Tiger Newspaper Vol. XCVIII, No. VI

City struggles to complete wind cleanup

By Natalie McLain Staff Writer

Siria Medina

VOCAL MUSIC SHOWCASE Choral director Mr. Michael Gray led the Arroyo Seco Ensemble in the Winter Festival on January 17. ASE and the Oneonta Choir sang modern and classical pieces.

Choir presents Winter Festival

By Anne Kitchens Staff Writer The SPHS choir hosted its Winter Festival on January 17. Choral director Mr. Michael Gray organized the annual performance that showcased the Arroyo Seco Ensemble and Oneonta Choir, the two SPHS vocal music programs.

The Oneonta Choir, an elective class, boasts 50 singers.

Twenty student voices make up the Arroyo Seco Ensemble.

ASE is a voluntary program that takes place during zero period each day.

The Winter Festival lasted

for just over an hour and featured a variety of songs, such as “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, “In Te, Domine, Sperari,” a 17th century German classic by Dietrich Buxtehude, and “God Have Heart” from the 1955 Broadway musical, Damn Yankees.

“My favorite part is right when we’re first introduced to a song and the harmonies start coming together and we sound like a unified choir,” said senior Audrey Ford, a member of the ASE. The vocal music department has been preparing for this performance for months, and the

LGBTQ advocates to hold assembly in February

By Clair Fuller Assoc. Opinion Editor Senior Joyce Alexander has booked LGBTQ advocates and speakers Dannielle Owens-Reid and Kristin Russo to address SPHS in an assembly about accepting one’s self and others on February 22. Alexander, the current Commissioner of Noontime Activities, discovered Owens-Reid and Russo through their website, everyoneisgay.com.

The ASB class first discussed the possibility of SPHS hosting such an assembly with advisor Casey Shotwell.

“He said we’d have to get administration approval, so I made an appointment with Ms (Janet) Anderson and basically just told her what it was going to be about, and she thought it was a great thing for our school,” said Alexander.

Owens-Reid’s first claim to

fame was the creation of website “Lesbians Who Look Like Justin Bieber,” and Russo is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies. The pair has offered advice and encouragement on everyoneisgay.com since April of 2010 to “those who are confused about sexuality, gender identity, dating, falling in love, or even dressing up like Super Woman,” according to their website.

The duo tours the country visiting colleges and high schools to give what Alexander describes as presentations about “acceptance and being good people… and getting involved in community on a larger scale, not just the gay community.” “‘Everyone is Gay’ isn’t necessarily everyone is homosexual…it’s more so taking problems that are in the gay community with kids who are struggling and See “LGBTQ ” on Page 2

Winter Festival doubles as a final for students in the class. Supportive family members, friends and teachers attended the performance to support the choirs.

While no date is set for the next choir performance, it is expected to take place in the next couple of months and will be a cabaret.

The performers will choose music theater songs that they like and perform scenes along with the tunes. It will be a strictly invitation-only event.

Senior Naomi Krieger felt that the work the choir put into the concert had been well worth it.

“We had a wide variety of musical pieces and it was beautiful to finally be able to hear it put together in our winter concert. We’ve put a lot of work into this and it finally paid off.”

More than a month after the November 30 windstorm, debris is still scattered across the City of South Pasadena. The SP Public Works Department has pointed to citizens putting private debris onto public roads as the main reason for the delay. Many South Pasadena citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and progress of the city cleanup thus far and have raised questions at council meetings and other public forums questioning the speed of the city’s response.

“There is a city tree that fell onto a house and damaged the roof and balcony. City workers cut it up and left it in the street and have not picked it up,” said junior Carolyn Magistrale of debris on Hope Street. “I think the city has not done a sufficient job in cleaning up.”

Commissioner of Clubs senior Michelle Ozaki is working to organize campus clubs to act as secondary cleanup crews to help remove the remaining debris in public streets. Ozaki hoped to start by concentrating on areas closest to the high school, but has encountered difficulties getting the program started.

“The person I contacted said that we are welcome to clean up the streets on our own, but the city said that they could not associate itself with us and that the school would have to take liability for all the club members who help. I then asked if the city would let us use the dumpsters for free, since we would be doing the city a favor. They said they

would look into it but most likely we would be charged,” said Ozaki.

Local Boy Scout troops also attempted to volunteer their time to assist in clean up. After several calls to the city, the group was turned away in a similar manner, primarily due to liability issues. The Public Works Department was unavailable for comment on the subject.

“I believe people should have an outlet for volunteering,” said Tony Bell, Communications Deputy for Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Mike Antonovich. “But city officials need to know before they can address the problem. Citizens can let their local officials know where the debris is accumulating.”

Citizens are currently allowed to clean up debris, placing leaves and branches into “green bins.” But no volunteer or individual action may be associated with Public Works or the City of South Pasadena.

Katie Whitworth

Branches from last month’s storm remain on Diamond Avenue.

ASB plans for Winter Formal

By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer Winter Formal will take place this year at the California Science Center on January 28.

ASB commissioners chose the location to put a twist on the classic dance and cater to students who usually would not at-

tend the event.

“There are multiple levels, and there are tons of options for people who might not want to go to a dance,” said Commissioner of Activities Kelsey Nakamura.

Students will be able to explore the museum and view a number of interactive displays, including the “1000 Inventions”

Amber Laird

Senior Kevyn Fox hangs a poster detailing the Winter Formal ticket prices. The dance will be held at the California Science Center on Jan. 28.

special exhibit and the museum’s permanent installations. Nakamura and commissioners Kimberlin Low and Erica Trinh researched site ideas last summer through an event planning service and narrowed their options down to the Science Center earlier this school year. Around 500 students are expected to attend, according to ASB director Mr. Casey Shotwell.

“That’s how many have come in past years, and it’s what we’re hoping for, if not more,” said Nakamura.

“But dances are less about making a profit, and more about breaking even and providing a fun night for the student body,” she continued.

“Winter formal last year was great, and I’m really excited for this year too,” said sophomore Danielle Krieger.

News

2 Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Calendar Committee has been considering changing the school year to start earlier and schedule first semester finals before Christmas. By comparison, these are the first semester finals schedules of other high schools in the area.

San Marino Dec. 20-22 LACHSA Dec. 21-23 Flintridge Prep Jan. 19-25 La Cañada Jan. 24-26 Blair Jan. 25-27 Temple City Jan. 25-27

News

Around Campus

Math teacher Ms Ruth Moonesinghe’s AB and BC Calculus students will volunteer at a math tutoring fundraiser on Sunday, January 22, from 3 P.M. to 6 P.M. The session will cost $20 per student, and all proceeds will go to the Union Rescue Mission. The program is designed to help students prepare for math finals. / Devin Mitchell

SPHS students are finalists in Planet Connect’s Get Green video contest

By Remeny White Assoc. News Editor Sophomores Michael Xu, Samuel Chen, Ted Kim, and Michael Ruan were selected as finalists in the Get Green Video Contest for their video, “Building a Greener City.” Planet Connect, an online social network dedicated to environmental issues, hosted the contest and selected fifteen finalists from 108 entries.

The video highlights the im-

portant role technology plays in saving the environment and suggests using smartphones as a means of conserving natural resources.

“We need to take advantage of technology to reduce our carbon footprint. The smartphones so many people already own can replace disposable products such as transportation tickets and credit cards. By eliminating use of these, both energy and valuable resources can be preserved,” said Ruan.

Planet Connect will con-

sider the number of “likes” each video receives on YouTube and the judge’s scores to select three grand prize winners. Voting for the top videos began on January 9 and ended Wednesday at 5 P.M. “We spent a lot of time and effort on the video, but I think that we have a pretty good shot at first place as we currently have about fifty more likes than everyone else,” said Chen.

The group plans to enter more contests in the future.

From “Joyce/LGBTQ” on Page 1 confused and saying, ‘you’re not alone, everyone is going through the same things,’” said Owens-Reid in a video on the website.

Alexander is currently in the process of finalizing activity proposals, fundraising plans, and other paperwork for the assembly, which she feels will be relevant and entertaining to SPHS students.

“No matter what, there are people who feel like they don’t belong, and we need to learn to live with each other,” she said. “Plus, they [Owens-Reid and Russo] are hilarious. Like, actually hilarious.”

Virtual Business prepares for future competitions

By Carlton Lew Opinion Editor The varsity Virtual Business team presented its business plan, marketing plan, and sales pitch to SPUSD superintendent Joel Shapiro, SPHS Virtual Business alumni, and UCLA students from the Anderson School of Management on January 7.

Seniors Fedor Kossakovski, Miranda Gontz, Sid Vyas, Alex Tranquada, Aashrita Mangu, and junior Will Jones presented the business plan. Seniors Janelle Li,

Laurel Kitada, and Amanda Chiu outlined their marketing plan, and seniors Alex Park and Kevyn Fox made the sales pitch.

“Presenting in front of Shapiro, UCLA students, and virtual alumni gave us a good perspective on how prepared our business plan team is to compete in New York,” said Vyas. “The feedback they gave us helped us gain insight into what changes we need to make.”

The varsity team, Helios, markets backpacks with spring absorption systems that address common back problems. The var-

sity team will be competing in the Bay Area Trade Fair in San Francisco on March 11 and 12, and the business plan team will go to the New York National Business Plan Competition on March 28 and 29.

“They had a solid presentation,” said SPHS varsity Virtual B usiness alumnus Ricky Hong.

Hong is currently a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. “But with New York having much higher standards than California, they need to be ready for any tough questions.”

Jennifer Kim

Will Jones, Aashrita Mangu, Fedor Kossakovski, Miranda Gontz, Sid Vyas, and Alex Tranquada present their Helios business plan.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - Tiger

THE COLLEGE FILES:

3

A comprehensive guide to seniors and their college acceptances

As many SPHS seniors were finally submitting college applications in December, a select few were already garnering acceptance letters. They did their research, wrote essays early, and applied to their schools of choice early action and decision. Featured below are twelve of those lucky college-bound students.

Page by: Jennifer Kim Photos by: Rachael Garner & Katie Whitworth Text by: Remeny White, Natalie McLain, Rhian Moore & Heather Vaughan

Scripps

LAUREL KITADA

Laurel Kitada has found her place at Scripps College.“Scripps is my perfect union of a liberal arts education, a women’s college experience, and a specialized major,” said Kitada.

“I applied early decision because I can’t imagine any college that better suits me.” As an Asian American Studies major, Kitada had trouble finding a school that offered what she was searching for. But not only did she find it, she also unearthed “an undeniably close-knit community” where she is certain she will feel at home.

“As soon as I walked onto the campus, the students were extremely friendly,” said senior Naomi Krieger of Connecticut College. She was accepted early decision to the school, and will attend next fall. She wanted a school that would give her a solid liberal arts education while providing small class sizes. Another unique perk that attracted Krieger to Conn is their honor code: exams are not proctored, and students sign a contract beforehand promising not to cheat. Krieger is planning to major in behavioral neuroscience, but is unsure if she will follow through with it. Said Krieger, “I know that whatever I study, Conn is the right place for me.”

Isabel Kim was accepted early decision to New York University.“I think she will be very successful at NYU and she really deserved it,” said her father. Kim received merit scholarships as well as a smattering of loans, the maximum amount of scholarships and grants she could have received. She was accepted into the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, a specific school within NYU. The academic reputation of the school, its location, and its study-abroad programs in both Italy and France were both contributing factors to Kim’s initial attraction to the school, but she was also drawn to its connections to real-world jobs and experiences.

N.Y.U.

NAOMI KRIEGER Connecticut

N.Y.U.

MAKENNA SIDLE

Makenna Sidle is bound for New York University next fall with the merry jingle of scholarship change in her pockets; she received around $15,000 in scholarship money, as well as a handful of low-interest student loans as a reward for applying early decision. “NYU’s campus is kind of not really a campus. There’s this loose, fashionable vibe about it being completely integrated into the city that I just love,”she said.

“Even when we were touring the school it just seemed like the perfect fit. Everywhere I looked I could see her there,” said Sidle’s mother.

ISABEL KIM

Pitzer

Emerson

P.L.N.U.

LIA LOHR

Wellesley BENNETT KOPPERUD

Rice

Daphne Chiao received a full-tuition grant to study biological sciences at Rice University next fall. “I screamed really loud and jumped around for like five seconds when I found out I got in early decision, and then my mom started calling everyone she knew. It was really embarrassing, but so worth it,” said Chiao.

Rice University boasts an unheard-of 6:1 student-tofaculty ratio and offers enormous financial aid opportunities, both of which are very important to Chiao. “I am so proud of her! It will be hot in Texas, but at least she won’t freeze,” said Shareen Lo, Daphne’s mom.

From a first-grade Cub Scout, to a graduating Eagle Scout, Bennett Kopperud has long been instilled with Boy Scout ideals such as community service and duty. Perhaps that is why Pitzer, a college with long-standing traditions based around catering to the needy in surrounding communities, was so eager to accept him into the Sagehen fold. Kopperud was accepted early decision to Pitzer, where he plans to pursue a double major in Business and Italian Studies. Kopperud was laid back about the application process.“I started my application late, got my acceptance early, and now, I’m done working,” he said.

Freddy Tsao “jumped for joy” when he was accepted early action to the University of Chicago, where he wishes to pursue International relations, public policy, or political science. Tsao said he “actually enjoyed” writing his essays for the University of Chicago and fell in love with the school while doing research for his “Why UChicago?” supplement essay. “I could really picture myself there. It is a quirky and individualistic school, and the students all have a passion for learning both while in the classroom and talking with one another. I love it even more now that I have researched it so obsessively,” said Tsao.

Lia Lohr was accepted early action to Point Loma Nazarene University this fall. Lohr’s interest in elementary education led her to PLNU. “I love working with kids, and I’m involved in the Elementary Ed ROP class. I want to be a teacher, and at PLNU, I can graduate in four years with my teaching credential,” said Lohr.

She will be studying psychology as well as education. PLNU also offers opportunities to volunteer at local primary and secondary schools, as well as a preschool on campus.

Ben Hillman was accepted early action to Emerson College and plans to pursue film or a broader media-centered major. “I found out on my phone as soon as my first period began. They later sent me a letter that said, ‘Hats off to you’ with a hat bearing the school’s logo,” said Hillman.

Hillman applied to Emerson College for its esteemed film program and NCAA Division III boys volleyball team. “I’m thrilled because this is something that Ben really wanted.

He put a lot of effort into the process, and I’m so proud,” said Hillman’s mom, Nadia.

ISABELLE ROSENTHAL

M.I.T. & CalTech

AASHRITA MANGU

Mangu was accepted early action to both CalTech and MIT. She also applied to USC and five UC schools; she crossed four other colleges off her list after learning of her two early-action acceptances. Mangu applied to an early college program at USC in her junior year, so she was able to finish her resumé basics and personal statement ahead of time. Math and physics teacher Ms Judy Sammis was one of the teachers who wrote a letter of recommendation for Mangu. Said Sammis, “Some kids I’ve known are very dour and serious. She has joie de vivre - joy of life.”

FREDDY TSAO UChicago

Lorena Huang was accepted into Stanford University through Restrictive Early Action. She was also accepted into the University of the Pacific, where she received the $10,000-per-year Regent’s Scholarship. Although Huang’s parents, Yaozhuo Huang and Manna Liu, never attended college, they made up for their inexperience in the application process by supporting their daughter every step of the way. “I tried to be there for her to provide moral support,” said Liu. “She is independent so she did everything by herself: from making the list of colleges, to finding people to proofread her essays, to applying for financial aid.”

Isabelle Rosenthal was accepted early decision to Wellesley College and plans to double major in neurobiology and a humanities-based field. “I read the acceptance letter five times over, just to make sure it wasn’t a mistake, and then my mom and I both freaked out for about fifteen minutes straight,” said Rosenthal.

She is excited to take advantage of the networking opportunities available to students and hopes to use the connections she builds to get a research job or internship. “I love how nerdy everyone seemed to be. But the fact that the dining halls are allyou-can-eat, all the time, really sealed the deal,” said Rosenthal.

DAPHNE CHIAO

We are happy to offer you admission and are delighted to welcome you as a member of the class of 2016.

BEN HILLMAN

Congratulations!

Stanford

LORENA HUANG

Dear South Pasadena High School senior,

4

Opinion

Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Opinion Yeah Boi

B

A-G: not as easy as 1,2,3

ravo to the 2% of the American population who think that Mitt Romney’s full first name is Mittens. If only, if only...

B B

oo to finals. Boo to finals. Boo to finals.

By Elizabeth Ford Rainey Editor-in-Chief

ravo to the new addition of soap in the school bathrooms. Ideally, this wouldn’t be a big enough deal to cover in the newspaper, but it’s good to start with small steps.

B

oo to warm weather during January.

As a rule of thumb, if it’s over 85 degrees we should be on summer vacation.

B

ravo to this year’s winter formal loca-

tion. Nothing says romance like preserved animal specimens and diagrams of the human digestive system.

The Tiger Established 1913

CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 CSPA Gold Medalist 2011 Editor-in-Chief Libby Rainey

Daniel Willardson

Change at a glacial pace Staff Editorial

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 Theo Mandin-Lee, Editor Kathryn Whitworth, Associate Photographers Rachael Garner, Siria Medina, Matthew Winkel Senior Staff Writer Harry Yadav Staff Writers Michael Abelev, Madison Amido, Jackson Atwater, Erin Chan, Matt DeFulgentiis, Kelsey Hess, Anne Kitchens, Marcy Kuo, Amber Laird, Natalie McLain, Christian Miyamae, Heather Vaughan Meghan Roche, Joshua Roquemore Tiger Online Zoey Dupont, Rachel Newhall, Thomas von Bibra Staff Illustrators Rachael Lee and Daniel Willardson Managers Alexander Prescott, Ads Shyam Senthilkumar, 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 for publication in the print and online editions. All letters must be signed and verifiable, but names will be witheld upon request.

Tiger is a forum for student free speech, in compliance with California Ed Code 48907.

Bureaucracies in general are known for their inertia, inefficiency, and lack of transparency. South Pasadena High School is no exception. Recent complaints and meetings have resulted in no change—either this, or transparency is so lacking that change is in fact occurring, but in an imperceptible manner.

These administrative issues are particularly apparent in the mathematics department. The administration has received complaints in past years and this year is no different. Issues are voiced regularly and passionately, ranging from concerns about major discrepancies in difficulty between math levels, varying teacher expectations in the same course, or just a lack of solid teaching during class time—yet students and parents see little tangible improvement.

It is also unclear where students and parents can voice their complaints or if such an outlet exists at all (when a recent community meeting conducted by Math Coach Jan Bryson turned to more sensitive issues, it was shut down). The administration stated that meetings would be held after the start of the New Year.

A month later, however, there is still no sign of meaningful change, except for one presentation

by Principal Janet Anderson at the January 10th school board meeting.

Resistance to change is also evident in a different area: Internet content filters on the school’s network. Last month’s staff professional development day included sessions about social networking and a discussion of whether it would be wise to allow students to access sites such as Facebook at school. Most faculty appeared to be in favor of allowing access to these sites, but the district has not unblocked them.

As signs of further progress, the counseling center has since made a Facebook page, and other teachers have become more active on the site. However, as far as students can see, there hasn’t even been mention of removing the filter.

This consistent lack of action is not only frustrating, but also holds alarming implications. Meetings to discuss relevant issues are held sparingly, and actual change is implemented even more infrequently, if ever.

Parents and students have little to no idea what’s going on behind the scenes, or why tangible progress is so difficult to produce.

This snail-paced reform is demoralizing for all involved, and the administration owes it to parents and students to be more transparent and to implement change faster across the board.

College is an assumed step for many students at SPHS. From freshman to senior year, periodic counselor meetings remind of graduation requirements, college readiness, and general pointers to navigating high school successfully.

Yet of the nearly 400 students in the 2011 graduating class, only 62.7% left SPHS having fulfilled the A-G course requirements necessary to apply to Cal States, UCs, and most four-year colleges.

At surface level, this problem lies in a discrepancy between graduation requirements and A-G parameters. A-G requires a passing grade in Advanced Algebra, while many leaving SPHS have barely squeaked through Algebra B. Two years of foreign language credit are mandatory for applicants to California public colleges, but not for South Pas graduates.

This divergence in standards causes over a third of each class to enter senior year incapable of applying to a four-year college.

For a school in an affluent neighborhood that to which many move for educational opportunities, this number is simply inexcusable.

The problem and its root are easily identifiable, but the solution is hazy. While the school district could adjust graduation standards to liken them to A-G requirements, this would leave nearly a third of the student body without the necessary skills or knowledge to earn a high school degree.

To increase the number of collegebound seniors leaving the South Pasadena school system, action must be taken before students reach freshman year. Math preparation must be pushed so that more students can enter high school with higher-level mathematical reasoning skills. Foreign language preparation is also a long-term goal that should be considered outside of the middle school’s one Spanish course.

The high school also must do more to encourage students to fulfill A-G requirements.

Those struggling to pass standard math courses need more hands-on attention. Efforts are being made from the counseling office to engage parents in the process, and counselor Ms Marcile Vadell-Strickland also works personally with a small group of students to ensure they are meeting standards.

But these efforts can only do so much.

An eventual movement toward A-G graduation standards would allow nearly all students to reach senior year with a shot at applying to college. This won’t be easy, but it’s a necessary step to ensure that all SPHS students have a fair chance at a four-year college education.

Senior year priorities: college comes first

By Alex Tranquada and Max White Tiger Staff Brontë or Brown? Logarithms or Loyola Marymount? Supreme Court decisions or Stanford?

SPHS seniors are seemingly forced to choose between work for the school they currently attend and applications for the schools they hope to attend. With a limited amount of time in which to complete work and meet deadlines, students often have to let some obligations fall by the wayside.

The issue here is one of conflicting messages. On the one hand, students are constantly reminded

just how all-important college is; numerous before-, during-, and after-school meetings hammer this point home. On the other, teachers of senior-level courses seem to ignore the burden that the application process places on students, assigning homework as though they had nothing else to do.

It is unrealistic for a teacher to assign such exorbitant levels of work when seniors are already bogged down with the time-consuming business of applying to college. Between homework, projects, and looming application deadlines, students are simply overwhelmed.

College apps are a fundamental part of senior year, and as such

they are a factor that must be taken into consideration by the educators of SPHS; when the faculty neglects to do this, the already substantial stress level of high school seniors is raised to an unfair degree.

Some classes already incorporate this idea into their curricula.

Non-AP senior English classes spend a considerable portion of first semester writing and editing college application essays during class time; AP Literature students, however, receive no such opportunities.

The argument can be made that because AP classes have a set amount of material to cover by the May deadline, time cannot be

taken out of the already-full class itinerary to cover college-related topics.

However, a student’s performance on an AP test in May of their senior year will have no effect on their college admissions, whereas their essays are arguably the most important component of their application. Surely some time could be used to make sure that students are submitting their best work to their schools of choice.

In the end, it’s a simple matter of priorities. No matter how diligent the student, if it comes down to defining vocabulary words or applying to college, college wins every time.

Opinion

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - Tiger

The double standard of Internet usage

By Natalie McLain Staff Writer As school continues to exer t an ever-greater grip upon the lives of students, “school policy” becomes less a code of conduct within a given learning environment and more a universal system of rules to live by. But what happens when this universal system is applied only to a portion of the school community?

While students are expected to be on their best behavior both on and off campus, teachers seem to dodge the bullet of these after-school standards.

Especially prevalent is the topic of Internet usage and relationships with peers.

School code and state law now dictate that the school can indeed have a hand in student online activity and the way they interact with others. Students are, in essence, expected to follow school rules, even when off campus.

But what about teachers? If students are to be held to these standards, shouldn’t teachers be governed by such principles as well? In the digital age, it is not uncommon for a teacher to have

access to social media. And teachers, just like employees in any other workplace, aren’t always enthralled with their jobs. It is only natural to want an outlet for venting frustrations to friends, indulging in a little complaining, or even badmouthing unruly co-workers.

discontentment with their jobs and students. So why is it that students, those not in a position of power that supposedly entails setting a good example, are banned from similar activities?

Needless to say, posts about how uncivil certain students are can create some upset among those students. But it is the idea of the situation as a whole that should pose the most offense.

If it is irksome for the school to discipline students’ everyday lives, watching teachers do the very thing students have been sternly warned against is quite maddening. Both are a part of the school community, although the roles they play are quite different.

If society is truly Christian Miyamae shifting towards one in Social media seems an ideal which school serves as the ultimate choice for such things. It is fast, ef- disciplinary force for youth, teachers ficient, easy. And yet students aren’t should be held to relatively similar allowed to use such Internet sources for standards. Otherwise, the situation is similar purposes. unfair and the rule as a whole is rather Some SPHS teachers have Face- debased. book accounts that are set as public; “Do as I say, not as I do.” Times that is, anyone can see posts on their in which this mentality has actually wall. These posts sometimes voice their succeeded are slow in coming to mind.

During finals week, grades speak for themselves

By Sofi Goode Feature Editor The term “finals week” may stab more fear into the heart of a high schooler than any other.

These two-hours tests require weeks of studying, force students to ingest copious amounts of caffeine to make up for lost sleep, and can make or break a grade for a student. Finals ultimately serve two purposes: to show what the student has learned over the course of the semester and to teach them how to take long tests under pressure. However, one could argue that a student with a high grade in a difficult class doesn’t need to take the final.

Any student who has higher than 87% in an AP or Honors class should not be required to take the final.

Any student who is able to obtain an A in a class should

be assumed to know enough of someone who clearly understood the material, and not be expected most of the material.

By extending this opto prove this in a final exam.

If a student has worked hard tional nature to those with high enough to earn their A, they have Bs, teachers would be clearing clearly been paying attention up time for those students to and understand what they have study for their other classes. If they manbeen taught. aged over Since the class 87% in the is AP or HonAny student who is class, they ors, it can be able to obtain an assumed that understood A in a class should the majorthe tests are difity of the ficult enough be assumed to material, if that the stuknow enough of not quite dent is used to the material. working under a s mu c h pressure. as the A students.

In addition to reducing stress on high- However, by leaving the final performing students, this policy optional, the students have a would also benefit those with chance to take it and raise their borderline A’s. A student who grade to A, without the possibilgoes into the final with 91% can ity of dropping to a C. But most of all, this policy come out of it with a B in the class, a vastly unfair grade for would benefit teachers. With

the students who understand the material not taking the test, teachers could tailor their finals to the struggling students. They could obtain more accurate results about the effectiveness of their teaching methods. Teachers would also have fewer finals to grade and be able to spend more time thoroughly grading answers on the tests that were taken.

This system would motivate students to try harder during the semester, yield more accurate results, and reduce stress for teachers and students. Although the system has holes and would require much stronger enforcement on cheating policies to assure that students don’t cheat their way into not taking their finals, overall it would encourage students to try harder during the semester and make the idea of “finals week” a little less terrifying.

5

Balancing culture and capitalism

By Shyam Senthilkumar Business Manager Venice Beach has always been a locale teeming with culture. When Abbot Kinney, a successful tobacco entrepreneur, set the plans for Venice Beach, he had in mind a seaside paradise equipped with amusement parks, gondolas, and hotel resorts. Today, Venice Beach holds a slightly different image. The heart and soul of the area come from its street vendors. Hundreds of stalls and carts line the famous Venice boardwalk and leave you gasping for breath amongst the mass influx of culture.

The LA City Council, however, views this bustling environment as a threat. In an interview with the New York Times, LA City Councilman Bill Rosendahl said, “This is a real go-to place and people come here from all over the planet, and they were just taking over with junk and cheap trinkets. The history here is of free speech, not selling all kinds of nonsense. You’d have people fighting for spots and undercutting the people who play by the rules and pay taxes in their space.”

The main source of conflict comes from the “legal” vendors of Venice, who pay the taxes and rent associated with owning a store. They feel threatened by the droves of vendors at their doorsteps ready with unique merchandise.

In reality, nothing actually stops a man from walking right by the street vendors and into the mainstream department stores. Force the street vendors to move elsewhere and they will take the customers with them; what they sell garners attention, and for good reason. If the problem lies with overcrowding, then set apart a piece of the 3.1 square miles of Venice Beach solely for the street vendors. If they take the customers with them, so be it.

As of late, the city government is taking a different approach to solving the dilemma. On January 20, a new ordinance will take effect which forbids street vendors from selling items that don’t hold “utilitarian value.”

Even if the council’s goal is to convince more vendors not to sell on the boardwalk, an ordinance such as this will do nothing but stunt the growth of culture.

In his interview with the New York Times, Emry Daley, a Rastafarian vendor at Venice Beach, had much to say on the topic.

“Who gets to decide what art is? Nobody can get this anywhere but here. This is something special.

We sell things that inspire people,” he said.

Christian Miyamae

Keeping politics out of science

By Amber Laird Staff Writer

Rachael Lee

The phrase “politically motivated science” tends to bring to mind extreme cases, like Nazi doctors using “science” to justify visions of a master race. But this issue is also closer to home.

Despite considerable evidence in support of humaninduced climate change, both sides are playing dirty in order to gain support.The political far right has been playing off global warming as a government scheme for years.

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum calls global warming “junk science,” and attempts to use what he claims are scientific facts to justify this position.

Santorum claims that the Earth warms and cools on its own, affected by “a variety of factors,” among which he names, “El Niño, La Niña, sunspots, [and] moisture in the air.” The politician also states that since carbon dioxide is a trace gas, claims that it is somehow responsible for global warming are absurd.

Sadly, to people who have not heard the massive body of evidence that supports global climate change, Santorum’s babblings sound almost scientific. In reality, they manipulate impressionable voters who prefer little to no government regulation.

This manipulation of science for political gain is relatively well-known and criticized; however, people often overlook the fact that this foul of the science world doesn’t only come from “the other side.” Often, numbers are twisted or used out of context in an attempt to make an argument

based in truth even more convincing.

Most people who have seen An Inconvenient Truth remember the iconic scene in which Al Gore displays a graph of rising temperatures in the atmosphere. While this memorable graph is of actual data, it is shown without proper context.

In order to get the big picture, the graph needs to show billions or millions, not thousands or hundreds, of years. In the past, Earth’s atmospheric temperatures have been both much hotter and much cooler than they are today and have still supported hordes of life forms. In fact, there has been an overall downward trend in Earth’s temperature over the past 3.5 million years, and during this time period, the temperature has fluctuated considerably. The current warming, in the grand scheme of things, is miniscule, though it still affects modern life.

But rather than guiding the public in understanding the nuances of the global warming crisis, Gore allows people to wrongly infer that the current temperatures are extreme for our planet in order to make the crisis seem more urgent.

Even if the cause is honorable, manipulating the public is not. The scientific community advocates collecting information and then deciding the validity of a hypothesis, not the other way around. This process responsibly uncovers the truth.

Given the ongoing international climate talks, the most recent of which occurred in December in Durban, South Africa, it is crucial that both sides are honest and upfront so that policy-makers can reach reasonable decisions based purely on science, and not on hype.

6 Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Feature

Feature

Out and About SPHS is holding a Winter Formal dress drive! Bring your old dance dresses to the counseling center for other girls who can’t afford a new dress.Unclaimed dresses will go to girls living in poorer areas. /Sofi Goode

Students try out for Curtains

By Clem Witherall Assoc. Sports Editor South Pasadena students auditioned for the spring musical, Curtains, this past week. About thirty students sang in an attempt to earn a spot in the April production.

The musical is a “play within a play” set in 1959 Boston that follows the fallout when the untalented star of the musical Robbin’ Hood of the Old West is murdered during her opening night curtain call.

It is up to a police detective, who is himself a musical theatre fan, to save the show, solve the case, and maybe even find love without getting killed before the show reopens.

SPHS drama director Mr. Daniel Enright was happy with the number and variety of students seeking parts.

“I have never seen some of the people that came out, so that was exciting,” said Enright.

Tryouts were extended to Tuesday because several students were unfamiliar with the play. Despite its relative obscurity, Curtains was chosen for a variety of reasons.

“I really liked the music and the humor it provided. There is a big ensemble cast and the musical is both good for guys and gals. Also, there is some dancing, including tap, which will be interesting,” Enright said.

Three to four strong female leads and three solid males are needed to form the core of the musical cast. Enright acknowledged that it might be difficult to fill some of the male positions that the show requires.

“A lot of the boys from the previous musical left to college, so we will have to replace them, which might be tough,” said Enright.

Each hopeful was required to sing one song of their choice as well as one song from the musical.

“I thought that the auditions were great. I really like the music in Curtains and I thought that a lot of people turned out, which is a good sign,” said sophomore David Yang, who performed in The Sound of Music last year.

The first performance of Curtains will be on April 19 in the high school auditorium.

Enright hopes to post the final cast list by next Monday.

Theo Mandin-Lee

Sophomore Kelinda White performs in the winter dance recital, “Step By Step,” on January 12 in the auditorium.

The first act showcased traditional numbers, while the second act featured performances set to modern music.

“Step By Step” dance recital showcases style

By Joshua Roquemore Staff Writer The SPHS dance company presented its two-act winter recital, “Step By Step,” onThursday, January 12 in the high school auditorium. The theater was packed with students and parents supporting the dance students.

“The dancers will be demonstrating their ability, as well as what they have learned over the semester,” said dance director Maria Del Bagno during her opening speech at the performance.

Thirty SPHS students learned and prepared new choreography in preparation for their performance. The recital included fourteen dance numbers from students in both the Dance I and Advanced Dance classes.

“The show went really well considering the pressure we were under,” said SPHS dance president Liz Jayamaha. “Over one half of our dancers are freshmen this year, and I think this has helped boost confidence for the spring concert.”

The recital was split into two acts. The first act of the night was a demonstration of skills and choreography taught over the span of the semester, while the second act showcased the dancers’ personal styles and tastes.

Dance numbers in the second act were performed to songs by artists such as Adele, Kanye West, and Chris Brown. The familiar music made the performances interesting and relatable.

“I was honestly impressed with the dances this year,” said senior Joshua Escandon. “The music choices were solid; paired with the choreography it made for a fantastic recital.”

Dance I and Advanced Dance will now begin preparing new choreography for their spring recital in May. The recital will be composed completely of student-choreographed numbers, allowing for more creative freedom. The success of “Step By Step” stands as encouragement for continued improvement.

“The recital went great,” said Del Bagno. “Everybody worked hard, and I think the process of preparing for this really helped bring us together for one of the best shows we have ever put on.”

Dance I: Daysi Montoya, Zoë Detzel, Emily Rodriguez, Lauren Williams, Liora Rodriguez, Jackie Mejia, Edward Han, Beverly Rodriguez, Kenia Fuentes, Cameron Mulcahy, Lina Han, Brianna Nieto, Sydney Ratiff, Anneliese Sloss, Wendy Nguyun, Joseph Ruiz

Advanced Dance: Liz Jayamaha, Alexandra Prime, Leah Zeiger, Cassidy Combs, Alex Hom, Izzy Martinez, Juno Kim, Justine Turrietta, Nina Parson, Jennifer Kang, Emma Bross, Laura Hill, Kelinda White

Personality Profile: Austin Kahn

By Meghan Roche Staff Writer

Katie Whitworth

Austin Kahn presents to his Virtual Business team.

As a first-year member, Kahn serves as VP of Sales.

Meditation is a time to quiet the daily mania and contemplate inner thoughts, and it has been known to help people relax and stay focused. Perhaps it is his habit of meditating that gives junior Austin Kahn the drive and demeanor to do so many interesting things.

He has been practicing a form of Zen meditation for a years now, first inspired to try it by his Buddhist aunt and grandmother.

“They practice at the San Francisco Zen Center, and I’ve gone with them…It’s a really cool place, and there’s a collection of really interesting people there.”

Kahn has a noted tendency to take on the unexpected when it comes to his numerous extracurriculars. He’s an easygoing and intelligent guy, and he brings a laid-back demeanor to all that he does.

The youngest in a family of three boys, Kahn is always down for a casual game of frisbee, but is also a member of the track team and an avid horseback rider.

“I went to Costa Rica when I was three, and I rode a horse for the first time there. The horse fell in the mud, which would be pretty traumatic, but I got right back on…Ever since, I’ve loved it a lot,” he said.

Kahn’s family moved to South Pasadena when he was seven.

Shortly after, he began riding lessons at South Pasadena Stables in the Arroyo. Once he entered middle school and had less time to spare, he

donated his horse to a local program for disabled children.

“I’ve always felt like I belonged on a horse. And I still do, I want to ride in the future,” he said.

While middle school allowed for less times at the stables, it also gave way to a new outlet for Kahn: theatre. Through parts in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Damn Yankees at SPMS, he was able to learn the craft and grow as a performer. After a year’s hiatus from acting, he auditioned for a South Pasadena Theatre Workshop production of The Diviners last year, and landed the lead role.

His performance skills have given him an edge as the chaplain of the South Pasadena and San Marino Youth and Government chapter. The job requires Kahn to give speeches at weekly meetings, and act as a mentor for members of the group. His ease in large groups has made this an easy and fun position. His people skills also flourish as the SPHS varsity Virtual Business Vice President of Sales.

Kahn is just as engaged in the classroom as out. He loves hanging out with AP Environmental Science teacher Mr. Don Wielenga, and after graduation he is interested in attending schools such as Cal Poly SLO and UC Santa Cruz for their environmental programs.

“I’ve been thinking about combining my passion for environmental science and my public speaking skills from youth and government to do something governmental, as maybe an environmental lobbyist or lawyer,” he said.

No matter what path Kahn chooses, he will undoubtedly approach it with an ease and natural grace.

Feature

Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Seniors form Target Demographic

By Marcy Kuo Staff Writer While most people were busy counting down the clock and welcoming the new year, Target Demographic, a multi-faceted rock band composed of three talented seniors, released its first album on January 1.

The band, consisting of SPHS seniors Benjamin Hillman and Nicholas Hudson and Crescenta Valley senior Eddie Taylor, released its four-track EP, entitled Off Target. The album is available online through their Facebook fan page and their website, targetdemographic.bandcamp.com.

“We hope our album can show our audience how to appreciate traditional, live music. No two songs are alike and considering the [small] size of our band, we have so much to offer,” said Hillman.

With only guitar, bass, and drums, Target Demographic has re-

corded a variety of songs, ranging from classic rock to modern-day remakes of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.”

Target Demographic will be giving its first performance to the public in Highland Park in February.

They will be performing songs from Off Target such as “Mr. Dynamite,” “Little Red Telephone,” and “Possibilities.”

The performance is a dream come true for Hudson and Hillman, who have known each other since elementary school and started performing their music at a neighborhood church in Pasadena. It was through one of their church performances that Ben and Nick met their third member, Eddie Taylor.

“I saw the two guys outside the church one morning and I said to myself ‘All they need is some drums,’” Taylor said. “Before I knew it, we got jamming as an actual band.”

Iz, Short for Izz By Amber Laird

The three seniors formed Target Demographic in October of 2011 shortly after Taylor began playing with Hillman and Hudson.

“My inspiration and influences stemmed from many different artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Rush, and Nirvana. We just want to create music with three simple instruments and use it to our fullest potential,” said Hillman.

Their first public performance as a band took place at the annual Homecoming Picnic in the main gym.

“The show in February is the first show we will play together as a group. We just want to get our fans going and make some noise,” said Hudson.

Although the three-man group is parting ways to attend separate colleges after senior year, Hillman and Taylor both said they would strive to maintain the band and compose even more songs in the future.

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7

Benjamin Hillman

TOP: The Target Demographic band logo. BOTTOM: Hillman practices songs off of the band’s new album.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is complicated but beautifully cut 4/5

By Sofi Goode Feature Editor

Personality Profile: Zoë Detzel

By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer Anyone who has been lucky enough to hold a conversation with senior Zoë Detzel will testify to her exuberant personality and ability to brighten someone’s disposition in a matter of minutes. Despite having lived in South Pasadena for only four months, Detzel has already made her mark.

This is Detzel’s first and only year attending SPHS. She moved from Pennsylvania late this summer due to a job her mother received at USC; she passed up the chance to stay and finish her high school career in her hometown. She chose instead to accompany her mother and brother on the long road trip to the West Coast.

“I could have stayed there, but I felt like God was calling me here,” said Detzel. “It’s been awesome and a big adventure, and I love it so much.”

After arriving in South Pasadena, Detzel quickly integrated herself into the school and the community.

Although she was not present for summer training, Detzel joined the SPHS cross country team and was able to start workouts a few weeks into the school year.

Despite her late start, by the end of the season Detzel ran with the varsity team at CIF Prelims.

“I’m in the best running shape I’ve ever been in,” said Detzel. “The coaches are so good here, and I was so lucky to have the chance to run with such a great team.”

Detzel plans on running for the track team in the spring, having used cross country to keep in shape.

Citing it as her “main” sport, Detzel has been running track since seventh grade, when her father, a former hurdler, started coaching her. Detzel’s principal event is hurdling, but she also sprints the 100-meter dash and competes in the triple jump.

Due to her active faith, Detzel has also become involved in SPHS’s Christian Campus Fellowship club, and was asked to be a leader by the current officers. She has helped lead lunchtime meetings and participates in morning prayer with club members. Detzel takes Christian clubs seriously, and is glad to have the opportunity to share her faith with her peers.

“I’m still looking for a church here in California; I’ve just been going with my mom and with some friends to find somwhere I feel God wants me,” said Detzel. “But for now, being a part of CCF is an amazing way to stay connected.”

Despite all of the activities that she has become involved in, Detzel’s most prominent mark on the community comes in the form of people that she has touched.

“Zoë is such an inspiration in my life,” said freshman Julia Primuth. “She is always smiling and looking at the world with a positive [attitude]. Her love to serve people sets her apart; she’s always thinking about the people around her and helping them in whatever way she can.”

Rachael Garner

Although she is new to South Pasadena, senior Zoë Detzel is known around school for her cheeriness.

Little-known Swedish director Tomas Alfredson broke into Hollywood cinema this year with the wide release of his latest film, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The film, based on the 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré, had a limited release in early December and went into full release on January 6.

Gary Oldman plays protagonist George Smiley, an exMI6 agent who has been ordered to investigate a possible spy at the very top of the British intelligence. Oldman perfectly portrays Smiley as the perpetually silent agent who is always two steps ahead. In what critics are referring to as “the performance of a lifetime,” Smiley works his way through various informants and old comrades, trying to uncover the mole planted by the mysterious Karla, head of the Russian intelligence.

Smiley is informed that the spy is one of four codenamed men, Tinker (Percy Alleline, played by Toby Jones), Tailor (Bill Hayden, played by Colin Firth), Soldier (Roy Bland, played by Ciarán Hinds) and Poor Man (Toby Esterhase, played by David Denick). With the assistance of one other agent, Smiley goes through old cases, trying to uncover the fate of the agent who discovered the identity of the mole.

The four actors portraying the supposed spies gave believable and entertaining performances, though none were able to reach Oldman’s level.

From the very beginning, the story is extremely convoluted. Frequent flashbacks are difficult to distinguish from the present because the characters look largely the same. The abundance of characters and the fact that the movie doesn’t place an emphasis on names in conversation, but mentions them frequently when the characters aren’t present, makes it very difficult to connect names with faces.

While the complicated plotline may make the film difficult to follow for those who haven’t read the book, it has plenty of positive characteristics. In addition to stellar performances by the spy and the suspects, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is fantastically cut. The lingering shots and saturation portray Britain as ever-grey. The characters hold silent far more than in the average movie, giving the entire film a pensive feeling. The rainy presentation of Britain and the thoughtful atmosphere give a very real feeling of the paranoia in the country during the Cold War. In addition to the beautiful cinematography, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy boasts an incredible soundtrack. Though the music isn’t anything that the average American would recognize, it fits the mood of the film perfectly and ropes the audience into the story.

Despite the complexity of the plot, all who appreciate good cinema will love Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, though the average viewer would benefit greatly from reading the book before heading to the theater.

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Feature

Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

TFIOS filled with passion

EOVER heard

5/5

By Rhian Moore Assoc. Feature Editor

*Actual conversations overheard on campus. Overheard anything comical lately? Send it to tigernewspaper.com.

Illustrations by Amber Laird

Typical By Daniel Willardson

Says Hazel, “Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read this book.”

John Green could not have described his new book, The Fault in Our Stars, more appropriately if he tried.

Hazel Grace Lancaster is a teenager with terminal thyroid cancer who survives with the assistance of an oxygen tank and an experimental drug. While she would rather spend her days watching America’s Next Top Model marathons, her mother’s idea of giving her a life is sending her to a cancer support group in a church the kids refer to as the Literal Heart of Jesus. It is there that Hazel meets the confident, clever, and rather gorgeous Augustus Waters.

Far from shy, Augustus is eighteen months free of osteosarcoma and takes an immediate interest in the girl he calls “Hazel Grace.” He

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kassieking.tumblr.com

www.dukecityfix.com

develops a love for Hazel’s favorite book, An Imperial Affliction, a novel that drops off in the middle of a sentence. Augustus comes to share her determination to discover what happens to the characters of An Imperial Affliction. An epic love story ensues as the two use Augustus’s Wish from The Genie Foundation to travel to Amsterdam and meet the reclusive author to discover the ending of the book.

It is unusual to find a novel that leaves readers thinking hours after they have read the last page (more often than not with tears streaming down their faces). It is uncommon to find philosophical conversations between the two main characters that fans will reread not to understand what was once confusing, but to fully enjoy the brilliance of the words. It is, indeed, quite rare to read another fictional story in a story, much less one that is almost as intriguing. Yet, The Fault in Our Stars accomplishes all of these things.

John Green’s inspiration for the title comes from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, in which Cassius says to Brutus, “Men at sometime were masters of their fates. / The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

In what will be remembered by many as Green’s best work, Hazel and Augustus learn that while there are some outcomes that no one can control, it is up to them to make the infinity that they have the best that it can possibly be.

Thursday, January 19, 2012 - Tiger

Winter Formal pregame

9

Whether trembling in anticipation of the upcoming night, or bitterly throwing together last-minute plans with other dateless friends, the night of Winter Formal promises to be a dramatic one. The weeks leading up to the dance act as a catalyst for creativity, as students attempt to outdo each other in asking the person of their choice. Chaos also ensues for those desperately searching around campus for a date. Here, Tiger shares the best winter formal askings not featured in the assembly video contest, quirky ways to belatedly ask your date, and some fun non-formal activities for those less inclined to dance.

Page by Jennifer Kim

Illustrations by Rachael Lee

Got a date?

~ Madison Amido

Ben Hillman & Laura Lussier Senior Ben Hillman asked senior Laura Lussier through a scavenger hunt with a cute twist. The hunt led Lussier to a rose, a cupcake, and a sign that read, “Winter Formal?” She eventually arrived at Hillman’s house and knocked on his door, the objects she acquired from the scavenger hunt in tow. Hillman popped the question, and Lussier responded with a smile and a hug. She said yes.

Harry Yadav & Ella Hardy Junior Ella Hardy was in for a surprise when she pulled into the McDonald’s drive-through lane; little did she know that senior Harry Yadav had taken over the drive-through window to ask her to winter formal. When she pulled up the pick-up station, Hardy was greeted by Yadav, who asked her to the dance with a bouquet of flowers and the food she ordered.

Trent Kajikawa & Brianna Loo Senior Trent Kajikawa gave senior Brianna Loo seemingly random baking ingredients with attached notes periodically throughout the day to ask her to winter formal. The ingredients included a flower (a substitute for flour) with a note reading, “You’re a flour in my eyes.” He also gave her a chocolate bar and an egg carton with a note that said, “I’m so EGGcited.”

Kajikawa cleverly combined these ingredients to ask Loo to winter formal on campus holding a homemade chocolate cake.

Calvin Chan & Lillie Moffett Senior Calvin Chan serenaded girlfriend Lillie Moffett with the help of the SPHS band.

Chan prepared the song “Next To You” by Justin Bieber with the band and casually brought Moffett into the band room after a show one night. The band organized itself and began playing the song. Chan conducted the group. When the song ended, Chan handed Moffett flowers and they embraced, eliciting cheers and applause from the band.

Need some help?

~ Kelsey Hess and Rachael Lee

Already looking for a date to the next school dance? Step outside the box and ask that special someone in a creative and memorable way. Here are some ideas that are guaranteed to make your crush smile, and maybe even get you a date along the way.

1.) Buy a box of cereal that promises a prize inside. Slip in a note before re-sealing so that they will find a ticket to the dance with your names on it when the person opens the box.

2.) Print a cardboard cut-out of yourself and add a speech bubble popping the question with your contact info so that your crush can respond. Place it on their front porch and ding dong ditch! Make your cardboard cutout kneeling for easy transportation, a lower ink cost, and extra drama.

3.) Print out a fake parking ticket and slip it under the windshield of your future date’s car. Ask the question through the ticket (“Here’s a fine for being too fine. [Insert dance here]”). Add your name and phone number too.

4.) Get a friend to dress up as a spy and deliver this message to whomever you are asking: “Your date, should you choose to accept it, will be with _____ at _____ time on _____ (day). A person wearing _____ will pick you up. Your date will feel like he/she may selfdestruct if you do not reply by _____.”

5.) Make “WANTED ALIVE” posters with a picture of your crush’s face on it. Place the posters on his/her route home from school. Ensure that the person is “returned” to your house, offering the reward of taking him/her to the dance.

Not your thing?

~ Rhian Moore

Perhaps pulsing music and swaying crowds at Winter Formal and other school functions aren’t your preferred way to spend a Saturday evening. Don’t lounge around feeling sorry for yourself – there are plenty of great alternatives. Do something you’ve been putting off for a while, read something engaging, or spend some time with your family. Watch a movie or host a television show marathon and eat plenty of delicious food with close friends or a special someone. If you have money to spare and a means of transportation, play a game at the bowling alley, go skating, or have dinner at a classy restaurant. Use your imagination and make your night just as incredible as any school dance.

See you at the California Science center on the 28th!

10 Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sports

Cody Bartlett

Katie Whitworth

Senior Cody Dunn is the starting mid-fielder on the boys varsity soccer team.

Cody Dunn Senior Cody Dunn only has one thing in mind when he steps onto the soccer field: winning.

“Every time I get the ball, I’m looking to create chances whether for myself or my teammates, ” he said. “We have stay focused to put the ball in the net.”

Dunn, a two-year varsity starter for the SPHS varsity boys soccer team, began playing the sport at the age of eight.

He was initially a three-sport athlete, participating in baseball and basketball along with soccer.

At age ten, Dunn joined the Crown City United Club and gave up the other two sports in order to focus solely on soccer. At the age of fourteen, he was invited to participate in tournaments in Maracaibo, Venezuela and Ensenada, Mexico.

“It was a good experience because I got to play with kids my age from differ-

ent countries,” he said. “It was interesting because I spoke very little Spanish so it was fun having to communicate to the players there.”

Dunn, the starting midfielder for SPHS, leads the team this season in goals scored with five and is extremely active on the defensive end.

“Cody is creative on the field. He takes advantage of his open opportunities and is vital to our team’s success,” teammate Mathewos Ghebrekristos. “He makes everybody around him a better soccer player.”

Although he is a standout on the soccer field, Dunn is also a stellar student. He has posted a 4.0 GPA throughout high school and ranks among the top students of his class.

Dunn plans to study bioengineering at Caltech, UC Berkeley, or Harvey Mudd College, where he also hopes to continue his soccer career.

~ Carlton Lew

She is not only involved on campus as photo editor of SPHS Copa de Oro and vice president of the Green Team, but she is also an active member of the community. She volunteers in the pediatric ward of Huntington Hospital every Saturday, works as an usher at the Wiltern Theater, and in the free time she has left, babysits for her friends and neighbors.

Given that her interests and activities are so multi-faceted, Bartlett knows that she will most likely leave the sport behind after high school.

“My favorite memories with water polo certainly revolve around the friendships that I’ve made on the team,” said Bartlett. “I’m definitely going to miss them.”

~ Erin Chan

Even on the coldest and rainiest days of the winter water polo season, senior Cody Bartlett provides a continuous glimmer of sunlight.

“Cody always has a great attitude in and out of the water, and she never stops encouraging us. She’s a great player and a huge part in bringing our team together,” said teammate Devin Grab.

Bartlett’s bright and lighthearted personality is contagious to her teammates – but this doesn’t mean her talent for the sport is any less substantial.

Following in the footsteps of her two older sisters, Bartlett has effortlessly piled up numerous athletic awards, ranging from Best Defensive Player to Most Valuable Player to “Toughest Tiger.” As an underclassman, she moved up to varsity to help the SPHS team advance far in CIF; the team made it to quarterfinals her sophomore year.

“From when she first started as a freshman, I knew she was going to be a solid impact player for our varsity team,” said JV coach Stuart Blumkin. “She is the girl who has definitely stepped up the most as an offensive player.”

With all the time Bartlett spends at the pool as a dedicated member of the school’s swim and club water polo teams – and even working as a lifeguard in her spare time – it’s amazing that Bartlett does Jennifer Kim just as much, if not more, out Senior Cody Bartlett has been an impact player for the of the water.

girls varsity water polo team for the past two years.

Sports

Thursday, January 19. 2012 - Tiger

11

Girls soccer fights for top league position

By Anne Kitchens and Kelsey Hess Tiger Staff South Pasadena girls soccer fought relentlessly against La Cañada last night, but the match ended with an uneventful final score of 0-0. South Pas is first in league despite the tie; they were 2-0-1 going into the match. Despite the dissapointing score, the Tigers maintain high hopes for the rest of league play.

“We have a young team this season, but we have some experienced and really great players,” said coach Randy Lilavois. “The team is talented and driven, so our spirits

are still high and we are expecting to go far.”

The team came close to scoring many goals, but the opportunities didn’t play out. Junior Charlie Gleeson, senior captain Taylor Colliau and sophomore Kelly Brady had strong performances on the field, despite the lack of goals.

Both teams failed to capitalize on their oppurtunities in the final third; junior goalie Angelique Ulmer was able to deny all shots on South Pasadena’s goal.

The Tigers came closest to scoring in the closing minutes of the game, as both teams picked up

play in an attempt to put in a goal.

With two minutes remaining, junior Jessica Moog crossed a ball to Colliau, who vollied the ball just over the crossbar.

The Tigers looked slow in the first half, and struggled to score in the more defensive 4-4-2 formation.

They focused on blocking out the La Cañada outside midfielders, and saw their typically aggresive offense suffer as a result.

“We knew we could beat them, but we couldn’t put the ball in the goal,” said Gleeson. “Next time, we are going to play harder and hopefully beat them.”

Rachael Garner

Sophomore Kathryn Deichert pushes the ball past her defender.

Seniors prepare for Wrestling trumps Hoover, prepares for matches ahead college athletics

By Harry Yadav Senior Staff Writer

By Shyam Senthilkumar Business Manager College applications don’t always stop when students finish the Common Application. Many seniors plan to pursue sports careers in college, and accordingly must coordinate with coaches, attend recruiting tournaments, and perform well under the watchful eyes of scouts. Some SPHS seniors are already committed to their university of choice as athletes. Others are still making progress.

Senior Dylan Trimarchi is deep into the recruiting process, while fellow senior Taylor Colliau already has her sights set on playing soccer at Valpraiso University.

Trimarchi began playing baseball competitively at age thirteen, and has known from the start that he would play at the next level. His family and friends were very supportive of his decision; his dad in particular has rarely ever missed one of his high school games.

Trimarchi is still unsure of his destination but hopes to remain in California.

“The process of choosing a school is crazy. There are so many factors that go into making a decision: majors offered, price, location, and what positions the school is recruiting. It’s almost like a dating website; you have your preferences in a school and it’s just a matter of finding one that’s compatible,” he said.

Colliau, on the other hand, is already committed.

“There were so many different schools to choose from. I first narrowed down my choices to schools I would go to even if I didn’t play soccer,” she said.

Colliau’s family has been very supportive of her choice to play college soccer since eighth grade, when she made the decision. Colliau looked for a school in the Midwest, awaiting a chance to leave California.

“I got some rejections, but when the Valpraiso coach offered me a scholarship I knew it was a good fit,” said Colliau.

Both Colliau and Trimarchi agree that the commitment it takes to play in college is very intensive. Both will have to attend countless workouts, practices, and trips to other schools while simultaneously balancing their schoolwork at SPHS. The common aspect of all athletes planning to play sports in college is their competitive drive to become the best at what they do.

1/13 SPHS v.

Blair 58-53 L

1/18 SPHS v.

La Cañada 37-31 W

South Pasadena boys wrestling defeated the Hoover Tornadoes in a home dual meet last Thursday by a score of 46-36.

The match was significant for the Tornadoes, as it marked the first time that Hoover has fielded a competitive wrestling team.

The Tigers dominated the match overall, and were led by an outstanding performance from

sophomore James Yun, who wrestled at the 113-pound weight class. Other strong performances came from seniors Sean Erlich and Zach Gershman.

“We were attacking with ferocity, but they were a first year program, so winning was a bit expected,” said Gershman.

The Tigers were without seniors Gus Shettleroe and Nick Tong and captain Ned Estrada, who sat out due to injuries.

Next up for the Tigers is today’s dual meet against their

league rival, the Titans, held at San Marino.

“It’s gonna be a bloodbath,” said senior Joaquin Rascon, “In my time here we have always destroyed them and this year will be no different.”

The squad will then head to Morro Bay on Friday for a three-day tournament in which the Tigers will face tough competition from all over California.

The return of Estrada to their lineup will provide welcomed depth for the weekend.

Shettleroe and Tong’s return dates are uncertain.

“I’m really hoping to get one or two placers at Morro Bay,” said Tiger coach Al Shuton.

The Tigers’ overall goal is to send ten wrestlers to CIF. The CIF spots will be determined at league finals, held on Saturday, February 4.

“With only five returning varsity and an extremely young team, we’re doing better than I would have expected,” said Gershman.

Girls water polo undefeated in league

By Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer With almost half of the season under their belt, the undefeated SPHS girls water polo team continued their dominance with a 15-8 nonleague victory over Pasadena High School on Wednesday.

Sophomore captain Devin Grab was the biggest contributor to the Tigers’ offense; she scored an astonishing ten goals during the match.

“It’s nice to score a lot of goals, but it doesn’t mean anything if I’m the only one scoring,” said Grab.

This was the second time the girls squared off against Pasadena this season; their previous matchup, at the Los Altos Conquerors tournament, ended in a 15-5 South Pas victory.

Coach Robert Echeverria felt that the girls didn’t play their best game despite the impressive victory.

“We didn’t perform how I had hoped. We played down to their [Pasadena’s] level,” said Echeverria. “There were some good plays here and there, but overall, we need to be more consistent.”

Other than these few setbacks, the girls have been virtually unstoppable so far this season.

The success over Pasadena came only one day after demolishing the Tigers’ chief nemesis, the La Cañada Spartans, 22-5 this past Tuesday at home. This win brought the girls’ league record to a flawless 4-0.

“We went in and did our job,” said Grab. “We took care of business.”

The Tigers started off league play with a 16-8 win over the Monrovia Wildcats. They

also managed to return from both San Marino and Temple City victorious; they won 14-6 against the Spartans and 14-3 against the Rams.

The Tigers’ next objective is to beat the El Rancho Dons this Friday at home, a game that “depends on our communication throughout,” according to Echeverria.

1/17 SPHS v.

La Cañada 22-5 W

1/18 SPHS v.

Pasadena 15-8 W

Basketball evens record to 2-2

By Carlton Lew Opinion Editor

Matt Winkel

Senior Kai Matsukuma gets a shot off despite heavy Blair defense.

Varsity boys basketball triumphed over the La Cañada Spartans last night in a low-scoring match. The game ended with a score of 37-31. The varsity boys now have a 2-2 record in league play. The squad entered league with a successful game against Monrovia, and had struggled to rally and clinch another win before last night.

The Tigers lost to Blair last Friday by a score of 58-55. The boys were in a deficit early in the game, but fought their way back into the match in the fourth quarter. With ten seconds left in the contest, the Tigers had two opportunities to tie the game with a three-pointer, but missed both times.

South Pas senior captain Alireza Jabalameli led the Tigers in scoring with eighteen points.

“That’s what happens when you come out flat,” said Jabalameli. “We put ourselves in a big hole, and couldn’t overcome.”

South Pasadena suffered its first league defeat on January 11, in a 60-46 loss to perennial rival San Marino. Coming into the game, the Tigers had dominated the rivalry, winning four consecutive head-to-head meetings dating back to 2010.

Senior Jevon Shields, who is averaging fifteen points per game this season, was held in check and scored only eight points. Jabalameli scored a team-high of fourteen points.

“We didn’t execute the way we are capable of… in the first half,” said senior captain James Kawakami on the loss to the Titans.

“We failed to close out on their shooters.”

The Tigers are looking to improve defensively in order to be more competitive in the Rio Hondo League.

“We don’t even know if our opponents can play defense against us, because we haven’t given them the chance,” said coach Tim Brown. “We need to work on executing, and not shooting the ball too quickly. Those are the smart things that change basketball games.”

12 Tiger - Thursday, January 19, 2012

Sports

Sports

Upcoming games vs. Temple City Boys basketball @ home 7 pm Boys soccer @ home 3:30 pm

1/20:

Girl soccer @ Temple City 3:30 pm Girls basketball @ home 5:15 pm

Speaking of

Sports

Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer

NFL and NHL: heads up on big hits

Katie Whitworth

Sophomore Daniel Zurita (#17) dribbles the ball out of the Tigers’ midfield in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss against La Cañada.

Boys soccer suffers 4-2 loss to LC The team remains in third place after a frustrating defeat leaves them 1-2-1

By Christian Miyamae Staff Writer The South Pasadena boys soccer team earned solid results over the past two weeks, compiling a 1-2-1 record. The Tigers stand in third place in the Rio Hondo League behind La Cañada and Monrovia. Leading the team in goals is senior Mathewos Grebrekristos with six. Grebrekristos also heads the team with five assists.

Boys soccer suffered a lost

1/11 SPHS v.

San Marino 2-2 T

4-2 yesterday against defending league champions La Cañada.

Sophomore Heven Gomez scored after a slotting away a cross from senior teammate Raymond Yonami. Grebrekristos also scored in the second half via free kick after a Spartan handball.

The goals were not enough to put away the game for South Pas. The Spartans scored first and kept continual pressure on the Tiger back line, never letting go of the lead. “[The loss] definitely got

1/13 SPHS v.

Blair 2-0 W

1/18 SPHS v.

La Cañada 4-2 L

us down. The refs played a major role [in causing the loss]. We felt like we were the better team,” said senior captain Steven Blackwell.

The Tigers earned their first win in league last Friday, in a 2-0 game against Blair.

Gomez, assisted by sophomore Zach Dunn, scored to give the team an early lead. Senior Cody Dunn added to the lead in the second half by slipping past two defenders and slotting the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. Senior goalkeeper Daniel Ruatta propelled the team to its first shutout with six saves.

South Pasadena tied 2-2 in an away game to rival San Marino on January 11.

The first goal of the

San Marino match came from Blackwell, who capitalized on a breakaway after a pass from Grebrekristos. Senior Trent Kajikawa produced the second goal when he one-touched the ball into the net after a cross from Cody Dunn.

Despite the two goals in the first half, the Tigers lost momentum and were unable to capitalize on offensive opportunities in the following half. The Titan squad put one away in the opening minutes of the second, and then held South Pas off until, in the 71st minute, put in the goal to tie the game.

South Pas hopes to get another win in their next match against Temple City this Friday.

Girls basketball falls to LC in close match

By Heather Vaughan Staff Writer The SPHS girls basketball team suffered their first loss to La Cañada last night in a brutally close game that ended 44-43. The match closed on a missed free throw, despite the team’s hopes of claiming victory in overtime.

“The team was disappointed with the loss, but we’ll come together and bounce back,” said senior Victoria Pallares.

The team hopes to regain momentum in their next match against Temple City this Friday.

Their current league record is 3-1.

The Tigers’ most recent win came from Friday night’s game against Blair, which the Vikings were forced to forfeit after their coach was ejected for two technical fouls. Because no assistant coach was present, the game was ended and South Pas

Siria Medina

Senior captain Kelsey Nakamura (#20) scans the court while dribbling inside the key during a home against San Marino. took a 53-58 win. During regulation play, the team was led by senior captain Kelsey Nakamura, who totaled fifteen points. Junior Amber Partida and Pallares also contributed ten points each.

The girls opened league strong with a close five-point win over Monrovia. The game ended with a final score of 58-53.

The team fared just as well in its match against San Marino

last Wednesday at home, dominating its rivals with a solid 37-30 win. The Tigers were able finish the game strong despite the injury of key starter senior Malika Murphy in the fourth quarter.

“When Malika got taken out, our intensity picked up,” said Nakamura. “We knew we had to step up and play for her.”

Coach Rich Kitagawa is optimistic about the remainder of the season.

“I’ve seen a lot of younger girls filling in for older players, and it makes me confident that our team can continue to be strong even after this year,” said Kitagawa.

In addition to its goal of winning league, the team is aspiring to beat the SPHS record of most wins in a season, which stands at nineteen. The squad’s overall record for the season is currently 13-5.

Ice hockey players who weigh 200 pounds and wear steel blades on their feet reach speeds of 30 miles per hour in a confined space, producing brutal collisions.

Similarly, football players weighing up to 300 pounds spend three hours each game launching their bodies into the opposition’s heads and torsos at high speeds.

Clearly, the two sports have pushed the limit of physicality to new levels of violence.

In response to this, both leagues have installed new rules and regulations in recent years limiting the ability of athletes to target the area above the shoulders. Most hits targeting the head area are not allowed.

Some athletes and spectators feel that these new regulations will take away the exciting big hits and physical plays that occur in the NHL and NFL. However, concussions and other serious head injuries jeopardize both players and the long-term viability of the sports.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’s James Harrison is a prime example of a player who disregards these new rules and is constantly being penalized for illegal hits to the head.

Harrison’s hit on Cleveland Browns’s quarterback Colt McCoy earlier this season was his fifth illegal hit against a quarterback in the past three seasons. He also has been fined twice more for unnecessary roughness for other hits during that time period.

It’s hard to understand how anybody who actually watches these sports or is aware of the historical data on sports concussions could possibly disagree with these new regulations. Admittedly, both sports are very physical, but eliminating hits to the head in no way eliminates their intense physicality.

Several famous ex-NFL players, such as John Mackey of the Baltimore Colts and Mike Webster of the Pittsburgh Steelers, were discovered later in life to have extreme dementia and other types of neurodegenerative disorders due to vicious knocks to the head. Doctors said that the hits accumulated by these two players throughout their careers were equivalent to being in 25,000 automobile crashes each.

Last year, the NHL had Sidney Crosby, its most famous player; miss an entire season due to a concussion. He returned briefly this year, but played only a few games, and is now back on the Injured Reserved List.

Head injuries are a pressing problem.

The cheap thrill of all-out aggression is not worth the serious health ramifications that players suffer.

Though there still is some resistance among players from both sports to adjust to the new rules, a continued combination of heavy fines and suspensions will eventually steer these two sports in the right direction.