Skills USA succeeds at state conference in San Diego in first year of participation By Alexander Nakagawa Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School chapter of Skills USA competed in the Skills and Leadership State Conference from April 24 to 27. Over 1800 students from all over California gathered at the Town and Country Resort Hotel in San Diego to take part in 109 different competitions that demonstrated their mastery in workforce-type environments. SPHS students qualified to compete in San Diego by winning awards at the regional competition at Los Angeles Trade Technical College last December. Although this was the first year that South Pasadena has participated in Skills USA, the team of 24 students won a total of 15 medals, 11 of which were gold. Junior Daniel Alday and sophomores Amanda Espinoza and Lina Maeng won gold medals for
Chapter Display; sophomores Jacob Benowitz, Faith Kawakami and Santiago Tolentino Pacheco and junior Pearl Lai won gold medals for Entrepreneurship; Benowitz, Kawakami, and senior Chris Lizama were awarded gold medals for Community Service. Junior Django Schermenhorn took home the gold medal in Cabinetmaking. “It is great to see our team be so successful in our first year in the program,” advisor Ms Sandra Matson-Fennell said. “We had a slight disadvantage going into the regional and state competitions, with our team not fully developed and prepared until about November. Our results have really raised the potential to grow these next few years. “Attending the Skills USA State Competition was a learning experience for the SPHS team, being our first year ever in the organization,” Benowitz said.
Oneonta selects Moore, Newhall, and Ruan as scholarship recipients By Shine Cho News Editor The South Pasadena Oneonta Club Foundation selected seniors Rhian Moore, Rachel Newhall, and Michael Ruan as its recipients of its annual $10,000 scholarship. The Oneonta Scholarship Committee coordinator Mr. Carl von Bibra notified the recipients on April 23. The application process required students to submit a letter to the Oneonta Club Scholarship Committee to explain why they deserved the award. After reviewing the letters, the committee selected ten finalists for an interview. Three final recipients were then selected based on their academic and extracurricular achievements for the largest scholarship in the South
Pasadena community. “I was extremely honored to receive this award,” Newhall said. “Ever since freshman year I have watched students I looked up to receive this scholarship and am grateful to be compared to them in this way.” The recipients will be honored at the Oneonta Club’s dinner on May 12 at the Oneonta Congregational Church. “I would like to give a huge thank you to the committee for their support, year after year,” Ruan said. “This scholarship will enable me to focus on getting involved in extracurricular activities and volunteering in west Philadelphia.” In the fall, Moore, Newhall and Ruan will attend Pomona College, Boston College, and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.
“Getting the gold medal in two of my competitions is something that shows the amount of time and hard work we put in as a team into our passion for all the fantastic opportunities offered at [our school].” In addition to the gold medalists, senior Angela Zhao won a silver medal in the Advertising division. Senior Shinichi Homma won a bronze medal in T-shirt design; senior Joe Espinoza captured a bronze medal in Extemporaneous Speaking; senior Ariel Pang was awarded a bronze medal in Screen Printing. “I couldn’t be more proud of all the students and especially my business plan team for going from third at regionals to first in state,” Matson-Fennell said. The gold medalists qualified for the Skills USA National Skills and Leadership Conference, which will be held on June 23-27 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Stephanie Kim
5
By Madison Amido Staff Writer The 58 seniors participating in the annual senior trip to Yosemite Valley received notification of their groups at a meeting on April 16. Each group contains 11 students and one teacher advisor. Teachers Mr. Shane Mills, Mr. Casey Shotwell, Ms Audrey Toth, Mr. Josh Whitney, and Mr. Don Wielenga will serve as advisors from May 18 to 24. In order to find which group and teacher the campers were assigned to, each senior received a puzzle piece and found others with the corresponding pieces at the meet-
ing. Each person’s name was on the back of a puzzle piece, with one letter highlighted. Once the groups were together, the highlighted letters spelled out the group’s name. Many seniors highly anticipated the announcement of the Yosemite groups. The participating teachers refer to a “secret formula” process when it comes to selecting everyone to a group. The theme for this year’s groups is “light,” with names such as “alpenglow” and “moonlight.” This trip also marks Wielenga’s tenth trip to Yosemite with this program. He believes that there are benefits of getting
placed in a group with strangers or acquaintances. “People think that they know most of the students since they’ve been in school together over the years, but you really get to find out how neat other people are,” Wielenga said. “There’s a connection you can only develop from being in an intense, beautiful place like Yosemite.” Senior Naomi Broder is also looking forward to the Yosemite experience with her group. “I’m excited to get to know some of the people that I don’t know from my group on a deeper level,” Broder said. See groups on page 2.
Instrumental music department clinches four unprecedented awards at WorldStrides Heritage
The members of the South Pasadena High School instrumental music department boarded their flights to Seattle on Thursday, April 10 for the annual WorldStrides Heritage Music Festival. The group returned with four awards: a gold award for the orchestra, two silver awards for the concert band and jazz band, respectively, and the sweepstakes
The Important of Being Earnest:
Musical ready for stage:
Analyzing the environmental effect of commission elections and the sometimes-questionable ethics involved with getting votes
The Beauty and the Beast cast makes its final preparations before the $15,000 production opens on Friday.
PAG E
SKILLS USA STATE CHAMPS Community Service team members senior Chris Lizama, and sophomores Jacob Benowitz and Faith Kawakami received gold medals at the Skills USA State Leadership and Skills Conference in San Diego on April 27.
Yosemite groups announced for annual trip
By Karen Hsueh Staff Writer
The Oneonta Club Foundation selected Rachel Newhall, Michael Ruan, and Rhian Moore for its annual $10,000 scholarship.
Romeal Strong
award to signify that out of all the schools that competed, South Pasadena had the highest average score for the instrumental music section. “This is the first time we’ve competed in Seattle, so there weren’t any expectations, but in my opinion, all three of our groups performed outstandingly,” assistant drum major senior Henry Sue said. Both the concert and jazz bands received silver awards with
9 PAG E
an average score of 89 points out of 100. The orchestra received an average of 91 points out of 100, surpassing the minimum of 90 points to qualify for the gold award. “I’m extremely proud of the orchestra members,” orchestra concertmaster Samuel Chen said. “We came back against all odds to get the prestigious gold award, which was something that we’ve been unable to get for at least three years.”
On your marks: Read about track’s dominance in 2014 as it prepares for titledeciding meet with Monrovia next Thursday.
15 PAG E
News
2
Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
News
Around Campus
Board of Education recognizes student groups
By Jason Wang Staff Writer The South Pasadena District Office resonated with the sound of choral harmony and piano accompaniment on Tuesday, April 22 as cast members from South Pasadena High School’s spring musical Beauty and the Beast opened the Board of Education meeting with a performance of “Something There,” an excerpt from the upcoming show. Board President Elisabeth Eilers then facilitated the recognition of the SPHS Varsity Virtual Business Team Oasis for its unprecedented achievement as national champions in the New York City Business Plan Competition, which was held on April 2. The six-person team faced off against 533 firms across the United States, pitching the feasibility
and profitability of a rooftop garden company to a panel of judges. Superintendent Geoff Yantz also honored each member of the business plan team with a congratulatory trophy. Following designated reports, Yantz noted the achievements of students and staff alike at all three levels of education. At the elementary level, fifth graders from Marengo earned a spot at the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Tennessee, in which they will compete against students from 48 states and 30 countries in the realms of science and art. At the middle school, seven students were honored at the Los Angeles County Science Fair, with two second places and one first place. At the high school level, Western Association of Schools and Colleges affirmed SPHS’s accreditation, a status valid until June 2017.
The board concluded the meeting with a discussion on the bidding results and impact of the South Pasadena Middle School cafeteria and bandroom modernization project, an undertaking that will convert the former library into a music facility and renovate the kitchen and eating spaces of the cafeteria. SPUSD received bids from two contractors for the construction project, with the cheapest offer at $1,257,000. Due to strict time requirements and unfavorable market conditions, the Board discussed the importance of prioritizing only aspects of the construction project that directly affect students as opposed to cosmetic upgrades. Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Dr. Scott Price hopes to bring an award of contract agenda item to the next board meeting on May 6.
The spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, will premiere on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Additional performances will be held on May 3 and 4. Tickets can be purchased at the door or during lunch on the Tiger Patio for $10 with a SAC card and $15 non-SAC. /Stanley Wu
Y OSEMITE 2014 G ROUPS Alpenglow - Mr. Don Wielenga Firelight - Mr. Casey Shotwell Moonlight - Ms Audrey Toth Starlight - Mr. Shane Mills Evening Light - Mr. Josh Whitney
Former SPHS student Jeffrey Cortinez honored at funeral service at Holy Family Church By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer
Stephanie Kim
Club president Isabella Faith and member Denise Huang sold brownies, cookies, and other baked goods on April 18.
Family and friends of the late Jeffrey Cortinez gathered at Holy Family Catholic Church on April 10 to celebrate his life and mourn his recent passing. During Cortinez’s senior year at South Pasadena High School in 2008, classmate Elijah Stinson attacked him with a baseball bat in Garfield Park, allegedly over a gangrelated conflict. Cortinez had remained in a non-responsive state for the last six years and passed on March 23, 2014. Stinson was convicted of aggravated assault and is currently serving a 12-year prison term. The funeral Mass took place with Holy Family celebrants speaking on behalf of Cortinez and singing traditional hymns.
Cortinez’s younger brother, Daniel, delivered a eulogy that “shed light on who his brother really was,” according to SPHS English teacher Ms Adrianna Wiedermann, who attended the service. A reception at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, where Cortinez is now buried, took place after the service. Among the attendees were several SPHS faculty members, including Principal Ms Janet Anderson. “The priest assured those gathered at the service that Jeffrey will now experience no pain, suffering, or sadness,” Anderson said. “After so many years of living this tragedy, I hope the Cortinez family can take comfort from the idea that Jeffrey is now in a better place. As a community, we need to continue to reach out to the family through this
most difficult time.” Wiedermann has been closely involved with the Cortinez family in recent years following the incident, supporting the the family members throughout their sacrifices during the fight to keep Jeffrey alive. Wiedermann taught both Cortinez and Stinson during their time at SPHS and feels as though two young lives were lost in this tragedy. “Violence in any form is intolerable and whenever we can mitigate and react to any form of violence we can stop this kind of result that grew from minor hostilities,” Wiedermann said. “The true hero is Daniel Cortinez, who is full of kindness and ambition to heal his family and himself. His older brother Chris deserves recognition as well for remaining strong throughout this tragedy.”
Baking Tigers raise money for charity By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer The South Pasadena Baking Tigers held its seventh bake sale of the year on Friday, April 18. The club raised over $50 to give to hunger related charities. The sale lasted from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in front of the gym and had a wide variety of goods sold anywhere from 50 cents to one dollar apiece. Sales fell short of expectations this time, with the club making around half of the usual sum, according to club president sophomore Isabella Faith. “We usually make $100 [per sale], so this one wasn’t the best we’ve had,” Faith said. Proceeds earned from this year’s sales will most likely go to Heifer International, a non-profit organization that
provides impoverished families with live animals and agricultural training for long-term self-sufficiency. “This year we don’t want to buy food and clothes so much as things like cows and chickens, so people can have a continuous supply [of food],” sophomore baker Denise Huang said. The Baking Tigers have one more sale planned for the year, which they hope will be more successful. The club also recently became involved in the ongoing Project Cookie, a drive to send baked goods to United States servicemen and women abroad. Those interested in contributing cookies can bring them to Room 213 on Friday, May 9. “Baking Tigers is a club where we gather people who have a love for baking together for a good cause,” Huang said.
Raj Jain
A collection of photos celebrating Jeff Cortinez’s life was on display at Holy Family Church during his funeral service on April 10. Family and friends gathered to pay their respects to Cortinez, who succumbed to injuries he sustained in a February 2008 attack at Garfield Park.
Friday, April 30, 2014 - Tiger
News
Junior officers prepare for “Across the Universe” prom By Stanley Wu Assoc. News Editor The junior class officers and the prom committee spent the last few weeks preparing for this year’s prom, titled “Across the Universe,” which will take place on May 10 in the Samuel Oschin Pavilion at the California Science Center. “So far things are going smoothly,” junior class president Julian Lopez said. “We’re just making some finishing touches to the decorations and the layout.” Lopez was in charge of coordinating the Friar Tux show during lunch on May 23, in which seven students displayed a number of outfits in order to promote sales. Ticket sales are also meeting expectations, according to
junior treasurer Kendall Chang. Over three hundred tickets had been sold as of April 29. “I think people were a little shaky about the prom site at first because the class of 2015 and 2014 had already been to the Science Center for Winter Formal back in 2012,” Chang said. “I made sure to post pictures of the site fixed up for an event before tickets went on sale so people stray away from the idea that it’s a warehouse housing a space shuttle.” The juniors will spend the weeks leading to the event finishing decorations, finalizing event plans, and selling tickets. “I guess that the only hardship now is persuading people to buy their ticket during this week instead of at the last minute,” Lopez said.
PROM TICKET PRICES APRIL 28 - MAY 9
$85 $95 $100 SAC
NON-SAC
OOTER
Available for purchase during lunch in the Student Bank
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The testing aftermath As SPHS transitions to the Common Core, freshmen tested the new SBAC, and sophomores and juniors took the STAR for the final time By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer The new Common Core state standards come with many changes to California’s public education system, including the complete reconstruction of the standardized testing process. Freshmen at South Pasadena High took a field test of the new Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) tests which will replace the previous Standardized Testing
And Reporting (STAR) tests. Students in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade took the STAR tests for the last time this year. The results of these tests will be reported back to the school and used to gauge the school’s performance, like in previous years. The computer-based SBAC test consists of questions rooted in critical thinking and open-ended responses, in contrast to the multiple-choice bubble tests of the past. This is meant to help students
achieve a more holistic understanding of material, rather than memorization of formulas and vocabulary words. “I think it will take quite a few years of students to get used to [the test] and building instruction so that it really matches the way testing is done, for us to get a good look at what the results really mean,” Principal Janet Anderson said. “I think that [students] that took the test this year will benefit from the familiarity of the format.”
Future Business Leaders of America attends final competition of the year By Alexander Nakagawa Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School Future Business Leaders of America club participated in the State Leadership Conference on April 10-13 at the Ontario Convention Center. Teams from schools all across California met to compete in over sixty categories in business-related fields. The conference also allowed attendees to partake in workshops led by business professionals, and to elect next year’s section officers. The event marked the end for South Pasadena’s seniors on FBLA. “The State Leadership Conference was a wonderful way for the FBLA year to end,” Mission Valley Section President senior Michael Ruan said. “The
competitive spirit, love for community, and overall energy was simply incredible.” Due to arriving late to the conference, the veterans of the South Pasadena team missed their events. Consequently, South Pasadena came back from the conference with no awards, but not empty-handed. “I am very grateful that I had a chance to experience and expand my network beyond the school boundary,” Mission Valley Business Relations Officer Ted Kim said. “I made a lot of friends all over California and learned so much from the conferences. I personally felt very bittersweet after my term ended at the state conference. All the things I’ve done for FBLA really made the person who I am.”
Sophomore Jacob Benowitz was elected Vice President of the Mission Valley Chapter for next year, and teacher Cathy Mason was recognized as the Mission Valley Section Outstanding Director of the Year. In addition, many freshmen and sophomores gained valuable experience for next year’s FBLA team. The FBLA team has a bright outlook towards next year, with many returners from this year’s team looking to raise the standards set by the seniors. “We’ve been making huge progress and I’m sure there will be more members joining and competing on section and state level,” Kim said. “We are continuously growing and it’s a great experience for anyone who is looking into a career
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Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Promposals
Leah Zeiger and Daniel Patterson Senior Leah Zeiger is well-known for her long-time involvement in Advanced Dance, but when she decided to ask South Pasadena High School alumnus Daniel Patterson to prom on March 16, she wanted to focus on his interests. Patterson was sent on a scavenger hunt in the Los Angeles and Pasadena areas, hitting sites that held special significance to the couple. Due to Patterson’s interest in airplanes, Zeiger hid seven paper cutouts of airplanes in different places containing different clues. The final clue was located on a bench at Menchie’s, where Zeiger formally asked Patterson to prom. The bench was a special place for the couple, as it was the place that Zeiger and Patterson shared their first kiss her freshman year.
Helen Yip & Matt Chan Junior Helen Yip took a spin to the usual promposal by zoning in on senior Matthew Chan’s favorite hobby: nerfing. “Matt’s done his fair share of asking people to dances during his high school career, so I thought that this would be a nice end-of-the-
year surprise for him,” Yip said. With the help of some friends, she invited Chan into the band room, where he was bombarded with foam bullets for a nerf gun battle. As the participants randomly “died,” they started spelling out “PROM” with their bodies. Senior Victor Hidalgo enlisted the help of the cast of Beauty and the Beast to ask senior Ruby Muller to prom during rehearsal. Hildalgo remained quiet as Muller practiced her lines with sophomore Abraham Szilagyi. Before Szilagyi could say his last line, Hidalgo jumped
Hannah Winnie & Cameron Waters Hannah Winnie drew inspiration from the Pixar film Up when she asked her boyfriend Cameron Waters to prom. Under the guise of helping another friend ask someone to prom, Winnie brought Waters to a park. She had previously purchased all of his favorite snacks and tied them to balloons spread across the park, forming a path. At the end of the path, Winnie placed a mailbox like the one in Up - housing a letter that said “open me.” The inside of the letter officially asked Waters to prom. The two then
out from behind the curtains holding a sign that replaced the words in the musical’s script with his own. “At first she was stunned and stood there staring at me in shock,” Hidalgo said. “But then she ran over to me smiling. She said yes and everything worked out great.”
Andrew Bullard & Ryann Ramirez Andrew Bullard’s promposal was a group effort. After Marissa Vela made a game plan, Bullard solicited Brandon Huff to approach
Victor Hidalgo & Ruby Muller After missing his chance to ask Marcy Kuo to Winter Formal earlier this year, Thomas Kutzer jumped on the opportunity to take her to prom. With the help of Rachael Garner and Kealia Hudson (the match-makers), Logan Wong (the accomplice), and Mr. Hogan’s fifth period class (the audience), Thomas was able to keep her out of class
long enough to write ‘Prom?’ on the board and wait for her with roses. When she came back into the room, he was able to get out, “Marcy, will you go…” before she responded. “She jumped up and down, squealed, and ran out go the room before I could finish asking…It was more of a reaction than I expected.”
Thomas Kutzer & Marcy Kuo
enjoyed a picnic in the park, munching on the snacks Winnie had attached to the balloons. “He was surprised at first because he still thought we were helping another friend, but he got it after a few seconds.” Prom will mark the couple’s fifth dance spent together. “I was very flattered, even though I knew it would happen eventually. I don’t know much about the prom location, but I’m looking forward to a great night with Hannah and friends, no matter what,” Waters said.
Ryann Ramirez with a cluster of balloons. Following a note on the balloons saying “pop,” Ramirez burst open the balloons to reveal a note saying “turn around.” She obliged and saw a large, handdrawn poster reading, “Ryann, will you fly off to prom with me?” with Bullard standing next to it, rose in hand. “I was super surprised, but I can’t wait!” Ramirez said.
Michelle Gin & Arthur Puu While Pokémon may be a simple childhood hobby for the typical teenager, senior Michelle Gin used it as the theme of her promposal. “I knew I wanted to go to prom and decided to take the initiative and ask someone,” Gin said. “I wanted to ask Arthur because he’s punny and I knew I’d have a good time.”
During Puu’s AP Government class, Ms Nielsen asked him to deliver a note to Mrs. Pearson’s class next door. In the hall, Gin and a couple of friends were waiting with several posters. The signs were completely Pokémon-themed with the words “a wild Michelle appeared,” “What will you do?,” “Run Away or,” and “Go to Prom?”
Promposals With the 2014 Prom just a week away, here are a few of the cutest ways SPHS students have asked each other to the big dance.
Page by Rachael Garner; Management by Remeny White, text by Jenna Giulioni, Karen Hsueh, Kealia Hudson, Brandon Kim, & Remeny White; Photos by Tiger Photographers
Opinion
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - Tiger
Opinion
B
5
Yeah Boi
ravo to the large scale return of US military forces in the Philippines. Because when has US military intervention not gone well?
B
ravo to AP tests, early finals, CSTs, and SBAC. Testing the skills we’ve learned is a concept Tiger fully supports... especially when it means starting classes at 10:40.
B
ravo to the Friar Tux Fashion Show. We
had a fashion show at school, involving hotties like Brian Faung and Julian Lopez. Normally a punch line is required, but it seems implied here.
By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer
Action over empty words
B
to the Healthy Kids Survey for making us all feel like losers for not being a part of a gang. oo
B
to the canonization of two new saints. A quick Google definition search made us feel a lot better that the Pope wasn’t blowing up saints. 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 CSPA Gold Medalist 2013 Editor-in-Chief Rachael Garner Managing Editors Rhian Moore, Print Remeny White, Online News Shine Cho, Editor Stanley Wu, Associate Editor Opinion David Yang, Editor Petra Barbu, Associate Editor Feature Sarah Stukan, Editor Somi Jun, Associate Editor Sports Clem Witherall, Editor Andrew Shults, Associate Editor Copy Editors Leo Parker IV Jenny Wang Photography Matthew Winkel, Editor Siria Medina, Associate Editor Photographers Sophia Arriola, Raj Jain, Stephanie Kim Senior Staff Writer Heather Vaughan Staff Writers Madison Amido, Kira Gabriel, Jenna Giulioni, Madeline Hellwig, Karen Hsueh, Kea Hudson, Brandon Kim, Ross Lelieur, Alexander Nakagawa, Julian Prime, Joey Shapiro, Asa Silverman, Jason Wang, Jordan Xiao Staff Illustrators Dylan Anselmo, Spenser Atlas, Annie Lu Managers Marcy Kuo, Ads Emily Markese, Business Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Vol. C. No. VIII distributed on April 30, 2014. Distribution: 1519 students; 70 community. 1700 copies printed. Distributed by Tiger staff free of charge.
Eco-friendly elections Staff Editorial In elections for the American government, environmentalism is an intense issue of debate and contention. However, this issue is not a prominent one in South Pasadena High School’s commission elections. These elections do not prioritize environmentally conscious actions, especially in terms of campaign materials. During this year’s commissioner elections, candidates spent a total of $4,349.01 for their campaign materials. The 39 candidates collectively made 917 t-shirts. The total number of buttons, individual posters, and poster rolls added up to 874, 71, and 14, respectively. The candidates chose to make the most backpack tags than any other campaign material, creating a total of 6846. The sheer number of handouts and posters is not the central issue. The problem is that the handouts, posters, tags, and trinkets are all meant to serve the short-term and narrow function of campaign publicity. These materials consequently end up straight in the garbage either the moment the campaign is over (best case scenario) or the moment the candidate is out of view. Either way, the trivial purpose of these materials does not warrant the astronomical number made. While the ways candidates choose to campaign are not gentle on the environment, the transition to online voting is. The Associated Student Body made the commendable transition
By Remeny White Online Managing Editor
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.
Fed up with the media’s unrealistic portrayal of beauty, our generation has become more accepting of average, curvy body types—a commendable feat. But such a shift away from the stick-thin standard of perfection has also ostracized those who do naturally fit the now outdated “ideal” figure. Frances Chan, a junior at Yale University, was accused of having an eating disorder because her body-mass index of 16.8 fell below
Tiger Newspaper’s mission is to provide a reliable news outlet for SPHS and the local community. Through a variety of coverage, Tiger empowers/enables students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, solve problems, set and reach goals, and work cooperatively and independently as responsible citizens. Tiger is a forum for student free speech, in accordance with California Ed Code 48907. Additional content at www.tigernewspaper.com
from paper voting on scantrons to online voting last year, and although it has only been two election cycles since this change has been implemented, the effects have been positive overall. The convenience of voting online rather than walking to the SAC room to fill out a scantron with a pencil provides an incentive. In terms of voting for class officers, the online voting attracts only the interested students to vote, whereas three years ago envelopes were sent to classes for more or less mandatory voting. The transition to cyberspace has also provided candidates with another outlet of publicity through online biographies. If ASB is taking steps towards environmentally-friendly policies, campaign norms should be changed to match this initiative. The electronic spheres of social media should be harnessed in campaign elections, discarding the wasteful methods of campaigning currently used. Rather than physical tags, candidates should exclusively employ electronic tags and hashtags instead. Instead of physical posters, candidates should make posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Not only would this result in cleaner elections, but also would eliminate the logistical and accountability nightmares of Financial Affidavits and spending limits that are currently difficult to verify and enforce. It is time to complete the transition to cleaner campaigns.
The skinny on body image
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Spenser Atlas
While narrowing down my list of colleges, I analyzed all of the factors that are important to me, including tuition and diversity, and, after some reflection, added sexual assault policy. Providing help to students who are subject to violence of any kind is essential —as important as offering a calculus class or supplying the dining halls with food—and colleges need to recognize the importance of this factor to both current university students and those admitted. My college search yielded countless stories of colleges responding to sexual assault in unhelpful ways. I read survivors’ accounts of feeling isolated by faculty who ignored victims’ requests to even reprimand their assailants. I read about distrust from administration who dismiss cases as false, despite the likelihood of this being just under six percent. I read of a student who consistently heard empty promises disguised as politically correct statements, such as “we want you to get the support that you need.” This mistrust of victims contributes to the fact that less than half of sexual assault victims choose to report the incident as universities scare vulnerable students into silence. The faculty and administration of universities do not necessarily have bad intentions; however, because of improper faculty training and a system that blames victims, victims struggle to receive proper support. The threat of sexual assault is already horrifying, but knowing that a potential university could exacerbate the situation makes it worse. Colleges must realize that admitted students recognize the importance of sexual assault support and that a lack of these necessities may deter students from attending a university. Hopefully, in the future, a shift away from rape culture on campuses will help decrease the rate of sexual assault from one in four college women to zero. While this change will take time, hard work, and a huge change in mentality, offering adequate faculty training, proper care to victims, and proper punishment to rapists on college campuses is a good place to start.
the cutoff of 18.5. Frightened by the threat of compulsory medical leave, Chan forced herself to gorge on junk food and quit exercising in order to meet Yale Health’s standard of “normal.” She was only ever able to gain two pounds. The Yale administration made a snap judgment about Chan’s health based on a single statistic, effectively burdening her with the same unreachable standards of normalcy plastered throughout the media—the standards our generation has tried so hard to eradicate. This attempt to change our percep-
tion of beauty, however, has focused so heavily on garnering support for plus-sized figures that it has failed to acknowledge the legitimacy of all body types. It turns out Chan owes her scrawny frame to genetics. But potentially 24 million Americans—of all ages, genders, and body types—do suffer from some form of an eating disorder, and not all of them have BMIs under 18.5. Shifting the paradigm away from not only the media’s idea of beauty, but also the public’s obsession with defining normalcy would equalize all body types on the spectrum.
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Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Opinion
Shopping around By Ross Lelieur Staff Writer In addition to having a century of history behind it, South Pasadena also has a small-town feel that benefits from businesses such as Busters and Union Bakery. Recently, however, some of these oneof-a-kind locations have been taken over by more generic shops, a change which damages the image of South Pasadena and does a disservice to its residents. Take, for example, Great Harvest Bread. The bakery contributed to the South Pas atmosphere in that it was a change from the endless generic cafés that typically occupy street corners. It was replaced by Aro, a Latin cuisine bar and restaurant. Great Harvest filled a niche in the community, whereas Aro
is joining the crowd on Mission, an area already inundated with sit-down eateries. People can eat at any of these, but how many can bake their own bread as well as Great Harvest did? Even more egregious was the closing of Out of the Closet, a secondhand clothing store on Fair Oaks. The shop was, to say the least, eccentric, and so reflected and contributed to the singular nature of South Pasadena. It was recently replaced by a spa. On Fair Oaks alone, there already exist five different spa/ massage locations. Eighteen in total exist throughout the city, despite it being only 3.4 square miles in area. As if this number weren’t terrible enough, there were only seven such businesses just five years ago, meaning two open every year. Fortunately, the city took notice,
essentially barring any more from appearing. The fact that legislation was required to address the proliferation of spas demonstrates the true gravity of the issue. Even if spas did not tarnish the neighborhood by converting it into a reproduction of every other city, they do tarnish it through sheer numbers. These spa/massage businesses take up real estate that could be used by shops that are more in line with South Pasadena’s ambiance. Ultimately, the choice is in the hands of the residents. Do we patronize the small, unique businesses that have shaped the city? Or do we take it in a new direction and let those shops fail, as Great Harvests did? For South Pasadena, the best choice is to support what gives the city its distinctive flavor. Dylan Anselmo
Stop controlling birth control By Kira Gabriel Staff Writer The Affordable Care Act requires, in part, many employers to provide their female employees with comprehensive medical insurance for a variety of contraceptives. The Supreme Court heard arguments this past month over whether or not religiously affiliated for-profit companies have to provide their employees with this service. The appealing companies argue that contraceptive drugs and devices that prevent embryos from implanting in the womb are equivalent to abortions. Justice Sonia Sotomayor summarized the crux of the case in her question, “How does a corporation exercise religion?” The case also opens another interesting argument about unintended pregnancy, birth control, and pregnancy prevention in general. All moral, ethical, and economic arguments aside, benefits from contraceptives go far beyond just birth control. In fact, a study from the Guttmacher Institute found that 14% of women and 33% of teenage girls depend on oral contraceptive pills for entirely non-contraceptive related purposes. The study also found that 58% of all pill users rely on the contraceptive partially for pregnancy prevention and partially for other reasons. Women have used birth control pills to re-
duce menstrual cramps, regulate periods, prevent migraines, treat acne, or treat endometriosis. It is willfully ignorant to assume that women only take birth control for pregnancy prevention and intentionally neglectful to women’s health to take away that health option. Given that women use birth control for a variety of reasons besides pregnancy prevention, a variety of contraceptive methods should remain available under insurance policies, no matter what religious or moral ideals a corporation functions under. If an employee needed heart medicine, but the employer and insurance provider felt that medicine was unnatural, the court would immediately rule against the employer’s health threatening opinion. Similarly, because women do not have to disclose why they are choosing to take birth control, employers have no grounds to say whether or not they can ethically Annie Lu provide contraception and cannot the right to deny their employees needed health services. Choosing the proper medication for each patient should remain between the patient and his or her doctor, which the law recognizes as medical confidentiality, or physician-patient privilege. Employers have no say over what type of medications, surgeries, or treatments their employees receive; birth control is no exception.
Boy bands and the plight of the teenage girl By Rhian Moore Print Managing Editor One Direction began its third tour just last week in Bogotá, Colombia, kicking off a worldwide stadium run that will visit, among many arenas, the Rose Bowl for three nights this September. The British boy band and their commercial pop songs are on everyone’s radar, and equally as popular as the boys themselves is the reputation of their fans. A fan base that consists mostly of teenage girls is an interesting one. They are passionate, eager to spend money on their obsessions, and often defensive of their idols to the point of hero worship. Interestingly enough, the dedication and enthusiasm that they show seem awfully similar to those shown by sports fans—but of course, only one of the two groups is ridiculed on a regular basis. Put aside the ignorance in the statement that pop music is irrelevant and the snobbish attitude that lamenting the death of good music suddenly grants you the authority to define what “good music” is. Though true, it does not explain why anything created for young women is devalued, a practice that has persisted for generations and continues to endure as today’s misogyny.
This is a society in which the constant dismissal of the teenage girl is both blatant and internalized; in which girls who vocalize their enthusiasm for video games or comic books are labelled “fake geeks” and ostracized in a way that their male counterparts never are; where “you throw like a girl” or “man up and stop crying” are the insults that hurt a boy’s feelings the most. The best compliment a girl can receive from a boy is, “You’re not like other girls,” to the point that she begins to pride herself on what sets her apart from the typical teenage girl she was encouraged to become for so many years. Our media teaches girls that they are meant to love shopping over sports and makeup over math. Yet the image of the female teenager who holds a Starbucks cup in her hand and wears flower crowns to music festivals is branded in our minds as the one you don’t want to resemble for fear of being denounced as silly or vapid. Our culture teaches girls that those simple pleasures are to be criticized. Let teenage girls love boy bands and wear their flower crowns. Their enthusiasm is not what needs to be fixed; our hypocritical negativity towards their desire to vocalize it is.
Feminism: the other f word By Petra Barbu Assoc. Opinion Editor You’re a feminist; you just don’t know it yet. It might be because you’re afraid of the word. You think it means that feminists hate men or believe women are better, or perhaps you’ve graduated from this and think that the flaw in feminism lies not in its extremism, but rather in its perceived exclusion; you think that woman and men deserve equal rights, not just women, which is awesome, because that means you’re a feminist. We should define what is a feminist and what it is not, because that will help quite a bit if you “think men and women should have equal rights, but aren’t a feminist or anything.” Feminism is both a movement and an ideology that aims to define, establish, and defend equal political, economic, cultural, and social rights for women. It should be noted from the beginning, to anticipate the question of “why we need feminism,” that women do not have these rights, that because a woman can vote in America does not mean that she has equal rights, and that reverse sexism,
just like reverse racism, is not a reality because women do not have social, political, or economic power. There are many who believe that feminism is not all-encompassing, that it fights for women and not men, leaving many men to feel alienated from the cause, citing the same three points: rape against men is not taken seriously, family courts often favor women, and men are portrayed poorly in the media. However, every single argument made above for “men’s rights” is actually a case against misogyny and a case for feminism. Take the first, and arguably one of the most serious, arguments that rape against men is not taken seriously. According to the US Bureau of Justice Statistics, 99% of rapists are men, and the majority of men who are raped are suffering from the same rape culture that women experience, in which men are taught that sex is a power struggle, regardless of who the victim is. When the rapist is a woman, the crime is frequently belittled because women are never considered dominant figures, leaving the idea of a man being raped by a woman considered . Family courts favor women because women are
only ever thought of as the homemaker, the one who stays with the children, proliferating gender roles through perceived misandry. Finally, there is the last complaint: the conception that men are portrayed poorly in the media. Women are almost always limited to an over-sexed villain or a nagging wife, and, regardless of her role, always plays second to a male’s first. When men are portrayed in a negative light, casted as fumbling Neanderthals married to beautiful, capable wives, we tell boys that no matter their behavior, they can expect that a woman will want them and will love them. When do we see ugly, overweight women married to attractive men? And even when women are depicted as capable, it is often with housework or children, replacing the perfect woman with the perfect housewife. What it comes down to is really rather simple. Do you believe men and women deserve equal rights? If you answered yes, you’re a feminist. If you answered no, try again. There is no connotation, no stigma, no controversy, only equality.
Opinion
The ethics of elections By Somi Jun Assoc. Feature Writer Campaigns, both nationwide and at school, have become more about resources than the actual candidate. Candidates profiled themselves on the ASB website, answered questions during Q&A lunch sessions, and gave speeches at the commission assembly. The student body had plenty of opportunities to get to know their candidates, but most voters paid more attention to the candidates’ posters, backpack tags, and handouts than they did this information. With SPHS students on the brink of legal voting age, schools cannot afford to endorse this attitude of resources over ideas by continuing flawed policies. Candidates are required to fill out affidavits detailing their expenses, but it is a well-known secret that many lie on their forms to avoid violating the spending limit. Also, absent candidates were not allowed to present a pre-recorded speech at the commission assembly because it would have given them an unfair advantage. These policies back absent candidates into a corner: they cannot present at the assembly, but spending is difficult to police, making resources their best avenue for campaigning. Although pre-recorded speeches are not ideal for assemblies,
two years after the most expensive presidential election in U.S. history, aggravating the problem that is so evident in commission elections. The logic behind the Supreme Court’s decision is arguable. Unfortunately, if citizens vote like SPHS’ students do, spending correlates to votes and qualifications are an afterthought. Commission campaigns and their flaws may seem trivial, but they teach students unethical voting practices that will soon be reflected in the nation’s government. This could not have come at a worse time. The Republican Victory Fund has already instituted the first max PACs, a less-regulated, more powerful form of super PAC. The money pouring into campaigns is increasing, but SPHS students remain resource-driven in thought and action. The solution lies with students. Individuals must Spenser Atlas take the initiative to get to not all candidates are allowed to know their candidates by attending the Q&A’s and visiting ASB’s comgive speeches. The problem expands be- mission page. Candidates can put cause student voters, who tend to be more emphasis on their qualificamotivated by handouts and clever tions by supplementing handouts advertising, will soon be legal vot- with information cards, and filling ers. Last month, Supreme Court out affidavits honestly. The cost of justices removed the $123,200 cap commissions is frightening because it on individual contribution to politi- extends beyond high school; it could cal campaigns. This decision came cost the integrity of future voters. offering this slight advantage is better than perpetuating resourcedriven campaigns that pressure both present and absent candidates into spending more. Ultimately, each aspect of commission elections encourages spending and devalues qualifications: students want handouts, affidavits are not enforced, and
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Water you waiting for By Petra Barbu Assoc. Opinion Editor California is in a state of emergency, but no one seems to know. Or, perhaps much more likely, no one seems to care. We carry on with forty minute showers and marvelously inefficient sprinklers out of purported laziness or inattention, but the fact of the matter is much more insidious: apathy. The drought is labeled by the California Water Crisis Organization as “A Crisis We Can’t Ignore,” and yet we seem to be doing an excellent job at just that. What does not immediately affect us is not a main concern, and it is certainly not something that we are willing to sacrifice anything for. We repeat over and over again that South Pasadena is a convenient bubble that allows us to blur out anything that is not instantaneously important, but that is not true. The water crisis is a concept that all of the student body has heard of and that the great majority of students know a significant amount about through mediums such as AP Environmental Science or news reports. We are likely one of the most socially and environmentally conscious campuses in California, but water has yet to hit our radar of “things worth
caring about.” Evidently, students and the population in general need a direct tie to become interested in the cause, and this begins with correctly marketed PSAs. It is not that we do notknow that we have a drought—we just have not been given a reason to care yet. Campaigns against drug use, cigarettes, and drinking and driving were extraordinarily effective, because they were simple, easy to understand, and, in many respects, terrifying, which should not be too difficult a campaign to execute with a topic as straightforward as water. Without water, a human can die in three days: simple, easy to understand, and sufficiently terrifying. Though it is certainly disheartening that social action requires a catchy slogan, it must be executed for changes to be made. We need an acute wake-up call that stops shrugging shoulders and results instead in real, concrete results. The best part is, it is not difficult to conserve water: take shorter showers, only use the dishwasher or washing machine with a full load, or plant native plants. It is the same list we have been hearing since second grade, but few, if any, of us have changed our behavior to help conserve water. For once, do not just read the article: make the change.
Tiger Newspaper Asks: Do you vote for commissioners based on their speech, their handouts, or your previous knowledge of the candidates? Do you think that having a campaign gimmick makes a candidate more likely to win? In your opinion, did the most qualified candidates win? Ali Raad, Grade 12 I vote for commissioners based on their speech, and how well I know they are capable of handling the job that comes with being a commissioner. While having a campaign gimmick can be helpful in racking up a few votes, I think that ultimately, it won’t grant you the win. This year, I believe that the right candidates for commission were elected. I know that next year each and every one of them will be more than capable of filling the shoes of their predecessors, and I wish them the best of luck. Michelle Huang, Grade 12 I voted for this year’s commissioners based on previous knowledge of them because I would rather base my judgment on something I have observed over time rather than something they say just because it’s elections time. I think candidates have a higher chance of winning if they socialize with people outside of their friend group and in different grades. This allows them to introduce themselves to people who probably haven’t heard of them before and makes the whole election less of a popularity contest. If they don’t have the time to talk to the other grades, they can increase their chances of winning by providing a funny or memorable speech that the voters won’t forget by the time they vote. I can’t say if I thought the most qualified candidates won this year since I wasn’t here during the main elections week for the speeches
and everything, but I think next year’s commissioners are qualified and can get the job done! Andrea Seet, Grade 12 I vote for candidates based on my prior knowledge of the person and whether they seem like they would do well in their position. For the most part, the candidates who won are the people who most deserve it even though there are many qualified people who didn’t win. The candidates who gave out handouts were at an advantage as they were able to get votes from people who didn’t know any of the people running for a particular position. I didn’t know who to vote for for one of the positions until one of the candidates came up to me to introduce himself and give me a backpack tag which solidified my vote. I was not here for the speeches, but I also base my vote on whether the person is fully committed to the position he or she is running for. Hannah Sanders, Grade 11 I voted for the candidates mostly on their speeches. It helped knowing them before the elections but it was speeches that helped me make a final decisions. I think that a gimmick helps the candidate stand out and people always like free stuff. I think for some positions there were more suitable candidates than the one that won. Meagan Wong, Grade 11 If I know the candidates equally, then their work ethic and responsibility
factors into it. If not, the speeches and other people’s personal experience with the candidates affect my opinion. I try to have an unbiased opinion to pick a person who will actually benefit our school the most. I definitely think a campaign gimmick will help the people that don’t know you, remember you. I don’t think the most qualified candidates won. Jennifer Wu, Grade 11 I believe most students, including myself, tend to vote for candidates with the most creative or inspiring speech. The quality of the speech contributes immensely to the candidates’ campaign and their general popularity. The amount of effort presented by a candidate also increases their appeal as a dedicated and hardworking individual, regardless of previous knowledge. By being consistent and adhering to a campaigning theme gives students something to remember and associate with, but does not necessarily guarantee a victory. In general, I think most of the candidates are definitely qualified for their position, although some candidates may have won by factors other than qualifications or their efforts. Aaron Ogita, Grade 10 I vote for commissioners based on my personal knowledge of them and what they do.Dylan If IAnselmo don’t know them on a personal level, I look at how well they present themselves during the week of campaigning to the general school populace and their speech.
I think having a catchy slogan definitely helps because it gives people something to remember them with, so that creates a lasting imprint on their minds. Katherine Uriarte, Grade 11 I base most of my votes on the candidate’s performance throughout the year. By the time the speeches come around, I’ve already decided on most of the candidates I would vote for. However, if I am unfamiliar with a candidate, their campaign could potentially sway my vote. Campaigns are important in influencing the decisions of people that are unfamiliar with the candidate, and by running a great campaign, it can heavily increase the chances for a candidate to win. Unfortunately, I don’t think the most qualified candidates always win. Sometimes students vote for the student that has the funniest speech, or for the student that isn’t qualified as a joke. For the most part, I do feel that the elected candidates are qualified, but sometimes the kid people vote for isn’t the best one for the job. Faye Witherall, Grade 9 I tried to vote based on the speeches, but given the short amount of time they had, a lot of my decisions were based on their lunch campaigns. The elected commissioners all seem qualified from what I know, but a lot of the winners did have a humor centered campaign; being witty and having a funny speech made an impact on the result.
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Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
2014
How much does it cost to campaign?
how much does it cost to campaign?
Page and graphics by Sophia arriola
with the conclusion of commission elections and the beginning of class elections, here are the basic facts:
number of candidates:
6,846 total T-SHIRTS
84
PARTY HAtS
VOTE FOR WAYNE CAMPBELL
546 total PENS
vote for SUSAN
874
BUTTONS
917
BACKPACK TAGS
39
vote for jonathan!
71
total POSTERS
1,076 TOTAL BRACELETS
200 200
PAIRS OF GLASSES
TOTAL CDs
TOTAL cost:= $4,439.01
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Wednesday, april 30, 2014 - tiger
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Out and About Enjoy a preview of Prom by watching couples glam up in handmade toilet paper formalwear this Thursday. The promotion will take place at lunch on the Tiger Patio, so trade in your hashtag two pencils for number two couture./Somi Jun
Oculus is a fresh and inspired horror film By Stanley Wu Assoc. News Editor 3.5/5
Matt Winkel
Abraham Szilagyi, Julia Primuth, Courtney Chu, Ruby Muller, and Andrew Zableckis participate in dress rehearsal. Beauty and the Beast is the most expensive SPHS musical ever produced. The play opens on May 2.
Beauty and the Beast cast readies for premier By Julian Prime Staff Writer South Pasadena High School’s second theater production of the year, the musical Beauty and the Beast, promises a well-balanced combination of witty humor and absorbing immersion. The musical is a radical step away from the last SPHS production, Yellow, which stirred controversy amongst parents and faculty with its dark themes. A $15,000 production, Beauty and the Beast contrasts with director Mr. Daniel Enright’s previous production on multiple levels and adds a child-friendly product to his repertoire. “It’s a really beautiful story for
all ages,” Enright said. “We’re encouraging the smaller kids to participate.” Spearheaded by seniors Sophie Negrini and David Yang, the cast is dynamic and experienced. Sophomores Lucas Cereijido and Ian Geiberger add an element of physical comedy to the production with their slapstick antics. Dazzling costumes and noteworthy backdrops help conjure a mystifying medieval atmosphere often difficult to capture in an on-stage production. In addition, audience participation will be encouraged at the door. Fog machines and interactive roses will also be utilized. Beauty and the Beast is centered around a cursed prince (Yang) and his
struggle to find love. Meanwhile, Belle (Negrini) is the apple of Gaston’s (Geiberger) eye. Belle, however, isn’t interested in love. Instead, Belle helps her father (Andrew Zeblekis) complete his new invention. After he goes missing, Belle stumbles upon the Beast’s castle. The Beast and Belle make a deal to exchange her father for her, on the condition that Belle can never leave the castle for the rest of her life. “I’m just excited to be on stage and perform,” Geiberger said. “It’ll be fun for everyone to see our interpretation of this classic story.” The production is slated to debut on Friday at 7 p.m. and will have additional showings on Saturday and Sunday in the SPHS auditorium.
2013 and 2014 have hardly been years of quality horror films, but Oculus comes extremely close to breaking this trend with its well-engineered suspense and creativity. Oculus focuses on Kaylie and Tim Russell, siblings who survived a terrifying phenomenon that left both their parents dead. In the present day, Kaylie manages to trace the deaths back to a cursed mirror and creates an almost-foolproof plan to prove the object’s involvement and power. A potentially captivating plot about the struggle between the strange mirror and the Russells is unfortunately besmirched by confusing logic, slow and murky advancements of plotlines, and questionable character motivations, leaving the viewer with a vague and lessthan-convincing story. The leading roles, played by Katee Sackhoff and Rory Cochrane, alongside younger versions of the siblings played by Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan, are fitting and well-acted but damaged by an obvious lack of coherent character development. Several aspects of each character’s personality are introduced and never restated or mentioned again, leaving distractingly large holes and detracting from the overall completeness of an otherwise excellent cast. The ingenuity and cleverness of Oculus’s presentation stand out in the film. Scenes seamlessly shift between modern day events and Kaylie and Tim’s childhood encounters, an unorthodox and dynamic spin on the classic “haunted house” genre upon which Oculus builds. Cheap scare scenes and fright tactics are for the most part discarded in favor of reality-bending moments that successfully draw in the audience and demonstrate the underlying fear created by the mysterious mirror. Few horror films match the extent of Oculus’s innovative power, especially considering its low budget. The film may have its flaws regarding the plot and characters, but is significantly better developed than recent counterparts such as The Conjuring and the Paranormal Activity series.
Personality Profile: Derek Wang By Jason Wang Staff Writer “Call me D-Money,” he said with a grin. “Please.” For the past two years, senior Derek Wang has embodied this pseudonym, an eccentric DJ name recognized by students and teachers alike. Wang gives off the most mellow, yet upbeat vibe as he stands at the helm of the Tiger Patio. For many, it may be just another humid Wednesday during lunch, but for him, it is a chance to share his love of music with countless SPHS “brothers and sisters.” With one hand, Wang mans the sound system, blasting Disclosure, Roy Jones, and Kygo remixes to the entire campus. With his other hand, he grips his signature, blue tennis racket. At a glance, the ASB Commissioner of Noontime easily blends in with the crowd and describes himself as a “chill, go-with-the-flow type Siria Medina of guy.” But behind his bright orange Senior Derek Wang’s passion for music exudes in all that he windbreaker and calm exterior is does, whether it be tennis, Virtual Business, or DJing as D-$. an individual who boasts a deep-
rooted passion for the musical and visual arts. “To me, music and visual arts blend together,” Wang said. “Music is my oldest sibling; it raised me as a child. Now I feel as though I want to give it back and share it with others.” Wang is currently the videographer for the Varsity Virtual Enterprise team, Oasis. His commercial “masterpiece” touts the benefits of the company product, a rooftop garden, through the sentimental story of a nature-loving boy who moves from the suburbs to a dense city. “I made the film without dialogue on purpose,” Wang said. “I believe music is a catalyst for emotion, and a key to happiness, sadness, and even fear.” Although he does not consider himself particularly athletic, Wang loves tennis for its ability to connect mind and body into one seamless unit. He and his tennis racket are the quintessence of ying and yang. As a threeyear varsity member, and a current doubles starter for the Tigers, Wang
combined his favorite pastimes by creating a custom DJ mix that transforms the court into a concert during player introductions. As the curtain closes on his time in high school, Wang sets his sights on a career that combines music and animation. He plans to major in film and cinematic arts and minor in computer science at the American School of Paris for a year before returning to the United States to study at the University of Southern California. “Music changed me; now I want to change music, whether my contribution be big or small,” Wang said. “By coupling music with animation, I can use the power of visuals to enhance any musical experience.” Yet, no matter where Wang’s dual passion takes him, one thing will never change. “My DJ name will always be D-Money,” said Wang. “It’s a nickname I’ve come to love ever since my very first day in APUSH. I’m not complete without it.”
10 Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014 this month in
Pop Culture
movies Starring Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHann (May 2) Peter Parker (Garfield) continues as Spider-Man to protect New Yorkers from villains who threaten the city. The emergence of Electro (Foxx) means Parker must oppose a formidable foe. With the return of old friend Harry Osburn (DeHann), Parker uncovers new clues to his past and one key that all his enemies share: Oscorp.
Neighbors
Starring Seth Rogan, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Dave Franco (May 9) A young couple with a newborn baby must cope with difficulties and married life after it is forced to live next to a fraternity house.
albums Lily Allen
Personality Profile: Sophie Negrini By Madeline Hellwig Staff Writer
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Sheezus (May 2) Genre: Pop
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Foxes
Glorious (May 9) Genre: Electronic
The Black Keys
Turn Blue (May 13) Genre: Indie Rock
books Unlucky 13 By: James Patterson (May 5) When the FBI sends Lindsay Boxer a photo of a killer from her past, her blissful life is shattered. Boxer must find the woman in the photo before she kills another victim.
She describes herself as slightly ungainly and clumsy, but senior Sophie Negrini’s most noticeable trait is a humorous spontaneity that puts everyone around her at ease. She attributes this element of her personality to her stage experience at South Pasadena High School and to her love of music. “I guess I really like the plays because they made all my awkwardness disappear,” Negrini said. A natural performer, Negrini has performed at SPHS since freshman year, when she took part in the musical The Sound of Music. She subsequently starred in Curtains, acted as Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest, performed as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and recently played the character Kate in Yellow. Negrini’s latest role is Belle in the 2014 SPHS spring musical, Beauty and the Beast, which opens Friday night. “Sophie has really grown during these four years. Her acting skills have grown deeper, and she can really perform a diversity of roles,” drama teacher Mr. Daniel Enright said. “She could be an ingénue or that girl next door. I think she is truly a talented actress.” Despite her theatrical skill, Negrini does not plan on pursuing an acting career, but instead aspires toward a music career. She composes for her band, JaneLane, and also creates song covers in her free time. Negrini’s love
Stephanie Kim
Senior Sophie Negrini has performed in five South Pasadena High School plays and musicals since her freshman year. Negrini is active in the visual and performing arts. She will train for a career in music after graduation. for retro-pop has made the genre the basis of her songwriting. This creativity has also extended to Negrini’s other activities at the high school. She founded the club Loophole, which produces a monthly magazine of the same name. The publication features strange and exquisite artwork and literary pieces. As the school year draws to a close, Negrini has been bent on saving all her last moments at SPHS on camera. Although her interest in photography does not extend beyond casual fascination, the photos taken will
become keepsakes in the time to come as tokens of high school.
Negrini will play the role of Belle in Beauty and the Beast performances held on: Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m.
All the Light We Cannot See By: Anthony Doerr (May 6) A blind French girl and a German orphan cross paths in occupied France as they navigate surviving the aftermath of World War II.
concerts in
Los Angeles
The Wanted at the Wiltern (May 1) Ray LaMontagne at Immanuel Presbyterian (May 6) Coldplay at Royce Hall (May 19)
Q&A: Relay for Life Text by Alexander Nakagawa, Andrew Shults, & Jordan Xiao This yearly, overnight event is held in over 20 countries and raises funds for cancer awareness. Take a look at some insight and advice for future participants.
How long did you stay at the event? “I stayed at Orange Grove Park from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. volunteering in the kids camp tent.” -Ryan Nakakura (12) “12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.” -Yvette Tanner (11)
What was one weird or funny moment you experienced?
Photos by Raj Jain
“I was helping at the ring toss game, and a little girl about five years old came up to me and asked to play the ring toss with her. As I did, she suddenly stopped and told me her pants button came undone and wanted me to button it for her. I didn’t know what to do.” -Mariela Carillo (11) “One of the activities was a kids contest to see who could thaw out a frozen, folded t-shirt and put it on first. The t-shirt was surprisingly difficult to unfold. [Yvette Tanner and I] overheard a lady tell one of the parents that the secret to the game was to break the ice against a hard surface or wall. So we took turns repetitively swinging the shirt into a pole until it thawed and unfolded. I came in first and won a free picture frame!” -Ryan Nakakura (12)
How would you describe Relay for Life? “I would describe Relay for Life as a unifying event. It’s great how people are empowered to come together to fundraise for a cure.” -Mariela Carillo (11) “It’s a great time to come together as a community to support and be supported.” -Meagan Wong (11)
Advice for future participants: “Definitely go with a friend. It’s a good way to relax on a Saturday.” -Yvette Tanner (11) “This is a great opportunity to get community service hours and play with young kids.” -Naomi Low (10) “It’s one event that you know will help either cancer research or the support groups the organization has, and will give aid to those that need the shoulder to cry on.” -Meagan Wong (11)
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The Raid 2 features well-crafted action scenes By Joey Shapiro Staff Writer 4/5
By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Racket sports range from the fast-paced action of tennis to the heavy-handed antics of lacrosse. However, these sports are not prominent in South Pasadena High School’s culture, save for the two tennis teams that represent serious racket sports. To complement these teams, freshman Michael Wu took the initiative to reinstate the Badminton Club this year. As the name suggests, the club’s goal is to promote badminton at SPHS. There is currently no official badminton team for SPHS in the Rio Hondo League, but Wu has spoken with principal Janet Anderson regarding the creation of one, and Anderson has confirmed that there is a strong possibility that a badminton team will be established. The club currently meets on Sundays to practice their backhands, clears, and drives. Wu has great ambitions for the club’s future performance. “Our future goal is to be able to compete in international competitions and win,” Wu said. The badminton club has more than 70 members, 25 of whom regularly participate in club activities. Junior Calvin Lau, who regularly practices with the Arcadia Badminton Club, has been impressed by the passion and energy of the club members. “After viewing training sessions, I see that the club members are determined and enthusiastic,” Lau said. “However, they are still developing their skills.” The club competed with Gabrielino High School on April 27 in El Monte. Of the 23 non-mixed sets the team played, the boys’ singles and doubles teams managed a total of 12 wins. The boys’ singles players won five out of their six matches, while the boys’ doubles teams won seven out of 11. On the other hand, the girls were winless in their four singles and two doubles matches. Unlike many other clubs that do not last beyond Homecoming season, the Badminton Club has kept up its passion even in the stressful months of April and May. The stamina and endurance of the club and its members will further its success heading into the next school year.
With scenes escalating from characters exchanging suspicious glances to all-out brawls to the death, it is clear from the start that The Raid 2 is a movie with an emphasis on violence. The appeal of this foreign film lies in its incomparably gripping fight sequences that last as long as fifteen minutes each. Unbelievably fast-paced and brutally aggressive, The Raid 2 features an intricate plot with distinctive characters and remains an unrelenting experience that raises the bar for action movies. In an effort to protect his family from the crime syndicate running the Indonesian city of Jakarta, police officer Rama is forced to go undercover in the ruling crime family and end the corruption from within. The story grows increasingly complex as it becomes epic in scope over the course of two years. The plot becomes so complicated that it can be hard to keep track of what’s happening. The movie is Indonesian with subtitles, so it requires that close attention be paid in order to keep up with the twists and turns of the plot. Luckily, the action sequences allow the movie to still be enjoyable for those who miss important plot points. It took eighteen months to train and prepare the actors for the
extraordinarily kinetic fight scenes, and the extensive preparation clearly paid off. Choreographed by lead actor Iko Uwais, the action is so fastmoving and precise that it is reminiscent of ballet. One early scene features a massive ten-minute-long brawl between guards and dozens of prisoners in a muddy prison yard, and it remains one of the most stunning sequences in the movie. Considering this is a film that features characters with names like Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Boy, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that The Raid 2 is extremely violent. At times it can seem excessively bloody,
but it never takes itself seriously enough to make the violence seem sadistic. Nonetheless, the violence can be fairly shocking during the second half when fights start to occur more frequently. There’s more to The Raid 2 than just its fight scenes, including solid acting from Iko Uwais and some wonderfully tense moments between Rama and the hotheaded antagonist Uco, but the action is still by far the strongest component of the movie. The Raid 2 is destined to be considered a landmark action movie.
cia-film.blogspot.com
Iko Uwais, who stars in The Raid 2, choreographed the complex and brutally graphic fight scenes for this new Indonesian film.
South Pasadena vs Gabrielino 4/27/14 at Gabrielino High School
Boys’ Singles 15-1 W 11-0 W 15-0 W 11-2 W 11-2 W 1-15 L
Boys’ Doubles 11-15 L 21-17 W 15-7 W 15-9 W 15-3 W 15-17 L 13-15 L 15-5 W 15-14 W 2-15 L 15-7 W
Ellie Goulding thrills fans at the Fox Pomona By Sarah Stukan Feature Editor 5/5
Raj Jain
The Badminton Club is in the process of becoming an official sports team for the 2014-2015 school year.
Halcyon Days Tour Set List -Figure 8 -Ritual -Goodness Gracious -Animal -Starry Eyed -Stay Awake -Tessellate -Life Round Here -Beating Hear -Your Song -The Writer
-Explosions
-My Blood -Salt Skin -Only You -Everytime You Go -This Love Will Be Your Downfall -Anything Could Happen -I Need Your Love -Lights -You My Everything -Burn
A seamless transition from a moving acoustic song cover to an upbeat pop number requires versatility. British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding proved she was capable of accomplishing such a feat at the Fox Theater Pomona on April 15. The concert, part of the North American leg of her 2014 Halcyon Days tour, showcased the unique vocals that have catalyzed her rise to the top of the charts. Goulding was accompanied by three backup singers and her touring band: one drummer, one guitarist, and two keyboardists. She started the set with “Figure 8,” a song featuring a punchy downbeat remixed to incorporate electric guitar that instantly engaged the audience. The performance continued to gain energy as it proceeded, highlighted by a rendition of “Goodness Gracious” paired with the sound of tom-tom drums set up at the front of the stage for Goulding to play a rendition of the Elton John ballad “Your
Song.” Each of the covers Goulding sung – which included Alt-J’s “Tessellate” and James Blake’s “Life Round Here” – were enhanced by her signature piercing vibrato and breathy tone. Goulding also showcased her composition skills when she transitioned to “Beating Heart,” an original tune penned for the film Divergent. What is most impressive about Goulding is her ability to recreate the quality of the sound on her albums live on stage, yet personalize it by incorporating subtle differences in melody track to track. Originating from the coffee house circuit of London, Goulding has maintained an approach to music that is stylistically simple and raw. Goulding closed with her recent American hits, which she labeled the “party numbers” of her set. As soon as she voiced the opening lyrics of “Anything Could Happen,” the crowd began dancing along, which continued through “I Need Your Love” and “Lights.” An encore of “You My Everything” and “Burn” signaled the close of a show that was, in short, spectacular. While Ellie Goulding’s ex-
perimental blend of the indie pop and electronic genres will undoubtedly skyrocket her to fame, it is clear she will never let go of the explosive artistry that distinguishes her from the rest of the music industry.
Sarah Stukan
Ellie Goulding performs the song “Explosions” at the Fox Theater Pomona on April 15.
12
Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Feature
Aro is a fresh addition to South Pasadena’s eateries By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer 4/5
The closing of Great Harvest Bread Company saddened South Pasadena residents who loved the quaint bakery and left high expectations regarding its replacement. Fortunately, Aro Latin brings a new flavor to the location with its fusion Latin cuisine and modern decor. The first impression of Aro’s exterior may not be particularly inviting, with the restaurant’s darkened windows and generally plain facade that reveals little about the interior. On the inside, the polished concrete walls and floor in combination with wood furniture create a slightly vintage atmosphere, but a color scheme of subdued orange, green, and yellow subvert this for an overall casual and contemporary feeling. A restaurant, of course, is no good without its food, and our experience was mixed but undeniably positive. The owner and head chef of Aro is Karan Raina, who also operates Radhika; this has resulted in a curious combination of Indian and Mexican tastes on the menu.
The appetizer of ceviche came quickly enough. Crisp diced jicama provided a good textural contrast with the soft fish, and diced mangos kept the dish from tasting too sour. However, the portion of actual fish was rather small, and the plate was empty after only a few bites. Next up was the Huarache de Cerdo, which was flatbread covered with a layer of pork chunks and cheese. The meat was tinted with curry flavor and worked wonderfully with the soft, corn-based bread. Our other main plate, the “pescado Aro peach chutney,” was more obviously fusion. The snapper was lightly salted and grilled to perfect tenderness, but the peach sauce that gave the dish its name threw off the taste of the rice. Perhaps Aro’s greatest disadvantage is the relatively high pricing, which easily exceeds that of places like Mix N’ Munch down the street. Most entrees went over $15, and even appetizers came close to $10 for only average portions. This is forgivable for Aro’s particular niche as a full restaurant and bar as opposed to a grilled cheese joint, but should be considered by those intending to pay Aro a visit. As a whole, Aro Latin provides diners with an alternative taste experience in a
comfortable modern setting. Although the unusual fusion flavors may not suit the palates of some, local foodies would do well to drop by and find out what Indian-Latin food really is for themselves. If anyone can make it well, Aro certainly does.
Top: Aro Latin’s menu features a variety of Indian-Mexican fusion dishes. Photos by Raj Jain
Aro replaced the Great Harvest Bread Company on Mission Street.
Bottom: The restaurant’s cuisine is delicious, but mildly overpriced.
SPMS performs How to Succeed in Business By Madison Amido Staff Writer The South Pasadena Middle School drama department debuted the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Friday, April 25. Drama teacher Ms Marion Tompkins directed the show, which ran for total of three performances over the weekend. The musical tells the story of J. Pierrepont Finch (Alejandro Ardila), an ambitious window washer who reads the book How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying in order to advance his career. After a little bit of luck and a series of interesting events, Finch quickly works his way up the corporate ladder at the World Wide Wicket Company and begins a relationship with Rosemary Pilkington (Mary Harmon). Finch struggles to maintain his success as he advances from the mailroom to the vice president of the company while Bud Frump (Brandon Vaughan) and other colleagues secretly plan his demise. The main actors and actresses expertly danced and sang throughout the entire show to music from the SPMS Band, providing the audience an entertaining and impressive performance. The musical also featured numerous dance numbers, including a tap dancing scene. Ardila, Vaughan, and Harmon each stood as strong vocal talents. “Every year Ms Tompkins outdoes herself,” senior Leah Zeiger said. “It’s important for high school students to see the musical to support each other as well as to show support for the community as a whole.”
Kevin Yonami (11)
13 Brandon Huff (12)
CW: What do you think Obama’s chances are in 2016? KY: Didn’t he serve two terms?
CW: What are your thoughts on the U.S.’s recent decision to invade Iran? BH: That’s definitely not something we should do because I wouldn’t appreciate if someone came and invaded the U.S.
SPHS ON
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - Tiger
Asa: What are your opinions on the recent reports about Route 66 being extended to Alaska? Kevin Yonami: Um... Clem Witherall: Well, Do you think it’s a good idea? KY: I think it’s a terrible idea. CW: Why is that? KY: Because...actually, I have no idea.
Clem Witherall: How do you feel about U.S. troops invading Ukraine? Brandon Huff: It’s just what’s going on there. I don’t know exactly how people feel about it. I’m not exactly Ukrainian, as you can tell.
SPHS ON: Page and photos by Rachael Garner
See video footage of all the interviews at tigernewspaper.com
Ronny Corvino (12)
Helena Van Loan (12)
Julian Prime: What number President was Benjamin Franklin? Helena Van Loan: 10... not 10... 10... 5... 10.
Julian Prime: Do you know who won the Civil War? Ronny Corvino: Civil War? I think the Confederates did. Right? JP: If you could pick one celebrity to be the President who would it be? RC: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
U.S. HISTORY PAST & PRESENT
Perah Ralin (9)
Clem Witherall: How many senators are currently in the House of Representatives? Perah Ralin: I guess... four? CW: Do you know which Presidents are on Mount Rushmore? PR: Washington... no I don’t know.
Cassidy Tse (11) Clem Witherall: Since the population increase from last year, how many senators are currently in the House of Representatives? Cassidy Tse: 25? Asa Silverman: How are Obama’s chances in 2016? CT: Um...well, Obama’s done some good stuff so if he gets reelected I guess it’s beneficial for some people. CW: What do you think his percentage is? CT: Maybe 40-50%?
JP: How many terms can a President serve? HVL: Isn’t it four? Two... two?
Cameron Lee (12) Julian Prime: Who are the Presidents on Mount Rushmore? Cameron Lee: Lincoln, I think. George Washington. Not Obama! JP: Two more. CL: Did I say Ben Franklin?
Andrew Wong (12) Clem Witherall: Since the population increase from last year, how many senators are currently in the House of Representatives? Andrew Wong: I have no idea CW: You wanna take a guess? AW: 69? Asa Silverman: Well 2016 is coming up, what are your thoughts on Obama’s reelection? AW: Dude, I love Obama, man. He plays basketball. He’s a baller now. CW: So you think he has a good shot? AW: Hell yeah!
So what is SPHS On? Every few years, Tiger Newspaper surveys randomly selected students to gain insight on the student body’s knowledge about a given topic. This issue, we revived 2011’s chosen theme: current events, history, and politics. You may be surprised by the valuable and essential intelligence our students possess, or lack thereof. // Rhian Moore & Leo Parker IV Reporting by Leo Parker IV, Julian Prime, Asa Silverman, & Clem Witherall
14
Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Sports
Andrew Rudchenko By Asa Silverman & Leo Parker IV Tiger Staff
Matt Winkel
Captain Rudchenko plays the vital role of setter for the Tigers.
The trademark volleyball net on senior Andrew Rudchenko’s front lawn is the ultimate statement of his love for the game. The net has remained a permanent fixture over the years since it was set up during Rudchenko’s days at Marengo Elementary. Rudchenko’s family history with volleyball has played a major role in his involvement with the sport. His father was a setter when he was in
high school, and Rudchenko’s older brother, Alex, played for South Pasadena High School for all four years. Rudchenko’s club volleyball career started at age fourteen. He first played sporadically for San Gabriel and is now a member of the San Gabriel Elite squad. At South Pas, he has played three years on varsity as a defensive specialist and recently rose to the position of setter. Last year, Rudchenko was a key teammate on the CIF Division III championship team that captured CIF Regionals.
He has always played a supportive role on the high school team, especially this year as team captain, and regularly encourages young players to strive for their best. “Volleyball is unique because you’re so close to your teammates on the court,” said Rudchenko. “You have to bond on and off the court in order to be successful.” While he dedicates much of his free time to train and compete, Rudchenko also finds happiness off the court. Rudchenko surfs once a week year-round, and if he’s not pad-
dling in the Pacific, he can be found jamming daily in his garage with his drumset, a hobby he has continued throughout his childhood. Rudchenko will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this fall, where he is eagerly looking forward to continuing his volleyball career on the Mustang’s club team. But before he heads 200 miles north, Rudchenko has high aspirations for his last year with the Tigers. “Our goal is to win CIF again,” Rudchenko said. “That would be crazy.”
Samantha Zavala By Andrew Shults Assoc. Sports Editor Senior Samantha Zavala has found herself at home in the water since she was five months old. Seventeen years later, Zavala has grown into a dedicated leader with big plans of competing at the collegiate level. “What I like about swimming is that it is both an individual and a team sport,” Zavala said. “I can race individually and still get points to help my team.” Zavala tried out soccer and gymnastics when she was young, but nothing compared to the excitement she found in swimming. She started to swim competitively for the Swim Pasadena club when she was eight and developed a passion
for the sport. At age thirteen, she won the 800-meter freestyle and 1500-meter free long course at the Junior Olympics. This past summer she was the 200-meter fly and Junior Olympic champion. Zavala has played a crucial role in the SPHS swim team, having made varsity all four years, and has been captain since her sophomore season. She is also the first girl in SPHS history to reach CIF competition after South Pasadena joined Division I. The senior has earned a partial scholarship at the University of Wyoming, where she plans to major in psychology. She also hopes to extend athletics past college and wants to compete in open water swimming, which involves swimming in open bodies of
water such as lakes and rivers. “I would really like to go into open water swimming because it’s a totally different experience; there are so many new challenges and aspects,” Zavala said. When she is not busy in the water, Zavala enjoys reading, watching TV, and going on movie marathons. Despite all her tremendous accomplishments, Zavala is quick to praise the help of others who have allowed her to achieve so much. “My family and coaches have helped me so much through my swimming career, and I want to give back to them,” Zavala said. “I’m really thankful for the opportunity that I have been given.”
Theo Mandin-Lee
Matt Winkel
Zavala has been a four-year varsity member for the Tigers and serves as this year’s team captain.
2014 AAEDE Scholarship Opportunity Who’s Eligible? 1) Must be Graduating High School Senior, Class of 2014 2) Demonstrate financial need (to be eligible for financial aid, applicant must have submitted a FAFSA form by the March 2014 deadline.) 3) Cumulative high school unweighted GPA (out of a 4.0 scale) must be 3.0 and above. 4) Only U.S. Citizens are eligible to apply. (Please note, affiliates of AAEDE are not eligible to apply.)
Award Amount:
There will be (3) awards of $500 each and (3) awards of $1000 each. A total of 6 scholarship awards will be offered.
Requirements:
1) Complete, Sign, and Date the AAEDE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION. 2) Include your maximum 500-word essay on one of the chosen topics below: A) Please describe an instance, event, or permanent condition of adversity in which you have overcome (or are still overcoming). What did you learn? B) If you could describe yourself with one word, what would it be and why? C) If you could start your own business, what would it be and why? D) What is your dream, vision or hope for your life, career? 3 & 4) Include the AAEDE SCHOLARSHIP RECOMMENDATION FORM 2014 and one LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. (Please refer to recommendation form for more information..)
5) Please include your official sealed HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT. 6) Include a copy of your FAFSA SAR REPORT. (Please refer to sample report on our website..)
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Completed packet must be postmarked OR dropped off by Friday, June 13, 2014. ***All forms may be downloaded online from www.aaede.org***
216 W. Garvey Ave. Ste. #E, Monterey Park, CA 91754‐1688 • (626)572‐7021 • info@aaede.org • www.aaede.org
Sports
The South Pasadena boys’ tennis team lost a pivotal match against the Temple City Rams on Tuesday, April 29, with only two weeks remaining before league finals. The 12-6 defeat puts the Tigers at a 6-9 overall for the season. The match started out slowly for South Pasadena with the Tigers only able to generate two wins in the first round of play. “We really need to work on playing under pressure,” senior Samuel Chen said. “A lot of the key points are not only impactful for the overall game but are really good confidence boosters.” Altogether, the Tigers’ singles lineup brought home a collective four victories. Senior Jason Wang played a close match against Temple City’s number one singles player, winning with an
15
Softball falls 10-0 against Rams
Tennis overwhelmed by TC By Karen Hsueh Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 - Tiger
intense 7-1 tiebreak score. Wang also dominated the number three singles player with a 6-4 victory. Freshman Jesse Chen won two of his three sets with the score of 6-4 and 6-3 against the number one and three singles players, respectively. The doubles teams had less luck with only two wins coming from the duo of Ted Kim and Aren Yarcan and the team of Derek Wang and Owen Emerson with scores of 6-3 and 7-6, respectively. “We had a rough start, but the team is looking pretty good now,” Kim said. “Even though there aren’t that many games left, everyone is playing their best tennis.” The next match will be on Thursday, May 1, a rematch against Temple City. “I’m really excited to play them again,” Derek Wang said. “I’m feeling really confident about the next game and getting another shot.”
By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School softball team was mercied by Temple City 10-0 in an away game on Tuesday, April 29. The Rams seized two to three runs for every error made by the Tigers, and ended the game by the bottom of the fifth inning. “We need to come out ready to play. We weren’t able to hit the ball, we weren’t able to field the ball, and we weren’t able to make plays,” head coach Ted Mureau said. The loss against the Rams contrasts sharply with the 5-1 victory over rival San Marino last Friday, which was the team’s first league win this year. The Tigers earned all five runs against the Titans in the first inning. Defense communicated well to keep the opposition off base for the remainder of the game, with key plays coming from catcher Alexis Shettleroe and shortstop Genesis Gonzalez. Pitcher Cassie Baca struck out ten Titans in her time on the mound and kept San
Sophia Arriola
Junior Vanessa Limon singles against the Rams.
Marino from being at bat for more than four runners per inning. “Something about the way we warmed up just felt right. Everyone seemed so happy and everyone had so much energy,” Baca said of Friday’s win. “It was a great game and nice to finally get that first win under our belt.”
Baseball struggles on the mound against Titans By Asa Silverman Staff Writer
Raj Jain
Junior Chris Logue makes contact with the baseball in the Tigers’ 9-4 defeat against rival San Marino.
The South Pasadena High School baseball team dropped its last two games as the Tigers were roughed up yesterday 12-1 by Temple City High School and 9-4 against San Marino last Friday. Senior pitcher Noah Anselmo started on the mound for the Tigers against the Titans and gave up one run in the first inning. In the bottom of the first, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on any opportunities and were held scoreless by solid Titan defense. With ace pitching by Anselmo in the second, the Tigers were able to hold the 1-0 scoreline, but were again held scoreless themselves. In the top of the third inning, the Tigers began to fall apart on the mound and
on the field. Anselmo struggled against the Titans and San Marino broke the game apart by taking a commanding 6-0 lead. South Pasadena’s coaching staff had to look to their bullpen for the start of the fourth inning and substituted senior pitcher Andrew Bullard for Anselmo. Bullard was able to settle the storm, giving up only two runs. The Tigers found themselves down 8-0 and were incapable of scoring in the bottom of the fourth. “Our pitching has been struggling these past two games,” junior Brandon Aguirre said. “We made a costly error that started their six run rally.” As the game winded down, Bullard had a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth, keeping the scoreboard at 8-0. Finally in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Tigers started to produce offensively as South Pas was able
to load the bases. The pressure appeared to get to the Titan pitcher as he walked the first run in. The Tigers consequently pounced on the Titans’ nerves as South Pas continued to hit runners in, bringing the score to 8-4 as the inning came to a close. Bullard conceded another run late in the seventh making it a 9-4 ballgame. South Pasadena failed to generate any momentum in their final at-bats and the game ended with the Titans coming away with the victory. “They hit better than us and made fewer errors,” junior Hermes Ip said. “That is why we lost. We didn’t do our job the whole seven innings.” South Pasadena’s game against Temple City was played after presstime. Check tigernewspaper.com for a full game report.
Track showdown with Monrovia looms as Tigers blow past Rams By Kea Hudson Staff Writer Both the South Pasadena varsity boys’ and girls’ divisions of the track program remained undefeated in league as the Tigers swept Temple City High School last Thursday. Despite being unfamiliar with Temple City’s dirt track, the Tigers were able to defeat the Rams with respective scores of 78-49 and 86-36. The South Pasadena boys long distance runners dominated. Senior Joshua Wilson claimed first place in the boys 1600-meter with a time of 5:09.8. Wilson also tied with junior Cullen Irvine to win the boys 3200-meter
with a time of 11:12, closely followed by senior Thomas Steele who crossed the finish line with a time of 11:23 to seize third. The South Pasadena girls demonstrated their strength in the sprints. The 4x100 relay team, consisting of sophomore Rebecca Liston, junior Jazmin Jackmon, freshman Kate Kutzer, and senior Kamia Rodil-Willis, secured a victory with a time of 52.7 seconds. Liston and Rodil-Willis also dominated in the 100-meter dash, taking first and second with times of 12.0 and 12.3 seconds, respectively. “Despite the conditions of the meet, we all did very well,” senior cap-
tain Claire Kieffer-Wright said. “We aren’t used to running on a dirt track [like Temple City’s], but we were still able to put distance between TC and ourselves on both levels.” Though the Temple City pole vault athletes won both divisions, South Pasadena athletes still manged to place. Sophomore Esteban Suarez cleared 13’6” for a new personal record, taking second place in the boys division. Junior Marion Wood took second place for the girls with a height of 9’0”. “Esteban is now seen as a viable contender for the league title,” pole vault coach David Minguez said. “Thursday was a real breakthrough day for the boys.”
The Tigers will face their most competitive rival, Monrovia High Shcool, next Thursday away. The Wildcats are out for revenge as they were swept by both the South Pasadena boys’ and girls’ squads in 2013. “I think that the meet against Temple City put our team in a more confident place,” said Kieffer-Wright. “We are looking forward to Monrovia to compete for our league title.”
Joshua Wilson Wilson clinched first in the boys’ 1600-meter.
Marion Wood Wood sailed to second in pole vault.
Golf pair headed to CIF preliminaries By Alexander Nakagawa Staff Writer The South Pasadena golf team has experienced its fair share of drama in April, going 1-4 in the month of April, with its one win coming from a forfeiture from La Cañada due to a cheating incident. The Tigers are now 2-6 overall and 2-4 in league. Despite poor team play, two Tigers were also invited to the CIF Preliminary Rio Hondo League golf playoff game. The two players that will represent South Pasadena are
senior captain Henry Sue and junior Cristian Cotaya. “It is an honor [to be invited],” Cotaya said. “Henry and I are looking forward to representing SPHS in the prelims.” Although Sue has represented South Pas in the prelims in all four years as a varsity member, he hopes to carry his stellar play this year into the playoffs. “This time it will be different, since this is my senior year,” Sue said. “I am determined to make it past prelims into CIF Finals.”
South Pasadena lost a pivotal game against La Cañada on April 8. One week later, however, the result was reversed when it was announced that the Spartans had been forced to forfeit the game. A La Cañada player allegedly wrote a false score on his scorecard that gave La Cañada a slight advantage over the Tigers. The Spartan was quickly removed from the team. The Tigers took on San Marino on Tuesday after presstime. Check tigernewspaper.com for a full game report.
Raj Jain
Senior Henry Sue tees off against San Marino late Tuesday.
16
Sports Tiger - Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Sports
B. Volleyball
So. Pasadena Temple City San Marino La Cañada Gabrielino
Wins
6 2 2 2 0
2014 Rio Hondo League Standings Losses Baseball
0 2 3 3 4
Monrovia San Marino Temple City So. Pasadena La Cañada
Wins
Losses
6 5 3 2 2
2 2 4 5 5
Clem’s Corner New faces of swim team mold talent
Sophia Arriola
Junior Jasmine Lee competes in the 100-yard Butterfly at the Mt. SAC invitational on April 25-26. The girls placed third overall.
Swim program impresses at Mt. SAC By Andrew Shults Assoc. Sports Editor The South Pasadena High School swim team followed up a historic victory over reigning Rio Hondo League Champions La Cañada with an impressive showing at the Mt. San Antonio College Swim Meet of Champions on April 25-26. The Tigers placed second in the varsity girls’ category out of 54 teams while the boys placed third. The entire South Pasadena program placed third overall, arguably the most notable performance of the entire season. “I felt like we all did amazingly well and made a statement about South Pasadena High School swimming and that we will be a tough team to beat for the years to come,” senior Samantha Zavala said. “We don’t have just a few good swimmers. We have a team of good swimmers with amaz-
ing talent. This was just a little sneak peek for what is to come in Rio Hondo.” This was the first time in history the entire swim team traveled to the two-day event, and the Tigers did not disappoint. On the girls’ side, senior Liza Echeverria and junior Kate Iio placed fourth and eighth in their respective races and were the lead scorers, earning 52 points apiece for the team, with junior Sabrina Zavala claiming another 51 points. Iio broke the school record in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.13. For the boys, junior Garrett Tse placed sixth in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke, earning a total of 51 points while freshman Jacob Mullen snatched another 49 points by placing tenth and fourth in his events. The Tigers entered the Mt. SAC competition filled with confidence as both the boys and girls swept La Cañada on April
17. The defeat had ended the Spartan boys’ undefeated streak of 50 meets. The boys started behind 10-4, taking second in the 200-medley relay while the Spartans took first and third. However, the Tigers mounted their comeback and gained significant points late in the meet. “Our boys and girls have been working harder than they ever have and it showed in our meet against LC,” junior Griffin Yerian said. “We were blown away by the result.” The Tigers have their final dual meet against Temple City today in preparation for Rio Hondo League finals next week.
Garrett Tse Amassed a total of 51 points in two events
Liza Echeverria Placed fourth in 100-yard Fly to earn 52 points
Volleyball swept by powerhouse San Marcos By Julian Prime Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School boys’ volleyball team had its ten-game winstreak snapped as the Tigers lost in three straight sets against San Marcos. The Royals were ranked ninth in California and eleventh in the country heading into the matchup, and backed up their impressive records by proving unstoppable on the night. “It was a fun game. We played tough,” sophomore Max Luck said. “We made a couple of errors at the end, which put us down. But we never gave up fighting.” Both teams slugged it out early, consistently tying each other point after point. Sophomore Greg Luck led the offensive attack in the first set, highlighting his efforts with a huge spike to even the game up at 18-18. After falling behind 23-19, the Tigers couldn’t forge a comeback, and despite stellar overall play, ended up losing the set 25-20. The Royals came out fast in the second set, taking a 6-2 lead. Junior Richard Yu had a signature spike to split the deficit, followed by a Max Luck kill. Greg Luck con-
tributed a perfect tip, followed by a Max Luck kill to keep the Tigers in the game. However, a lapse in concentration led to a 17-12 deficit, forcing a South Pas time out. Down 19-12, the Tigers attempted to claw their way back into the match. A South Pas rally led the boys to a 24-21 variance. Seniors Andrew Rudchenko and Julian Pina successfully blocked a Royal hit, cutting San Marcos’s lead to two. However, the Tigers couldn’t complete the rally, losing the second set 25-22. San Marcos flew out to another early lead in the third set, taking a 4-0 advantage. Greg Luck rallied his teammates with a venomous kill, behind 8-5 on the scoreboard. Yu also got in on the action and recorded another kill to tie the game up at 10. Exquisite teamwork steered the Tigers to a 13-13 tie. The Luck twins and senior Thomas Kutzer made sure the Tigers stayed close with a pair of kills that tightened the gap 18-17. Greg Luck had a pair of key points, helping his team stay in the game at 24-23. The Royals, however, showed no mercy and swiftly ended the match with another point, clinching the set 25-23.
Despite the loss, the Tigers still remain undefeated in league play and are prepping for their upcoming contest against the Gabrielino Eagles on Thursday. “I think we’re proud of the way we played, especially against such a highlyranked team,” Kutzer said. “But we still think we can play better.”
The swim season has not concluded, but a pair of front runners have already sewn up Rookie of the Year awards for the Tigers. Interestingly, neither stepped foot in the water this year. New coaches Elinor Charlton and Scott Watanabe have enthusiastically catapulted the team to new records and earned the respect of the aquatic squad. There is plenty of compelling evidence of the pair’s work. The boys’ program beat traditional league powerhouse La Cañada for the first time in a decade to snap the Spartan’s 50-plus meet win streak. The girls have all but sealed the Rio Hondo Title for the fourth consecutive year, dominating league opponents on the scoreboards. The biggest accomplishment came last week at the Mt. San Antonio College Swim Meet of Champions. The girls’ squad placed second among 54 teams in the invitationalonly competition, the best finish in program history. The boys performed almost as well, placing third. Combined, the teams earned a stellar third place finish overall. Best of all, there is a new spirit among the swimmers. Charlton and Watanabe have the boys and girls train together, which fosters powerful camaraderie. “We really got close as a team by combining the two squads,” senior Derrick Kwok said. “Coach Charlton and Coach Scott have really reinvigorated this program and the results show that.” Charlton and Watanabe have brought what they call an “old school approach” to training. The boys and girls squads practice every day and the coaches also incorporated dry land training in preseason. “We coach the fundamentals,” Charlton said. “We emphasize body strength, biomechanics and getting the kids to be truly competitive. It’s one thing to go out there and just swim. It’s a whole different thing to get yourself mentally and physically prepared. It’s all about personal goals and learning the techniques behind these goals.” The intense and rigorous training has paid huge dividends. Happy swimmers make for good results and equally happy coaches. “It’s amazing in such a short time kids are continuing to achieve success,” Charlton said. “The joy that the team brings to me and Coach Watanabe is immeasurable. It’s a new sense of school pride for the aquatics program and we’re just happy to be a part of it.”
[inside] Read about baseball’s fight for the final playoff spot in the Rio Hondo League.
Matt Winkel
Junior Richard Yu tips the ball over the net in the Tigers loss against San Marcos.
Raj Jain
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