Students rally to help classmate with ALS By Ande Withers Copy Editor
Jennifer Kim
Newly-elected Comm. of Correspondence Kimi Low and Comm. of Spirit Ellen Na embrace.
Commission elections draw largest crowds to vote in years; half of positions to be determined by run-offs By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer Over half of the school cast votes in the annual commissioner election on April 15. It was the largest turnout for a commission election in years. Thirty-four juniors ran for 13 positions. Throughout the week candidates campaigned around campus, handing out buttons, hats, t-shirts and glasses, Students voted at lunch and
six positions were finalized; seven of the thirteen positions will be decided in run-offs this week. In order to win a commission position, the candidate must win by at least a fifty percent majority of the vote. The seven commission runoffs are between Ben Lee and Jennifer Suh for General, Fedor Kossakovski and Erin Chan for Academics, Bryce Cheng and Brianna Loo for School and Community, Michelle Ozaki and Phillip Kim for Clubs, Lee Miyauchi and Sean
Girls volleyball program welcomes coach Daniel Penrod By Chlöe Lloyd Staff Writer South Pasadena High School athletics welcomed newly hired girls volleyball coach Daniel Penrod to campus at a meet and greet for returning players last Friday. 2011 marks Penrod’s ninth year coaching volleyball, and will be his first as head coach of South Pasadena High School. An inspired individual, Penrod has high hopes for the team and advised the girls at Friday’s meeting to “strive for perfection”. Rather then the typical CIF mentality, Penrod hopes to train his team to work towards winning state. Coach Penrod has experience in both playing and coaching volleyball. He coached for Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and Asics Munciana Volleyball Club to win 2 USA Jr Olympic National Championships, 4 AAU National Championships, and 2 JVDA National Championships. Penrod played himself for Ball State University, a Division 1 College, where his team finished in the top 5 in the country. He also played for the men’s national team. Unfortunately, Penrod will
be having knee surgery due to an injury and will temporarily be unable to continue his training for the Association of Volleyball Professionals. Diagnosed with the heart condition Wolff-Parkinsons White Syndrome he was a medical red shirt in college, however this has never interfered with his love or commitment to the game. Penrod is committed to not only inspiring and conditioning his team, but building a lasting girls volleyball program. Penrod hopes to supply consistency to players that have had multiple coaches in recent years. He has set some very high goals for South Pasadena girls volleyball and hopes to put the team on the map.
Ehrlich for Assemblies, and Kelsey Nakamura and Christina Venegas for Activities. Venegas, known schoolwide for her signature “CVCA” black and yellow hats, said that the election was stressful. Candidate for Commissioner of Assemblies Sean Ehrlich said, “Even though campaign week is a huge, stressful deal for those who are running and a complete joke for those who are not, hopefully a victory and the chance to be the Commissioner of Assemblies will pay off.” The winners from the runoffs will be announced after school tomorrow. See additional information on Tiger Online
Junior Nicole Lussier started a new club last month called Youth With a Voice. Lussier, her sister Laura and several other classmates organized to support one of their peers, junior Hajime Miyasaka. Miyasaka was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in November. ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As these cells degenerate and die, the brain loses the ability to control voluntary muscle movements and patients are often left paralyzed or with atrophied muscles. Currently, there is no cure. Miyasaka, the Lussiers and fellow juniors Sean Ehrlich and Lia Lohr belong to a youth group at First United Methodist Church in Pasadena. Together they decided to form a group of all of the students from their church that attend SPHS. Although the club is still in its early stages, the members have many plans for Youth With a Voice. “We’ve started our own fund for Hajime but we really want to hold a benefit concert,” said Nicole. “Music is definitely something that Hajime is passionate about.” In addition to the concert, the club also plans on selling bracelets, shirts and other merchandise to the students and in the community. All of the money raised will go directly to
Edmund Mandin Lee
By Coleman Rainey Editor-in-Chief
Penrod played for the men’s national team before coaching.
Herff-Jones
Fair Oaks contruction disrupting local businesses
Signs direct potential customers to the business driveway at a complex on Fair Oaks Ave. Construction blocks the normal entryway.
Flintridge Volleyball Club
Miyasaka’s family to assist in paying for medical bills and other expenses. Although the primary goal of Youth With a Voice is helping the Miyasaka family, the club plans to continue next year and expand its reach. “We want to make [Youth With a Voice] a club for students that are going through a hard time,” said Nicole. “We would want to help anyone that is having trouble, like with bullying or other issues that students face.” Youth With a Voice will be officially announced during the Festivus Assembly on the 25th, so that other students can join. The club will hold its first official meeting that week. “This is just another example of how South Pasadena students make an impact,” said Assistant Principal Jack Smith. “To them, it’s not all about taking classes. It’s about making a difference.”
For the past few months South Pasadena has buzzed with complaints over the inconvenience of the construction on Fair Oaks. It has made cross-town travel difficult, and forced citizens to change their commutes and daily schedules. There is an even greater problem, however, that few residents have yet experienced. South Pasa-
dena’s businesses are suffering. “Instead of stimulating the local economy, this project is decimating it,” said local business owner Wally Choi. A reduction in foot and automobile traffic, combined with the elimination of turning lanes, has severely restricted access to businesses up and down Fair Oaks. Some businesses, such the Obedience Please Dog Training School, have spoken at meeting after meeting of layoffs, losing their
lease, and possibly going under because of the construction. “This is a $4.3 million project,” said Choi, “Local businesses are going to lose much more than that in profits.” “It basically shut them down,” said John Vandercook, former member of the Design Advisory Group (DAG) and owner of Reimagine Your Home, a business just off Fair Oaks. Vandercook has been with the project since the beginning, when the DAG was created to oversee four projects aimed at improving transportation in South Pasadena. The extension of sidewalks and creation of medians is part of a larger project, Vandercook explained, to ultimately improve traffic flow to a new 110 offramp, which is to be completed at a later date. The city has admitted to fault when it came to implementing the project earlier in the year, as merchants began to cry out that the construction was much worse than they had anticipated. “Fair Oaks merchants and the general public were repeatedly told that the project would be built in phases,” said former mayor Odom Stamps, See “Construction” on pg. 2
News 2
Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
Virtual takes bite out of Big Apple
By Sofi Goode Staff Writer
News
Around Campus
Juniors Montane Silverman, Wilson Muller, Elaine Hong, and Jessie Yen were selected as California semi-finalists for the Letters About Literature Contest. Around 70,000 letters were submitted to the Library of Congress in December, and 200 letter writers made it to the California state level. Silverman, Muller, Hong, and Yen were in the top 50 in the state. /Libby Rainey
Winterguard wins medal for first time
By Sofi Goode Staff Writer The SPHS Winterguard won first place at their championship competition last Saturday. Winterguard dances indoors to recorded music instead of the colorguard that performs on the football field with the marching band. It is considered to be more expressive and more difficult. “Winterguard is more technical and involves more difficult choreography such as 3D work and tosses,” sophomore Yvonna Barrientos said.
This marked the first time that the school winterguard has ever won a medal, much less a first place award. At the beginning of the season, they scored 66.2 points out of 100 possible. Four competitions later and at the championship level, the SPHS guard scored 91.8, an impressive increase. “The usual scores in winterguard competition circuits are in the 70s-80s range,” senior Mandy Wong, who has competed in winterguard for four years. “So it was quite a surprise that we got such an excellent score in champion-
ship competition. The guard performs on a specially designed floor inside of a gym. They twirl sabers, rifles and flags in addition to dancing. Assistant band director Mr. Albert Chung and colorguard director Ms Courtney Cheyne run Winterguard. The guard is made up of twelve students and they have never before received a score above 90 before. “I think that our performance at championships was the best by far. Our hard work definitely paid off,” Wong said.
Two virtual business teams attended the national competition in New York City during spring break. 15 SPHS juniors and seniors competed in categories that included business plan, sales, global, and website. The South Pasadena teams placed well in national competition. Coast, the varsity team that sells high-end bicycles, won second place in the business plan competition. Each member of Coast was awarded a free iPad. The team also won an honorable mention for its website. Senior Kristy Chang won first place in the Global Business Challenge. Canopy, the JV team that sells animal hats, received an honorable mention for its sales pitch. “The hard work we all put in really paid off,” said senior Coast member Gabriel Kahn. Senior Sean Wang of Canopy agreed. “I feel like everyone did their best,” he said. The students spent an entire week at the competition, but it wasn’t all business. “[It was] almost like actually living in New York since we rented apartments in Manhattan,” said senior Himal Suthar. Provided byAlbert Chung “The trip was amazing.” The winterguard poses with their accolades at state championship competition.
From “Construction” on Page 1 “Instead both street sides were torn up at once and traffic was reduced to a crawl.” According to Vandercook, the city did not inform merchants that this change had been made, and the problem was exacerbated by the fact that the DAG, and therefore much of the oversight for the project, had been disbanded in December. The city, however, is trying to adapt. “They are trying to minimize the inconvenience, and the mess,” said Vandercook. They have met with merchants and the Chamber of Commerce to try and negotiate for change. “We are preparing merchants better, in terms of expectations. Communication is the key,” said Gonzalez. “I’m a firm believer we need to have a balanced community,” he continued, “We need a vibrant business community.” Some merchants do not agree. “They are essentially setting up forums,” said Choi, “Their bottom line is to do this as cheaply and quickly as possible. There’s no accommodation.” Choi and others have proposed possible financial compensation from the city. “I’m trying to stay positive,” said Jamie Inzunza, owner of Momma’s Brick Oven. “You’re fighting for every costumer. It’s your livelihood.”
Relay for Life Page by Coleman Rainey Photos by Tai Carter and Katie Whitworth Text by Meghan Roche
Groups of dedicated fundraisers began lining up by the track as early as 5AM last Saturday morning, eager to sign up for the 9th annual Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society to be hosted by South Pasadena High School, Opening ceremonies eventually began at 9AM, where SPHS parent Norman Terry sang the National Anthem. After several demonstrations, cancer survivor James Hodge gave a heartfelt speech as the final kick-off, reminding hundreds of participants why they were there. “Even though the organization is so large, [the event] just really brings community together and makes you feel like you’re part of a welcoming, tight-
knit group,” said David Melford, the event chair. Some participating groups, or “teams” spent months preparing for the Relay for Life—some beyond getting sponsors and doing paperwork. For example, 28 members of the local Curves spent months decorating bras to be auctioned off. SPHS students helped pitch in to help make the event a success. Junior Katherine Morales was among the members of the Red Cross club who assisted with the Luminaria ceremony capping off Saturday night. “We lit the ‘candles’ in the paper bags that lined the field,” said Morales, “To help honor the friends and family members who have passed away from cancer.”
Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
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Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
Opinion
Opinion B B B
Don’t fear the Reaper
ravo to Helena Cassily’s kickback on a Monday night. Swiper no swiping. Yiha!
oo to Copa interviews. Why does it mat-
ter “what type of donut I am”?
By Coleman Westfall Rainey Editor-in-Chief
ravo to the students for overcoming their apathy and setting a record for turnout. It’s democracy in action...kind of.
B
to the earthquake drill for making us miss fifth period Tiger. If there are a bunch of typos, that is why. oo
B
oo to the federal government for almost shutting down. The non-essential workers would have finally had to confront their unimportant status.
B
ravo to
AP Tests. You make the California Star Tests seem like a second Spring Break.
B
to the unopposed Commision candidates who managed to beat out the numerous write-in votes for Charlie Sheen. ravo
B
oo to Mya for not showing up on campus on 4/20. Oh, wait, neither did we.
The Tiger Established 1913
CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 Editor-in-Chief Coleman Westfall Rainey Managing Editor Marcus Kahn News Libby Rainey, Editor Jackson Atwater, Associate Opinion Devin Mitchell, Editor Luka Douridas, Associate Feature Lana Ho, Editor Jessica Moog, Associate Sports Carlton Lew, Editor Christian Miyamae, Associate Copy Editors Christine Chen, Kristin Gunther, and Ande Withers Photography Sam Gurley, Editor Edmund Mandin-Lee, Associate Photographers Tai Carter, Jennifer Kim, Kathryn Whitworth Staff Writers Michael Abelev, Wyatt Bukowski, Jake Folsom, Clair Fuller, Sofi Goode, Kristin Gunther, Kelsey Hess, Amber Laird, Chloe Lloyd, Brendan Perry, Meghan Roche, Joshua Roquemore, Alex Tranquada, Max White, Harry Yadav Staff Illustrators Samuel Shin, Daniel Willardson Managers Kennedy Diaz, Ads Angela Jang, 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. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be witheld upon request.
Sam Shin
Star testing matters, trust us Staff Editorial Every year, students, save for the sleeping-in seniors, of course, complain about t he statewide standa rdized testing, which begins next week. What these students fail to understand is the importance of the Star Testing program. It determines funding, affects school prest ige, a nd even a f fec t s proper t y values. T he test has t he potential to define your high school experience. While many students at SPHS think Star Testing doesn’t need to be taken seriously, it is no laughing matter. Schools who are unable to obtain a passing grade as a whole three years in a row can be subject to a government takeover under the No Child Left Behind Act. Such an action results in complete administrative change, including the installation of government employees to ensure that necessary changes take place to make the students more successful. A lt ho u g h t he r e s u lt s s e e m inconsequential to some students, Star Test results affect the way the school is viewed in the eyes of colleges, which in turn affects college acceptance rates and neighborhood real estate values. Having a direct effect on the lives of students, they are important reasons to take this test seriously. There seems little incentive to end the dependence on the test in favor of more a tangible assessment.
Most students are not aware that the results of the Star Tests are viewed by colleges in the CSU and UC systems. Those universities look at the scores of individual schools. Colleges usually do not look at the individual scores of the student applying, but focus more on the schools API (Academic Performance Index) score. The API score is one number made up of all of the Star and Exit Exam scores. A nother factor that must be taken into consideration is that the Star Test was intended to be one of many measures of a student’s progress. It was developed by the state to assess how well the standards have been taught by the teachers and absorbed by the students and is not meant to be a negative reflection on the people taking the test. Rather, it is a tool used to help determine what level the school is performing at as a whole and to inform the administration of what they need to improve on academically. To be sure, Star Testing is not enjoyable, but it is a crucial aspect of evaluating the school. It is designed to measure the progress of a student from year to year and to assess what problems the school may have. No one enjoys spending their mornings cooped up in a room unable to talk or have fun, but without this sacrifice, we would not enjoy many of the luxuries that our school has been able to provide.
You are at a party. You are intoxicated. You have to be home in fifteen minutes or your parents will ground you. You decide, in a chemical daze, that you will drive yourself home. When you finally get in the drivers seat, however, an image floats into your head. What finally brings you to your senses? The Grim Reaper? I don’t think so. This Thursday and Friday, the “Every 15 Minutes” program will come to South Pasadena High School, and bring with it all the gore and glitz of white face paint and fake eulogies. If you don’t remember the program from two years ago, every fifteen minutes during the school day, a “Grim Reaper” with scythe in hand, pulls students from class. They return as one of the “living dead,” and may not speak to anyone. This is supposed to simulate the loss of a loved one, and to remind students the danger of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. This is undoubtedly a noble cause. That is why it is so sad to see it fall victim to cheap costumes and fake blood. A drastic problem demands a drastic solution. A simulated death would seem to be just that. The intention, I’m sure, is to shock the student body in a way that will alter their lives and their outlook for years to come. But these “deaths” are not simulated. They are staged. Under the guise of youthful activism, students are dressing up and playing God. They are forcing students into an uncomfortable and unrealistic situation, which does not produce a respectful atmosphere or reverence to those lost. In a sad twist, the “Every 15 Minutes” program exposes students to a trivial and somewhat comical display of death: blood is washed off, and victims return safely home. Death becomes a plaything, and tragedy becomes a farce. So when the Grim Reaper comes to your classroom, don’t be alarmed. I don’t think you will be. Our community has experienced too much real tragedy to be phased by the living dead. There are too many real deaths, in our short time here, for students to care about those that are imaginary. If the true loss of a classmate is not even enough to create lasting change at South Pasadena High School, the Grim Reaper surely won’t be. When the living dead wipe off their makeup, when the wreck is cleared, and when fifteen minutes becomes just another fleeting moment on a spring day—don’t forget that real lessons are being learned from the dead that are living in the hearts of SPHS students.
Like this article, and I’ll rate your personality By Libby Rainey News Editor Facebook is littered with blatant selfindulgence. With every click comes a new opportunity to view a “friend”’s perfectly constructed self-image in the form of photos, statuses, and the like. This is not a new revelation for frequent visitors to the site; albums of fauxmodel shots and subsequent comments of, “Aww, so pretty!” and “I’m so jealous…” are among the ego-stroking aspects of Facebook that keep many users coming back. To a certain extent, search for validation is motivation for every user’s online activity. And there’s nothing wrong with that. However, a word needs to be said for moderation. High school students’
Facebook activity is practically begging to be branded with the stereotypes of emotional and insecure young adults that many students desperately try to combat. Photos posted solely for compliments are the infamous and obvious example, but the problems go far beyond. Most recently, statuses reading, “Like this and I’ll rate you ;)” and “Like this and I’ll grade our friendship,” are steps outside of the comfortable, semi-subtle search for praise that Facebook cultivates and into a realm of unabashed compliment-swapping that only those of the high school generation seem to enjoy. Sure, this new trend seems harmless, but what does it say about a generation already defined by the narcissistic entities of Twitter,Tumblr, and similar media sites? When the internet was initially in-
troduced into the lives of adolescents, a chief point of concern was cyber bullying and it’s threat to self-esteem. It has now become evident that the real wrong being done to the majority of young people on the internet is allowing them validate themselves with shallow compliments and a false sense of self that Facebook provides. Never before did rating an aquaintance a “10” on their “wall” (Not an uncommon rating, considering Facebook is a public forum) give them confidence boosts similar to that of succeeding in school or receiving well deserved praise from a peer. The fact that it is even an option to solicit compliments on a forum meant to interact and share with peers is an alarming development that should be scorned, not celebrated by insecure high school students.
Opinion
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - Tiger
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Inconsistent standards unfair to students gard policies? A obvious reason is that they see flaws in the policies. The teachers question whether the rules are legitimately helping students’ I’m on my way to 2nd Period. I’m running about 30 seconds late, and education, or if they are simply for furthere are tardy sweeps today. I grasp ther administrative control. It is obvious the handle, but it’s locked. I have been that many teachers do not support all of caught in the sweep again, and I must the rules that the administration enacts, their opinions should be voiced. face the consequences. This is not to say teachers should Same day: 4th period. Running late again, but this time I am over 3 not have their own unique way of teachminutes late. Surprisingly, the door ing and enforcing rules within their classroom. is unlocked. I walk In fact, making in nervously, but the the class interesting teacher simply nods [Administration may be what makes and motions me toneeds] to end the students rush to class wards my seat. uncertainty and agree with excitement (inThe above situon which rules they advertently avoiding ations leaves students will emphasize. tardy sweeps). Howconfused, and situaever, policies such as tions like it happen bathroom visits, tardy regularly at SPHS. Certain teachers enforce school policies sweeps, cell phone use, and profanity to the letter, and others disregard them should not be so capricious and inconcompletely. And the tardy sweep policy sistent. Students shouldn’t get decide isn’t the only one with ambiguity. Certain teachers confiscate ring- which rules are fair, but they do deserve ing phones because students simply for- consistent enforcement of those rules. got to turn them off, while other teachers So many aspects of a teenager’s life ignore students openly texting and even are changing and unreliable, but school pull their own cell out to glance at from should provide stability. One of the few things that the time-to-time. It is understandable that students seem surprised to have their administration controls is the enforcephones taken away, because a suppos- ment of its policies. They need to end edly united faculty has inconsistent the uncertainty and agree on which rules they will emphasize. standards. So why do certain teachers disreBy Joshua Roquemore Staff Writer
Daniel Willardson
Day of silence a worthy cause By Michael Abelev Staff Writer The school was slightly quieter last Friday, as the Gay and Straight Alliance held its annual “Day of Silence” to spread awareness to students of those who are victims of anti-LBGT harassment, and to show support for those affected and involved. Though many people complain and criticize the effectiveness of the event, the results for those who participate really are aiding in “ending the silence”. Since GSA’s founding 8 years ago, the “Day Of Silence” has been held at South Pasadena High School for the last 5 years. More than one hundred students participated in the this year’s event, a satisfying number according to club adviser Rae Luce. Though many call this year’s Day Of Silence a success, many members of the student body disagree. They doubt the purpose and effectiveness of 100-plus students remaining silent to spread a message. The practice is
questioned and looked upon by some as a joke. On the contrary, it is precisely the correct form of protest. “Why is he/she not talking today?” is the whole purpose of the Day Of Silence. Having people ask the question and at least for a split -second take interest is what is needed to spread the word. A news analysis piece in Tiger last year called the Day Of Silence “oddly contradicting.” Calling out those who participate in Day Of Silence and labeling it as an inadequate form of spreading awareness is inappropriate. A more obvious form protest, such as a rally, forces both gay and straight students to step out and attract attention. It can be very uncomfortable to the students who participate and ultimately be counterproductive. Instead, an event in which students simply don’t talk for a day is more discreet and can attract just as much, if not more attention then a big rally. But the bottom line is: “It’s not about how we do it, it’s what we’re doing it about” said Ms. Luce.
Tiger Newspaper Asks: Do you feel that the way campaigns are run at South Pasadena High School lead to fair and deserved results? Are the candidates elected those who will do the best job, or simply the ones who had the best handouts, put up the coolest posters, and gave the funniest speeches? Moises Aguirre, Grade 10 The main and usually the only reason anyone goes out to vote is to support a friend. The twenty minute lines that take up huge chunks of time aren’t worth waiting in line to vote for someone who is just putting up a “front” to get votes. The vote is already slanted. So what about the other positions I must vote for on my sheet? No worries: I’ll just vote for the person who gave me the best free stuff. The only position I actually pay attention to the speech for is the Commissioner of Assemblies. Everyone else might as well be speaking Italian. Madeline Chin, Grade 10
believe. It would also give students time to ask candidates questions that they may have so they can decide if they are torn between two candidates. Kaveh Javaheri, Grade 12 The only thing I want more from the Commission Elections is a detailed process of what each position entails. Even after running for Assemblies last year, I didn’t feel I had a true grasp of what I would have faced had I won. After four years, I wouldn’t be able to tell you what the Commissioner of Correspondence is expected to do. I usually vote for the person I know, but if I knew what the job meant, I would make a more informed decision.
Rhian Moore, Grade 9 In the elections, it seems that the question is not “are you capable of taking on the role,” but rather “how many freebies can you pass out to the student body in seven days?” The posters, although plastered all over the school, are ineffective because there are too many to attract attention. What should really count are the candidates’ opinions, and those are going unheard. This is not to say that all the candidates are trying to win with cool handouts; it’s just that they’re not focusing on what is really important: their views and beliefs. In the end, friends vote for friends, and everyone else votes for whoever had the most memorable speech. Dylan Mulcahy, Grade 11
I personally believe that there shouldn’t be a whole “campaign week.” If candidates each were allowed one poster and a speech, it would definitely level the playing field. Currently, many people are easily persuaded by the best handouts, rather than the candidate’s merit. If candidates wanted to spend “campaign week” by going around and talking about their ideas instead of distributing goodies, it would be more beneficial and fair. Vesta Javaheri, Grade 10 I feel like campaign week would be more effective if it were reversed. I’d like to hear the job description and speeches so I can figure out which candidate I’d like to endorse first, then go through all the meet and greets and the passing out of goodies and what not. That way it seems like less of a contest for the people who had the best posters and giveaways and more about what people actually
Nancy Lai, Grade 11 I feel as though a segment of the population makes fair decisions when they vote, and another part only wants handouts. As one of the candidates in the Commission Election this year, I am guilty of thinking, “Well, if I give out these things people will vote for me.” With that being said, I am a firm believer that when it comes down to actually voting, it shouldn’t be about hand-outs, cool posters, or funny speeches, it should be about the person and their ability to fill the position. When people say they are voting for my opponent, I don’t force them to vote for me, because I do think that my opponents are capable of doing the job. Regarding the hand-outs, posters, and speeches, if they are trying this hard to captivate their voters, it should show that they really want the position and that they are putting effort into the elections.
The way campaigns are run at SPHS is unrealistic in the sense of fairness and deserved results. For one, the race starts with people often not even knowing who is running for what, unless it’s a friend or someone else they know. This leads to a popularity contest. Also, people gaining votes with interesting posters, t-shirts, buttons, etc.? This has become a way to bribe and to gain the student’s vote instead of what should be a way of saying, “My name is Blank, and this is how I want to help our school become a better place.” What should happen is an attempt to at least educate the voter to a certain degree. Greg Smith, Grade 11 This whole system is a popularity contest, which is to be expected in a high school campaign. I have gotten to know people through their hand-outs. People who don’t
regularly hang out near my spot will come by to chat or say something goofy. It’s a good system for the people who actually try, and unless someone has a good speech or talks to me personally, I never vote for the candidates who invite me to Facebook groups. Ryan Stone, Grade 10 The Commission Elections at South Pasadena High School are just like other elections, but on a grander scale. The handouts, whatever they may be, are given out en masse during lunch while the candidates choose specific people to wear their t-shirts to create mass exposure. The posters are brightly colored and eye catching, and, while placed in different and interesting spots this year, go unnoticed. What the election comes down to is popularity. The positions are a façade, as it really just is a popularity contest. Rarely do the right, most qualified candidates get chosen. Jenny Wang, Grade 9 The Commission Elections, and high school campaigns in general, are all about the swag and popularity. People definitely pay more attention to the stuff they get than what the candidates try to say. Of course, friends will always support their friends; but for the people who don’t know the candidates, they either randomly vote, not vote at all, vote for whoever had the funniest speech, or just let themselves get influenced by others, which does nothing to help pick the most deserving candidate. If a candidate has friends and connections, more people vote for them, especially if the friends spread the word to other friends.
6 Tiger - Thursday, April, 21, 2011
Feature Popping the (prom) question
Feature
Hanna: a killer film
By Kristin Gunther Copy Editor
By Max White Staff Writer
The countdown has begun…the countdown to Prom. Flyers and banners advertise the traditional dance and this past Monday, the Student Bank opened itself for business as couples lined up for the cheapest ticket prices. While not every boy or girl has a date yet, many lovers did already ask their sweethearts to the big dance. Last week and over Spring Break, multiple couples and crushes solidified relationships by making the ultimate commitment: prom. Naomi Krieger and Matt Giberson: Naomi surprised her man by interrupting his fifth period AP Government class with friend support and a guitar. She serenaded Matt with a few verses of “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz and then ended with original lyrics: “I was wondering if you wanted to go to prom with me?” The whole class then witnessed their embrace and his positive response. Qylan Salazar and Carly Muir: The baseball fan astonished his honey at their favorite venue, the Dodgers Stadium. Qylan had the huge question “Carly, will you go to prom with me?” played across the Mega-tron sitting above the field. She accepted his request with a more subtle gesture of a hug and kiss. Andrew Clauss and Devin Grab: Freshman Devin received various addressed envelopes containing cut-out letters throughout the day, each tied to a single red rose. By the end of three periods, she was able to unscramble the papers, spelling “PROM?” When she looked up from the puzzle, Andrew offered her a rose and she offered him an acceptance. Martin Lis and Camille Sutton: Camille was minding her own business at track practice when she was told by her coach to run Bank Street. Upon making it to the top of the hill, she found junior Martin waiting with a rose. She then watched him rip off his pants and saw “prom?” written on a Speedo underneath. She responded yes to this more creative way of asking. From these eight “significant others” and the many more people who have also been asked to prom, it is clear that couples are more than ready for the dance held at Universal Studios. If you’re still wondering how to ask your sweetheart, keep in mind the May shindig’s theme, “A Star-Studded Affair.” Nothing shows your affection better than spelling P-R-O-M-? in the sky.
Hanna – the story of a teenage girl trained from childhood to become a ruthless assassin – is not the typical high-octane thriller that its seemingly cliché plot might suggest. Instead, it blends a character-heavy, emotionally driven storyline with eye-catching action sequences to form a quirky and unique cinematic experience. The film transitions flawlessly from charming to disturbing, often finding humor in even the most intense of scenes. Even the fights – which stay artfully violent while never being overdone – flow seamlessly into the rest of the movie. But the movie’s real genius is in the soundtrack and cinematography. The camera captures the true feeling behind each scene, be it fear, excitement, or a sense of discovery. Music courtesy of The Chemical Brothers compliments these visuals.
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filmofilia.com
Hanna features Saoirse Ronan as the title character. The film is directed by Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement), and features his trademark cinematography. Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Lovely Bones), who plays Hanna, perfectly captures the innocent yet lethal nature of her character. Cate Blanchett pulls off a convincingly sadistic secret agent as the film’s antagonist, Marissa, yet the supporting characters add the most dimension to the movie. It is Hanna’s relationships and interactions with these characters, as much as the action sequences, that make the film worth seeing. A slightly confusing storyline, rather slow start, and unsatisfying ending keep Hanna from reaching its true
potential, but these only slightly detract from its overall presentation. Some important plot points are never fully explained - which leaves a nagging feeling that you missed some crucial piece of information – but this helps the audience to understand the uncertainty that Hanna experiences throughout the movie. Still, a sense of closure was lacking in the final minutes of the film, and a few notable loose ends were never tied up. While Hanna might disappoint moviegoers who expect a standard action flick, those who prefer engrossing characters to senseless violence will leave the theater pleasantly surprised.
beyondhollywood.com
iPad 2: sleeker and more powerful than before By Jackson Atwater Assoc. News Editor When the original iPad was released in April 2010, it revolutionized the world of portable computing as the first truly well-received tablet computing device. Its highly interactive and extremely engrossing approach to multimedia consumption changed the rules of the game for those in the portable computing market. The iPad 2, released in early March, can be considered evolutionary rather than revolutionary. It is a sleeker, more powerful device than the original, with some new features that make it more attractive than its older cousin. One of these features is the optional Smart Cover, which keeps the device protected and addresses the issue of difficulty typing on the virtual keyboard, something that some users have had qualms with. The iPad 2 also includes two built-in cameras which present a new di-
mension of media with which app developers can experiment, and more or less brings the device up to the level of the iPhone 4, which has front and back-facing cameras. However, with the iPad’s camera resolution at less than one megapixel, it leaves something to be desired. Despite the iPad’s somewhat lacking camera, it performs better when it comes to components. The tablet includes a dual-core A5 processor that clocks in at around 800 MHz, and 512 Megabytes of memory, allowing it to handle more intense apps with a higher frame rate than the original iPad. The battery life for the new model is around 10 hours, an extremely long life for a device that handles such versatile media. While the iPad 2 does not offer any mind-blowing new features that redefine mobile computing like the original did, it is a sleek, more powerful iteration of the previous model that makes it an excellent choice of tablet in the current market.
Apple
The iPad 2, released on March 11, features one additional camera on the front for face-to-face conversation.
Win Win Movie Review 4/5
By Clair Fuller and Alex Tranquada Tiger Staff
daemonsmovies.com
Main character Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) coaches a runaway teenager, Kyle (Alex Shaffer) in wrestling.
Win Win is not a great movie. And yet, it’s not a bad movie, either. It might not be the most memorable, but it’s enjoyable to watch. It’s the kind of movie your family goes to see on a Sunday afternoon (although the film’s strong language earns it an R rating), and while they’ll probably like it more than you do, it won’t have been a waste of your time. Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a struggling lawyer in a small New Jersey town. Struggling to make ends meet, he takes on the guardianship of one of his elderly, in-
capacitated clients for the extra commission money. He doesn’t expect the job to be much work—until his client’s grandson shows up after running away from his broken home in Ohio, where his mother is in drug rehab. The boy, Kyle (Alex Shaffer) begins living with Mike and his wife, even becoming the surprise star of the high school wrestling team, which Mike coaches along with two of his friends. The situation works well for all involved until Kyle’s mother reappears, demanding guardianship of her father and revealing Mike’s monetary motivations for taking on the job in the first place. The movie is well-written and funny, at least for the most part—the comedic aspect is lost towards the end as the focus
shifts to tying up loose ends for the feelgood ending. Mike’s two friends provide most of the comic relief, with an especially hilarious performance by Bobby Cannavale as a washed-up divorcee living vicariously through Kyle’s accomplishments. Giamatti carries the movie well— he shines in these kinds of roles—and all in all, the actors were well suited for their characters. Shaffer is likeable enough as the sweet-but-monosyllabic teenager, although it becomes clear that he was cast more for his wrestling than anything else whenever a scene requires intense emotion or anger. This is a movie for the post mid-life crisis crowd, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t honest, humorous, and charming.
Feature
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - Tiger
Personality Profile
Upcoming local events for antsy seniors, stressedout AP students, and the chronically bored.
With a balding head and a wrinkled face, Paul Simon, Concord Music Group much like his 1960’s 4.5/5 and 70’s contemporaries Paul McCartney and Peter Gabriel, is beginning to look like an old man. But his most recent studio album, So Beautiful So What, released on April 11th, makes it evident that unlike his former, now washed-up contemporaries, Simon has remarkably maintained his vocal abilities, still possessing the austere soft and melodic voice that gives his
music its undeniable emotion. The album is void of any bad songs, another trademark of Simon’s youth. “It’s a good art form, it shouldn’t be discarded. The question is can you reintroduce this art form to a generation that has already gotten used to another way of listening?” said Simon in a Hear Music interview. With the rhythm of the acoustic guitar and various drums working flawlessly together to accompany Simon’s voice, So Beautiful So What answers his question with a resounding ‘yes’. As with all of Paul Simon albums, acoustic guitar takes over most of the tracks. But it is the variety of percussion that makes this album so appealing. The percussion on
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What: Grilled Cheese Invitational Enjoy entertainment and free samples at this grilled cheese sandwich competition. Where: Los Angeles Center Studios (1201 West Fifth Street) More info: grilledcheeseinvitational.com, $15
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What: Baskin Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night Participating stores will be offering reduced-price scoops of ice cream to honor America’s fire fighters. Where: Participating Baskin Robbins More info: baskinrobbins.com, 31¢
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What: Doo Dah Parade Described as a“toast to madness and mayhem,” the 34th Annual Doo Dah Parade features eccentric floats. Where: Raymond & Colorado Sts. More info: pasadenadoodahparade.info, free
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What: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Music, food, and celebrities all in the spirit of books. Where: USC Campus More info: events.latimes.com/ festivalofbooks, free
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What: Monrovia Cultural Arts & Music Festival Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in this family friendly block party. Where: 400 S Myrtle Ave More info: monrovia5demayo. org, free
APRIL
store hours
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Carolyn Patterson
are touring as sort of a warm-up before the World Championship.” Whether on the green grass in Scotland or at his desk at SPHS, Andrew MacTavish embodies individualism and involvement. As he competes overseas and locally, it is clear that he has learned to fully appreciate and enjoy his culture.
So Beautiful So What features African drums and Indian tablas, not to mention the various other sounds Simon created, one of which he produced by flipping a sack of rice. Lyrically, the album is pure genius. On the album’s title track, “So Beautiful So What”, Simon’s humor is in full display: “I’m going to tell my kids a bedtime story, A play without a plot, Will it have a happy ending? Maybe yeah, maybe not.” Critics agree that Simon’s latest album is one of his best. “It’s his best album since 1990’s The Rhythm of the Saints, and it also sums up much of what makes Simon great,” says Rolling Stone Magazine.
APRIL
Sophomore Andrew MacTavish leads his family’s bag piping band.
Album Review: Paul Simon’s So Beautiful So What By Harry Yadav Staff Writer
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What: Starbucks Earth Day Event Bring in a reusable mug or tumbler and get a free tea or coffee. Where: Participating Starbucks More info: Starbucks.com
APRIL
competition this summer. “I [personally] started drum majoring for piping last summer at a band camp,” said MacTavish. “I was actually able to practice with the current world champion of drum majoring.” MacTavish is involved in neither sports nor with band at SPHS, simply because of the other extra curriculars he is involved in. In addition to giving time to drum majoring with his family, Andrew also plays on a rugby team (keeping with his Scottish roots, no doubt). Earlier in the summer, before the competition, Andrew and his family will make a voyage to Scotland. The Pasadena Scots will tour around the beautiful country before making their way to Glasgow for the big finale. “So far I have only competed in two competitions,” said MacTavish, “and it will be my first time competing in Scotland. We
APRIL
Andrew MacTavish
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APR-MAY
There stands one student who does not march to the tune of the average teenager. He instead chooses to march to the rustic sound of Scottish Bagpipes. This summer, sophomore Andrew MacTavish will lead a team of bagpipers into the hills of Scotland. In August, he and the piping band will be competing at the World’s Pipe Band Competition in Glasgow, Scotland. “This is like the Olympics of bag piping,” says MacTavish. “Pipe bands from all around the world compete there. It should be really good.” Raised in a Scottish and Irish family, MacTavish has long been familiar with bag piping. Unlike most families, the MacTavishes have chosen to bond by forming their own pipe band. Together they form the Pasadena Scots; one of the many bands attending the
Things to do
APRIL
By Josh Roquemore Staff Writer
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8 Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
Feature
Overheard anything interesting or funny recently? Book Review: Send us the quote(s) at feature@tigernewspaper.com! OVERheard City of Fallen Angels By Sofi Goode Staff Wrtier
2/5
Cassandra Clare’s well-known Mortal Instruments series was set to end after the third book. However, after an announcement last year, her readers eagerly prepared for three more installments, beginning with City of Fallen Angels. The book was seemingly doomed to fail from the beginning, as Clare had tied up all of the loose ends at the end of the previous book. Still, Mortal Instruments fans maintained high hopes for the next installment. Clare’s promise of a focus on the effects of the original series on the characters’ lives was put aside in favor of new characters, obscure dream sequences, and suspiciously convenient supernatural powers. While Clare’s consistency and writing had set her apart from masses of fantasy authors, her style was absent from this book. Some scenes held traces of the writer that fans remember, but others felt like badly written fanfiction, where the truth is revealed and reader wonders how many Wikipedia pages the author scanned to find a way out of the corner that they had written themselves into. Clare’s new characters are not fresh and interesting, but rather characters that were assumed to be dead or randomly inserted fangirls who were considerably younger than the main characters. For many readers, the most enjoyable part of the series was the romance and the idea of forbidden love. Evidently trying to keep the spirit of a character wanting what they cannot have, Clare forces her characters to cheat, lie, fight and even dream of killing each other – somehow without any of it being emotionally compelling. The only thing City of Fallen Angels offers is a plot that leaves the reader guessing. In the spirit of Twilight, Cassandra Clare has created a novel that possesses nothing but a gripping plot. City of Fallen Angels is the type of book that one cannot put down, but upon reading the end, can’t imagine what they thought was so enthralling.
Personality Profile: Raven Juergensen By Amber Laird Staff Writer Raven Juergensen, a senior girl whose own best friend describes her as “quirky” and “classy” and who lists one of her fluent languages on Facebook as sarcasm, is a ballerina in every sense of the word. She says she started out as just, “any other little girl who wanted to be a ballerina when she grew up.” When she was five, her mom signed her up for classes at Pasadena Civic Ballet, and that was it. She’s been dancing ever since. It’s been twelve years. Now dancing, particularly ballet, is an essential part of her life. She practices three times a week for two hours each, plus a fourhour Saturday rehearsal for any upcoming recitals. Juergensen stars in three recitals a year. One of these, performed in February, is based off of a popular story. She has danced in Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, The Little Mermaid, and, most recently, as the lead, the oldest princess, in The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Music Review: Adele’s 21 The most popular songs from Adele’s new album are, in fact, entitled to their charttopping positions. Adele’s breakout single, Rolling in the Deep, goes above and beyond its Adele Adkins’s hype. Its catchy and emotional opening lures sophomore studio althe listener in, and before you know it, you’re bum, 21, is your typical towerrecords.ie rolling in the deep. electrifying retro-soul, 5/5 Someone Like You is another one of 21’s tuff-love, coffee shop music. Her jaw-dropping voice, set against stand-out tracks. Adele’s voice is the verbal simple energizing and bluesy sounds remind manifestation of heartbreak, and Someone Like us that less is more when it comes to good mu- You illustrates the story of one of the singersongwriter’s failed relationships. Its simple sic. 21’s back-to-basics collection of songs piano-and-vocal duet gives a Coldplay-esque vibe, and its slow keeps the integrity of pace makes it a reher first album, 19, laxing and sweet but adds a soul-gripballad. The vocals, ping range of emoas usual, are flawtion that expresses less. She slides in and more passion and out of crescendos less depression than masterfully, and her its predecessor. smoky voice brings Since Adele’s her heartache to the most recent blast of listener. exposure, landing in musicninja.com So many of the I Am Number Four English singer-songwriter Adele released the songs on 21 are trailer, her career has her second album, 21, on Feb. 22. unique and interestexceeded her highest ing, but manage to appeal to a large demoexpectations. Despite critical acclaim for her extreme- graphic. Adele’s signature voice is a glorious ly impressive vocals, there is an underrated tal- mash up of Sara Bareilles, Duffy, KT Tunstall ent of Adele’s that she gets less credit for: she and Aretha Franklin. Adele is one of the most recent breakout composes all of her songs. “I think [people] just assume I haven’t artists worthy of the hype. She is redefining written them. I’ve written my whole album. I what it means to be a vocalist, an artist, and a love, love songs,” says Adkins in an interview songwriter, while raising the bar for the other aspiring artists out there. 21 is proof of this. with The Guardian. By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer
illustrations by Daniel Willardson
The other two recitals are not traditional ballet stories and are less publicized. Besides ballet, the studio also incorporates Jazz and Modern styles, and Juergensen says that those are more of her forte, b u t the main focus of the studio is ballet, so that’s what she does most. Dancing has been such a major part in her life that it’s even hard for her to say what she loves m o s t about it. “It’s like asking me what I love most about breathing,” she said. “I can’t imagine my life without it.” She can, however, say this: “I’m kind of a shy person, but when I dance I don’t feel like that. It gives me a chance to be confident and express myself in my own way.”
Jennifer Kim
Senior Raven Juergensen stretches before practicing a dance routine.
Coachella 2011
Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
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This weekend, four seniors joined 75,000 other music lovers in the desert for...
Coachella 2011 Mount Kimbie --Sam Gurley
This year at Coachella, Mount Kimbie made an appearance for the first time in Southern California. The British Post-Dubsteb duo performed for an hour and a half at the Pure Filth Oasis dome. The stage, run by Sam XL, the owner and curator of Pure Filth, was decorated to look like the inside of a tree, an opposite to the scorching desert wasteland that is Indio. When the duo first walked on stage, the crowd erupted with applause, knowing this may be one of the few chances any of them would have to see them perform. The audience, comprised mostly of men in their early twenties, stared in awe as the duo used live drumming and guitar to achieve a truly unique sound. Near the end of their set, the sound engineering had been beautifully perfected as the music had become sharp and poignant, striking deep within the true muA Heart is a Spade sic fans in the audience.
Lauryn
Hill
Sleigh Bells
As the sun set, Sleigh Bells held hundreds spellbound with their upbeat music, relatable lyrics, and stunning visuals. When listening to “Kids” or “Riot Rhythm” in your car or home, it is impossible to fully capture the essence of the band. This duo, Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss, has created music that needs to be heard to live. While Sleigh Bells is flickr built uniquely from distorted guitar solos, electronic touches, and deep bass, the melodic voice of Krauss provides a perfect balance. This balance is what separates Sleigh Bells from other ‘electronic’ groups. Though they didn’t headline, the Mojave tent that they played in was overflowing with people. The charismatic pair did not fall short in stage presence, dancing during every song as well as providing witty banter between.
Arcade Fire
--Henry Stambler There’s no doubt that Lauryn Hill has a complicated relationship with her fans. With a thirteen-year gap between her only proper album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and her Coachella debut, Hill has not released much material recently. Regardless, thousands of fans battled the intense Indio heat to watch Hill play a comeback set, chalk full of hits from both her own catalogue and her work with The Fugees. As dusk graced the Main Stage, Hill stepped out in a striped dress with a thick gold rope around her neck and commanded the crowd with her presence. Instead of rehashing a playlist of her greatest hits, the soulstress remixed her set into a fifty-five minute dance party. Hill’s laidback raps on Lost Ones and Doo Wop (That Thing) became fierce rhyme assaults while a sea of fans joined in for her R&B breakup jam, Ex-Factor. If anything, Lauryn Hill proved that great soul music sounds just as fresh thirteen years after its release.
--Kennedy Diaz
Huffington Post
--Kay Sasaki
Inland Socal
My heart belongs to the Canadian rock band Arcade Fire. For three hours during Bright Eyes, Mumford and Sons, and Animal Collective, I wrestled and pushed through the crowd to get as close as possible for Arcade Fire. Finally, I was there, center stage only ten feet away. They opened with the track “Month Of May” from their latest Grammy winning album “The Suburbs”. The first half of their set was mostly slower songs like “Crown of Love”. Pausing after playing the song “We Used to Wait”, Arcade Fire’s lead singer Win Butler exclaimed “now that we got all that sentiInland Socal mental **** out of the way, lets ****ing do something!” And with that they kicked their performance into high gear, opening the second half of their set with my personal favorite “Neighborhood 3”. During the epic finale “Wake Up”, hundreds of large white glowing orbs poured down from atop the stage. The orbs magically lit up in various colors perfectly synced and coordinated to the music. I can only describe that magical moment as simply, beautiful. Stereogum
10 Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sports
Golf struggles in league By Jake Folsom Senior Staff Writer
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Junior Kellyna Fox prepares to run the 110 meter high hurdles last Thursday against La Cañada. The Tigers won the meet.
Boys and girls track sweeps the competition By Kristin Gunther Copy Editor Both South Pasadena’s boys and girls track teams competed in the Mt. Sac Relays last Friday and Saturday. The invitational was open to schools from all over California as well as other states. The Tigers swept many of the events and eight of the nine relay teams medalled. Sophomore Paul Messana, junior Alex Tranquada, and seniors Jacob Kabealo and Sam Pons came in second in the boys 4x1600, breaking a school record with a time of 18
minutes, 24 seconds. Messana began the relay and finished his mile in 4:35, and Pons anchored the team with a time of 4:15. Tiger freshmen Kamia Willis and Helena Van Loan and sophomores Anika Renken and Jessica Moog competed in the girls 4x4 heat, taking first place with a total time of 4:04.6. Willis, the group’s anchor, ran a quick 57 seconds. Senior Blake Parson was also at Mt. Sac and completed the boys’ 300 meter hurdles in 39.23 seconds. “It was nice for the kids to run at a higher level,” said head
coach PJ Hernandez. “This will give them confidence heading into CIF.” Three seniors, Sean Nang, Mayan Schexnayder, and Matt Nelson, all performed well in the triple jump. Schexnayder jumped 43 feet, 11 inches; Nelson landed at 44 feet exactly; and Nang nearly reached 45 feet. Senior Elaine Horng also did well in the triple jump. Last Thursday, prior to the Mt. Sac relays, South Pas competed against La Cañada. The Tigers easily mauled the Spartans in all divisions except distance, where La Cañada
brought a strong team. Parson received a time of 11.3 seconds for the 100 meter hurdles and senior Chris Yi ran them in 11 seconds. Freshman Claire Kieffer Wright took first place in high jump with a height of four feet, six inches. Senior Stacy Lee came in first for shotput with a record distance of 26 feet, 10 inches. “We expected to win by a lot,” said sophomore Sloane Mitchell, who high-jumped four feet, four inches to a second place finish. The Tiger girls beat the Spartans 88-39 and the boys won 93-34.
The boy’s varsity golf team character was challenged when they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the La Cañada Spartans. Many of the teams top players had played disappointing matches this week including junior captain Harry Yadav. The Tigers lost by an astonishing 30 strokes to the Spartans who were playing at their best. Th e re we re some su prisin g successes this Tuesday, however. Diamond in the rough, freshman Henry Sue who golfed an impressive 38 in an attempt to keep the Spartans at bay, but unfortunately he could not do it alone. “We lost a few in a row but we just need to forget about them and bounce back to the level of play we know were capable of,” said Yadav. The team is disappointed with their performance, going 2-5 in league. The team is far out of the running for CIF, which was their ultimate goal for this year. They are a young team, however, and have potential for the future. They say that as long as they can pull together they can have a successful season next year. “We don’t show any dedication and that’s why we don’t win, if we could come together we would be a much better team,” said junior Kai Matsukuma.
Young softball team Volleyball above .500 plays below expectations Squad aims for CIF berth in higher division By Christian Miyamae Assoc. Sports Editor With the season well under way, it seems South Pasadena softball has not played up to expectations with a 1-5 record. Ranking last in the Rio Hondo league, poor pitching and defense appears to be the cause of their sub .500 season. “We have been working hard since September, it just wasn’t showing in the games. We also have a young team, and a lot of competition,” said sophomore Cynthia Ream-Garcia. On Tuesday, the Tigers changed things around as they finally gained their first win against Poly. In this game, ReamGarcia led the offense with a homerun. Sophomore Erika Rodriquez also did well offensively with three hits and an RBI. In a double header against La Salle on April 16, South Pas continued their winless streak to five losing both games. In the first game, the Tigers were beat 2-11, as pitching and hitting proved weak against Lancers. Not much changed in the next game as the girls lost again in a large margin, getting shutout 0-11. Throughout this game, the Tigers met their match as they could only compile three hits against opposing pitcher Beverly Valerio. “We have been doing well. We just need to support our pitching both defensively and offensively,” Ream- Garcia also said. After two close defeats, the girls lost by a larger margin to San Marino in a 1-11 game. Not much could be said for the Tigers as they were no-hit by San Marino’s Michelle Floyd.
Despite scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh to try for a comeback, South Pas could not finish as they lost to Schurr on the first of April. Helping the Tiger’s compete in this game was sophomore Ream-Garcia who collected two hits, which included a double. The girls next play La Cañada tomorrow.
Katie Whitworth
Sophomore Cynthia Ream-Garcia slides safely into third base against Poly. 4/16 SPHS v. La Salle 2-11 L
4/16 SPHS v. La Salle 0-11 L
4/19 SPHS v. Poly 11-6 W
“Despite the win, it wasn’t our best performance. We need to pick up the intensity if we are going to be league South Pasadena boys volleyball, champs,” said senior captain Gabriel 2-1 in league, heads into the second half Kahn, following the La Cañada game. Temple City, the Tigers’ biggest of their season ready to challenge Temple obstacle in their quest to become league City for the league championship. South Pasadena’s most recent champs, remains undefeated in league. Rio Hondo league triumph came last The Tigers fell to the Rams in four games Thursday at home against San Marino. during their round-one meeting, but The Tigers defeated their conference expect to win come round two on May 5. This match will rivals in three straight be the final league games, 25-21, 25-22, contest and could 25-23. Many expected ver y well deterthe match to be demine who will be cided in five games, crown e d l e agu e but South Pasadena champion. came out with superior While the Tienergy, never allowing gers have a winning San Marino to take a record in league, large lead. they have not been “The San Marino so lucky in out-ofgame was definitely conference play one of the highlights of with a non-league our year. We had great record of 3-14. intensity, and played Sam Gurley However, the coma consistent game for the first time all sea- Sophomore Jason Qiu prepares to petition has been son,” said junior Nick spike the ball against San Gabriel. stiff and they have played many topHudson. This victory followed a hard-fought ranked CIF teams. The boys look to better their league match against La Cañada on April 12. South Pasadena came out slow, allowing record tomorrow against Gabrielino. the Spartans to win two of the first three games. In the last two games, however, 4/19 4/14 the Tigers rallied around the energetic ofSPHS SPHS v. San fensive play of sophomore opposite hitter v. San Gabriel Marino Robert Adamson, resulting in decisive 0-3 L 3-0 W game four and five victories. By Brendan Perry Staff Writer
Sports
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - Tiger
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Blake Parson Laura Parada
Katie Whitworth
Senior Laura Parada rounds third base on her way home in a victory last week. By Sofi Goode Staff Writer At every South Pasadena girls softball game, there’s a player on the pitch who throws with her right hand, but steps up to bat lefty. Softball captain senior Laura Parada has started on Varsity softball since her freshman year. Batting lefty and throwing righty is only one of her many talents.
“My dad taught me to bat left-handed,” Parada said. “I’ve tried batting right-handed, but I can’t do it.” Softball for Parada began early enough for this ambidextrous style to be firmly implanted. Her grandmother co-founded the softball branch of South Pasadena Little League, and Parada has been playing since she was six years old. She has played almost every position. In Little League, she was pitcher, but when she joined the high school team, she switched to right field. It was only in her senior year that she moved to shortstop. “I think my heart will always be in the outfield,” Parada said. The outfield puts Parada out of the spectator spotlight, as does her calm demeanor on the field. “You have to have a quick memory to play softball,” Parada said. “I try to be confident and loose.” Despite her talent and dedication, Parada doesn’t want to play competitively after high school. Although her chosen university—San Francisco State—does have a softball team, Parada most likely won’t be trying out. “I might play intramurals or something,” Parada said, “But I’ll probably take a break from the game.”
Edmund Mandin-Lee
Senior Blake Parson competes in the hurdles against La Cañada last week. By Alex Tranquada Staff Writer Odds are, you’ve seen Blake Parson at some point this year, whether at a track meet or drumming during an assembly. But if you haven’t, you should definitely attempt to do so, because this stellar senior hurdler won’t be around for much longer. Parson has run for the SPHS track team for his entire high school career, and has been a team captain for the past two years. His events include the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, as well as the 4x400 relay. Parson came out on top during last year’s Rio Hondo League finals in his hurdle events, capturing both individual championships. He looks set to repeat the feat this year after progressing through most of the league season undefeated and winning his heat at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays; he is also only half a
second away from the league record in the 300 hurdles, and plans to shatter that mark at this year’s league finals. Parson’s other passion is the SPHS drumline, of which he has also been a member for all four years of high school. He took up drumming in seventh grade, and has since progressed to drumline captain. “I love drumline because it’s more than just making music, it’s also about being part of a family,” says Parson. “I spend more time with the drummers than anyone else at school.” After running in his last track meet and drumming in his last assembly, Parson will be attending Boston University next fall. There, he plans to acquire his doctorate degree in their six-year physical therapy program, while also trying out for the indoor track team. Whether on the West Coast or the East, it is clear that Parson possesses the talent and dedication necessary for continued success.
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Sports
Tiger - Thursday, April 21, 2011
Sports
Today’s games
[inside]
B/G Swimming @ La Cañada; 3:30
Boys Golf
B/G Track &Field vs. La Cañada; 3:30
Check out golf’s progress in league competition this year. Page 10
For more sports coverage, visit tigernewspaper.com
Swimming loses first meet of league season
Tai Carter
Freshman Devin Grab butterflies her way to victory against San Marino on April 14. By Harry Yadav Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School boys and girls swimming programs suffered devastating losses last Thursday, as the Tigers fell to an overpowering
squad of Titans in an away match at San Marino. For the boys, the loss ended any chances of an undefeated season, dropping their record to 7-1. “We were 7-0 so losing puts things back in perspective,” said coach Tyrone Brown. The Tigers got off to a poor start, as the 200
medley relay team finished third. The quartet of freshman Tyler Halley (back), senior captain Ethan Bourland (breast), junior captain Carlton Lew (fly), and senior Ki Bae (free) swam to a time of 1:48. In the 200 freestyle, South Pas finished third, fourth, and fifth. Senior Jack Sinclair led the Tigers in third with a time of 1:58. Senior Sean Grab and junior Martin Lis both touched in 2:00. Lew finished second in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:06. Freshman Brennan Yu finished fourth in 2:15. Yu later went on to finish fourth in the 100 butterfly. Senior Evan MacCarthy led the Tigers in the 50 freestyle with a second place finish in a time of 23.6. As for the girls’ team, the meet was much closer, losing by a mere ten points. The best performances came from sophomore Hannah Edens, who placed first in the 200 freestyle, and freshman Kamia Willis, who finished first in the 50 freestyle. “We have a young team and we should be much more experienced and better next year,” said freshman Devin Grab. Up next for the Tigers are the Spartans of La Cañada, who are currently number one in league.
Baseball aims for second straight CIF appearance By Wyatt Bukowski Staff Writer On Monday South Pasadena’s varsity baseball team traveled to Hoover High School to take on the Tornadoes in a non-league game. Senior captain Tony Veiller started for the Tigers, allowing only one run in four innings of work. This proved to be the difference maker as the boys won 6-4. The victory was the team’s third win in four games, which included wins over highly ranked Oxnard (6-5) and rival San Marino. Senior ace Antony D’Oro went seven strong, allowing only one run en route to a 5-1 victory against the Titans The victory over the Titans put the Tigers in third place with 8-10 overall record and 3-2 league record. This also puts South Pas in the driver’s seat to earn a CIF bid. However, the team has taken a big hit losing senior Brian
Jordanne Genato
Senior pitcher Antony D’Oro mid-way through his windup against Hoover. Swanson to a dislocated shoulder. Swanson was named Second team All-League last year.
This season, he had a .378 batting average and was one of the Tigers top outfielders with a .933 fielding percentage. “It’s a big loss for our team, but it gives other guys a chance to step up” said Veiller. While the team has won their last few games, the Tigers are coming off the roughest part of the season so far, dropping six of their last eight games. Those losses included losing five straight, the worst of which was a 15-1 league loss to Temple City. The Tigers look to continue their hot streak and play tomorrow at La Cañada. The following Tuesday, the boys will host Temple City in a crucial league matchup.
4/13 SPHS v. SM 5-1 W
4/16 SPHS v. Oxnard 6-5 W
4/18 SPHS v. Hoover
6-4 W
Boys tennis flounders By Max White Staff Writer A string of losses has knocked the boys varsity tennis team to fourth place in league with just three matches to go before Rio Hondo prelims. The Tigers have played to a 1-4 league record, claiming their sole conference victory from the Monrovia Wildcats. “Considering that we’re a young team, it’s okay. It hasn’t been easy, but we have gained a lot of experience and are continuing to improve,” said head coach Jim Asher. Monday’s match against the Temple City Rams ended in a bitter 4-14 defeat for the Tigers.
3/29 SPHS v. LC 4-14 L
4/13 SPHS v. SM 4-14 L
4/18 SPHS v. TC
4-14 L
“We really didn’t play at the level we are capable of, and dropped a few matches that we should have won,” said junior Phillip Kim. “It was a disappointing result, but we know that we will redeem ourselves when we play Temple City the second time.” The Tigers lost 4-14 when they clashed with league powerhouse and archrival San Marino on March 17 and April 13. They were beaten by this same margin against the La Cañada Spartans on March 29. South Pas fared considerably better against Monrovia. An outclassed Wildcat team fell to the Tigers in a lopsided 13-5 match on March 22. The Tigers emerged with decisive victories from non-conference matches against the Flintridge Prep Rebels and Montebello Oilers. A superior South Pas squad easily outplayed the Oilers to win 15-3, but the Rebels – who lost by a much closer 10-8 – posed a greater challenge for the Tigers.
Morgan Palma
Senior Ben Charney serves the ball against San Marino last Wednesday. South Pas will take on the Spartans tomorrow before wrapping up its season with matches against Monrovia and Temple City next week.
Katie Whitworth
Boys Volleyball Volleyball makes a push late in season towards CIF. Page 10
Speaking of
Sports Michael Abelev
Michael Vick or Peyton Hillis? EA Sport’s will be coming out with its next installment of gridiron series, Madden NFL ’12. This has been the second year that fans were given the opportunity to vote on who they believe should be on the cover of Madden. The voting has come down to the final round between Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick and Cleveland r unning back Peyton Hillis. The former was a predicted finalist, and the latter an underdog. Hillis’ three years of experience in the NFL could come under fire but his stats tell a different story. After being drafted by Denver, he was able to make a name for himself early on by putting up big numbers, and helping a team that was plagued by injuries. After alleged racial controversy and a subsequent trade to the Browns, he immediately became a force to reckon with, winding up on highlight reels every week. The question of whether or not Hillis deserves to be on the cover is irrefutable. If it weren’t for my superstitious ways, I’d be desperately hoping for Peyton Hillis to win, but I don’t want him to get hit by the supposed “Madden Curse”. Michael Vick had an impressive year and put up good numbers, but he doesn’t necessarily deserve to be on the cover when he’s compared to Hillis. In addition to that, there is still the sting of Vick’s dog fighting scandal. Vick being on the cover may be to early for the crowds or PETA to handle, but many will definitely doubt Hillis’ lack of years in the league, but that’s for the voters to decide, so hurry up and go vote on ESPN. com before April 27.