Students gather for Club Rush
Plan for junior privilege cards in the works By Jackson Atwater Staff Writer
By Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer Club Rush took place on the Tiger Patio on September 21 and 22. The event gave students the opportunity to scramble among tables and screaming club advocates and sign up for as many clubs as they desired. According to Commissioner of Clubs Michelle Ozaki, the preparation for Club Rush was extensive. “I set an early deadline for all the clubs to get their applications in, but many clubs turned in their forms late”, said Ozaki. “This year we had 84 clubs participating in Club Rush.” The most popular clubs this year are Key Club and Red Cross. Both received more than three hundred signatures. Other popular clubs include the American Cancer Society, Pink Club, and World Wildlife Fund. Not all clubs support charities. According to junior Lauren Riley of the Astronomy Club, “We go out and look at the stars and learn how to use a telescope, and we’re going to take a field trip to the Griffith Park Observatory.” Wiffle Ball Club president Ben Hillman said, “No other clubs play wiffle ball because they don’t understand how awesome it is.” Kea Hudson and Karinna Loo of Epic Mealtime stated, “We will make disgustingly delicious meals with bacon. They are over the top, to the point of gross – but good.” Ozaki said, “Overall, I think Club Rush went well, even though it was a hectic two days for me.”
Theo Mandin-Lee
Club Rush: Commissioner of Clubs Michelle Ozaki helps to promote the Red Cross Club, which had over 300 sign-ups. Ozaki and ASB promoted and organized the event. See page 3 for more coverage.
National Merit scholars for 2012 announced By Natalie McLain Staff Writer Eleven students from South Pasadena High School were named semifinalists in this year’s National Merit Scholarship program, a scholarship organization that focuses on students with high PSAT and SAT scores. These students are Fedor Kossakovski, Yee-Lum Mak, Michelle Lam, Isabelle Rosenthal, Mei Chung, Tiffany Chen, Aiden Louie, Melody Sue, Haseeb Khan, Alex Tranquada, and Max White. Though generally excited to be receiving such an honor, students varied in their reaction to the program itself. Some, such as Khan, attributed their success to hard work. “I read a lot when I was younger which helps with the Critical Reading, and I started do-
ing math much sooner than most people do. Also, I got a good night’s sleep,” said Khan. “I think I did well because I prepared all summer for the SAT and took the October one. So, because the PSAT was right after, I did pretty well,” said Sue. However, others thought fortune had played more of a hand in their success. Rosenthal said, “To some extent I think I got lucky, because I know some people who are definitely smarter than me who did not get to be semifinalists.” Differences in opinion aside, most of the semifinalists shared high goals for the future. Louie is looking primarily to University of Chicago as his school of choice, and plans to go into cardiothoracic surgery. As a whole, the students seemed enthusiastic about their experience thus far. “Being a
semifinalist is very rewarding... The most exciting part is looking forward to the announcements of who qualified as a finalist,” said Kossakovski. The school hopes that all 11 seminfinalists will be selected as finalists in the coming months.
Bill Glazier
Eleven SPHS students were named National Merit semifinalists.
Senior girls vie for a spot on Rose Court By Clair Fuller Assoc. Opinion Editor
Katherine Whitworth
Senior Victoria Carlos registers at the first round of Rose Court auditions on Sept. 17.
“I was so nervous!” said senior Nicole Lussier, speaking for many of the young women aged 17 to 21 from the Pasadena area who auditioned for the 2012 Rose Court on Sept. 17 at the Tournament House in Pasadena. Lussier and several other girls hope to be chosen as one of the six Rose Princesses or the Rose Queen who presides over the Tournament of Roses Parade every new year. SPHS seniors Taylor Levine, Nicole Lussier, Victoria Carlos, Chloe Acebo, Evelyn Ashleigh, MacKenzie Forman, Marika Stanford-Moore, Helena Cassil-
ly, Miranda Gontz, Brianna Loo, and Lillie Moffett were notified on Tuesday that they had been chosen to move on to the semi-final round of auditions, set to take place on September 29. They are part of a select group of about 75 girls from the San Gabriel Valley. A Tournament of Roses representative first visited SPHS on September 8 to discuss preliminary information regarding the Court. The first round of auditions attracted around a thousand young women to the Tournament of Roses mansion on September 17, where applicants were given 15 seconds to tell a ten-person judging panel why they wanted to be on the Rose Court.
Around 250 young women, including several SPHS students, were selected to continue to the second of four auditions. The quarterfinals were held on September 24, where Rose Court hopefuls answered judges’ questions for a minute and a half. Judging and selection is, according the Tournament of Roses website, based on a variety of qualities “including academic achievement, poise, personality, public speaking ability and appearance.” The seven members of the Rose Court receive additional benefits, including scholarships, makeovers, and the chance to attend a multitude of public and media events. The semi-finals are being held today at the Tournament of Roses House in Pasadena.
A new batch of students gains the privilege of an unrestricted lunch period every September. If things go as planned, that batch may soon double in size. Administration is attempting to gain approval for privilege cards for juniors who have proven themselves worthy of the ticket to leave campus. The idea for the new cards originated as an incentive for students to scored well on California Standardized Tests during their sophomore and junior years. The intent was that juniors and seniors would have equal opportunity to earn privilege cards based on their academic performance. Principal Ms Janet Anderson said, “We started talking about junior privilege cards last year, midyear, and part of what we were talking about was incentive: how do we make achievement on the CST’s mean more to kids? We talked about changing the senior cards so that junior CST scores might be figured in. That’s one thing, give responsibility to kids, have them take a little more control over academic performance.” The initiative to begin giving the cards out began in the middle of last year. The issue of senior privilege cards got as far as discussion at the school board level, where there were multiple concerns. The board discussed the risks of having more students off campus, including potential problems for area businesses, and issues regarding students arriving late to classes or rushing to get on and off campus in the forty minute time slot. The administration has been asked to present data to support its case. The issue is currently under discussion in School Site Council meetings. “We talked about what we need to do, which is pull together some data that will show us how many juniors currently would have met the proposed guidelines [to get a card], if this was in place. How many people is it really going to unleash on the community?” Anderson explained. If the answers to these questions stack up in the right way, privilege cards for both groups of upperclassmen may well be coming. Administration has high hopes that the cards will be approved in the near future. It is estimated by the administration that cards should be in place next year for the class of 2014,” said Anderson.
News
2 Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Public library hosts Moon Festival celebration
By Anne Kitchens Staff Writer The annual Moon Festival last Saturday in South Pasadena consisted of an eclectic, unexpected series of attractions. This traditional Chinese-American event took place on the lawn outside of the library community center, and drew families from all backgrounds to celebrate the rich Asian cultural history and the recent harvest moon.
Rachael Garner
Senior James Jin attended the Moon Festival with friends.
The day was packed with activities aiming to entertain people of all ages; the event catered to everyone from toddlers to senior citizens. Professional storyteller Barbara Wong performed for the community and told the Legend of the Moon Festival. Boba drinks were sold for teens. “Jumbling Towers” (or Jenga) games were available for younger attendees, along with singing performances for the elderly. Other main attractions included culturally enriching presentations and book vendors. Walking through the venue was an intriguing experience for people of all backgrounds. Lanterns hung from trees, and intricate Chinese masks were sold along the sidewalk. A tempting prize table served as an incentive for all of the kids frequenting the festival. Bracelets, necklaces, and an array of jewelry were presented, as well as Asian language books for both adults and children. The fourhour event drew people from across the city. “This Moon Festival is a really special event,” said festival veteran and SPHS Chinese teacher Ms Emily Chiang. “It brings a new culture to the people of South Pasadena.”
News
Around Campus
SPUSD Teacher of the Year Ms Cathy Mason was honored at a luncheon at the Sheraton Universal on Sept. 23. “She’s like the invisible hand guiding economics: she lets you do your thing but helps steer you along. She is an invaluable mentor and a fabulous organizer,” said senior Fedor Kossakovski, a member of varsity Virtual Enterprise who has been in Mason’s classes since sophomore year. Mason teaches Elementary Education, Small Business, and Virtual Enterprise. /Devin Mitchell
Green Team visits Athens facility By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer Thirty-six different types of South Pasadena’s trash are separated and processed every day by Athens Services. SPHS environmental science teacher Don Wielenga and senior Green Team club officers Audrey Ford, Cody Bartlett and Morgan Palma visited the Athens Services headquarters in City of Industry yesterday to see how it’s done. “We built a system that could take the inconvenience out of recycling, reduce our carbon footprint by half, and more successfully separate the trash,” said Athens executive vice president Dennis Chiappetta. Athens hauls the processed trash to a series of locations, including Puente Hills, which is the largest landfill in California. Puente Hills receives 13,200 tons of trash every day. The landfill will reach capacity and close by October 2013. It currently costs $38 per ton to dump trash in a landfill. After Puente Hills closes, trash hauling could cost up to $100 per ton. Fifty percent of all trash brought to Athens Services goes to landfills. The rest is split between
Matt Winkel
Employees sort South Pasadena’s trash into 36 categories at the Athens Material Recovery Facility in City of Industry. composting and recycling. Composted items are sent to Victorville Compost, where they process 700 tons of organic material each day. “People don’t like trash companies; it’s inevitable. People act like we’re killing babies and say we smell. But what can I say? This is a dirty business,” said Chiappetta. “It’s hard to count on residents to do a sufficient job separating trash. It’s much better for the environment when we do it. It doesn’t matter if you recycle or not; we’ll just do it for you,” said Chiappetta. “The trip brought everything we’ve been talking about to life. We
hear the numbers and are told about all of the waste, but the tons of trash we saw made us understand and feel as though we can really make a difference,” said Bartlett. The Green Team hopes to use the insight gained on the trip to help shape some of their goals for the school year. Athens Services has about 1,400 employees who separate the trash. An estimated 300 workers help organize waste materials at headquarters, which includes trash from South Pasadena. They have worked with the city of South Pasadena since 1979.
Sandwich
ACT
“Do you guys make sandwiches or eat sandwiches?” “WE’RE DOING BOTH BECAUSE WE LOVE SANDWICHES!”
“Every Friday we’re going on a trip to different restaurants. By the end of the year, we’re going to find the best sandwich in all of L.A. and then make the signature sandwich of South Pasadena High school.”
Youth with a Voice
really want to be there
for his family and him.” “Clubs get people involved with community service, whether it’s at the school or beyond.” ~Arthur Puu “I’d like to join the academic clubs because I’ve already finished my community service hours.” ~Zach Dunn
Page design by Jennifer Kim Text by Clair Fuller, Rhian Moore, Heather Vaughan and Remeny White Photos by Tiger photographers
Astronomy
Green Team
CLUB RUSH
Academic Decathlon GSA Host Adv. Dance TGG Liberty in China God’s Kids Yummy McHelping Hands
ACS
TEACH
oppor tunity to be par t of the solution. ”
Anime
Martial Arts
Science
“O ur club is going to help kids and families at the Ronald Mc Donald house. It’s unique because it gives all the students an
LEO
JCC
Design & Develop
Math
Speech&Debate
Amigos
Bookaholics
Autism & Special Needs
McHelping Hands
Vegas
Veritas
Seniors might have been disgruntled to find their usual spots on the lawn taken over last week -- the grass outside the Tiger Patio hosted SPHS’s annual Club Rush on Tuesday and Wednesday. The maze of tables, posters, and people offered a chance for students to promote and sign up for their favorite on-campus clubs and organizations. Freshmen were overwhelmed, club officers were screaming, and the Sandwich Club was in top form -- here’s a small sample of 2011’s Club Rush. Junk FBLA LiNK Provider’s Hip Hop Go Movie Making ICU Epic Mealtime Chess ALS WWF Literacy 4 All DSA PINK
Literary Magazine
Key
Youth with a Voice
Red Cross Cultural Heritage Gleek Stock Model UN PAVA Paws 2 Rescue CCF Music Heart Junior Civitan LOOK United Community Tourettes SA Crate
Autism Awareness
Teens 4 Life Tattoo Tigers Film Korean Generosity Liberals & Free Thinkers
“We
strive
to
spread
awareness of autism throughout the school. Throughout the year we hope to hold assemblies to promote autism awareness.”
HP Alliance Habitat for Humanity
Gleek
Sandwich LARP Creative Writing Drama Tech Will Reach Out LA
“The Gleek Club is a Glee fan club based on the show. We’ll play trivia games, talk about episodes, and have a great time!”
Thursday, September 29, 2011 - Tiger
“More service than anything.” ~Kira Gabriel
Monopoly
Baking Wiffle Commissioner Truth be AAA of Noontime Told Tigers Ball
Club Rush
“Since (Hajime) is not able to come to school, we want to organize a lot of visits. We want to make sure that we also love, care about, and support him in everything. We
DIY
Helping Hands
3
4
Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Opinion
Opinion B
oo to all the copycat games of Spoon Assassin. We think Knife Assassin would be much more intense; draw blood or it’s not a kill.
Quit complaining and start acting
B
By Elizabeth Ford Rainey Editor-in-Chief
ravo to Ron Artest for changing his name to Metta World Peace. The poser scale goes from 1 to 100, and that’s an Ochocinco.
B
oo to the bigoted and bloodthirsty audience members at the Republican primary debates. There’s a word for you, but it’s not suitable for print in a high school newspaper.
B
ravo to the Rose Court. It’s nice that someone in modern society has the courage to point out pretty women.
B B
oo to college emails. We’ve had stalkers that contacted me fewer times per day.
ravo to Congress for successfully avoiding yet another government shutdown. A 12% approval rating takes hard work.
B
to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Romeo and Juliet hardly prepares sophomores for this masterpiece of sexual frustration. ravo
The Tiger
Daniel Willardson
Club Rush: A solution to the chaos Staff Editorial
Established 1913
CSPA Gold Medalist 2001 CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 Editor-in-Chief Libby Rainey Managing Editor Jennifer Kim News Devin Mitchell, Editor Remeny White, Associate Opinion Carlton Lew, Editor Clair Fuller, Associate Feature Sofi Goode, Editor Rhian Moore, Associate Sports Jessica Moog, Editor Clem Witherall, Associate Copy Editors Alex Tranquada and Max White Photography Edmond Mandin-Lee, Editor Kathryn Whitworth, Associate Photographers Rachael Garner, Siria Medina, Matthew Winkel Staff Writers Michael Abelev, Madison Amido, Jackson Atwater, Erin Chan, Matt DeFulgentiis, Kelsey Hess, Anne Kitchens, Marcy Kuo, Amber Laird, Natalie McLain, Christian Miyamae, Meghan Roche, Joshua Roquemore, Shyam Senthilkumar, Heather Vaughan Staff Illustrators Rachael Lee, Daniel Willardson Managers Alexander Prescott, Ads Angela Jang, Business Webmaster Makenna Sidle Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030. Layout and photo imaging are completed on-site. Printed by American/Foothill Publishing Co., Inc., Tujunga, CA. Signed articles appearing in Tiger represent the writer’s opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, student body, faculty or administration of SPHS. Contact the publications office at (626) 441-5820 ext. 2615 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for advertising rates and subscriptions. Tiger welcomes articles, letters or rebuttals. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be witheld upon request.
Club Rush is two lunchtimes of nothing but jam-packed chaos; dozens of tables are plastered with posters and sign-up sheets. After you push through the seemingly endless crowd of people and come face-to-face with one of the officers, the easiest option is to pick up the pen and sign your name, whether you were planning to join the club or not. In the end, you’ve signed up for twice the number of clubs that you had intended to join. Some you will never take part in; others won’t even hold a meeting. The positives of Club Rush are few. Clubs rarely receive accurate totals of new members, and the sheer multitude of groups is overwhelming, making it impossible for students to determine what organizations they genuinely want to be part of. It is all too easy to miss a club that gets outscreamed by an enthusiastic student from an alternate group. But the goals of Club Rush are reasonable: club involvement and publicity. So how can the flawed event be fixed? One solution would be to spread
out the two days of Club Rush into a full week. Service clubs could to sign up for one day, academic clubs the next, and so on, ensuring fewer clubs per day, smaller crowds, and more time to enroll without using up the entire lunch break. The abundance of inactive clubs is also a problem. It would be ideal if all the clubs stayed active throughout the school year, but due to lack of communication and the busier-than-expected lives of the officers, this is hardly the reality. There are many organizations with innovative ideas that have the potential to benefit the school and community, but they simply lose steam halfway through the year. Officers must commit to keeping their clubs active. ASB plans to implement new policies to encourage continued activity this year, which will hopefully remedy the problem of inactive and wasteful clubs. School clubs offer wonderful opportunities to get involved and meet people with similar interests. The system of creating and joining them, however, is one that needs more improvement.
Whining is a habit associated with toddlers and impertinent children. At SPHS, however, this unsettling pattern of behavior is all too common in students that are supposedly nearing adulthood. Criticisms is important to any functioning educational system, but non-progressive student complaints are often simply a waste of time. Students earn their right to complain only when they take advantage of opportunities to promote change themselves. Students who offer no solution to issues they observe are useless at best and frequently detrimental to implementing change. Effective students and effective human beings witness problems they want to see remedied, and then look into what can be done to achieve that goal. Take, for example, the largely janitorial issue of the lack of toilet paper or soap in the dispensers in the bathrooms. This common grievance is hardly addressed because few students actually request that supplies be restocked. The lack of available tables on the Tiger Patio is another example of the necessity of student communication and action. Students are disgruntled by the shortage of tables, but when has anyone taken the initiative to not only complain, but to bring the issue to the administration or ASB? When approached, principal Ms Janet Anderson indicated that a demonstrated need for tables can be addressed by the administration. Her attitude indicates that the solution to the issue lies simply in student advocacy. This is not to say that directly approaching every issue will always warrant successful implementation of change or administrative action. It has yet to be seen whether the administration would take adequate action in response to student complaints on table accessibility and the like. However, occasionally when a problem presents itself, change truly can be implemented simply by going straight to the source. Don’t assume that those with the power to find a solution are ignoring every issue on campus. So stop whining. It is the responsibility of SPHS students to take the initiative to ask questions, promote change, and act on issues, not gripe about them.
Keeping race out of scholarships Natalie McLain Staff Writer The word “college” goes hand-in-hand with a plethora of worries. Grades, applications, essays the list goes on. But a common thread seems to tie together these scattered preoccupations: money. Be it funds for rigorous SAT prep courses or fees accompanying each application, the college experience is, undeniably, an expensive endeavor. From merit-based to sports, scholarships present students with an opportunity to fulfill college
dreams not otherwise available due to expenses. But what happens when said opportunities are not equal? A large number of scholarships available are ethnicity based. And though scholarships like these may at first seem like a way to level the playing field that is college, in actuality, they deepen and encourage racial gaps. For one thing, such scholarships are, by nature, racist. The concept of aspects of society being “separate but equal” dates back to the times of segregation in the U.S. The problem, then and now, is that things aren’t equal. Specific
minorities have scholarships more readily available to them, while other ethnicities are ignored almost entirely. One could argue that this is based off of social facts, that ethnicity and need often overlap. But why not separate the two? Scholarships can be based on need without factoring in race. And by tying the two together, ethnicities are blatantly categorized by their generalized financial status. This is not to say that the dividing lines of culture should be erased from society, as it defines part of who we are. But these cultural boundaries have no place
in the educational system, a place of supposed equality. Restricting scholarships to bases of merit, sports, and simple financial need would be far more suited to the diverse society that the educational world should foster. In a world quick to cry racist, the idea of removing ethnicitybased scholarships may seem, at first, infuriating. But perhaps it would be wise to think for a moment. Scholarships create stress, sometimes even resentment in the competition between students. Is it all that wise to tie such stresses to ethnicity in the process?
Opinion
Thursday, September 29, 2011
5
College pressure: too much too early? Erin Chan Staff Writer There is only one word that can propel a current high school senior into a steady downward spiral of irreparable anxiety, stress, and depression – “college.” In this decade, the idea of college insanity isn’t groundbreaking in any sense. It is relatively new, however, for fifth graders to start being stressed by college. Nearly 100 anxious parents packed into the high school’s counseling center for the first-ever Fifth Grade College Night on the evening of Se ptember 27. The fact that the event was publicized widely as “College Night,” rather than what counselor Ms Vadell-Strickland and Assistant Principal Jack Smith originally labeled as “Parent Night,” overshadowed the actual meaning of the presentation. “By no means am I tr ying to take your children’s childhoods away,” Vadell-Strickland said. Vadell-Strickland’s initial reason for hosting the presentation was
to cushion the difficult social, as well as academic, transition after graduating elementary school. Her passion was evident in counseling kids’ personal problems, through her involvement in programs like The Place and various mentoring programs at the middle school. However, the looming “college monster” absolutely ruined the point
It is impossible to defeat the college monster now, as it is already bloated beyond repair. of the night. The thought of college, although a minimal portion of the PowerPoint, consumed the entire presentation. Parents arrived to Fifth Grade Parent Night expecting the magic answers in order to get their children into Ivy Leagues. What they received, instead, were packets outlining homework for parents and compiling futile passages preaching for them to probe their children to
Keep calm and apply on By Meghan Roche Staff Writer As seniors, we’ve all suddenly become aware that if we want to go off to college next year, we need to be panicking NOW. Everyone has a different “most stressful part” of the college admissions process, and the pressure of not only the school and our parents, but also ourselves, can get overwhelming at times. It’s understandable; trying to keep afloat with this new strain on an already rigorous academic schedule in addition to normal extracurriculars and GPA maintenance can sometimes make it seem like school is conspiring against you. There is hope. Remember, millions of students—thousands from SPHS—have done it before you and escaped relatively unscathed. While you should take the process seriously, there’s a difference between being sensible and traumatizing yourself. It just may be the right time for all SPHS seniors to collectively take a deep breath, keep calm, and… dive in. Seniors have survived the process, and teachers witness it every year. In order to join the ranks of many college applicants, there are a few key items you should be keeping in mind. First, research extensively. Knowledge of what aspects of a school interest you and specific reasons you have for applying to a school will make sitting down in front of a computer for hours on end a little more bearable. Secondly: pace yourself. There are essays to write, tests to take, teachers to contact, and forms to fill out, but there’s no reason for all of these things to be tackled in the last few weeks leading up to deadlines. High school has tried to knock the procrastination out of many of us with little to no effect, but the application process offers us a unique opportunity to space out our obligations to reduce our own stresses. And last but not least: relax. After all of your applications are in, you won’t know where you were accepted for several weeks at best, so panicking about what the results may be won’t do anything but give you one more thing to worry about. If you apply intelligently and with focus, the odds are with you. There is no definite equation that guarantees admission to your first-choice schools, but there are clear steps that will help you end up studying somewhere that academically and socially meets your needs. So, please: do yourself a favor, seniors. Grab a soda, settle into a comfy chair, and open up those application websites. Everything will be okay.
“self-regulate” and develop “growth mindsets,”—which did nothing but confuse the heck out of parents. What’s more, parents aren’t motivated and do not have time to fill out armfuls of child evaluations and graphic organizers. The mere fact that these various packets were haphazardly created with the intent of getting children more prepared for their eventual goal of college feeds the college monster more and more. The more we feed this monster, the larger it will grow and the more it will devour us all. It should be our objective to suppress its growth, but instead the anxiety and stress suffered by parents – and applied by administrators – nourishes it even more. It is impossible to defeat the college monster now, as it is already bloated beyond repair. We simply need to recognize that we cannot let it grow to crippingly intimidate us. As various parents concluded, it is necessary to “make kids aware that they are going to college” – but as ten-year-old Jack Campbell said, “there are better things to do with my time.”
Creating a truly open campus By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer As the new school year begins, many members of the Class of 2012 are already reaping the benefits of being a senior. One of the most anticipated benefits is the senior privilege card, which grants qualifying seniors the right to leave campus during lunch and roam South Pasadena as they please. Although it makes sense that this freedom would be granted solely to seniors, there is a strong possibility that juniors could be issued privilege cards as soon as next year. Through the disapproving and bitter uproar of current seniors, the voice of reason simply states that juniors can be just as deserving of certain freedoms as seniors. Obviously, juniors would have to
meet certain requirements to achieve eligibility, similar to the current rules for seniors. These include minimal absences and tardies, no less than a 2.0 GPA, and no previous citizenship or disciplinary violations. The tentative prerequisites for junior privilege cards would be at least the same, but probably more rigorous than their senior counterparts, giving juniors an incentive to meet these requirements. “I think junior privilege cards would be a lovely idea. Since you have to keep up your grades to get it, that motivates you to do well in school,” said junior Ella Hardy. Classmate Carly Dunlap said, “We’re upperclassmen. We already spent two years as freshmen and sophomores, and now we’re just one step below seniors. A lot of juniors can drive, too, so we might
Rachael Lee
as well be able to go buy food.” Another nuance that junior privilege cards would eliminate is a student’s obligation to remain on campus during the lunch break preceding a fifth or sixth period home study. Despite the fact that home study students finish class at 11:40, they do not have the option of leaving school until 12:10. Said junior Carolyn Magistrale, “I have home study fifth period, and having a privilege card would let me go home during lunch instead of having to stay here and wait for another half an hour.” In the end, privilege cards are named for a reason: they are a privilege that is granted to deserving, hard-working students in need of relief. And anyone can attest that juniors are undoubtedly in need of a break as much as seniors are.
Letting service members do their job By Amber Laird Staff Writer September 20, 2011 marked the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) policy on homosexual U.S. military service members. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” didn’t just mean that the sexual orientation of many members of the military had to remain a secret; it meant that any outed gay soldiers were discharged from service. Its repeal isn’t just a triumph for gay soldiers, or gay people; it’s a step towards equality and a triumph for our country and its ideals. Joan Darrah, a now-retired Captain of the United States Navy, was forced to keep her partner secret in order to serve. She was in the Pentagon for a meeting minutes before the plane struck on September 11, 2001, and says that she realized then the impact of not being able to put her partner on any of her emergency contacts. If anything had happened to her, her partner would have been the last to know. Even more than that, though, DADT forced her to live a lie, and live in fear. “When the admiral would call me to his office, this little voice in the back of my mind would always say, ‘Gee, I hope that somehow I haven’t been outed and that
he’s calling me in to tell me that my career is over,’” she said. There are countless testimonies like this, because every gay or bisexual member of the military had to live a lie at some point, whether discharged or not.
Daniel Willardson
This policy forced people to hide who they were, to lie about an aspect of themand shamefully. Even discounting the personal struggles and rights of gay service members, the policy was impractical. Under DADT, 14,346 lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals were discharged from duty. According to
the U.S. Government Accountability Office, discharging and replacing each of these service members cost the federal government approximately $10,000. Researchers from UC Santa Barbara found this estimate to be closer to $37,000 per member. A survey of 545 service members who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan found that 73% were completely comfortable with serving alongside gay men and women while only 5% were “very uncomfortable.” But this isn’t about how the other service members feel about the sexual orientation of their peers. It’s about the rights of gay men and women to be able to pursue a career in the military without having to hide who they are. It’s about the effect that this policy has had on the lives of thousands of members of the military. That said, the repeal of the DADT policy isn’t the end of the line for the rights of soldiers. Following the repeal of DADT, discharged service members are allowed to re-enlist, but this doesn’t make up for the years of living a lie. This repeal also does nothing for the rights of transgender individuals who would like to serve. It’s a step towards equality and should still be celebrated, but the fight for equal rights across the board is far from over.
6
Feature
Feature
Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Culture Music Art Books Movies Fashion
Bon Iver charms at Universal By Josh Roquemore Staff Writer
The room was alive as the band members of Bon Iver took their places on the stage. After fine-tuning their instruments, they began to play “Perth,” the opening song of new self-titled album, Bon Iver. The crowd of beanie wearing, satchel-laden hipsters roared as the bass shook the room. Folk/indie group Bon Iver, headed by Justin Vernon, ended the Los Angeles segment of its tour on September 20 with a concert in Universal Studios, Hollywood. The venue was filled with avid fans. The concert opened with Other Lives, a forgettable indie band. The audience was uninterested and detached, counting the minutes until Bon Iver took the stage. Thankfully, Vernon’s haunting falsetto and the band’s command of its unique sound compensated for the unimpressive opening act. Bon Iver played a 90-minute set. The band members gave a colorful performance with a variety of electric and acoustic songs. Over the course of the night, they showcased over twelve songs from their new album, as well as some older hits. The show closed with Vernon’s raw vocals on classic “Skinny Love” from the album For Emma, Forever Ago. The performance at the Gibson Theater was one of the band’s last in America. It is scheduled to tour the United Kingdom this October. With its album’s recent success and a developing semi-cultish devotion to Vernon, Bon Iver will undoubtedly meet success in its tour overseas.
manualmagazine.com
Front man Justin Vernon led Bon Iver’s L.A. show with his raw vocals and soulful vibe.
Rachael Garner
Several members of Spoon Assassin hold out their spoons, some adorned with decorative strips or drawings.
Assassins serve up spoonfuls of death By Madison Amido and Matt DeFulgentiis Tiger Staff Students across campus are equipped with personalized plastic spoons that they use to “kill” one another in a game that is far more intense than it initially appears. At first glance, one can easily dismiss Spoon Assassin as just another craze. But these student “assassins” take this game to extreme levels, conjuring up clever ways to “kill” opponents and becoming overly attached to their plastic utensils. Onlookers see students walking around with plastic spoons, while assassins see students lurking around corners armed with weapons of destruction. Sixty students joined the Spoon Assassin phenomenon earlier this September. It’s a game of patience and perseverance. The rules are simple: hold onto your spoon at all times, or else be vulnerable to “death” by the tap of your killer’s utensil. Each student participating in the game has a target, and assassination can occur at any given time, excluding sports practices and games. Students can “kill” their target only when he or she is not holding his or her spoon. Once
an assassin has successfully caught their target without their spoon and eliminated them from the game, their new mission is to kill the “dead” player’s target. The pattern continues until the competition comes down to two students. Finally, only one ultimate assassin stands. Many participants have already been eliminated since the game began, falling victim to lost spoons or lapses in judgment. The game was planned and organized by senior Martin Lis, who initiated the Spoon Assassin tradition at SPHS last year, where the game lasted nearly three months before alumnus Davy Li emerged victorious. Said Lis, “I think people enjoy playing it because it lets students stalk their friends.” The competition started by Lis is not the only active Spoon Assassin game on the SPHS campus. The ASB class has also officially initiated a game of their own. “Who doesn’t love going in for the kill? It’s amazing. The people’s faces after you kill them is priceless,” said junior president Ashim Shrestha, organizer of ASB Spoon Assassin.
Shrestha uses a stealthy approach to kill opponents, enjoying the creative aspect and thrill of the game. “I got Kelsey Hess to go up to sophomore president Jason Wang and act like she was interviewing him for Tiger. He actually thought he was being interviewed, and I was hiding in the bushes. Then Kelsey goes, ‘Can I see your spoon?’” Jumping out from the bushes, Shrestha caught Wang off guard. “I have nothing to say. Ashim ruined my day,” said Wang. The ASB class has posted paper gravestones for the fallen members of leadership in the Student Activities Center. It could take months to see how both games pan out. Said Lis of his personal odds, “I think that I’m the most dedicated, but there are definitely a lot of people that have a good chance, like William Rygg or Kelsey Hess.” Spoon Assassin is not a friendly game of checkers by the fireplace. It is an all-consuming, kill-or-be-killed battle where friends become foes. Spoon Assassin is more than a craze; it’s a deadly obsession.
Personality Profile: Diana Spiegel By Anne Kitchens Staff Writer Quiet conformity and passive reflection are two attributes sophomore Diana Spiegel would never be caught dead representing. A musical theatre veteran and self-proclaimed stylist, Diana proudly describes herself as an entertaining, outgoing, friendly girl who is never afraid to speak her mind. However, there is a downside to her hectic lifestyle; Diana has to find extra time outside of rehearsals, voice lessons, and drama class to hang out with friends. Diana has sacrificed many things besides her social life for her love of drama. She was once actively involved in AYSO soccer; however, when she was forced to make a decision between a play and a soccer game, there was no question that acting would take precedence. Her
love of drama and singing began to develop when she was in fifth grade and became involved in her community temple shows. After this proved successful, her confidence and love for the art grew significantly and she began auditioning for summer shows at Theatre 360 in Pasadena. She has recently performed in “Hairspray” (playing a hooker) and was also part of SPHS’s “Sound of Music” last year. “I think of myself as a small fish in a big pond,” said Spiegel. “I just really enjoy being on stage and being part of the ensemble is enjoyable for me because I get a lot of stage time.” Diana thoroughly enjoys the spotlight and attention that comes with acting. While being one of the only teenagers rehearsing at the Jewish Federation of San Gabriel Valley can get frustrating, Diana feels that she is a team player.
Despite her carefree and confident demeanor, Diana has faced her fair share of adversity. She has been referred to as “psycho” by classmates and endured admonishing looks from her mother from time to time due to her exotic sense of style. However, this has not gotten her down—she continues to sport green sparkly shorts and tutus to school. Diana has her mind set on eventually performing on Broadway, but has decided that college is the best option for her until she is ready. She wants to make sure that she is a very well rounded, knowledgeable individual, and therefore has her sights set on schools like NYU or Carnegie Mellon. This determined, charismatic sophomore models her life after her favorite quote from the musical Hair: “Kids be free, be whoever you are, do whatever you want to do, just so long as you don’t hurt anybody.”
Siria Medina
Spiegel enjoys performing on stage and being in the spotlight. She hopes to one day work on Broadway.
Feature
Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Personality Personality Profile:Profile
Antonia Thomas
Elliot Davis
vis shared nonchalantly. For him, maneuvering around “hoops, silks, and trapezes” is just as normal as dribStanding comfortably tall at 6 feet, bling a soccer ball in AYSO is for other kids. He’s also a particularly talented juggler. sophomore Elliot Davis certainly doesn’t need a height boost. Last year, however, he turned Balls, bowling pins, rings – Davis can juggle heads – and then lifted them – with what he them all. He can even do so from his stilts, by bouncing the balls off the ground. chose to wear on Color Day: a pair of stilts. Davis’s knack for irregular sports Simply referred to by some students as “the stilt guy,” many don’t know the half of doesn’t indicate a lack of talent in more conDavis’s eccentric interests and talents. When ventional arenas. He has been running for he was just ten years old, he decided to take a the SPHS cross country team since freshman stilt building and walking class. After building year. In his free time, he enjoys playing sochis first pair of fully functioning stilts in just cer, tennis, and proclaims himself a “pro” at three hours, his hunger for the extraordinary ping pong. The curly-haired sophomore’s heritage talent only intensified. “I’ve performed in aerial circuses,” Da- is almost as intriguing as his circus-worthy abilities. He’s half Belgian, and learned to speak French when he was a child. “I also used to be able to speak German too, but I forgot because I didn’t speak it enough,” said Davis. Because of his Belgian heritage, Davis frequently travels throughout Europe. This summer on his trip to Belgium, he hiked the French Alps with his family. “I made it just short of Italy,” Davis admitted. “I couldn’t get past the last big hill.” His hobbies, athletics, and various physical endeavors all indicate that Davis isn’t afraid to push his limits. Davis’s passion for life can be expressed through his passion for running. “I like seeing improvements after nonstop training. I like the feeling of getting stronger,” says Davis. Despite the time Elliot spends above ground, he is one of the most down-to-earth people that you could ever meet. His whimsical interests are an ironic contrast to his warm Theo Mandin-Lee and genuine personality, which Elliot Davis shows off his handmade stilts at City Hall in draws others to his presence just Pasadena. Davis has been making stilts since age ten. as much as his stilts do.
7
By Erin Chan Staff Writer
Thomas is the star of the British TV show Misfits. media.tumblr.com
Alia Elboushi An SPHS junior, Elboushi has been mistaken for Thomas by photographers. Matt Winkel
The Place offers teen activities By Meghan Roche Staff Writer
South Pasadena schools are known for high-performing students and good test scores, but when the final bell rings, not every teenager has a place to go where they can enjoy themselves and feel free to speak their mind. In an effort to fix that, several South Pasadena residents decided to open The Place, a free teen drop-in center for fun, homework, and support. Currently open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:15 to 6 P.M., The Place was opened at the end of last November by Natasha Prime, Liz Price, and Nick Taylor. “I was trying to figure out how to fill the gap for social and emotional support that the school can’t provide, and from that idea the teen center was born,” said Prime, who used to work at SPHS. The center -- located at the South Pas-
adena Recreation Division on Mission Street -- is available for all teenagers aged 13 and up, and is equipped with everything from foosball and a Playstation to homework help (a free math tutor comes on Monday). The center has served about sixty kids since November, and Prime hopes to get the word out to more as time passes. “There’s a lot of people who get home and are alone because their parents don’t get home until late, a lot of teens who don’t do band or sports who might need somewhere to go,” said Prime. “Pizza Fridays” have become a weekly event. It’s these types of things that will hopefully attract people to the growing center, and several community members have joined in. “The people power is volunteer power. We’re currently looking at expanding our board with more youth board members. We have lots of great ideas, but we want to do what you guys want,” said Prime.
Pros and cons: Blockbuster vs. Netflix Netflix raises prices; effects on the Netflix/Blockbuster debate? Blockbuster: New partnership with DISH By Rhian Moore Feature Assoc. Just a few years ago, Blockbuster was at the top of the world -- the video rental world, that is. Unfortunately, the company failed to keep up with the rise of streaming video, and was forced to file for bankruptcy last year. The oncefilled parking lots of Blockbuster stores have sadly emptied. This July, however, many Netflix customers were outraged about the price hike. It was a perfect time for Blockbuster to make a comeback by adding streaming at a lower price. The company has answered the call, but it is too early to tell whether its plans will be effective. DISH Network, the satelliteTV provider that bought Blockbuster out of bankruptcy, made an
announcement last Friday about the Blockbuster Movie Pass. Available starting October 1, this will be Blockbuster’s first television and movie streaming service. The catch? It is only for DISH customers. In addition to the package cost, current subscribers will have to pay an extra ten dollars per month for the Movie Pass, while new subscribers will receive the service free for a year. DISH has plans to offer the Movie Pass to non-customers in the future, but no details were given on Friday. People who have a television service that they are content with will not switch to DISH solely for the option of streaming videos. Until this service becomes available to people who do not subscribe to DISH Network, Blockbuster streaming has a long way to go.
Netflix: Price hikes don’t interrupt service By Marcy Kuo Staff Writer Since the rapid downfall of Blockbuster in 1994, Netflix has brought the movie-rental industry into a new, competitive era. Its DVD mail delivery and online streaming service have earned reputations for consistent reliability. In light of Netflix’s prominent success, CEO Reed Hastings held a press conference last week announcing 60% price hikes for DVD mail services that will take effect within a week. This means subscribers will have to pay an additional five dollars on top of their original Netflix plan, which charges $7.99 for a month of unlimited access to Netflix’s store of movies. If users are paying a total of $12.99 for monthly DVD service, is it still worth it?
“I am not angered with Netflix’s increased prices. It makes sense that they’ve increased their price in relation to the economy. Success comes with change and I think that’s what Netflix is trying to do: increase sales and demand while also trying new market strategies,” said senior Aashrita Mangu. Many subscribers agree with Mangu’s support of the price increases. Watching a film every weekend in a movie theater is unaffordable, and trips to Blockbuster are unnecessary when unlimited DVDs can arrive at your doorstep or online for a flat rate below the cost of a single ticket to a movie theater. A price of thirteen dollars is nominal considering the service Netflix provides. It is doubtful that its success will diminish due to the price increase.
Upcoming L.A. Concerts
9/29 : at Th Jimmy E eW ilter at Wor ld n
y : 10/1 -182, M ance m k Blin ical Ro im at m K Che tt and enter a & M onda C H The 10/2: The M Juice isfits, he Hous ad at the DI, e of B lues on Addicti ’s e n a J : r 10/4 pitheate m A d r at Fo
8 Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Feature
Auditions for fall play held this week
Moneyball pleases baseball fans and moviegoers alike
tic relationships that develop between characters. Despite the romance theme, humor is as prevalent as love in the story. Enright feels that the play, while set in 1950’s Kansas and written over half a century ago, is still relevant to today’s youth.
By Max White Copy Editor
South Pasadena High School drama instructor Daniel Enright read through forty scripts before choosing Bus Stop as the annual winter play. The production will feature more male leads than those of previous years in order to allow more aspiring actors to participate in the theater program. Auditions for the play began on Tuesday and will end after school today, although the first performance will not be for more than two months. Bus Stop follows a cast of eight as they take shelter in a rural diner from a sudden, latenight snowstorm. Five of the characters are bus passengers who are stranded until the inTheo Mandin-Lee clement weather passes, while the remaining three are locals. Junior Amanda Stewart and senior The plot centers on the roman- Sarah Patterson audition for Bus Stop.
Iz, Short for Izz
By Amber Laird
3/5
By Kelsey Hess Staff Writer
charm and awkwardness, accompanied by an occasional sprinkle of rage. Pitt, the stressed frontoffice executive, is emotionally supported by his inspiring twelve-year-old daughter, Casey (Kerris Dorsey). His character is unpredictable, cynical, and self-deprecating, but is ultimately able to secure success for his team. While Pitt and Hill were a thrill to watch on screen, the film was far from perfect. The movie runs about forty-five minutes longer than it should, there is no romance, and lacks a sense of closure. This is somewhat excusable because it is based on a true story, but had the movie been more concise, its poignant moments would have been more memorable. Despite this, the movie does manFull color version available at tigernewspaper.com age to entertain, and of course it particularly appeals to baseball fans. It depicts a significant statistical advancement and successfully adapts Michael Lewis’ best-selling book to the big screen. It doesn’t take a professional baseball player or a mathematician to understand this movie. The revolutionary story, told through Billy Beane’s eyes, will undoubtedly entertain any audience. Despite a few pesky setbacks, Moneyball is a definite home run.
Take the PSAT!
Restricted to a microscopic budget, and with high expectations, Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane found a way to discover undervalued baseball players using advanced statistics instead of traditional scouting. The catchers began pitching and the pitchers played the outfield, all because Beane found that their potential lay elsewhere. Following several trades, which further imposed Beane’s philosophy on the team, Oakland goes on a twenty-game winning streak – the most consecutive wins in baseball history. Brad Pitt portrays the risk-taking general manager, mentoring his naïve associate Peter Brand, played by Jonah Hill. The brilliant duo rocked its roles, displaying a delightful blend of
The PSAT will be held at SPHS on Saturday, Oct. 15. Meet by the library at 7:30am and find your name and test room posted on the library windows. Testing starts at 8:00am.
Register: Monday, Oct. 3 thru Thursday, Oct.13 during lunch in the student bank. Cost: $20 cash or check payable to SPHS-ASB
**Doors close at the warning bell for periods 5/6.**
$15.00 Early Bird Special Monday, Oct. 3 ONLY. “Guaranteed” if you are in line the first ten minutes of lunch.
Remember to bring pencils and a calculator to the test.
moneyball-movie.com
Senior Privilege Card Seniors Mar tin Lis and Sean Ehrlich have been friends since 2002. Playing golf during lunch has been a longtime dream of theirs and now, because of their privilege cards, that dream has become a reality. Spor ting teal LaCoste polos, Sperr y’s, and pinstripe shor ts, Mar tin and Sean fit right in with the golf scene . After they’ve sufficiently “owned” the Arroyo Seco mini-golf course , the boys share a strawberr y milkshake with whipped cream in the golf course restaurant. Said Ehrlich, “I really feel like both physical fitness and friend bonding are impor tant to maintain a healthy lifestyle . I cherish my time spent with Mar tin on the (mini) golf course .” ~Anne Kitchens
Thursday, September 29, 2011 - Tiger
9
Seniors Nick Hudson, Bennett Kopperud, and Ben Hillman like to skip out on lunch for a relaxing dip in the pool. Conveniently located about six blocks from school, the Hillman residence is a perfect sanctuar y from 1401 Fremont’s stucco recesses for these young, fit men. Along with this crew is Nedward the dog, who plays an active role in their pool game “Gizball”. Gizball is something of their own creative invention, a hybrid between wrestling and dunk basketball that requires each player to be physically fit and competitive . Once they finish their games, the crew packs into the back of Hillman’s green Volvo, and they drive swiftly back to school in order to just barely make it on time to their next period. ~Anne Kitchens
@ POOL ----------
Anxiously awaited and highly coveted, senior privilege cards provide a taste of freedom for many SPHS seniors who have long yearned for the ability to leave campus at lunch. Only available to seniors with an acceptable GPA and attendance record, this privilege is regarded by many as one of the best perks of surviving the past three years. Opening up a world of lunchtime possibilities, the senior privilege card is a plastic passport to the culinary and entertainment offerings of South Pasadena and the surrounding areas. Those allowed to leave campus may be short on time, but they have no shortage of ambition—in fact, it’s almost astounding what can be accomplished in 40 minutes. ~Clair Fuller Page by Jennifer Kim Photos by Theo Mandin-Lee and Katie Whitworth
------------------
@ MINI GOLF-----
@ CHIPOTLE------
When it’s lunchtime at SPHS, the first thing that seniors Cece Zhu and Cindy Chan think about is Chipotle. A rush of deliciousness in the form of monster-sized burritos filled with smoky grilled meat, fluffy rice, and various bright sauces is the perfect mid-day carb load for these two cross country runners. After hopping into Zhu’s gray Nissan Scion, the two quickly depart from school to pick up their lunch as well as pounds of additional Chipotle goodness to deliver to their ravenous friends. As they carry their paper bags full of burritos and tacos out of the restaurant, businessmen on their lunch breaks give them stares that only legitimate fatties can receive. However, they take pleasure in the stares, given that their Mexican delights are only minutes away from being digested. ~Erin Chan
PRIVILEGED:
Seniors take on lunch outside the tiger patio @ CHA-------------
“I should just have this place on speed dial,” says Veronica Hang from the driver’s seat of her Lexus to her friend Isabel Koo as she prepares to call in an order from Cha for Tea. It’s clear indeed that the two girls are frequent patrons of Cha. The Asian teahouse and restaurant specializes in milk teas and boba, as well as offering entrées—Veronica’s favorite is the curr y chicken, while Isabel is a fan of the mango green tea. Located in Alhambra, Cha for Tea might be a bit far away for a 40 minute lunch time jaunt. It’s doable , though, if you drive like Veronica does, and the promise of boba makes the possibility of a speeding ticket wor th it. ~Clair Fuller
10 Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sports
Smooth sailing for girls golf By Harry Yadav Senior Staff Writer The South Pasadena girls golf team began its quest to repeat as Montview League champions with three resounding victories in its first three matches. The Tigers’ most recent victory came against Gabrielino by a score of 201-249. For the first time this year, South Pas was able to dominate from top to bottom. The girls were led by freshman standout Katie Rosenberg’s 35, followed by senior co-captain Melody Sue’s 38. Senior Victoria Carlos’s 42, senior Katie Whitworth’s 43, and senior Samantha Ramos’s 43 marked the first time this season that five Tigers have shot below 45. 201 is South Pasadena’s lowest team total so far this season, and the 48-shot win made it their biggest margin of victory as well. But most intimidating is that the Tigers don’t even feel like they’ve peaked. “We haven’t seen the best from any of our girls so far, and that’s scary for our opposition,” said coach Richard Goto. The girls’ first two victories in league came against Westridge by scores of 212240 and 220-240 respectively. In the first match, played at home, Sue led the team with a 36, followed by Carlos’ 42. In the second match at Westridge’s home course, Brookside, the Tigers benefitted from standout performances from Rosenberg and Whitworth. “Westridge was supposedly our biggest challenge, so it should be smooth sailing from here on out,” said Goto.
Melody Sue MVP of the Montview League. Captain for three years. Southern Section CIF finalist. These are a few of the accolades that Melody Sue has earned during her golf career. As captain of the girls golf team, Sue has proven herself to be a statistical and emotional leader through her composed demeanor. “[Melody Sue] is very focused all the time and knows what she has to do. She’s our anchor; she always comes through even when the rest of the team isn’t doing well,” said senior teammate Victoria Carlos. Melody has averaged a strong four over par for a round of nine this season. She has had to overcome many obstacles to get to this point. Along with balancing Katie Whitworth schoolwork and practices, Sue’s biggest Sue is captain of the girls golf team. challenge was to become stronger mentally.
Martin Lis Standing 6’1” and weighing 175 pounds, senior Martin Lis instantly stands out as a stellar water polo player. Lis started playing water polo at the age of eight with the encouragement of his brother Lucas. “[Lucas] played polo and I always thought it was a really interesting and cool sport,” said Lis. Martin first started playing water polo with the City of Los Angeles (COLA) team with his brother, but moved to the South Pasadena Water Polo Club during his freshman year. He has been part of the SPHS water polo team for the past four years. He started on the junior varsity squad as a freshman and was promoted to varsity for his sophomore year. Lis plays the set position on the team and has
scored 25 goals so far this season. Lis mainly credits his success to his parents and brother. “They are really supportive and encourage me all the time,” he says. “They always want me to be the best I can be.” Through his hard work and dedication, Lis has won multiple awards throughout his high school career. He was named Second Team All-Area twice and Most Inspirational by the team last year. Martin hopes to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, UCSD, or Loyola Marymount University next fall, where he hopes to continue playing water polo. After leading the Tigers to two consecutive CIF berths, Lis hopes to take his team deeper into the playoffs this year. “Over my four years here, I have grown closer to my teammates,” he said. “I can’t imagine playing a different sport.” ~Carlton Lew
“I feel like I have to play well all the time. I think I’m afraid of disappointing everyone, including myself, and that was certainly a big challenge for me over the years,” said Sue. When not on the golf course, Sue spends her time involved with Key Club. She is also the president of the school orchestra, where she plays violin. She is interested in several colleges including Columbia University and USC. Sue hopes to major in environmental science, environmental engineering, physics, or nutrition. As for her future in golf, Sue hopes to play in college if possible. Several colleges, including Yale University, have already contacted her. ~Christian Miyamae
Katie Whitworth
Lis is one of the Tigers’ greatest weapons in the water.
Sports
Thursday, September 29, 2011 - Tiger
11
Girls volleyball regains momentum By Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer
Theo Mandin-Lee
Sophomore Claire Kieffer-Wright uses her height to tip the ball.
The South Pasadena girls volleyball team defeated the Mark Keppel Aztecs in 3 straight games in a preseason match played at home on Thursday, September 22. With this victory, the girls’ record improved to 7-2 and the team is eager to keep the momentum going with today’s season opener against Monrovia. As usual, sophomore Claire Kieffer-Wright (#15) was an essential player for the Tigers on the court, with 27 kills and 4 aces last Thursday. Coach Ben Diaz summed it up best; “We had number fifteen…they didn’t.” Kieffer-Wright’s performance sparked animated cheers from an involved South Pasadena crowd. The Aztecs had no response to the overpowering middle hitter.
The Tigers have suffered only two losses this preseason, one from Pacifica Christian in tournament play and most recently San Gabriel last Tuesday. The South Pas team has been winning most of its matches handily, but even with its 3-0 effort on Thursday, the coach and the players know there is still room for improvement. “We kept making silly mistakes. We were inconsistent until the third game,” said captain Jessica Arroyo. Coach Diaz agrees, but was not completely unsatisfied with the team’s performance. “We overpowered them with our hitting,” said Diaz. He and the girls want to keep their winning streak alive against a competitive Monrovia squad today. The Tigers are eager to get revenge on the green and white after losing both season matches to the Wildcats in 2010.
Match, set, league: girls tennis looks to recover By Christian Miyamae Staff Writer With the league season starting today against Monrovia, girls tennis hopes to change their momentum after a 3-6 preseason start. In their last preseason match on Tuesday, the girls struggled in a 3-15 loss to Burroughs High School. Doubles pair of senior Taylor Levine and freshman Katherine Shinno captured one of the three victories. Singles players Christina Yang and Tiffany Ten fought for the other two wins. “Our singles needs to improve.
Every single game we need to improve and get ready for San Marino who is our toughest opponent like last year. We just need to keep improving and doing our best,” said coach Ron Machuca. The girls suffered another loss of 7-11 playing Arroyo High School on September 22. Despite the defeat, there were some positives; freshman Jordan Cruz continued to impress. She won two out of her three sets in the match. Doubles combination of seniors Taylor Levine and Tiffany Chen also claimed victory that day.
The day previous, Crescenta Valley defeated the Tigers in a 2-16 match. Doubles pair Brianna Loo and Mei Chung picked up the two sets for South Pas. The match was close; one of the sets ended with a 7-5 tiebreaker in favor of Loo and Chung. “We got off to a rough start because we didn’t have our doubles combinations set. But now we have a better idea of what we have to do,” said senior Brianna Loo about the team’s rough start. After facing Monrovia, the Tigers look to start October strong when they face La Cañada on the 4th.
Girls XC passes up La Cañada with ease By Alex Tranquada and Jackson Atwater Tiger Staff SPHS’s girls cross country team seems poised for a record-breaking season after proving itself at both the Woodbridge Invitational and the first meet of Rio Hondo League competition. Competing in the elite Rated race at Woodbridge for the first time in the program’s history, South Pasadena proved that they deserved their 10th-place ranking in CIF’s Division III Southern Section. Placing 14th out of 19 teams, the Tigers lowered their team time by nearly three minutes from 2010’s Woodbridge meet. Several South Pasadena runners got their names into the record books as well;
three Tiger times ranked among the top ten times ever recorded for girls cross country at SPHS. Senior captain Kaylee Anderson took the sixth spot with a PR of 18:51, and junior Anika Renken captured fourth in 18:17. Top honors, however, belonged to sophomore Helena Van Loan, who shattered the all-time school record by almost forty seconds with her time of 17:33. Van Loan finished eighth overall in a field of 135 runners. Freshman Julia Primuth also showed promise, running 20:20 and coming in fifth for SPHS. The Tigers were back in action on Thursday the 22nd, pitting themselves against the other five teams in the Rio Hondo League at Lacy Park in San Marino. Perennial rival La Cañada was expected to put up a fight, but South Pas placed their first four runners
in the top six and defeated the Spartans 2736 to take first place. Van Loan once again showed her speed, finishing first in 18:46, followed by Anderson (fourth, 19:30), senior Cece Zhu (fifth, 19:38), and Renken (sixth, 19:45). Junior Jessica Hitchcock rounded out Tiger scoring, finishing eleventh in 20:39. “We’re hitting the benchmarks we need to hit,” said head coach Patrick McGrail. “Winning this race was probably more of a psychological victory than anything else, because we’re proving that we can live up to ambitious expectations.” South Pasadena’s next test will come at the Clovis Invitational on October 8, when the varsity squad will travel to Fresno for the weekend to compete against teams from across the state.
Rio Hondo League no match for boys XC
Rachael Garner
The South Pasadena boys squad warms up as a unit. By Clem Witherall and Remeny White Tiger Staff South Pasadena’s varsity boys cross country squad proved their dominance last Thursday by winning the first Rio Hondo League meet at Lacy Park in San
Marino, 22-52. The Tigers’ five scoring runners all finished under 16:55 and within the top eight overall spots. The highlight of the talented group was junior Paul Messana, who won the race
with a time of 16:18. Sophomore Josh Wilson, 16:19, finished third overall and captain Alex Tranquada, 16:27, was close behind. Senior Max White and freshman Cullen Irvine rounded off the top five Tigers with times of 16:50 and 16:55, respectively. The race came to a thrilling close as Messana, who was three seconds behind La Cañada’s Brendan Greene heading into the final 100 yards, passed the Spartan runner right before the finish line. “We had a lot of expectations going into the meet, as other people are recognizing that we’re doing what we need to do,” said head coach Patrick McGrail. The South Pasadena cross country program swept all five divisions, also winning the var-
sity girls, JV girls, JV boys and frosh-soph boys races. The impressive showing at the meet is reflected in the boys varsity team’s current seventhplace ranking in the CIF Southern Section and tenth-place ranking in the entire state in Division III. “We’re really going to have one of the best seasons we’ve ever had; we just need to continue to step up and try the hardest we can to show we are the strongest team all around. But the hardest work is yet to come,” said McGrail. After participating in the annual Clovis Invitational on October 8, the South Pasadena boys will face their Rio Hondo League competition yet again on October 12, at the second league meet at Crescenta Valley Park.
Sophomore Van Loan sets school record By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer Helena Van Loan made SPHS history at the Woodbridge Invitational cross country meet on September 17. Only a sophomore, Van Loan finished her three-mile race with a time of 17:33. This shattered the previous South Pasadena girls three-mile record by nearly forty seconds. “It was all very surreal,” said Van Loan. “Coach McGrail came up to me and told me I broke the record and that I was the fastest girl in South Pas… It took a while to sink in.” Van Loan, who has been a key member of the varsity cross country team since her freshman year, has big ambitions for the next few years. “This season, I’m going to try my hardest… and I really hope that we can take the team to state,” said Van Loan. Her post-high-school goal is to get a college scholarship for running. Varsity cross country coach Patrick McGrail said, “Helena is one of several girls who I think is really coming out strongly this season, and she’s going to contribute in a lot of different ways. Helena has started to mature as a runner.” McGrail sees a lot of potential for the South Pasadena team this season, particularly with Van Loan as a leader. “I think she’s realizing now as a sophomore that it’s okay to push to the front of the pack, be aggressive, and not be afraid to take the lead or go ahead of girls she’s used to running with. Her confidence is building now, and hopefully she’s going to use that and turn it into experience and a successful season,” said McGrail.
Rachael Garner
Helena Van Loan, SPHS’s top cross country talent, set the new record at 17:33 at the Woodbridge Invitational.
12 Tiger - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sports
Sports
Upcoming games: Today - Varsity Girls Volleyball vs. Monrovia @ home 9/30 - Varsity Football vs. Alhambra @ Alhambra 10/4 - Varsity Boys Water Polo vs. San Marino @
Speaking of
Sports
Matt DeFulgentiis
MLB money matters
Katie Whitworth
Junior Nick O’Brien plays defense during the South Pasadena match against El Segundo. The Tigers won the game 12-8.
Boys water polo finds success After four losses, the team picks up a much-needed win against El Segundo By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer The varsity boys water polo team has begun to turn around what started as an unsuccessful season, winning their final pre-league game against El Segundo High School on Sept. 23. The Tigers were able to claim a 12-8 victory despite three of their key starters receiving three ejections each, therefore being “majored” and consequently being excluded
9/23 SPHS v. El Segundo 12-8 W
from play for the remainder of the game. Senior Martin Lis was the first to be majored in the third quarter, following a questionable foul drawn by an El Segundo player. Senior Andrew Clauss and sophomore Adrian Suarez were ejected soon after, leaving the Tigers at a severe player disadvantage. However, with an astonishing eight goals scored by sophomore Pierce Deamer, South Pas managed to dominate. Deamer additionally totaled four steals throughout
9/20 SPHS v. Peninsula 14-10 L
9/13 SPHS v. La Serna 9-8 L
the game, working hard to keep the ball in Tiger possession. The lack of three starters forced less prominent teammembers to fill the missing players’ roles, including junior Nick O’Brien, who rose to the challenge by scoring two goals in his personal best game of the season. “You couldn’t really tell that our three best players were out of the water because everybody was playing at that same level. What I really enjoyed about the game was that some of the younger guys stepped up,” said head coach Robert Echeverria. Echeverria has been struggling to finalize a start-
ing lineup of seven players for league due to the loss of several seniors since last season. “This game helped me figure out my starting seven, because I got to see some guys play a really good game,” said Echeverria. “I think that we finally started playing well as a team, and our defense has been getting better. We’ve been practicing hard and spending a lot of time together just hanging out, and I think that really helps the team atmosphere, which helps us in the water,” said freshman goalie Will Renken. The Tigers open league play away on Tuesday, October 4 against rival San Marino.
Varsity football gains confidence at Glendale By Michael Abelev Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School varsity football team picked up its second win at Moyse Stadium last Friday night, dominating the Glendale High School Nitros 49-21. Although the game was full of communication problems and missed opportunities, the Tigers were able to pull off a victory. They hope Friday night’s win will start a winning streak. South Pasadena started the game strong and improved its play in the second half. The first two offensive possessions by the Tigers were both touchdowns. The offense was able to run big plays and put points
Matt Winkel
Senior Yihai Han (#7) ran for 114 yards in the first half alone in Friday’s game against Glendale. The final score was 49-21. on the board, but they still struggled with penalties ranging from false starts to illegal motions. Even with these missed opportunities, the Tiger de-
fense was able to hold Glendale to 13-7 going into the second half. The Tigers relied heavily on their running backs throughout the game. Senior
running back Yihai Han ran 114 yards in the first half alone before his playing time was cut short by an ankle injury in the second half. Out of the team’s ample supply of running backs, junior Nathan Lee as well as seniors Sean Magill, Telanto Harvey, and Gio Fata all had touchdown runs. South Pasadena used this week to work on it’s weaknesses and prepare for a matchup tomorrow night against the Alhambra Moors, who beat the Tigers last year 27-14. “Overall we did a great job, but we definitely had some problems. We had too many penalties out there and we need to make sure our guys are concentrating. We have to maintain control and stay focused,” said head coach Martin Konrad.
Do big-market teams in major league baseball who perennially spend huge sums of money on players have an advantage over smaller-market teams? Or is it simply a part of the game we’ve come to love? The truth is, teams that cannot afford to sign major stars are simply never going to be able to compete with teams like the Boston Red Sox, who just this year signed two players, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford, for over $140 million each. At what point does the sport just become a game of finance and wealth? Many people feel that good overall team management is the real key to a team’s success. However, any team that has the ability to throw hundreds of millions of dollars into the signing of star players has an unfair advantage over smaller, less wealthy teams. The New York Yankees are a prime example of this. The Yankees have always been known for their willingness to spend obscene amounts of money on the signing of elite players such as Alex Rodriguez, who signed a 10-year, $275-million contract with the club in 2007. Rodriguez’s deal is the most expensive contract in MLB history. This process has earned them a spot in the playoffs almost every year for the past two decades. However, rare as it is, some lowpayroll teams achieve great success. For example, this year the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay Rays, all in the bottom half of team payrolls, are either leading or have won their respective divisions. The way things are shaping up towards the end of this season, as many as seven of the nine teams with the richest payrolls are not going to qualify for the postseason at all. The Rays, who play in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees, have a thirty-man roster, with a team payroll of $41,053,571. If you were to take a look at the Red Sox payroll, you would find that the three highest-paid players on the team make a total of $47,807,142 a year, while the top two players from the Yankees combine for a total of $56,285,714 a year. In other words, a couple of players on these two teams make more money than the entire Tampa Bay roster. It’s ironic that, in a sport that relies so much on statistics and odds, anybody would dare to argue that money does not matter. In a letter to San Francisco Giants fans this past Monday, manager Bruce Bochy stated, “In baseball, the difference between winning and losing can be as slight as a bunt that stays fair instead of rolling foul. A team is always looking for an edge.” That being the case, it’s hard to overlook the edge that a $150 million payroll can provide.