September 2023 Print Issue

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913 VOLUME 110 ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 15. 2023

IN THE NEWS

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

COLOR DAY

VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

TROPICAL SPIRIT DAY

The annual Color Day spirit day, assembly, and football game will be on Friday, Sept. 29.

SPHS will hold a voter registration drive during lunch from Monday to Friday, Oct. 2 to 6.

ASB will hold a tropical spirit day and Maui relief fundraiser for the football game on Friday, Sept. 15.

CLUB RUSH 2023

STORY ZOE CHEN PHOTO EMIKO ESSMILLER

Some club presidents communicated their excitement sparked by every new student who expressed interest in their club. They also praised the lively environment of the event.

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choes of chatter and laughter filled the main gym as SPHS’s annual Club Rush kicked off on Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Wednesday, Sept. 13. Stalls hosted by campus clubs were in two rings around the gym and crowds filled the space in between. The school welcomed 43 new clubs this year and boasts almost 100 total.

“[Club Rush] increases foot traffic, which means it increases exposures for the clubs,” Femineers president senior Mai Le Dai said. “Otherwise it’s like, ‘oh, join our club,’ but unless your club is extremely popular, it’s hard to spread the word…I hope that club members learn how to work together in a way that is collaborative.”

Stalls were set up to face the gym entrance, drawing students in from the moment they walked through the doors. Each table was operated by two different clubs. Smiling faces from behind each stall called out to roaming students, beckoning them over and seizing opportunities to interest potential new members. Hand decorated posters hung from each table, advertising each club and its missions. QR-coded digital interest forms were displayed at each stall. Commissioner of Clubs senior Krish Patel organized the event and was pleased with the large crowds that showed up.

SkillsUSA and other widely-known clubs maintained a steady flow of people throughout the event. Some lesser known clubs, like the Creative Literary Magazine, attracted thinner crowds but still happily welcomed new members. Club topics were of a wide variety. The Math, Science, and other largely academic clubs stood across from activism and awareness clubs, such as Future Unchained and the LGBTQ+ union. Craft and more visually-centered clubs, such as S.T.I.T.C.H. and the Origami club, bordered athletic- and cultural-based clubs, like Sports Medicine and LatinX. Other clubs included the Taylor Swift club, Fashion Further, and the Musical Theatre club, among many others.

“[Club Rush] boosts interest by a lot because you have a lot of people walking around looking to join clubs,” Patel said. “They’re getting to know a lot of different clubs…Club Rush is like that big motivator that pushes people to join [clubs].”

Freshman Batia Lou described the Club Rush experience as overwhelming but intriguing at the same time. Lou, along with other students, simply signed up for any clubs that piqued their interests.

“It’s very overwhelming,” Lou said. “I’ve had a random person I know pop up with a poster telling me to scan a QR code…there’s so many interesting clubs, it’s very broad.”

“I think [students] should take away the fact that we have such a diverse range of clubs that they should join,” Patel said. “You get to meet a lot of people, and overall you get to affect your community in a positive way… feel[ing] like part of the community, I think that’s like, the main part.”

Homecoming Picnic, the next club-based event, will take place in late October. Through activities and the sale of goods, the picnic will give clubs an opportunity to fund activities for the year.

ASB SAC ASSEMBLY

LIBERALISM

LA ARTCORE

ASB opened the year with the annual SAC Assembly, which promoted the SAC card in a video featuring all 13 commisioners and, introduced new Assistant Principal Chad Bryant.

Tiger explores the future of the Democratic Party through the lens of liberalism, featuring its roots in the Cold War and its place in modern-day political polarization.

SPHS seniors Joon Lee and Brandon Park exhibit their art in LA Artcore Museum through a symbolic display of growth and individuality via mixed mediums, connecting the art to childhood.

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TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

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TIGER September 15, 2023

NEWS

ASB leads annual SAC assembly SPHS’s ASB had their first assembly of the year led by the Commissioner of Assemblies, senior Noble Jones.

STORY ABIGAIL KIM PHOTO EMIKO ESSMILLER

On Friday, Sept. 1, ASB led the annual SAC assembly to kick off the year. The assembly included skits, SAC promotions, games, and references to the new “Barbie” movie. The SPHS marching band performed “Eye of the Tiger” and various other songs as students walked into the auditorium.

Commissioner of Finance, junior Natasha Rey, and Commissioner of Assemblies, senior Noble Jones, opened up the assembly with a WWE-themed skit.

Next, Jones led each class in a school-wide roll call. The national anthem was then performed by sophomore Cinbie Chang.

Part one of this year’s SAC promotional video was shown after the performance, which was filmed and edited by ASB videographer, senior Samantha Shiroishi.

Following the video, Jones led a class competition where two students from each grade participated in a balloon popping relay.

Students competed by running across the auditorium stage with balloons in between their legs. Juniors competed against freshmen while seniors rivaled sophomores. In a subsequent cup stacking contest, juniors emerged victorious against the seniors.

After the game, a health and wellness video featured this year’s health and wellness officers, senior Via Abelev and junior Sienna Drake. The presentation included information regarding health and wellness resources at SPHS. Commissioner of Athletics, senior

Kendall Taylor, introduced the fall sports captains in a Q&A activity. Commissioner of Internal Affairs, senior Ellie Nakamura, introduced new Assistant Principal Chad Bryant through a brief interview that included fun facts and his prior experience in the district.

Next, the final portion of the SAC video was played for all the students, featuring all 13 commissioners. ASB then performed a Barbie-themed dance, choreographed by Commissioner of Spirit, senior Wendi Zhang.

Commissioner General, senior Olivia Alfonso, senior class president Charlotte Dekle, and Commissioner of Clubs, senior Krish Patel, then announced general

information about the Royal Court, Senior Activities Committee (SAC), and the upcoming Club Rush. Jones advertised SAC cards one final time, and the assembly concluded with the SPHS Band playing the Alma Mater.

“I hope to contribute the entertainment that I sought after for my first three years here. I want to make it real hype; I want to make people excited for the year,” Jones said. “[I’m] excited for spirit days and events, excited to be part of South Pasadena High School. I want to give everyone a fantastic year, the best I can.”

The upcoming ASB Color Day assembly will take place on Friday, Sept. 29.

South Pasadena Vons closes its doors in September STORY SOLANA SINGER PHOTO ZOE CHEN South Pasadena’s Vons location is leaving local shoppers after the recent expiration of its lease. A community staple on Fair Oaks Ave., the grocery store will close on Sunday, Sept. 17.

“There’s quite a bit of change happening in [the Vons complex], as the owner is investing in that property and ushering in some new tenants,” South Pasadena Deputy City Manager Domenica Megerdichian said.

Vons’ closure follows a chain of shutdowns of several other businesses in its lot. Penguin’s Frozen Yogurt, Baja Fresh, and Grassroots have all been boarded up.

The closure has been in the works for the past several years but was postponed due to Paviollion’s renovation across the street. The slightly more upscale store, owned by the same parent company as Vons, will remain open.

“As I understand it, [Vons is] working with [its] current employees to transition them to other nearby stores,” Megerdichian said. “That’s always a consideration for us, making sure that they’re working with the local workforce development board and working with the state and helping to transition employees, because a lot of times, employees are part of our community.”

CUSTOMERS SHOP VONS LIQUIDATION SALES as it prepares for closure

SPHS student body responses to the closure have expressed a range of opinions. Replacement tenants for the Vons space have not yet been announced, although there have been rumors of an Amazon Fresh or a second Trader Joe’s. Currently, neither of these theories are supported by public information. It is speculated that if Trader Joe’s replaces Vons, its original location will close.

“I am outraged,” senior Charlotte Dekle said. “I am outraged beyond belief. When I tell you that…the Trader

Recent local street improvement

Their meeting brought together various city council members and commissioners to discuss various ways to improve traffic safety, public transportation, and cycling amenities.

STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK

“These street improvement projects will undoubtedly improve the connectivity throughout South Pasadena,” said John Primuth, Mayor of South Pasadena.

City officials, commissioners, staff, and residents gathered to discuss and distribute information pertaining to a series of street improvement projects on the morning of July 25, 2023.

The purpose of these improvement projects, as stated on the city of South Pasadena’s website, is to “enhanc[e] [South Pasadena’s] infrastructure and ensur[e] a more vibrant, efficient, and pedestrianfriendly landscape.”

The State of Streets Study Session met a few months ago about the state of South Pasadena’s streets and their further development in the future.

Traffic-calming devices on various residential streets throughout the city will be added as part of the resurfacement of the Slow Streets Program.

The Fair Oaks Intelligent Transportation Systems Project will be implemented as part of the city’s improvement efforts. The project will also include signal synchronization and bus prioritization, as well as advancing safety technology. This major addition will help to improve American Disability Act access along Fair Oaks Avenue.

PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER

Joe’s that’s by my house is my lifeblood, I mean it. And now it’s going to be moving slightly further away. Like, how am I going to go on?”

Vons has offered liquidation sales to generate revenue before departing the community in its final days serving the residents of South Pasadena. Over the past few weeks, its shelves have been rapidly emptying.

“I think it’s kind of silly that there’s going to be another Trader Joe’s,” senior Lillian Sherman said. “We don’t need an enormous Trader Joe’s. We already have one.

I know it’s crowded, but get over it. I’d much rather have a closer H Mart or a 99 Ranch Market. That’d be a lot cooler…it’s like having three Starbucks in the same town…it’s ridiculous.”

Megerdichian confirmed multiple new tenants will be moving into the complex. However, no names have been made public yet.

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

NEWS

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A stronger team: meet the new faces Seven new staff members join the South Pasadena High School community for the 2023–2024 year.

STORY CLAIRE MAO PHOTO RACHEL (SHIN-HYE CHOI)

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PHS ushered in a new school year with the addition of seven new staff members. The 2023–24 school year introduced new staff in the administration, math department, LOTE, PE, and the Train Your Brain program.

Assistant Principal Chad Bryant joined SPHS following six years of working with SPUSD. Most recently, he served the district working as the Coordinator of Educational Technological Curriculum and Assessment for two years.

Before joining SPUSD, Bryant had also worked two years at Los Angeles Unified School District.

“South Pasadena High School has…just a great reputation of having amazing academics, fantastic teachers, incredibly vibrant and interesting students,” Bryant said. “And I really wanted to join that community and to help that community and working at the district office is wonderful, but really my heart is with working with students and to support them through their academic life.”

New counselor Omar Jimenez found himself drawn to SPHS and the community. Having grown up in South Pasadena, he had a vision of what working in the city would be like.

“I wanted another challenge. I am a person that likes to learn and grow,” Jimenez said. “And I knew that South Pas was going to give me that.”

Jimenez carries 14 years of counseling expertise. He noticed SPUSD’s strong commitment to education and aspires to enhance academic challenges. He aims to help students achieve more academic goals while maintaining a good balance between mental well-being and academics.

Math teacher Edgar Calderon has nine years of teaching experience and most recently was a part of Siendo La Quinta Unified School District for two years. Prior to joining SPHS, Calderon taught juniors and seniors.

Teaching freshmen is a new experience for him, and he finds it to be a two-way learning process for both him and his students.

“One of my philosophies is, yeah, I’m the teacher, but I’m also learning from my students too,” Calderon said. “Every year, I learned to be a better teacher. I learned from them as much as they learned from me. So I continue to grow.”

It is not everyone’s first time stepping onto SPHS campus.

Will Hoadley-Brill returns to SPHS as an alumni. He has also worked as a substitute teacher in SPUSD’s dualimmersion program at SPMS. Now, Hoadley-Brill has joined the Spanish teaching department.

“It was always the plan to become an actual teacher in some school somewhere,” Hoadley-Brill said. “I think being a substitute showed me what the possibilities of teaching at South Pas could be like.”

Mo Yang is a valuable addition to SPHS’s language department with prior experience teaching Mandarin at SPMS and at a private school dual-immersion program.

Her enthusiasm for Mandarin is fueled by her students’ eagerness to learn. She is equally passionate about sharing Chinese culture.

“I consider myself as not just an educator. I’m also the bridge between Chinese culture and to other students or people from other cultures, and I hope they can learn more about the beauty of this culture, and then they can learn about our core values,” Yang said.

New PE teacher Katherine Buck challenges students through mobility. Since she was young, Buck found herself

PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER

not being able to sit still and wants to spread that love for physcial activity with others.

“I want them to find something where they just know that they can be a mover for a lifetime and go at their own pace,” Buck said. “And know that every single one of us is super unique, so what that path looks like is going to be different for everyone.”

Natasha Stebbins is the new SPHS social worker and a Train Your Brain specialist. She carries 18 years of social work experience in institutions such as the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, City of Hope Pediatrics, and UCLA Department of Family Medicine.

Stebbins found her calling in working in schools, a career that combines her passion for working with children and her interest in mental health support. She emphasizes that her mission is to provide a support system for students.

“I admire young people and I respect them, and I want to be present for their challenges. I really felt like this was the right place for me, to be at a school where lots of students are here, and lots of students go through things,” Stebbins said. “And if I’m ever able to be a support person for them…that’s the best thing I can think of.”

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

NEWS

South Pasadena: before and after Hilary South Pasadena prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. Formerly a Category 4 hurricane, Tropical Storm Hilary made landfall in Southern California on Sunday, Aug. 20. The city took several disaster preparedness steps as residents navigated mixed media communications regarding the true severity of the storm. While other parts of Southern California faced flooding and damages, the storm passed majorly uneventfully over South Pasadena.

STORY ZOE CHEN, CLEMENTINE EVANS, & ETHAN KWAK

PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER

ILLUSTRATIONS ISOLE KIM

SPHS’s efforts to prevent damage from Hilary Hurricane Hilary swept through the greater Los Angeles area as a tropical storm on Monday and Sunday Aug. 20 and Aug. 21, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds.

SPUSD schools remained open on Monday, Aug. 21. This decision was confirmed on Sunday evening in an email from the SPUSD superintendent. However, the Pasadena and Los Angeles school districts announced school closures on Aug. 21 in anticipation of flooding and damage to school buildings.

“I support [the school board’s] decision, because now we won’t have another day at the end of the school year,” freshman Lacie Zhou said. “The hurricane wasn’t too bad.”

SPHS students returned to school after the eventful weekend, which opened with scrambling last-minute errands and concluded with lazy

relaxation as the rain began falling. Evidence of the hurricane littered the school campus, from puddles to mud and wind-blown leaves, but did not cause any major disruptions to the usual flow of learning and socialization.

“I expected more damage,” freshman Briana Jacob said.

“But it was just a regular day, a little rain, a little wind…the school’s fine.”

Some SPHS classrooms experienced water seepage, but fans were set up to help evaporate whatever water remained. The school did not suffer any major damage.

“The school checked the weather beforehand,” an anonymous student said. “I think we’d be pretty prepared.”

Many students were unaware of any actions the high school took to minimize storm damage. Some originally thought the school should have done more to protect outdoor facilities, suggesting tenting the quads. Other students did not believe any prior

South Pasadena’s preparations The majority of South Pasadena residents agreed that Hurricane Hilary’s Southern California landfall was milder than they had originally believed it would be. However, residents were split on whether or not the city took adequate measures to warn people of the storm’s potential impact on South Pasadena.

“I’ve seen in the news, like, cities saying the fire departments were prepared,” resident Mamie Young said. “I was pretty happy with the way the city prepped it. Even though it didn’t turn out to be that bad.”

Young was satisfied with the city’s command centers in case of emergency. She believed that the city’s allocation of resources was sufficient given the media’s

severe predictions. Some residents believed that given the media’s extreme weather reports, the city should have taken more action to inform residents of the minimal severity of the storm.

One anonymous resident expressed that the city did not do enough to cease alarm and inform people of the low risk of the storm, which led to unnecessary panic. “[The city] should have explained what was really [going to] happen, and what it really was,” the resident said. “I feel like we didn’t know what was [going to] happen… they kept saying [hurricane] and then it’s actually a tropical storm.”

Another resident was unaware of any measures the city took in preparation. However, the resident did not believe any preparations were necessary, given the storm’s light impact on South Pasadena.

Over-sensationalism in the media City’s response South Pasadena prepared the area for the incoming Tropical Storm Hilary on Sunday, Aug. 20 by activating an emergency operations center and alerting residents. The city had different measures to ensure that South Pasadena and its citizens were well protected during the storm.

The city had plans in place in order to keep residents informed and safe from potential hazards from the hurricane. Its emergency operations center was activated in a virtual setting, meaning that workers were on-call in case of an emergency but were not not physically at the center.

“Our emergency preparedness plan covers all kinds of things. Everything from public works, issues like water, somewhat power, a lot of that is mostly Southern California,” South Pasadena Mayor Jon Primuth said.

“Roads, traffic, public safety, so there’s elements in that where everyone in our department has a role to play and they were on call. So that’s kind of a city wide scope to emergency preparedness, so we were ready for quite a bit.”

Residents of South Pasadena were encouraged to prepare for strong winds and heavy rains. Surrounding communities like San Marino and La Cañada Flintridge were also warned of the storm. They were advised to evacuate the area if the storm escalated.

The homeless population in South Pasadena was also alerted to the storm and given information about possible evacuation locations.

“The city activated [its] emergency preparation plan…

All departments with roles in emergency response were on call,” Primuth said. “The fire chief gave [city council] emailed briefings on the status as the storm approached.”

The city was well-prepared for the storm and potential damages that could have come with it. The City Council as well as the Fire Department were ready to provide any necessary resources to residents.

Hurricane Hilary, first reported as a “once-in-a-lifetime event” by news sources, was no surprise to meteorologists and climate scientists who have warned of an increase in extreme weather for the next few years.

It was more shocking for Southern Californians in particular. Despite being downgraded from Category 4 to Category 1 on Sunday, Aug. 20 by the National Hurricane Center, Hilary became the first tropical storm to make landfall on California in 84 years. Mixed information circulated the internet, which affected the varied preparedness and concern of residents in South Pasadena.

The National Weather Service out to include all of Los Angeles on Aug. 18, including the mountains and foothills of Ventura County. Predictions of potential destruction incorporated widespread flooding and complete havoc.

Palm Springs “braced for direct impact,” on Aug. 19, according to the Los Angeles Times, and received 3.18 inches of rain. Images and videos from the aftermath show floodwater coursing down streets.

South Pasadena went mostly unscathed, while other parts of Southern California faced extreme weather and flooding.

While an uncommon experience for the city, the semiheavy rain only blanketed the city for around a day. Still, residents took precautions for the extreme weather that was predicted to hit the Los Angeles area.

“I personally think it’s better to be prepared than to be worried about it than to not to be prepared,” South Pasadena resident Bia Plake said. “But, I think, you know, it was the right amount, they didn’t say there would be a catastrophe, but they really warned people to be prepared.”

Mixed reactions also surfaced in the aftermath of the storm, from expressions of relief to complaints of overhyping and media sensationalism.

“I feel like we didn’t know what was gonna happen… People are saying “hurricane,” and then it’s actually a tropical storm, so you prepare for a hurricane but we’ve never had a hurricane before…,” an anonymous South Pasadena resident said. “The media made it sound a lot worse than it really was. And I think that caused a lot of overreactions.”

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

THEESTABLISHED TIGER 1913 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

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OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HANNA BAE MANAGING EDITORS ELLIE NAKAMURA, Print BENJAMIN REGAN, Online NEWS ETHAN KWAK, Editor OPINION LINDA YUN, Editor FEATURE MORGAN SUN, Editor SPORTS ROSE VANDEVELDE, Editor DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER, Editor ISOLE KIM, Editor PHOTOGRAPHY SAMANTHA SHIROISHI, Editor COPY CLEMENTINE EVANS, Editor RALUCA TUDUSCIUC, Editor BUSINESS AND ADS ADA BORREDON, Editor KATE LIU, Staff Ads Manager STAFF WRITERS ZOE CHEN ABIGAIL KIM CLAIRE MAO SONYA SHIMPOCK SOLANA SINGER PHOTOGRAPHERS ZOE CHEN RACHEL (SHIN-HYE) CHOI SUNNY (SUN HYE) CHOI EMIKO ESSMILLER KAITLYN LEE LINDA YUN ILLUSTRATORS SUNNY (SUN HYE) CHOI HEEJOON (JOON) LEE ISABELLE WONG PAGE DESIGNERS OLIVIA CHIN SOPHIE MERTZEL SOLANA SINGER FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES VOL. 110 NO. 1 DISTRIBUTED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2023.

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AP is ironically paraded and discouraged SPHS’s dichotomy with AP classes leaves students on a tightrope.

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P classes, as daunting as they are, are relatively popular at SPHS. Although three AP courses during the school year are considered as “most rigorous” by SPHS’s school profile, it would not be bold to claim that most upperclassmen take three APs, if not more. SPHS is no stranger to academic excellence. It is a place where ambition thrives and students push the boundaries of their intellectual capacity. Despite its high-achieving atmosphere, the school seems to harbor a complex relationship with the number of AP classes students are encouraged to take and how they are treated while taking these courses.

SPHS’s guidance on AP course loads appears to straddle the line between discouraging overextension and encouraging academic exploration. While there is an apparent effort to limit the number of AP courses students can take, with a recommendation of two or three at most, there’s also a puzzling allowance for students to enroll in four or even five AP courses. Although SPHS cannot technically cap the number of AP classes a student can take, many students do successfully enroll in more than three AP courses a semester. This dichotomy creates confusion among students about the acceptable level of rigor they should be aiming for.

The structure of the school’s scheduling often creates countless conflicts and only frustrates students and counselors alike. AP classes frequently share the same time slots, leading to scenarios where students are placed in regular classes simply because the AP class they desire is only offered in one period, a period that is competing with other courses. This rigidity leaves students feeling thwarted in their academic pursuits, unable to access the courses that align with their aspirations.

“I had signed up for advanced dance, Bodily Interventions (BI), AP Statistics (Stats), AP Environmental Science (APES), ASB, pep, AP Gov,” senior Wendi Zhang said. “Then, I learned that APES, BI, and AP Stats would be either [second]or [fourth] while advanced dance is [second] period and ASB is [fourth] period and cannot be changed.”

Zhang expressed frustration with her ultimate decision, one that was not an ideal situation.

“I had to choose between APES, BI when I’ve been in the pathway since my freshman year, and AP Stats… I had to put academics first so I couldn’t even consider dance. So, I ended up dropping APES and AP Stats and chose BI because I wanted to finish the pathway,” Zhang said. “I want to go into STEM, so I wanted to take science so I was put into AP Physics, which is fine, but not exactly the science

I wanted to take. As a result, I have to take math outside of school, and I dropped AP classes that I wanted to take.”

SPHS and its counseling staff emphasize the importance of students attending four-year universities. This positions them as champions of student success. Yet a paradox emerges when their efforts to prevent student overexertion seem to undermine the very goal they’re striving to achieve. The school’s approach often comes across as contradictory, sending mixed messages to students about the extent to which they should challenge themselves.

Some students opt for alternative paths to supplement their education as the desire for academic distinction persists. Faced with a lack of honors options, some may turn to online platforms like Edgenuity or enroll in classes at a local community college.

These alternatives are sought out not because students are uninterested in the school’s offerings, but rather because they seek a more tailored education that aligns with their passions and ambitions, while also succumbing to pressures to overload with AP classes. As students pile on academic coursework, paired with extracurricular activities like sports, volunteering, or even CTE work, overbearing ideas of “success” found beyond the classroom consume them. Students lose interest in their personal aspirations and succumb to predetermined fountains of “success.”

“A lot of students don’t take academics seriously because academics don’t take them seriously,” Commissioner of Academics, senior Katherine Tam said.

It is imperative for SPHS to evaluate its approach to academic rigor and student support in light of these paradoxes. Striking a balance between pushing students to excel and providing them with choices that align with their goals is essential. The school could benefit from offering more flexible scheduling options, ensuring that students can access the courses they desire without sacrificing their academic journey.

The need for a more coherent and supportive academic structure becomes apparent as the pursuit of academic excellence continues to drive students at SPHS. By providing clearer guidance on AP course loads, implementing flexible scheduling solutions, and genuinely empowering students to shape their own educational paths, the school can overcome the paradoxes it currently faces.

SPHS has the opportunity to be a place where rigor and choice harmonize, allowing students to thrive academically while staying true to their individual aspirations.

Boos & Bravos Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the month of September

BRAVOS

BOOS BOO to civilization. Take me back to hunting-gathering.

BRAVO Bravo to Guts. Every guy I like IS gay.

BOO to boiling water. You will be mist

BRAVO to Donald Trump’s mugshot. I love scaring children.

BOO to the crowded cafeteria entrance. I love getting shoved every now and then with a rock-hard backpack.

BRAVO to Imogen Heap for Hide and Seek. I see you, girl.

BOO to Oppenheimer. You fascist.

BRAVO to me. I’m so real for doing this every day.

BOO to Barbie. You fascist.

BRAVO to Noble Jones. You are six feet tall!!

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN & EMIKO ESSMILLER

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

OPINION

Liberalism needs reinvention, not excuses With liberalism at a crossroads, the Democratic Party must search for new talent.

STORY LINDA YUN ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

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he Grand Old Party is very grand and very old. In an attempt to appeal to young voters, fresher faces have crawled onto the projectors of national television.

When 2024 presidential nominees squared off in the first presidential primary, one energetic man with a self-proclaimed “funny last name” stood out — the expressive and hard-to-forget Vivek Ramawamy. While his contributions to Milwaukee can be best described as articulately ignorant, his persona as the next Trump is a strategic Republican effort at protecting the 45th president — their best shot at the White House.

The Democratic campaign trail has given us little in personability. By contrast to the Republicans, the Democratic nominee pool lacks a twinge of flavor.

Without their own Ramaswamy for publicity stunts, the Democratic Party begins to look like the angel on the shoulder, defeating injustice one rational suggestion at a time. The problem? The angel on the shoulder rarely gets its way.

Liberalism is losing its vitality. Besides vaguely referring to the American Democratic Party, liberalism is the defining feature of any modern democracy. However, its principles are under siege from right-wing populists and a sense of blockage and stagnation. The Democratic Party’s vision for America’s future relies too heavily on its hopes of defeating its opponents in the courtroom.

Instead, it should look inward to reinvent itself and make good its promises of freedom and equality.

The roots of liberalism as we know it today get their definition from the Cold War. In response to the Great Depression, President Roosevelt made a promise of liberalism that would “unshackle humanity.” At its

most visionary, liberalism meant the government’s duty was to help people overcome oppression for the sake of a better future. However, after the Cold War ended, the liberalism of wartime became seen as a rejection of the optimism that flourished before the first bullets were fired. The tank in liberalism’s public image is a premature assumption that people emerge from a crisis as the same person as they were when they first experienced it. In reality, people adapt to conflicts.

Because ideologies are man-made, it is vain to try to reverse our innovations when better ones have already taken their place. After all, this is the heart of liberalism.

It was natural for the U.S. to fear the new configuration of liberalism. After all, as the Communists took over China and Eastern Europe fell behind the Iron Curtain in the late 1940s, liberalism got latched onto its swear word, socialism. Yet, despite their associations, we are not living in the 1940s. After Trump won the election of 2016, a referendum on liberalism revived the popularity of the philosophy and recognized its potential. Like all traditions, liberalism is not take it or leave it. The very fact that its definition transformed so much during the Cold War means that it is malleable enough to be transformed again, this time to our choosing.

Transforming liberalism means looking inward among the Democratic Party. In fact, a news anchor might say, America has never been as divided as it is today. While some divisiveness is natural in a democracy, liberal beliefs in areas like social and environmental justice receive an unnecessary amount of backlash. While the extreme partisan divide we are witnessing in the political right seems like an everyday occurrence, it has consequences that threaten to undermine democracy itself. Many on the right do not have a firm set of guiding principles; they are simply opposed to whatever destination the progressives are heading towards.

Liberalism is far from distant — its fate lies in our hands.

As an American political party, it needs the same advice as any other lot — unity, cohesion, level-headedness.

But for the belief to truly be nurtured and represented in the political atmosphere, the Democratic Party needs to truly appeal to its voters. The vision of liberalism in America can only be realized when Democratic values are repackaged to both wholly representative of the beliefs of its constituents. For students, this means putting ourselves out there, as uncomfortable as it might be, and being concise with our activism.

Doing the bare minimum is not a moral failing symbol of apathy. Instead, consciously investing less in something otherwise insignificant is a telltale sign of true productivity in the things that matter most. The conservation of the rhythm of human life lies in proper time management.

Putting in the bare minimum allows more time to be allotted to other things that rank higher on the priority list, and less time is wasted on necessary but conventional things. There is no point in spending time on something one does not truly care about. Similarly, not being fully invested in conventional obligations does not make one a bad person.

STORY ELLIE NAKAMURA ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG The idealization of a life of constant productivity has made the checkbox inadequate. Thanks to modern expectations, doing the bare minimum is no longer passing. It is shameful and underwhelming to contribute just enough.

The internal set of expectations one possesses to deem an environment safe leads to anxiety when these standards are not met. Rather than maintaining a balance between productivity and crucial relaxation, rest is neglected to quell anxiety when a situation is unfamiliar at the expense of one’s self-worth. While, many often consider the bare minimum a moral failing, striking the balance between self-investment and self-care is necessary for preserving one’s health and wellbeing.

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Romanticizing AP Gov I have existential dread. I think every teenager does, at least to some extent. And I think lying awake in bed at 2 a.m. the day before your first day of senior year questioning every single decision you’ve made up until that point has to be a universal experience. As cliché as it is, I’m terrified for my senior year.

I understand that I’m filling every romanticized scenario in a budget Dreamworks high school drama, but none of it is truly romantic. How romantic is it trying to get by seventh period AP Computer Science?

How romantic is it taking photos alone as a token senior in Photo 1/2? How romantic is it spending hours staring

The formula for getting ahead is simple and severe — one must go above and beyond to be exceptional. This is often at the expense of one’s mental, social, and physical wellbeing. Amid caffeine-fueled breakdowns and daunting blank spaces on resumes, the bar for success is sky high and only becoming more unreachable. This diminishes the idea that achieving the bare minimum is, to say the least, sufficient. By definition, it means allocating the least possible amount of energy to complete a task.

Completion itself should be seen as enough if the person carrying it out is content with the work they have done.

The expectation that one should expend their full effort in all aspects of their lives sets an assumption of laziness that makes them less valuable. However, putting less effort into something is not always a

at a blank document trying to come up with an outline for my UC Personal Insight Questions? How romantic is it saying goodbye to the people I cherish most?

I had one last dinner with my graduated friends a couple of weeks ago, almost like our last “hurrah.” Even if we were short one person (you know who you are), it was arguably the weirdest I had felt in a really long time. These people — they’re like a brand new battery. I’m refreshed when I’m with them, and a certain warmth fills my heart as I head home at the end of the day. Yet, as I’m writing this, they’re all on planes, in cities across the country, in dorm rooms on unfamiliar campuses, looking forward to only God knows what.

I’m not even the one moving across the country; why am I uneasy?

I like to say that I’m well-versed in my circles, even if I’m not integral to those circles myself. I have friends that reach far and wide, but maybe not as deep. As people that I consider to be some of my closest friends begin to leave physically, it almost feels like they’re leaving emotionally.

They’re all on different paths in life — at least, very different from mine. I’m here — still here — on this

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Students fall victim to this mentality due to the growing emphasis on sheer abundance rather than intellectualism in college applications. It is no longer acceptable to do just the bare minimum; ironically, it is not enough to ensure a sufficient evaluation of character on behalf of teachers. The scarcity of truly standing out, due to the surplus of overachievers, creates the idea that it is shameful to be anything less than both intelligent and indefatigable.

Doing the bare minimum is not a moral failing. It is putting in just enough energy to not suffer the consequences of literal failure and leaving room for other tasks that are prioritized higher and are more meaningful. We should all muster up the courage and mindfulness to at least give mediocrity a try. In the end, doing the minimum might help us find goals that are worth our maximum. little campus in this little town. They’re off there – all the way there – on those big campuses in those big cities. It’s only natural that they have a new start and I wrap up mine. But, I can’t help but feel discarded.

Maybe it was my mistake of sticking so close to people who would inevitably leave much sooner than I anticipated. Maybe it was my mistake to reach beyond my intimate and immediate circles. But I don’t want that to be the case.

As I grapple with a weird in-between of grief and fear, I like to say that I’ve matured. Maybe high school isn’t all about life-long friendships and deep connections. Maybe that type of relationship is further down the line, and maybe not in my AP Microeconomics class.

It’s the expectation of high school being the best four years of my life that consumes me, and it’s my desperation trying to hold onto these predetermined tropes to feel a sense of security that almost holds me back. Ultimately, that’s the romanticization of my last year of high school. Holding onto these last “firsts” and last “lasts.” I only get to be a senior once, and as corny as it may sound, I’ll hold onto every bit.

Maybe I’ll start romanticizing AP Gov.

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

OPINION

7

Writers Guild of America: end the strike A union of writers went on strike on May 2. However, striking might not be their best option.

STORY CLAIRE MAO ILLUSTRATION HEEJOON (JOON) LEE

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he Writers Guild of America strike has been dominating the entertainment headlines since summer. Composed of roughly 11,500 writers hailing from across the globe, the Writers Guild of America, often abbreviated as WGA, finds itself immersed in the midst of its third-longest strike to date, which commenced on May 2.

The strike stems from a variety of concerns, most prominently sparked by the end of the writers’ contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on May 1. In effect, the broken contract delayed many long-term Hollywood projects, such as the next “Avatar” movies.

The WGA now advocates for a multifaceted set of demands due to the need for higher compensation.

Additionally, WGA promotes safeguards such as setting a minimum number of writers for each project and establishing parameters for their tenure in order to provide protection from the precarious nature of projects, some of which may never air. The concern of AI technologies replacing writers has also cast uncertainty over strikers’s future employment, intensifying their call for protection and job security.

The Writers Guild Strike of 2023, despite its historic magnitude, may be harming workers as opposed to helping them. Progress toward a resolution seems elusive as both AMPTP and WGA remain at a lack of consensus on the terms of their negotiation. Although compromises have been made between WGA and AMPTP, the guild demands to have all their requests agreed upon, not just a few. AMPTP rejected counteroffering for weekly pay towards writers and refused to reward programs that obtain more viewership.

There were some counters from AMPTP, such as the employment length, but WGA has also rejected those.

Continuing the WGA strike is pointless. If writers continue this strike, they would have a much more deleterious aftermath as opposed to accepting what is already being compromised. While it remains undeniably important for the writers’ demands to be met, the path of the ongoing strike seems counterproductive. Should writers choose to prolong the strike, they risk facing far more detrimental consequences than accepting the already-negotiated compromises. Over time, writers may deplete their financial resources and even forfeit their health insurance coverage, which is provided for workers affiliated with AMPTP. Truant work from writers will diminish their wages in no time. By October, studios and AMPTP workers predict

that writers will deplete all money. Without money, writers will be incapable of paying bills, in addition to paying for daily necessities. Losing finances is critical, but losing health insurance is also detrimental.

Missing work also results in the lack of fringe benefits, such as worker’s health insurance. Those who collaborate with AMPTP are given a vast variety of insurance. These include medical, hospital, dental, prescription, vision, wellness, and life insurance. However, the ongoing strike and lack of work will make health insurance benefits no longer be available to them.

Perhaps a more pragmatic approach could involve accepting some compromises in the short term, while retaining the capacity to press for additional concessions in the long run. An offer AMPTP countered was the use of artificial intelligence; WGA demanded that AI cannot write or rewrite literal material. Although the alliance rejected that particular offer, they countered by having annual meetings about technological developments.

WGA can use this as a stepping stone, and in future meetings discussing AI, writers can bring up their current offer that was rejected.

This strategy would not only safeguard immediate financial stability and health insurance but also provide a platform for continued negotiations towards achieving the broader goals of the WGA. Writers’ concerns for AI come from a necessary place, but it is ultimately unfounded. Concerns for AI are

understandable, as they do not want their occupation snatched even though AI is incapable of that. Currently, writers have no cause for alarm. Humans infuse their sentiments and past experiences into their writing, and in contrast, AI retrieves information from the internet, lacking genuine thought or affective perceptions. A robot’s writing will not express itself the same way people formulate themselves.

Writers will have the opportunity to consider accepting compromises in the midst of the ongoing strike.

Current AI technologies have not reached a level of advancement that can entirely displace them from their jobs. Acknowledging this, writers can shift their focus towards long-term planning, aiming for better protection and security in their employment. By temporarily yielding to certain demands and engaging in constructive negotiations, writers can not only secure immediate stability but also position themselves to advocate for even more robust safeguards in the future.

The strike must come to an end. More repercussions will arise if the writers strikes have no end. Rather than accepting the current compromises, writers will be terminated from their health insurance, which covers many medical fields. As a result, the writers have two paths: one, accept compromises made with AMPTP; this will take some advantages away while still giving both sides what they want. Or two, continue striking and make no covenant, eventually leading to repercussions that will far outweigh the demands they are wrangling for.

The digital SAT is a bandaid on a bullet hole STORY LINDA YUN ILLUSTRATION SUNNY (SUN HYE) CHOI

that is mistaken for accessibility and another symptom of CollegeBoard’s monopoly on education.

The SAT is the Mount Everest of the SPHS upperclassman. However, the digital transformation is equipping students with another option — the digital SAT. With our entrance into the digital age, test takers have put down their 2B pencils. Instead, they are turning on their Digicams and reaching for the keyboard for the digital alternative. Not only are students transitioning to a nontraditional test, but their efforts are part of a larger “shift” that is one of the many changes to college admissions. While the growing prominence of digital SATs is an ode to flexibility, it is a gesture of digitization

The SAT needs no introduction. The three-hour and 15-minute exam is a standardized test taken by high school students who are applying to colleges and universities in the United States. The exam consists of two components, mathematical and verbal, each of which is evaluated on a point system between 200 and 800. With 1.7 million high school students lined up in testing centers, the SAT has become an integral part of the college admissions process.

The digital SAT is substantially shorter than its predecessor — it will last two hours and 14 minutes instead of three hours. Besides a shorter test, the digital SAT provides students with 12 more seconds for each question. While the 12 extra seconds are not a free ticket to a perfect score, the difference in scoring will more accurately reflect on the skills of the student and less on the student’s test-taking speed.

The switch to digital calls calls into question whether college admissions tests are fair (or even necessary) and reflects the growing belief that applicants must be evaluated holistically. The all-digital SAT formal for USbased students in spring of 2024 is one of the many major changes CollegeBoard has made in recent years. The wheel of college admissions has slowly turned to meet the demands of students across the world. CollegeBoard would never admit it, but the introduction of the digitized SAT undoubtedly has something to do with many institutions becoming test-optional.

The digital SAT will be more predictable than its handwritten predecessor, as each testaker will receive a unique set of questions. The change reflects the changing expectations that the SAT and standardized testing in general should be lower-stakes, and admits that traditional forms of the test handicap minority students and students who do not have access to expensive forms of test preparation. However, the digital SAT does not effectively reconcile any of these issues.

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN

One target is rural students. While unveiling the digital test, CollegeBoard promises to “address inequities in access to technology.” Yet, access to devices is the least of districts’ concerns, especially after a pandemic proliferated laptops and tablets across the country. Providing rural students with a laptop on test day the SAT will not reverse the disadvantage of poverty nor magically give rural students access to the well of expertise that students paying for test-prep have at their fingertips. Making the SAT more equitable requires much more than the promise of closer testing sites.

The move to digital is a strategic one from CollegeBoard.

Since SAT test takers have dropped from 2.2 million in the class of 2020 to 1.5 million in the following year, the COVID-19 pandemic has proved that anything is possible.

It is only reasonable to assume that CollegeBoard wants to safeguard the lucrative SAT from lockdowns of any kind in the future. While this move makes the tests more accessible for some students, the increased access to tests means more students paying $60 registration fees, ultimately resulting in more cash lining the pockets of CollegeBoard executives.

Testaking will result in a massive industry, regardless of whether institutions go test-optional (and thereby whether the SAT is digital or on paper). With the change to digital, CollegeBoard seems to be taking a stab at a problem that is irrelevant to most. Instead of reinventing the SAT to meet the standards of 21st century counselors, families, and students, and doubling down on what they refer to as “student-friendly changes,” the shift seems to only be CollegeBoard-friendly. At the end of the day, students will still be answering the same questions in a different format; the test is just easier to deliver.

The rocky climb of the SAT is not a two-dimensional cartoon. The introduction of the digital SAT is not a supersized drill. It will not carve out a tunnel with the perfect dimensions for smooth sailing. Albeit a shorter test, the change will certainly not erase the reality of college admissions for students across the globe.

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Paid programs transcend college admissions STORY HANNA BAE PHOTO HANNA BAE

While not every participant may experience such fundamental shifts, for some, these programs become catalysts for personal growth.

High schoolers across the nation embark on an array High schoolers across the nation embark on an array of summer programs, each with their own distinctive atmosphere and focus as the sweltering summer heat takes over.

These programs have transcended the superficial realm of resume enhancement. Although a factor of my participation in my various summer programs was to bolster my college applications, I emerged as a changed person.

While the motivations for participating in these programs are diverse, a common thread runs through them all: the aspiration to attend a “good” college and savor that quintessential college experience. However, the true worth of these programs extends far beyond the surfacelevel goal of bolstering college applications.

The depth of learning, exposure to diverse perspectives, and the challenges of independence can reshape one’s outlook on the world. These programs are not just about acquiring knowledge; they are about developing leadership skills, nurturing resilience, and fostering the kind of adaptability required to become a change-maker in an increasingly complex world.

“I keep up the momentum from the school year and expand on my interests outside of school… to help with college applications and overall life experience,” one senior said in a survey conducted by Tiger. “It can also be really fun to utilize these experiences that we may not have time for over the school year.”

One undeniable incentive for high schoolers to participate in summer programs is their potential to enhance college applications and resumes.

Especially when these programs are selective or prestigious, they signal to colleges that the applicant is not only academically capable but also willing to take on the challenges of a college environment, even during the summer months as a high schooler It’s a way to demonstrate commitment and readiness for the academic rigors of higher education.

The profound value of summer programs lies in the transformative experiences they offer. Beyond the checkbox on a resume, these programs have the potential to change lives.

Many summer programs share a noble intention behind the façade or resumeboosting: to cultivate leaders and changemakers. It is about fostering a generation of individuals who are not merely academically competent but also socially aware and deeply engaged in the world around them.

These programs aim to empower students to tackle real-world challenges, instilling in them a sense of responsibility and a desire to make a positive impact.

Expectations of summer STORY ROSE VANDEVELDE ILLUSTRATION SUNNY (SUN-HYE) CHOI The long-awaited start of June typically marks the last of homework, classes, and academic pressure for the next two and half months for many high school students. For others, however, deadlines and homework are replaced with expectations of jobs, internships, and summer programs.

While these opportunities are undeniably valuable, the pressure on high school students to be productive during the summer for the purpose of a college application detracts from the positive experiences that students can experience solely during the summer.

Summer often conjures fleeting memories of sunshine, beaches, and a release from the demands of school.

While this time can seem like nothing more than a funfilled break, the benefits that summer provides cannot be discounted. Activities like traveling and working a summer job are known to decrease stress, improve creativity, and build resilience.

But when days of relaxation, valuable life experiences, and fun experiences are discarded in favor of academic pursuits, the delicate balance of summer can be thrown off. This balance is necessary for student’s mental wellbeing, and it is necessary for preserving the positive effects that summer can have.

By no means should programs that are academically focused be viewed as negative experiences. However, the pressure to takes these programs solely for college can be harmful in itself, and is part of a larger “collegeoriented” mindset.

This mindset can have profound, and often negative effects on students’ mental health – a mindset that many South Pasadena students know all too well. SPHS, a school that constantly performs highly on testing, is known for its culture of academic excellence.

This drive to preform academically is in part caused by the pressure to match peers, and fuels rigorous academic standards. Following these trends of

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The value of summer programs’ true value extends much further, even though the pressure to secure a spot at a prestigious college often

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High school students flock to summer programs for a myriad of reasons. Some wish to delve into a field they are passionate about, experiencing an immersive exploration of their chosen subject. Others are drawn to the allure of college life itself, craving a taste of independence. For many, it is about meeting like-minded peers, forming friendships that bridge geographic boundaries and last a lifetime. Some seek to attend specialized courses and earn college credits before they even graduate high school.

drives high schoolers to enroll in them. These programs are not just stepping stones to an illustrious alma mater; they are transformative journeys of self-discovery and personal growth. Their intention is to make leaders and changemakers at the end of the day, and in some cases, that goal is well accomplished.

Students have a m spend their summe SPHS students’ sum they embark on diff

excellence, AP – advanced placement – participation was found by the US News Best High School Rankings to be 69 percent, and the school was overall ranked 41 in the nation.

Focus on getting into “good” colleges does not end over the summer with a high-performing student body. Every year, students take online and in-person summer school classes for various reason, including to “get ahead,” relieve some of the following year’s workload, and meet prerequisites for AP classes. Other students apply for internships, take jobs and travel abroad on summer programs.

Students are faced with important decisions over the summer, earlier and earlier, and are pressured to sacrifice weeks of time to just stay on track.

Choices between which classes to take in order tomanage schedules, which programs look the best on college applications, and which job is worth the hours are just some of the worries that plague students over the summer.

Often, it can seem that time for rest and relaxation is expendable, and unimportant in the face of everything else that could be accomplished.

An anonymous student who took two classes over the summer described their experience as “more stressful than school,” and cited the college “resume” as a reason for taking it. The pressures that academic activities over the summer incur may be felt differently from person to person, but the existence of these pressures are

definite, as are the negative effects.

The summer requires balance, as with any other time throughout life, and time for relaxation should be considered just as important as the time spent working towards academic goals.

The counterproductive pressure to do more and more for college harms, rather than benefits, students’s health and experiences over the summer.

Instead of adding activities to one’s summer experience, we should aim to cut them back to enrich our summer experiences.

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

9

Student summer travels and vacations STORY ETHAN KWAK ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG SPHS students spent their time this past summer scattered all over the world. Of the 118 respondents from a recently conducted Tiger survey, 93.2 percent

traveled outside of South Pasadena and 61.9 percent of students traveled outside California. A sizable fraction of the SPHS student body, approximately 31.4 percent of students, ventured overseas.

Vacations are not only an opportunity to rewind in between stressful years packed with academic and extracurricular pressure, but also an opportunity for new experiences. Whether by bus, plane, or boat, students embarked on a plethora of journeys. An increase in free time allows many students to choose between vacations and academic pursuits. While productivity can be important to success at school, vacations should be seen as an extended brain break.

“I went to Europe for a month. It was great because I am a dual citizen — I’m a French citizen as well so a lot of my family lives in France, so I visit them a lot in the summers,” senior Alyssa Rocca said.

“It’s a great chance to relax because I get stressed a lot from school…

You get to travel to new places, meet new people, experience new cultures, [and] eat new foods.”

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mirgae of ways to ers. Tiger explores mmer experiences as fferent endeavors.

STORY BENJAMIN REGAN PHOTO INSTAGRAM From the last bell of the school year in June to the first period of a new year in August, most think of a summer as just that: a vacation. Traveling, experiencing the thrills of a new place, and turning the beach plans in the group chat into a reality makes for a rewarding, refreshing, and adrenalinepacked break from the strain of the school year. However, s

ESSMILLER & ISOLE KIM

Taking a break from school in the form of a vacation does not just include flights or a stereotypical day at a fancy resort.

Popular destinations included Los Angeles and Las Vegas, as well as trips up and down the coast with pit stops in San Francisco, Irvine, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Malibu.

Several students also traveled to Anaheim for Disneyland. Many students visited the beach as well.

Students attended summer camps on Catalina Island and extracurricular programs around Southern California. A percentage of students also left California to pursue vacations and experiences beyond. Hawai’i was a common instance, as well as New York City. Other destinations included Alaska, Michigan, Seattle, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Wyoming, and New Jersey.

Trips to Europe particularly dominated the overseas adventures of many students, with Southeast Asia taking a close second. Other highlights of Europe included family tours of Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, and Germany. One student enjoyed Finland, Amsterdam, Italy, and the UK for a few weeks before returning to South Pasadena.

Japan is the most popular of the Southeast Asia journeys, with Taiwan and China tied for second. Bolivia is an outlier; the only South American country repeatedly vacationed in.

Other highlights beyond the U.S. included Canada, Mexico, and the Balkan Peninsula which includes Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Not all of the SPHS travelers necessarily vacationed, with roughly 66.4 percent of the surveyed students vacationing this past summer. Senior Sharon Cho vacationed at a hotel in Bolivia. Freshman Jayden Lee traveled Mexico and vacationed in San Diego.

“I traveled to Shaver Lake in California, five hours outside of South Pasadena, and Chicago,” senior Eloise Wilson said.

The following SPHS students also shared their individual experiences with Tiger. Freshman Evan Encinas vacationed in Yosemite. Junior Sharon Cho vacationed in Oahu and San Francisco. Junior Brandon Woo traveled to Northern California, Colorado, Taiwan, and Japan. “[My favorite thing is] visiting family because I don’t see them often. This was my first time going to Rome and I saw [the Colosseum] at night,” Rocca said. “In Italy, [my favorite place to go was] Florence. It’s so beautiful. It’s like the underrated version of Rome. It is gorgeous.

The architecture is beautiful…it just feels like you’re surrounded with history. I think that’s the wonder of traveling, that you can visit the past.”

The merit of summer jobs students look disfavorably upon the exhilarating summers of their classmates and dismiss them as lazy or unproductive. These people, whether pushed by societal or parental pressures or by their own accord or enjoyment, take advantage of the months without school to take additional classes, attend summer programs, or build a resume. They look to maximize productivity and use their summers to prepare for the upcoming school year. This is not to say a productive summer is miserable, a necessary sacrifice of potential summer relaxation that will pay off in the future. Any form of improvement (academic, athletic, musical, etc) can enrich one’s life with confidence.

There are also students who emphasize a balance between accomplishment and entertainment, using June, July, and the beginning weeks of August to both enjoy vacation and put themselves in a favorable position for the upcoming year through their ensuing collegiate undertakings.

Athletes may embrace the extra time by lifting weights, improving their games, and looking to earn a coveted spot on their teams. In their strive to accomplish their goal of athletic progress, the satisfaction of improving creates a sense of productivity and gratification. Others may scatter college tours amongst their vacations, which is an enjoyable opportunity to explore a new area while also evaluating the values of higher education. Suffice to say, there are many ways to spend a summer.

Rapidly approaching adulthood, high school students have more freedom over their summers than middle or elementary schoolers. Parents obviously still have control over their kids’ summers. They are the ones arranging

vacations and planning events and they will always have the final say. Nevertheless, high school students can choose how they want their summer to unfold, whether they choose to relax or prioritize productivity.

There is a third possible way to spend the summer: working a job and making money. This endeavor blends valuable real-world experience with oftentimes one’s first taste of a consistent stream of income. Earning money brings about a sense of accomplishment. More importantly, it promotes responsibility, smart decisions, and eases the transition into adulthood. Many people want real-world skills like taxes addressed in education, but financial management can be learned by getting a job. And a job, unlike school, isn’t hypothetical: it is real-life experience. High schoolers equipped with relevant and pressing knowledge of how to handle financials are likely to see that information serve them past graduation. By having a foundation of money that can cover lunch with friends and gas prices, high school students get to tap into the blessing and the curse that is freedom. In most cases, when not abused, freedom is an essential step of high school that prepares for college and beyond.

Working behind the counter is a popular choice for high school students looking to profit over the summer. It teaches communication skills, with co-workers and customers, and organization skills that come with taking orders. Problemsolving skills are sharpened in the workplace, and the demands of timeliness are felt with repercussions more severe than grades. Even the simplicity of friendliness can be polished when working in that type of environment.

Working a summer job brings money in the short term, but it also brings experience and expertise in the long term.

It is the ideal combination of a productive and enjoyable summer.

The summer is the same length for everyone, but no two summers look the same. Between their freshman and sophomore years before school gets serious, between their sophomore and junior years when college becomes closer to a reality than a far-off thought, and between their junior and senior years when the post-high school future is imminent, students get to choose what they want their summer to be. A summer of working can be the best way to spend it.

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

FEATURE

Charlotte’s Web CHARLOTTE DEKLE

Arial Font There’s an iconic scene in the iconic BBC television show “Sherlock” in the iconic episode “The Hounds of Baskerville” that has become somewhat of a meme. The scene depicts the titular sleuth venturing inside his mind palace to decipher the cryptic secret of a government laboratory that he stumbled upon. In typical Sherlock fashion, he dramatically puts his fingers to his temples and gesticulates wildly, swiping away pictures, the national motto of France, Elvis’ Hound Dog and other phrases in Arial font to solve the puzzle.

Seniors display art in LA Artcore Two SPHS seniors showcased their art in the LA Artcore Museum.

STORY ABIGAIL KIM PHOTO COFFEE KANG, CONTRIBUTOR

Playgrounds. Park was influenced by his mother throughout his life and childhood.

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“I’ve been into art…probably my whole life,” Park said.

“My mom was also very into art back then.”

rom August 6 to August 9, Hajean Kim, Lumi Lee, and two SPHS seniors Joon Lee and Brandon Park displayed almost 30 works of art in the LA Artcore museum. The exhibition, titled Plastic Playgrounds, included works of all mediums, consisting of photography, ceramics, paintings, sculptures, and textiles. The four artists currently take classes at Drawwing Cabinet, an art studio located in La Crescenta.

LA Artcore is a non-profit organization that resides in the Union Center For The Arts in Little Tokyo. In 1993, the center was remodeled into what it is today, hosting not only LA Artcore but also East West Players, a theater group, and Visual Communications media, an organization designed to help AAPI filmmakers.

Additionally, LA Artcore has another location in the Brewery Arts Colony.

The opportunity to have their art displayed was made possible by Drawwing Cabinet’s Exhibition-Making class.

The four artists spent around four weeks coming up with a theme, connecting their works, making visuals for posters and coming up with the title.

The title of the exhibition, Plastic Playgrounds, alluded to a playground symbolizing growth and plastic indicating one’s easily moldable self. Although there were 29 unique works, they were all connected through the feelings of individuality, finding themselves, and ultimately finding the definition of their own playgrounds.

Lee’s exhibition revolved around his ten piece artwork, “Letters.” The 12 letters all address and reference key points of his world. For example, “Dear Pearl,” one of the letters, references a pearl he believes lives inside of him, defining him and his world. “[It represents] the importance of re-interpreting the world, as opposed to taking the pre-established definitions of it,” Lee said, “the letters contextualize my existence by recognizing my surroundings in my own interpretation.”

Also partaking in the exhibition was SPHS senior Brandon Park, who added 11 art pieces to Plastic

He got into art through various cartoons and animations and, as time went on, continued to be inspired by the human figure. He contributed works of oil, ceramic, charcoal, mixed media, and denim. Some of his more unconventional works include “Shattered Lanes,” a ceramic sculpture, and “Parkers Jeans,” a denim textile piece.

Many of Park’s works reminisce about his childhood and his family. He describes it as “memories I didn’t want to lose, family, and the connections everybody has together.”

This theme is centrally showcased in his painting “Room #105,” where he depicts his childhood room through oil on canvas. “Room #105” is actually the painting Park resonates with the most.

“I resonated the most with this work, since for me it summed up my life in that apartment and it feels the most real for me,” Park said.

Other works portray his childhood shopping center, his aunt’s house, and his old school bus, which all tie back to his central theme of keeping memories.

“The message I hope people can take away is to be more in tune with your memories and try not to forget where you come from,” Park said.

Park also uses his art to connect different generations and time periods. In “Parkers Jeans,” Park links his father’s old jeans to his friend’s new ones.

“I found this to be a very strong symbolic representation of the idea of ‘shared experiences’ across cultures and generations,” he said.

Both SPHS seniors plan on pursuing fine art in college.

Lee and Park hope to get into colleges to continue to learn and improve.

“My dream is to just do what I’m doing right now, have fun, and sell my paintings and arts,” Park said.

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When I initially watched this scene, I was in awe.

My 12-year-old brain could not compute such genius. My reverential viewing pattern continued through all three seasons when this similar mind palace conceit returns. My support of this series bled into my real-world interactions when I defended the quality to multiple groups of people in the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary. Do not get me wrong, I still view most of the show with a devout nostalgia and still find many sequences effective.

But in hindsight and at the end of a long day in France, I began to re-evaluate this scene.

I should have assumed that my tastes would evolve as I aged. For with age comes knowledge and with knowledge comes new worldviews. But this change in me seemed so glacial that I did not know it would come until it did.

So, in France, when this episode popped up on a French cable channel, I excitedly turned to my suitemates to express my love for the so-called genius episode. The episode was in French so they were going off of my recollection for the plot. When this scene began, I was clenching my fists with excitement. My suitemates, who were not dogged Sherlock-ians, did not see the genius of the scene.

They found it funny, and surprisingly, I did too.

Logically, the scene was exactly how I remembered it. The shots were the same, as were the cuts and Benedict Cumberbatch’s erratic hand motions. But emotionally, the scene did not feel the same. It felt cheaper, a facsimile of the one from my youth. Maybe I am more cynical now, but I did not wish to be.

Hindsight is a double-edged sword. I am slowly creeping towards adulthood, which I suspect will be a running theme in this year’s column space.

With adulthood comes freedom, which I have always craved. But with this freedom comes more intellectual curiosity and cynicism towards things I once enjoyed.

There was no feeling I wanted more than the one that the scene made me feel. Nostalgia is devastating sometimes. This show made me happy, once. Many things did. But as I am hurtling towards 18, I do not feel as if I have changed at all. I still feel like that bright-eyed 12-year-old who had never taken Math 3+. But if you are reading this Mr. McGough, I did not mean that last sentence.

At least I show growth in the sense that I can laugh at something I once admired. Obviously, this admiration did not dissipate completely, I am writing this column in Arial font.

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

FEATURE

11

Media’s romanticization of sex excludes asexuals The ubiquitous allure of sex in popular media promotes sparse representation of the asexual experience. an overwhelming presence in teen-oriented media.

Sex is regularly presented as a goal of the characters because it is seen as cool or grown-up. Many television shows marketed towards teens fall short of inclusive representation in order to highlight sex as something romantic and glamorous, perpetuating the sex standard and the trope that because characters are in love, they must have sex.

In recent years, the television industry has taken steps to increase diversity in both the character writing and the casting of their programs. With every new show released, we meet a cast even more inclusive of different races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations than the last. However, there are still holes in this method of diversity-dumping, and asexuality, unnoticed by most, often falls through the sieve.

“Sexuality is everywhere, and in every place that sexuality touches society, asexuality does too,” journalist Angela Chen writes in her book “Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex.”

STORY SOLANA SINGER ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG

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ex, once a taboo topic, is something we are all familiar with. From advertisements and song lyrics to verbal references and cinema, sex dominates its own vein of mainstream culture. Its enthusiastic portrayal, though well-intentioned after a decades-long struggle to end media censorship, can be damaging to the ideal of inclusive representation. To those who do not experience sexual attraction, the media’s characterization of sex and love as a package deal harms both self-image and collective diversity. Presenting sex as an essential aspect of love limits perspective; while this is true for many, it is not true for all.

Asexuality, not to be confused with a conscious choice like celibacy, is a sexual orientation describing people who experience limited to no sexual attraction. On the ace spectrum, sex ranges from being completely

unwanted to simply unnecessary in romantic relationships. However, love does not need sex. Aces can still experience entirely valid romantic feelings.

Not experiencing sexual attraction is not a lack of anything, because asexuality represents a full and complete identity.

It should be made clear that asexuals are not anti-sex.

Their existence is not a vilification of sexuality, or a case for the complete censorship of sexualized material.

Sexuality is a major facet of a whole intersectional identity for many, but it is important to note that despite how it is portrayed in the media, sex drive is not what makes a person love another person.

The media prioritizes sex. The prevalence of oversexualized material leads to the sex standard, assuming that love without it cannot possibly make sense — the same standard that governs conversations about modern romance. More specifically, sex has

If members of a community are constantly surrounded by a lack of portrayal, their community can easily be suffocated. There is a long way to go, but we need a reality in which people of all sexualities are able to see themselves broadly represented. Because of this, a dramatic increase in ace representation must be at hand.

“Positive portrayals of LGBTQ people in the media help to reduce feelings of social isolation and invisibility,” the Trevor Project’s research brief, “Fostering the Mental Health of LGBTQ Youth” says. “[R]esearch has found that portrayals of LGBTQ characters in popular media evoke hope and foster positive attitudes among LGBTQ youth.”

The spotty depiction of asexuality in the media pushes the agenda that there is only one way to love. The achievement of true inclusivity must exceed simply slapping on a couple minor ace friends. The message that love without sex is valid should be accessible to all so that everyone can see themselves in the media, and by extension, feel more comfortable with their identities.

In the final paragraph of her book, Chen leaves us with this: “The goal of ace liberation is simply the goal of true sexual and romantic freedom for everyone.”

Theatrical re-releases: Money-grubbing or seeking success?

STORY MORGAN SUN ILLUSTRATION ELLIE NAKAMURA Movies have been a prized commodity from their conception, once found in the cool recesses of the newly established theater. Modern times have since evolved to present movies to a wider audience, coming from VHS tapes and DVDs to easily accessible streaming services. However, the atmosphere of the theater has never changed, and studios take advantage of its quality compared to the subpar at-home experience to attract the masses. Oftentimes, film studios re-release movies to bait moviegoers back to the cushions of the theater — hook, line, and sinker.

When re-releasing a movie, the studio places the film back into circulation at the box office. Select theaters then run those movies again, allowing consumers another chance to watch. Both notable studios and indie studios can re-release their movies, but each has its own distinct connotations. In certain situations, re-releasing can be beneficial — both for the company and for the consumers. Most of the time, it oversaturates the market with far too many iterations of the same movie.

The re-releasing phenomenon has stretched back decades, since the age of silent films. Historically, movies were just repackaged with a different title and later released as a separate movie to capitalize off of earlier works. William Fox, the head of a film company that would later be known as Twentieth Century Fox, was adept at rebranding his movies to deceive his audience.

Starting as early as 1915, he began giving his studio’s old material new titles.

Smithsonian magazine described how the practice of illicitly re-releasing movies under a different title became illegal a couple of years later, by the New York State Superior Court. However, the Hollywood tradition continued; companies would squeeze out new sound versions of silent films, with added score, sound effects, and dialogue scenes.

Walt Disney is widely credited for the “seven year rule” in which his features reappeared every seven years to capitalize on the new generation of children. His savviness worked, with the company generally protective over its precious material and generating profit with every re-release. Studios retire titles while not in circulation, making them unavailable for a period of time, and reissue deluxe editions later on. These reproduced

“deluxe” editions can auction off quickly to dedicated fans, igniting a sense of nostalgia while introducing the picture to a separate and younger audience.

In the recent age, companies tend to re-release old material during eventful times with media coverage, whether it is a starring actor’s death or controversy.

Significant dates prove key in bringing the spotlight back on past works, especially with repertory anniversary screenings. The Phantom of the Opera, a 1986 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on the 1910 French novel, has been recreated several times in the past few decades. In the run of its musical, the 25th anniversary was commemorated at the stage performance in 2011 screened live around the world, with a movie version today.

Major studios, namely Disney, that have a monopoly over the current film industry rarely, if ever, need to use republishing as a means to new coverage. Nevertheless, they continue to re-release their blockbuster movies after a successful run at the box office. While the reasoning behind it is understandable — to gain profit from a previously thriving movie — they merely come down to a cash grab, hogging the spotlight from other potential films.

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On the flip side, indie films stand to break the barrier between the major production companies and their own low budget work through the means of re-releasing. If a motion picture has managed to make it to competitive levels with other dominant hits, re-releasing can give it a greater opportunity to stand out from the rather omnipresent and high-budget film from a major studio.

The battle beween Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and A24’s “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is a prime example of the advantages and disadvantages of rereleasing. The former had a vast budget and a sustained run through the box office, while the latter was previously overshadowed by its MCU multiverse counterpart — “Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Re-releasing an under-performing but promising film has entirely different connotations from the good ol’ fashioned money grab.

While the practice of re-releasing can represent covetous studios trying to make a quick buck, it can still bring viewers joy to rewatch beloved movies for the sake of entertainment or nostalgia. Movies are far more accessible now than they were decades ago, but nothing beats the professional surround sound of the movie theater’s atmosphere. If viewers choose to go, why not let them?

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

FEATURE

Anders Keith: the duality of man Alumni Anders Keith didn’t know how to be funny. But he has to pretend, like an actor does.

WWII pilot who had to drive a taxi, in which Hoffa gave the advice to imagine what it was like to fly the plane.

“That was most likely the moment that got me into Juilliard,” Keith said.

Although his experience was dampened by a full year of it being online, he was able to truly sharpen his senses and played some of the most challenging parts of his fledgling career, such as the dual role of Posthumus and Cloten in Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.

Also at Juilliard, Keith discerned what he wanted to get out of his acting career.

“If I had an overall goal, it would be to take this training and dedication and concentration to ‘illegitimate’ forms of entertainment,” Keith said.

STORY CHARLOTTE DEKLE PHOTO LINDA YUN

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hen SPHS alumni Anders Keith ‘18 saw a production of Hamlet at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, he found it funny. He describes the actor portraying Hamlet riffing on the Shakespeare text, imbuing humor into a famously depressing tragedy.

This merging of the comic and the tragic would set the stage both literally and metaphorically for his career, and more importantly, his career’s essence.

“Language of comedy was always a part of me and yet inside of me has always been very lonely, dark, depressing thoughts. I try to reconcile these two parts of myself when I try to act,” Keith said.

His external charm and buoyancy is apparent when you speak to him. The conversation flowed easily, beginning with anecdotes about the woodland creatures that he would create intricate worlds for at age six to his stance on the love triangle in The Summer I Turned Pretty (he is Team Conrad).

These connections may seem random, but they illustrate the broader point of his ethos: it’s not that serious.

Keith grew up in Granite Falls, Washington, surrounded by theater people. His grandfather was an actor in the Seattle Repertory Theater and his grandmother was a ballerina who attended Juilliard, Keith’s alma mater.

Keith recounts his first ever onstage role, spurred on by his grandparents who mistook his symptoms of ADHD for lack of school interest, in a play written by his grandparents, including one where he played comedy legend Groucho Marx.

“They sat me down and told me to be funny. But I didn’t know how to be funny,” Keith said.

But Keith honed his humorous skills in the crucible that is South Pasadena High School. He was not the most serious student, often preferring to joke with his classmates than turning his assignments in. But in acting, he gets paid to act on impulses and joke around.

“Had I been good at school, I probably would not have been an actor,” Keith said.

Taking acting a lot more seriously than his peers, Keith took his talents to the Juilliard School. He embedded some tactics that drama teacher Nick Hoffa taught to him for his audition, including a monologue about an injured

After graduation, Keith moved back to Los Angeles and moved in with his parents. Instead of taking a typical survival job, he decided to focus his time and energy on self tapes and acting classes. Due to this dedication, Keith landed a role in a Pasadena Playhouse production of the Pulitzer Prize finalist “The Sound Inside” a year out of college.

Keith’s roles seem to echo this divide within him, between the comedic shell and the dark interior. In “The Sound Inside,” Keith stars alongside Amy Brenneman as an Ivy League student, who he likens to himself in some ways. “[He is] funny, humorous in his own way and loves to banter but has a darker shadow. I didn’t know that was part of me,” Keith said. “In high school, you don’t know if you’re going to walk into class and be your shadow or walk into class and have a great time with your friends.”

Although Keith is serious about acting, he recognizes that it is supposed to be fun.

“If I do any work, it’s imagining. It’s important that [after rehearsal] your mom can call you for dinner and you … leave that imagination in a separate space,” Keith said. “I approach acting the same way a child approaches an action figure.”

With a quest to legitimize an illegitimate form of art, Keith wants to turn his attention to video games or cartoons and other forms of voice acting. Also, if the opportunity were to present itself, he wants to star in a Jenny Han biopic as Conrad.

Restoring horror films with bite-sized shorts STORY ELLIE NAKAMURA ILLUSTRATION SUNNY (SUN-HYE) CHOI Short horror films are a growing form of entertainment, thanks to their accessibility, which creates a community of smaller filmmakers combatting production limits.

Popularized by social media, this form of consumption relies on exposure via TikTok and YouTube especially.

Due to financial limitations and policies concerning production and distribution, it has become easier to debut short films on YouTube through platforms like Alter in comparison to well-known film studios.

Alter, the horror division of the independent studio Gunpowder and Sky, is a quickly popularized form of consuming media. Alter is made up of over 500 filmmakers and featured at film festivals like South by Southwest and Fantasia, supporting the development and distribution of horror films by individual creators.

These films are popularized due to being posted on YouTube with millions of views. Among those posted is Alter’s most-watched film “The Dollmaker.”

to an unnerving psychological piece of art. Devoid of jumpscares and blood-curdling creatures, the film relies on the humanity of unbridled grief that leaves the audience unable to look away. The dark themes are accentuated by the desaturated color palette and creative visuals.

The true merit of the film lies in its talented cast. Perri Lauren and Sean Meehan perfectly encapsulate the twisted morbidity of loss and how uncontrolled maternal grief can cause complete destruction. They have an appropriately detached mannerism complimenting the idea of avoiding loss. Meehan’s character brings a sense of reality to the film, as he questions the authenticity of the Dollmaker and attempts to keep his wife attached to reality as she spirals into an macabre attachment to the doll. Not to be ignored, Dan Berkey’s performance

British director Al Lougher’s “The Dollmaker” (2017) is an exploration of how the human desire to bring back the dead and forget the loss of a loved one can come at the expense of one’s connection to reality. Filled with disturbing depictions of maternal love torn apart by death and a nightmarish twist, the film focuses on a young couple, Jenna and Rick, who are struggling to cope with the complex emotions associated with losing their four year old son. They choose to visit the Dollmaker, a shady old man, who promises to fulfill their desires with one unavoidable catch.

“The Dollmaker,” despite lasting only 10 minutes, is filled with heart-wrenching performances and unreliable perspectives from the start. The scene opens with the gruesome shot of a boy in a coffin as the desperate voice of his mother and the invasive instructions of the Dollmaker are overheard. The coffin lid closes and opens to reveal an unsettling sewn doll nestled in a box in the child’s likeness, introducing the audience to the morbid nature of the film. The storyline is deceivingly simple but enriched by the complex emotions and unsettling psychological responses depicted in the film.

The combination of Federico Tamburini’s cinematography and the ominous soundtrack elevates the grim storyline

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as the Dollmaker sets the ominous tone of the film from the start and brings the story to life. It is easy to see why “The Dollmaker” is Al Lougher’s most popular work, as it includes a gratifying emotional depth and impressive depictions of transitive delusion to cope with grief within the short film.

“The Dollmaker” stands as a testament to the minimal resources required to beautifully portray complex storylines and emotion in cinema. The financial and material limits of producing films have been addressed by shorter screen time, with many lasting less than an hour, without sacrificing their intricacy and lasting effect on the audience. Independent directors deserve further coverage in the film industry to expand the content in the media today.

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

FEATURE

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TAAGLAA: Echo Park Lake TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

STORY VALENTINE BARKOFF, CONTRIBUTOR PHOTOS EMIKO ESSMILLER & SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

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cho Park, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, is filled with many gems. The most famous being the manmade lake and nature haven looking onto downtown LA. Many animals and birds call Echo Park Lake home.

It is also home to a variety of plant life, with a gated-off island made for plants and animal life to flourish. For visitors who want to explore and experience the lake, the beautiful swan boats are open every day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Echo Park is not just a lake, it is a neighborhood rich in culture and diversity.

from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday’s Best Thrift Apparel has a wide variety of clothing, jewelry, and accessories, as well as a few home items, such as trunks, magazines, and a vintage record player. However, leave your dog at home if you plan to visit because of the staff cat. The cat wanders around the store with all heads turning in its direction. The afternoon we came in, the cat was seen lounging on the cashier countertop with a line to take a photo in front.

Hey Hey, a flourishing bubble tea store located on Sunset Blvd, was just one of our many stops on our trip through the neighborhood. With a bright and vibrant atmosphere, despite the dark color palette of the space, locals chat with friends while others can be seen working on their laptops.

Down about a block is truly a one-of-a-lifetime place. The Time Travel Mart is a non-profit organization that tutors students and literary enthusiasts from ages 6 to 18. They sell to the past, present, and future a variety of objects and knick-knacks to meet any time traveler’s needs.

Objects such as dinosaur eggs, an emergency mummy kit — which was a roll of toilet paper — and a candle that smells like bread can be found here. The decor includes bits of all time periods, with donuts from 1985 and “lightning” coffee, as well as a board with yesterday’s and tomorrow’s news.

Next door is a charming queer Latinx woman-owned vintage store, with a special cat on duty. Open every day

Stories Books & Cafe neighbors The Time Travel Mart.

This tiny yet well-stocked bookstore is the perfect place

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to lose yourself for a few hours. It is incredibly curated with titles that will grab the eye. They have an amazing selection of composition notebooks with beautiful covers and well-bound spines. This spot is the perfect place to find a gift for anyone because they have so much variety.

The next block is home to Masa of Echo Park, a fabulous restaurant. The atmosphere of the place was so warm and full of life. It is a place for people-watching or going with a big group of friends or family. It is famous for its deep-dish pizza, which is incredible even if it takes about an hour to make. They have many options besides just pizza, as well as a vegan menu with much variety to choose from.

The Echo Park Lake was lit with pink light at dusk, and the sounds of geese and ducks could be heard throughout the park. Behind the water fountain at the end of the lake was the backdrop of downtown Los Angeles, slowly lighting up as the light dimmed from the sun. All over the lake are white swan boats paddling around, filled with families and friends. As light becomes dark, the lake becomes illuminated with the lighted swan boats.

It is a beautiful and romantic sight.

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TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

SPORTS

Ready to set, serve and dig into college Seniors Helena Foord and Jenna Garner look forward to committing to NYU and UPenn, respectively, looking to pursue their passion for the sport at higher levels while also hoping to study business. to one another, in order to overcome an obstacle on the court,” Foord said.

For second-year captain, Jenna Garner, the path to volleyball was similarly influenced by her older sister.

From watching her sibling’s games in her younger years to eventually joining the sport at her parent’s suggestion, Jenna’s passion for volleyball has grown exponentially.

Now, Jenna is delighted to continue her volleyball journey at the college level.

“I put in a lot of work and a lot of effort and like it got more and more competitive,” Garner said. “I really love the energy and that aspect of the game,” Garner said. “I have to lead by example. If I’m not putting in the work, [the rest of the team] feel like they won’t need to put in the work.”

Volleyball has grown close to her heart and the team has become a tight-knit family for Garner.

“They’re like a family to you,” Garner said. “And it’s just like, you’re all feeding off each other’s energy. It’s just such a fun environment to be part of; it gets loud, it gets crazy.”

STORY CLAIRE MAO PHOTO RACHEL (SHIN-HYE) CHOI

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PHS girls varsity volleyball seniors Helena Foord and Jenna Garner have committed to playing volleyball at the college level. While playing volleyball at the collegiate level, both athletes also strive to learn business.

“The level of play is definitely different,” Foord said.

“And the commitment [too], like being able to fly around the country for different games. It’s way different than high school.”

Foord is also eager to major in business at NYU, alongside joining the school’s volleyball team.

Co-Captain Helena Foord, known for her leadership and prowess as an outside hitter on the team, is excited to commit to New York University after graduating from SPHS.

“The school was a really great fit for me because I wanted the balance between academics and athletics, and it really offered everything I was looking for, especially being in New York City,” Foord said.

“I always knew NYU was one of my top, so I was talking to them as well as a couple of other schools,” Foord said. “And it really just worked out. The coach is really enthusiastic about me as a player.”

Helena’s entry into the world of volleyball began at age eight, inspired by her older sister, who is now a junior playing volleyball at Rice University. Gradually, Helena fell in love with the game.

Foord says that being committed is a new experience for her, as it gives her the chance to participate in higher, more challenging levels of volleyball across the country.

“Playing volleyball, it’s a game of your stakes and challenges, and how you overcome that,” Helena said.

“And I think it’s such a team sport. So you have to look

Garner’s decision to commit to the University of Pennsylvania came after a visit to the campus, where she was impressed with the coaching staff and wellsupported program. Although Garner received other offers, including ones from NYU and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she ultimately decided to commit to UPenn.

Academically, Garner plans to study business at The Wharton School, and eventually work toward becoming a business owner, taking after her parents. Alongside her academic goals, Garner is striving to make it to the NCAA Tournament, a competition at the end of the year for all college volleyball teams. Teams in this tournament compete at the highest level, in order to gain the spot of national champion.

“These four years are like my time to explore myself,” Garner said. “I think going to a different part of the country that I haven’t been to yet will be just like a really fun and adventurous experience. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Bend it like Rapinoe: A treatise on women’s soccer

STORY ANONYMOUS ILLUSTRATION HEEJOON (JOON) LEE Men have set the baseline in sports since the Greeks congregated on Mount Olympus for the first Olympic Games almost 3000 years ago. From ancient gladiation to modern-day cycling, men’s sports have shaped what audiences expect when they tune in to the latest sports event. When female sports entered the arena, female athletes have done what women in history have always had to do – work extra hard to earn a fraction of the spotlight.

Expectations have proved especially painful for the US Women’s National Team (USWNT). Declining viewership and increased criticism of their latest World Cup performance is unfounded and reveals a double standard between audience responses to male and female performances – a harrowing shadow that follows women from the pitch to the office, and everywhere in between.

The USWNT has a record of success. Since its first Olympic gold in 1991, the team has gone on to win three more Olympic gold medals and four World Cup trophies.

The men’s team however has been consistently booted out of tournaments in the first rounds and never realized their international dreams. Even though the US women’s

soccer team is more successful than the men’s team has ever been, audience feedback continues to favor the men in a lopsided demonstration of the sexism embedded within society. Whereas excellence is a prerequisite for viewership of women’s sports, it is an extra cherry on top for the men. If the USWNT’s performance doesn’t shatter records, people turn to snarky booing.

Snarkiness especially seems to creep up the horizon this Olympic cycle. Instead of grieving for the team’s 5-4 shootout loss, many critics have resorted to a different solution – they will rejoice at their loss. Learning to handle public opinion is a rite of passage for anyone with somewhat of a social media presence, but accepting the reality of public shaming is different from jumping on board with it. Newspapers claiming the team has brought “shame to our country” have garnered thousands of viewers on platforms like Bounding Into Sports and Fox News . But the condemnation of the American loss from press and viewers alike goes far beyond household gossip – it is a symptom of double standards.

The backlash that USWNT received after a 5-4 knockout loss to Sweden shows that American audiences only care about women’s sports when they receive trophies. Never have so many people that consider themselves patriots

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celebrated the loss of their own team. Patriots who say they love America more than everyone else are the same folks who are so blinded by their love for the country they mistake it for an excuse to shame women for having a platform to share their beliefs.

Criticism of the USWNT is founded in cruel double standards and a lack of understanding of the circumstances that led to the World Cup loss. Turning Point USA chief creative officer posted on X after the loss, “Team USA’s downfall was delivered by anti-America, anti-woman activist Megan Rapinoe’s EMBARRASSING free kick here.”

But not only was Rapinoe’s kick a penalty, not a free kick, it makes no sense to connect political demonstrations to athletic performance. The US team lost because they had 14 World Cup first-timers, a new coach, multiple injuries, and a tough global landscape, not because Rapinoe advocated for equal pay.

The USWNT has a special place in the exchange of cultural currency because it has such a special place in American politics. The team is supposed to be an American pride – a symbol that women have risen from the depths of injustice to show that the “future is female,” but our condemnation of one narrow loss has shown that America’s pride in the USWNT is conditional.

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

SPORTS

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CB Richards named interim Athletic Director Former track and field coach takes over athletics at the departure of Anthony Chan.

STORY ABIGAIL KIM PHOTO RACHEL (SHIN-HYE) CHOI

run my own outside successful event management business for many years,” he said.

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Richards accepted the position as interim director, rather than a more permanent role, in order to maintain his other responsibilities at SPHS.

ongtime SPHS coach CB Richards was appointed interim Athletic Director of SPHS on Friday, Aug. 11.

His hire follows the departure of the previous athletic director, Anthony Chan, who held the position for four years and who recently left to become assistant principal at Temple City High School.

Richards has coached at SPHS for 27 seasons and currently serves as the head coach for track and field, which he has done for 10 years. He has also been the assistant as well as head varsity football coach in the past.

Richards has earned a number of accolades from his time in South Pasadena. Just two years ago, he joined the SPHS Coaches Hall of Fame, and last year was named the San Gabriel Valley Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year. Additionally, he has won the Pasadena Star News’ All Area Track and Field Coach of the Year four times.

Besides receiving numerous track and field awards, Richards has managed many events such as the Pasadena Games Track Invite, and the Tiger Invite, which is attended by schools from around the country.

He has helped more than 100 SPHS athletes from track go on to compete in college, and hopes to coach even more athletes to a college level.

“I was selected to be the interim Athletic Director through a process involving school administration and the district’s leadership. My long-standing involvement with the school as a Tiger Coach from 2006 to present[,] my understanding of the athletic department’s needs, the Tiger student athletes and the South Pas community played a significant role in my appointment. I also bring a business mindset having

As interim Athletic Director, Richards will take on many new tasks, but also still continue to coach the track team for their upcoming spring season.

“My role involves coordinating and managing sports programs, supporting coaches and student-athletes, and ensuring that our athletics align with the school’s mission and values during my period as A.D.,” Richards said. “It’s kind of like taking over the conductor role of the symphony of sports at SPHS.” He also hopes that SPHS athletics can continue to perform well, not only in league competitions but also CIF and state championships. CIF, or the California Interscholastic Federation, governs all high school athletics in the state of California.

“While offering that vision as the overall program picture is important, the end game is finding success for each SPHS student athlete in their role on their team,” Richards explained.

Richards, who has been in the role for about a month, says appreciates support from coaches, staff, administrators, and custodians. He says he’s always tried to support coaches but his new position gives him an opportunity to do that even more.

“Lucky for me we have some amazing veteran coaches leading many of our sports teams and I look forward to just helping enhance their current success,” he said.

Richards will assume the role of Athletic Director for the fall season while the school searches for someone to fill a permanent position.

“The next few months will be quite the journey, and as we approach the new year, we’ll evaluate if this path continues or if different decisions are made. For now.....

Go Tigers!”

UPCOMING GAMES FRIDAY, SEPT. 15 @ 7:00 PM, FOOTBALL VS. ALHAMBRA AT HOME WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20 @ 3:30 PM, GIRLS TENNIS VS. MARK KEPPEL AT HOME THURSDAY, SEPT. 21 @ 5:30 PM, GIRLS VOLLEYBALL VS. LA CAÑADA AT HOME

Packed schedules drive seniors to quit sports STORY ZOE CHEN ILLUSTRATION ISABELLE WONG

to, with practices and meetings eating their way into allotted sleep, homework, and free time.

From an early age, many children are encouraged to participate in as many extracurriculars as possible.

Elementary-level kids sign up for soccer, softball, or baseball teams, take dance or gymnastic lessons, play the piano, or become members of scout troops — and often many of the above.

Overcommitments to extracurriculars can become less of an issue of not managing time well enough, but a problem of not having enough time to begin with. Situations such as these require the dropping of lower-ranking priorities in order to spare enough time for others.

Extracurriculars tend to become more intense with time, as the same number of original players compete for a more limited number of slots on teams. Much greater chunks of the day are consumed, leading participants of activities to undergo a slow process of weeding and extraction throughout the years of late elementary and early middle school. Far fewer extracurriculars remain by the time students enter high school. Still, students can find themselves committed to more activities than time allows, unable to complete everything required of them and constantly exhausted.

Seniors especially are tasked with juggling their highstake college applications on top of classroom grades, GPA maintenance, clubs, sports, and other passions.

Seniors can find themselves in positions where there is simply not enough time to accomplish all they wish

High school sports are an assuredly time consuming activity, with frequent games and practices sometimes lasting upwards of two hours. Many seniors, unable to scrape together the time or energy to play, ultimately decide to drop a sport they have played in previous high school years.

Senior Lillian Sherman, who previously played volleyball for SPHS’s JV and varsity teams, explained her decision to quit.

“Volleyball takes up a lot of time,” Sherman said. “I don’t particularly want to play in college, so I wanted to focus my energy towards enjoying my senior year and also doing things that will help me in college.”

Kathy Tam, another senior, explained her decision to stop playing tennis, which she had previously played at the JV and varsity levels.

“I guess for me, it was just not having enough time to do my homework and college apps…last year I was getting home super late and I could barely finish all my homework, and this year’s really important to do well,” Tam said. “Unfortunately, tennis had to go.”

not outweigh the heaving time commitment required.

For them, quitting was the best decision they could make for themselves and their priorities.

“I do love my team and I love my coach…I’m super sad that I’m not playing tennis this year,” Tam said. “I definitely do want to play, I just don’t want to…not be as committed as other people.”

Tam said she would not choose to continue playing tennis if given the option of a less time consuming practice schedule, and explained her belief that everyone on the team should be as committed to the sport as possible.

“I don’t want other players to feel like one person’s getting special privileges,” Tam said. “And plus, like, we need to practice as much as we can for games and stuff, so…I don’t want to take someone else’s spot on the team and not be as committed, even though I want to be.”

Despite overcommitments being a common problem, there are no great solutions to be able to accomplish everything. Sports require much time and energy to be able to play at the competitive high school level, and less time committed to practice leads to a decrease in skill. Simply not practicing as much would not allow highly-skilled seniors to play as competitively, nor would it allow them to stand out and play to the best of their abilities. With colleges looking for students who can be exceedingly committed to the activities they choose to keep with, time spent dabbling is, by some standards, wasted time.

Another senior, who wished to remain anonymous, explained their decision to quit as a combination of numerous factors, from practice times conflicting with other extracurriculars, to the inability to miss practice, to the competitive environment of the team, semi-formulated by the coach, in which winning was prioritized over all else.

Seniors had no foolproof advice for juniors who might end up with the same problems next year. However, seniors did suggest waiting to see where the year leads and choosing to continue the commitments that personally matter the most, as well as weighing the timeliness and worth of the activity.

They also emphasized their dread at the thought of not qualifying for varsity and ending up the only senior on JV. The combination of these factors ultimately led to their decision to leave the team.

“Figure out if you really enjoy the sport and if it’s the best use of your time,” Sherman said. “Don’t feel like you have to do the sport because you always have or because of any outside pressure…It’s about you.”

Quitting sports does not pose itself as an easy decision.

For some seniors however, the pros of playing — the competitive aspect, the team, the desire to play — did

“You shouldn’t feel like you have to quit, or that you have to continue,” Tam said. “But just make the best decision for yourself.”

PAGE DESIGN SOLANA SINGER

16

TIGER SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

SPORTS

First look at fall sports: Tiger photographers’ best shots

Girls tennis swings for a successful season STORY SONYA SHIMPOCK PHOTO KAITLYN LEE Girls tennis is preparing for another season amidst a dramatic reorganization of the program. After a successful run last season, the Tigers are hoping to continue their two season streak and return to CIF once again.

There has been an increased amount of student interest in the program, which has allowed for various new players to move up through the team in order to fill the nine required starting positions. The varsity and junior varsity teams are also almost completely new, and a new junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach have been brought into the program.

Senior captain Isha Zafra, sophomore captain Maya Oniciuc, and junior Claire Chen are the only varsity returners.

“We’re looking to maintain our position and still go to playoffs,” Head Coach Krista Gale said, commenting on the many changes the tennis team will be experiencing. “We have a lot of new pairings and doubles… so [we’re] trying to help our doubles teams kind of get to know one another’s relative strengths and weaknesses.”

PHOTOS RACHEL (SHIN-HYE) CHOI, SUNNY (SUN-HYE) CHOI, EMIKO ESSMILLER, & SAMANTHA SHIROISHI

The current high temperatures have forced the Tigers to work to become accustomed to the heat. The girls tennis season takes place in one of the hottest portions of the year, so the players train in the extreme weather in order to prepare themselves for the games. The conditioning is so that the Tigers aren’t over-exhausted by the temperatures when they play, Gale explained.

Though the playing conditions are not ideal, the team is excited to begin the new season.

“I’m really looking forward to getting to play with so many new teammates. I’m also really happy that we have a lot of home matches coming up, and I hope we’ll get some more support from the student body this season. But, overall, I think our varsity team this year is really strong and I’m super excited for the rest of our season!” Zafra said.

After attending CIF but getting knocked out in the second round last season, the Tigers are gearing up to make it farther into the tournament.

“Tennis is a big part of my life and… I am excited for the new tennis season, and I hope that as one of the captains, I will help inspire the team to have many good results. Our team goal is to make it to CIF again,” Oniciuc added.

Configurations are still being moved around, but the current varsity singles players include Oniciuc, playing singles 1, junior Gwendolyn Calbert playing singles 2, and sophomore Emi Fong playing singles 3. Chen and Zafra are playing doubles 1.

Currently in pre-season, the Tigers have been engaging in matches with other schools to train for the start of their official season.

Their next match against LaSalle will take place at 3:30 p.m. this Tuesday at the Orange Grove Courts.

JUNIOR CLAIRE CHEN RALLIES AGAINST CRESCENTA VALLEY, showcasing strong rebound from knee injury in the prior season.

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PAGE DESIGN EMIKO ESSMILLER & SOLANA SINGER