October 16, 2013

75th annual Color Day celebrated in orange and black

Rachael Garner

COLOR DAY ROLL CALL Members of the senior class cheer enthusiastically during the 75th annual Color Day assembly, which was held on October 11 in the gym.

Chinese-American Club hosts Moon Festival

By Andrew Shults Staff Writer Guests filled the South Pasadena Community Center lawn on a warm Saturday afternoon to celebrate the annual Moon Festival, hosted by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club. The event was co-sponsored by the South Pasadena Public Library, the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, resident and businessman Peter Kwong, and Quon Yick Noodle Co.

The October 5 event featured activities for all ages, special performances, and ethnic Chinese food as well as local food trucks. Special guests, such as Congresswoman Judy Chu and Miss Chinatown and her princesses greeted guests at the event.

“The South Pasadena Chinese-American Club’s mission is to promote Chinese culture and education as well as serve the community,” president Ms Jeannie Chiu said. “We feel that the Moon Festival covers these topics well.”

Competitions throughout the day included chalk drawing, noodle eating, a test of chopstick skills, and “fear factor” contests.

South Pasadena High School Chinese language students performed a special concert among other acts of lion dancing and acrobatics.

The festival relied almost entirely on high school students who volunteered to fulfill a variety of jobs.

“It was really fun to volunteer at the Moon Festival and good to give back,” junior Mariela Carrillo said.

Siria Medina

5

It’s important to have school pride around Color Day season, but score reports are a little less upbeat.

PAG E

Fall play:

By Jenna Giulioni Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School Marching Band and Colorguard marched into Mission Viejo and claimed third place in their first competition of the year. The band and colorguard’s performance, themed “Castle in the Sky,” obtained a score of 54.88 on a 100 point scale.

“It was our first competition and the kids, the freshman in particular, were extremely nervous. I think we’re off to a good start,” band director Mr. Howard Crawford said. “There’s a bunch of stuff to clean up and fix, which is normal for this time of year.

We also have to add in visuals and movement.”

The competition, hosted

by South Pasadena band rival Capistrano Valley High School, featured three 3A and three 4A division level marching bands and colorguard teams in the Southern California region.

Each group was given two hours before the competition to rehearse their shows. A panel of

11

Performers entertained event spectators with traditional Chinese acts at the Moon Festival on October 5.

The gates of Blair High are open:

Marching Band and Colorguard take third at first competition visual, sound, and performance specialists judged the competiting groups.

Although the band and colorguard have usually begun on a higher note at the start of competition seasons in the past, the performing group is confident that they will continue to improve throughout the season.

“Considering it was our first competition of the season, we definitely did not do badly,” assistant drum major senior Henry Sue said. “Since we have so many practices, I’m sure that we can improve to really contend with other schools and bring out our full potential by the end of the season.”

With little time to prepare for their next competition, the band and colorguard hope to improve their score and bring home first place at their upcoming performance on Friday, October 18 at Ayala High School in Chino Hills.

The marching band and colorguard strive to claim first place in the finals this year. The finals competition will take place in Fresno on November 23 at Koligian Stadium.

Cross Country gets pumped:

The cast list of Yellow is announced; Playwright Del Shores will attend the opening performance on December 6.

Read about the boys and girls cross country squads as they gear up for league finals!

PAG E

14 PAG E

News 2 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

News

Around Campus

Tomorrow is the Great California Shakeout earthquake and disaster drill.

The drill will be held during fourth period, beginning at 11:20 A.M..

SPHS will be on a special bell schedule to accomodate the statewide earthquake drill. /Shine Cho

Tournament of Roses committee announces 2014 Royal Court

By Shine Cho News Editor Anticipation filled the air as contestants, family members, friends, and news media awaited the announcement of the 2014 Royal Court. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee held the event on October 7 at the Wrigley Mansion in Pasadena.

Committee chair Alex Young welcomed guests, honored the Tournament of Roses Committee, and congratulated the finalists before announcing the official Court.

The members of the Court are: Ana Maria Acosta, 17, of Polytechnic School; Sarah Elizabeth Hansen, 19, of Pasadena City College; Kayla Diyana Johnson-Granberry; 17, of Pasadena High School; Jamie Ann Kwong, 17, of La Salle High School;

Katherine Diane Lipp, 17, of La Cañada High School; Elyssia Hadi Widjaja, 17, of San Marino High School; and Elizabeth Katie Woolf, 17, of La Cañada High School.

The Rose Queen will be announced on October 24 in a special coronation ceremony at the Tournament House.

The official selection process began on September 4 when approximately 1000 applicants from the Pasadena area arrived at the steps of the Wrigley Mansion.

SPHS senior Marcy Kuo was one of 30 finalists remaining after four rounds of intensive evaluations.

“I am really honored to have made it as a finalist representing South Pasadena,” Kuo said. “Being a part of this was a great experience.”

Visit tigernewspaper.com for an exclusive interiew with Kuo.

Virtual Business holds conference

By Jenny Wang Copy Editor Ten high school Virtual Business enterprises from the Southern California region convened at South Pasadena High School for the eighth annual Student Leadership Training conference. This year’s theme was “Build Your World.”

Student entrepreneurs attended workshops that helped them prepare for work in their respective departments and for competitions at the October 3 program, which functioned as a fundraiser for the South Pasadena Virtual Business class. The profits will go towards funding future competition excursions The event began with a presentation by this year’s new keynote speaker, Mr. Brian Newhall, the Associate Athletic Director at Occidental College. He gave students a well-needed reminder that founda-

tional skills are necessary in building a groundwork for future endeavors.

Principal Ms Janet Anderson also spoke at the introductory assembly.

After the program introduction, students attended three workshop sessions of their choice, pertaining to either specific departments or leadership students as a whole.

“As a first-time student in the Virtual Business program, I wasn’t sure what was expected of me. This conference gave me guidance and direction,” Virtual Enterprise JV junior Michael Ozaki said.

Mrs. Cathy Mason, Virtual Business advisor and ROP teacher, began preparations for this year’s fall conference in July.

“I thought the conference was perfect. The speakers were very good and students were actively involved and understood the challenging material well,” Mason said.

“This [conference] was a positive start to the year.”

Sophia Arriola

Delegates from Virtual Business programs in Southern California attended workshops lead by business professionals on October 3 .

Rachael Garner

2014 Royal Court finalists senior Marcy Kuo and fellow contestant Anastasia McGregor from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy were present at the announcement on October 7 at the Wrigley Mansion.

Junior officers plan luau for Homecoming

By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer The 2013 Homecoming dance will be based on a Hawaiian luau, and will be held in the main gym on November 1 after a football game against La Cañada High School.

Attendees are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts, sundresses, leis, and anything else considered “luau attire.” The junior class officers announced the theme for this year’s Homecoming Dance to much fanfare at the Color Day assembly.

The Associated Student Body arrived at the decision after putting several possible themes to a vote.

“A luau seemed the most plausible idea for our location because it’s so casual; it would be kind

of weird to have people come to the gym dressed formally. But mostly, it’s a cute idea,” junior class treasurer Kendall Chang said.

ASB will work with the Junior Activities Committee over the next few weeks to prepare Hawaiian decorations.

The dance’s location has placed some limits on the “Tiki Time” theme. For example, sand and certain juices will not be allowed in case they damage the gym floor. However, ASB is confident that tiki torches and palm trees will be enough to recreate a Hawaiian evening feast.

“We weren’t able to consider an off-campus site because we just didn’t have enough money,” junior class secretary Katherine Uriarte

said. “Still, I hope we have a good turnout this year so we’ll have more to work with when we plan prom.”

Unlike the 2012 Westernthemed Homecoming, this year’s dance will not be Sadie Hawkins, meaning anyone may ask others to the event. Tickets to the event are available at the Student Bank and will be sold during lunch.

Week 1 10/14-18

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10/21-10/25 10/28-11/1

$10

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NON- $15 SAC

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OOTER $20

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$30

SAC

Pep hosts annual Community Spirit Night

By Asa Silverman Staff Writer South Pasadena students from all three elementary schools joined together under the warm Friday night lights to perform an energetic half time performance, helping cheer the Tigers on to victory at pep’s annual Community Cheer Night fundraiser. Sixty elementary school girls assembled on the field along with SPHS Pep members during halftime at the October 4 football game, dancing acrobatically as they demonstrated their new kicks and twirls.

Over sixty elementary school students, mostly kindergarteners, performed cheer routines as they danced the night away to Katy Perry’s new hit single “Roar.” The participants joined forces with the high school cheerleaders throughout the first half.

“I liked cheering with the big girls [and] I really liked the

mascot. Cheering is fun. Go Tigers!” participant Liv Brady said.

Leading up to Community Spirit Night, participants met weeks in advance with current high school pep members in order to learn three basic cheers, two dances, and the halftime show finale. Additionally, the girls took part in playing multiple games and enjoying pizza with the Pep squad, experiencing what being a cheerleader is all about.

“I want to become a cheerleader when I am in high school so I can dance everyday,” elementary school student Lucia Antencio said.

Community Spirit Night is the largest grossing fundraiser for the Tiger Pep squad, as the money raised covers the expense of cheer camp and additional gear throughout the year. Many members on the varsity squad have conducted the event every year successfully.

“I actually really enjoyed cheering with the girls for the past three [years]. I love seeing the excitement on their faces when they perform. I look forward to it every year,” varsity Pep member Camryn Bukowski said.

Rachael Garner

Participants cheered along the sidelines at Cheer Night.

News

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Tiger

3

Board convenes at regular meeting

By Jason Wang Staff Writer

Stephanie Kim

The South Pasadena Board of Education discussed the possible implementation of a dual language immersion program in 2015-2016 at the regular October 8 meeting.

South Pasadena Educational Foundation President Jon Primuth presented a substantial $581,000 check to the SPUSD Board of Education at the board meeting on Tuesday, October 8. The funds were the direct result of SPEF’s 2012-2013 annual campaign, which included fund drives and citywide restaurant fundraisers.

The Vecinos de South Pasadena, a non-profit organization, presented a plaque to Superintendent Joel Shapiro in honor of his upcoming retirement.

Virtual Enterprise program prepares for upcoming year in competitions

By Rhian Moore Print Managing Editor Virtual business students have begun preparations for their quickly approaching state competition deadlines. With the varsity and JV companies selected, the three teams representing South Pasadena High School must now get ready for the first trade fair of the year at Bakersfield.

The JV class has separated into two different businesses: Zen Pow, which sells creativelypackaged tea, and Level 2, which attempts to inventively introduce crickets to the food industry.

Oasis hopes to repeat its success from last year, when the 2012-2013 varsity company Expedition made school history by placing first in state in the Business Plan category. The team advanced to the national competition in New York along with the JV company Cilk, which sold clothing made from milk.

“Oasis is trendy, profitable, and part of a huge industry. It’s something that could work for all our different competitions, and most of all, something we can have fun with,” senior Oasis Chief Executive Officer Michael Ruan said.

The varsity team has continued the environmentally conscious focus that last year’s backpacking trips emphasized with this year’s rooftop garden company, which sells sustainable rooftop gardens specialized for an urban setting.

“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to create and collaborate with a bunch of smart and creative people to produce one unique product,” senior Oasis Vice President of Marketing Misha Holtz said. “Seeing the other businesses at [Bakersfield] and learning about the different ways that people market their products will be a great learning experience.”

All three companies will be traveling to Bakersfield on December 3 for the annual state competition.

The Board discussed the consequences of having both the middle and high school be designated as Program Improvement institutions. This recent status resulted from a failure to meet statedetermined standards for two consecutive years. Both schools are legally obligated to offer parents the option of enrolling their children in nearby, non-Program Improvement schools such as Blair High School.

SPHS fell short of standards in both mathematics and English for the past two years, while SPMS, having missed the mark for English three years in a row, dropped even lower into Program Improvement

status. Up to $43,400, 20% of the middle school’s Title I budget, will be dedicated towards supplemental educational services that provide extra academic support.

Another key issue around which the meeting revolved was the possible implementation of a Dual Language Immersion Program by 2015-2016, which would teach elementary curriculum through bilingual methods in hopes of promoting academic expertise and cultural appreciation in two languages.

Prior to moving forward with the plan, the Board intends to craft a feasibility study to survey public opinion.

Varsity Virtual Business Chief Officers & Vice Presidents Chief Executive Officer Michael Ruan Chief Operating Officer: Jason Wang

Chief Marketing Officer: Annie Lu

VP of Operations: Ted Kim VP of Human Resources: Rhian Moore

VP of Sales: Rachel Newhall VP of Marketing: Misha Holtz

Chief Technology Officer: Jeffrey Xiong VP of Technology: Sophia Arriola

Chief Financial Officer: Chelsea Hong VP of Finance: Michelle Huang

4 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

VIDEOGAMES The latest installment of Rockstar Games’ revered Grand Theft Auto series, Grand Theft Auto V, became the fastest-selling entertainment product of all time. It surpassed one billion dollars in sales during the first three days of its highly anticipated September release. Taking place in the fictional city of Los Santos, the game chronicles the lurid tale of three criminal antiheroes on a quest for the almighty dollar. This is the first Grand Theft Auto game to be released in five years, and is the most expensive video game ever created. Its $265 million budget is a testament to the meticulousness of its developers. This care is a main draw for the game’s millions of fans, who praised the impressive similarity of Los Santos to real-life Los Angeles. In fact, the development team took over 250,500 photos and several hours of video footage of Los Angeles to ensure authenticity.

-Ross Lelieur

3D PRINTING

Science and Technology

Mentions of 3D printers recently have run rampant throughout the Internet alongside words such as “NASA” or “artificial organs” and paired with images of ingenious toys and artwork. How does such a machine work? Essentially, strands of plastics such as ABS (used in Legos) or PLA (made from corn and sugarcane) are liquified as they pass through the nozzle of the printer.

The molten plastic is deposited in extremely thin lines and solidifies to form layers. Eventually, layers are built up over time to create the final product. Materials ranging from chocolate, metal, and cement also have their own respective machines for printing.

-Stanley Wu

MEDICINE

science & technology

IPHONE

The question of what headache relieving medicine is the most effective might be solved once and for all with a new form of electronic migraine killer. This device, a permanent implant in the patient’s lower temple, consists of a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) bundle that emits signals to your facial nerves. When you detect a headache, you can simply hold a pocket remote to the area of the transplant.

Signals are emitted to stimulate the SPG nerves and kill the pain on the spot.

-Asa Silverman

VS.

-The music player is easier and much more user-friendly -Apps in the App Store are better designed and of higher quality than those in the Google Play Store -No microSD card slot, so you can’t add any more storage -Andrew Shults

ANDROID

-Much more customizable with widgets and third party launchers -Custom keyboards, such as Swype, make it faster and easier to type -Unnecessary apps such as NFL Mobile and Viewdini are preinstalled into the phone

OU SP TE AC R E

Among countless NASA programs affected by the recent government shutdown, the James Webb Space Telescope is perhaps the most prominent to be put on hold. NASA’s planned successor to the Hubble Space Telescope will enable mankind to peer into the deepest reaches of space by detecting infrared light, which penetrates much further than the visible light seen by most telescopes.

Scientists will essentially be able to peer back in time and view the formation and evolution of galaxies in the earliest days of the universe, shedding light on the development of stars and solar systems like our own.

With a mirror surface area more than six times that of Hubble, the JWST is expected to capture radiation emitted just 200 million years after the Big Bang, far closer than any previous space observatory.

The JWST is sure to be an invaluable tool for the next generation of astronomers seeking to understand the origins of the universe.

-Jordan Xiao PAGE & ILLUSTRATIONS by Sophia Arriola

Opinion

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Tiger

Opinion

5

Yeah Boi

B

to Mr. Regan, the most stoic Color Day Mariachi we’ve ever seen. And you wonder why Mr. Chi, or an “unidentified vandal,” filled your classroom with balloons. ravo

B

ravo to the three members of Colorguard who performed at the Color Day assembly. Apparently, the other 17 couldn’t be bothered to participate.

B

oo to the turnabout homecoming for rais-

By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer

ing a generation of men who have no ideas that love is a one way street.

B

to the South Pasadena ChineseAmerican Club’s hugely popular Moon Festival celebration. Who knew there were so many Chinese people? ravo

B

ravo to Mr. Asher’s thrusting hips during

the Color Day teacher dance. They really gave Ms Wylie’s moves a run for their money.

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 Rachael Garner Managing Editors Rhian Moore, Print Remeny White, Online News Shine Cho, Editor Opinion David Yang, Editor Feature Sarah Stukan, Editor Sports Clem Witherall, Editor Copy Editors Leo Parker IV Jenny Wang Photography Matthew Winkel, Editor Photographers Sophia Arriola, Raj Jain, Stephanie Kim, Siria Medina Senior Staff Writer Heather Vaughan Staff Writers Madison Amido, Petra Barbu, Kira Gabriel, Jenna Giulioni, Madeline Hellwig, Karen Hsueh, Kea Hudson, Somi Jun, Brandon Kim, Ross Lelieur, Julian Prime, Joey Shapiro, Andrew Shults, Asa Silverman, Jason Wang, Stanley Wu, Jordan Xiao Staff Illustrators Dylan Anselmo, Spenser Atlas, Annie Lu Managers Marcy Kuo, Ads Emily Markese, Business Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan

Vol. C. No. II distributed on October 16, 2013.

Distribution: 1591 students; 70 community. 1700 copies printed.

Distributed by Tiger staff free of charge.

Tiger is produced by the advanced journalism newspaper class at South Pasadena High School, 1401 FremontAve, 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 withheld upon request.

Tiger Newspaper’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, solve problems, set and reach goals, and work cooperatively and independently as responsible citizens.

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

Visit www.tigernewspaper.com for additional content.

Spenser Atlas

You’re free to leave Staff Editorial If you’ve always dreamed of transferring to Blair High School, it’s your lucky year. South Pasadena High School’s recent designation as a Program Improvement (PI) school for failing to meet “proficient” score requirements calculated by the CAHSEE test have forced the school to allow every student the option of transferring to Blair. Although Blair High School’s Academic Performance Index (API) score is more than 150 points lower than SPHS’s score, the PI designation reflects a significant area of improvement that the district must address.

A large part of the reason SPHS has a PI designation is because our Asian, Hispanic/ Latino, and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged sub-groups are not meeting the standards of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) set forth by the state. Asians, Hispanic/Latinos, and those who are “socioeconomically disadvantaged” were the groups who did not score above the AYP quotas for English-Language Arts (ELA) proficiency. In addition, Hispanic/Latinos and the Socioeconomically Disadvantaged groups failed to meet the Mathematics AYP proficiency quotas as well. Because the AYP is determined by the CHASEE, a test taken by a different group of 10th graders annually, this is

an indicator the South Pasadena Middle School is not adequately preparing Asian, Hispanic/ Latino, and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students for high school.

It’s unreasonable to expect the high school to raise underachieving 9th graders to the proficient level 10th graders. Both subjects that the CAHSEE tests for, Math and English, are bodies of knowledge that build heavily on prerequisite skills that cannot be “crammed” into kids by 9th grade teachers.The South Pasadena Middle School must be responsible for preparing students for CHASEE testing.

Those who contest the assertion that Asian, Hispanic/Latino, and Socioeconomically Disadvantaged students are being underserved must note that the CAHSEE tests for basic competence rather than excellence. The test is designed to align with basic standards in a straightforward way and is one that the “white” sub-group passes (both Math and English) by a comfortable margin.

Curiously, the 2013 API scores reflect a similar trend, with all three subgroups reporting a decrease from the 2012 API scores. If equality is a priority for the district, action must be taken to provide targeted support for students in need.

Losing the PI designation is just a bonus.

As seniors begin to crack down on their college applications, many students still remain unaware of the abundance of resources that the SPHS counseling department offers; specifically, the on-campus college visits. These visits are hugely beneficial not only for seniors, but for college-bound students of all grades. The counselors devote countless hours per year attending college fairs and reaching out to representatives to bring them to South Pasadena, subsequently bettering our school’s reputation and opening doors. Students should recognize how lucky they are to have this abundance of resources at their fingertips, especially since the number of visits has greatly increased within the past few years.

Hundreds of representatives from different colleges come to the counseling office throughout the first semester, ready to inform and encourage students. From Ivy League universities to lesserknown liberal arts colleges, to local state and community colleges, the range of options is vast.

Students must only come to the counseling office, rather than make an expensive and time-consuming trip to the college campus itself. Additionally, the visits take place during the school day or directly before or after school, making them exceptionally convenient to attend.

These visits are valuable for several purposes, including gathering information about a school and establishing a connection with the representative. Hearing spokespeople directly allows students to learn much more than from just doing online research. Not only can they answer any specific or obscure questions, they can also provide their own opinion about the campus and give a firsthand account of the school’s atmosphere, its clubs and organizations, and its community dynamic. By meeting a delegate face to face, students are able to effectively network and establish a firm connection within the community of their school of choice, making it easier to make inquiries later on. A representative is likely to remember a certain student’s enthusiasm and excitement about applying if his or her prominent interest lies in one school in particular, giving the student an advantage once applications are reviewed.

The counselors expend immense amounts of effort to make sure that their students have increased opportunities to learn about their educational prospects after high school. All SPHS students should take advantage of this easy access to various colleges. Attending visits is a nearly effortless way to gain a competitive advantage in the admissions process.

Desynchronize school calendars

By Brandon Kim Staff Writer

A single calendar does not sufficiently serve the various interests of the schools of South Pasadena Unified School District. The yearly calendar currently binds all three schools of the district to the same days of instruction, creating scheduling conflicts.

Over the last three years, the school year has started and ended more or less on the same days.

Every school in the district has a distinct and separate

view on what the ideal calendar would be. Elementary school teachers believe the current system is ideal as younger students are harder to manage earlier in the summer. On the other hand, the district would rather change the calendar so that school starts earlier, but its hands are tied due to some resistance from some members of the district. To adequately serve its students, the district must support and implement a desynchronized calendar.

Within the district, the high school is a special case. It

is unique in that it must reconcile finals weeks with vacation and pace the Advanced Placement courses. The benefits of a desynchronized calendar are enormous for the high school.

School currently ends in June instead of May, when the AP tests take place, making the month of June a time of academic warm-down that could have been useful in months prior. A desynchronized calendar would also allow for the first semester and finals week to end before winter break, allowing students to actually

use the two-week period for rest and family instead of for finals review.

If the district manages to create a desynchronized calendar, it would provide a win-win situation for both teachers and students. The calendar would allow high school teachers to have more time to plan and teach their AP material, while helping elementary school teachers to better restrain the boundless energy of their students. Given the enormous benefits, it would be foolish for the district to keep the synchronized calendar.

6 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Opinion

Protect students from themselves

By Somi Jun Staff Writer As bullying moves from face-to-face interaction to the realm of the Internet, bullying prevention must do the same. The Glendale Unified School District has succeeded in moving with the times by hiring a firm called Geo Listening to run searches for cyber-bullying, threats of suicide, and other dangerous activity in students’ public social media. GUSD’s monitoring program is legal and cost-effective, creates a disincentive for cyber-bullying, and identifies students at risk of suicide.

Studies suggest that about 33% of all adolescents have been cyber-bullied, but according to a 2011 Pew Research survey, 90% of teens who witness cyber-bullying ignore it. Teenagers don’t denounce cyber-bullying, leaving cyber-bullies with no rigid consequences. Glendale’s monitoring program creates that sense of consequence.

Many cyber-bullied students with suicidal thoughts also don’t act in a way that would trigger warning. The parents of Hannah Smith and Rebecca Ann Sedwick, two teenagers who committed suicide after being persistently cyber-bullied, said that both girls

seemed happy and healthy. The monitoring program identifies students at risk of suicide who would not be identified otherwise.

The program does, of course, have practical problems. All programs do. However, its merit shouldn’t be based on minor logistical issues because those can always be sorted out. We should instead evaluate the program based on its potential to protect students.

The program costs $40,500 to run per year, which is relatively inexpensive considering that there are 14,000 students in the Glendale District. The sum of $40,500 has to be put in perspective: Geo Listening’s program costs about $3 per student per year. Any program affecting 14,000 students in one school district will seem expensive, but that cost has to be analyzed in context.

Some say that schools will be exceeding their jurisdiction by disciplining students for their actions off-campus. However, studies show that cyber-bullied students perform worse in school, making cyber-bullying prevention within the jurisdiction of school districts. If schools followed GUSD as a model, the priority of this program would be protection, not discipline.

Privacy first, safety second

By Ross Lelieur Staff Writer Is my security worth the loss of my privacy? That is the question Glendale Unified School District students are asking themselves following the announcement that their district is paying a private company, Geo Listening, tens of thousands of dollars to scan students’ online profiles for evidence of cyber-bullying, drug use, and suicidal behavior. Despite its noble intentions, however, GUSD has placed itself on a fine line between concerned and overbearing.

Attempting to protect students is, of course, not inherently wrong. The distinction comes when the district actively seeks out this information, which it otherwise wouldn’t obtain, as the NSA or Big Brother does. This is a very aggressive form of protection, which sounds paradoxical, and it is. GUSD’s actions are “sweeping and far afield of what is necessary to ensure student safety,” American Civil Liberties Union attorney Brendan Hamme said. Glendale Unified, in trying to preserve its students’ safety, is instead worsening the situation. Facebook is not an extension of the schoolyard.

In addition to privacy issues, the program

also raises monetary concerns. As Geo Listening only monitors the public profiles of students, it is likely that kids will simply turn on privacy settings on their social media profiles, thereby negating the $40,500 investment made by the district. Instead of attempting to catch students at the end of their tether with Geo listening, this money could be put toward treating the roots of emotional issues. Hiring counselors, for example, dedicated to dealing with student’s non-academic problems would be far more effective than the current social media snooping plan. By doing this, a similar resolution would be achieved without the invasion of anyone’s privacy.

The safety of students should be a priority for all educational institutions. When saying this, however, it must be remembered that there can be too much of a good thing.

While GUSD’s actions are commendable for their purpose, they are pushing the boundary by screening students in an active and deliberate fashion. Furthermore, the program will lose its effectiveness as students set their profiles to private, at which point the school essentially will be pouring money down the drain. This may be a step in the right direction, but it’s no giant leap for Glendale-kind.

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The 40% whoadvertisements. do pursue an Asprivate angry parents to cancel a always

By Max White Staff Writer

By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Rather than focusing all arts funding on one school, eliminating public arts high schools would better benefit arts programs of public schools by raising the quality of the arts in multiple schools.

Other schools do not have the privileges that South Pasadena does when it comes to arts funding. Our band and drama departments would not be able to function without the community support. The drama department has received financial assistance through Ms Moonesinghe’s annual math tutoring fundraiser, while the band relies heavily on its booster program and parent volunteers.

There are schools, however, that are not as fortunate as SPHS. If funding for specialized arts high schools could be directed to general high

Dylan Anselmo

Counselors should stick to college admissions

By Jenny Wang Copy Editor Counselors are being overworked. Come the start of school, their corner offices are flooded with students looking to resolve their issues, ranging from petty scheduling complaints to navigating college applications. The endless lines and ever-growing piles of paperwork blatantly indicate that having counselors work with scheduling and college admissions is an inefficient use of their time and students’ time.

As hardworking and dedicated as they are, counselors cannot invest 100% of their efforts into both college and scheduling, particularly because these tasks overlap timewise. Special admission paths like Questbridge and early decision have application submission deadlines around early October to early November. Consequently, counselors must start writing letters of recommendation around September, which is when scheduling complaints peak in frequency.

Students don’t benefit from this system either. Seniors looking for help regarding college applications and admis-

sions and underclassmen looking to discuss scheduling troubles find themselves waiting all of brunch and lunch in a long and unmoving line hoping for a few minutes to talk with their counselors.

Rather than hire new additions to the counseling staff, the administration should assign counselors to specialize in either college-related or scheduling-related topics, a cost-effective and efficient solution. This reorganization allows counselors to centralize their time and efforts on one element throughout the year rather than to stress about juggling multiple tasks. Additionally, students are given the satisfaction and comfort of knowing they have their counselors’ complete attention and focus.

Some may argue that knowing a student’s potential college or career interests can help counselors schedule appropriate classes for each student. However, that is a flawed and highly idealistic way of thinking. The majority of students use high school to discover and explore their interests. For the few who are set on what they want to do in the future, basic school courses do little to help them pursue their interests. Having specialized counselors can more

purposefully direct both categories of students towards a successful future.

Specialized counselors can help students identify and explore their interests through classes at SPHS and alternative educational outlets. Counselors focused on college admissions can work with students certain of their futures by helping them find opportunities outside of school, such as internships and summer programs, to enrich students’ understanding of their future pursuits.

In this modern age, we’ve grown accustomed to think of “new” and “more” as the universal solution to our problems, when in reality, the best change can come in remodeling what we already have. This is the case with the SPHS counseling department. The complaints we have should not be directed towards the counselors, but to the logistics of the department. We do not need more counselors--we already have a talented and passionate staff. Rather, we need to invest our resources in specializing the counselors we already have so that we can maximize their efficiency. This way, we ensure that both students and counselors receive the care and consideration they deserve.

Opinion

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Tiger

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A better way to evaluate teachers “Did the teacher effectively convey the major points?” or “What could the teacher have done differently?”, presenting an excellent One look at RateMyTeachers.com opportunity for students to convey their and it becomes evident that students ar- opinions with a positive purpose.

A major problem with the current ticulate many opinions about their teachers and value the ability to comment on their system is its lack of student input, causexperiences. Although no student deserves ing evaluations to lose effectiveness and to suffer under an incompetent teacher, the legitimacy. A teacher’s success during school’s current system of evaluation fails evaluations should not be dependent on an instructor’s interaction with the administrato fix this problem.

Two options are currently presented tion, but rather on interaction with students. for teacher evaluations in South Pasadena, Because students have a unique perspective known as Path I and Path II. With Path I, the on strengths and weaknesses, they can increase the quality of administration meets with a teacher’s instruction. the teacher to discuss what The new system makes the inspector should look use of these viewpoints, for. Soon after, a single A teacher’s success durtranslating opinion into class period is observed, ing evaluations should not be policy. By receiving infollowed by a meeting dependent on an instructor’s put from administrawith the teacher discussing interaction with the administration and from students, necessary changes or imtion, but rather on interaction teachers can recognize provements. After tenure with students. shortcomings and locate is obtained, teachers can areas that require imchoose to present a Path II provement, thus refining research report on topics as diverse as trends of referrals and race, to skills and teaching styles.

The inescapable truth is that better student performance in essay writing.

The problem is that teachers often evaluations must be instituted to ensure the choose to present their best lessons during quality of our education by helping teachevaluations. A single inspection fails to ac- ers improve. It’s important to acknowledge count for other teaching qualities such as a that reformed evaluations are not intended teacher’s ability to lead discussions or their to make it easier to get rid of teachers, but efforts to foster student participation. The rather to give teachers an idea of the culture ideal solution would be to expand the scope and expectations of South Pasadena High of the inspection. Teachers would present School. As seen in the Math Department their goals for the lesson to the administrator meeting two years ago, students and parents beforehand, and the administration would are more than eager to provide teachers with focus their inspection on whether the teacher their feedback, which is important informamet those goals. Soon after, another evalu- tion that must be recognized and impleation ought to occur, followed by a student mented. Although a new system will require survey regarding the teacher’s objectives. a bit more contribution and involvement Questions should be asked to the effect of, from everyone, the sacrifice is necessary

By Stanley Wu Staff Writer

Color Day slut shaming

By Kira Gabriel Staff Writer Slut-shaming is most obvious on Color Day, when the costumes and cleavage come out. Along with the bombardment of risqué firefighters and bunnies comes an onslaught of bitter judgment, most often from girls. Although no one in this school would classify themself as a woman-hater, the judgmental behavior on Color Day is nothing short of misogynistic. In order for women and men to finally reach equality, women need to start treating everyone as equals, “sluts” included.

In high school, a slut can be anyone with a reputation of sexual promiscuity to a girl who wears bootyshorts in the middle of winter. The shaming that Color Day bunnies and firefighters inevitably face degrades and damages the female population on the whole by making the female body something to criticize and sexualize.

Women will never come close to equality if girls keep eyeing each other in the halls and muttering to their friends, “Isn’t her crop-top sooo small?” It’s counterproductive to con-

Annie Lu

stantly be putting each other down when the goal is to pull women up.

As long as a girl is comfortable in her clothes and her skin, there is no reason for attack. Women who consciously choose to reclaim the word “slut” and end the stigma and sting of the word by referring to themselves as “Slutty Nurses” or Slutty Swat Team” should be free to do so without fear of judgment from peers.

One doesn’t need to look any further than Pep to find harsh shaming and degradation.

The athleticism, coordination, and talent that Pep displayed on Color Day was remarkable, and instead there is only criticism for the team’s short skirts and big bows.

It is not a student’s job to judge what is or is not appropriate. Some outfits are, admittedly, not appropriate for a school environment.

However, the definitions of decency should be defined and enforced by the administration, not students.

Shaming is a catty way to diminish women’s dignity, even though all women and, indeed, anyone pro-equality, are on the same team.

Syrian sensitivity

By Petra Barbu Staff Writer

Support technology

Dylan Anselmo

By Jason Wang Staff Writer In classrooms across campus, cartloads of new, glistening iPads and laptops sit scarcely used while the long-standing issues surrounding student wifi and the lack of technicians remain unresolved. Two years ago, South Pasadena Educational Foundation gave every school in the district a technology grant meant to directly benefit students in the classroom setting. Since then, SPHS has continued to receive substantial financial support from the Parent-TeacherStudent Association and the Chinese American Club. These funds were channeled towards implementing the technology portion of the District Strategic Plan, a goal to “improve accessibility, reliability” and “technical assistance.” Yet, given our school’s current penchant for purchasing new technology with little regard to current systems, that vision is far from fruition.

It seems counterproductive to buy new equipment while already-purchased technology is poorly maintained. The student wireless network has yet to launch due to the absence of an updated user agreement. And thanks to a lack of personnel, when a printer, network, or software malfunctions, service is slow to come and fixes frequently take several days, jeopardizing valuable class time.

What SPHS needs most is another full-time technician, whose salary could be feasibly paid for by the numerous technology grants our school has instead dedicated towards costly technology. With only two permanent employees thinly spread between five schools, technicians can’t afford to be burdened with the installation and maintenance requirements that come with a slew of new computer labs.

The purchase of additional equipment will only worsen the already burgeoning sea of technical problems our school faces.

The Syrian conflict is much closer to home than students believe. The Syrian conflict isn’t always a priority with assignments and tests piling up, but it is an issue that affects students regardless of their indifference.

Conflict in Syria could mean a significantly thinner wallet for students. An energy-independent America in the near future isn’t a reality today, with the United States covering barely 40% of its total oil consumption, according to NPR. A possible oil embargo instituted in retaliation for US support of Syrian rebels, similar to the one instituted in Iran in the late 70’s after civil war broke out, would force us to find oil in other places. With 13% of our oil solely from the Persian Gulf and our relationship with Middle Eastern countries already strained, revolts similar to the Arab Spring, which drove gas prices up almost 20% according to The Economist, would be difficult to bounce back from. This significant oil exportation withdrawal boils down to a noticeable price hike every time students fill up their gas tanks.

If the United States does decide to enter, students could see serious long-term economic effects. According to CNN, another war would cost the United States upwards of $1 trillion, sending the US even deeper in debt. If the debt continues to climb, the Social Security Trust Fund won’t be able to cover the retirement benefits for the Baby Boomer generation, meaning significantly higher taxes when many current students will enter the workplace. Though there is the illusion of growth that accompanies war, spending $1 billion in military expansion creates less than half of the jobs created by the same

billion spent on construction. All in all, this amounts to fewer jobs for graduates with a higher cost of living.

The price of Syria adds up in more than dollars.

Every war presents the possibility of a draft, one that is now more inclusive than ever before, now that women are allowed in combat. There is also the possibility that fighting could spill into bordering Iraq, affecting local troops and citizens stationed in Iraq.

The idea that one is only affected by nearby surroundings is outdated— the conflict in Syria is no exception. It’s easy not to care but the six degrees of separation are often much too close for comfort. Indifference may be convenient and perhaps ignorance is bliss, but, in today’s world, neither is truly an option.

Spenser Atlas

8 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Color Day 2013

Color Day 2013

When asked, a majority of students expressed that the highlight of the Color Day assembly was an inappropriately-dressed student disrupting the program by running circles in the gym.

Page by Rachael Garner Photos by Tiger photographers

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Color day 2013 The high school was awash with tradition at the 75th annual Color Day assembly. The wealth of orange and black costumes, the air of festivity, and the overwhelming sense of spirit made the day unforgettable. Students dressed up as every imaginable animal, movie character, and classic story paraded around campus, snapped pictures and complimented one another. The uniformed football players received good luck wishes from their peers in anticipation of the first league game of the year. However, amidst the circumstances that inevitably exist each Color Day, there was a spattering of new and different events that made the day unique. A fantastically bold and sassy Commissioner of Assemblies and an appearance by the SPHS World of Color were some highlights that made Color Day 2013 one to remember.

--Heather Vaughan & Brandon Kim

Who wore it best?

Freshmen

Sophomores

Juniors

Seniors

Seniors

Seniors

10 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Feature

Feature

Out and About Operation Walking Shield, which encourages Native American children in impovershed areas to stay in school by providing them with school supplies, began this week. Participants interested in sponsoring a child can pick up a snowflake from Mrs. Mason in room 513. The event ends October 28. /Sarah Stukan

Drumline to appear on Disney Channel

By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer

South Pasadena High School’s drumline began its fall season with an exciting twist, performing with television celebrities instead of fellow students for one of its first acts of the year.

Five SPHS percussionists were invited to play prominent extras in an episode of Liv and Maddie, a Disney Channel television sitcom, after company representatives saw videos of their impressive performance in the SPHS talent show.

The entertainment giant first contacted activities director Mr. Casey Shotwell before arranging drumline’s appearance with band director Mr. Howard Crawford. Junior Sungin Kim and seniors Matt Chan, Isaac Huh, Sean Kohler, and William MacTavish left school early on Tuesday, September 24 to travel to a studio in Hollywood, working through the afternoon with Disney Rachael Garner actors and actresses involved in the episode.

Senior Phoebe Kao performs at the half time show during the Color Day football game. The team has been “I thought it was awesome that we were invited to rehearsing daily to defend their championship title and accompany band in the upcoming marching season. perform. The first day we went for rehearsals and [met] the actors and producers, which was a pretty great experience,” drum captain MacTavish said.

The SPHS drummers practiced on assorted buckets, a routine similar to the one that earned them first place in the 2012 SPHS talent show and second place twenty dedicated members, the larg- comers,” freshman Angela Liu said.

By Karen Hseuh SPHS Band and Colorguard this past school year. est colorguard in SPHS history. They Staff Writer For plot purposes, a percussionist from a different have created their own routine to ac- performed during the halftime show of the Color Day football game in band and one of the sitcom’s main characters were also company band’s Hayao Miyazaki South Pasadena High School’s integrated into the act. colorguard team has been hard at work Studio Ghibli themed field show. The preparation for their first competition “The staff and other people were very nice and on a difficult routine for the upcoming team combines graceful choreography the following day.

Although the team has not hospitable to us. It was a lot of fun to work with them,” season’s tight competition schedule. with elegant uniforms in a series of choreographed the fourth snare drummer Huh said.

The group has been rehearsing daily to four movements to become a visual yet movement, it coordinated with Filming for the episode finished the following day. defend the Southern California cham- representation of the music. band, marching alongside Although it does not air until January 2014, interested The routine employs a variety the pionship title it received in April 2012. viewers can catch new episodes of Liv and Maddie on “Our goal is to really build our of props ranging from fake rifles to the musicians.

“Out of all [the] other groups, Disney Channel weekly. technique and learn to be the best colorful flags. As the show evolves, the Disney has expressed the possibility of future colperformers we can be, not to mention performers change props correspond- South Pasadena’s colorguard is definitely my favorite,” Colorguard coach laboration with the SPHS band and orchestra, with reto really bond as a team,” junior co- ing to the general mood of the piece. imbursement for the music department.

“It’s really hard to memorize all Ms. Courtney Cheyne said. “Their captain Helen Yip said. “Everyone Drumline will be rehearsing alongside the rest of works really hard and is very dedicat- the choreography, and it’s even harder strong dedication and work ethic is what band in the meantime to prepare for its field show for ed, so I have no doubt that we have a to have to do the drill at the same time, lead to their success in the past season the upcoming marching season. The first competition but our coach works really hard to and is what will lead them to success very strong group.” took place on Saturday, October 12.

This year’s team consists of make it as easy as possible for the new- in the future.”

Colorguard nears completion of field show

Personality Profile: Yumai Sone

By Somi Jun and Joey Shapiro Tiger Staff Senior Yumai Sone is, by every traditional definition, an accomplished artist. He draws, paints, sculpts, photographs, writes scripts, makes movies, and furthermore, impresses in all of these pursuits.

The well-rounded individual has earned validation from professionals, scoring a five on both his AP Studio Art and AP Photography exams. Sone also won second place for filmmaking at the state fair and first place for painting at the Los Angeles County Fair.

Despite his undeniable skill, Sone expressed discomfort when asked to list his accomplishments. He instead steered the conversation toward his creative philosophy, which dictates that overcoming the challenges Sophia Arriola of a project is more valuable than Yumai Sone presents one of his latest artistic creations. The receiving recognition. In fact, senior’s diverse body of work has been nationally recognized. Sone refuses to label himself an

artist; he finds the term too broad to describe his work.

“In all of drawing, photography, and 3D art, the essential question is, ‘Can I make this happen?’ So it’s a form of self-discovery, and that process is what’s beautiful, not the outcome,” Sone said.

Sone illustrates this belief with his ventures in filmmaking.

Over the summer he collaborated on a music video with South Pasadena High School band The Commons, deliberating on everything from the concept of the video to its cinematography.

He also participated in Script Frenzy, a competition that challenges its participants to write a hundred pages of a screenplay in thirty days. Most of Sone’s scripts can be categorized as love stories with a greater emphasis on human behavior than on romance. The script he’s most proud of involves a control freak with a photographic memory who cheats on his girlfriend with a

college-bound upperclassman.

Sone deliberately diversifies his creative process when working with art. He employs a variety of mediums, including watercolor, oil paints, and markers.

His signature is his use of Starbucks iced vanilla lattes, which he layers on top of line drawings to create sepia tones.

One of Sone’s more recent projects is Steve, a visually appealing eight-legged mobile robot constructed from tin cans and spare toy parts. Following his success with the object, which was a combination of the principles of motion and aesthetics, Sone is considering pursuing a career that incorporates science with art.

“There is only one thing I know for sure, which is that whatever path I push myself into after high school, I will strive to do my best and hopefully continue to blow people’s minds,” Sone said. “That’s always been fun, and in the end, I always want to have fun.”

Feature

Drama gears up for fall’s Yellow

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Tiger

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Personality Profile: Elizabeth Yu

By Kea Hudson Staff Writer

By Clem Witherall Sports Editor The drama department will explore the dynamic shift in family relationships when tragedy strikes this fall in its highly anticipated production, Yellow.

A talented cast of stage veterans and newcomers has already begun rehearsing for the play. Yellow’s playwright, Del Shores, will attend the production when it opens on December 6.

“The play is very relevant with high schoolers,” director Daniel Enright said. “I saw it three years ago and was taken aback by the beauty of the play [as well as] its humor.”

Yellow chronicles a year in the life of a seemingly happy family whose relationships are unexpectedly rocked to their breaking point. The play questions the Deep South’s morals and traditions as it delves into themes of cowardice, intolerance, forgiveness, and the damaging effects of secrets and rejection.

“It really focuses on the family dynamics. It is a nice change for the drama program,” Enright added.

Senior veterans Sophie Negrini, Ruby Muller and Diana Spiegel will use their experience to drive the play.

Although last year’s lead David Yang is noticeably absent from the cast, junior Andrew Zableckis will team up with sophomores Jake Levy and Ian Geiberger to portray the three main male parts. Senior Charlotte Foley will serve as the production’s assistant director.

“David is a fantastic talent but he is too busy this year,” Enright said. “He said that I’ll see him in the spring which will be good. Geiberger and Zableckis always had small roles but now both will have big parts. Although it is new for both of them, they are both very capable.”

Enright is thrilled to have Shores watch the production on opening night, and the drama department will hold additional performances on December 7, 8, 13, and 14. “[Shores] is excited that we are doing his play,” Enright said. “I bet you that there is not a single school that has done what we are doing yet.”

A typical physical fitness test for most children consists of a few laps and some sit-ups. But at age eight, junior Elizabeth Yu took part in a much more rigorous evaluation that included a minutelong handstand hold, a hands-only rope climb, a painful flexibility assessment, and much more.

In elementary school, Yu took part in Talent Opportunity Program (TOPs), a talent search and training program for aspiring elite gymnasts seven to eleven years of age. The program identifies promising athletes and serves as their launching point for very serious careers through a series of tests and camps. Through TOPs, Yu proved herself such an exceptionally talented gymnast that it is hard to believe that she practically stumbled upon the sport on accident—her parents initially intended to use gymnastics as an outlet for her boundless energy.

Since then, gymnastics has become Yu’s first priority in life. She trains over thirty hours weekly with a gifted team of elite gymnasts at West Coast Elite Gymnastics, a gym her father founded. In order to make her 12:30 to 8 P.M. workouts—a commitment that has forced her to sacrifice taking part in the social norms of a typical teenager—Yu leaves school at lunch every day.

“I’m used to it,” Yu said. “I’ve never known anything else.”

Gymnastics does not only exhaust her time; it influences her every move. Part of Yu’s training regimen is a strict diet. To most high school students, who depend

Siria Medina

Junior Elizabeth Yu is a dedicated level 10 gymnast, clocking in more than thirty hours of training weekly and participating in seasonal competitions. heavily on pizza and sugar-laden blended coffee drinks, her dedication is staggering.

“We’re supposed to stay away from carbs, sugar, and fatty foods,” Yu said. “I remember one time my teammate brought popsicles that weren’t sugar-free to practice and my coach freaked out.”

Despite her coaches’ adamancy, Yu still finds ways to enjoy the sweeter things in life. In the very rare instance she is able to find free time, she enjoys baking cookies with her teammates.

Yu hopes to receive a full scholarship to compete for a college gymnastics team after high school. She also has future plans to go into the field of sports medicine to help athletes recover from injury. This matter hits particularly close to home, as she

has suffered multiple injuries from gymnastics and regularly has a cast or sling.

“When you see doctors, they always tell you to take time off. But an elite gymnast never does,” said Yu. “I want to be able to tell athletes what they can and can’t do, and help them recover through active rest.”

Yu’s schedule seems impossible when one factors in her junior year workload, but she has developed the essential skill of literally balancing her time between school and gymnastics.

“It’s crazy how she is constantly either doing school work or practicing in the gym,” junior Cassie Baca said. “But I know with all her hard work she will do great things both in and out of the gym.”

Cast List for Fall Play Bobby - Andrew Zableckis Kendall - Jake Levy Kate - Sophie Negrini Timothea - Diana Spiegel Gracie - Ruby Muller Dayne - Ian Geiberger Assistant Director - Charlotte Foley

Trick or Treat

As the close of October and Halloween swiftly approach, explore these alternatives to the classic childhood festivities. Popular theme parks and attractions offer events where visitors can celebrate the holiday by breaking some traditions while still enjoying a handful of candy.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

Text by: Sarah Stukan

Legoland California Resort’s Brick-Or-Treat

November 1, 2 Where: Fremont Centre Theatre Price: $12 at the door, $10 online “Lights on the Party”: The private costume party on October 18 will include a backstage tour. Tickets are $50; all proceeds go to SPARC.

Features: BrickOr-Treat trail, costume contest, festive shows, music, and entertainment Price: $30 evening admission, $59 full-day admission

Aquarium of the Pacific’s Scarium of the Pacific Date: October 26-27 Features: Underwater pumpkin carving,

in October

Blogspot.com

SPARC Haunted House Date: October 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 and

allevents.in ymcastlouis.org

Date: September 20-November 2, select nights Date: Weekends Features: 6 mazes, 4 ScareZones, Terror Tram: Invaded by the Walking Dead Price: $59-$74 (general admission)

Local Activities

educational aquarium tours Price: Free with $26 general admission

Six Flag Magic Mountain’s Fright Fest troublemamas.com

Date: Fridays-Sundays in October Features: Street entertainment, haunted houses Price: Begins at $51 (with maze pass)

Knott’s Scary Farm Date: September 26November 2, select nights Features: 5 new mazes, thrill rides decked in themed decor

Knott’s Berry Farm’s Snoopy’s Camp Snoopy:

Entertain your younger siblings with this daytime event.

Includes trick-or-treating, shows, and activites during weekends in October.

Price: Beginning at $38 (general admission)

12 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Feature

House of Hades: A Riordan bestseller

By Karen Hseuh Staff Writer 4.5/5

Illustrations by Annie Lu

Best-selling author Rick Riordan has written yet another impressive continuation of Percy Jackson’s adventures. House of Hades, the penultimate novel in the “Heroes of Olympus” series, perfectly balances action, romance, exciting fight scenes, with excellent character development.

The novel follows seven demigods on their quest to close the Doors of Death and prevent an onslaught of monsters into the mortal world. Trapped in the Underworld, Tartarus, Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase are catapulted into danger as they encounter both new monsters and former enemies. While Percy and Annabeth are in Tartarus, the other five demigods travel to the mortal side of the Doors of Death to save their friends.

The fourth installment of Riordan’s “Heroes of Olympus” series is significantly more serious than its predecessors. Riordan skillfully stays true to his characters, showing their maturing personalities.

He focuses particularly on the supporting characters in the previous books such as Leo Valdez and Frank Zhang: Leo is torn between love and duty when he meets the girl of his dreams, while Frank struggles to accept his heritage as the son of Mars, the Roman god of war.

What makes House of Hades different from Riordan’s other books is that the reader experiences the perspectives of all seven demigods featured in the story.

This allows the reader to have a deeper connection with all the characters, rather than reading the occasionally biased perspective of just one.

House of Hades is a must-read for fans of Greek mythology and action. With its intense plotline and pageturning action, fans of Riordan’s previous books will definitely not be disappointed.

Local centenarian granted citizenship

By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer One hundred years is an important milestone in the life of an individual, an age to be honored and respected.

Local centenarian María Guadalupe Portillo’s hundredth year was made even more special when she received her United States citizenship on September 27, just two weeks before her 101st birthday.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico on October 12, 1912, Portillo is mother to seven living children, grandmother to thirteen, great-grandmother to eight, and godmother to South Pasadena High School junior class president Julian Lopez.

“She has wanted to receive her citizenship for a very long time, and it was amazing to see her finally reach that goal; I’m very happy for her,” Lopez said of his madrina, whom he met through his father at church.

Portillo attempted to apply for citizenship multiple times since becoming eligible seven years ago, but was denied consistently as she was unable to speak English.

Though she has been a permanent resident of Los Angeles since 2001, her application was not processed until a medical excuse was obtained. Portillo was eventually able to join a jubilant crowd of 8,600 fellow immigrants at the Los Angeles Convention Center to receive her certificate.

Alhough she is very happy being with her family in the states, having left Guadalajara twelve years ago so that her daughter Alicia could help take care of her, Portillo is proud of her Mexican heritage and visits Guadalajara whenever she can. Los Angeles and the city of her birth are equal in her eyes. “[I love it all, but the casinos most!]” Portillo joked when asked what she enjoys most about the U.S. Nowadays she spends time with her family and passes time practicing crochet. Portillo regrets being unable to cook, dance, or practice other hobbies due to physical constraints, but she has not let being a centenarian slow her down in any other way. Brighter and warmer in spirit than many high school students, Portillo says always being an optimist has enabled her to remain clear-headed and enjoy life to its fullest.

Gravity is a timeless cinematic experience

By Joey Shapiro Staff Writer 5/5

Gravity is a dazzling blend of sights and sounds that never fails to amaze with its beauty. From the spectacular visuals to the masterful direction, it is a breathtaking feat of filmmaking from director Alfonso Cuarón that is undeniably impressive.

The movie’s mix of gorgeously rendered 3-D imagery and thrilling storytelling makes it not only one of the best science-fiction films in recent memory, but also one that will stand the test of time as a technological milestone.

Gravity’s plot is a surprisingly simple one: scientist Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) are the sole survivors of a satellite collision that leaves them aimlessly drifting in space.

Stone and Kowalski desperately struggle to help each other survive as the two are stranded without oxygen, sound, or communication with Mission Control on Earth.

All but one scene of Gravity was filmed on a single soundstage in front of a green screen, which means that, with the exception of the actors’ faces, everything onscreen was created digitally.

However, the CGI is crafted with such painstakingly realistic detail it’s easy to forget that when Kowalski comments on the view of Earth, the planet he

is admiring was actually created using a computer.

Sound design is generally a topic that can be overlooked when discussing the quality of a movie, but sound is an integral component of Gravity. The film frequently goes from strained, unsettling silence to deafeningly loud noise and back again within seconds, making intense scenes even more thrilling.

Sandra Bullock spent six months in physical training to portray her character as realistically as possible, and her tremendous dedication clearly paid off. She is transfixing in the lead role, single-handedly giving the film its powerful emotional edge.

Her impassioned performance as Dr. Ryan Stone is both heartbreaking

and inspirational. George Clooney is excellent in his portrayal of the amiable and talkative Matt Kowalski, whose rambling stories provide refreshing comic relief.

James Cameron, the director of popular science-fiction movies Aliens and Avatar, commented that Gravity is “the best space film ever done.” As extreme his claim sounds, Cameron’s adoration of the film is understandable.

Cuarón has created one of the most consistently stunning and visually awe-inspiring blockbusters in years. Gravity is a bold step into the future of filmmaking and visual technology that has set the new standard by which deep space movies will be judged in the future.

ifano.com

Sandra Bullock stars as Ryan Stone in Gravity, a revolutionary film that utilizes computer graphics to create its space setting.

Feature

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Tiger

How to get to The Last Bookstore: 1. Take the 110 Freeway south 2. Exit onto 4th St. toward downtown, 6th St. 3. Keep right on E. 4th St. 4. Turn right onto S. Spring St. 5. Turn right onto W. 5th St.

By Madison Amido Staff Writer

Nestled in downtown Los Angeles lies The Last Bookstore, a twostory shop complete with art studios, thousands of books, unique displays, and an intricate labyrinth.

The Last Bookstore is not your average Barnes & Noble. It breaks the cookie-cutter mold of traditional bookstores with its breathtaking interior design and art collections, and is the ideal shop for book lovers and art connoisseurs alike.

After successfully navigating through one-way streets and locating a nearby parking lot, we entered the bookstore and found ourselves

immediately captivated by the atmosphere and architecture of the building. The store’s high-vaulted ceilings, dangling lights, and sea of paperback books sewn together as an art display provided charm and ambiance.

Walking through The Last Bookstore is an adventure in itself. The first floor is an organized collection of new and used books and records; it also contains a stage for weekly performances and readings. The bookstore encourages people to sell and trade their books, CDs, and DVDs at the store’s counter.

The second floor is home to different art studios, an antique store, and a knitting shop. Additionally, it serves as a gallery for local artists to showcase and sell their work.

The upstairs labyrinth filled with 100,000 books, each for a dollar, is easily the main reason that The Last Bookstore has become a popular destination for artists, writers, and tourists.

As we cautiously made our way upstairs, we were fascinated by an arched walkway made of books and sparkling lights, authentic bank vaults housing books and lounge areas, floating typewriters, and paper designs emerging from the walls.

Wandering through the labyrinth felt as though we had been catapulted into the world of Alice in Won-

13

this month in

Pop Culture

movies The Fifth Estate

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Brühl, Alicia Vikander (Oct. 18)

The drama examines the relationship between WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Cumberbatch) and colleague Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Brühl), and how the website’s series of controversial information leaks leads to a irreparable rift in the pair’s friendship.

albums Los Campesinos!

No Blues (Oct. 29) Genre: Indie Rock

Rachael Garner

derland, complete with book mazes, color-coded bookshelves, and a delightful surprise at every turn. Entering the realm of art pieces in The Last Bookstore paralleled the experience of exploring the set of a Tim Burton film.

After concluding our exploration, we left the store and set off down the streets in search of dessert. A mere two blocks away is Syrup Desserts, an espresso bar and ice cream shop perfect to satisfy junk-food cravings after perusing through book aisles.

If you’re seeking a bookstore that doubles as an art gallery and is wrapped in an endlessly hypnotizing setting, The Last Bookstore should be the first stop on your itinerary for adventures in downtown Los Angeles.

Katy Perry

Prism (Oct. 18) Genre: Pop, Dance

books The Goldfinch

By Donna Tartt (Oct. 22)

Thirteen-year-old Theo Decker miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. After being taken in by the family of a wealthy friend, he clings to the one reminder of her: a mysterious painting that draws him into the underworld of art.

concerts in

Los Angeles

Walk the Moon at the Hollywood Palladium (Oct. 18) Jack Johnson at the Orpheum Theatre (Oct. 19) Passion Pit at the Greek Theatre (Oct. 25)

14 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Sports

Adrian Suarez

Samantha Figueroa

By Asa Silverman Staff Writer Senior Samantha Figueroa is a girl of relatively few words, but she leads by example through her actions on the volleyball court.

Figueroa has been a key member of the Tiger volleyball program since freshman year and has risen through the ranks to earn the title of co-captain of a young South Pasadena squad. “[Figueroa] leads the volleyball team with her enthusiasm. She is mentally and physically tough; nothing holds her back!” senior

Siria Medina

Senior Samantha Figueroa has been on the varsity squad since freshman year.

co-captain Claire Kieffer-Wright said.

Figueroa’s love for volleyball began early in eighth grade, when her friend persuaded her to try out for the middle school team. From that point on, it was hard to keep her off the court.

“I have a special love for volleyball,” Figueroa says. “It is a smaller team and you bond as a team very quickly and get to really enjoy playing with your teammates.”

Figueroa was selected as a varsity member for both volleyball and soccer when she entered SPHS as a freshman. As well as playing high school sports, she is actively involved in club volleyball and plays for San Gabriel Elite, an extremely competitive team that boasts some of the best players from around Los Angeles.

Figueroa led the South Pasadena volleyball squad to a successful start in preseason with the Tigers, only losing one game. In addition, the Tigers were recently crowned champions in the Arcadia Tournament.

Along with her many accomplishments in athletics, Figueroa has been very active in Girl Scouts and earned the highest honor, the Gold Award, between her freshman and sophomore years. In order to receive this Gold Award, she took on the job of raising a golden retriever puppy guide dog for a year and a half. Figueroa was rarely seen without her dog as the pooch became a regular attraction on campus.

Off the court, Figueroa regularly goes to the beach, watches movies, and plays soccer with her best friend and twin sister, Emily.

“In every sport she plays, it’s a guarantee that she’ll play with all her heart,” sister Emily said. “Sam is hilarious and complex, and loyal to everyone. She’s a rare human being.”

By Julian Prime Staff Writer A glance at the SPHS boys varsity water polo team playing a fast-paced game doesn’t always reveal senior Adrian Suarez as the most outstanding player. Although he isn’t necessarily in the center, scoring goals left and right, Suarez is an extremely dedicated player who is, without a doubt, one of the most valuable on the team.

Suarez was fated to play water polo. He spends an Matt Winkel average of four hours in the pool each day and has devoted Senior captain Adrian Suarez hopes to lead around 6000 hours to the sport his experienced squad to a CIF championship. since his start in seventh grade.

This impressive dedication, paired with natu- ments with his club team, which placed fifth ral talent, earned him a starting spot on the and sixth in two recent national competitions.

Suarez is a science enthusiast when he varsity team as a freshman. He has kept this spot for four seasons, and is now one of three is out of the pool. He participated in stem cell research as a volunteer at the California Instico-captains.

Suarez started his aquatic career as a tute of Technology last summer, and he plans swimmer on the local Sea Tigers swim team in to advance his scientific pursuits as an adult by elementary school. However, he found greater studying to become a pediatrician.

Suarez hopes to continue playing water satisfaction in playing water polo.

“I like playing water polo because it is polo in college, but for now, his heart and soul a team sport,” Suarez said. “On Sea Tigers, I are invested in the South Pasadena team.

“Without Adrian, I wouldn’t be able to hated the fact that I was constantly alone. Water polo just seemed like a natural transition.” do half the things I’m able to do in the water,” Outside of the regulation high school said teammate senior Pierce Deamer, who reseason, Suarez plays year-round at the Rose lies on Suarez for many of his offensive moves.

Bowl and participates in practices and tourna- “All of us are truly grateful to play with him.”

Sports

Girls golf still undefeated

By Jason Wang Staff Writer

By Madeline Hellwig Staff Writer Boasting a spectacular overall record of eleven wins and zero losses, the South Pasadena High School girls varsity golf team remains undefeated and determined to repeat as league champions. The team emerged victorious after facing the Buckley Griffins of Encino on Tuesday, October 15 and clinching a pair of dominant wins over the Westridge Tigers on October 8 and October 10.

The Tigers triumphed with a total of 207 during the match against the Buckley Griffins, with junior captain Katie Rosenberg shooting a 36.

Head coach Richard Goto has been extremely pleased with the Tigers’ progress.

“There appears to be no one in our league who can defeat our team,” Goto said.

“I have no doubt that our ladies will claim the league title for the fourth consecutive year.”

Dominating the Brookside Golf Course, South Pas won its first face-off against Westridge by an astonishing 57 points. Rosenberg shot a 38, leading the team to its overall score tally of 219. Caitlyn Yamashita trailed closely behind with a 41, and junior Amy Chong shot a 45. Senior Marcy Kuo came in fourth with a score of 47, followed by Alyssa Carlos, who wrapped up the top five with a 48.

The team encountered Westridge again on Thursday but won by default upon the Westridge Tigers’ forfeit.

“We knew this was going to be a forfeit,” Goto said. “With the exception of Rosenberg, Yamashita, and Srisutham, our line up was altered to give the younger players a chance to play in a match.”

15 League crown in sight for girls XC Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - Tiger

Rachael Garner

Sophomore Alexa Esler trains for the highly anticipated league finals.

The girls varsity cross country team had a busy schedule last week as it competed in two grueling meets over the course of three days.

The 5K Clovis Invitational took place on October 12, and the demanding course was dominated by hills and grass terrain. The girls placed 11th out of 26 Division III teams, with senior Helena Van Loan finishing 35th place at 19:56, 59 seconds slower than her previous time on the course. Nonetheless, sophomores Maaike Wielenga, Fiona Bock, and Alexa Esler proved a solid underclassmen pack, running times of 20:40, 20:42, and 20:47, respectively.

League 2, which took place on Thursday, October 10 at Lacy Park, bumped the Tigers up from third to second place in the Rio Hondo League. South Pasadena scored a total of 48 points, narrowly beating out San Marino’s score of 49. Van Loan led the pack

and placed fourth overall with a solid 19:27.

“We all tried our best,” Van Loan said.

“With most of our team injured and some of us not feeling well, we all pushed through despite the pain. It was a tough race and I’m overwhelmingly proud of our team.”

Underclassmen comprised the two through seven spots for the varsity squad.

Sophomores Bock and Emily Ye ran neckand-neck, placing seventh and ninth with times of 19:58 and 20:01 respectively, while Wielenga followed closely behind with a time of 20:05. Rounding out the Tigers top five was sophomore Evelyn Beadle, who scored the final point for the Tigers with a time of 20:43 and 16th place.

At League 1, San Marino had beat out both La Cañada and South Pasadena for the first place spot. At League 2, however, the results completely flipped, upping the pressure for the league finals race scheduled for November 7.

Boys XC hopes to turn tables on Titans

By Stanley Wu Staff Writer The South Pasadena’s boys cross country squad performed strongly at Lacy Park last Saturday in the second league meet but was unable to catch the impressive San Marino Titans. Three Tiger runners managed to finish under seventeen minutes, including senior captain Josh Wilson, who earned first with a flashy time of 16:07. The strong times proved to be too little as the Titans, who have had back-to-back dominant performances, ran away with the victory.

“We really managed to get our act together,” Wilson said. “Our team performed much better than earlier in the season, and

we hope that we can continue to get better.”

The sudden emergence of San Marino as contenders for the league title has raised fears among the Rio Hondo opposition.

For the first time in three seasons of South Pasadena’s dominance, San Marino’s team has proved a real threat as the Titans swept the first two league meets.

“We’re really surprised at how they were able to step up their game,” senior Tyler Gershman said.

Five Titan runners were able to beat the seventeen-minute mark in the second league race, solidifying the Titans as one of the best Division IV teams this year. Yet massive improvement since Dana Hills and Woodbridge has provided the Tigers with

hope to turn the tables on the Titans at the League Finals on November 7. South Pas is aiming for its fourth consecutive Rio Hondo crown.

“Losing to San Marino was humbling,” senior Victor Hidalgo said. “But it’s a great reminder that no team is unbeatable, and we know we will improve.”

Head coach Patrick McGrail is optimistic that his Tigers can pull off the upset against the improving Titans, but acknowledges the need for team unity heading into the final league meet.

“It’s crucial that all the runners know their part, and know what they have to do.”

McGrail said. “There’s no way we can rely on just one person and still expect to succeed.”

Girls volleyball extends win streak to seven

By Clem Witherall Sports Editor

Siria Medina

Senior captain Claire Kieffer-Wright spikes the ball in the Tigers 3-1 victory over Village Christian.

The past fourteen days for the girls volleyball program have been golden as the Tigers capped off the two-week run with their seventh consecutive victory yesterday over Temple City. South Pas cruised in its second home game and quickly swept the Rams in the three straight sets.

The Tigers got off to a flying start and dominated the first two sets 25-15 and 25-10. The squad’s confidence appeared to impact its focus in the third set yet the Tigers still managed to hold off Temple City with a 25-21 final game win.

“In the third game we could have done better to keep the other team’s score lower, and most of their points in the third game were our mistakes,” captain Samantha Figueroa said. “But other than that we did well overall.”

The highlight of the Tigers’ incredible seven-game win streak was the girls stunning victory over La Cañada on October 8. The South Pasadena win was the first time in 69 league matches that the Spartans have fallen to a Rio Hondo opponent. La Cañada was a mere two victories from a CIF record for most consecutive league wins.

Despite the incredible victory, South Pasadena’s head coach Ben Diaz took a very

professional stance on his squad’s win.

“History is history,” Diaz said. “I do not care about that history. I only care about winning.”

The Tigers showed tremendous fight to claim the monumental victory. South Pas lost the first set 25-22 but stormed back to clinch three straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-17, and 25-16.

The Tigers will look to extend their win streak to eight games when they take on the San Marino Titans tomorrow.

“Our coach expects nothing less than a win from us,” Figueroa added. “Our win streak reflects our hard work and effort that we put into practice everyday.”

Water polo blasts past San Marino

By Asa Silverman & Julian Prime Tiger Staff The South Pasadena High School varsity water polo team broke a four-game losing streak with an emphatic 12-9 victory over its rivals San Marino yesterday. Although the Tigers struggled throughout the game, South Pas ultimately was able to overcome its mistakes to beat the Titans in a much needed rivalry win.

“We faced a lot of adversary with the refs,” senior captain Adrian Suarez said. “We need to clean up our six-on-five defense but overall it was a much needed win today.”

Suarez and senior Pierce Deamer had all-star performances with each

tallying four goals. The Titans started off slowly, making countless mistakes, which resulted with the Tigers to take advantage of numerous counterattacks.

“In all we were the dominant team in the game. It shouldn’t have been so close,” senior Brandon Huff said.

The Tigers lost their fourth consecutive game on Tuesday, falling 13-8 against the La Cañada Spartans in the league opener. Struggling offensively, the Tigers have failed to find the same groove they had earlier in the season.

“We only have six more games left in league so it is important that we start to build some momentum. We will be ready for the rematch against La Cañada in a couple weeks,” Suarez said.

When playing the Spartans,

South Pas struggled offensively and ended the game with only 8 goals. The Tigers received strong performances from seniors Huff, Deamer, and Suarez as they battled throughout the game.

However, their efforts couldn’t match the Spartans’ offense.

“Offensively we were not as strong, and we still need to keep improving on everything,” Deamer said.

The Tigers ultimate downfall was their lack of focus in the final few minutes of the game.

“All three goals came from getting the ball stolen from the perimeter and the getting countered,” Suarez said.

“We need to learn better fundamentals, such as pressure passing if we want to win league.”

Matt Winkel

Senior Pierce Deamer shoots and scores against La Cañada. The Tigers came up short against the Spartans and ultimately fell 11-8.

16 Tiger - Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Sports

Sports

Upcoming Games Tomorrow: Water polo vs. Glendale @ 3:30 PM Friday: Football @ Monrovia @ 7:00 PM 10/22: Girls Tennis @ Monrovia @ 3:30 PM

Who runs the world?

By Clem Witherall Sports Editor

Rachael Garner

Sophomore Michael Partida throws the football in Tigers’ 21-6 defeat against rival San Marino in the 59th Crowley Cup.

Football falls to rivals in league opener

By Andrew Shults Staff Writer South Pasadena dropped its league opener 21-6 to rivals San Marino in the historic Crowley Cup matchup on October 11. The Tigers, now 3-3, played strongly throughout the first half but fell apart in the last two quarters as the Titans stole an away victory.

“I’m really proud about how [the players] fought to the very end, and if those guys keep it up, good things will happen for us,” head coach Marty Konrad said.

The South Pas defense shined throughout the first half as they regularly forced the Titans to punt, providing the Tigers with plenty of possession throughout the first and second quarters. However, South Pas failed to take advantage and the half ended at an even 0-0. The Tigers were major underdogs heading into this

matchup and many were stunned by the halftime score.

The second half was a completely different story as the Titans swiftly opened the scoring on the first drive to take a sevenpoint advantage. Senior star Heven Gomez quickly responded with a scintillating 80yard run, earning a TD for the Tigers. Yet the Titans managed to block the extra point attempt and the Tigers trailed by a point.

A poor kickoff by the Tigers resulted in another touchdown by the Titans, adding seven points to their lead. San Marino earned its third TD of the night shortly after, giving the Titans a 15-point lead in the third quarter.

San Marino’s defense retook control in the fourth, shutting down the Tiger offense. The game ended with a score of 21-6 in favor of the Titans.

“We did a good job of keeping them shut out in the first half; it’s just the age that

starts kicking in towards the second half and we just didn’t have enough energy to get the ball moving,” Gomez said.

The Titans are currently 4-1 overall, with their only loss coming at the hands of Crescenta Valley, 56-53. The Titans have won all of their games by an average of over fifty points except for their fifteen-point lead against the Tigers at the Color Day game.

South Pasadena’s next opponent is the reigning CIF champions, Monrovia.

The Wildcats are currently 5-1, with their only loss coming against powerhouse St. Francis, 48-14. Monrovia has not lost a league game since 2007, losing 38-26 against Blair.

10/11 10/4 SPHS SPHS v. San Marino v. Beverly Hills 21-6 L 41-7 W

Girls tennis falters against Temple City

By Brandon Kim Staff Writer The Tigers suffered yet another loss yesterday against the Temple City Rams, bringing their league record to 1-4. The singles players won two sets, while the doubles players won the other five sets but the Rams overwhelmed the Rams 11-7.

The singles players suffered heavy losses against the Rams, with only sophomore captain Symona Stans claiming two sets. Stans took down her opponents with scores of 6-2 and 6-3.

The doubles players fared much better.

The team of junior Katherine Shinno and freshman Donna Kim impressed by winning all three of their sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0. The girls only allowed 3 points total to their opponents.

The duo of senior captain Karinna Loo and freshman Ashley Huang triumphed in its two sets, with scores of 6-0 and 6-4.

On October 8, the girls suffered a heart wrenching loss at the hands of the La Cañada Spartans with a score of 11-7. Head coach Jim Asher decided to play the singles players in

Stephanie Kim

Sophomore Samona Stans serves the ball against the La Cañada Spartans. doubles, and vice versa to maximize victory in the doubles sets, a strategy that almost paid off.

The singles players exceeded expectations and were able to win two sets. Senior Corinne Marangi smashed her way to a 6-3

victory while Shinno dominated her opponent with a score of 6-2.

The doubles players played strongly and won the majority of the Tiger points. The pair of Stans and Huang trounced all three of their opponents with scores of 6-2, 6-4, and 6-2. The team of Loo and Kim soundly defeated their opponents 6-1, while the duo of senior Rebecca Bu and freshman Anya Nicolaides triumphed with a score of 6-3.

“I think it was a good decision for Asher to switch the players because if we had left them the way they were, I don’t think we would have won as many matches that we did,” Nicolaides said. “I think we need to work on our serves, volleys, and not be tentative during matches.”

The Tigers will next play the San Marino Titans at South Pasadena High School on October 17.

10/15 SPHS v. Temple City 11-7 L

10/8 SPHS v. LC 11-7 L

Sorry to say it, boys, but it’s the girls who are leading the way so far this sports season.

Sure, the football team has surpassed expectations, but it looks like a third- or fourthplace Rio Hondo League finish is the best we can hope for. Boys water polo, meanwhile, is off to a slower start than anticipated and will need to pick it up to make some playoff noise.

A pair of girls teams, however, are showing how it’s done.

Earlier this month, the Tiger volleyball team snapped La Cañada’s remarkable 69-match league win streak. The team, led by senior co-captains Samantha Figueroa and Claire Kieffer-Wright, is now a favorite for the league crown. Circle October 24 on your sports calendar when La Canada arrives in the Tiger gym seeking revenge.

Girls cross-country has also positioned itself for championship glory.

In a sport where runners spend hundreds of hours preparing for the season, a few seconds will determine whether South Pas will reclaim the league title for the first time in three years. After two dramatic Rio Hondo meets, South Pas is locked in a tight battle with rivals La Cañada and San Marino.

The first league meet delivered a needed wake-up call for the Tigers. San Marino High School took a narrow victory over La Canada High School 35-39. A young South Pasadena squad finished the meet with a disappointing score of 46.

The team blamed an unfamiliar course at Santa Fe Dam for its showing. “San Marino and La Canada had already run on that course so that definitely had to help them,” senior captain Helena Van Loan said.

The Tigers roared back in the second league meet at Lacy Park in San Marino. Van Loan demonstrated her leadership by clinching fourth overall with a solid 19:27 over the 5-kilometer course. Several underclassman played a tremendous supporting role and earned the final four scoring positions for the Tigers with 7th, 9th, 12th, and 16th place finishes that ultimately totaled 48 points for South Pasadenagood enough to edge San Marino’s score of 49.

“The underclassmen are definitely contributing to the team. Cross country always has a family feeling to it and it has helped us become a lot closer and we work well as a team,” Van Loan said.

The superb result from the second league meet sets up an enthralling League Finals that will be run on November 7. A win in the third league meet race will make South Pas girls league champions for the first time since 2010.

Time to pick it up boys. In the meantime, let’s hear it for the girls.

Read about Volleyball’s seven-game win streak

page 15 Siria Medina