple swimmers to the Division II CIF meet.
Baseball rocked by nine-game losing streak ing with the Spartans, but could not manage the same intensity or success during their second recent encounter. Before the game, sophomore first baseman Joey Harmon said, “We are not going to give up. We are going to battle until the end and try to make some positive changes to win this game.” Unfortunately, the battle resulted
By Rachel Newhall Staff Writer Despite high expectations and aspirations of winning the league title, the Tigers took their ninth consecutive league loss to the La Cañada Spartans on Tuesday, April 24. South Pasadena took its only league win in its first meet-
Theo Mandin--Lee
Junior Mark Swanson slides into third base against La Cañada on April 24.
in a 5-2 Spartan victory. Senior Keaton Leach gave away all five runs while on the pitcher’s mound. Junior Mark Swanson relieved Leach in the sixth inning and closed out the game with no additional runs allowed. Senior Dylan Trimarchi batted in two runs during the bottom of the seventh inning; senior Matt Pinson and junior Bryan Bendarski scored for South Pas. Just as the Tigers began to find their rhythm, the game came to an end. Head coach Anthony Chevrier attributes the team’s recent losses to a lack of mental intensity. “We have made the same mistakes game in and game out. We weren’t mentally able to make the adjustments against La Cañada,” he said. “To finish the season on a high note, we are going to stay positive, keep a hard work ethic, and believe that everything we do on and off the field is relative to our success.” The Tigers will face the Temple City Rams tomorrow at home.
Softball slump: team suffers big loss to LC By Christian Miyamae Staff Writer South Pasadena softball has fallen into a losing streak in recent weeks. After dropping its last four games, the team now has a league record of 3-5 and a third-place ranking in league. The girls will have to maintain this third-place spot in order to keep their CIF hopes alive. The Tigers lost their most recent game 12-0 to second-place La Cañada on Tuesday, April 24. The Spartan pitcher threw five innings of no-hit ball against South Pas in a crucial game. Junior Samantha Gomez was the only Tiger to reach base the entire game. Gomez made it to first on a dead ball in
the fifth inning. “She was a really good pitcher, and we didn’t come out the way we know we can. Now we know what kind of competition we have to face to get into playoffs,” said junior Francis Lujano. South Pasadena also fell 4-3 to Poly last Friday. Juniors Cynthia ReamGarcia and Samantha Gomez and freshman Cassie Baca each drove in runs to produce the Tigers’ three points. Mistakes haunted the girls; three of the four Poly runs came courtesy of Tiger errors. The Baca sisters pitched throughout the game. Senior Marissa Baca pitched five innings with four strikeouts, and Cassie Baca pitching a scoreless inning.
The girls suffered a similarly disappointing 4-3 defeat against La Salle on the 18th. Senior Victoria Carlos and Cassie Baca aided the offense, each collecting two hits. Cassie Baca pitched a complete game; she gave up four earned runs, allowing six hits. The girls are still looking to keep their playoff hopes alive; today they will face last-place Temple City.
4/20 SPHS v. Poly 4-3 L
4/24 SPHS v. La Cañada 12-0 L
Boys tennis falters against Rams; looks ahead to next year By Harry Yadav Senior Staff Writer It has not been a season to remember for the South Pasadena boys tennis squad. The Tigers stumbled against the Temple City Rams in an away match and were defeated 17-1 on Wednesday afternoon. With the defeat, South Pas tumbled to 2-4 in Rio Hondo League play and find themselves second-to-last in the league standings. The defeat eliminated any possibility of the Tigers earning a CIF playoff spot. The Tigers’ only triumph in the match against the Rams came from the doubles pairing of juniors Scott Richards and Krishna
Mocherla. The duo won their last set by a score of 6-3 to secure the Tigers’ lone point of the afternoon. “This was a tough match for us today; we didn’t seem to have enough to beat them,” said Richards. “We fought hard, but at the end of the day, they were just better than us.” The defeat to Temple City came a day after the Tigers suffered a loss to the La Cañada Spartans at home by a score of 14-4. South Pas again received outstanding performances from Mocherla and Richards; the pairing swept their doubles opponents in three straight sets. Earlier in the week, on April 17, South Pasadena narrowly defeated Monrovia High
School in a home match by a score of 10-8. The victory over the Wildcats guaranteed the Tigers that they would not finish last in league. The first time the two squads competed, South Pas crushed their opponents 14-4. “It would have been a much easier victory, but our coach decided to give our JV players some experience after we got a lead,” said senior Eren Cameron. Although the season has not concluded, the team is already looking forward to next year. “We are a very young team and we’ve struggled a bit this year, but by next season I think we will be stronger,” said Richards.
Jennifer Kim
Sophomore Jason Wang sends over a serve during the April 24 loss to LC.
16 Tiger - Friday, April 27, 2012
Sports
Sports
Baseball vs. Temple City @ 3:30-Home, Today Softball vs. Temple City @ 3:30-Home Today Tennis Vs. Temple City @ 3:30-Away Today Volleyball vs. Gabrielino @ 3:30- Away 5/1
Boys volleyball wins league championship
Speaking of
Sports
Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer
With an assured top Rio Hondo spot for the first time in years, the Tigers now look toward CIF
Who gets the bill? Outrage as fans are hit with big league expenses
By Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer San Marino proved no match for the South Pasadena boys varsity volleyball team yesterday. The Titans fell to the Tigers 3-0 at home, in what may have been the boy’s best game of the season. “We played great today. We executed well on offense and we were able to put the ball away thanks to our great passing,” said Head Coach Ben Diaz. “I have nothing negative to say, we played hard and got the job done.” With the combined effort of senior Alireza Jabalameli’s eleven kills and junior libero Nathan Lee’s 23 perfect passes, the Tigers were able to make quick work of the Titans. “It was an overall team effort,” said Jabalameli. “We were missing some key players so it was cool to see some of the other guys step up.” With this win, the Tigers’ record improved to 6-1 in league, following their victory against La Cañada earlier this week. The boys’ only loss of the season came at the hands of the Temple City Rams, who have remained the biggest threat to the Tigers’ hunt for the title. Now with only one game left in the regular season, the squad finds that the title of Rio Hondo League champions is theirs to lose. If the Tigers clinch
Matt Winkel
Senior Samudra Thio draws back his arm in preparation for another Tiger kill. The squad bested Gabrielino in five close sets at home on April 20. their final game against Gabrielino, a team they previously beat in five close sets, they will assure first place all for themselves. In the event of a loss, they will have to share this year’s glory with the Rams. Looking towards CIF, the Tigers have high expectations for every single player and are confident they can continue their pattern of success. “We’ve progressed a lot through-
Rachael Garner
Freshman Nina Acebo took first in the 100 meter hurdles against La Cañada on April 19. The girls team had similar success on April 26 against Temple City.
Track boasts back-to-back girls titles By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer The SPHS track season has been a tale of two teams. As the girls squad continues to set records, the boys can do little but look forward to league prelims and finals. South Pas girls track has finished undefeated in league for the second year in a row, achieving a record of 5-0, while the boys squad
fell to Monrovia and Temple City. Last night against the Temple City Rams, the girls 4x100 relay team continued their dominance, finishing with an almost 100-meter lead. The boys fell to TC with an overall score of 72-55, a disappointing finish for a squad that swept league the last four years in a row. Last weekend, varsity members of
out this season—we’ve had our ups and downs but our consistency has gotten much better,” said Diaz. “We’re hoping we can carry the momentum over into CIF and just play our game.”
4/24 SPHS v. La Cañada 3-0 W
4/26 SPHS v. San Marino 3-0 W
both the boys and girls teams competed at two different invitational meets. Four relay teams and a few individual athletes attended Mt. SAC on Friday, while several distance runners attended the San Gabriel Valley Championships. The girls found success at Mt. SAC; the 4x100 relay team placed third overall. The 4x1600 relay, comprised of junior Anika Renken, sophomore Helena Van Loan, and seniors Kaylee Anderson and Cece Zhu, took fifteenth place. Overall, the SPHS girls took fourteenth place out of 75 teams at the invitational. Junior Paul Messana competed at the San Gabriel meet in multiple distance events. “This meet was pretty much the last chance for long distance people to get fast times for CIF,” said Messana. “We were also competing against the same runners that we’ll see once we get to CIF, so it gave us a preview.” The team is now preparing for CIF and league finals. Sophomore Kamia Willis, a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, hopes to repeat last year’s success and reach deep into CIF competition. “We’re training hard every day, and putting our all into it,” said Willis. “By working as a team and helping each other out, it’s been really encouraging, and we’re just doing our best to be ready for what’s to come.”
One of the biggest issues that face major league sports these days, particularly the MLB and NFL, is financing new stadiums and finding financial backers. In many cases, states and cities have voted to raise tax revenues to build these facilities. A battle has recently ensued between the NFL and the state of Minnesota over the financing of the new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota’s state legislature refused to pay for 50% of the arena when asked by the league. Consequently, the NFL is threatening to move the team out of the state. This is hardly an appropriate response to the state’s fiscally responsible decision. There are 32 teams in the NFL, each of which is allowed to spend $120 million a year on its players’ salaries. How can a league in which the average player makes forty times the American median salary ask middle-class taxpayers, who can barely afford the tickets to attend these games in some cases, to pay for their stadiums? The NFL would argue that if the numbers are added up, the economic benefit is better for a state or city in the long run. However, the analysis of these decisions can’t always be purely economical; there are other principles at stake, such as fairness. Why wouldn’t any business ask for these same benefits? Couldn’t other entities make the same argument, that the presence of their business in a community enhances the community, creates jobs, and creates local tax revenues? It’s ironic that this affluent league wouldn’t just have the teams tax themselves. For example, if the Vikings were to tax their players 20% of their salary for one year, enough money would be made for the new stadium without any taxes coming from the citizens of the state. It seems that the NFL is getting away with all of this simply because they are the biggest and most famous sports organization in the country.
[inside]
page 15
Siria Medina
Swimming continues to impress as league ends