Tiger Newspaper May 2017

VOLUME 103 ISSUE VII MAY 2, 2017

IN THE NEWS

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

Tiger

TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

MIX N’ MUNCH

PROM

TUNNEL AT LITFEST

The Mission Street staple closes on May 6, serving the community for the last time at the Eclectic Music Festival.

Seniors and juniors head to the California Science Center for prom this Saturday for dinner and dancing.

The student art publication will host an open-mic and art workshop in the Playhouse District on May 21.

STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD FACILITATOR senior Anthony Chen and Bolsa Grande High School senior Brian Chau, who assisted in planning the event, discuss solutions to issues related to the achievement gap.

Students voice input on their education STORY SAMMY PARK PHOTOGRAPH PERAH RALIN Students from all grades woke up early last Saturday morning to participate in a meeting focused on the problems identified by SPHS administration in the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) report. This first Student Advisory Board, consisting of 28 students, was selected to brainstorm solutions to these issues. ASB members created the board as a method of bringing representative student input to the school board and administration.

“There was some student input in developing the WASC report, but we felt that it was minimal and not illustrative of the student body as a whole,” senior Maya Roshandel, one of the event’s organizers, explained. “Having English classes elect representatives was one way to bring a diverse group of students together.”

Eventually, the event organizers would like students to brainstorm solutions to issues that they themselves identify on campus. For the inaugural event, however, they decided to use preselected topics.

The problems discussed were the achievement gap, campus climate and culture, college readiness, and career readiness. Students broke into four groups based on their interests to develop recommendations in each area.

The first discussion in the groups was based on the positive steps that SPHS was taking and the problems that still needed to be solved. In the discussions, the Student Advisory Board began identifying root problems and solutions. Each group has identified general recommendations, and plans to refine them further.

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CAMPUS CLIMATE AND CULTURE: Encourage teachers to offer students opportunities to recover from academic mistakes and to apply individual interests to curriculum Encourage teachers to collaborate with other teachers to avoid conflicting tests, projects, etc.

Dedicate more time to each counselor’s first meeting with incoming freshmen so that it both focused on building a relationship and creating a class schedule Provide student feedback for teachers

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ACHIEVEMENT GAP: Create a district-wide committee comprising staff, students, and parents which works to recruit adult volunteers and mentors for academic, ACT/SAT, and social tutoring/mentoring/counseling programs COLLEGE READINESS: Create a concise packet detailing components of college applications and what students should be preparing for, made available to freshmen online Create an online college readiness forum where counselors and other students can answer questions Increase informational and question and answer sessions regarding college applications for freshmen and sophomores CAREER READINESS: Offer students course credits for participating in internships outside of school

The Student Advisory Board plans to complete an official proposal by Tuesday, May 2. They then hope to present the proposed solutions at the May 9 SPUSD school board meeting.

VOLLEYBALL CRUSHES SAN MARINO

13 REASONS WHY FALTERS

PETER PAN: A SOARING SUCCESS

Staff writer Amelia Anthony sheds light on the show’s misguided attempt to raise awareness of teen suicide

Fans of the spring musical were treated to the show’s elaborate dance routines and musical numbers

The Tigers found success in their April 25 game, preserving their undefeated league record

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NEWS

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

02

Students for Sleep push for 8:30 start time

SkillsUSA makes SPHS history

STORY BRANDON YUNG Discussions surrounding the severity of student sleep deprivation have reached a boiling point, and school start time is now at the center of debate.

“Students for Sleep,” a group formed this year at SPHS, is proposing an 8:30 a.m. start time.

Recently, half of the student population took a survey created by Students for Sleep. The results indicated a large majority of students are in favor of a delayed start time, while a small minority are strongly against it — 74% and 13%, respectively.

“I’m not surprised that most students want a [later start time],” SPHS Principal Janet Anderson said.

Anderson, who has been in favor of a delayed start time for years, is well aware of the health toll that sleep deprivation is having on busy students. She brought up the possibility of an 8:30 start time at a school site council meeting in 2013, however, lacking student support, the issue was dropped. But because of mounting awareness and information concerning the issue of adolescent sleep deprivation, more people are on board now, according to Anderson.

On April 19th, a bill proposed by state senator Anthony Portantino (who represents South Pasadena) was passed by the Senate Education Committee, overcoming its first legislative hurdle. Portantino made a presentation on SB 328 at Pasadena City College on April 13th, where health experts stressed the need to address chronic sleep deprivation among high schoolers.

Students for Sleep approached Portantino after the PCC meeting, and are now planning an event with the senator for SPHS families to discuss student sleep deprivation and the possibility of a later start time.

VICTORIA VENARDI takes a pledge, becoming South Pasadena's first California State Officer.

STORY ISABELLA TSAI PHOTOGRAPH OWEN GILES The South Pasadena SkillsUSA chapter experienced several firsts at the 50th annual SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in San Diego from Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 23. Over 70 students participated in 18 different competitions during the weekend-long event, bringing home new medals and exceeding the successes of past years.

Among the notable achievements was Junior Victoria Venardi’s election as SPHS’ first ever California State Officer, becoming one of six students chosen by student delegates to represent the state for SkillsUSA. South Pasadena also swept gold, silver, and bronze in the Health Knowledge Bowl, marking the first time that the chapter has placed gold in a health-related contest at the state competition. In addition, five students, including Venardi and juniors Maddie Pearson and Drew Sevilla, were awarded the Statesman Award for their knowledge of the SkillsUSA organization.

Students competed in their categories on Friday and Saturday, presenting their projects in front of judges or taking competition-related exams. Medalists were announced on Sunday during the closing ceremonies. 19 of the 35 South Pas teams medaled in their categories, eight of them winning gold.

“It was amazing how well we did at the state conference and how much our chapter has grown,” Venardi said, “I've seen more medals from South Pasadena than ever before, and I'm excited to have so many gold medalists attending the national conference in June.”

South Pasadena was also named a Second Level Gold Chapter of Distinction by the Chapter of Excellence Program, honoring its accomplishments in “SkillsUSA’s framework of developing personal, workplace and technical skills.”

The 22 SPHS state gold medalists qualify for the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference which will take place from June 19-23 in Louisville, Kentucky.

THE 2017-2018 ASB COMMISSION

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"I plan to make the SAC Room an open environment, not just for ASB members, but all students."

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"Since freshman year, I had wanted to get in front of SPHS and give back with what brings me joy. I love music, and the other candidates still do too. And by no means will the other two candidates not get the chance to join me on the patio sometime next school year."

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"I hope to improve communication between students and the Board of Education in order to seek viable change."

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"I believe that for all the hard work students do every week, they really aren't getting recognized and rewarded enough.

As such, I plan to increase student recognition across the school year and increase the number of people who are recognized."

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"I think that sports are a crucial part of a student's high school experience and I want to show how big of an impact sports have made on me personally. I'm glad that I have the opportunity to show my leadership skills through what I love most."

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"I believe that being the commissioner of publicity would allow me to connect more with the student body and encourage school participation."

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"The question of why I ran for commissioner of assemblies is one that I say with all honesty is difficult to answer...Any fear I have for that question is really a fear of sounding cliché and coming off as almost desperate.

To put it plainly: I need to perform."

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"I plan to take initiative in the bank to teach all of the newer treasurers how to regulate all of their own class accounts and how they should organize money from fundraisers."

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"As Commissioner I will work alongside club presidents to create a memorable homecoming picnic, and will also try to create events like this during the second semester to encourage club participation throughout the year."

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"ASB has given me the opportunity to represent the junior class and become more involved in the school through planning school wide events.

I plan to lead the school every week with the weekly PA announcements and unite the school together as a whole."

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"I ran to make sure that the school had fun activities and a great Winter Formal. I plan on taking polls to make sure the student body is involved in the planning process of activities like Winter Formal."

"I want to make a difference in my community and encourage openness between residents and students in South Pas. I'd like more members of the surrounding area to have discussions at the school and encourage students to participate in their community."

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"I would love for the student body to be more involved and engaged in school activities. I'd like to encourage everyone to attend and participate in school events."

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

PLANTING A NEW SEED

03

PLANTING A NEW SEED Changes are coming to the city’s General and Mission Street Specific Plan, stimulating safety, development, and economic progress.

STORY NATE RUDMAN PAGE TRUMAN LESAK & ASHTON CARLESS ILLUSTRATIONS ASHTON CARLESS

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ver the course of last week’s Visionary Charrette, ideas for new blueprints rang through the SPUSD District board room. Citizens engaged in the Charrette, a series of public forums designed to harvest public input, discussed, and argued what they believed the City of South Pasadena should look like in 20 years. The General and Mission Street Specific Plans are once again being updated.

Key among the proposed revisions is the addition of 200 residential units along and around Mission as well as Fair Oaks.

Rangwala Associates, the consultancy firm hired by South Pasadena for the overhaul, believes that Mission and Fair Oaks will be ideal locations for these units because of their proximity to the Metro station, businesses, and the overall center of town.

Units would be built on the upper floors of restaurants, retail stores, and office spaces. Rangwala also took a survey, to which 353 people responded, regarding people’s overall experience and feelings about South Pasadena. The survey, the Charrette, and focus group meetings that went from February until April all influenced the recommended additions to the plan.

THE SURVEY AT HOME

IN STREET

AT PARKS

DO YOU FEEL SAFE? 18 NEUTRAL

323 SAFE

283 SAFE

186 SAFE

54 NEUTRAL

54 NEUTRAL

2 UNSAFE

7 UNSAFE

5 UNSAFE

Rangwala is also recommending extra parking to accommodate the increase in need with small underground garages to accompany each of the new residential floors. Meanwhile, street parking will be transitioned towards shared parking to promote an outdoor mall feeling, similar to Old Town Pasadena.

There are also proposed updates to the building code, such as limits to buildings’ height, setback, and facade. These updates are meant to preserve South Pasadena’s small-town charm, and will compound on previous bans and restrictions on huge, chain businesses. Refurbishments are also being proposed to improve street traffic, specifically to add bike lanes along Fair Oaks and Mission, as well as several other streets in South Pasadena. Bike safety was an important issue to those surveyed, so the updates also included interesting street designs to ensure it. Lastly, the renovated plans feature many expansions to public space, such as widening sidewalks for cafe use, adding a plaza in the center of the School office, and cutting off the large corner near RiteAid.

South Pasadena’s checkered past regarding updating its streets raises questions about the current plan. Once the new plans are finalized, will future development projects sail through all obstacles, or will they be stalled as well? However, it should be noted that the Recession of 2008 could have also played a large role in the loss of Shamrock Holdings, and ultimately the project. Dr. David Watkins, Director of Planning and Building, still believes that “It was a great plan!

Everybody loved that plan!”

THE PROCESS PROJECT COORDINATION

DISCOVERY

DRAFT GENERAL PLAN & SPECIFIC PLAN

ADOPTION

REVIEW & REFINE

The updates are currently in the visioning phase of the amendment process, where citizens can give input to the city and Rangwala Associates regarding their issues or thoughts on the plans. Rangwala wants to incorporate all the comments they’ve received so far into drafts for the two plans. However, the drafts aren’t expected until the end of the year. Until then, Rangwala will continue gathering feedback, input, and ideas from online feedback and focus group meetings running from June to September. Due to the expense of the Charrette process, it is unlikely that there will be another.

Budget for the developments come from a fee attached to all building permits, entitled the General Plan Fee. In the past 20 years, that fee has earned the city $600,000. When asked where that money is going, John Mayer, senior member of the SP Planning Committee said, “[The money] is being used to pay [Rangwala Associates] to update the General Plan and the Mission Street Specific Plan… to gather current information about the City… to get as many residents as possible to tell them where the City should be in 20 to 30 years.” It is also funding an environmental study to determine if the plan will work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in accordance with state regulations.

Updating the General and Mission Street Specific Plans is a vital process that shapes how South Pasadena will work and look for the next two decades. It’s also one that takes a village, one that requires democratic input from all of South Pasadena’s citizens, be they new or old residents. If the plans are to truly represent a new template for all of South Pasadena, they should reflect the input of all those who live here. And while that is unrealistic, taking the time to make your voice and opinions heard is not.

THE BUDGET

It is important to keep in mind that these plans are not going into immediate construction. The Charrette centers around what type of city development will be allowed and what exactly South Pasadena wants to be built on its city land.

The plans are updated on a bi-decennial schedule, although the process will not be finished until the end of 2018. But South Pasadena hasn’t been sitting idle in the interim. In 2005, Decoma Developers worked with South Pasadena on the Downtown Revitalization Project, a development plan that featured a bowling alley, a city center, and 60 new residential units along Fair Oaks. That plan was stalled in 2008 due to Measure SP amending said plan. In 2009, Decoma was forced to pull out after its partner, Shamrock Holdings, left due to economic reasons. Meetings continued for the project until 2013, but no developments came of it.

VISIONING

$

$

BUILDING PERMIT

ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT

MONEY TO UPDATE PLAN

To keep up to date with the plans, see survey results, and offer insight visit www.plansouthpasadena.org To learn more about Rangwala Associates and their work visit www.rangwalaassoc.com

04

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

NEWS

Frantic search for 5-year-old continues after 9 days

STORY COLE CAHILL & FAYE WITHERALL GRAPHICS SANDRA MOORE

The father of Aramazd Andressian Jr., a 5 year-old South Pasadena boy who went missing last Saturday, April 22, released a statement that he believes he was attacked the morning of his son’s disappearance.

“The last time I saw my son was on Saturday morning, the 22nd, at Arroyo Park near my home in South Pasadena. After breakfast Aramazd Jr. wanted to go to the park before we were to meet his mother for a custody exchange at 9 a.m.,” Andressian Sr. said in a statement from his attorney.

“In one moment, I was at the park with my son, and then I found myself waking up in Huntington Memorial Hospital hours later. I was told that a good Samaritan found me unconscious on the ground near my car, with young Aramazd nowhere in sight. I can only speculate that I must have been attacked in the park, given my unresponsive state and subsequent physical condition.”

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35-year-old Aramazd Andressian Sr., was found unconscious next to his gray BMW around 6:30 AM Saturday, April 22, in Arroyo Seco Park. His son, five year-old Aramazd Andressian Jr., was officially reported missing later that morning.

Aramazd Sr. was arrested on suspicion of child abduction and endangerment on the same day and held on $10 million bail. Andressian was released from police custody on Tuesday.

“South Pasadena investigators along with investigators from the homicide bureau felt that [releasing] Andressian Sr. was the best thing to do at the time based on the information that we had, and we wanted to focus on the missing child,” LA County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant Joe Mendoza said.

A search warrant for Aramazd Andressian Sr.’s house

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was served on Friday in order to locate possible forensic evidence on the premises. The search concluded with no significant evidence found, according to Mendoza.

Andressian Jr. was last seen on camera at Disneyland with his father on the evening of Thursday, April 20. Officials believe the father was at Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County on Friday without his son, but do not have any proof of Andressian Jr.’s location since the 20th.

The investigation is now searching for any new evidence involving the case.

“I am desperate to find my son, Aramazd Jr., and need the public’s help,” Andressian Sr. said. “I hope and pray for the safe return of my only child, my namesake.”

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OPINION THEESTABLISHED TIGER 1913 CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 CSPA Gold Medalist 2011 CSPA Gold Medalist 2013 CSPA Gold Medalist 2014 CSPA Gold Medalist 2015 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OLIVIA NOURIANI

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

05

S T AFF EDITORIAL

LOST IN TR ANS L A T I O N

MANAGING EDITORS FAYE WITHERALL, Print TUCKER JUDKINS, Online

A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE: LOOKING INTO THE LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

NEWS NICK MICHAEL, Editor BRANDON YUNG, Associate OPINION ISABEL BARBERA, Editor COLE CAHILL & OONA FOLEY, Associates FEATURE DECLAN CHIN, Editor MAYA WILLIAMSON, Associate SPORTS NOAH MIYAMAE, Editor RILEY SEGAL & MATT WAKUMOTO, Associates DESIGN SANDRA MOORE, Editor MICHAEL STUKAN, Editor ASHTON CARLESS & TRUMAN LESAK, Associates PHOTOGRAPHY MATT SCHOLTZ, Editor THOMAS FORMAN & LUKE QUEZADA, Associates COPY SANDY GROSSMAN, Editor NATE RUDMAN, Editor SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER HANA TYSZKA STAFF WRITERS AMELIA ANTHONY, ELIZABETH BOCK, DASHIEL BOVE, RACHEL LU, RYAN NAKAMURA, SAMMY PARK, DAVID SEO, ISABELLA TSAI PHOTOGRAPHER KEVIN HUANG ILLUSTRATORS ISABELLA FRESCURA, ANGELICA NAVARRO MANAGERS ALINA MEHDI, Ads LAUREN TAN, Business WEBMASTER OLIVER CHANG FACULTY ADVISOR MIKE HOGAN Vol. 103 No. 7 distributed on may 2, 2017.

D istribution : 1 4 5 7 s t u d ent s ; 7 0 c omm u nity . 1 6 0 0 c o p ie s p r inte d .

Di s t r i b u te d b y T i g e r s ta f f f r ee of charge.

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. Original stories will carry bylines, although stories rewritten by anyone other than the original writer will not receive a byline. Contributing writers will also receive bylines.

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 withheld upon request.

Tiger’s mission is to provide a reliable news outlet for SPHS and the local community. Through a variety of coverage, Tiger empowers/enables students to think critically and creatively, communicate effectively, s olve p r o b lem s , s et an d r ea c h goals, and work cooperatively and independently as responsible citizens.

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

W

hether it’s conjugating verbs or copying characters, taking a foreign language class is a familiar experience to the average SPHS student.

Two years of a foreign language are required for graduation, and three are recommended for most four-year universities. With such clear-cut standards, nearly every SPHS student has enrolled in a language class. Based on what students have to say, however, it seems that those experiences differ drastically based on which language students elect to study.

South Pasadena High School offers three pathways to incoming freshman––French, Spanish, or Chinese classes––and each aims to impart cultural knowledge and start their students on the track toward bilingualism. At SPHS, the curriculum used to accomplish this is designed by the team of teachers in charge of each language. That means that the two French teachers determine together how they will ensure French students meet Common Core standards, while the six Spanish

teachers do the same for their department.

The difficulty comes when teachers must assess whether or not students are sufficiently developing their foreign language skills. It is unfair to hold students who are learning new characters and phonics to the same standard of fluency as those working with the same alphabet as their first language. However, there is a discrepancy between the Chinese, Spanish, and French departments at SPHS seems too severe to ignore.

“THERE ARE SOME EXTREME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CLASSES.” “I’ve taken both Spanish and Chinese, and there are some extreme differences between the classes,” a senior said. “After a year of Chinese, I didn’t feel that I had a chance of becoming proficient in the language. It’s a combination of being one of the hardest languages to learn and the class itself lacking structure and guidance.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

06

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

OPINION

THE ROAD LESS FRAZZLED OLIVIA NOURIANI

Petty is my middle name, and it's yours too I am very petty. I resent people’s success all the time. Honestly, the more successful you are the more I probably resent you.

I am likely to make up reasons that you don’t deserve your success in an attempt to reassure myself.

13 Reasons Why is a gross oversimplification of mental illness in popular culture already, and failing to address the topic in the show perpetuates this invisibility.

STORY AMELIA ANTHONY ILLUSTRATION ANGELICA NAVARRO Content Warning: suicide Popular Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why and its executive producer Selena Gomez have received widespread praise, specifically for providing an eyeopening experience to those unfamiliar to struggles with mental illness and suicidal thoughts. However, for those all too familiar with these experiences the show’s execution can have unintended negative consequences.

13 Reasons Why’s over arching message is that people should be aware of the effects of their actions, especially when it comes to bullying. The plot of the show, and the 2007 book by Jay Asher, centers around a small town in the wake of teen Hannah Baker’s suicide. Thirteen people, each connected to Baker’s death in some way, receive a prerecorded tape that details one of the thirteen reasons Hannah decided to end her life.

Suicide is a complex issue often intertwined with mental illness, and the tape concept oversimplifies this. There is no substantial talk of mental illness in the entire show.

Of course, one does not need to be mentally ill to commit suicide, but a wide platform like a popular Netflix original would be a good place to start talking about mental illness in a constructive way. There are very few representations

In the time leading up to her death, Hannah turns to her friends and her school counselor for help. She receives little support, and the interactions leave her even more hopeless. This portrayal has the potential to discourage struggling viewers from seeking out the help they deserve. Alarmingly, viewers are also not informed of suicide hotlines or resources at any point during the entirety of the show. 13 Reasons Why revolves around a solvable issue for thirteen episodes without offering any solutions.

In Hannah’s case, suicide appears inevitable—the “effect” to the causes of bullying, sexual assault, and a lack of mental health support. However, the strongest way to “send a message” to one’s perpetrators will always be to continue to thrive.

Having a strong support system and taking advantage of hotlines, friends, and mental health professionals all contribute to one’s ability to thrive. Watching the show doesn’t convey to viewers there is an alternative. The negative outcome and negative portrayal of Hannah Baker’s struggles do little good representing or supporting people with mental illness or suicidal thoughts.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Calling it pettiness is really just a way to overcomplicate the fact that I am unnecessarily jealous of those around me.

It stems from some strange mix of low selfesteem and feeling slighted by the universe.

The fact that I feel slighted is ridiculous; I’ve had things handed to me for most of my life. I know in my heart of hearts that I’ve also found a lot of success. But still, there’s a voice in my head telling me that the world is out to get me. Thus, deep down, even though I know it’s awful, I have this twinge of certainty that the world is unfair, and that no one around me has earned their success.

It’s quite a negative quality, but I know I’m not alone in it. No one wants to admit that we feel more jealous of our friends than proud of them, but often, we do. It’s the most universal and shameful human experience.

And in 18 jealous years I’ve learned that it’s unlikely that I’m going to escape it. Maybe one day I will feel so secure in myself and my life that I will never be jealous of anyone, but that seems highly doubtful.

My hope is that I can use the desire to outrun the feeling as motivation to succeed. I imagine that constantly trying to escape that feeling of inadequacy will drive me toward some relatively cool accomplishments somewhere down the line.

Until then I conclude that yes, I am a bad person, but so is everyone, so it’s okay.

It doesn't matter if Steve Bannon actually hates Jews STORY SANDY GROSSMAN ILLUSTRATION ISABELLA FRESCURA A little over a month ago, former Breitbart contributor Jeffrey Shapiro wrote an article for the LA Times declaring that White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon is, to quote the headline, “not a racist or an anti-Semite.” This assertion flies in the face of statements made to the contrary by the Democrats of Congress. Many have denounced Bannon, calling Breitbart—the publication he previously headed—a breeding ground for misogyny and racism. In the days after Shapiro’s publication, many began asking themselves: “is Steve Bannon truly as racist as he is made out to be?” But the answer is irrelevant, as the question itself completely misses the point. Whether or not Steve Bannon is truly anti-Semitic does not matter. Because it does not matter what he truly is; it matters what he appears to be.

People like Bannon, those meant to represent our country, have a responsibility to America and the world as a whole to at least appear morally righteous. They must serve as examples of the best America has to offer, not excuses for the most hateful among us to condemn those different from themselves. If a person in a position of power is known for being racist, it sends a clear message to other Americans:

“racism will not hinder your success.” So it does not matter if Bannon never actually treated anyone worse because of their religious affiliation or skin color, as Shapiro’s article claims. He occupies an office in which public image is incredibly important. So if he is known as a racist, has made overtly racist statements, and often associates with racists, his actions are no longer relevant. Although he may not actively discriminate, his public image, that of a deeply bigoted man, empowers others to do so.

Whether it is his words or actions that empower and validate racism, he is still validating racism.

I am aware that, as of this writing, the article in question is no longer the hot topic that it was a month ago. But the prejudices of those in our White House are constantly being called into question and will continue to be well into the future. Even in the beginning of his campaign many thought that Trump could not possibly believe what he was saying, that he was using hate speech to appeal to disenfranchised voters.

Some used this to excuse him while others used this to condemn him, but, in the end, it is a moot point. The discussion, whatever its conclusion, simply distracts from any relevant conversation. In the political arena, the words of Bannon or Trump or anyone else in the White House are just as important as the actions that they take.

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

OPINION

07

Pro/Con: LATER START TIME Five SPHS students formed advocacy group “Students for Sleep” earlier this school year in an effort to move the school’s start time from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM or later. The group administered a survey to over 700 SPHS students on the issue to gauge student opinions and needs. These efforts have sparked community forums and attention from state legislators.

+ Hit the snooze button STORY DASHIEL BOVE ILLUSTRATION ASHTON CARLESS Waking up at around 6:00 A.M. every day to prepare for school isn’t fun. Nor is it healthy for every morning to be in a stressful, hungry, and groggy rush through bathing, dressing, maybe eating, and then running off hoping to get to school on time because you want to sleep for an extra half hour. We slog through our week, taking brief joys in the occasional late start or home study, and revering Saturday morning as a sacred time of rest and recuperation. It’s no secret that teenagers need more sleep than what comes with a normal 8:00 to 3:00 school day. Not just because we are all growing beings preparing to enter into adulthood, but also because it keeps us sane and sober.

The support for this seemingly drastic change is significant amongst the SPHS student body: 74 percent of the 736 students surveyed agree or strongly agree with pushing start time forward. This makes sense, seeing as late night studying is all too common for SPHS students, and sports or extracurriculars are additional time sucks. At a school that prides itself on academic excellence, it is hypocritical to systematically deprive students of sleep with such clearly unhealthy schedule.

Decades of research show that teens generally need upwards of eight hours of sleep per night.

According to a February 2014 CDC report, students who receive less than eight hours per night have higher rates of depression, caffeine usage, and “make poor choices regarding substance use.” Further research has shown that being sleep deprived results in the brain functioning at what is the equivalent of having a .07 blood alcohol content. The report also showed marked academic and test score improvement in schools with a start time of 8:35 or later. The evidence speaks for itself: on a biological and mental level, high school students need more sleep.

Pushing the school day back one hour will undoubtedly affect the scheduling for sports, tutoring, or any other extracurricular activity.

These are certainly genuine concerns, but none of them are without a simple and apparent solution: adjust accordingly.

Ultimately, it’s better for everyone — including athletes and musicians — to get the sleep they need to function. If we achieve a later start time, we can finally eliminate the pattern of horribly rushed mornings and finally get the rest we deserve.

– Pushing back our problems

STORY DAVID SEO ILLUSTRATION ASHTON CARLESS

Pushing back school start time sounds like a dream. With the ever-accumulating toils of homework and testing, an extra half hour or so of sleep could completely alter the way students navigate their school days.

But these rose-tinted glasses we peer through provide only a narrow view of a theoretical future. Simply put, those who advocate for such a change are speaking from a place of privilege, and arguably ignorance. In the wake of such a supposedly healthy reshaping of our schedule, there are many unforeseen casualties. Namely, we can look to those who maintain after school jobs that are necessary for their (and sometimes even their family’s) livelihood.

Students who have younger siblings who rely on them to pick them up and those who commute from out of city are also stung by a school time change. Maybe this is not the reality for the majority of South Pasadena students, but there is no excuse to ignore this group of people, no matter how small.

The same adverse effects exist with students who have outstanding extracurricular schedules.

Student athletes have their practices shifted back taking away precious time out of their already shortened days. This shift forces athletes to skip the entirety of their last periods when they attend sporting events, placing them further behind in catching up and learning missed material. Other extracurriculars also suffer: a lost half hour can translate into students rushing to or postponing activities outside of school, which can cause unnecessary stress and timing conflicts.

The student body as a whole stands to lose a lot in this nonessential change. Although ideally, students will take advantage of this opportunity and go to sleep earlier, realistically, students are only going to have their entire schedules pushed forward; staying up later to make up for lost time in the day. Any change should signify positive progression. This one seems to come with a slew of regression.

Boos & Bravos

Tiger ’s cheers and jeers for the month of May. BOOS BOO to promposals. We miss the good old days of 80s teen movies when your prom date was between you, your group of rambunctious but lovable misfits, and the school bully.

BOO to Mix n’ Munch closing. Where else are we going to get cereal and grilled cheese? Our kitchens?

BRAVOS BRAVO to the anonymous PETA activist for freeing captured frogs in his latest demonstration.

BRAVO to Peter Pan for providing parents with a *slightly* cheaper alternative to Disney on Ice.

BOO to college commitment posts for cluttering my Facebook feed.

BRAVO to the milk bags in the cafeteria. Nothing says “organic grass -fed cows” like drinking out of a literal bag.

BOO to all the teachers who’ve had their students take finals after school and on Saturdays. Expect a lawsuit. #mydadsalawyer

BRAVO to Kendrick Lamar for releasing the hottest album of 2017 and Kendrick Shen for submitting the hottest college applications of 2017.

BOO to the inevitable “...so what are we?” post-prom conversations.

BRAVO to the influx of readers after the April Fool’s issue. Welcome!

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TIGER MAY 2, 2017

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

LOST IN TRANSLATION

S TAFF EDITO RIAL

page & GRAPHICS by michael stukan text by OLIVIA NOURIANI & SANDRA MOORE ILLUSTRATIONS by ANGELICA NAVARRO

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LOST IN TRANSLATION

n AP Language and Culture class is, theoretically, the culmination of a student’s study of a language in high school. The number of students who begin in 1/2 classes and reach the AP level should, then, offer a practical measure of the success of the department.

said that “[Ms Chiang] is not a bad teacher. There’s a language barrier, so some students don’t take her seriously.” He explains that he went into 1/2 knowing no Chinese, and is reaching relative fluency. “I am an outlier, though,” he noted.

Other students noted similar observations. “People have the mentality that you’re not going to learn,” senior Cozette Cao, an AP Chinese student, said. “So they’re interrupting lessons, and of course that means you’re not going to learn.”

42 students are currently enrolled in AP Spanish while 157 are enrolled in Spanish 1/2. French and Chinese demonstrate slightly larger ratios of AP to 1/2 students of 9 to 62 and 11 to 53. These numbers alone seem to suggest that French and Chinese do a better job than Spanish of moving students from 1/2 to AP classes.

However, of the 11 students in AP Chinese, only 1 was ever enrolled in 1/2, while 71% of students in AP Spanish took the 1/2 class and 100% of those in French did.

A GAP IN OVERSIGHT

Chinese exam took the AP Chinese class to begin with, whereas all of those taking the French exam have. (see graph above).

Of course, the numbers of students taking AP tests without experience in the AP Class are due largely to our school’s demographics. There is a large Chinese population, and a significant Spanish-speaking population.

The concern arises from the observation that virtually no students are successfully developing their fluency within AP Chinese classes.

INCONSISTENCY IN THE CLASSROOM

While AP Chinese teacher Ms Emily Chiang reported that none of the students in her class are considered native speakers, 9 of the 11 students enrolled in AP Chinese were born in China, and 9 reported Mandarin as their first language. There are no students enrolled in AP Chinese who took 1/2 with no prior knowledge of the language, while AP Spanish and French are composed primarily of those students.

Students have plenty of insight to offer regarding why this might be the case. Those enrolled in Chinese classes other than AP report a clear divide between those with previous knowledge of the language and those without it.

“A lot of what we do [in Chinese] is repetitive, writing based, and there’s very little conversational skills that can be gleaned from the class,” one Chinese student of three years said. “I think I’ve only coasted by with the limited knowledge that I learned in my first year as well as the aid of native speakers in the class.”

Other 5/6 language students reported similar gaps in their education. “I will probably be prepared for an AP French course, but not the speaking part,” a French 5/6 honors student commented. “I can’t carry a conversation in French.”

Students at all levels reported relying on either cheating or their previous knowledge of the language to secure As. Some Spanish students also said that they don’t feel confident in their fluency. This is entirely normal for high school students, as developing advanced skills without everyday use of a language is near impossible.

However, deficiencies in student knowledge seem to be particularly noteworthy in Chinese. Students at all levels reported relying on either cheating or their previous knowledge of the language to secure As. “I mean, cheating is not good,” a Chinese 5/6 honors student said. “But I feel like the things we are taught and the things we are tested on are completely different. So, I don’t understand how else we’re expected to pass.”

The issue is that without talking to students, this issue would be unidentifiable. In 2016, SPHS students who took the AP Chinese Language and Culture exam scored an average of 4.84 out of 5, while the average AP Spanish score was 4.16 and the average French score was 3.89. Similarly to the statistics on student continuation, however, these numbers are misleading. Only half of the students currently enrolled to take the AP

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he root of these issues lies in the classroom. One of the most concerning aspects of the Chinese curriculum is inconsistency between the use of traditional and simplified characters. Several years ago, the two Chinese teachers––Chiang and Ms Melissa Cheng––were in disagreement over which writing system should be taught to Chinese students. Simplified is used almost exclusively in Mainland China, but according to Chiang, traditional characters are prevalent in the U.S. and carry important cultural significance.

Chiang reports that the conflict was resolved by allowing students to learn both, and permitting either on homework and assessments. According to students, however, simplified is taught in 3/4 and regular 5/6 classes with Cheng, while traditional is taught in 1/2, 5/6 honors, and AP. “We are constantly working with the other teachers [in our department] to develop continuity from year to year,” AP Spanish teacher Mr. Josh Whitney said. He explains that it is up to the teachers to determine what should be taught each year, and create a logical flow for the students. So when conflict between the Chinese teachers creates a disconnect between something as basic as which writing system to use, it makes it particularly difficult for students to refine their skills over the course of a few years.

The blame for the class’s deficiencies is of course shared by students. 5/6 student Daniel Kim

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eachers are expected to develop their lesson plans and catch and solve problems with them continually.

Language teachers are responsible for working within their department to develop their own curriculum, and are guided only by vague Common Core standards.

There is no inherent problem with allowing teachers freedom in what they teach. “The national standards… are pretty broad, but they’re as specific as I’d want them to be,” Whitney said.

However, the Chinese curriculum is clearly falling short of helping students reach certain standards. According to the teachers, students are expected to know between 2,000 and 2,500 words in Chinese by the end of their third year.

“I don’t know more than 75,” one junior said.

“I do not know how sentence structure works. We are left trying to mash something together without understanding it.”

Students report issues with day to day instruction as well. “On a typical day in [Chinese 3/4 honors] we learn sheets of words,” sophomore Finley Mullen said. “I do not know how sentence structure works. We are left trying to mash something together without understanding it.”

The responsibility to catch these problems once they’ve surfaced falls on administration. Teachers are typically evaluated every two years through classroom visits. A traditional evaluation consists of an administrator making three sets of brief observations, and teachers are notified well in advance of each visit.

It is difficult enough for administrators to get a complete grasp of a teacher’s strengths and weaknesses in such a short window of time.

When the class is taught in a language that administrators do not understand, it’s even harder.

“It is more difficult,” Assistant Principal of Instruction Ms Ginger Merritt-Paul said. “I really can’t tell what they are saying.”

She explained, however, that there are specific indicators she looks for.

A STUDENT PERSPECTIVE: LOOKING INTO THE LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT

The result is that language teachers have are often not told that their methods aren’t working. This case is at its most extreme in the Chinese department because according to Merritt-Paul, administration has knowledge or basic fluency in French and Spanish, but not in Chinese.

When asked how she identifies whether students are succeeding, Chiang explained that test scores are the best measure of a student’s knowledge.

This is true in theory, but the cheating culture that students report in the Chinese department renders the method ineffective.

One junior explained that he has received an A in each of the five semesters he has spent in Chinese. He went on to say, “I’m confident. . .that I could not carry a conversation of any form in the language.”

The only way to identify these issues is by talking to students. Laws in place to protect teachers prohibit administration from gathering student input when it comes to teacher evaluations; however, teachers are welcome to receive feedback from students for their own development. Teachers, for the most part, do strive for improvement, but many continue to conduct the same lessons without input from students.

There are several reasons teachers shy away from direct student input. Ms Brenda Baca, World Languages Dept. Co-Chair, explained that she worries student feedback would be heavily biased. “Some kids don’t like it that we do so much work in class. Kids don’t like it that I give homework every day,” she explained. “So I don’t know how much of it would be truthful.”

Whitney described open lines of communication as one way to collect input. He explained that he sees verbally checking in with students as “the baseline” when it comes to feedback. Students report that in many classes at SPHS, even that is lacking.

When asked about how she collects input from her students, Chiang explained that she receives overwhelmingly positive feedback at the end of the year in the form of yearbook signatures. This method is a start, but it omits specific student opinions about what’s going on in the classroom.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS “I want to learn a language, and I feel like I haven’t in high school.”

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s the problem goes on unaddressed, students are being disserviced. “I wish I took Spanish,” a Chinese student said. “I want to learn a language, and I feel like I haven’t in high school.”

Oversight in curriculum development would remedy a part of the problem. Spanish and French have both been dissected into grammatical lesson plans for students to digest, but Chinese lacks that structure. The language itself makes this difficult, but sources like American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages offer abundant resources to develop more comprehensive curriculum.

Even more pressing is the need for student feedback in all classes at SPHS. There are students who will not provide serious input, as well as those who are complacent; many haven’t spoken out about the Chinese department because they say they can easily secure an A. But the majority of students are willing and ready to give valuable insight, if not to administrators, than to teachers themselves.

By providing a method that elicits specific feedback, most of the concerns surrounding student input would be resolved. “If [gathering feedback] was neutral, and I knew it wouldn’t [involve] emotions as much, I would be more open to it,” Baca explained.

There are plenty of sources that provide specific questions designed to extract constructive feedback from students; encouraging these surveys to be implemented in every classroom would allow teachers a clear pathway to growth.

Discrepancies from class to class go beyond the language department, although it demonstrates a particularly extreme case of them. It’s an issue familiar to almost every student on campus, and identifying it is as simple as asking them. An oversight system that functions as it’s meant to has to include students as a part of the process. It might even reveal potential solutions––to problems that administrators have yet to identify.

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FEATURE

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

SANFORD’S OVERTLY ORDINARY DINNER PARTY SANDY GROSSMAN

John Wick 2 and Nudity on Film Go watch John Wick 2. It’s amazing. Then come back and read this because it contains big ol’ plot spoilers.

THE FANTASTICAL FINAL SHOW for veteran senior performers and director Mr. Daniel Enright, Peter Pan, was both a critical and financial success.

Peter Pan captures imaginations of all ages CAST OF PETER PAN Lorie Meza.............................................Peter Pan Alana Carmona.............................Wendy Darling Ruben Nava.................Captain Hook/Mr. Darling Charlotte Emerson.......................................Smee STORY DECLAN CHIN & ISABEL BARBERA PHOTOGRAPH JAMES JONTZ The drama department took the audience to Neverland in the musical production of Peter Pan. The show ran the weekend of April 28th and marked the last SPHS production of director/drama teacher of seven years, Mr. Daniel Enright.

The classic Disney tale follows the three Darling children Wendy, John, and Michael as their lives are turned upsidedown by the mystical magic of Peter Pan. Led by Pan, the crew ventures to Neverland, a lost world inhabited by runaway boys, Indians, and pirates. Together, the lost boys, Indians, Darlings and Pan must work together to defeat the pirates’ infamous leader: Captain Hook.

The show was carried on the backs of veteran senior performers, with Assistant Director Senior Cynthia Warren at the helm. Senior Lorie Meza dazzled the audience with her portrayal of the sprightly, arrogant Peter Pan. Meza maintains a radiant exterior while simultaneously bringing depth to the young boy who wants nothing more than eternal youth. Senior Alana Carmona, while only age twelve in the show, serves as a consistent voice of reason in the role of Wendy Darling, acting as the mother of the lost boys and her two brothers.

Perhaps the most distinctive element of the musical were the spectacular flying effects, courtesy of ZFX of Kentucky and the student Fly Crew. From the moment

Out & About

Cole Fox..................................................Tiger Lily Charlie Primuth................................John Darling Andres Oyaga...............................Michael Darling Lindsay Calva.....................................Mrs. Darling Jula Rosenbluh...............................................Liza Peter first flies through the Darling’s bedroom window all the way to the climactic fight scene, the soaring student actors never failed to elicit awe from the primarily youthful audience.

“The kids really enjoyed the flying and the ‘pixie dust’,” Meza said. “I had a lot of kids get really excited when I gave them some after the performance in my costume.”

Senior Ruben Nava, without a doubt, stole the show as the pirate leader Captain Hook. Nava’s stage presence was unparalleled, and his flamboyant villainy captivated audiences every scene he was in. Constantly bolstering Hook’s menacing presence is Charlotte Emerson’s Smee. Another fan favorite, Emerson serves as Nava’s bumbling right-hand man. The dynamic duo provide the show’s greatest comedic moments, from the witty, Hookdominated dialogue to the impromptu song numbers.

It takes true talent to depict the vast, varying world of Neverland, and the shows wonderful sets do just that.

However, arguably the most impressive set is presented even before the Darlings take flight. The children’s bedroom, complete with a large operable window into the starry night, both opens and closes the show in perfection.

Students of the drama department are certainly sad to see Enright leave his seven year post, but all are assured that his successor, Nick Hoffa, is entirely capable of carrying on his legacy.

John Wick 2 is the movie equivalent of one of the gargoyles from the well-loved Disney Channel cartoon Gargoyles punching a man in the throat then stabbing him with a combat knife. This may be a confusing and incredibly specific comparison, but I feel in my heart that it is true. For those who are not fans of 90s Disney shows, I will put it another way: John Wick 2 is a wonderfully gothic, supremely confident and well made action movie. But, while the overall quality of the movie is commendable, there is one scene in particular that I believe stands out: the death of antagonist Gianna D’Antonio.

The scene begins with the eponymous assassin John Wick arriving, after a wellchoreographed murder in the private room of his mark, Ms Antonio. Knowing she has no way out of the very dire situation she has found herself in, she decides that she would rather take her own life than let John take it from her. So she disrobes, gets in the bath she has drawn for herself, and does exactly that. I was surprised to see that, in a testosterone driven action movie such as the one I was watching, the whole affair felt very, for lack of a better word, mature.

The shots and editing were not in any way lurid; more matter of fact. In any other film, I can’t help but feel that the scene would have played out differently: Antonio sexualized for no real reason. The action genre will typically take any opportunity to add something for the predominately male audience to leer at or to put in the trailer.

But because getting into the bath was not an attempt to seduce or in any way be sexual, the filmmakers used the techniques at their disposal, the language of film, to ensure that it was not so. In this scene, the directors seemed to be telling the audience that Gianna wanted to die comfortably, so she made herself comfortable. It was clear that she was not naked to appeal to the audience the movie was presumably targeting.

Far too often in mainstream cinema, nudity is used exclusively for titillation. But, as I know many others have said before me, nudity is not inherently sexual. And I think John Wick 2, a relatively “masculine” widelyreleased picture, should be commended for illustrating this. So when heaping praise upon this movie, as I often find myself doing, this scene is certainly worth a mention.

Tiger’s take on local eats and activities. Take one of our suggestions for a weekend of adventure.

STORY ALINA MEDHI

EVENTS Books, poetry, panels, readings—head over to LitFest Pasadena the weekend of May 20.

LitFest is a festival in Pasadena’s Playhouse District for authors and bookworms alike.

Enjoy various literary activities all for free.

Make sure to catch Tunnel Magazine’s booth with an open mic and art workshop!

ACTIVITIES Take pre-prom photos at Arlington Gardens for a picturesque backdrop. With beautiful, free scenery, it’s the perfect place to get those golden hour shots. The garden is located not far from here in Pasadena.

FOOD Local treasure Mix N’ Munch is sadly leaving South Pas. After May 6, the beloved sandwich shop will be closing its doors. Make the most out of its last days and drop by for one of their mouth-watering sandwiches or even a bowl of cereal. Their delicious comfort food will be dearly missed.

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

FEATURE

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Personality Profiles:

From analysts to artists, Tiger showcases an array of SPHS’s finest Senior Matthew Kye is not only a familiar face around campus, but a familiar voice as well. Known for his vocal performances in assemblies and school-wide events, Kye first picked up a guitar in the seventh grade. From there, he taught himself complex strum patterns by studying chord charts, writing originals and covering several of his favorite artists such as EDEN and Macklemore.

MATTHEW KYE “Experience makes a person” has never been more true

STORY RACHEL LU PHOTOGRAPH KEVIN HUANG

Kye’s original music reflects his diverse background; he has lived in a series of different cities as well as another country. Before joining SPHS in his sophomore year, Kye had lived in Seoul, Georgia, Pasadena, and Daejeon, South Korea. His three years in South Pasadena have been his longest stay in one city.

“When I was younger, we had to move around every other year, so I think of music of as more a necessity,” Kye said. “It became a constant for me. [No matter] where I was, music would always be there.”

Since he was young, Kye and his family have followed his father’s career as an architect and pastor until Kye returned to the U.S. on his own. Today, he translates his experiences from moving to a sharp awareness of social inequality.

“I moved to Georgia when I was three; it’s [not very] diverse and is fairly conservative. I couldn’t speak English, so my preschool teacher took advantage of me and made me scrub the floor since I didn’t know what was going on. And then when I lived in Korea, the school was almost like a military.”

Kye holds a unique perspective on South Pas that locals to the city are unfamiliar with. Compared to his experiences in Korea and Georgia, he sees South Pas as a well-mannered, tolerating bubble away from issues preeminent in other cities.

“Differences are obvious. Connections between people and cultures are more visible. But most importantly, [moving has] helped me understand people.”

THE SELF-TAUGHT TALENT’S original music is featured on his personal SoundCloud account: hellswaterfalls.

Kye hopes to make a difference in the future, planning to revisit the areas of inequity he has observed. In spite of his negative encounters, each of the neighborhoods Kye has lived in have been instrumental in shaping his decision to pursue a career in government and public policy. Next year, Kye looks forward to studying International Relations for four years in the same place: UCSD.

JODY WONG STORY OONA FOLEY PHOTOGRAPH HANA TYSZKA The bean and cheese burrito has long been a staple of the SPHS diet. However, few look further than the pasty filling and pale tortilla.

What many do not realize is the tedious work it takes to layer the paper and tinfoil for each individual burrito wrapper. Meet the hero behind it all: senior Jody Wong.

Wong is as much a staple of SPHS life as the burritos she wraps. With the school’s Workability program, Wong gets paid work experience preparing cafeteria food for distribution to South Pas schools. Wong is also involved in the Life Skills program where she works in the school garden and cooks meals using the food she grows. Though Wong enjoys preparing food, she abstains from eating what she makes in class and prefers her regular turkey and cheese sandwich. She is quick to offer homemade snacks to her favorite teachers (it is not uncommon to find her delivering chocolate chip cookies to Mr. Baughman).

Easily identifiable in her iconic red Aunt Jemima shirt and black leggings combo, Wong makes a point to interact with as many people as possible on campus. She totes her purple Victorious lunch box from place to place as she checks in on each of her many friends. In fact, Wong’s favorite part of school is socializing. She greets each of her friends with her favorite line: “How are you today?”

As a third period library aid, Wong makes good use of her knack for small talk and impressive

capacity for remembering names. She takes her duties very seriously, helping students check out books and computers.

“She’s always concerned that everyone is doing well,” Wong’s teacher Ms Faxon said. “If another student does well, Jody is the first to say ‘good job!’ She’s like my little cheerleader in class.”

Though her interests go beyond academics, Wong consistently excels in class with a passion for history, science, and graphic design.

Her enthusiasm for learning has helped her maintain very high grades.

Outside of school, Wong meets weekly at the Evergreen Baptist Church Youth Group where she expands her social circle even further. Ask her what she is doing this weekend and Wong will, without a doubt, say, “hanging out with my family.” Together, the Wong’s can consistently be found watching MasterChef Junior, The Big Bang Theory and anything Gordon Ramsay or Kobe Bryant related.

Though she is somewhat unsure of her posthigh school plans, Wong’s optimism will guide her wherever she goes. She leaves SPHS a more positive place than it was and looks forward to visiting often.

“She’s always concerned that everyone is doing well. If another student does well, Jody is the first to say ‘good job!’ She’s like my little cheerleader in class.”

THE SHINING FACE OF SPHS Senior Jody Wong has cemented herself as a part of the SPHS culture. Her presence be missed after she graduates this year.

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TIGER MAY 2, 2016

FEATURE

S-Town bridges political divide

STORY COLE CAHILL ILLUSTRATION ISABELLA FRESCURA

S-TOWN narrator genre produced by episodes

Brian Reed Investigative Journalism This American Life/Serial 7

When looking for S-Town’s premise, descriptions and search results come up frustratingly empty. Its shared credits with the hits This American Life and Serial draw prospective listeners in. But besides the vague teaser that “someone ends up dead, sparking a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life,” understanding what the 7-episode series is about can be difficult.

Unlike the hit podcast Serial by the same creators, STown is not a true crime story. It’s also not a season-long version of an NPR investigative piece. S-Town is a biography of a fascinating man and his small Alabama town that paints a shockingly vivid portrait of America in 2017.

The story opens with Alabama native John B. McLemore calling This American Life host Brian Reed about a local murder he believes was covered up by local police.

Right away, John’s eccentricities are made obvious: he’s remarkably intelligent, impressively pessimistic, and extremely resentful of life in his small town. The details surrounding the crime become more and more cloudy and convoluted as Reed delves into the investigation, but McLemore becomes increasingly intriguing.

As S-Town transports many coastal, liberal podcast listeners to rural Alabama, McLemore acts as someone

who both sympathizes with their notions of the South and totally contradicts them. He expresses his disdain for the shockingly racist conversations picked up during an interview and the types of people having them. He speaks in scientific detail about the impending disaster of climate change and other paranoia-driven, yet fact grounded, doomsday predictions. McLemore embodies the fear and geographic elitism that so many feel in postelection 2017.

Even so, listeners grow to love the town of Woodstock, Alabama. While McLemore refers to it exclusively as “s***town” and loathes the neighbors he sees as uneducated hicks, it’s hard not to appreciate the Alabamians

Reed interviews. The people of Woodstock aren’t the illiterate mouth breathers McLemore paints them as, but rather articulate, thoughtful, community-minded folks affected by the social and economic disadvantages of their area. And most of them voted for Donald Trump in November.

The most impactful aspect of S-Town is that it effectively “bridges the divide” that so many are talking about after the 2017 election. NPR podcast listeners are overwhelmingly liberal, and S-Town humanizes the often forgotten, rural, impoverished conservatives that apparently led Trump to victory. It’s a unique podcast offering a valuable and topical perspective.

The best wurst joint in L.A. STORY MAYA WILLIAMSON PHOTOGRAPH MATT SCHOLTZ If there’s one restaurant that perfectly encapsulates Downtown L.A.’s hipster-art-bro culture, it’s Wurstküche.

This hot-spot for gourmet sausages and beer serves hundreds of meat-lovers and vegetarians alike daily.

Though Wurstküche tends to be at its busiest around 10:00 p.m. on weekends, at 1:30 there was already a considerable line forming along the sidewalk. Once the grueling outdoor line ends, customers are met with another wait in the cramped ordering space. The restaurant is split into two sections: a small crowded area for ordering which leads into a much larger seating area through a narrow hallway.

The menu is organized for the varying levels of adventurism of the customer. First the “Classics,” $7 common bratwursts for the traditionalist. Then there are the “Gourmet” options like the mango jalapeno sausage for $7.50. Lastly is $8.50 “Exotic” selection. Customers can find sausages of peculiar meats and odd combinations on this list. For a sausage joint, the menu also provides a surprising number of vegetarian options like the vegetarian smoked apple sage sausage, made from apples,

Yukon potatoes, and rubbed sage. Each sausage is served with your choice of two toppings and any one of their seven gourmet mustards.

For drinks, Wurstküche is also known for their extensive collection of foreign beers. The non-alcoholic options include numerous bougie sodas and obscure fruit juice brands.

Wurstküche’s most popular item on the menu is the rattlesnake and rabbit sausage. The wurst is buttery, juicy, and mildly spicy. Perfectly cooked, the pork casing audibly pops with the first bite. The heavily topped grilled onions give the sausage a sweet flavor while the sauerkraut adds an extra kick. However, the meat itself tastes exactly like chicken, lacking the wow-factor one expects from the top dog on the “Exotics” menu. The side of Belgian fries were a surprising and delicious discovery. Thick-cut, oily, and perfectly crunchy, the fries, served with a garlic aioli sauce, are easily the star of the meal.

Though Wurstküche won’t do much for those looking for a wide variety of options, their narrowed focus on sausages and fries allows them to produce a plethora of strange but delicious combos at an affordable price.

THE GOURMET SAUSAGE is perfectly paired with house-made french fries.

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

FEATURE

TAAGLAA:

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Museum of Broken Relationships

TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

STORY & PHOTOGRAPH FAYE WITHERALL I’ve never really been much of a museum goer - I have vivid memories of my dad insisting on an outing to the Norton Simon, and the only thing louder than my sigh was my brother’s. I toted a camera to the LACMA two years ago with a photography class led by an eccentric hippy in hopes of “capturing the unparalleled beauty of the La Brea Tar Pits,” and left sweaty and with an SD card of blurry pictures.

It was two weeks ago when my friend Christina slapped a list of museums in front of me, explaining that we need

to become “more connected to LA.” She insisted on the museum trip, and I eventually conceded.

In MASH-fashion, we went through the list and finally selected the Museum of Broken Relationships. Christina and I set the plan: concluding with us becoming true Angelenos (or tourists, really).

The Saturday began with eggs and tomatoes a la Heirloom, and a hurried dash to the Metro station to catch the train. For somebody who occasionally gets lost driving to school, navigating from the South Pas Metro station to Hollywood was an embarrassingly complicated task.

Having spent $18 for our respective tickets, Christina and I went in with high expectations. The building itself was very pretty—grand light fixtures, everything pristine.

The attraction of the museum is the trinkets, memories, and gifts that people donate from past relationships.

There are love letters, stuffed animals, and books on display, all accompanied with a short explanation of the item and the background of the breakup.

The items are rotated regularly, as the donations from broken relationships are plentiful. Christina and I spent about 45 minutes wandering through the two story museum, reading the personal stories behind a dog leash, a comic book, a stolen street sign. I tripped at some point and landed inches away from a donated bra.

We left with lingering memories of tear-stained love letters, thus without tons of excitement to traipse about Hollywood. We headed down Hollywood Boulevard, in hopes of finding a more cheery activity—which proved to be a nacho restaurant one block away. The day ended with a lingering sense of nostalgia, quickly smothered by a cheesy plate of chips and a deeper appreciation for my beautiful city.

THE MODERN LOBBY of the museum is pictured on the left. San Marino High School senior Christina Chang (pictured right) admires a donated poster from a slighted lover.

14

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

SPORTS

Track finishes perfect season 2017 represents the seventh undefeated season for track STORY RILEY SEGAL For a number of years, the track and field program has dominated the Rio Hondo League and their most recent campaign has been no exception. The Tigers defeated La Cañada and Blair at the Spartan’s track on Thursday, April 27 to secure another undefeated season.

The girls’ varsity team earned 84 points, limiting La Cañada to 24 and Blair to a meager 10. On the boys’ side, the Tigers scored 91.5 points to the home team’s 25.5. This is the girls’ seventh and the boys’ fifth consecutive year winning the team title. Both frosh-soph teams won as well, carrying on the track program’s tradition of success. This league title has allowed the seniors to have gone four years undefeated.

USA NATIONAL TEAM MEMBER VAN BACTISTA dominates competition with his intense practice regimen and dedication to the sport.

Van Bactista: nationallyranked Taekwondo fighter STORY & PHOTOGRAPH LUKE QUEZADA It is not easy for senior Van Bactista to picture his first blow. Should it come swiftly from the left?

Maybe it should come from the right. This does not mar his confidence. Self assurance is omnipresent in his eyes, which follow his adversary from across the gym.

Slowly, Bactista picks out the weaknesses of his opponents and evaluates their strengths. He finishes stretching and walks over to his coaches. As Bactista takes his place next to his team, he remembers what he has been preparing to do: win.

Bactista seems oddly calm considering what is at stake. After all, this is not just a street brawl. It is high level Taekwondo with national team honors at stake. Victors will then go on to compete in the Ju-

nior World Championship. Of course, Bactista has already spent four years on the National Team. He also placed sixth in the 2016 Junior World Championships. Bactista is not phased by the competition.

His feet dance across the firm padded mat of the gym as he spars, focusing on the task at hand. More than fifteen years of experience have continued to prepare him for this. He glides on top of his feet, moving with ease.

Bactista takes a deep breath and walks up to the mat. He looks across to his opponent and thinks about what his coach has told him. He does not really remember. He is not thinking of his training. The referee is talking and the match is about to begin.

Only one thought occupies his mind: victory.

Various athletes have played integral roles throughout competitions this year. Young talent is prevalent throughout the team as well. Freshman Gianna Beasley and sophomore captain Christina Taylor are the girls’ top sprinters, while freshmen Alex Reeves and Tianhao Wei have also earned points for the boys in sprint and jumping events. Additionally, sophomore Ashley Hugasian is currently the preeminent girls’ 300 meter hurdler in Rio Hondo. Captains senior Max Schoerner and junior Molly Round are also dominant high jumpers, and Schoerner and junior captain Jack Renken lead the boys in sprints.

Junior Oliver Chang has consistently been a key player in the distance events, either overtaking opponents or immediately garnering a wide lead. Seniors Kieran Press-Reynolds and Jaehyung Choi give the Tigers points in distance as well. Beasley and freshman Emily Newhall have also found success in the 800 meters. In other girls’ distance events, sophomores Lindsey Calva and Elizabeth Bock frequently finish in the top three.

“It’s great to have gone undefeated, but the best part is how happy and sportsmanlike every teammate is just because we are together,” Schoerner said.

Rio Hondo League preliminaries will take place on Tuesday, May 2 at South Pas.

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

SPORTS

15

Softball nears end to unsuccessful season The team has won only one game in league play

STORY DAVID SEO PHOTOGRAPH THOMAS FORMAN GRAPHICS TRUMAN LESAK

FOR S E AG R E ES M AV A IR G E H T

.087 : LL .421 A B E : BAS BALL T SOF

SENIOR ADRIANA RAMIREZ swings at a high fastball as the team struggles to tack on runs against La Cañada’s starting pitcher.

SOFTBALL MONROVIA

Olivia Nouriani 0-1 Jewel Nguyen 0-3 Maddie Pearson 1-1 Amelia Anthony 1-3 Emily Swanson 1-3 Kaitlyn Wooton 1-1 Naomi Howland 3-3 Victoria Venardi 0-2 Adriana Ramirez 1-2

Looking at the girls’ varsity softball season, it’s tough to address it kindly. They have undergone brutal defeats, losing by wide margins and often scoring few runs. But in the face of such adversity, these Tigers continued to exhibit impressive perseverance and determination– always immediately looking for ways to improve on their mistakes. Their actions serve as a testament to their character and why, despite their struggles, they are closing the season in a stronger place than they began.

The team’s batting average has been relatively weak as the girls have struggled to produce a meaningful offense. But what the team lacks in offense, they have made up for with a quick defense. For a majority of the innings, the Tigers were able to speedily intercept fly balls and execute routine plays. Juniors Victoria Venardi, Madison Pearson, and Amelia Anthony delivered with few season errors. The Tiger defense tended to falter in the later innings when the team’s endurance began to wear down.

Outside of their misfortune in the RHL, senior Adriana Ramirez has been one of the team’s MVPs, producing often as one of the best hitters and hitting multiple home runs season wide. Senior Emily Swanson has played a key role in the Tiger defense, cleanly fielding ground balls and accounting for many of the team’s outs. Sophomore pitcher and third baseman Katie Wooton has proved herself as a consistently solid player in her first year on varsity.

With four games remaining, the Tigers stay hopeful.

It appears their season is headed towards an upward trend. At their two most recent rematches against San Marino and Monrovia, the Tigers fared much better than their earlier mercies to the Titans and the Wildcats, only conceding losses by 2 points. Their overall season record stands at 3-15 and their league record at 1-8. Their last home game is on Tuesday, May 9, versus San Marino.

BASEBALL

LA CAÑADA Kyle Ninomiya 1-3 Matthew Walker 0-2 Kevin Park 0-3 Noah Miyamae 1-3 Jacob Luevano 0-2 Nick Michael 0-1 Dylan Benton 0-3 Isaac Luevano 0-2 Jackson Totleben 0-2 Aaron Salinas 0-2

Baseball falls to last place in RHL standings

The team has lost five consecutive games STORY RYAN NAKAMURA PHOTOGRAPH MATT SCHOLTZ Varsity baseball is nearing the end of the 2017 season after posting a 7-11-1 overall record. The Tigers entered the regular season with a strong showing in the majority of their matchups but fell on hard times once the regular season began. Now, the team is 1-8 in league play as well as being last in the RHL standings for the fourth consecutive year.

The team’s most recent game against La Cañada ended in a 5-0 rout of the Tigers. The Spartans scored four runs in the first inning, followed by another run in the second inning for a 5-0 lead. The only bright spot for the Tigers was the performance by sophomore Dylan Benton, who managed to get to second base twice off of errors by the Spartan first baseman.

South Pasadena’s season started out with the team holding its own against league opponents, scoring ten runs to the opposition’s 12 runs in its first four games. Within those matches, the team managed to shutout Monrovia High School with a score of 3-0. This gave the team its first win over the Wildcats in four years.

“I think one of the biggest problems is that we need to work together as a team,” senior Kyle Ninomiya said. “We just need to simplify the approach every time we go up to the plate and look to finish the season as best we can.”

In recent weeks for South Pas baseball, the Tigers have been on a downward spiral after scoring only one run in the past month compared to letting the past five league opponents score 30 runs.

South Pas hopes to salvage what’s left of its season in its last three games. The Tigers hope to bounce back against the Temple City Rams, away, in their next matchup on Thursday, May 4. While the team is eliminated from CIF contention, they are still hoping to finish with a stronger record than last season’s.

SENIOR JACOB LUEVANO pushes off the mound and finishes towards the plate at home against La Cañada.

16

SPORTS

TIGER MAY 2, 2017

Boys' volleyball clinches league title in San Marino STORY MATT WAKUMOTO PHOTOGRAPH KEVIN HUANG

ELEVATING OVER THE NET Senior Matt Scholtz spikes the ball behind the Titan's front line.

Self reflection and quitting STORY MATT WAKUMOTO PHOTOGRAPH TUCKER JUDKINS Throughout an athlete's high school career, sports ethics are largely defined by the grand, ornate speeches given by coaches and Mr. Luna. Although quitting is frowned upon by this polo-clad administrator, the act of quitting can be essential to the selfreflection process.

On a hot afternoon in mid-January, a conversation with senior Kyle Ninomiya and his then head coach, Michael Gonzales, had boiled to a climactic confrontation about Ninomiya’s ability to pitch, as well as his participation on the team. By the end of their talk, Ninomiya walked a shameful stretch in front of his teammates, behind the upset shouts of his coach, who angrily told other players that Ninomiya had, “quit on them.”

As I stared on, watching from inside the dugout, I made a realization. Participation in sports is a medium for student fulfillment, above all else. It is important for athletes to understand quitting because for many, quitting represents the place where athletes lose the purpose which initially drives them to play. The juxtaposition between the birth and death of an athlete's passion is entirely telling of their reasons for playing.

The boys’ volleyball team continued its conquest for a league title on Thursday, April 27, after dominating the San Marino Titans in a four set win. The victory extends the Tigers’ undefeated league record to 6-0, while officially clinching the Rio Hondo Championship.

The team embarrassed its rival on the road, pummeling San Marino’s inferior reception while displaying the boys’ talent and enormous presence up front. By the end of the game, San Marino’s stoic gym was contrasted by South Pas’ lively players, who appeared exuberant after winning the title.

San Marino’s senior night provided a surplus of motivation for the Titans, who were able to catch the Tigers off guard early in the game. Service errors and miscommunications on the back line disrupted South Pas’ rhythm while swaying momentum in favor of the

Titans. Despite losing its first set, the team slowly recovered, following the narrow 27-25 defeat. They improved nearly all facets of their typically dominant offense and blanketing reception.

South Pas continued its improvement behind big performances from seniors Matt Scholtz and Gunther Vaden, who had 26 and 18 kills, respectively.

Since a young age, I myself was forced into playing South Pasadena Little League, despite being a skinny, uninterested and unathletic boy. After willing myself to play baseball for many years, I came to the realization that I was never playing truly playing for myself, but for the validation of my parents. The point in which self-reflection entered my thought process as an athlete was when I felt most truly enabled to play and compete for myself.

Despite being adequately challenged by the Titans, the Tigers prevailed. They further displayed their potential while exhibiting the dominance of the “Core Four”, which consists of seniors Max Amido, Lucas Fox, Scholtz and Vaden. The group was responsible for an impressive 49 kills against its storied rival.

The team will play its final game of the season against the Temple City Rams on Tuesday, May 2 at home.

Boys' tennis closes season with disappointing loss to Spartans STORY SAMMY PARK The boys’ tennis team suffered a crushing loss against La Cañada on Wednesday, April 26. In a decisive competition, the Tigers lost 16 out of 18 matches.

Senior Kendrick Shen played number one singles, senior Kevin Huang came next as number two, and senior Jason Cai competed as number three.

All the aforementioned matches were disappointing as Shen fell 6-0, 6-0, and 6-1, and Huang only managed to pick up four games out of a possible eighteen. Cai followed this downward trend, losing eighteen out of twenty games.

In the matchup against the Spartans, the number one doubles team was made up of senior Daniel Hong and junior Andrew Lee. Number two doubles was sophomores Lucas Halberg and Brian Sheldon, while seniors Ryan Choy and Kyle Kawashiri played number three doubles.

However, the downfall of the singles teams did not affect the doubles, as two out of the three pairs picked up one match each for the Tigers. The number two doubles team took one out of two sets against the victors in the tough matchups. The other set was played by Halberg and Sheldon.

“The loss against La Cañada was much expected and I felt that team

morale was low,” Hong said.

Players cite their loss to the Temple City Rams as the reason for their most recent defeat. The Tigers played the Rams on Tuesday, April 18 in a match crucial to clinching a CIF berth. Unfortunately, the Tigers faced a devastating loss of 17-1, ruining South Pas' postseason bid.

“There is a lesson in every loss. No team I've ever coached knows that better than the Tigers,” coach Sean Taroli said.

The team will compete next in the Rio Hondo League tournament on Wednesday, May 3 at the Arcadia Tennis Center.

SENIOR KYLE NINOMIYA sits above the locker room, reflecting on his baseball career.

UPCOMING GAMES: Boys' tennis: May 3 Away at Arcadia Tennis Center Softball: May 4 Away at Temple City Baseball: May 4 Away at Temple City Track: May 5 Home

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