January 2025

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 4

JANUARY 24, 2025

IN THE NEWS

SENIOR PHOTO SCHOLARSHIP

The deadline to enter the William G. Ericson Photo scholarship competition is Jan. 31, 2025 and is only applicable to seniors.

SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030

TALENT SHOW WINTER FORMAL

The talent show assembly will take place Friday, Jan. 31 in the auditorium from 10:15 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.

The Winter Formal Dance will be held at the Petersen Automotive Museum at 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.

SPHS students respond to L.A. wildfires

STORY CLAIRE MAO

PHOTOS EMIKO ESSMILLER & MAC SHROPSHIRE

F

ive fires burned across California during the second week of January, resulting in the consecutive three-day closure of SPUSD. Strong winds on Tuesday, Jan. 7 spread the fires and resulted in the outage of electricity, causing the first day closure of school. Harmful air quality levels and insecure facilities prevented school from reopening. As a result of the fires, several SPHS staff and students lost their homes and needed to live in hotels or with relatives.

“The district has taken the impact on students, staff, and the community seriously enough to be forward-leaning and close the schools and close up the district so that everyone can concentrate on what matters most, frankly, which is keeping their families and their property as safe as they possibly can,” SPHS principal John Eldred said.

Approximately 50 SPHS clubs grouped together to help fundraise and donate to those affected by the fires.

Senior president and co-founder of IgniteHer Paige Tang originally started the fundraiser Thursday, Jan. 9 and sent out a post that allowed club officers to sign onto a Google Form to participate in the multi-club fundraiser. The form got around 30 clubs within a day and that number has grown to over 50 responses.

The fundraiser was later passed to the Associated Student Body (ASB) and on Wednesday, Jan. 15, they held a lunch meeting in the Anderson Auditorium to record participating clubs and organize divisions.

TIGER DEN PREPARES FOR OPENING

Situated in the library, the incoming Tiger Den is set to open before the end of the 2024-25 school year. The space will feature a resting and presentation area as well as a charging station.

Page 2

“So many different organizations like the Pasadena Humane Society, YMCA, California Fire Fund, California Fire Department … are in need of money. We’re probably going to split the clubs up in terms of divisions,” Tang said. “For example, if you have a club that’s about protecting animals or biology, maybe that group of clubs can help fundraise for the Pasadena Humane Society … Since it’s such a huge effort, we’re able to split it up.”

ASB hopes to split the clubs participating in the fundraiser into different divisions and donate to various areas including the Pasadena Humane Society, Pasadena and Altadena schools, religious centers, and regional food banks.

“The clubs [are going to] try a long-term thing where maybe in a couple months we could donate again … it’s just gonna be like an ongoing thing that we’re gonna do so that’s our plan for now,” senior ASB Commissioner of Clubs Chaemin Lim said.

Initial support for the fundraiser has been amazing as stated by Tang but she worries about community participation and involvement.

Additionally, the organizers of the fundraiser need to ensure that responsibilities are evenly distributed for maximum efficiency.

“Our hearts are with everyone who is affected by these recent tragedies. South Pasadena is a community of wonderful people who support each other. As a school district, we are here to help guide our students in their educational journeys and many times this means supporting families during a crisis,” SPUSD Superintendint Geoff Yantz said. “We will emerge stronger as we work together to navigate these challenging times.”

Musk has risen through the ranks of Trump’s inner circle. His power and influence, despite a lack of government experience, reflects a growing issue of big tech in government.

On Jan. 19, TikTok shut down for American users. The next day, the app reopened. Tiger analyzes the political roots of the banning and contends that it is not an immediate threat to national security.

ELON MUSK IN GOVERNMENT

TIK TOK BAN

THE CITY OF SOUTH PASADENA sets up safety precautions around town during the Eaton Fire as smoke and winds threaten livelihood.

STORY EVELYN DIAZ

PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

South Pasadena High School is set to open a Tiger Den located in the school library before the end of the school year that gives students a dedicated space to relax, study, and collaborate.

The furniture choices for the Tiger Den aim to create an inviting space for students. It will feature a mix of seating options, including couches for casual hangouts and triad desks that can be rearranged for collaborative or individual work. An added charging station will provide a space for students to unwind and charge their devices.

The design ties in school colors and motifs to create a modern look, while a large TV will be available for presentations. These elements together will make the Tiger Den a functional area for both study and relaxation.

“It’s going to be a place for kids to collaborate and study. We’re going to have tech on the wall, so it’s going to be a great big TV up here that students can screencast to and present to,” SPHS principal John Eldred said.

The idea of the Tiger Den began with SPUSD superintendent Geoff Yantz’s vision to transform unused spaces into areas where students could lighten up and work together.

The vision came after a rainy day when students, unable to gather outdoors, were crammed indoors and sat on the floor.

“[The] whole space was filled with kids sitting on the ground while it was raining for like a week or two straight. And I

A new addition to the SPHS library

The Tiger Den, SPHS library’s newest area for studying, collaboration, and creativity, is set to open before the end of the school year.

would come in here every day. I’d see all these kids laying on the ground. I’m like, what are we doing?” Eldred said.

Clearing out the library to make room for the Tiger Den was a major undertaking, involving the demolition of bookshelves, donation of books, and a shift in the library’s purpose.

The Tiger Den project has faced a timeline, beginning in the first year with discussions about its potential. However,

off as it awaits further renovations.

challenges arose, including structural limitations that prevented enclosing the space due to Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning requirements and building regulations. After overcoming these obstacles, the project continued with furniture orders and approvals, which added more time to the process.

Once the Tiger Den is furnished, Eldred hopes to host an opening ceremony before the end of the school year.

Investigating ASB’s “The Future is Now!” campaign

STORY CLEMENTINE EVANS ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

SPHS ASB ran a poster campaign, hanging flyers that read “The Future is Now” along with a QR code that led to a countdown, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. The posters aimed to build suspense for the reveal of the 2025 Winter Formal location and theme. The theme was announced later that week during the Winter Assembly on Friday, Dec. 13. However, the posters caused some students on campus to feel worried, unsafe, and uncomfortable.

In January, Tiger interviewed multiple members of ASB as well as SPHS Administration to understand what transpired. The names of ASB members have been granted anonymity.

According to multiple sources in ASB, different members had varying levels of knowledge about the poster campaign. The Winter Formal Committee consisted of five members

within ASB who planned and were aware of the posters. Other members, such as some commissioners, appointed positions, and class officers, were not aware, nor did they participate in the campaign.

“Most of [the] commissioners didn’t know about it, along with all non-commissioners, which was part of the problem,” an anonymous ASB member said. “We also didn’t know what was going on as an ASB class, which made it [really] confusing.”

Some members of ASB also believe the timing of the posters was not right.

“I … think the whole thing was super insensitive … to do [right now],” the same ASB member said. “We’ve had a lot of lockdowns recently, and [people] are [really] on edge from the election and everything else going on, and it just wasn’t the right message from ASB.”

Food review of The Daily

STORY

GAVIN BARTOLOME & OWEN HOU

The Daily, a new juice bar and sandwich shop located in South Pasadena, opened its doors to the public in March 2023 and is found at the corner of 1119 Fair Oaks Avenue.

South Pasadena alum Justin Prietto, the founder of The Daily, also runs the Lost Parrot Cafe, located on 1929 Huntington Drive, and Pie Life Pizza, located on 691 S. Raymond Avenue. Their two catering businesses are Huntington Catering and Kon-Tiki Taco, and they cover events such as birthdays, weddings, and event fundraisers.

“The workplace atmosphere [of The Daily] is like South Pasadena High School, because I went to South Pasadena High School, and it was a good local atmosphere. We learn new things, and we share ideas with others, and we get good work done,” Prietto said.

With The Daily, Prietto aims to provide healthy food options to South Pasadena residents by valuing simple, natural, and fresh ingredients above all.

“You can customize [the ingredients] and know that you’re getting simple, healthy food without a lot of unknown chemicals, [and] stuff that might make your stomach feel funny or maybe just isn’t going to help you go throughout your day,” Prietto said. “The idea is, you can come in [and] pick stuff off the menu that’s already pre-built and kind of designed for you.”

The Daily’s interior consists of a balance of green and white, maintaining the belief that food should be served

ASB and the Winter Formal Committee agree that the timing could have been better. Commissioners noted that this campaign had been planned for weeks.

“We [planned] this before any of that happened,” an ASB member who was involved in the poster campaign said. “So we didn’t think that things would unfortunately come together like that.”

Despite the backlash, the campaign had received various levels of approval throughout the planning process. According to an anonymous ASB member, the Winter Formal Committee within ASB had the permission of ASB Advisor Casey Shotwell and SPHS Principal John Eldred to proceed with the poster campaign.

“I was aware of the poster campaign. Mr. Shotwell made me aware of it ahead of time,” Eldred said. “He let me know that students were attempting to be creative and try something new to build some suspense and excitement around the reveal for the dance location.”

Some students became concerned with the flyers because there was no ASB or Winter Formal branding on the posters, as told by another ASB member. Some of these students eventually informed their parents of the posters, who notified Eldred with their children’s concerns. Once ASB and Shotwell became aware of students’ concerns, the posters were taken down the same day.

Assistant Principal Chad Bryant then sent out an email to parents and students two days later on Friday, Dec. 13 informing everyone that the posters were part of ASB’s build up to the reveal of the Winter Formal location, noting multiple students’ worries over the posters.

ASB will continue to evaluate reveals and other projects similar to this going forward.

healthy and fresh for the mind and body. With various plants and greenery scattered throughout the location, a connection to nature is present during the dining experience. Additionally, yellow lamps provide warm lighting, with wooden chairs providing an earthy sentiment to the location.

The Daily’s menu includes their Roasted Veggie & Pesto sandwich or Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad. Prices range from $5 to $16. The Spicy Italiano Sandwich is $16 and the smoothies range from $10 to $12.

In the future, The Daily aims to expand on their selection with more dietary options and grab-andgo meals, hoping to be more inclusive towards all customers in need of a healthy, hearty meal.

The Daily is offering all SPHS students a deal of buy one get one free which is valid for every February weekday when students bring their school IDs.

THE TIGER DEN, situated in the library, remained cautioned

Mayor Bass’ attempts to end homelessness in L.A.

Mayor Karen Bass has made progress on the homelessness crisis in L.A., but significant challenges still remain.

STORY OWEN HOU PHOTO ISOLE KIM

Over 45,000 individuals in Los Angeles live on the streets as of January 2024. While the city has taken steps to reduce the unhoused population, and has seen some decline in the unhoused population, the issue of homelessness still persists.

At the start of 2024, Los Angeles city had around 45,000 unhoused residents, well the county’s total exceeded 75,000 — a high rate among California counties. In 2019, Los Angeles County’s homeless population (56,257) was more than double that of San Diego county (8102), despite its larger population. These figures highlight the severity and urgency of the homeless crisis in Los Angeles.

Karen Bass, the current mayor of Los Angeles, has set her sights on addressing the roots of the problem and taken action to help combat homelessness as one of her original 2022 campaign goals. She declared the homelessness crisis as an unprecedented emergency when she arrived in office. In 2022, Bass issued an executive order accelerating affordable housing timelines by 75 percent and launched an effort to stop renters from losing their homes.

Bass also began Inside Safe in 2022, a city-wide, voluntary program that aims to get people off the streets and eliminate homeless encampments. Their vectormethod for doing this has been hotels and safe temporary housing until the more permanent housing options become available, offering individuals the stability of having a home.

Although this has led to a 10 percent decrease in LA street homelessness, the program still faces numerous other challenges. For example, a few months after it began, the rate of people that moved into permanent housing from hotels was only six percent. Recently, those numbers have nearly quadrupled to 23 percent, and thousands more have been moved into hotels. However, even with improvements, the program still faces challenges such as cost and ethical treatment of residents.

The issue of homelessness is a decades-old struggle that has its roots dug deep in the lack of housing development and affordable housing in L.A. Renting has become an increasingly unsustainable option with rising rent fees and static incomes creating an even larger lack of housing options. COVID-19 pandemic produced even more economical complications that are still felt today.

Even more recently, the L.A. fires have ravaged their way through Los Angeles, resulting in the destruction of thousands of homes. These infernos have caused further supply shortages in the housing market, meaning that, inevitably, prices will only continue to rise in response. In addition to this, insurance rates will also increase, as companies will see areas near where the fires struck as higher risk.

In addition to this, improper systems for mental health issues and drug addiction also result in an increased population on the streets. For mental health, many with psychological issues without proper care end up homeless, as they are unable to support themselves and earn the stable income needed to buy a house. These individuals are then subsequently exposed to dangers such as violence or drug abuse.

Drug addiction is another major part of this homelessness crisis as the effects it has on a person can completely destroy their life. In terms of relationships, the drugs can sever bonds with families and friends. Economically speaking, a drug addiction can result in job loss and even the loss of their homes.

Despite the efforts of the city and mayor, the homelessness issue still remains as a major obstacle for the city to overcome. As times progresses, the city is continuing to both invest in existing programs like Inside Safe, and create new ones, such as a public campaign to partner with landlords and house more veterans.

“ In order to immediately begin bringing Angelenos off the street, Mayor Bass launched Inside Safe – a bold city-wide, voluntary, proactive housing-led strategy to bring people inside from tents and encampments, and to prevent encampments from returning,” - Inside Program’s website

South Pas Concert Series prepares for second half of season

STORY TRISHA CHAKRABORTY

South Pasadena’s Restoration Concerts Series is a chamber music concert program hosted by Friends of the South Pasadena Library. Every season, eight concerts will raise funds to benefit the South Pasadena Public Library and Community Room. With the second half of the concert series’ 2024–25 season underway, community members can look forward to an exciting variety of performances, the soonest of which will occur on Sunday, Jan. 16 in the Library Community Room.

Violist Robert Brophy, flutist Susan Greenberg, violinist Maya Magub, and harpist Christina Montes Mateo will be performing a diverse array of chamber music works from composers including Mozart, Andres, SaintSaens, Fiorillo, Salvador Brotons, and Ravel.

The Restoration Concert Series was founded in 1996 by volunteer Cindy Line as part of South Pasadena’s 100th birthday celebrations. The concert was so wellreceived that it became a cherished annual series. Currently, each season features eight chamber music concerts per year.

As it approaches its 30th anniversary, the series remains entirely driven by a team of ten volunteers.

“We all do what we need to get it done, from setting up chairs, to doing the publicity, to contacting musicians, to, you know, serving cookies [during] intermission. You name it,” current member and organizer Betty Emirhanian said. “There are no egos; we all work together.”

True to its name, the Restoration Concert Series uses proceeds to fund improvements to the South Pasadena Library’s Community Room, located behind the library’s main entrance where each concert is hosted. Over the years, the funds have gone toward purchasing new chairs, carpeting, sound systems, and a folding projector screen.

At one point, proceeds went to purchasing a ninefoot Steinway concert grand piano for the Community Room, though that has been subsequently sold and been replaced by a much more up-to-date rental piano. A large part of the concert series’ attraction is its dual purpose of promoting the arts while also supporting the community.

The Restoration Concert Series has also hosted toptier musicians, including professional performers from ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

This season is no exception, with the rest of its impressive lineup including The Mojave Trio, a younger, dynamic group of female musicians, and Robert Thies, a world-class pianist celebrated for his ability to connect with audiences.

The series will also host the Los Angeles Wind & Piano Sextet, a first-time ensemble instrumentation for the series. Closing the season will be the New Hollywood String Quartet, the series’ Quartet in Residence, whose long-standing relationship with the Restoration Concerts make them an audience favorite year after year.

The intimate setting of the library’s Community Room offers audiences a chance to experience chamber music up close. With attendance typically ranging from 120–150 people, the concerts attract classical music lovers from South Pasadena and beyond. Even for nonmusicians like Emihanian, attending chamber music concerts leaves lasting emotional impacts.

“When I listen to this music, it takes me out of the world at large, and it brings me into the world of music, of beauty,” Emirhanian says. “It’s just an amazing moment in time that can’t be replicated [in] any other way.”

This upcoming concert holds a deeply personal significance for flutist Susan Greenberg.

“I feel privileged to play some music after these fires. I lost my home, and every concert here in Santa Monica has been canceled for the next month or two,” Greenberg says. “The music [this weekend] will soothe my soul.”

Performers often enhance the experience by providing historical context to audiences about the pieces they play, and briefly explaining how their instruments work.

“We give them a little snapshot of what they’re about to hear,” Greenberg explains. “Not too heavy, just enough to whet their appetite.”

As the series continues to bring world-class music to South Pasadena, audiences have five more opportunities to catch the season’s line-up. The next concert will take place on Sunday, Jan. 26 in the South Pasadena Library’s Community Room with tickets priced at $25.

“It’s such a nice program,” Greenberg says. “I feel privileged to play all the music with such great colleagues.”

SPUSD superintendent announces retirement

STORY CLAIRE MAO

SPUSD superintendent Geoff Yantz announced his retirement to the district community on ParentSquare on Saturday, Jan. 18. Yantz plans to resign at the end of the 2024–25 school year, concluding 33 years in the education field and 11 years as SPUSD’s superintendent.

“I feel honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to serve in this role and to work alongside such a remarkable team of educators and Board of Education. Their dedication and passion have made a significant impact on the lives of our students, and I am grateful for their unwavering commitment to excellence,” Yantz stated in the email.

Yantz first informed the Board of Education of his retirement prior to winter break and the public announcement was delayed due to the recent Los Angeles fires.

“This decision comes after much reflection, as I look forward to spending more quality time with my wife and children, traveling, and partaking in outdoor recreational activities that I deeply enjoy … and while I still am of the age, mindset, and health to do so,” Yantz said. “I am excited about this new chapter in my life, however I will deeply miss the daily interactions and experiences that have enriched my career.”

Yantz thanked parents for their support and contributions in creating a nurturing and thriving educational environment for students. He additionally thanked students for their enthusiasm and dedication to education.

“Thank you once again for the support, collaboration, and memories we have shared,” Yantz said, closing off the email. “I look forward to witnessing the continued success of the South Pasadena Unified School District from a new perspective.”

SPHS students showcase campus organizations at SPHS Roadshow

SPHS electives and clubs made their way to the middle school for the SPHS Roadshow on Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 11 a.m.–12:20 p.m. The roadshow informed incoming freshmen about next year’s elective options. Representatives from a total of 14 different SPHS clubs, electives, and organizations convened with eighth grade students to advertise what they have to offer. Tiger reflects on prominent presenters of the showcase, acknowledging that the list is not all-inclusive.

PHOTOS MAC SHROPSHIRE

ASB kickstarts

Roadshow

SPHS’s Associated Student Body (ASB) introduced themselves at the SPHS roadshow, and senior Commissioner General Austin Hwang was in charge of ASB’s presentation. It began with an introduction from members of ASB. Hwang went first, providing a quick summary of what ASB is.

Freshman Secretary Evan Pearson and freshman Vice President Ryan Chi then shared their experiences of joining ASB.

“We didn’t want to join ASB because it seemed kind of intimidating. But once we ran and won, we were immediately accepted by the upperclassmen,” Pearson and Chi said.

Junior class President Adelaide Bertolina and junior class Secretary Zoe Rusch said how their experience with ASB brought them closer together and helped them form new connections and friendships. Senior Commissioner

CB Richards hands out T-shirts and encouragement

of Clubs Chaemin Lim then informed students about Club Rush and the benefits of joining clubs at SPHS.

ASB then played a video filmed by senior Videographer Madeline Madrigal, featuring freshman class President Kayla Yau giving a tour of the SAC room and explaining the different elements of ASB.

“I hope that as we encourage those to join our leadership, we would be able to create an environment where everyone can feel free to run for the many leadership positions we have. Ultimately, I hope we have enthusiastic leaders who really have passion and love for the things we do in ASB,” Lim said.

ASB members were stationed around the campus to assist students and parents in navigating the campus during Middle School Families Night. Other members hosted fundraisers or were stationed in the SAC room, encouraging students to join ASB.

Choir introduced themselves with a video, showing clips of performances and photos of members at events. Events included Disneyland trips and performances for elementary schoolers.

Following the video, choir members Melloh, Osugi, and Taylor gave a brief introduction, sharing their experiences.

“Being part of [a] high school choir has given us incredible opportunities,” Melloh said. “[For example,] going to competitions, performing at Disney, and getting advice from professionals at choir festivals.”

“With the Roadshow, we want to get out the word [about] how great athletics is starting to become at the high school, and let the eighth graders know what they’re sometimes not familiar with,” Richards said.

Richards presented alone and threw Tiger merchandise at the audience throughout the presentation, accompanied by group role calls and crowd participation.

Richards listed the different sports at the high school and additionally informed middle schoolers about how upperclassmen would guide them, the 73 coaches, the teams, and the recent success the athletic program had seen.

The presenters participated in choir throughout middle school and are committed to the class.

They were nominated by fellow choir members for their enthusiasm and commitment to the program.

“We want to bring middle schoolers looking for a place to belong, into our community,” Osugi said. “I’ve been in choir since sixth grade, and it is always something I look forward to and can rely on. The people and friends I’ve met in choir will stay with me forever.”

Choir did not participate in Middle School Families Night on Thursday, Jan. 23 but hopes new students will join and become a part of their community.

“We’ve put in three state championships…just let [the students] know the success [that] is coming and how we like to hold to a high standard,” Richards said.

Richards gave a presentation to parents every 20–30 minutes during Middle School Families Night to explain more about the program and give insight into the details and finer pieces of information.

Some examples were details about tryouts, what summer would look like, physicals, and other details he did not discuss during the Roadshow.

“You know…success doesn’t always mean when the wins and losses are great, though. Wins are great, losses are learning [moments] which are good,” Richards said. “I want us to challenge, challenge the athletes. When we do that, we get a chance to have success like we had this past fall.”

The Speech and Debate program was the 12th program that presented at the SPHS Roadshow.

“We’re just trying to increase interest in the program with incoming ninth graders [and] tell them what speech and debate is all about,” Speech and Debate teacher Christopher Herrin said.

Speech and Debate hopes to bring more of its members to more tournaments, giving more opportunities for the team’s newer members to dip into the world of competition. Events like the Ice Breaker tournament, where varsity speakers can partner with ninth graders, and the Package Deal tournament, which is only for first time competitors, allow for incoming freshmen to gain more experience in the field.

Before the event, the program had prepared a humorous skit and sent two experienced members of the team, so they could share their experiences with the team. During

the actual presentation, Speech and Debate introduced themselves with a short skit video that ended with the Rocky theme music. After this, two senior student leaders Aidan Chan and Kasra Ghaffari walked in front of the crowds, dressed in suits and dress shoes.

The two gave an overview of what to expect in Speech and Debate and a description of their own experiences.

“The most important thing I learned in this class, in Speech and Debate, was how to talk, people. I learned how to look at all of you and I learned how to say exactly what I’m thinking. Without shivering, without shaking, without caring! Because why? Speech and Debate,” Ghaffari said during his speech.

“Speech [and] Debate has a lot of different things for a lot of different interests, and I think that’s one of the things we’re trying to convey,” Herrin said. “If you’re interested in talking at all, Speech and Debate is for you.”

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN, RUBY FOUDY, OWEN HOU, & ISABELLA JONASEN

The SPHS Choir was presented by freshmen Eden Melloh and Esme Osugi, and senior Choir president Hudson Taylor, at the SPHS Roadshow.

Athletic Director CB Richards introduced the Athletic Program’s presentation at the SPHS Roadshow with a double clap to create energy within the crowds.

THE TIGER

ESTABLISHED 1913

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2024

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2018

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017

CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LINDA YUN

MANAGING EDITORS

BENJAMIN REGAN, Print

CLEMENTINE EVANS, Online

NEWS

CLAIRE MAO, Editor

OPINION

SONYA SHIMPOCK, Editor

FEATURE

MORGAN SUN, Editor

SPORTS ZOE CHEN, Editor

DESIGN

OLIVIA CHIN, Editor

ISOLE KIM, Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

EMIKO ESSMILLER, Editor

COPY

ZOE CHEN, Editor

ETHAN KWAK, Editor

SOLANA SINGER, Editor

BUSINESS AND ADS

CAYNA GHALY, Staff Ads Manager

CHLOE LUONG, Staff Ads Manager

STAFF WRITERS

GAVIN BARTOLOME

TRISHA CHAKRABORTY EVELYN DIAZ

CHRISTIANNE DULEY

RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN RUBY FOUDY OWEN HOU

ISABELLA JONASEN

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ZOE CHEN

SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI KAITLYN LEE

MADELINE MADRIGAL MAC SHROPSHIRE

ILLUSTRATORS

SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI NATHAN FRIEZER LANAH KIM DIANA LOPEZ

PAGE DESIGNER HANA OBERLANDER

VIDEOGRAPHER

HELENA EASTERBY

FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES

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STAFF EDITORIAL OPINION

Confronting gun violence in schools

Schools should be places of growth and safety, not fear and trauma.

Gun violence in schools is a serious issue that has risen into a crisis in recent years. Schools, meant to be safe havens for learning and growth, have become sites of fear and uncertainty. The emotional toll on students, teachers, and families is immense, with many survivors experiencing lasting trauma, anxiety, and depression. This fear disrupts the educational process, making it difficult for students to focus and thrive in an environment meant to encourage their development.

Beyond the immediate impact on students, gun violence disrupts entire communities. When schools become targets, the broader community feels the ripple effects, with parents losing trust in the safety of public education and society becoming increasingly polarized over how to address this issue. Social factors such as bullying, isolation, and inadequate mental health resources often contribute to the problem, creating a cycle that perpetuates violence.

Research shows that a significant percentage of school shootings are planned in advance, with many attackers showing warning signs before the event. According to the U.S. Secret Service, 93 percent of school shooters planned their attacks, often revealing their intentions to others or through disturbing behaviors, which highlights the need for early intervention. The FBI also found that attackers often communicated their intentions beforehand, underlining the importance of identifying these red flags and taking appropriate action to prevent violence. Programs focused on threat assessment, which help identify students at risk and intervene early, have been shown to reduce the likelihood of violence in schools.

On Nov. 7, 2024, SPHS experienced the effect that gun violence has created in educational settings. A lockdown situation went into effect on campus after an unidentified loud bang was heard; most students assumed it was a gunshot. Ultimately, the real source of the disturbance was revealed — the noise had been nothing more than a science experiment gone wrong in Modarres’ Honors Chemistry class.

The fact that students and staff immediately assumed the worst-case scenario, a school shooter, due simply to a loud noise highlights the gravity of this issue. If effective measures are not implemented to address the underlying causes, gun violence in schools will continue to escalate, leading to more frequent and severe incidents. Without proper intervention, this problem will only worsen, further endangering students, educators, and entire communities.

Schools are meant for personal and academic growth, and they should not be shadowed by the constant threat of violence. The psychological impact on students, educators, and families is deep, leaving survivors grappling with enduring trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Addressing gun violence in schools requires comprehensive solutions. Stricter gun control measures, improved access to mental health resources, and fostering inclusive school cultures are crucial steps in reducing these tragedies. Enhanced security measures, combined with proactive interventions, can help protect students and restore a sense of safety to educational spaces. By working together, society can ensure that schools remain places of learning and growth, free from the shadow of violence.

Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the month of January

BOO to the AP Stamp sheets. About to go into stamp forgery fr.

BOO to the TikTok ban. I REFUSE to become a YouTube Shorts kid.

BOO to Elon Musk. I think we all know what that arm raise was.

BOO to the WTF years. I didn’t sign up to have California on fire.

BOO to accidentally joining the Chinese military. I thought I was signing up for RedNote.

BRAVO to Charli for being honest. I knew it wasn’t an anxiety pen…

BRAVO to Block Blast!!!!! Exclusively the ONLY time I fw geometry.

BRAVO to Melania Trump for wearing a big hat to avoid kissing her husband.

BRAVO to Connor Schlaak. Karma Police was for sure the move.

BRAVO to the return of the Tiger Patio umbrellas. Now the real slim shady is back.

Insurance costs are governed by climate change

Rebuilding

with fire resiliency is a climate-conscious solution to addressing high insurance premiums.

STORY TRISHA CHAKRABORTY

ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

The past two and a half weeks have been unprecedented for Los Angeles County, with fires searing through over 40,000 acres and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. Fueled by hurricane-level Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation, these flames have not only devastated communities but also exposed critical weaknesses in California’s home insurance system.

The state’s volatile insurance market has increasingly struggled to balance rising wildfire risks with the need for affordable and accessible homeowner policies. The consequences for homeowners in high-risk areas are stark: rising premiums, fewer coverage options, and a growing number of outright policy cancellations.

Eight out of the 20 most destructive wildfires in California have occurred within the past five years, illustrating how climate change is ramping up the frequency and severity of wildfires in the state. Efforts to stabilize the state’s insurance market must address its underlying fragility, which stems from the growing financial impacts of a warming planet and the unavoidable reality of rising costs.

In California, debate over the insurance market dates back to 1988 with the slim passing of Proposition 103, a ballot initiative that established price controls for insurance premiums by requiring companies to seek state approval before increasing rates. It also restricted the use of predictive catastrophe modeling, forcing insurers to base rates on past loss data rather than forward-looking risk assessments. While intended to protect consumers, these restrictions have left insurers ill-equipped to cope with the rapidly changing climate landscape, pushing many to exit California’s market altogether.

Just last year, insurers like State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers Insurance canceled renewals in neighborhoods like the Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, and Calabasas. Without alternative options, more homeowners have turned to the California FAIR Plan — a last-resort

insurance program whose enrollment has surged by 123 percent in just three years. Unlike typical insurance policies, the FAIR Plan is a semiprivate insurance plan with bare-minimum coverage. Additionally, it means that the financial fallout from major wildfires will fall onto all insured Californians if the FAIR Plan’s funding is depleted.

To combat this and re-incentivize insurance coverage in high-risk zones, the California Department of Insurance passed crucial policy reform just days before the Palisades Fire began. The new Sustainable Insurance Strategy allows insurers to use catastrophe modeling, on the condition that they expand coverage in wildfireprone areas. The strategy’s impacts remain uncertain as insurers navigate how to implement these changes amidst the latest round of destructive fires.

As communities begin to focus on recovery, rebuilding efforts must incorporate long-term fire resilience. After

the Camp Fire in 2018 destroyed much of Paradise, many residents worked to achieve the Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety’s Wildfire Prepared Home certifications. Meeting these standards — including fireresistant roofing, defensible space, and ember-resistant vents — not only reduced risk, but also motivated Mercury Insurance, the fifth largest insurer in California, to reenter Paradise’s insurance market. Similar fire-resilient rebuilding in high-risk zones across the state could make coverage both feasible and sustainable for insurers, encouraging their continued presence in California.

Yet, even with these mitigation measures, living in highrisk wildfire zones comes with unavoidable realities. Climate change has permanently shifted the cost of disaster preparedness and recovery, and premiums will inevitably reflect the true costs of providing coverage to sustain the system so that homeowners are not pushed on last-resort insurance plans like FAIR.

Economic education and its influence on the election

STORY MORGAN SUN ILLUSTRATION SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI

Following the 2024 election, public interest in economic terms such as “tariffs” surged, suggesting that many voters are not aware of the policies behind their decisions.

“The economy” as a concept is inextricably broad, made up of the Fed, stocks, bonds, and the evidently newly discovered word, tariffs. The public views the economy through the lens of expectation and change. Pre-pandemic, prices were low and the economy was strong. But despite the economy under former President Joe Biden having a remarkably

Morgan’s Musings

MORGAN SUN

Beyond a musical

After leaving the movie theater for Wicked (with raucous applause and watery eyes), I overheard a young woman disparaging a certain character. “Glinda is so selfish, how could she leave Elphaba like that?” When I first watched the musical, I felt the same. Glinda’s inability to take the literal and metaphorical leap irked me. But after years of binging Defying Gravity and the entire Wicked soundtrack, there’s a certain familiarity that comes with the characters.

Wicked has resonated with audiences for years, partly because it challenges our assumptions about heroism, morality, and power. At first glance, it’s easy to think

strong recovery in most measurable factors, the voters in the 2024 election had the economy as their highest priority.

In a 2023 Federal Reserve report, over half the people surveyed said their largest financial challenge was inflation or basic living expenses, a stark contrast to 2016 when over half reported facing no financial challenges. Despite the fact that unemployment is significantly down from postpandemic levels, wages are rising, and the U.S. economy is recovering faster than any other country, citizens are still dissatisfied with the aptly named cost of living crisis. However, prices are unfortunately the only discernible method for citizens to measure the economy, leading to a blinded approach in voting for economic policies. The public assumes knowledge to that which they are not educated on, and the country suffers for it.

Inflation, often misunderstood, refers to the rate of change of price increases rather than the absolute cost of goods and services. While inflation rates have declined and are now closer to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2 percent, the elevated prices of essential goods and services remain a significant burden. In addition, high interest rates have compounded the financial strain on households, making major expenditures such as healthcare, education, housing, and child/elder care increasingly unaffordable and unattainable.

One major cry in President Donald Trump’s campaign was that the economy was strong and prices were low in his first

of oneself as Elphaba, the misunderstood “wicked witch” who stands up against a world of injustice. But in reality, most people are more like the Munchkins — either oblivious or indifferent to the darkness around us, willing to accept the simple, comforting, and black-and-white narrative that “no one mourns the wicked.”

In the opening moments of the show, Glinda tries to stir empathy for Elphaba by pointing out how difficult her childhood was. But even with this attempt at empathy, the Munchkins return to their anthem of blind judgment. It’s much easier to sing, “No one mourns the wicked” than to confront the uncomfortable truth of a person’s humanity in the face of their apparent monstrosity.

Wicked doesn’t just show the extremes of good and evil; it shows the messiness of human response to power and oppression. Glinda sees the moral contradictions around her but benefits too much from the existing systems of power to step away. She may recognize Elphaba’s worth, but she chooses the safer route — working within the system to change things from the inside. In her iconic song Popular, Glinda reveals her way of life: “It’s not about aptitude, it’s the way you’re viewed.”

term. But there is a fundamental gap in the way economic conditions are viewed by the public. The economy is “inherited” by the incoming president — it tends to persist across presidential terms, with policies from one administration carrying over into the next. For instance, the expanding economy of 2016 after the recession from former President Barack Obama’s previous two terms benefited Trump, while the economic downturn caused by the pandemic in 2020 posed challenges for Biden.

Inflation after the pandemic has played a major role in this wave of anti-incumbent sentiment, though political science researchers are also aware that other broader factors could be at play. This trend of voting out incumbents can discourage efforts to implement long-term improvements in governance, creating a cycle of dissatisfaction and shortterm thinking. The public’s perception of the economy as both unpredictable and all-encompassing often results in a lack of understanding of the government’s available tools to address economic challenges. Addressing high prices, for instance, requires installing long-term solutions and infrastructure that may initially exacerbate inflation before yielding positive results.

Discussions around economic policy frequently devolve into oversimplified soundbites, leaving voters without a critical understanding of its factors or impacts. But all of this starts simple: with an economics class. So in the future, Americans can go into the booth, armed with the knowledge to vote with their wallet and their head.

Elphaba, on the other hand, has true, raw power. Her magic is extraordinary, and yet it’s almost irrelevant in a world that is quick to demonize her for her appearance. Her entire life has been one of rejection, and by the time the two women reach their crossroads at the end of Part One, their paths have split irrevocably. Glinda has everything to lose if she betrays the system — her popularity, her influence, and her position. Elphaba, however, has already lost it all. She becomes the tragic hero, misunderstood and cast aside — in a world governed by perception, real power is dangerous if it isn’t controlled by the “right” people.

In the words Ms. Kadri so often likes to say: What is the meaning of the work as a whole? At its core, Wicked asks us where we stand in the grand scheme of society. Are we the Munchkins, comfortable in our ignorance and willing to let the wicked be punished as long as it doesn’t affect us? Or are we like Glinda, trying to change the system from within, but hesitant to give up the privileges that come with conforming? And perhaps, on our better days, we can be like Elphaba, willing to confront the world’s ugly truths — even if it costs us everything.

The 47th American president: Elon Musk Musk

is using his obscene wealth to get his way with the second Trump administration.

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN ILLUSTRATION SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI

E

ver since Donald Trump won his reelection bid last November, one man has not been able to stay out of the headlines — Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who has made it his personal mission to ferret his way into every facet of American politics. And he has pulled it off, gaining more power than any unelected official should have.

Notably, last December, Musk managed to kill a bipartisan spending bill meant to avoid a government shutdown with a string of tweets. Musk has also been tapped to co-chair the Department of Government Efficiency, otherwise known as DOGE, which would be responsible for major budget cuts. Musk’s outsized influence has inspired many jokes that he is in fact the president, with Trump serving as his vice president.

Musk got his foot in the door to the halls of power at the beginning of the 2024 presidential campaign. He originally supported Florida governor Ron Desantis, but jumped ship as his campaign sank.

After the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, PA, last July, Musk threw his support behind Trump via a post on X. Then, Musk set up the America PAC, a political action committee to which he donated $239 million to support Trump’s campaign. He also donated $25 million to the RGB PAC, which ran misleading ads claiming that Trump and the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had similar views on abortion. Musk donated smaller sums to other similar PACs.

Musk became a frequent presence at Trump’s rallies, including a highly controversial event at Madison Square Garden where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made numerous racist jokes, including one that called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.”

Both Musk’s involvement and lavish spending bought him a seat within Trump’s inner circle. For the past few months, Musk has been living on a rental property at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, granting him easy access to the president. Musk regularly attends meetings and dinners with Trump, sits in on phone calls with foreign leaders, and spends hours with Trump in his office.

Musk has leveraged his newfound influence to interfere in both domestic and foreign politics. Last December, Musk torpedoed a temporary bipartisan spending bill necessary to avoid a government shutdown. Musk’s slew of tweets opposing the bill prompted Trump to oppose the legislation,

leading to its failure. Among other things, the bill included money for pediatric cancer research, reforms for pharmacy benefit managers (who are responsible for negotiating drug prices), and reimbursements for low-income Americans who had their food stamp benefits stolen.

Musk also clashed with Trump’s allies over the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to hire foreign workers for “specialty occupations.” After protracted debate, Trump came out in support of the program, aligning himself with Musk.

Musk has also made his presence known in European countries. In the U.K., he criticized the British government’s handling of a child sexual abuse case, calling for the resignation of Labour prime minister Kier Starmer and even suggesting in a poll on X that the U.S. should “liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government.” This came months after Musk played a role in fanning the flames of racist conspiracies that led to a string of far-right riots in the U.K.

He also ventured into German politics to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party — notorious for Holocaust trivialization, antisemitism, and Islamophobia — in Germany’s upcoming election. During

a livestreamed interview with AfD leader Alice Weidel, Musk bemoaned Germany’s bureaucracy, called for tax cuts and free speech, and complained about “wokeness.” Musk’s support for Weidel and AfD prompted the German government to accuse him of attempting to interfere with the election and had Chancellor Olaf Scholz compare him to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

All of these interventions have one thing in common: They are intended to protect Elon Musk’s economic interests. By championing deregulation and decreased government intervention, he creates opportunities to maximize profits — often at the expense of the environment, his employees, and the public.

While it is almost certain that Musk sincerely holds farright beliefs, ideology is not his driving force. As with any other businessman, his driving motivation is money. Though Musk himself behaves in a uniquely attentiongrabbing way, including giving what appeared to be a nazi salute at an inauguration event, his actions are anything but inane. Instead, they are just the latest in a longstanding tradition of the ultra-wealthy using money to exert their influence and bend the law in their interests. This kind of meddling is contrary to the most basic values of democracy and cannot be allowed to continue.

Self-diagnosing creates neurodiverse fallacies online

STORY CHRISTIANNE DULEY ILLUSTRATION LANAH KIM

Social media has given people around the world access to new information that was not common knowledge before the internet. Among this information is the growing awareness of mental disorders and neurodiversity — and, because of this, one person is able to share their experiences with mental health online and help countless others realize that they are in the same boat. Unfortunately, this widespread awareness has come with some drawbacks.

Social media users are not professional doctors and cannot accurately determine what is or is not a symptom of neurodiversity, which leads to an abundance of misinformation. Some social media posts label personality traits as symptoms or give examples of what living with a mental condition is like. However, no single experience can define an entire group of people, which is what these videos end up doing. The videos people post online are only a brief overview of what mental disorders might look like; mental health goes a lot deeper than what is seen on a screen.

The constant misunderstanding of mental disorders has led to numerous internet users incorrectly selfdiagnosing themselves with these disorders. Someone who is organized might interpret this as OCD after seeing someone online say this is a symptom, but many alleged symptoms are either understatements or can also exist in neurotypical people. Neurological conditions are not defined by a couple of traits or habits here and there; conditions are diagnosed when someone has many related symptoms. Having a few symptoms that line up with a neurological condition does not automatically mean someone has that condition. However, many internet users do not realize this, which leads to inaccurate self-diagnoses. The internet’s understanding of neurodiversity has become watered down, which directly harms actual neurodiverse groups.

“Neurodivergent people aren’t taken as seriously anymore, and our problems are downplayed,” one neurodivergent SPHS senior said. “People only see the

fake, glamorized version of our struggles, so when we display negative symptoms and reactions, we are still judged for it.”

Another recent issue that has appeared on social media platforms is the romanticization of mental illness. As more people self-diagnose, fewer people understand

the struggles that come with mental disorders. This predicament has caused those without mental illness to believe that these conditions can exhilarate a relationship. Additionally, there has been an increase in inaccurate portrayals of various conditions in television and novels. For example, “crazy” characters are seen as entertaining, and depressed characters are seen as cool and mysterious.

Other people on social media see neurodiversity as a character flaw that can be fixed. Conditions like ADHD and Autism are permanent and, while some symptoms can be relieved, the condition can never be fully overcome (as some neurotypical people believe). Internet users focus on the theatrical version of neurological struggles and back away when the detrimental effects that come with mental disorders are inconvenient for them and cannot be glorified.

Luckily, there is still hope for the internet and understanding neurological differences. Mental health discussions online can still help some people discover that they have a condition, but instead of verifying this by listening to what strangers on the internet say, they should talk to a professional. Most internet users are not qualified to diagnose others, so going to a doctor or therapist is a safer plan. Unfortunately, healthcare is not free in this country, and some people cannot afford to be professionally diagnosed. In this case, self-diagnosing is acceptable as long as the person thoroughly researches multiple conditions and their symptoms. Social media is a place where ideas can be widely shared and accessed, but it is important to be wary of new information to avoid future misunderstandings.

The issues of self-diagnosing and romanticization originated from an increase in awareness, and the solution to these problems is more awareness. Those with a greater understanding of neurological disorders should take the time to correct others who are spreading misinformation, whether intentional or not. By extension, those with little or incorrect information should take the time to research trustworthy sources that can provide insights into mental health. Misinformation is nothing new on the internet, but it can be fixed if the uneducated choose to check their facts.

UNLOCKING MOTIVATION: the driver behind life’s decisions

The common thread between various forms of motivation is that they must come from within.

ILLUSTRATIONS

NATHAN FRIEZER & LANAH KIM

PAGE DESIGN

OLIVIA CHIN

New Year’s resolutions are promising but misguiding

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME

I n the fleeting moments of the old year, New Year’s resolutions are born in people’s minds to reflect their ideal image of themselves. Although some believe that a new year somehow creates a better individual, new years do not make new people. The 31st of December is no different from the first of January, yet the time people spend reflecting on their lives happens more on that last day thanks to the blank slate ahead.

In the exact way that someone may hate working now, they will hate it later; the task will not become any easier. Discontent with something in one’s life leads to the creation of an oath to change for the better, made for both themselves and for the people they care about around them.

However, resolutions should be made with the individual’s desires in mind, not external motivators. Social media is often lifted onto a pedestal and displayed as an overarching guideline for what is considered fun or beneficial. Considering those who base their resolutions on trends or advice from social media, the motivation to continue striving towards the goal becomes faulty and fragile.

In addition, external pressure created by the internet’s many “experts” can tempt people to jump into New Year’s resolutions prematurely without giving it much thought or truly wanting it for themselves. It is easy to lose motivation when Resolutions are often formed based on shaky motivators such as social media, especially once unrealistic notions of achievement are disproved.

Even if individuals force themselves to continue working on a resolution, the path forward can be vague without understanding the end goal. Repeating the same notion that social media claims is the answer may get some people started, but this is ultimately unsustainable. Moreover, many of these proclamations on the internet lack credible evidence, misleading goal-setters into stagnant actions that do not develop them further in the new year.

Instead, at the forefront of their journey, people should draw resolutions from unbiased desires, developing goals from personal experience rather than external sources. Resolutions developed from lifetime experiences are promising candidates to make it through the year. They offer a layered structure to keep resolutions afloat when there are difficulties.

On top of offering a stable motive, personal resolutions create structured roadmaps that provide a guide in the overwhelming nature of what could be accomplished in a year. Over time, even if one takes any misguided steps away from their end goal, the image of what they want to be will fuel them.

To begin with, many resolutions ultimately cannot leave a lasting effect on one’s daily life. Over 40 percent of resolutions only last for three months or less, while only one percent of resolutions make it to the end of the year, according to CBS. For many resolution hopefuls, their ambition ends up ruining their progress. Resolutions that aim to achieve too much, doing anything and everything imaginable, prove to be hopelessly daunting, scaring away what little chance there was of reaching the destination.

The one percent that end up at the finish line, regardless of how much they achieve at the end of the year, often start with simple goals. For example, some modest resolutions may include running once a week, reading 20 pages of a book before bed, or cooking breakfast over the weekends. These activities could all become anchored in people’s lives through habit. Habit allows people to set a routine in their lives, and by incorporating their small resolutions, these goals can become a piece of their daily activities.

However, even good planning can become strenuous without genuine motivation. After the brazen energy from New Year’s levels off, it is up to the person’s responsibility and agenda to fan the embers of their resolution.

Many resolutions start with optimism, but after months of trying to change, people become burdened with sluggishness and a sudden disdain for their past boldness. Daily reminders or feelings of guilt are not powerful enough motivators. Instead, the way to fulfill a resolution is by turning it into an obligation for the individual, whether they owe it to their future or others. It is that feeling of responsibility that creates a growing drive or an internal call to action. The feeling of “If not now, when?” will set the resolution in stone.

Many see New Year’s as a catalyst for change and improvement within oneself, but fail to recognize the commitment needed to succeed. Understanding the gravity of the resolution is an absolute necessity, and taking manageable steps toward an end goal ensures reasonable expectations throughout the year. In the end, facing the responsibility to better oneself is what drives the few resolutions that are ultimately fulfilled across the finish line.

The roots of motivation

STORY EVELYN DIAZ

Motivation comes from a mix of personal goals and interests along with outside factors like support, rewards, and expectations. It is driven by both what is inside us and what is around us.

Gratitude can play a huge part in being motivated. It can boost motivation by shifting one’s focus to the positives in their life, making challenges feel more manageable. When one is thankful for what they have or the opportunities in front of them, it can inspire them to work harder to honor those blessings or make the most of them. Gratitude also helps build a positive mindset, which can drive one to set and achieve meaningful goals. For example, an athlete can appreciate the time and support they receive from their coach, which motivates them to train harder and improve their performance. In addition, they might also practice more due to their gratitude for having access to sports equipment, knowing that not everyone has that same access.

People often look to their parents as a source of motivation. Parents who never had the chance to pursue certain opportunities often push the dreams they once had and inspire motivation in their children. The encouragement that parents have for their children can create a deep desire to see their kids achieve what they could not, providing guidance, resources, and emotional support. When parents give out this type of motivation, it can create a sense of gratitude and drive, encouraging their children to take full advantage of their opportunities.

When children see that their parents did not have the same opportunities as they do, it can serve as a strong source of motivation. It shows gratitude for the sacrifices made by previous generations and a determination to achieve what they could not. This mindset can inspire children to work harder, take advantage of opportunities, and break generational barriers.

For instance, someone whose parents did not have the chance to attend college may feel driven to excel academically and pursue higher education not only to fulfill their own aspirations, but also to honor their parents’ sacrifices. It is a way of creating a brighter future while carrying forward the hopes and dreams of their family.

In school, grades have a complicated role in motivation. Good grades can create a sense of accomplishment and validation, boosting the idea that hard work and dedication lead to positive outcomes. This recognition can fuel students’ motivation, encouraging them to continue putting effort into their studies and striving for excellence. As a result, grades can help students to aim higher, helping students set higher goals for themselves for their future. Grades are a good motivator, because they show students how their hard work pays off. They also open doors to opportunities like college, scholarships, and recognition.

However, when grades become the sole focus, the pressure to maintain high performance can become overwhelming. This intense pressure might lead students to devote less time to other important aspects of their lives, such as social connections or maintaining their mental health. Over time, the constant need to be successful can create stress and anxiety, which can eventually result in burnout. Burnout not only interrupts one’s academic performance, but also diminishes passion for learning, making it difficult for students to stay engaged or motivated. When people become overly focused on grades, they may lose sight of the true value of education, which is to gain knowledge and develop critical thinking skills.

When motivation becomes toxic, it can burn out certain people. Toxic motivation can lead to excessive pressure, fear of failure, or pushing oneself to overwork without considering their mental and physical health. Over time, this “drive” can drain one’s energy and productivity and turn one’s emotions into exhaustion.

Another powerful source of motivation for some is faith. People are inspired by God through their beliefs and the desire to live according to His teachings. Many find strength and purpose in the idea that their actions are part of a greater plan, inspiring them to work hard, help others, and stay strong in tough times.

Prayer, scripture, and worship often remind believers of God’s love and guidance, encouraging them to strive for personal growth and spiritual fulfillment. Additionally, the hope of eternal rewards, such as heaven, motivates people to live righteously and overcome challenges with faith and perseverance. For many, God provides a sense of purpose and the motivation to be their best selves.

Exploring the efficacy of motivational quotes

STORY OWEN HOU

Motivational quotes are beloved for their powerful messages and perfect deliveries, remaining timeless months, years, or even centuries after originally being said. They are plastered all over the walls of schools and homes, and they serve as a nice display of “aesthetic.”

Even in the classrooms of SPHS, inspirational words from Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, and other influential historymakers line the walls. Beyond that, though, they serve little to no purpose.

While motivational quotes create a moment of emotional clarity, certain messages are insensitive and create a sense of toxic positivity, providing people with false hope and unrealistic expectations. Rather than giving people the reality of a situation, a lot of quotes tend to weave a sort of “It could be worse” narrative.

Commonly heard sayings of this nature include sentiments like, “Look on the bright side,” or “There’s always a silver lining.” These time-tested sayings promote unhealthy and excessive optimism and a culture of ignoring problems rather than facing them.

Additionally, motivational quotes can also impede progress through the effect they have on the brain.

Dopamine is a hormone involved in the chemical reward system of the human brain, which is often triggered upon completion of a goal or task. Once the dopamine hits, a person feels a momentary flash of good feeling and satisfaction. Similarly, when reading a particularly inspirational quote, a person may get a dopamine release, leading them to feel content despite not lifting a finger.

This mood boost by itself may seem harmless, but in reality can be quite damaging since it may cause a person to stay stuck in a state of inertia. Essentially, the quote may make a person feel as if they have accomplished something, but really no progress has been made.

Another unseen complication to motivational quotes stems from their lack of complexity, which can result in real-world struggles being overlooked. Due to the

nature of quotes, sophisticated, layered ideas are often boiled down to a single sentence of advice.

This leads to human variables like mental health, economic status, or personal issues being entirely ignored. As a result, people struggling with these issues could feel neglected, as their current state does not align with that of the quote they just read.

For example, the quote, “Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success” is an oversimplification. This may apply to some people who have followed this advice. However, this proclamation is not true; one could believe in themselves and work hard but still not find success.

Many factors out of one’s control, such as wealth and education, can prevent someone from reaching the standards set by the quote — to no fault of their own. It is not only helpful but also misleading to make superficial assumptions about achieving success.

Finally, motivational quotes lower the standard for what is considered philosophical or wise. Of course, some are brilliant, providing clever guidance or words of wisdom. However, as quotes have evolved and changed, so has their quality. And it has not gone up.

Over time, quotes have slowly become more aesthetic and less meaningful. Although there still are a number of insightful quotes, people have begun stringing words together to make messages that seem intelligent but lack meaning.

One example is the quote, “Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives.” At first glance, the quote may seem complex, but the more time one spends thinking about it, the more obvious and pointless the message is.

People often give unjustified praise to these quotes, calling their words “deep.” This is not only inaccurate and undeserved, but also devalues truly meaningful quotes. Additionally, as time passes and more of these empty quotes appear, they could become the norm, lowering the bar for not only motivational quotes, but what is considered to be “deep” in modern media as a whole.

Despite being plastered all over classrooms and scattered throughout schools, motivational quotes should be seen for what they actually are: ineffective snippets that are only continuing to decline.

FEATURE

Lately, by

Linda LINDA YUN

Manifestos: a moral dilemma

Debate rages over the ethical implications of releasing terrorist manifestos.

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN ILLUSTRATION DIANA

LOPEZ

I n the past two decades, devastating shootings and terrorist attacks have become all too common. When these tragedies occur, it is hard not to wonder what was going through the attacker’s mind.

However, attackers often leave behind manifestos that explain the motivations behind their actions. The 15-year-old perpetrator of the Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Wisconsin allegedly left behind a manifesto in which she writes about her hatred of humanity. The perpetrator of the 2022 Buffalo shooting also left behind a manifesto which discussed his motives for the attack — notably, his belief in the whitesupremacist great replacement theory.

Although these manifestos help to answer the questions that are abundant after these kinds of tragedies, there is massive debate about the value of releasing these manifestos to the public.

There is a worry that by publishing them, the message of the attacker will be amplified, which may result in copycat crimes. In the aforementioned Wisconsin shooting, for example, the perpetrator had used social media to glorify previous school shooters, and in a widely shared image, donned the KMFDM shirt famously worn by Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold. The Buffalo shooter also took inspiration from previous shootings. Much of his manifesto showed parallels with the manifesto of the Christchurch mosque shooter.

The other side of this debate would argue that although there are drawbacks to publishing manifestos, it is necessary in order to accurately report on events. Because of this, it is crucial to carefully consider how these manifestos should be shared, as the different forms it is released in (paraphrased, quoted at length, or in full) all have different benefits and consequences. Further, not releasing them could perpetuate the idea

that the people who commit these violent acts are monsters who had no reason for doing so; that they are different from the rest of humanity; that only a specific kind of person could do such a thing. And yes, they may be monsters, but it is important to understand that anyone, given the right circumstances, is capable of doing something terrible.

The debate over the publishing of manifestos is closely tied to the question of whether or not the names of perpetrators should be released. The common concern of releasing identities is that it may actively encourage them by giving them the notoriety that they desire, which may cause people with similar views to idolize them (as was the case with the Wisconsin shooter).

It has, however, become increasingly common for perpetrators of violent acts to be purposely misidentified to further a political agenda. In an extreme example, the perpetrator of a stabbing in Southport, England, in July of last year was falsely identified as a Muslim asylum seeker who had crossed the English Channel on a small boat. The claim was shared thousands of times online and fueled tensions that exploded into race riots across Britain. In reality, the perpetrator was a Christian born and raised in the United Kingdom, and there had been nothing to suggest otherwise.

To navigate this debate is to navigate a minefield. For every positive to releasing a manifesto, there is a drawback that is just as consequential. With increasing political polarization, the question of releasing manifestos grows increasingly complicated.

In order to choose a side in this debate, one must reflect on their priorities. One side argues that it is more important that harmful ideas make it to as few people as possible in the hope that these crimes will become less common. The other argues that to avoid misinformation and its sometimes devastating consequences, the public should be aware of all of the details. At the end of the day, the question is of what the greater threat is.

Lone Star State

During winter break, I took a break from granola Los Angeles and experienced what it means to be a true American. In other words, I shot a gun.

My friend Natalie moved to Texas three years ago. Fleeing from the rising living costs of living in LA, her family joined 108,000 Californians that year who left sunny country for the Lone Star State. When my family visited the Austin area over winter break, I spent a day with her family to catch up, tour the Texan suburbs, and understand just what exactly prompted them to relocate.

Our first stop of the day was the shooting range, a place Natalie’s father described as a weekend hotspot for locals. Expecting booming gunshots in stereotypical Redneck country, I instead stepped into an orderly store with paperwork, layers of gear, and knowledgeable instructors.

After learning the basics of firearm handling, I slowly eased myself into aiming at the paper bullseye and eventually pulling the trigger — a series of steps I once exclusively associated with old Western shootouts. Yet as I adjusted to the rhythm of the range, the lifestyle of rural America became more digestible.

Living in South Pasadena, a lot of students grew up in a greenhouse. Our city is conveniently located close enough to downtown Los Angeles for us to receive the benefits of a hippie and granola culture, but far enough from crime for many of us to speak of misconduct as a thirdworld occurrence.

Such privileges are reflected in the Police Department, which receives enough funding to convert to an all-Tesla fleet and concerns itself with providing a “Safe Deal Zone” for secure transactions. The quality of life many South Pas residents enjoy, often without fully understanding it, makes tolerating any alternative way of life unfathomable.

I see faults in this chamber. In today’s political climate, people frequently tell others to “reach across the aisle” or jokingly “develop class consciousness.” However, I think these expressions lack meaning when they are received by an intolerant crowd — a crowd that has formed stereotypes about alternative lifestyles so deep that they refuse to acknowledge any value in a routine other than Kaldis’ coffee, overpriced Chipotle bowls, and Thursday farmers markets. I’m certainly guilty of it.

As I landed in Texas, I expected Redneck arrogance. Driving through the interstate highway, I expected to be stopped by straw-hatwearing hillbillies. As I stepped into the range, I expected workers to gasp at the sight of an Asian person. Yet, on all counts, I was mistaken.

Certainly, some stereotypes about the South are founded in modern reality. However, the week I spent in both urban and rural Texas taught me a lesson in open-mindedness: to engage in understanding before judgment and to seek perspectives outside our immediate communities. Because after all, loving a country means loving all of America, even parts you wish to disengage from.

TikTok is back, but should never have left

STORY CLEMENTINE EVANS ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

T

ikTok was officially banned on Sunday, Jan. 19, but only for a brief period of time. On Friday, Jan. 17, the Supreme Court upheld a bipartisan law that stated that TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, had to sell to American buyers by Jan. 19 or face a ban. However, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, Jan. 21 to lift the ban for 75 days for ByteDance to find a US company to sell to.

On Saturday, TikTok’s 170 million American users were faced with a notification upon opening the app that read, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok when he takes office. Please stay tuned!” TikTok, along with other apps owned by ByteDance such as Lemon8 and CapCut, were also unavailable in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store on Sunday.

TikTok was soon after able to restore access to its many American users even without an official order, solely based on a simple promise from Trump. He plans to delay the deadline for ByteDance to sell to American buyers, thereby extending TikTok’s life.

The law that took effect on Sunday required ByteDance to sever ties with its U.S. operations because of national security risks. Originally passed in 2024 to address national security concerns, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Applications Act also gives the sitting president the ability to grant a 90-day extension if a “viable sale” is in the works.

The app serves as a source of news, entertainment, and even business for some. Shutting down the app to “protect” Americans from “Foreign Controlled Applications” is not the path to success and is unreasonable for both creators and users.

TikTok has created a community for over 170 million Americans. It is a space to create, inspire, and discover. Content creators and influencers more or

less rely on TikTok as their source of income, having created businesses that exist solely on the social media platform. TikTok encourages self expression and creative thought, bridges physical and geographical barriers to allow people from different cultures to interact, and fosters diversity among its creators and users.

One of TikTok’s main arguments against the ban was that it violated First Amendment rights to the freedom of speech and expression. The Supreme Court, however, found that Congress did not violate the First Amendment because they were taking action to prevent Beijing-based ByteDance from collecting massive amounts of American data. The justices also noted that because TikTok gathers significant personal information and data about its users, such as location and contact lists, China — a designated foreign adversary — could “track the locations of federal employees, craft dossiers of information for blackmail and corruption” and “conduct corporate espionage,” according to CBS News.

For the U.S. government to ban an entire communication platform, they must prove that a complete prohibition is the only way to prevent an imminent national security threat. That is not what is happening with TikTok. Although the app is owned by a Beijing-based parent company that allegedly collects personal data, there is no urgent threat to American safety. The government is proactively banning TikTok, fearing that the Chinese government will be able to access Americans’ personal data. Thus, this ban infringes on Americans’ First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression.

Although some might argue that TikTok spreads misinformation, the same can be said about other social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, X, and Facebook. However, the difference is that the U.S. government believes that ByteDance will distribute Americans’ personal data to the Chinese government, making them an even more dangerous foreign threat. However, companies like Meta and Google also collect personal data from their users.

Unilaterally dismantling a social media platform where creators build content and community, a platform that gives people a space to create and connect unfairly targets its users. Instead, Congress should pass a federal privacy law regulating how all companies can collect, store, analyze, and sell Americans’ personal information.

Concerts do not need glamour to be meaningful

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN

ILLUSTRATION DIANA LOPEZ

Coachella is a festival widely known for its aggressive glamour, photo ops, and celebrity sightings. Shortly after its inception in 1999, the two-day event became the festival to attend. YouTubers of the 2010s advertised it as an experience like no other. This was partially because of how Coachella carefully crafts its lineup to be relevant to what is popular that year, as well as including a throwback artist to keep the hipsters and the mainstream enthusiasts in attendance.

Coachella provides something distinctive for every music consumer, offering a unique weekend lifestyle. As time progressed, some influencers ended up interpreting this uniqueness as the average L.A. show experience, disregarding the fact Coachella is not a typical L.A. event.

The idea that Coachella should be considered the standard for concerts across L.A. is damaging to the consumer. This is because more likely than not, they will leave dissatisfied with the experience when the expectation is that it is customary for the same special guests to perform for both weekends of Coachella.

When these expectations are not met each weekend, and different celebrity special guests appear (or none come out at all), irritated attendees will inevitably sprint to social media — expressing that Billie Eilish appearing for Lana Del Rey’s first weekend, but not the next, was a personal insult to them specifically. Coachella contributed to the sense of entitlement people often have when attending shows produced by moderately popular artists, as these types of concertgoers have grown used to shows featuring similar gimmicks.

may be viewed as somewhat of a gimmick, it does not compare to something like Coachella, whose marketing is solely based on celebrity publicity and its renowned culture.

Artists have become somewhat uncomfortable in these types of environments, as though they can never meet fans’ expectations of what a show should be. To combat this, artists like Bruno Mars have implemented phone bans to keep attendees immersed and involved in the experience, without them glancing at their cameras to see if the artist is in frame during a performance. Although this

Unlike Coachella attendees, Bruno Mars concert goers know exactly what they are signing up for. These types of attendees are not going in with unattainable expectations since they haven’t seen anything from past concerts. If Mars happened to bring someone special one night and not the next, not only would no one know, but it would not matter to these fans. To them, they are seeing the same artist and that is all that counts; they are receiving an experience that is unique to everyone in that arena. For them, that is enough.

Performers should not have to take these types of measures to get an audience fully engaged. When purchasing a ticket, the consumer is signing up for an in-person experience, not a live stream. The fact that performers feel uncomfortable about changing something in their tour simply because of the commentary that will come from it is a factor as to why people believe concerts are dull. The performer is entitled to what happens at their show, not the attendee. The unfortunate truth is that nowadays it has become evident that for concerts to be successful they need to have a gimmick. It is not surprising concert culture has changed drastically over time. It is just disappointing that to get engagement from a crowd who paid to be there, you have to take away their phones.

The GRAMMY Awards: an overview

Ever popular since 1949, the GRAMMYs have provided recognition for musical artists across the globe, but as music culture shifts into a more commercialized state, the GRAMMY awards begin to lose the intrigue they once had.

History, evolution, and impact

STORY RUBY FOUDY ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

The GRAMMY Awards, originally the Gramophone Awards, were first held in 1959. At that time, the Oscar and Emmy Awards had already been established, yet there was no counterpart for music. After the launch of the Hollywood Walk of Fame project in the 1950s, there was a resurgence of interest in music and the recording industry. This resulted in the establishment of the GRAMMYs to recognize the essential composers, singers, songwriters, and musicians of the industry. The first show, much like the ones for years to come, was a formal dinner and awards presentation held in the grand ballroom of the Beverly Hilton.

Since 1959, the GRAMMYs have changed: categories have been added, rules have been altered, and the awards ceremony has continued to gain more and more traction with every passing year. However, the essential idea of recognizing those impactful to the music industry has remained the same — with a consistent system that identifies nominees and award recipients fairly.

GRAMMYs

The first step of this process is the submission of music videos or recordings, entered by Recording Academy members and record companies. Over 350 experts in various fields then hold screening sessions to ensure each entry is placed in the correct category. From there, the submissions are nominated by voting members, who are only allowed to vote in their categories of expertise and are limited to ten categories. The final nominees are determined by committees of voting members from the Academy’s chapter cities who are actively working on the craft they are judging. After the nominees are determined, Academy voting members select the final winners. The ballots are then tallied, and the results are announced at the GRAMMY award show.

The GRAMMY Awards have played a pivotal role in celebrating artists’ achievements within the music industry since their first ceremony in 1959. While the awards have evolved over the years to adapt to the changes in the music industry, their core mission of honoring excellence and growing the music community remains unchanged. The nomination and voting process strives to ensure that deserving artists receive recognition for

their contributions, reflecting the diversity and quality of musical talent. As the GRAMMYs continue to grow in popularity and influence, they remain an integral part of the music community.

Merit award or popularity contest?

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

For the GRAMMYs to be perceived as something so prestigious, one would assume these awards are simply based on excellence. In reality, it has been proven time and time again that the awards are truly just a popularity contest. They have shifted their focus from recognizing true talent to awarding the mediocre. When the nominees in 2012 for Best Rap Album were released, there was controversy about who was awarded. The nominees not awarded included Jay-Z, Kanye West, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar — all artists who showed true artistry. The album that won, The Heist, was only commercially successful rather than culturally influential.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, the artists responsible for The Heist, are privileged white men, competing in a category coined by Black artists, against Black artists. To many, including the artists competing against them, this seemed unfair. Extremely talented Black artists like SZA, Beyonce, and Frank Ocean have notoriously lost to less-influential white artists. The GRAMMYs cannot seem to shake the deeply embedded favoritism towards the white nominees in the Hip Hop and Rap categories. Eminem has the most wins in the category — more than individuals who are actual rap icons, like Jay-Z, who has been nominated 11 times for Rap Album of the Year and has failed to secure any of them. It became evident that the GRAMMYs take pleasure in honoring white artists in this category when Macklemore placed over some of the most important musicians of our time.

The production and lyrical talent of The Heist was not strong whatsoever. They heavily relied on the supporting artists on the record with almost half of the

record having features. Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, one of the records against The Heist, had no features but was something that altered culture and will forever be a classic to rap fans. It will continue to be seen as relevant beyond its time of peak. True art should be able to last in the test of time, not just its year on pop radio.

The Heist experimented with pop sounds and mediocre storytelling, playing with some early 2000s pop sounds and even modern-day pop. Their lame attempt at writing rap was disappointing, to say the least. For the record that won the “highest honor in music,” it did not provide a new take on what was already available for consumers. The record felt like listening to an artificial intelligence interpretation of Justin Timberlake if he wrote a rap album.

Their one-hit wonder, Thrift Shop, carried the entire album to victory and was still a difficult listen, as opposed to Kendrick Lamar, who pushed the boundaries of what rap could be. The voting pool at the Recording Academy is composed of artists who have already won GRAMMYs. Although it seems like a fair system, it is deeply flawed in the sense that the majority of the voters have only won for their commercial success, providing shallow insights instead of appreciating the progress and growth of today’s music. This creates a vicious cycle of celebrating bland media.

For a group that describes their music as “David Bowie meets Kanye,” it does not demonstrate anything unique or culture-shifting. After the awards and the backlash they faced, they fell off the face of the industry. A decade from now, the same duo will most likely be the ones voting on two types of records — ones that were played 20 times a day on KIIS FM, and ones that broke barriers for genres.

awards faces declining audience interest

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN

For years the GRAMMY Awards have been considered the show to watch, as their mission is to reward well-deserving artists, celebrate fans, and culture. They painted the awards to be all about the music while working strangely close with major record labels. Audiences have lost interest, feeling victimized by the schemes the Recording Academy plays on its talent. The GRAMMY Awards had the fourthlowest viewership since 2021. The GRAMMYs harvested only 16.9 million in viewership in 2024, and 8.8 million in 2021. In the early 2000s, a similar fall in viewership would have been unheard of since it felt as though they embodied true stars, both relevant and timely.

However, as time progressed, the lack of authenticity in new music could be due to how today’s music feels more repetitive than it is different and new. It is common for artists to sample pieces from previously iconic songs into their own, which gives their own songs a sense of familiarity by providing nostalgia that makes the listener comfortable right off the bat. Unfortunately, some of the icons of our time simply create adaptations of the individuals who left long-lasting legacies on the industry. If music lovers are not excited about what they are consuming, they do not gain any enjoyment from watching the awards.

The birth of short-form content online has made indulging in the hit singles from a record easier than taking the time to listen to a record in its entirety. Albums are long and with today’s attention spans it has made social media addicts less likely to take in a record for all that it has to offer. With a major number of individuals who find their music through this route, it is uncommon

that they would sit down to watch the GRAMMYs when they do not have a full understanding of the records nominated. They are not able to grasp what album would be considered more outstanding than the next. These types of listeners are not going to check the updates online or watch the GRAMMYs at all, leading to declining interest in who places in a certain category.

The most streamed song in the year 2020 was The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights, which accumulated almost 1.6 billion streams globally. Although the biggest song of the year, The Weeknd was denied any nominations. He then went to Twitter and stated “The GRAMMYs remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans, and the industry transparency.” The Weeknd then vouched to no longer be submitting any of his work to the GRAMMYs after the aggravation he had faced.

TIGER’S ALBUM REVIEW

If the GRAMMY Awards truly had a heavy impact on artists, major musicians would not boycott them completely. The GRAMMYs try to convince its budding talents that in order to gain success in the industry, a GRAMMY is crucial. In reality, the only benefit artists gain from having a GRAMMY is more funding for marketing and production. The artists of today now realize they can achieve the same opportunities with or without a GRAMMY. Many artists have had major impacts on the music space and culture who were never recognized at the GRAMMYs. Queen — one of the most influential bands of all time— and Jimi Hendrix —who pushed the boundaries of the ‘60s with the use of the electric guitar —never won GRAMMYs. An award will never determine an artist’s long-term success or their impact on culture. Perhaps Frank Ocean said it best: “Winning a TV award doesn’t christen me successful. It took me some time to learn that.”

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN PHOTO SPOTIFY Romance - Fontaines D.C. BRAT - Charli XCX

Romance by Fontaines D.C. is no skip masterpiece, with utterly brilliant production thanks to the work of James Ford. It is clear that his presence impacted the synthpop influences within the record. Fontaines D.C.’s style continues to evolve while also maintaining the poetic lyrical ability that is unmatched by what is out there now. This album has raw yet insightful takes and demonstrates what real artistry is and should be undeniable for a Grammy win.

BRAT by Charli XCX was instantly iconic with youth as Charli, exploring themes of empowerment and selfexpression. This record quickly became cultureshifting as Charli stayed authentic to her synth-pop musical style. Although the record wasn’t built to appeal to the average radio listener, it quickly dominated the pop and electronica scene, making her win unquestionable.

L.A. County Wildfires

Some blame the fires’ rapid spread on a delayed government response while others blame climate change.

STORY TRISHA CHAKRABORTY

The January 2025 wildfires have exposed significant challenges in emergency and natural disaster preparedness and response.

Residents of western Altadena reported receiving electronic evacuation alerts several hours after the Eaton Fire was first reported around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7. For most eastern Altadena and surrounding area residents, evacuation orders were issued the same night. However, residents west of Lake Avenue received their first evacuation order at 3:25 a.m. that night, with no evacuation warning preceding it.

By the time the orders were issued, several homes were already engulfed in flames, leading to much shock and frustration among community members. According to an L.A. Times report, as of Tuesday, Jan. 21, all 17 deaths confirmed in the Eaton Fire have occurred in the western regions of Altadena, where residents were not properly warned to evacuate.

Local county officials have faced continued scrutiny over the efficacy of their evacuation order system. On Thursday, Jan. 9, 10 million residents across L.A. County, including South Pasadenans, received erroneous evacuation order alerts targeted specifically towards people near the Kenneth Fire.

Compounding the catastrophic night, water shortages across L.A. County severely hindered firefighting efforts. Around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, water hydrants began to run dry in the Pacific Palisades area as demand for water increased faster than the system was capable of supplying it.

The L.A. Department of Water & Power (DWP) had filled three main water tanks near the Palisades area, with one million gallons of water each to supply the region. A crucial component of these tanks’ jobs is maintaining the water pressure that sustains fire hydrant activity for high-elevation properties. As water quickly depleted from the tanks, DWP Chief Executive Janisse Quiñones said that water could not make it up the hill because the tanks, which still had water, could not be refilled fast enough to increase the water pressure that would allow it up the hill.

CAUSES AND CLIMATE CHANGE FACTORS L.A.

Researchers are of the consensus that the city’s water infrastructure failed because it was not designed to withstand massive wildfires that covered multiple neighborhoods — a phenomenon that occurred recently due to worsening climate conditions.

Political discourse and misinformation proliferated amid the unfolding disaster. President Donald Trump criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom over X with a misleading allegation that he cut $100 million from the state’s fire budget. While Newsom did approve cuts to wildfire resilience initiatives, these were one-time supplemental funds that were cut to address a broader budget deficit.

The overall wildfire protection budget, including its workforce and expenditures, has in fact significantly increased during Newsom’s tenure.

Former President Joe Biden declared the wildfires a major disaster on Thursday, Jan. 9 and announced that the federal government would cover 100 percent of the initial disaster response costs for 180 days.

PHOTOS EMIKO ESSMILLER, MADELINE MADRIGAL, & MAC SHROPSHIRE

The Palisades Fire started around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and the Eaton Fire started later that day in Eaton Canyon. Not much else is definitively known about the causes of California’s fourth and second most destructive wildfires, respectively.

The Palisades Fire began near the Skull Rock trailhead, a hiking path lined with dry brush 2.5 miles north of the Palisades coast.

Meanwhile, the Eaton Fire sparked in eastern Altadena, about 6 miles from South Pasadena. While the fire’s cause is still under investigation, images from residents as they evacuated show fires burning beneath electrical towers.

Many criticize the underprepared reaction of the county and state to the blazes; however, as written by Jonathan Wolfe et. al. in The New York Times in their timeline of the fires, “Looming over it all was a weather challenge that firefighters had rarely encountered in decades of Southern California wildfires: a lethal confluence of wind and drought that might have doomed any response.”

The warm, dry, and particularly strong wind storm that Los Angeles experienced quickened the spread of the fires. Gusts of up to 90 miles per hour — once-in-a-decade speeds comparable to those of a Category One hurricane — grounded helicopters and other aircraft on the night of Jan. 7 that could have been deployed to drop water and fire retardant to help contain the blazes.

Climate researchers at UCLA estimated that one fourth of Southern California’s dry brush can be attributed to climate change. The exceptional heat of recent years is directly linked to a clear upward trend of temperatures indicative of global warming. This season marks Los Angeles’ second driest since 1877 with only 0.29 inches of rain since May, although any connection between the dry spell and global warming is “highly uncertain,” according to the same UCLA researchers.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is currently looking into the causes of the fires and has stated that the investigations will take time. The investigation into the 2023 Maui Fire, one of the deadliest in the country’s history, took over a year to complete.

UPDATE: Tiger acknowledges that, at the time of print, the Hughes Fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. Northwest of Los Angeles, the inferno has spread 9,435 acres and is increasing quickly.

RELIEF RESOURCES

1. Pasadena Senior Center

Pasadena Humane Society

California Fire Foundation

World Central Kitchen 5. American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles

STORY ZOE CHEN

Fall sports season in review

Last season, five of South Pasadena’s six fall sports qualified for CIF playoffs; girls’ volleyball and girls’ cross country won state, while boys’ water polo won their first CIF title in decades.

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME, TRISHA CHAKRABORTY, EVELYN DIAZ, CHRISTIANNE DULEY, RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN, RUBY FOUDY, & OWEN HOU

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

volleyball Football

Girls’ volleyball ended their 2024 season with the Division IV State Championship title over their heads. Senior Ava Conti, junior Senya Dorny, and sophomore Ella Garner were the team’s captains. Dorny, one of the star players who was almost always in the starting lineup, boasted the highest total kills on the team with 251. Other key players included sophomore Evan Taylor and senior Kayla Boozer. Garner, Taylor, Conti, and Boozer, like Dorny, were frequently in the starting lineup and led the Tigers to numerous victories.

The Tigers began their preseason with a shaky start, losing to top-ranked private schools like Harvard-Westlake and Chaminade College Preparatory. La Cañada was a big rival for South Pasadena, sweeping the Tigers twice, but South Pasadena stayed strong with big wins such as the 25-5, 25-10, 25-14 blowout over Blair. The Tigers finished third in the league, advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs. They breezed through with a series of comfortable wins and made it to the Semi Final, where they lost 3-0 to Oak Hills.

“I want this team to do so well because, after the team we had last year, this team has been kind of looked down upon, and now I’m just so happy that they get a chance to really prove themselves. We can still do everything that we know how to do, and we can do it well,” Assistant Coach Kenneth Carter said.

South Pasadena’s skilled performance in the Southern Section playoffs qualified them for the California State Division IV playoffs — a boost of more than two divisions. South Pasadena swept the first round of the state run over High Tech Mesa. The Tigers then had fifth-set wins in the Quarter and Semi Final against Crossroads and Walnut. South Pasadena then played in the State Girls’ Volleyball Championship game against Hilmar, a team from over six hours away. After losing the first and second sets 2624, the Tigers made a comeback and defeated Hilmar in a suspenseful reverse sweep, winning the State Championship title and bringing their 2024 season to a victorious close.

golf had a successful fall season, pulling ahead of most other teams. SPHS consistently defeated Gabrielino, La Cañada, and San Marino, although Temple City typically claimed first place in the league meets.

Senior Lana Yamagata and sophomore Ashley Wen often earned the top scores each game, with the rest of the team also obtaining outstanding scores. Sophomore Gaby Ho, senior Sophia Gwin, Yamagata, and Wen qualified for the first CIF individual round, with Wen advancing to the second round. The Tigers did not qualify for CIF.

Football had a strong season, ending with a 10-3 record and placing first in the league for the first time in 50 years. The team made it all the way to the third round of playoffs before falling to the Silverado Hawks in an away game.

The Tigers’ season started off on rocky ground, losing 28-0 in their season opener to Schurr. Bouncing back from the loss, the Tigers quickly worked on their coordination, becoming a deadly offense with breakneck running plays and a solid defense.

This mindset would help the Tigers go on to dominate their following games with a staggering eight-game win streak. Among their wins were the second and third place teams within the Rio Hondo League, as well as San Marino, the Tigers’ lifelong rivals, who were bested 24-17.

Football’s match against La Cañada to determine the league title highlighted the team’s continuous growth throughout the season. The Tigers’ strong defense successfully held down La Cañada’s offense, allowing South Pasadena’s offense to wreak havoc and win the game 28-10. Progressing into CIF, the Tigers held their ground, winning 35-28 and 34-31 in the first two rounds.

Cross country

The 2024 cross country season marked an unprecedented year for the Tigers, with both the girls’ and boys’ varsity teams achieving milestones as the fastest in South Pasadena’s history and positioning themselves strongly for their rise to State Championships. From overcoming hot, dusty conditions at the Clovis Invitational to adapting to changes to the annual Mt. SAC course, the Tigers consistently demonstrated exceptional grit and talent with record-breaking race times on their road to state.

After the CIF Southern Section Prelims, the Tigers advanced to the CIF Southern Section Finals. The girls’ team won their first-ever championship, and both teams’ high performance qualified them for State Championships. The following weekend, the boys’ team set a new school time record and finished fourth in their division. The girls’ team made history as the first SPHS cross country team to become Division III State Champions, with senior Abigail Errington crowned as the individual race champion and representing California at the Nike Cross Nationals.

Girls’ tennis showcased exceptional dominance throughout their matches this season with commanding victories over their opponents. Their performances highlighted their remarkable skill, teamwork, and consistency on the court.

The Tigers won the majority of their league matches decisively, and their victories included two 18-0 sweeps over Monrovia and Blair and a 14-4 defeat of La Cañada. South Pasadena ranked second in the Rio Hondo League behind only San Marino.

The tennis team’s outstanding league performance qualified them for CIF Division I playoffs; they took on Tesoro in the first round and lost 11-7. Freshman Felicity Mason qualified for the second round of CIF individual playoffs. The Tigers finished their season at 8-2.

However, the Tigers’ run ended during the CIF Southern Section Division X Semi Final with their 58-7 loss to the Silverado Hawks.

Boys’ water polo finished their 2024 season on a high, winning the California Regional Division III championship. This came after winning the CIF Southern Section Championship for the first time in 30 years the month prior.

Water polo got off to a shaky start in the preseason, racking up even numbers of wins and losses. The team’s fortune started to improve in September, getting six consecutive wins and notably defeating Monrovia with a 16-3 score.

In early October, Head Coach Jennifer Jamison was fired, and Assistant Coach Joe Cox stepped in to assume her position in the interim. Cox was an extremely motivating figure for the team. This newfound inspiration, combined with players’ already present hard work and dedication, helped the team get back on track.

Water polo’s 19-4 defeat of Torrance in the first round of Southern Section Division IV playoffs at their last October game started the 8-game winning streak that propelled them to State Championships. In mid-October, the Tigers won a nail-biting 9-10 game against Cate. A last-second goal from senior Kenta Fernandes secured their first CIF title in 30 years.

“Getting to bring my best performance to our most important game of the season and taking the title for the first time in 30 years was truly amazing, and I’m so grateful for my teammates, coaches, and for everything the boys’ water polo program has given me,” Fernandes said.

Water polo advanced to the Division III Regional playoffs after winning the championship title. Multiple wins with impressive margins took them to claim the State Regional title, ending their season defeating Cleveland 12-6 at CIF Regionals for the first time in the school’s history.

The team is ranked 88 in California and 115 nationally. Water polo had a winning record of 21-11.

Kallean Beebe Read commits to row for Syracuse

Beebe Read began rowing in eighth grade and has since honed his skills to those of a Division I athlete.

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME

PHOTO MADELINE MADRIGAL

T

wo-hour drives, monotonous motions, and some of the most grueling races ever, but behind it a chance for true teamwork and personal growth. That is how senior Kallean Beebe Read described rowing, the sport he has committed to Syracuse University, a Division I school in New York City, for. Beebe Read has been competitively rowing for only rowing for two years.

“It’s like cardio … But I think with the rowing, it’s more about your connection with your team, because you all have to be on time with each other, or else it just doesn’t work,” Beebe Read said. “I don’t think there’s many other teams where you have to be that connected. The whole time you’re all doing the exact same thing.”

First introduced to the sport in middle school by his parents, Beebe Read was unsure of his opinions of it at the time and let the sport sit in the back of his mind. At school, Beebe Read played on SPMS’s soccer team before transitioning to cross country and track and field for his sophomore and junior years at SPHS. However, after his junior year in cross country ended at CIF, Beebe Read made a leap of faith, quitting his other sports to commit his full time to rowing.

“it’s just a lot of hard work, and it’s simple … [you] just have to be able to outwork everyone else. It’s a mental game … you have to stay really on top of yourself and be your own motivator,” Beebe Read said.

Practice for rowing was much different than any sport Beebe Read had played before. Simply finding an area to row was challenging, and Beebe Read spent his two SPHS home study periods on the road for a total commute of three hours every day for a year and a half. Yet, Beebe Read’s resolve only grew over time, driven by his motivation to improve.

“When I set out to do something, I’m gonna do it. When I’m in that mindset, it doesn’t matter if I’m scared or not … or if I’m super excited it’s gonna take an hour either way. So once you’re in it, you’re doing it, and it’s gonna happen the same way regardless,” Beebe Read said.

In his junior year, Beebe Read joined the Newport Aquatic Center Junior team, rowing mainly in boats of four or eight people to match the format of college races. However, by

UPCOMING GAMES

joining towards the back-end of high school, opportunities to move up within the team were scarce, making the few chances he got vital to succeed in.

Among them was one of Beebe Read’s proudest achievements. When he first joined the team, Beebe Read was placed at the bottom of the hierarchy, 30 people or three boats behind the top group. Eventually, he was given a chance to demonstrate his skill. Despite at that time having been on the team for only a year, Beebe Read outperformed many others who had been practicing far longer than himself. His innate talent and the staggering progress he had made in a year through a dedicated mindset earned Beebe Read a spot in the top boat; just in time for the race that weekend. As it so happened, that race would be the only one their entire team won that season.

During this time, dividing his personal life from rowing was a must for Beebe Read. Although he loved the sport, physical burnout from practicing all week was looming over the horizon, making times when Beebe Read could draw back from it vital. Maintaining a healthy self-care routine was one way Beebe Read did this, experimenting with meditation to help him focus and stay in good health.

“I really try to separate my rowing from my life. I think when it’s a sport that’s so taxing you have to do that,” Beebe Read said. “It was a pretty toxic environment, and there was a lot of conflict and frustration on that team … I don’t know if [my teammates] were necessarily trying to help me, but I think that my success was also their success in some ways. So I think that I definitely couldn’t have done it without them, even if it wasn’t the best situation ever.”

The team’s synergy and capabilities declined as members left, which led Beebe Read to search for a new opportunity going into college. Even while exploring his options, Beebe Read stayed true to his practice and was eventually noticed by Ivy League schools Cornell University and Columbia University. Among several other options, Beebe Read ended up committing to Syracuse University for its welcoming community and skilled Division I rowing team, his own family history at the school, and the school’s bustling community.

“It’s not just about the name. That’s where you’re living, and that’s your life for four years,” Beebe Read said. “It’s not about what other people think about where I’m going to college. It’s where I am going to be happy, and am I going to succeed at rowing and also eventually have a job that I want … I think an environment where they want you as much as you want to be there, which is really hard to find in a sport like this, is the best.”

When comparing Syracuse to other colleges, Beebe Read praised the school’s atmosphere within the team. The group aims for a well-balanced agenda, staying competitive within the sport. Syracuse men’s rowing regularly places fifth within the nation while still giving the students time to enjoy their college life.

Going forward, Beebe Read hopes to stay dedicated to rowing, developing along with the team for his college life and pushing his skills to a new limit.

FRIDAY, JAN. 24TH @ 5:00 PM, GIRLS’ SOCCER VS. BLAIR AT HOME

FRIDAY, JAN. 24TH @ 5:30 PM, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL VS. BLAIR AWAY

FRIDAY, JAN. 24TH @ 7:00 PM, BOYS’ BASKETBALL VS. BLAIR AWAY

Rose Bowl Game highlights Pasadena’s Festivity

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME

PHOTOS ZOE CHEN & HELENA EASTERBY

On Jan. 1, 2025, thousands of people celebrated the start of the year with the annual Rose Bowl Game; this year the University of Oregon and Ohio State University of the Big Ten Conference were pitted against each other, the first time two teams in the same conference have ever faced off in the entirety of the Rose Bowl’s history. Accompanied by the annual Rose Parade, which hosted colorful floats made of stunning flowers and livened by talented performers, the people of Los Angeles spent the morning in festivity before the game started at 2 p.m. The parade’s floats included Kaiser Permanente, the City of South Pasadena, Trader Joe’s, and the Rose Bowl Game.

South Pasadena’s regular participation in the parade brought one of six self-built floats called “Sea’s The Day.” Float planning began shortly after the 2024 Rose Parade, while construction started in August. Making its way to the streets on Jan. 1, the float garnered the crowd’s attention with its vibrant companions: a turtle, a frog, and a duck. Praise continued to come South Pasadena’s way, as the float won the parade’s “Fantasy Award” for most creative display of fantasy elements on a float for the sixth year in a row.

As the parade ended, eyes anxiously shifted to the coming Rose Bowl Game and its promising competitors.

In October of the 2024–25 season, Oregon and Ohio State faced off and Oregon won 32-31. This incited a new rivalry between the two highly skilled teams. Expectations were further flamed by the skill level of the two teams, with Oregon ranking first and Ohio State fourth out of the 18 teams within the Big Ten, a conference that hosts many renowned college programs.

In the Rose Bowl Game’s first quarter, Ohio State quickly struck, scoring a touchdown within three plays of the game’s start. Here, the team’s innate ability to click moments into a game shone through, going up 14-0 in the first quarter and leaving Oregon trailing behind. The pressure continued to grow as Ohio State shut down Oregon’s offense. Ohio State’s wide receivers then got wide-open yet again, allowing the offense to score two more field goals and touchdowns respectively in the first half. Desperate to fight back, Oregon

caught a break before halftime, getting a touchdown and twopoint conversion that settled the score at 34-8.

Starting the second half, Oregon scored a touchdown. However, Ohio State refused to give up leverage, striking back with a touchdown while holding a firm grip on Oregon and bringing the score to 41-15. In the last quarter, Oregon’s coordination finally started to click. Pulling off a 27-yard pass and striking the end zone before Ohio State could encroach on their offense, Oregon set the score at 41-21. However, their movement came too late, as Ohio State prevented any more touchdowns from slipping by in the final quarter. The game ended with a resounding 41-21 victory for Ohio State.

Ohio State dominated the top-ranked team and went on to beat the University of Texas at Austin in the semifinals 28-14. The Buckeyes then advanced to the National Championship against Notre Dame, winning the National Championship 34-23.

OHIO STATE CHEERLEADERS wave to the crowd. (Top: Ohio State cheer | Bottom: Oregon cheer)

BEEBE READ announced his commitment to Syracuse via Instagram on Dec. 9.

SPORTS

Boys’ basketball trounces Monrovia in home league opener

Basketball beat the Wildcats 87-51 on Friday, Jan. 17, the first home league game of the season.

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME & OWEN HOU

PHOTO MAC SHROPSHIRE

The Tigers brought down the iron hammer, besting Monrovia’s Wildcats 87-51 on Friday, Jan. 17. The Tigers dominated throughout the game, showcasing a promising start to their season.

“I really feel like now that everyone’s back, everyone’s ready to play, everything’s going our way as far as playing hard [and] us being determined,” senior point guard Sebastian Martinez said.

The Tigers gained possession first, winning the tip off and quickly putting the first points on the scoreboard with a score of 8-0. The Tigers’ well-coordinated offense struck deep into the Wildcats, who struggled with rebounds and getting themselves open. The Wildcats, attempting to restart the match’s beginning, took a timeout. Going back in, the Tigers made repeated fouls on the Wildcats, letting up six points from personal fouls alone.

However, denying the Wildcats any leeway, the Tigers took their first timeout, focusing on careful yet offensive planning. Returning to the period, the Tigers’ offense picked up, using the Wildcats’ sparse defense to attempt several layups and raising the score 21-12 to end the first period. During the period, the team’s confidence began to bud with players such as senior forward Trevor Cohen, who made several aggressive layups that sliced straight through the Wildcats’ desperate defense.

The second period began with a struggle for the ball as both teams traded possession continually and alternated making layups. Despite the scoreboard’s 30-16 display, the Wildcats remained hopeful, making a three-pointer and bringing the score to 30-19. After this, however, the Tigers began to blitz through the defense’s holes while patching their own; that was the last time the Wildcats scored in the period, although the Wildcats fouled both senior point guard Miles Nowe and junior shooting guard Rod Khollesi. South Pasadena continued to score relentlessly, gaining 15 points without letting Monrovia score at all. By the end of the second period, the Tigers

had left the Wildcats in the dust, going into halftime with a score of 45-19.

In the first minute of the third period, Monrovia fouled senior point guard Oni Balogun; this first foul would mark many more to come, and both sides became more aggressive as the game progressed. Despite this, the Tigers’ progress exploded and they continually took advantage of gaps in the Wildcats’ defense. One set of plays that especially characterized the first half of the third period was a back-to-back dunk and three-pointer made by senior power forward Jack Madison that brought the score to 53-19.

Eventually, the Wildcats began to stage a comeback. Although they began the period with only 19 points, they ended with 34. This gain was partially caused by the substitution of the Tigers’ second-string players. Still, the Wildcats still lagged behind, ending the third period with a score of 76-34. The Tigers’ score was more than double that of the Wildcats.

The fourth period displayed a playful atmosphere among the stands and players, while the Wildcats played on with melancholic intensity. As the fourth period slowly whittled down, the Tigers began their final push to claim the win. Aided by their determination, the Tigers reclaimed several rebounds with junior guard Riley Yoshimura and Khollesi notching up several points with a deep three-pointer by Khollesi. As the game drew to a close, the Tigers held onto the ball, whittling down seconds until the final buzzer rang through the gym.

Throughout the course of the game, the Tigers put on a spectacular offensive showing and managed to keep their massive lead over the Wildcats, ultimately winning with a score of 87-51.

“The great thing is everybody got a chance to play tonight,” Head Coach Ernest Baskerville said. “There’s going to be times when a lot of people won’t play, but tonight we got a chance to get some people in the game that don’t see a lot of playing time, and that’s what it’s really about.”

Boys’ basketball’s next game will be away against Blair on Friday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.

Regan’s Row

BENJAMIN REGAN

College Football

On Jan. 1, 2025, I went to the Rose Bowl Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks. The setting was beautiful, the Buckeye band was phenomenal, and the product itself, although onesided, felt professional, with future NFL talents on both sidelines. As an Ohio State fan surrounded by OSU students in the Rose Bowl bleachers, I felt like I was getting a taste of the true college football experience. It was easy to cheer on the Buckeyes, who delivered one of the most inspired performances I’d ever watched.

The Rose Bowl Game is considered the pinnacle of college football, a rapidly ascending sport trying to preserve its rich history and traditions while simultaneously evolving into a new era. NIL (name, image, and likeness), the 12-team playoff, and conference realignment mark the beginning of college football’s future path, a path I believe will take them past the NFL. The best football in the world is played on Saturdays, not Sundays. One of the best parts about college football is the atmosphere. There’s an electricity throughout collegiate stadiums, fueled by the tradition of the universities. Both bands are seated alongside the crowd, and unlike an NFL game, there’s no lull in the stadium’s energy. I did not sit once outside of timeouts and halftime at the Rose Bowl. Fanbases have an inventory of chants to break out at any time, and schools have signature songs they play at every game. Buckeye fans, many having flown in from Columbus, sang along to Hang on Sloopy on New Year’s Day, and Shout by The Isley Brothers, despite being Oregon’s song, had everyone in the stadium, players included, jumping and singing. Players interact with fans, turning around to face the crowd on critical third downs.

The committee finally capitalized on college football’s best venues this season, putting playoff games on school campuses, and in the first year of the experiment, every home team won. Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas, and Ohio State fans should feel like they had a hand in their teams’ first-round victories, because the crowd noise and vigor of their respective stadiums make for a difficult road environment. College football games are wilder and less predictable than NFL games because players are less experienced and not yet polished. Fans are more likely to see a missed extra point at a key moment in a college game, a young kicker caving to the pressure of the crowd, whereas PATs are next to automatic in the NFL. The Kick Six in the 2013 Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama is a prime example of “anything can happen” on a college field. There is an erratic element to 18- to 20-year-old athletes. The college football committee contributes to this unpredictability. In the NFL, teams are ranked on record, but in college, the eye test counts for something. Whether or not one agrees with the committee’s picks, the selection process adds another layer of excitement and uncertainty to the sport.

The collegiate game also holds a decisive upper hand on its professional counterparts in rivalries. Rivalry weekend, which falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, includes USC vs. UCLA, Texas vs. Oklahoma, Oregon vs. Oregon State, and the ultimate rivalry, Ohio State vs. Michigan, among others. The history of each game runs deep, and there is an intensity that brings out the best in teams. Ohio State and Michigan make it the entire goal of their season to beat the other, and, unfortunately, the Wolverines have gotten the better of the Buckeyes the last four years. Their traditions and the stakes of the playoff race make college football rivalries unmatched.

There is a final part of college football, a relatively new and still controversial part, that I believe puts the college game above the NFL. Through the transfer portal and NIL, top players can change schools at their will and earn sponsorships for their talents. This puts the power in players’ hands. In the NFL, franchises are often hamstrung by greedy owners, or players are trapped with their current team. When good players want out of bad teams, such as Tyreek Hill on the Miami Dolphins, the situation often gets messy and disrupts the team’s entire season. In college, players can simply step off the roster and enter the portal. It is a player-driven sport, and the biggest stars are drafted into the NFL to begin competing at the next level. However, the most entertaining football of their career may be behind them.