Stephanie Kim
Senior Emily Figueroa crowned Queen; Korean Club sold sixty pounds of Korean barbeque; JV Pep performed on Homecoming on Nov. 1. See Pg. 3 for more coverage.
Governor Brown signs bill to eliminate STAR testing, replaces it with Common Core State Standards exams By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer Standardized testing will be seeing changes at South Pasadena Unified and other districts around the state this year. California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill in early October that eliminates most of Standardized Testing and Reporting for California schools and replaces it with a test based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The new test, called the Measurement of Academic Performance and Progress (MAPP), will be undergoing field testing for the next year, meaning there will be no statewide CST administered in the spring of 2014. However, South Pasadena High School will take either a new English or math test as part of the MAPP trial stages, and sophomores will still have to take the science CST. “I am excited for us to embrace these changes and see how all aspects of education from K-12 to college are aligning to better prepare our students in this changing world we live in,” SPHS assistant principal of instruction Ms Ginger Merritt said. The CCSS focuses on practical application and in-depth understanding of skills, rather than the memorization and drilling characteristic of STAR. Already adopted by 48 states and several U.S. territories, the CCSS intends to place the entire country at approximately the same level of education per grade and prepare students “to compete successfully in the global economy,” according to the Common Core’s website. Although the CCSS was officially adopted in
College Money Talk: Paying for college poses an immense financial burden, but are colleges using the funds to serve the students’ best interests?
5 PAG E
California in 2010, the state had not made changes to testing until this year. The bill passed in October defunds STAR and authorizes the implementation of the MAPP by 2015, but suspends standardized testing for this year. “Teachers and students will feel the effects in both curriculum and instruction in addition to some changes in classroom assessment. We believe the Common Core standards enhance our curriculum and it will ultimately impact every classroom,” Ms Merritt said. The U.S. Department of Education has threatened to withhold federal funds from California on the grounds that parents and educators should not be denied an entire year’s worth of benchmark scores. “I believe that the federal government and California Department of Education will settle this matter in our favor; we will get federal funding. However, it is unfortunate that we will not be able to see how much higher our API scores would have been this year. The hard work of our teachers, administrators, and students would have resulted in record scores,” SPUSD assistant superintendent of instruction Dr. Steve Seaford said. Teachers from all departments at SPHS attended various professional development workshops throughout last year to learn the specifics of what CCSS entails. “For the last three and half years, our teachers and administration have been hard at work to successfully transition to the Common Core. Our staff is determined to excel and lead in the new world of CCSS,” Dr. Seaford said.
NaNoWriMo:
A.P. Environmental Science classes venture to Arroyo Seco for lab By Petra Barbu Assoc. Opinion Editor The Advanced Placement Environmental Science class took its annual field trip to test the water quality of the Arroyo Seco river to expand the concepts studied thus far. The educational trip added a tangible aspect to the class curriculum. The November 4, 5, and 6 trips encouraged students to bike to the site with teacher Mr. Donald Wielenga. Although “Arroyo Seco” translates to “dry stream,” the class tested the river for macroorganisms to identify the health of the stream and the type of life that it can sustain. Students tested for pH, nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia levels. Stu-
Rachael Garner
Juniors Lena Gavenas and Elise Takahama test the nitrate, ammonia, and phosphate levels in the Arroyo Seco on November 5.
10
A.P. Language students tackle 15,000 words in 30 days; choir prepares for a joint winter concert under new leadership.
dents also measured the amount of dissolved oxygen and turbidity, or how opaque the water is. To further the hands-on nature of the experiments, the tests will be submitted to the Arroyo Seco Foundation. “It’s refreshing to be able to have a more hands-on experience for a science class, especially because APES is so applicable to modern society,” senior Chelsea Hong said. This was one of the first activities that enabled an interactive experience in a natural setting and that demonstrates processes studied throughout the year, such as eutrophication and nitrification. Students in odd period classes will return to the Arroyo today, November 7, to retest water quality.
PAG E
Girls Volleyball Dominates: Read up on the undefeated girls volleyball Rio Hondo League Champions as they prepare for the upcoming CIF playoffs.
14 PAG E
News
2
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Weak in body, not in spirit
News
Around Campus
“Our SPUSD leaders have determined that a daily commitment to the Pledge of Allegiance in all of our South Pasadena schools is an important unifying activity. At the beginning of first and second periods, you will hear an announcement to please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. At that time, please place your hand over your heart and recite the pledge while facing the flag. If you choose not to recite the Pledge, you are still to stand quietly at attention.” /Principal Janet Anderson
Nine seniors announced as QuestBridge finalists
SPHS alumnus Hajime Miyasaka living with ALS By Joey Shapiro Staff Writer South Pasadena High School student Hajime Miyasaka lost all feeling in his arm in 2010. Hajime, who was 17 years old at the time, was soon diagnosed with ALS, a degenerative disease of the nervous system that kills the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control muscle movement. The disease is very rare, especially in someone as young as Hajime, and there is no known cure. Hajime’s muscles weakened and eventually stopped functioning altogether, leaving him trapped in a paralyzed body with an otherwise fully functional brain. After his diagnosis, Tiger Newspaper collected donations and published brief messages from students showing their support for Hajime and his family. Three years later, Hajime is now resting at home with his family. His brother Ryo is a sophomore at SPHS and his sister Yuki is a fourth grade student at Marengo Elementary School. Hozue, his mother and Hiro, his father, have been trained to care for him when nurses are not present. Hajime communicates by making subtle eye movements that
his parents are able to interpret, since he lost the ability to speak, eat, and breathe without assistance. Lately, communication has become increasingly difficult as Hajime continues to lose the ability to move his eyes. Hajime was recently hospitalized after a medical procedure went wrong, leading to pneumonia among other complications. He spent a month recuperating in the hospital, but he is once again in stable condition and has returned home. Visiting Hajime is still the best way to show support. His former classmates have visited him regularly since his diagnosis, and he greatly enjoys the company of others. For those who can’t visit, written messages are equally appreciated by Hajime and his family. There will be a table outside of the career center November 12 - 15, where students can place written messages of support. The messages will be delivered to Hajime’s family at the end of the week, and each note will be read to him by his parents.
Messages for Hajime 11/12-11/15 outside the CC or email directly to
hmiyasaka@mac.com
Red Cross Club collects cans for local charity on Halloween By Andrew Shults Assoc. Sports Editor While “trick-or-treating” for candy is the traditional Halloween activity, members from the Red Cross Club went doorto-door from 6-9 PM on October 31 to collect canned food for the upcoming Pasadena Jaycees Thanksgiving event. The annual fundraiser helps the Jaycees, a charitable organization made up of young men and women, provide food for underprivileged families. The club divided its members into groups, each designated to one of the most popular neighborhoods for trick-or-treating in South Pasadena. Participants distributed flyers prior to the event in the hope of maximizing the potential can donations. After the collection, the club stored the cans in various club members’ houses. They will deliver the cans to the Pasadena Jaycees for the Operation Gobbler event, which provides food for those in need on Thanksgiving. “I have participated in this [Halloween] event for two years,” junior Meghana Girish said. “I like this event because we get to help out the local community and have fun at the same time.”
The Red Cross Club will participate in many other charitable activities this year including Operation Santa, an event that donates gifts to underserved children, and Red Hand Week, which promotes awareness of child soldiers in foreign countries. “With the canned foods the Red Cross will donate, the families benefitted by Operation Gobbler will be fed more and will have a Happy Thanksgiving,” junior Victoria Gao said. “I am proud to help out others in need and give them the opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the Thanksgiving that more privileged families get to experience.”
Stephanie Kim
Sophomore Stephanie Tom collects cans on Halloween night.
Stephanie Kim
2013 QuestBridge Scholarship finalists: front row L to R: Patricia San Pedro, Michelle Huang, Eunice Na, Andrea Rogando, and Ji Hyun Lee. Back row L to R: Yoon Lee, David Yang, Ted Kim, and Paul Song. By Emily Markese Business Manager Twelve South Pasadena High School seniors have been selected as finalists for the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. Seniors Michelle Huang, Ted Kim, Yoon Lee, Ji Hyun Lee, Eunice Na, Andrea Rogando, Patricia San Pedro, Paul Song, and David Yang received notification of their status on October 22. QuestBridge is a non-profit program that gives low-income students with strong academic records educational and scholarship opportunities. Those eligible to apply are high achieving seniors who
come from households earning less than $60,000 annually. The application process required students to complete an online application, send three letters of recommendation, and write several essays by September 27. “I read the letter and could not believe it. I rechecked my name and was like, ‘Maybe it’s another Andrea?’ I just started jumping and rejoicing around the house,” Rogando said. “Then the next thing I did was call my mom and the other people who have supported me along the way to thank them and share the good news.” When submitting their applications, students declared the
ranking of the partner colleges in order of their interest. Students could apply to eight of QuestBridge’s 35 partner colleges including Brown University, Columbia University, Princeton University, University of Southern California, and Yale University. Finalists will be notified on December 2 if they have been matched with one of their partner college choices. If matched, the QuestBridge finalists will receive financial aid packages that cover 100% of their tuition for all four years of college.
Academic Decathlon hosts scrimmage FBLA supports underprivileged teens through Operation Walking Shield
By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer Fifty backpacks containing clothes and supplies were shipped by South Pasadena High School’s Future Business Leaders of America on October 31 to help underprivileged Native American teenagers. The group concluded its third donation campaign for Operation Walking Shield last week. Participants selected a teenager, using clothing sizes, color preferences, and other personal information on the profiles to assist them in collecting needed items for their sponsored children. Donors then brought shopping bags and backpacks full of shirts, shoes, and miscellaneous school supplies to FBLA club advisor Mrs. Cathy Mason by Tuesday, October 29. “Walking Shield counts as one of our community service projects, and for the last few years we’ve made good use of this chance to do good,” FBLA president sophomore Jacob Benowitz said. SPHS FBLA became involved with the program two years ago when the Humanitarian Aid
Program requested help with meeting its quota. Clothes collected by SPHS will be sent to the Turtle Mountain Reservation in Rolette County, North Dakota, due to arrive just in time for Christmas. “In South Pasadena, we’re lucky to have roofs over our heads and enough money to be well fed,” Benowitz said. “But some people on the reservation don’t have solid shelter or food. Not only are they cold in the winter, they’re starving as well. Walking Shield is a great opportunity to help.” Walking Shield Incorporated was founded in 1986 by Mr. Phil Stevens, of Lakota heritage, with the purpose of improving the quality of life for Native Americans around the country. In addition to providing shelter, healthcare, and community development support, the organization supplies more than one thousand pounds of clothing to impoverished reservations every year. According to Mrs. Mason, Operation Walking Shield will remain an important part of FBLA’s activities in years to come.
By Shine Cho News Editor The South Pasadena High School Academic Decathlon team competed against Beverly Hills High School in a planned scrimmage held on campus on October 26 to prepare for its year of competitions. Beverly Hills is the 2013 Number One Division I team in Los Angeles County. The SPHS team took second place at the event, with a score of 26,440 points. Beverly Hills anchored 26,808 points. Juniors Elise Matsusaka and John Dullaghan, and senior Daniel Gonzales individually swept first place in their respective level of Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity. “We’re off to a great start,” Dullaghan said. “Our group works uniquely together even though at the end of the day, you’re on your own taking the tests.” According to faculty advisor Mr. Oliver Valcorza, the group meets after school every Monday and Wednesday and some weekends to review material. “The team is working incredibly hard,” Valcorza said. “They understand that hard work is what’s going to get results.”
News
The scent of sizzling hot dogs and Korean barbeque filled the air as students flocked outside for the annual Homecoming Picnic. Forty-seven clubs sold food and refreshments ranging from steaming spaghetti to icecold Frappuccinos and hosted activities such as giant inflatable slide rides and bungee races.
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
3
Commissioner of Assemblies and senior Homecoming princess Marcy Kuo led the first half of the highly anticipated luau-themed Homecoming assembly. Commissioner of Spirit senior Natalie Crespo took over the mic for the second half while Kuo and the rest of the court were honored.
This year’s picnic also saw a location change, leaving the traditional spot on Diamond Avenue and moving to the softball field.
The various pep squads performed throughout the assembly. Seniors Ted Kim, Julius Lam, and Roy Lee serenaded the court with the love song “She Was Mine.”
“We decided that the street was too long and spread the booths far apart, and there was nowhere to sit, eat, or relax.” Commissioner of Clubs senior Jake Sim said. “Overall, the picnic was a success on the practice field.”
Crespo led a question and answer session with the Court. She asked the princesses to demonstrate their favorite dance moves and which teacher they would take with them if they were trapped on a deserted island.
picnic halftime
HOMECOMING
2013
assembly dance
Nearly four hundred students filled the gym for the luau-themed Homecoming Dance last Text by Madison Amido, Jenna Giulioni, Friday night. The three-hour venue finished at Jason Wang, Stanley Wu midnight and featured tiki decorations, Hawaiian backdrops, and a menagerie of game booths By the time the second quarter drew to a close, ranging from ping-pong toss to Frisbee throw. the varsity football team was losing 14 to 9 and fan spirits were down. The What makes losing to La Cañada in football a little less painful? A half time show punctuated with fire dancers, tiaras, flowers, and fireworks.
Page by Shine Cho
band and color guard strutted on to the field performing their new and improved field show, Castles in the Sky. After band and color guard shuffled off the field, the princesses were announced once again, this time escorted by their fathers. Two fire dancers then took the field to perform an unexpected torch routine and senior Emily Figeuroa was crowned Homecoming Queen. A beautiful fireworks display followed the announcement
“We all got up at five in the morning to set up,” junior class secretary Katherine Uriarte said. “Every day since Icebreaker, we’ve been working in preparation for the dance, and I think we managed to get a great turnout.” Apart from the colorful dance floor, lit by lantern globes and tiki torches, the dance offered a live photobooth, free hotdogs, and free popcorn.
4
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
How to Plan the Perfect Dinner Party
desserts
appetizers and sides
Spinach and Artichoke Dip Pigs in a Blanket Fruit Kebabs or Fruit Salad Pesto and Mozzarella Pasta Caprese Salad Baked Macaroni and Cheese Mashed Potatoes
FOOD
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Inception Cookies Salted Caramel Brownies Mini Cheesecake Bites Rhubarb Pie Mini Fruit Tarts Gingerbread Spice Cake
HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT DINNER PARTY MUSIC
3 MOVIES
Nightlife (ft. Bajka) - Bonobo Chapel Song - We Are Augustines Youth (Alle Farben Remix)-Daughter Dissolve Me - Alt-J Who Knows Who Cares (Local Natives Wax Nostalgic Mix) - Wax Nostalgic The Love Club - Lorde When I'm Small - Phantogram Bedouin Dress - Fleet Foxes
action
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
As the self-centered and misogynistic anchorman Ron Burgundy, Will Ferrell is at the top of his comedic game. The movie is packed with endlessly quotable dialogue and hilarious performances from every member of its star-studded cast. See it before the sequel is released this December.
thriller Skyfall
The latest James Bond movie is also Daniel Craig's best, and it features one of the most memorable Bond villains yet, sinister tech genius Raoul Silva. Expect to be wowed by the movie’s thrilling opening chase scene.
DECOR
light-hearted
Lighting - You can easily achieve a calming atmoshpere by adding twinkling lights or lanterns across the dinner table. Tableware - A simple table setting adorned with your favorite flowers, kitchenware, and table cloth adds character to the party. Name cards - Making personalized name cards for guests helps organize seating in a creative way.
Groundhog Day
TEXT BY: MADISON AMIDO, RACHAEL GARNER, EMILY MARKESE, LEO PARKER IV, & JOEY SHAPIRO PAGE & ILLUSTRATIONS BY: SOPHIA ARRIOLA
This classic comedy takes déjà vu to a whole new level. Starring the always lovely Bill Murray as a weatherman forced to relive the same day over and over again, Groundhog Day is the kind of movie that can make you laugh without requiring you to closely follow the story.
Opinion
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
Opinion
5
Yeah Boi
B
to whoever dunked Ms. Moone in the dunk tank. Her plummet was oddly reminiscent of our grades in her class. ravo
B
ravo to mandatory NaNoWriMo. There’s
no better way to foster creativity than to force it and grade on word count.
B
to the immensely popular Copa photo booth at the Homecoming picnic. It was a real treat seeing those topless boys glistening in the sweat of their egos. ravo
By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer
B
ravo to Justin Park for singing “Treasure” off his phone at the HC picnic. We’re not sure what’s more impressive, his dedication or lack of preparation.
B
oo to the SAT language subject tests for requiring CD players. Way to prepare for our futures by setting us back thirty years in technology.
The Tiger Established 1913
CSPA Gold Medalist 2005 CSPA Gold Medalist 2006 CSPA Gold Medalist 2009 CSPA Gold Medalist 2010 CSPA Gold Medalist 2011 CSPA Gold Medalist 2013 Editor-in-Chief Rachael Garner Managing Editors Rhian Moore, Print Remeny White, Online News Shine Cho, Editor Stanley Wu, Associate Editor Opinion David Yang, Editor Petra Barbu, Associate Editor Feature Sarah Stukan, Editor Somi Jun, Associate Editor Sports Clem Witherall, Editor Andrew Shults, Associate 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, Kira Gabriel, Jenna Giulioni, Madeline Hellwig, Karen Hsueh, Kea Hudson, Brandon Kim, Ross Lelieur, Julian Prime, Joey Shapiro, Asa Silverman, Jason Wang, Jordan Xiao Staff Illustrators Dylan Anselmo, Spenser Atlas, Annie Lu Managers Marcy Kuo, Ads Emily Markese, Business
Dylan Anselmo
Real talk: Financial aid Staff Editorial Financial Aid Night does not belong in the SPHS auditorium. It should be held between individual students and parents in the comfort and privacy of their homes. Given that the affordability of a college is a major determinant of whether or not a student will consider applying there, it makes sense that family finances should be a serious and necessary topic of discussion between students and parents. Family finances are composed of a wide array of elements, not only income, as some may think. Assets, savings, and home equity are all aspects of a family’s financial profile that are taken into consideration by financial aid offices when creating an aid package. Students and parents should not only discuss these individual concerns, but also do additional research in order to get a comprehensive understanding of what affects their aid eligibility. Granted, these topics may not render the easiest of conversations, but surely one of the most valuable ones in the long run. Discussing this matter will give students a more realistic understanding of which colleges are viable options for
Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Vol. C. No. III distributed on November 7, 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.
By David Yang Opinion Editor
themselves and their families early on in the application process. This way, students can avoid being stuck in the terrifying situation of being accepted into a college they cannot afford to attend. This is no t to ta k e away fr o m the usefulness of Financial Aid Night. For many families new to the college application process, the event provides them with invaluable knowledge that will help them make informed decisions when it is time to discuss paying for college. However, this resource alone is ineffective as it is ultimately the state of parents’ finances that determines how much financial aid a student qualifies for. Rather than only depending on Financial Aid Night to figure out issues regarding the cost of college, students should take the initiative to star t a conversation with their parents to figure out exactly what financial state their families are in. Only in developing and maintaining strong communication with parents throughout the college admissions process can students make the choice that balances what they want and what they have.
College-bound students feel immense pressure to take the hardest classes available and have the most impressive resumes in order to be competitive candidates for college admission. Rather than taking part in this culture of overachievement, which emphasizes quantity over quality, students should instead prioritize their passions over the requirements for college admission in order to have a meaningful high school experience. For students to remain competitive candidates in the admissions process, demonstrating excellence in a multitude of classes makes sense. A stigma that comes with opting out of certain high-level classes, shaming intelligent students for not challenging themselves to a high enough degree, is paired with this necessity to explore a wide range of academic pursuits in high school. College representatives field the question, “Is it better to get an A in a general class, or a B in an AP class?” by nonchalantly pushing students to just get an A in an AP class. It is in a student’s best interest to be aware of his or her boundaries when it comes to course load. While it is certainly beneficial to challenge oneself, doing this to an extreme degree can cause students’ quality of life to drop from loss of sleep and high stress levels over subjects from which they do not gain satisfaction. Students must understand that they can still be competitive candidates for top colleges while opting out of high-level classes that are not pertinent to their passions. It is completely acceptable to choose a general class over an honors or AP class in order to make more time for other involvements outside of school. Students who are passionate about an extracurricular should prioritize that passion over a challenging class that they do not find stimulating. They will ultimately learn more from a constructive experience than from an unfulfilling class, and their chances for college admission will not be diminished if they prove their potential through other activities. Students can ensure that their high school experience will yield happier, more fulfilling, and richer memories if they act in their best interests by pursuing their interests.
Keeping clubs meaningful
The fact that colleges value leadership qualities and volunteerism makes clubs the ultimate activity for students who wish to present themselves as service-minded leaders of the school. Luckily, clubs without a true passion fade as a natural result of their disillusioned membership, but their brief existence wastes ASB’s time and is unfair to the students who joined impassioned organizations. Students who start clubs
without being fully invested in the endeavor cannot possibly do the best job in leading their membership or their cause. The character of the leaders and the motives behind an organization are major determinants of the success of an organization. Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong organization is a prime example of how the success of an organization hinges on the character of its leader. The organization’s popularity soared with Armstrong’s career, but its credibility tanked with his scandal as well. The com-
mitment required to make an organization successful in light of the heavy burdens of high school life make it highly unlikely that clubs led by students motivated only by self-interest will succeed. Students are to blame for clubs that eventually collapse from the apathy of leaders as their signatures of approval are those that legitimized the club in the approval process to begin with. The problem is that many people who start clubs obtain signatures from friends who feel obliged to sign their peti-
tions. It may be a tough personal choice, but friends should hold one another accountable by not approving club petitions they feel may have misguided motives. In the end, the only person who will know whether a club really is for the sole purpose of fluffing up a college resume is the student. Those who are desperate to pad their resumes will always attempt to exploit the interests of the student body, but it’s up to students to refuse to sign their names on club petitions that they don’t believe have noble intentions.
6
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Opinion
The Unaffordable Care Act By Stanley Wu Staff Writer Students sound off on the little things that make their skin crawl, give them the heebie jeebies, and just plain drive them insane. Did your pet peeves make the list? “I hate going to the bathroom and forgetting what I was about to do, then I go back to the bathroom a minute later to poop!” -Yoon Lee, 12th “I hate it when I’m finally about to take a bite out of my food and somebody totally interrupts that moment of intimacy.” -Victor Hidalgo, 12th “My peeves are the feeling of dry sand on my fingernails, when people call me false, and Taylor Swift.” -Tru Pierone, 11th “My pet peeve is when people miss the toilet in the bathroom stalls. Your poop belongs in the toilet, not all over it.” -Adam Espinoza, 11th “People who don’t use turn indicators. Or just any other driver while I’m driving.” -Dalton SooHoo, 12th
The grand unveiling of Healthcare.gov was, in short, disappointing. Last Monday, President Barack Obama publicly apologized that the site hadn’t “worked as smoothly as it was supposed to work,” but told Americans not to be dissuaded by the technological speed-bump. The website’s failure is only a small part of the issue; the program itself is inherently flawed. Although the president made many promises regarding the effectiveness of the program, few of his statements have proven to be true. On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known to most as the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare,” into law. The program was intended to alleviate the pressure on the elderly, but has instead had a negative impact on the average American citizen. Take the example of individual insurance, which are plans that cover families or individuals. Despite President Obama’s claims that citizens would be able to keep their current policies, Americans have found that their insurance plans no longer meet the Obamacare’s requirements. The new regulations force insurance providers to cancel plans and replace them with more comprehensive policies. Kaiser Permanente in California has canceled half the number of plans, totaling 160,000 policies. Florida Blue has cut 300,000 policies, dropping to a fifth of its original number. In fact, 93 million people who have private
and individual health insurance are likely to lose their current insurance. Many of these former plans are replaced by new and costlier plans that include unnecessary benefits. Average 27 year-old adults in California will pay almost a quarter more, while those in Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, and Virginia will pay two-and-ahalf times that of their current premiums. The average co-payment for a visit to a doctor has also almost doubled. The increases have gone against the act’s intention of lower insurance costs. Obamacare will also have a detrimental effect on American business. The program defines a fulltime worker as anyone who works for thirty hours or more, incentivising businesses to reduce working hours to avoid the heavy financial burden of providing insurance. Chains such as Forever 21, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s have already set caps on working hours, making it more difficult for workers to support themselves and their families. A Gallup poll found that almost half of small businesses have frozen hiring, and a fifth have even reduced the size of their businesses because of the new program. Rather than assist the American economy, the president has merely stymied job creation and expansion of payrolls. President Obama’s plan to reform health care may have had good intentions, but statistics have proved that the policy has only raised costs and unemployment, revelations that the White House has failed to acknowledge. The Affordable Care Act has shown to be anything but affordable.
Decrease athletic intensity By Somi Jun Staff Writer High school sports has ballooned into an unrealistic burden for many students. Sports are so ingrained in school culture that hardly anyone ever acknowledges how unusual it is to spend hours every day practicing a sport that most students will not pursue after high school. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, only .08% of high school football players, .03% of male basketball players, and .02% of female basketball players actually go professional after graduation. Of course, this doesn’t mean that sports are worthless; many student athletes testify that the values they learn from sports, such as work ethic, teamwork, and overcoming adversity, benefit them for the rest of their lives. However, these
sports values can be learned without being so intensely competitive that students cannot focus on academics. For example, Color Guard practices often begin at 4 P.M. and end at 9 P.M., detracting time from homework. Practice could be shortened by several hours, and athletes would still be able to learn all of the sports values. The length and frequency of practices are two of the primary factors that make it difficult for athletes to have a well-rounded high school experience. Some students drop honors or A.P.-level courses in order to accommodate sports, and other would-be athletes drop sports in order to focus on schoolwork. It should not be so difficult to participate in both athletics and academics, both of which are experiences that are almost exclusive to high school and college. However, due to the rig-
or of practice, many students can’t pursue sports even in high school. Those who do participate in sports have trouble juggling their academic courses due to the time constraints. Lowering the intensity of sports will encourage participation without having to make sacrifices in academics. More students can learn esteemed sports values, and more athletes can take challenging courses. Thus, students can experience both facets of high school life. Ultimately, this would be more beneficial to the majority of the student body; in contrast to the very few students who pursue sports, about 66% of high school graduates enroll in college. Having a greater balance between athletics and academics would give graduates an extra edge and improve South Pasadena High School’s reputation as an academically high-achieving school.
Spenser Atlas
Tiger Newspaper Asks:
Have you discussed family finances with your parents in regard to college tuition? What did you learn from the conversation? Was there information you didn’t anticipate? How did the conversation shape your college search and application process? If not, what do you feel has prevented the dialogue? Adam Espinoza, Grade 11 I have discussed finances regarding college with my parents, but the topic is usually pushed aside. Being a junior now, the thought that I’m going to be heading off to college in a year frightens me to the bone. Last summer, however, I had attended a seminar with my parents which introduced me to such terms as FAFSA and EFC, acronyms with which I wasn’t too familiar. I learned from the seminar that, with scholarships and assistance, it’s not too hard getting into a college you want. Living with low income, I had always felt that my selections in colleges would be limited, but the seminar eradicated my preconceived notions. I did not anticipate that colleges would
actually be willing to give away a lot money for me to attend their campuses. My parents, however, still want me to attend an affordable college opposed to a known university. The biggest thing that prevents these conversations from continuing are the many Advanced Placement classes that I am taking. Andrea Rogando, Grade 12 I haven’t actually sat down with my parents to talk about college finances. Since freshman year, they already told me that they won’t be able to afford to send me to college here in the US, but this never discouraged me from trying. The other option they gave was to go to the Philippines. But with scholar-
ship opportunities, I have a chance at pursuing my goals and staying with my family. Natalie Gould, Grade 12 I have spoken to my parents about getting scholarships and they are currently helping me to get some by applying for them online. I have been looking for a cheaper college since talking to them about it and my plan currently is to work to afford college. Brooke Drury, Grade 11 Yes, I’ve talked with my parents about college money and I learned that if I don’t get scholarships I’m going to have to take student loans, which I expected. I didn’t anticipate that some colleges do have financial
aid, however I’d have to get into the college first. I’m only a junior so I don’t need to start on apps for a while, but it does get me thinking about where I really want to go and how much it’s going to cost. I am not sure how I’m going to afford college besides aids, loans and scholarships, per my parents, so looks like I’ll be working all through college. Paloma Strong, Grade 9 I currently haven’t discussed family finances with my parents in regard to college tuition. What has prevented the dialogue is that it just seems really far away and I’m just going to focus on getting through each year of high school before I focus on college.
Opinion
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
7
Share the wealth By Ross Lelieur Staff Writer
Spenser Atlas
Expand safe bicycle parking By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Compared to the challenges of AP Calculus and AP Biology, locking a bicycle should not be a student’s most difficult task. However, the roughly 40 students who bike to school are finding it increasingly difficult to make it to the eight available slots on the bike rack. The problem stems from a lack of space in the bike racks located behind the Career and Counseling center. The rack currently allows for eight bicycles, may more file into the narrow alley every morning. If there are five times as many bicycles as there is space for them, clearly something needs to be done so the racks can accommodate the staggering number of bicycles, such as expanding the bicycle parking area using relatively unused space next to the Career and Counseling Center. The lack of space in the rack compels students to become more creative in keeping their bicycles safe. Eight lucky students can properly chain their bicycles, free from any hassles. The unfortunate others must resort to chaining their bicycles on the fence or leave their bicycles inside the ramp that leads to the bicycle racks. Still more are forced to leave their bicycles unchained right outside
of room CC1, leaving their bikes vulnerable to theft. There is a simple solution to this problem: the school can spend some money to expand safe bicycle parking space. Campus supervisor Mr. Baghram-Gregor suggests an expansion of the bicycle “parking lot.” He proposes that the fence for the bicycle parking area extend into the alley in front of room CC1, dividing the alley into two walkways. The entire process would be made easier with the purchase and installment of more bicycle racks, which would be installed into the new space that would be used to accommodate more bicycles. While it may seem petty to discuss this issue of bicycle overflow, this issue extends beyond South Pasadena High School. As the school has taken the time and resources to transform urinals to be more economically friendly, only little additional effort would be required to increase the space for bicycle parking, encouraging bicyclers to continue to ride their vehicles. If this solution to the bicycle overpopulation were to be implemented, it would be an enormous incentive for students to come to school on their bikes instead of cars. Even if more bike racks do not automatically lead to more immediate bicycle usage, it would still be a worthwhile investment in case there is ever a future need.
In 2007, just 5% of Harvard University’s billions in endowment funding could have paid for the tuition costs of the entire student body. This, however, did not happen, and students continue to pay exorbitant fees to attend. This statistic highlights the glaring failure of many higher echelon schools to spend their endowments appropriately by not putting their students first. An endowment is a fund which colleges use to finance some of their various expenses. Despite Yale’s hefty $19.3 billion in endowment funding, attending it comes with a price tag of more than $58,000 dollars per year. Middle class students are often limited when considering expensive schools because they cannot afford to pay outright, as the rich do, but also cannot receive the grants and financial aid that the less well-off receive. If Yale, or any college, were to put some of their endowment funds towards lowering tuition, the schools would be opening themselves up to more students of all classes. By investing its endowment in outside endeavors like the stock market, Harvard has netted an average return of 12.9% for the past twelve years. Its current endowment fund weighs in at more than $32 billion dollars, and its operating costs run at about $4 billion. Put together, these
Male-centered language is a modern problem By Petra Barbu Assoc. Opinion Editor There tends to be a significant amount of annoyance and eye-rolling when someone religiously uses gender neutral language, but it is about much more than a forgotten pronoun. Gender inequality is much more real than many choose to believe, and the fact that this discrimination has manifested itself in our language is far from a minor issue. The idea is not to attack the word, but rather to address the mindset that lies behind it. Gender-specific word choice casts men as superior to women, in effect not just accepting but proliferating the problem. This daily use of gender-specific language erodes our sensitivity to the discrimination that women face. Gender equality is far from achieved, and it is not, as many assume, a problem from which the United States is exempt. According to the International Labor Organization, women earn on average 20% less than men and ¾ of all CEOs are male. Gender inequality isn’t a vague issue that happens only in foreign countries, it’s a reality that America deals with every day from employment to
word choice. This is far from a trivial issue, as is the fact that this gender hierarchy is such an evident part of our language. A few words strung together may seem like a small issue, but these words reveal much about a person’s mentality. It is unacceptable that even though we live in a “progressive” society, when we refer to a generic authority figure, the pronoun is almost always male. A large part of the problem is the labelling of gender-specific language as trivial word choice. One could argue that the use of the n-word is also a trivial matter of word choice, as is use of the b-word and the c-word. The fact that none of these words could even be printed says something about how “trivial” they really are. Making small changes in our choice of language will make changes, if slowly, in the way we perceive gender equality. It may not change every opinion, but it will bring awareness to underlying prejudice. Discussing the everyday issues is an effective way to bring feminism to light in a high school setting and bring up the cause behind it. Gender equality will not fix itself over night, but we must inspire change by beginning with the small things.
numbers demonstrate that Harvard’s endowment returns, on their own, could pay for all of its operating expenses - without students paying a cent. Colleges also claim that tuition must rise due to inflation. However, schools have far greater reserves than families and thus should bear the front of inflation costs. As opposed to raising prices to try to pay for increasing costs, colleges could use their endowments to offset inflation.
Annie Lu
and remove the burden from students and families. Colleges have the potential, through changing the focus of endowments, to lower the cost of tuition for all students. The purpose of a school is to provide an education to students, and it is time for colleges to recognize that endowments should be used to service the students’, not the colleges’, interests first.
Focus on the big picture By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Feminism, at its core, is a noble crusade for equal rights regardless of gender. Advocates of gender-neutral speech are trying to change a major social issue through reform of a smaller aspect of the issue. However, in doing so they are doing a disservice to themselves and the feminist cause. Focusing on insignificant word choice trivializes the feminist movement rather than focusing on the problems that actually need to be addressed. Language evolves just as society does. Words have the capacity to morph independent from the influences of society. While some terms or phrases may originate from the extremely male-centric culture of the past, their original meanings have been lost as language has evolved. These words remain in our vocabulary as benign vestigial fragments of the past, their meanings severed from the original purpose. People still use these terms as a habit of speech, rather than in reverence of traditional ideas of male superiority. If these words are used with the intent to evoke a disparity in gender, they should rightfully change. So-
cietal views of women have come far from the unbridled misogyny of the past, and, as a result, these words no longer represent sexist ideals. Since these words do not embody sexist sentiments, they should be regarded as empty shells with no intentions of offense. While the debate on language is not something to dismiss outright, its importance pales in comparison to that of the problems of women in other countries. In Saudi Arabia, women are not allowed to drive or work in workplaces with men. In China, there have been many more female babies abandoned than male ones and even more illegal abortions. In Lebanon, abused women cannot file divorce without an eyewitness. These problems require more attention from activists and are significantly more important than the problems of diction. Feminists should focus on generating more awareness for gender equality instead of trying to tear down phrases with arbitrarily chosen words. In doing so, they will be able to garner more support for the crusade for women’s rights. If they continue to argue about these trivial words, they will shift the center of debate from the important issues at hand.
8
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Homecoming 2013
Homecoming 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
9
HOMECOMING 2013 Page by Rachael Garner
Photos by Sophia Arriola, Rachael Garner, Raj Jain, Stephanie Kim, Siria Medina, & Matt Winkel
Marcy Kuo
Many students know of senior princess Marcy Kuo as the first female Commissioner of Assemblies in the last fourteen years. However, few students know that she works in the wedding industry as a master of ceremony and a DJ. Kuo hopes to make every assembly feel like a show so that students can leave with anticipation for the next one. Her family has had a big influence on her life. Her 93-year-old grandparents impart wisdom and moral advice, while her parents come to every one of her assemblies to watch their daughter entertain them and the crowd.
Isabel Barbera
Senior Queen Emily Figueroa
Freshman princess Isabel Barbera is a lover of all things cat-related and enjoys spending time with her friends from cross country. “I love hanging out with my friends and eating ridiculously huge amounts of food,” Barbera said. This being her first year at the high school, Barbera says she was flattered to be selected as homecoming princess.When she isn’t spending time with her friends, Barbera likes to unwind by relaxing with her cats.“I talk to my cats as if they were human,” Barbera adds.
Reporting by Madison Amido, Petra Barbu, Kealia Hudson, Brandon Kim, & Andrew Shults
Naomi Broder
Naomi Broder has more in common with Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” than you might think. Young, sweet, and only seventeen, Naomi cites some of her favorite activities as watching Netflix and hosting interpretative dance parties with her friends. Her love of dance extends past these eclectic soirées: she works as an assistant at a dance studio and teaches younger children, helping them learn and perform a variety of dances. Naomi’s talents don’t stop there as she is also is a professional baker and shopper. She can dance, she can jive, and she’s having the time of her life.
Kristen Kafkaloff
A member of the varsity basketball team since her freshman year, sophomore Kristen Kafkaloff spends most of her time between schoolwork and sports practice. She loves hanging out with her friends and family, watching guilty pleasure worthy TV shows on Netflix, “snapchatting,” and eating ice cream (her favorite is chocolate peanut butter). Kafkaloff has a major sweet tooth--if she could be any animal, she would be a baby cow so she could have an endless supply of chocolate milk.
Colleen Berry
A family at Disneyland once mistakenly asked Junior Homecoming Princess Colleen Berry if she was actress Emma Stone. Although the family was wrong, both Berry and Stone have two things in common: red hair and a great sense of humor. When Berry isn’t in school she enjoys re-watching Lord of the Rings movies, or re-reading Harry Potter. One of her favorite memories related to school includes heartfelt conversations in Mr. Whitney’s class.
10
Feature Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Feature
Out and About Monterey Hills Elementary School is holding its third annual MHS Piano Recital today at 6:30 PM in its multipurpose room. Performers include alumni and current students. Enjoy classical music played by cute children for no entry cost. /Somi Jun
Choir prepares for winter concert By Madeline Hellwig Staff Writer
Siria Medina
Juniors Kelly Xing, Nayad Salim, Amy Choi, and Michael Ozaki brainstorm potential storylines for their assigned novels. Students in select A.P. English Language and 11th Honors English will participate in NaNoWriMo.
English classes participate in NaNoWriMo By Stanley Wu Assoc. News Editor Writing a 50,000-word novel in thirty days is certainly an intimidating task, but it is a requirement for those participating in NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. Aspiring authors who manage to reach the goal are deemed winners, and some even go on to have their novels published. Some students at South Pasadena High School will participate in the Young Writers Program category, which requires a lower word count of fifteen to thirty thousand, as part of a school assignment. Those in Ms Diane Shires’s or Ms Audrey Toth’s A.P. English Language
and Composition class and Mr. Ben Arnold’s 11th grade Honors English class began their thirty-day quest on November 1. The three teachers have addressed initial concerns over the amount of work involved by reducing assignments throughout the month of November. “We’ve also set up a great support system for all the students,” Toth said. “The project is individualized by giving students the choice to write anywhere from 15,000 to over 30,000 words.” NaNoWriMo is not new to SPHS students. Junior Hanna Crowley, an A.P. English Language student, has had past experience with the challenge. “I’m really excited that [my class] is doing NaNoWriMo this year,” Crow-
ley said. “I think it’s a great way for students to work their minds and get their ideas out there.” The English teachers believe that NaNoWriMo will help students taking the A.P. test in May by improving their students’ use of personal style and voice. “Our teachers have always done a great job at teaching the formula. Now, the next step is to encourage students to bring out their voice in writing and take creative risks,” Shires said. “The students at this school have always been able to earn proficient scores on the test. But by giving students the opportunity to present their originality and unique style, they’ll be able to move from proficiency to excellency.”
The South Pasadena High School Arroyo Seco Ensemble and Oneonta Choir of South Pasadena High School are fervently preparing the numbers for their annual joint winter concert in January. While the Ensemble focuses on a wide variety of contemporary music, including musical theatre, pop, jazz, R&B, and television scores, the choir holds a greater interest in classical music. Contemporary and classical styles have found a happy medium in the upcoming concert’s program, which includes songs such as “Silent Night,” “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” and numbers from Les Miserables and Wicked. Members of the Ensemble and Choir have been preparing their concert repertoire through rehearsals, vocal lessons, and musical concept learning with instructor Ms Lia Donovan, who replaced Mr. Michael Gray this year. Despite the change in leadership, group members are confident about the January performance. “I’m sure we will do fine. We always have,” senior Matthew Galper said. “But I’m not sure how the new members will react [to the performance].” In addition to the Winter Concert, the groups will also perform for Music for Charity, a Chinese New Year celebration at South Pasadena Middle School, and the annual spring concerts. Smaller performances will be scattered throughout the rest of the school year to keep the choir members dedicated and active. “Choir has been my passion for the past three years, so it’s kind of my baby,” senior Courtney Chu said. “I don’t think I would have happily survived high school without it.” Around half of the two choir ensembles comprises new freshmen this year. Although the arrival of the newcomers also indicates the parting with graduating choir members, Chu expressed appreciation and excitement for the new season. “I love having a young choir because it gives us old folk more energy,” Chu said. “Where experience is needed, upperclassmen are glad to lend a hand.”
Personality Profile: Yoon Lee By Jason Wang Staff Writer There are few people in the world who can recite Star Wars and run eight miles all while screaming at intervals of five minutes. Luckily, South Pasadena High School has senior Yoon Lee, a varsity cross-country athlete, chick flick fanatic, and all-around eccentric individual. Apart from his contagious smile and cozy brown eyes, Lee is famous for the odd, self-described “reptilian” noise he makes by smacking his lips, a habit he adopted while attending elementary school in South Korea. Lee was born in Seoul and spent the first seven years of his life dabbling in a variety of hobbies. On some school days, he attended four consecutive lessons in violin, swimming, piano, and the Korean board game of Go before returning home.
One of his fondest elementary school memories is when he won his first grade campaign for “ban-jang,” the equivalent of class president, by a landslide. “My mom told me that I probably wouldn’t win, but I was the type of guy that won because all the girls voted for me,” Lee said. Nonetheless, in search of a better education, Lee’s family moved to the United States when he was in the second grade, entirely unfamiliar with English and American culture. He recalls his first few years in the States, residing in Helendale, California, as “unremarkable.” “I spent every day memorizing English vocabulary words,” Lee said. “I took breaks in between by watching Pokémon.” Lee did not come to South Pasadena until the seventh grade, the year he found himself friendless and far more timid than he is today.
For nearly a year, Lee found refuge in Korean films and chick flicks, hoping to gain confidence from the very characters he saw on screen. In the middle eighth grade, Lee resolved to change. He found himself inspired by the movie Yes Man, and broke through his language and social barriers to pose a single question that he believes “changed his life.” “I admit that I was a loner at first,” Lee said. “But I shattered my bubble when I asked Isaac, my first friend from South Pas, if he wanted to watch a movie with me.” From that point onward, Lee bloomed into a social butterfly, casting aside his doubts and embracing his quirkiness. “When I first met Yoon, to be honest, I thought he was a weird one,” senior Paul Song, a fellow class officer, said. “But as I got to know him better, I grew to appreciate his uniqueness.”
Siria Medina
Senior Yoon Lee fostered friendships in the United States after becoming inspired by familiar cinematic stories from Korea.
Feature
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
11
Personality Profile: Patricia San Pedro By Karen Hsueh Staff Writer Patricia San Pedro could be considered a Renaissance woman. In the past year, the senior has divided her time between a long list of activities that range from management of the school treasury to graphic design. San Pedro is ASB’s Commissioner of Finance and the vice president of South Pasadena High School’s Key Club. An active member since sophomore year, San Pedro dedicates much of her spare time to attend events such as DCON, an annual convention
celebrating the end of the Key Club year, and Fall Rally at Six Flags Magic Mountain. “At first, I was one of those freshmen who scoffed at joining the Key Club, but now I love it. Because of it, I’ve learned the fun of volunteering,” San Pedro said. “The reason why I submerge myself in volunteering is because I really don’t like the idea of spending time wastefully.” San Pedro’s heart for volunteering manifests itself in her work with various organizations. Her Sundays are spent either at Huntington Hospital or the Sacred Heart Church of Altadena.
Sophia Arriola
Senior Patricia San Pedro’s passion for volunteering has lead her to become involved with Key Club and ASB, as well as off-campus charities.
For the entire summer of her junior year, she was the Zumba instructor at the church, providing weekly lessons for participants. In addition to her contribution to the community, San Pedro is also an avid dancer. She most recently performed alongside senior Commissioner of Assemblies Marcy Kuo in this year’s Color Day assembly. San Pedro also enjoys baking for friends and family, as well as polishing her graphic design skills. Her selfproclaimed “obsessions” include iced coffee and TV shows that range from Korean dramas to Bollywood movies. “My idea of a perfect day would consist of me eating red bean bread while watching a Bollywood movie,” San Pedro said. “I’m a weird person, and I’m proud of it.” San Pedro has her sights set on attending the University of Southern California’s Davis School of Gerontology, which specializes in the study of aging, next fall. “I plan to major in gerontology so that I can work with the elderly in the future. I have a soft spot for the elderly, because it was my grandmother who raised me,” San Pedro said. Though San Pedro’s interests seem to have nothing in common, they do share one characteristic: each of her endeavors express a genuine passion for serving others. “It’s really hard to meet someone like Patricia,” junior Irene Tang said. “She’s so easy to talk to and can turn any situation into a great time.”
Like this comic? View it in full color at tigernewspaper.com.
Raj Jain
Mr. Sean Regan,teacher
abqjournal.com
Walter White,Breaking Bad See an uncanny resemblance between a student or faculty member and a celebrity? Let us know at tigernewspaper.com.
WorkAbility allows Special Ed students to pursue careers By Somi Jun Assoc. Feature Editor
Carrie remake devalues the quality of previous adaptations By Joey Shapiro Staff Writer 2.5/5
Carrie is the most recent entry in a long line of classic horror movie remakes, but that isn’t to say it’s poorly made. The film sets its ambitions low to begin with by delivering a nearly shot-for-shot reproduction of the 1976 horror-drama, but delivers enough thrill and excitement to serve as an entertaining movie. Like the original version, this modernized version of Carrie focuses on Carrie White (Chloë Moretz), a mysterious girl who is frequently taunted and humiliated by her peers for acting withdrawn and quiet. Her home life isn’t much better than her school life, as her religioncrazed mother (Julianne Moore) regularly locks Carrie in a crucifixfilled closet to repent for “sins” such
as talking to boys or attending school dances. Unbeknownst to others, Carrie has supernatural powers: under intense stress she is able to move objects with her mind. As prom night approaches, Carrie continues to be tormented by those around her, and one student’s cruel prank for prom pushes her too far. Carrie’s main shortcoming is that it’s unable to set itself apart from other film adaptations of the Stephen King novel. Much of the dialogue is identical to that of the 1976 adaptation, as are almost all of the camera angles. A successful remake makes changes that improve on the original film in some way; Carrie plays it too safe by being overly faithful to the original and offering purely superficial changes, such as improved special effects and the presence of modern technology.
Chloë Moretz handles her lead role as Carrie fairly well, although she lacks the haunting wideeyed appearance that made her character so believable in previous film adaptations. On the other hand, Julianne Moore is spectacular as Carrie’s delusional mother, and her character’s disturbingly misguided religious beliefs are genuinely terrifying. Her transfixing performance is the most exceptional aspect of the movie. What is most unfortunate about Carrie is that, despite its talented cast, it’s hardly much more than a mediocre horror movie. It’s consistently entertaining, but it feels too much like a weak imitation of the far superior 1976 adaptation. Despite benefiting from brilliant source material, Carrie is ultimately an uninspired remake that is overshadowed by its predecessors.
A new program at South Pasadena High School employs students in the special education department to sort, count, and package lunches that are sold at the high school or shipped to other area schools. The students are paid about $8 an hour through WorkAbility 1, which is a government program that prepares young adults with disabilities for employment after secondary education. “We wanted to prepare [the students] for the real world, and part of that is going out and getting a job. We wanted them to get the work experience now. That way, it would be a lot easier for them to find a job,” Special Day Class teacher Ms Melody Ioele said. “Also, they have an understanding of what it means to be in the work force, and what’s required of them.” The students work once a week for an hour during their Life Skills SDC class, which is another new program that started last February. WorkAbility 1 coordinators Ms Alison Strain, Ms Ioele, and SPHS Director of Nutrition Ms Michelle Curry work alongside instructional aides with the students to promote responsibility, punctuality, and efficiency. The California Department of Education initiated WorkAbility 1 in 1981 when studies at the time suggested that young adults with disabilities weren’t being adequately prepared for work after high school. Since then, Workability 1 has grown from a contained pilot project to one of the top ten transition programs in the United States. WA1 programs integrate employment training into high school education and match special education students with jobs after high school. “I learn [to be] independent, to work hard, and to take [responsibility]. I feel good about myself and giving back to others,” sophomore Shane Stefano said.
12
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Feature
Outdoor Science School Chaperoning 5th graders as they hike up Ice Cream Mountain and participate in nature skits can create an interesting challenge. This year’s cabin leaders share the quirkiest highlights from their week in the wilderness. Text by Somi Jun, Andrew Shults, Jordan Xiao Photos by Matt Winkel Illustration by Spenser Atlas
“I started a rumor with the kids that two cabin leaders had a crush on one cabin leader and the next day every single kid knew about the cabin leader romance. All of the kids’ hearts were broken when the cabin leader asked a different girl to our school’s homecoming and not the girl they were hoping for.” -Logan Wong, 12
“My cabin was the only cabin with no hot water so the girls showered everyday in freezing water and they hated it! I told them to sing their favorite song when they showered to keep their minds off of the cold water. So when it was shower time you just heard a bunch of little girls singing Taylor Swift. It was adorable!” -Delaney Carter, 12
“One time when the groups were on trail to go to the creek, one of the boys farted out of nowhere and I’m pretty sure that everyone heard it, but no one mentioned anything. It was so innocent and there was no judgment involved.” -Annie Kim, 12
“One memorable moment was when Adam, [one of the 5th graders] questioned me about why girls say “like” in an ungrammatical way. He was one of my favorite kids from OSS but he rejected my love because I kept repeating it.” -Erika Chung, 12
Prism is a reinvented Perry
“My kids were in love with going ‘nature potty.’ If given the choice, they would rather go outside than in a bathroom.” -Matt Park, 11
Like this comic? View it in full color at tigernewspaper.com.
By Karen Hsueh Staff Writer 4.5/5
In the three years since her last album, Teenage Dream (2010), Katy Perry has grown from a seemingly typical pop star to a record-setting icon. Her fourth album, Prism, reflects her artistic growth with its sophisticated sound, a departure from Teenage Dream’s young and experimental vibe. The album encompasses a variety of pop genres and potential hits, appealing to a wider audience than Perry’s original fan base. Perry’s signature pop songs, loaded with catchy verses and stereotypical romance lyrics, are ever-present on the track list: “Roar” is an explosive hit single that opens the album, which transitions into the disco style and carefree tone of “Birthday,” a song extremely reminiscent of Bruno Mars’s “Treasure.” However, the album also reflects Perry’s personal hardships and artistic growth over the past three years. The power ballad of the album, “Unconditionally,” showcases Perry’s raw vocals, while “Dark Horse” boasts a memorable melody and strong bass line. “It Takes Two” and “This Moment” both include striking slow intros and soaring choruses. Perry’s voice is unique in its versatility: she is successfully able to execute both wistful ballads and sultry hooks. The album thus compliments Perry’s vocal range: each of the tracks are upbeat, brilliantly crafted, and don’t fit comfortably into any one genre. The album’s sole flaw is that a number of songs are obnoxiously electronic. The overwhelming bass in “Dark Horse” distract from Perry’s unique vocals, and the complicated electronic background music in “This is How We Do” makes her sound bland and monotonous. Prism reveals a raw and vulnerable side to the pop star that developed since 2010’s Teenage Dream. The album demonstrates Katy Perry’s maturation as an artist, but continues to exemplify the cheery playfulness for which Perry has become emblematic.
katyperry.wikia.com
Prism expresses Perry’s personal struggles, including her split from comedian Russell Brand.
How to get to the San Merrill Trail: 1. Take the 710 Freeway west. 2. Take the I-210 Freeway west. 3. Exit on Lincoln Ave. 4. Turn right onto East Loma Alta Dr. 5. Continue straight to reach destination.
By Kea Hudson and Kira Gabriel Tiger Staff On a hazy Sunday morning, Kira and I embarked on what should have been a quick and effortless morning stroll, but turned out to be an exhausting half-day adventure. After mustering the motivation to wake up at 7 AM, we piled into the car with Kira’s brother, Tyler, and her two fluffy dogs, Ella and Fitzgerald. After a twenty-minute drive to Altadena, we arrived at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains and the head of the San Merrill Trail, a hike to Echo Mountain. Tyler assured us the trail was only 1½ miles each way. Equipped with nothing but sturdy shoes, we began marching uphill at
a swift pace, crossing paths and exchanging friendly greetings with other morning exercisers on their way down the mountain. Kira began to grow weary after about an hour of winding dirt switchbacks. After she realized that the journey was not going to be as quick and effortless as we had anticipated, her mood declined dramatically. At one point, all of Kira’s frustrations manifested into a minor emotional breakdown as she sat down on edge of the trail, clutching Ella and whimpering pathetically. Meanwhile, I was able to appreciate the scenery: the desert shrubbery, the blurred horizon, and the occasional animal sighting. Despite Kira’s pessimism, we made it to the top of the mountain, where we were greeted by a gorgeous sweeping view of Pasadena that stretched out for miles. At the end of the trail lay the remnants of an old resort called Mount Lowe and the Historic Mount Lowe Railway system, which burned down in a fire in the early 1900s. Upon seeing the burnt remnants of one of the railroad cars, Kira’s only remark was that she wished it still operated so she wouldn’t have to hike back down. As we explored the various
Tyler Gabriel
remains of the hotel on the top of the mountain, we came across the echo phone. After overcoming the trepidation and embarrassment of yelling in front of strangers, we took turns screaming out to the mountains, waiting for a moment for our voices to come back to us. After resting for a while, it was time to begin our descent. Once we returned to the car, we drove to the most important destination: the Jack in the Box drive-through for ten tacos. A word of advice to future hikers: bring snacks and lots of water, be prepared to say, “good morning,” to at least a couple dozen strangers, only take your dogs if they’re friendly, and be willing to tackle a six-mile hike.
Feature
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
Ender’s Game fails to translate onto the big screen By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer 3.5/5
The universe of Battle School, Buggers, and child prodigies envisioned by author Orson Scott Card is brought to life with stunning visuals in Ender’s Game, an entertaining and well-paced adaptation of the Nebula Award-winning novel. While it is unable to fully capture the book’s intellectual and emotional essence, the film is an excellent and faithful manifestation of Ender’s story for the big screen. True to the universe in the novel, Ender’s Game is set in a civilization recovering from the effects of a massive alien invasion. Humanity has adopted the training of child soldiers and strategists to defeat these aliens, or Buggers. Andrew Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) is the best of Earth’s most brilliant combatants. Closely supervised by Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) as the world’s last hope, Ender struggles with powerfully conflicting emotions, envious peers, and overbearing authority while training for a final showdown with the “alien menace.” Readers familiar with the book are sure to agree that Ender’s Game does not exactly lend itself towards a gripping movie, as much of the novel lies within Ender’s mind and in his relatively mundane interactions with other students at Battle School. However, director Gavin Hood is able to keep audiences riveted with a concise script,
well-timed and well-designed action sequences, and atmospheric music that supplement Butterfield’s portrayal of Ender. Even when he is provided with stale lines, Butterfield’s portrayal never comes off as forced, and his shortcomings are compensated by the performances of supporting actors like Ben Kingsley, who plays Ender’s mentor Mazer Rackham. The film’s greatest flaws are tied to the psychological style of the novel, which is admittedly difficult, if not impossible, to recreate on film. Perhaps for the sake of time, character development is sparse: the complex relationship between siblings Peter, Valentine, and Ender does not fully translate onto the big screen, making it challenging for
someone who has not read the book to fully understand Ender’s internal conflict. Worse yet are Ender’s interactions with Alai, Bean, and other close allies, whose loyalty and trust that took chapters to build in the book are merely implied in the movie. Fortunately, parts of the novel’s intellectual aspect remain, as seen when Ender recognizes the importance of relativity in space combat and as he grapples with the ethical implications of genocide in the name of survival. Thus, Ender’s Game serves as a visually appealing adaptation of the story that, despite only skimming the surface of its characters and conflicts, entertains well and entices viewers to read the novel of the same name.
13
concerts in
South Pasadena
Restoration Concert Series Robert Edward Thies & Andrew ShulmanPiano & Cello Date: Nov. 17 (4 pm - 6 pm) Cost: $18 Location: Library Community Room
this month in
Pop Culture
movies Thor: The Dark World
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston (Nov. 8) The Marvel sequel follows the Mighty Avenger (Hemsworth) as he battles to restore order to the universe. His ambitions are complicated by an ancient race lead by vengeful leader Malekith. Thor must embark on a journey to reunite with Jane Foster (Portman) and save Earth from peril.
One Direction
albums
Midnight Memories (Nov. 25) Genre: Pop Lady Gaga Artpop (Nov. 8) Genre: Electropop
books Cross My Heart
By James Patterson (Nov. 25) cbslocal.com
Asa Butterfield stars as Andrew Ender Wiggin in Ender’s Game, a film adaptation of the futuristic science fiction novel of the same name.
The 21st novel of Patterson’s bestselling Alex Cross Series chronicles the drama that unfolds when the detective becomes the subject of an obsessive genius set on proving himself as a criminal matermind.
14
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sports
Victor Hidalgo By Asa Silverman Staff Writer
Raj Jain
Hidalgo hopes to lead the Tigers to a fourth straight Rio Hondo title.
Victor Hidalgo has always been a versatile athlete, having competed in numerous sports throughout his childhood. It was not until tenth grade that he found his true passion in cross country. Hidalgo’s decision to try out for the boys squad proved to be one of his best choices in high school, and he has since excelled beyond his own expectations to be one of South Pasadena’s top runners.
After his first cross country practice, Hidalgo knew he had discovered his new favorite sport. “I love pushing my limits and reaching farther distances, and I get both of those from running,” Hidalgo said. In his first year, Hidalgo was crowned the frosh/soph league champion. Hidalgo also contributed to the league title last year when he crossed the finish line as the final varsity scoring runner for South Pasadena in League Finals. Hidalgo has recently recov-
ered from a hamstring injury that has troubled him since last June, but pushed through the pain to lead the varsity boys team to many successful meets this year. “I run with Victor frequently, and from the past two seasons, his great qualities as a leader, like his humor, responsibility and integrity, have had a large impact on my running career,” Seiji Sasaki said. When Hidalgo isn’t running, he is volunteering at the Mackenzie Scott unit of the Boys and Girls Club, doing homework for his A.P.
classes, or listening to music. Hidalgo also enjoys analyzing social science topics such as dream analysis and criminology, and hopes to pursue his dream of being a psychologist. Though he might not go to college specifically to run, Hidalgo is certainly planning on being involved in a running club. “Running has taught me to endure tough times,” Hidalgo said. “Most importantly, running has taught me to persevere and to chase after a goal until I reach it.”
Megan Srisutham By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer The best-kept sports secret at South Pasadena High School is the successful girls golf team, which has remained undefeated in league for four consecutive years. At the center of the team is senior Megan Srisutham. Despite her modest attitude, she is an athletic powerhouse on the green. Srisutham’s intense passion and dedication for her sport suggest years of tribulation, but her golf journey started out as a casual suggestion from her father, who plays golf recreationally. “I thought it’d be more fun to be different from everybody else,”
Srisutham said. During a typical week of training, Srisutham meets for two hours with her private coach and practices for about six hours with her dad. These experiences don’t stop her from becoming close with her teammates, whom she considers her family. Srisutham’s improvement over her five years of play has led her from junior varsity captain as a freshman to varsity co-captain as a senior. Through unwavering dedication, Srisutham reached her goal this season of shooting nine holes in under 40 strokes and now holds a personal record of 38. Srisutham plays the piano, which is her stress reliever. She completed her
Girl Scout Gold Award last year by creating homework kits to aid impoverished children in Los Angeles. Srisutham’s personal growth, as well as her growth as an athlete, has been remarkable over the past four years. “When I first started, I got really frustrated and angry at bad shots,” Srisutham said. “But I realized that you have to be really patient with yourself and accept the fact that not every shot is going to be perfect. And that’s just life.” She doesn’t plan to play golf competitively in college, but she knows that she will carry her passion with her. “You can grow old and play it,” she said with a smile. “I’m definitely going to be playing this sport for life.”
Theo Mandin-Lee
Siria Medina
Srisutham dedicates over eight hours a week to golf. The senior has worked hard to earn the captaincy of the South Pas squad.
Sports
Thursday, November 7, 2013 - Tiger
Football winless in league after homecoming loss By Andrew Shults Assoc. Sports Editor
Matt Winkel
Senior running back Heven Gomez breaks a tackle in the Tigers’ homecoming defeat to La Cañada last Friday night.
South Pasadena was defeated for the fourth consecutive game after the Tigers lost against La Cañada last Friday, a disappointing outcome on the Tigers’ homecoming night. La Cañada took advantage of South Pasadena’s inability to score, and claimed an away victory. South Pasadena jumped out to an early six-point lead after Heven Gomez kicked 31 and 37-yard field goals. The Spartans, however, capitalized on the Tigers’ stalled run-game and La Cañada scored a touchdown to steal the lead, 7-6 at the end of the half. The Tigers started off the
second half with its third field goal to regain the lead by two. The Spartans continued to contain the South Pas offense and reached the endzone twice in the second half. South Pasadena failed to regain any momentum and the game ended 21-9. The Tigers dropped to 0-4 in league and will take on its final team of the year, Blair (0-4) this Friday. The Vikings, traditionally the weakest Rio Hondo team, will also be in search of its first win against the young Tiger squad. “I want to end the season with a win against Blair,” sophomore Christian Carter said. “It’s a rebuilding season and I hope some of the freshman will make our team better next year.”
Boys water polo looks ahead to CIF By Asa Silverman & Julian Prime Tiger Staff The Tigers continued their pattern of inconsistency with an unexpectedly close game against Temple City which ended with the Tigers topping the Rams 15-12. In their second-to-last match of the season, the Tigers provided a strong offensive display by putting up an outstanding 15 goals. However, the Tigers were their own enemies at times with weak defense allowing for such a close game. “It was a good win because they [Temple City] came out fired up and we weathered their storm well,” senior captain Pierce Deamer said. “It was also a good win because we lost to them at their pool last year.” The Tigers came out strong, scoring four goals in the first period while holding the Rams to only two goals. Star performances from Deamer and senior co-captain
Adrian Suarez contributed to the Tigers’ them at home 20-3. With the league title out second consecutive win. Deamer generated of reach, South Pasadena will hope to somost of the Tigers’ offense by adding seven lidify the second place spot and look ahead goals, while Suarez supported the Tigers’ de- to CIF playoffs that start next week. fense with four steals. The Tigers snapped a two game losing streak against their arch rival, the San Marino Titans, on October 31, earning a 15-6 victory. Scoring early and regularly, the Tigers got off to a 5-0 lead against their opponents, and the offense didn’t stall the entire game. Solid defensive play by senior Derrick Kwok and junior Ryan Rodriguez helped solidify the Tigers’ victory and maintain South Pas’ dominance over San Marino in recent years. “Our bench really stepped it up this game,” senior Brandon Huff said. “The entire team contributed to the win.” The Tigers now have their eyes set on their next and final opponent, the MonMatt Winkel rovia Wildcats. The Tigers already domi- Senior Adrian Suarez rockets a nated the Wildcats earlier this year, beating shot past the Temple City guard.
Tennis concludes season By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Despite an overall disappointing 2013 season, the girls tennis team ended the year on a high note by sending three singles players and three pairs of doubles players to the Rio Hondo League Tournament at Live Oak Park. For the first time in three years the girls were able to advance to the semifinals, a major accomplishment for the Tigers who came into the tournament as underdogs. “There were a lot of ups and downs this season, and we made some changes, such as having some singles players play doubles and vice versa. Our team was able to do better against tough opponents, like La Cañada,” senior captain Jennifer Orr said. Head coach Jim Asher made the decision to pair his top two singles players, sophomore captain Sy-
mona Stans and freshman standout Ashley Huang, in the tournament. It was a move that paid quick dividends. Stans and Huang trounced their opponents in the first and second rounds with scores of 8-0 and 9-8. The victories propelled the pair to the second day of the tournament. Stan and Huang’s hopes of further progression were dashed on day two when they were handily swept 0-6 by San Marino in both sets, and fell against La Cañada 2-6 and 1-6, ending the teams progress in the league tournament. “It felt great to make it to the semifinals, since there were many tough players in the league. We had a lot of very strong players this year, and I think everyone did very well this season,” Huang said. “I look forward to seeing new players on the team and trying out more doubles combinations next
season.” Three singles players competed in the tournament, but were not able to advance to the second day. Junior Irene Tang and senior Rebecca Bu both provided strong efforts, but were overwhelmed by their San Marino opponents, losing two sets by identical scores of 6-8. Junior Karen Hsueh triumphed over her Temple City opponent by a score of 8-6, but suffered a 4-8 defeat against powerhouse San Marino in the next round. The remaining doubles pairs met similar fates. The pair of freshman Donna Kim and junior Katherine Shinno stayed competitive throughout their match but ultimately were overcome by the Monrovia team with a score of 6-8. The duo of Orr and freshman Anya Nicolaides was soundly beaten by its San Marino opponent by a score of 0-8.
15
Girls golf undefeated By Madeline Hellwig Staff Writer A fourth consecutive Montview League Championship and the progression of individual Tigers into the second round of CIF highlighted another successful year for the South Pasadena girls golf program. After going undefeated in the Montview League, the Tigers headed into the CIF Team Qualifying with confidence on October 31 at Western Hills Country. Unfortunately, the team’s total of 474 did not propel the Tigers to the top three who qualified for the team finals in San Clemente. “It is difficult to come out as one of the top four teams out of probably around 20 teams in the area,” junior Alyssa Carlos said. “But we can’t let it get to us that we didn’t make it and we just go out and have fun with it.” Junior captain Katie Rosenberg and junior Amy Chong qualified for Northern Section Individual CIF at River Ridge Golf Course on October 28 after each earning a spot for the 18 hole finals. Rosenberg narrowly missed earning the 36th and final qualifying spot for the final round of the individual CIF competition by a mere two strokes. Chong shot a respectable 84, but failed to claim a spot among the 110 attendees. Head golf coach Richard Goto was proud of his girls and expressed the hardships the Tigers often ran into. “Both of the young ladies played well, but we are talking about the game of golf,” coach Goto said. “Sometimes in golf, the ball refuses to fall, the rough becomes too thick, and the weather hinders play additionally.”
Amy Chong Katie Rosenberg The junior Shot a 79 and finished with a 84 missed the cut by after 18 rounds. two strokes.
Boys XC hoping for title By Stanley Wu Assoc. News Editor The South Pasadena High School boys cross country team seeks an upset in today’s Rio Hondo League Finals meet after two consecutive second place finishes behind rivals San Marino in the first two league meets. The team is back on its feet after a month of grueling training without a race, and is fully prepared to reclaim the league title for the fourth year in a row. “We’ve been close behind San Marino every race, so this is our chance to overtake them,” senior Thomas Steele said. “Everyone’s healthy, so we’ve got a good chance of running away with the upset.” South Pasadena currently trails behind first-place San Marino by a narrow margin of only six points. However, a victory in today’s meet will decidedly turn the tables in favor of the Tigers. League Finals holds more weight as
teams earn double the scoring chance to prove themselves in a South Pasadena uniform. points during this meet. “Each person knows Head coach Patrick McGrail is optimistic about that he’ll have to pull his own the team’s prospects, believing weight and run the best race that the boys are prepared for possible,” senior Tyler Gershman said. “None of the the biggest meet of the year. “League finals is a seniors want to end their crossculmination of the entire country career with a loss, esseason,” McGrail said. “The pecially to San Marino.” training we’ve been doing really focuses on getting the runners to perform as best as they possibly can, and I know we’ll be able to perform strongly,” McGrail said. McGrail is already looking ahead toward CIF and possibly sending a runner or two to state. “Barring any catastrophe, we’ll be headed to preliminaries for CIF on November 16,” McGrail said. “From there, we’ll see how far we can progress, potentially to finals.” The team’s morale Raj Jain remains optimistic, espe- Senior Julius Lam readies for cially for the seniors who Leage Finals which will detersee the meet as one final mine the Rio Hondo champion.
16
Tiger - Thursday, November 7, 2013
Sports
Sports
Football
Monrovia San Marino Temple City La Cañada So. Pasadena Blair
Wins
4 4 2 2 0 0
2013 Rio Hondo League Standings Losses G. Volleyball
0 0 2 2 4 4
So. Pasadena La Cañada Monrovia San Marino Temple City Blair
Wins
Losses
9 6 6 3 2 0
0 3 3 6 6 8
Retake on replays By Matt DeFulgentiis Staff Writer
Sophia Arriola
The Tigers were named Rio Hondo champions for the first time in 31 years by going undefeated in league play.
Girls volleyball crowned Rio Hondo champs Clem Witherall Sports Editor The South Pasadena girls volleyball team added the final touch to its revolutionary season by sweeping rival San Marino in straight sets on November 5. The victory crowned the Tigers as the undefeated Rio Hondo League champions for the first time in 31 years. A combination of veteran leadership and fresh talent has been the key to the Tigers’ success. With CIF playoffs quickly approaching, the squad hopes to maintain its momentum and earn a CIF ring. “We have been great throughout the whole season and to go undefeated in league was a great accomplishment,” senior captain Claire Kieffer-Wright said. The girls justified their first place standing with an impressive display against San Marino. The Tigers jumped
out to an early lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game as South Pas cruised by double digits in the first two sets with scores of 25-11 and 25-12. “We played pretty well and shut them down in the first two sets,” cocaptain Samantha Figueroa said. As has been the case in multiple games this season, the Tigers appeared to lose focus in the third set. South Pas made mistakes on offense and failed to put the ball away fast enough. However, the Tigers’ raw talent guided them to a third and final set victory by a close score of 25-20. “The third set we got a little overconfident and played down to San Marino’s level but still got the win,” Figueroa said. “Although we are pretty confident we know that we will face teams that are on our level in CIF. It isn’t
going to be easy.” As of November 4 the Tigers were ranked eighth in division 2AA, the only Rio Hondo team ranked in the top ten of the division. The CIF schedule has yet to be announced but the girls are already preparing for the playoffs. Last year the Tigers were knocked out in the first round, a disapointing finish they don’t expect to replicate. “We lost in the first round last year to Los Altos but we played that same team earlier this year and won pretty easily,” Kieffer-Wright said. “We have a good team and there is optimism that we will go deep in playoffs this year.”
11/5 11/1 10/31 SPHS v. SPHS v. SPHS v. Eagle Rock San Marino TC 3-0 W 2-0 W 3-0 W
Girls XC hoping to regain league title Jason Wang & Leo Parker Tiger Staff The pinnacle of the South Pasadena’s girls cross-country season has arrived as League Finals will determine the Rio Hondo
Raj Jain
Senior captain Helena Van Loan trains in preparation for league finals.
champion today at Lacy Park. Entering the season unranked by the National High School Coaches Association, the team has overcome many obstacles, including the gaps left by last years’ senior co-captains Anika Renken and Jessica Hitchcock. However, two close meets with league rivals La Cañada and San Marino have earned the squad a shot at earning the league crown with a win at League Finals, a feat the team hasn’t achieved since 2010. At the first league meet of the season at the Santa Fe Dam on September 25, the Tigers finished with a disappointing final score of 46, falling behind both La Cañada and the winners, San Marino. Senior Helena Van Loan led the Tigers team with a fifth place finish and a time of 19:31. Rounding out the top five on the South Pasadena squad were sophomores Emily Ye, Fiona Bock, Evelyn Beadle, and Maaike Wielenga. The girls ran times of 19:41, 20:28, 20:47, and 21:01, respectively. Even though some on the team blamed the result on the unfamiliar Santa Fe Dam course, the loss served as a wakeup call and a motivator for the second league meet. “The varsity team ran well, but were
unable to reach the top two spots in the Santa Fe meet, which was disapointing, “sophomore Alexa Esler said. “The result motivated us to work harder to possibly be league champs.” The Tigers demonstrated improvement in the second league race, helping them rise from third to second place in the Rio Hondo League. Van Loan clinched fourth overall with a solid 19:27 over the 5-kilometer Lacy Park course. Several underclassmen proved their role and earned the final four scoring positions for the Tigers with 7th, 9th, 12th, and 16th place finishes that totaled 48 points for South Pasadena, just enough to edge San Marino’s score of 49, but not enough to beat La Cañada’s score of 32. The pressure is on for today’s race as the girls look to claim their first title in three years. Many of the seniors on the squad know today will be their final race in a Tiger jersey and are determined to end their high school career as league champions. “This season we’ve been waiting for the our final league race,” Van Loan said. “The seniors are looking forward to doing our best and beating the competition for our last hurrah.”
Instant replay is used in almost every major professional sport including football, basketball and hockey, as well as in tennis and auto racing. While highly regarded as a way to overrule “questionable” plays, instant replay has the negative effect of slowing down these games in its attempt to eliminate human error. Although instant replay was widely available on television broadcasts of professional sporting events in the late 1960s, the first official use of instant replay was by the United States Football League (USFL) in 1985. Originally, its use was limited to reviewing crucial scoring plays that were involved in determining the outcome of a game. Over time however, replay became more pervasive and it is now used to review an increasing number of individual game moments. While it is commendable to utilize technology that attempts to “get things right,” this comes at the cost of destroying the rhythm and intensity of the actual sporting event. This is especially true for live viewers of sports. Think about it: as time is taken on the field to review some action, you as a fan are forced to just sit there and wait. Half of the excitement with sports is having the exhilaration and energy of reacting to a big score or play, yet with instant replay you are forced to hold off on celebration. It is comparable to hearing a joke and then being told to hold off on your laughter until the fact of the joke can be confirmed by replay. Clearly, a lot of the decision-making behind replay has to do with professional sports catering to the television audiences. As long as people at home have the ability to see a number of replays on their television screen, it is almost impossible to not incorporate replay into the individual sport. Fans at home are seeing something that people at stadiums cannot see from the vantage points of their seats. There is no denying that for the live sports fan it is no fun to sit still and wait five or six times a game to receive official notice about what really happened. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the only professional sport that has not approved the use of instant replay during matches. FIFA uses video evidence strictly for disciplinary reasons after soccer matches. The organization has long held the position that mistakes by officials are part of the traditional human element of the game, and that is how it should be: human beings playing sports as judged in live, real-time by other human beings. At most, replay should be confined to one or two outcome-determining reviews per game, but let a touchdown be a touchdown and a homerun be a homerun, and let them be celebrated with real cheers, in real-time, in the real world before a fans’ eyes.
[inside] Read up on water polo’s league victory over Temple City. Matt Winkel
page 15