Winter Formal entertains attendees By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer The atmosphere was full of energy and excitement at this year’s Winter Formal, which was held at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on February 1. Over 300 students packed the venue to see what the dance had to offer, and they were not disappointed. More than five hundred dollars worth of candy lined the walls along with an assortment of fresh fruit and baked goods. DJ 1MOR played both new and old tunes throughout the evening, and attendees could choose from a variety of attractions to pass the time. Students laughed at the combinations made in Apples to Apples, squealed in suspense while playing Jenga, had their exaggerated portraits drawn by a talented caricature artist, and donned bunny ears and glittery hats to capture candid moments in the photo booth. See pages 8 and 9 for more coverage
Rachael Garner
WINTER FORMAL AT THE LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB Seniors Christopher Makarem and Ryan Nakakura and juniors Jessica Chung and Yvette Tanner enjoy a game of Jenga at “By Invitation Only,” the 2014 Winter Formal, held on February 1.
Academic Decathlon competes at County By Brandon Kim Staff Writer After a successful season as the “rookie of the year,” the Academic Decathlon team competed in the Los Angeles County Academic Decathlon Competition on January 25 and February 1 at El Rancho High School and the USC Galen Center. On the first day of competition, teams participated in the extemporaneous essay, speech, and interview portions of the contest. For the speech portion students also gave speeches that they had prepared beforehand and those written the day of the competition. On February 1, the teams competed in their seven written
tests. All tests had 50 questions, with the exception of mathematics, which had 35 questions. After all individual events were complete, teams participated in the Super Quiz, in which students competed in a Jeopardy style quiz. Academic Decathlon coach Oliver Valcorza was very pleased with the team’s preparation and performance. “We had an overall improvement, a 30% increase with a score of 3900 on the Super Quiz compared to the 3000 we got last year,” Valcorza said. Results of the competition will be released on February 12, when the team will discover if it qualified for the state competition.
Oscar Garcia
Academic Decathlon competed at the Los Angeles County competition on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. Results will be posted on Feb. 12.
It’s personal:
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Debating the legitimacy of mental health personal days: excuse for slacking or reasonable respite?
PAG E
Friends of the South Pasadena Nature Park host planting party By Ross Lelieur Staff Writer The Friends of the South Pasadena Nature Park kicked off projects for the month of February with a “planting party” at the titular nature park. Groups of volunteers spent their morning and afternoon to improve the condition of the park and help facilitate further growth on Saturday, February 1. Although much of the area is in acceptable condition, the central, slightly elevated section is mostly bare despite previous efforts by other groups. The Friends of the Nature Park focused on this area, planting species that hopefully will be able to survive. Their task has been made more difficult by the ongoing drought, which has hardened the soil, but they hope that eventually the area will become as verdant as its surroundings. “The only reason the park looks as nice as it does is because of community involvement,” event organizer Barbara Elsenstein said. Many members of the community volunteered, including South Pasadena High School and Occidental College students, novice nature-lovers, and more experienced planters. “I would love to get more
Chess Club’s first Chinese New Year fundraiser: Using traditional poetry, calligraphy, and more, to promote chess on campus.
high school involvement. Anyone who needs [community service hours]: there’s plenty for you to do,” Elsenstein said. Since its establishment in 2004 the South Pasadena Nature Park has been plagued by weeds, invasive species, and trash dumped by careless residents. The Friends of the South Pasadena Nature Park host planting parties to both promote environmental conservation and bring people together as a community activity. They hope that this will raise awareness about the park and encourage its appreciation for future care of the park.
Raj Jain
Community members volunteered at the planting party at the Nature Park on Feb. 1.
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Beauty and the Beast announced as Spring musical By Madison Amido Staff Writer The drama department will perform the school’s first ever Disney production in this year’s spring musical, according to drama director Daniel Enright. In an effort to make the drama department’s musicals a community and family oriented event, Enright selected Beauty and the Beast. “Our last play, Yellow, was a PG-13 play, but extremely relevant for high schoolers,” Enright said. “[With ‘Beast’] we want the South Pasadena community to be more aware of us and make us part of their regular theatre-going experiences.” With the selection of the musical settled, Enright is now working on the next steps to bring the production to life at SPHS. English teacher Ms Audrey Toth will manage choreography and Enright will also work closely with auditorium director James Jontz in the upcoming months to prepare for the musical. “This three-month journey can be scary sometimes and has an amount of stress to it, but I want the students to have fun, enjoy it, and to work hard,” Enright said. “When we pull everything together, it is going to be amazing.”
Final surge for winter sports: Boys basketball looks to clinch the final CIF playoff spot in Rio Hondo League with four games remaining.
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Tiger - Thursday, February 6, 2014
News
SPHS MEETS THE
COMMON CORE
Forty-five states have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a national initiative to unify public education across state borders. The standards, which encapsulate critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication, shift in focus in English language arts and Mathematics and intend to prepare students for college educations and careers. Literacy standards are also in place for the subjects of history, science, and foreign languages to include more informational text, such as nonfiction. The major change replaces the current standards and multiple-choice, bubble-in standardized tests. In the 2014-2015 school year, tests will be administered on computers and require longer responses and performance tasks, such as group research. To learn according to the new standards and prepare for the tests, South Pasadena High School students should expect to see changes next year in teaching, learning, and assessing.
Page design and writing by Shine Cho & Stanley Wu Graphics by Dylan Anselmo & Sophia Arriola
TEACHING
LEARNING
ASSESSING
Teachers will incorporate more student-instructor interaction and group collaboration in the classroom to encourage higher level thinking and group discussion.
Students will be prompted more in-depth questions and asked to analyze concepts and primary sources. Students will also be asked to describe their thought processes in writing, even for math.
Smarter Balanced assessments will replace California Standardized Testing and use technology to assess critical thinking and problem solving skills through performance tasks and written responses.
“The new standards will provide opportunities for students to think more deeply and apply their learning to real world contexts. Our students will go into college even more prepared.“
“A key component of the standards is to analyze and synthesize primary sources. An emphasis on nonfiction, otherwise known as informational text, will be beneficial for students across all subjects.”
-Dr. Steve Seaford, Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services
-Mrs. Kimberly Kadletz, AP English Language Teacher
“The departments have been working hard to realign their curriculum over the years. Many of our teachers have attended workshops and conferences to make the transition to CCSS smoother.” -Ms Ginger Merritt, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction
“The math department will see major changes regarding our goals. Our lessons and exams will place more focus on promoting critical thinking and problem solving.” -Mr. Andrew McGough, Mathematics Department Chair
S OK O TB
ER OTH
LOGY HNO TEC
TE X
DISTRICT COMMON CORE IMPLEMENTATION COSTS THE BUDGET BREAKDOWN SPHS TECH PURCHASES $934,878 one-time grant from CA $300,000 for textbooks $300,000 for technology 120 40 $200,000 for professional development CHROMEBOOKS MACBOOK AIRS $130,000 other instructional materials $4,878 possible budget adjustments
$152,604
ELOPMENT DEV
News
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - Tiger
3
MATHEMATICS 2013-2014
2014-2015
· Math standardized testing will only be for 11th graders starting this year and will demonstrate knowledge gained throughout the first three years
· All non-AP math courses, from Algebra I to Math Analysis, will be changed to Math 1-4 over a span of four years starting from the beginning of the first semester
· SBAC will be completely web-based and involve multiple-day performance tasks such as doing research
· In-class tests will focus more on critical thinking and transition from traditional pen-and-paper multiple choice exams to open-ended computer-based tests
ENGLISH & LANGUAGE ARTS 2013-2014 · All classes have been aligned to the
CCSS, due to new curriculum written two summers ago by the department
·
The department has created original benchmark tests in order to better assess Common Core skills
2014-2015 · Students should expect more collaborative assignments such as Socratic seminars, group projects, and joint effort presentations · Teachers will use informational texts to complement literature
CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) 2013-2014
2014-2015
·
The state will phase out Regional Occupational Programs (ROP) by the 2014-2015 school year
· The current ROP department will transition to CTE and expand course offerings
· Career Technical Education (CTE),
· CTE teachers will collaborate with academic teachers to incorporate technology and practice real-life skills in the classroom
a national program that is tied to the Common Core, will replace ROP
OTHER CHANGES HISTORY This year, the history department is assessing ways to further integrate primary source material into lessons and activities, but has not fully decided on any changes.
LANGUAGE
SCIENCE
The foreign language department The science department is looking will see few changes, but will into using new science databases focus more on practical reading for students to practice citing (instructions and news articles) primary sources to make claims rather than literature. and will consider integrating articles from science journals.
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Tiger - Thursday, February 6, 2014
Winter Formal 2014
ARTISTS
PAIGE VALENTINE
HANNAH GRAY
CRISTIAN LONGORIA
LEONARDO LE GASPE
ON KENDALL CORY
MISHA HOLTZ
DONgYOUNG KIM
CAMPUS
YUMAI SONE
LIBERTY YANAGA a sampling of work by South Pasadena High School’s talented AP Art students page by Sophia Arriola
Opinion
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - Tiger
Opinion
5
Yeah Boi
B
ravo to SAT scores being released the day before Valentine’s Day. Nothing screams “romantic” more than standardized testing.
B
oo to The Fault in our Stars trailer. We haven’t wept this much since dying before scoring one point on Flappy Bird.
B
ravo to the Broncos. You tried your very
hardest; what matters is that you had fun! At least you could have beat our football team!
By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer
B
ravo to a petition gaining over 100,000 signatures to deport Justin Bieber. It seems too good to be true, but we should never say never. #swaggy
Reevaluating race
B
ravo to Shantytown. There’s no better way
to experience homelessness than by sitting on a synthetic football field, eating ice cream, and listening to a DJ.
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 Siria Medina, Associate Editor Photographers Sophia Arriola, Raj Jain, Stephanie Kim Senior Staff Writer Heather Vaughan Staff Writers Madison Amido, Kira Gabriel, Jenna Giulioni, Madeline Hellwig, Karen Hsueh, Kea Hudson, Brandon Kim, Ross Lelieur, Alexander Nakagawa, 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 Webmaster Michael Xu Faculty Advisor Mike Hogan
Meeting in the middle Staff Editorial Few systems operate less functionally than the United States Congress. One of these, however, appears to be the process through which teachers and the school district negotiate teacher wages. Several teachers this year from four separate South Pasadena Unified School District schools have attempted, in a series of seven meetings held mostly at the district office, to come to a deal about teacher salaries. In addition to this year, many meetings occurred last year as well. The prolonged period of negotiation stems from uncertainly regarding state funding, which causes complexities to exist on both sides of the argument. Though all are optimistic that funding will arrive, the district must deal with the fiscal realities that are its immediate priorities. However, teachers have not seen salaries rise for more than five years and are understandably eager to see larger figures on their paychecks. Despite the valid positions of both sides, the large number of meetings remains a problem. Each time teachers leave school to negotiate, substitutes must be provided for a half or full day and students suffer from a loss of instruction time that they would otherwise have received from their normal teachers. The positions of both sides are understandable, but hurting students—the very people who
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.
By Jason Wang Staff Writer
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.
Jazz band, Tiger, Virtual Business, scholarships, Yosemite, Copa, every sport and extracurricular at SPHS – all of these are funded in part by the district, but a significant portion of their revenue comes from the SPHS Booster Club, which relies entirely on volunteers. As students who directly benefit from the money this nonprofit organization has continually provided, it is only fair that we support it. Apart from one-time events such as the
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.
schools are meant to serve—should be plenty of incentive to compromise. Every session of negotiations drains money from the school district. The state has failed to follow through on past promises of substitute teacher reimbursement during periods of negotiation so the money now comes partially from district coffers. Thus, every period of negations not only robs students of instructional time from negotiating instructors, but is also a financial drain on the resources of the district. Negotiations intended to establish a fiscally rational solution are ironically losing money for both sides. This is a situation that clearly benefits no one. Ultimately, the negotiations need to be more efficient. Instead of making little progress each meeting, as is evidenced by the number of meetings, both parties need to make large jumps and be willing to make significant compromises. Neither side benefits from spending more time than is needed, so regardless of the validity of both arguments, all can observe that an agreement must promptly be reached. Money is paramount in many things, and it certainly has a vital significance to education, but teachers and administrators must end these prolonged negotiations because their primary responsibility is to the students they work with.
Bearing the Bingo burden
Vol. C. No. V distributed on February 6, 2014. Distribution: 1519 students; 70 community. 1700 copies printed. Distributed by Tiger staff free of charge.
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.
Spenser Atlas
There exists a bizarre phenomenon among white students who believe that their peers of color can have an overall advantage within college admissions because of their ethnicity. When people say this, they are ignoring white privilege, the idea that white individuals possess a set of societal privileges that benefit them but do not benefit people of color. People of color possess an overall disadvantage within society because of deeply rooted racial biases, and when white people claim otherwise, it perpetuates a cycle of racism that continues to give white individuals the upper hand. Historically, white privilege has meant immunity from internment camps and hate crimes. Today, it manifests itself in more subtle yet insidious ways, socially, economically, and politically. It is present in the fact that aspiring young comedians can tune into Saturday Night Live and see 11 white actors, but only three black actors, zero Latino actors, and zero Asian American actors, affirming the validity of white actors but dismissing the legitimate talent of actors of color. It is the reflexive perception of white men as less dangerous than Latino and black men, and the cradle-to-prison pipeline where black youth are five times as likely to be arrested for a violent crime than white youth. It is white individuals holding a vast majority of this country’s wealth; only three percent of the top 150 richest Americans are people of color. It is the gross underrepresentation of people of color in all levels of government; people of color make up 45 percent of the population of South Pasadena, but only 20 percent of its highest governmental officials. Finally, students of color compete on a socioeconomically unequal playing field for college admission because people of color in the U.S. are twice as likely to live in a low-income family than white children are and inevitably have fewer resources. Therefore, although there are many applicants of color whose qualifications far surpass those of their white counterparts, there are also many students of color whose SAT scores, grade point averages, and writing abilities do not compare. Only eighteen percent of black adults in the U.S. have a four-year college degree compared to over thirty percent of whites. A degree of racial preference in college admissions is necessary to break this cycle of white advantage, and unfounded complaints are inadequately informed and insensitive.
Tiger Run and Booster Bash, the Booster Club receives the money it donates exclusively to high school activities through weekly Bingo nights, a Saturday event that parents and students alike have come to dread. Students who are assigned a bingo shift frequently fail to attend, a seemingly innocuous act that is not just selfish and harmful to the Booster Club, but also comes back full-circle and strips extracurriculars of potential funds. “I must admit there are times when the student set-up and clean-up teams are significantly understaffed,” Bingo Caller Peter Giulioni
said. “It seems to me that a disproportionally low number of student volunteers show up to help versus the number of students who directly or indirectly benefit from the efforts of the Tiger Bingo parent workers.” Given the recent educational budget cuts at the state and federal levels, Bingo is a lifesaver for various clubs, activities, and athletic teams at SPHS. But without students, who need only spend a few hours of their Saturday moving tables and chairs, SPHS would be utterly devoid of extracurricular funds and would, no doubt, lose the high reputation it holds today.
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Tiger - Thursday, February 6, 2014
But I digress By Madeline Hellwig Staff Writer Educators run the gamut from robotic textbook automatons to dynamic comedians, and those not conforming to the characteristics of the former often find themselves underappreciated. With the onslaught of standardization and testing, teachers who rigidly follow the curriculum are increasingly more accepted than others. Boredom and exasperation have become the natural response every time a teacher deviates from the traditional textbook-based lectures. Such a reaction often overlooks the benefits these teachers bring through their peripheral stories and anecdotes. Through these seemingly irrelevant discussions, teachers improve students’ understanding of the material by using simplified examples to which students can relate. A history teacher may bring in colorful stories of his grandfather’s life during the late 19th century to enrich students’ previously blackand-white understanding of the Civil War. Far from being mere rambling, such discussions establish a basis of understanding that allows room for further learning, although that learning does not hold a direct relationship with the material. Traditional lectures amount to no more than a one-dimensional education that can be acquired through a tutor or even a computer as long as the correct key phrase
enters the Google search box. As people with unique perspectives garnered from real life experiences, teachers can bring together different worlds from outside the curriculum and can teach students far more valuable information than just verb conjugations or math equations. The addition of humor and anecdotes bridges the gap of natural distance between a teacher and student. Teachers are figures of authority, and this alone causes many students to refrain from showing their true selves. In some cases, students end up refraining from asking for help from teachers. Thus, a natural dialogue between the two bodies, regardless of the subject matter, can help “break the ice.” In the long term, teachers’ stories are a form of interaction that leaves a lasting impression with the ability to mold how students develop as human beings. The individual anecdotes from collective classes indirectly expand not only students’ knowledge but also their personalities as a whole by acting as bridges that help students cross to new perspectives. Listening to a teacher’s shift in discussion is more than just a display of respect. The words can help to broaden students’ comprehension and leave a profound impact of a lifetime. Such teachers are vital to students’ lives, as the best educators are not the ones who only focus on a textbook, but rather the ones who students can connect with on a personal level.
Opinion
Model minority myth By Somi Jun Assoc. Feature Editor People naturally categorize each other by race; census reports, college applications, even standardized tests ask participants to disclose ethnicity. This preoccupation with race generates the model minority, or the idea that Asian Americans succeed at disproportionately high levels. When people are categorized by race, Asian Americans have the highest median income and rate of education. But we tend to forget that within this huge demographic called “Asian American,” there are subgroups and individuals that stray from the pattern. According to Asian Americans Advancing Justice LA (AAAJLA), the three ethnicities with the lowest income in LA county are Tongans, Cambodians, and Samoans. While the average LA resident makes about $27,900 a year, Tongans average $8,100, Cambodians average $14,200, and Samoans average $15,350. All three of these ethnicities are either Asian or Pacific Islander, two categories typically treated as one by the model minority idea. Because the model minority myth lumps every Asian ethnicity together, these demographics’ social and economic problems aren’t as included in public discourse. Other minorities have problems that are beginning to be addressed: accord-
ing to a segment on KPCC, SPHS counselor Sandra Jarrous is “tasked with guiding the school’s struggling Latino students to some sort of college after graduation.” But because Asian ethnicities are combined by the idea of the model minority, their problems don’t receive this same kind of recognition. In an ideal world, statistics wouldn’t be categorized by race at all, because within each demographic, there are minorities that do not conform. With Asian Americans specifically, the problem is greater. The only requirement for being an “Asian,” and thus part of the model minority, is originating from the same continent, which happens to be the largest in the world with 48 distinct countries and over 2000 spoken languages. Of the five demographics generally included in studies, Asians and Pacific Islanders have the most cultural diversity. Treating diverse peoples as if they were one is insensitive in itself, but it also has practical repercussions. Within the model minority, there are addiAnnie Lu tional minorities that lose out because they don’t obey one overgeneralized trend. As members of a town whose population is 31.1% Asian American, and whose school is academically high achieving, SPHS students are especially susceptible to the model minority mindset. However, we also have the unique opportunity to differentiate. On a personal level that will hopefully extend to the rest of LA County, we must recognize that Asia is a continent, not a culture.
Safeguarding mental health Validating “sick” slackers By Alexander Nakagawa Staff Writer Stress and fatigue are big obstacles students inevitably face when dealing with the sometimes overwhelming workload that school creates. With strict penalties attached to missing school for any reason other than physical illness, students may feel that they still must attend school the next day, pushing themselves beyond their mental capabilities. Students should be given the option to stay home for the day to rest so they can go to school the next day recharged. While students may feel obligated to attend school no matter what their physical or mental condition may be in order to not miss any information from their classes, there are more benefits than consequences to taking a day off from school if a student is mentally drained. Mentally worn students should be in a bed, not a classroom. Fatigue can cause the mind to obstruct any important information that appears in lectures for the day. The influences of sleep deprivation and stress cause students to perform worse on tests and assignments and weaken cognitive abilities. It is not worthwhile for a student to go to school with a lack of sleep, only for them to learn as much as they would have if they had stayed at home. The battle against stress prevents students being able to comprehend information. Students who deliberately choose to abuse the privilege of missing school for the sole reason that they “don’t feel like going” may live with
the consequences of not going to the university or college they strive for. The fact that there will always be those who abuse systems does not negate the fact that there are those who genuinely need a legitimate way to rejuvenate after periods of extreme stress. Unsurprisingly, sleep de privation has been implicated as one of the sources of decreased brain function. A study published on the United States National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health website cites that “more creative, divergent and innovative aspects of cognition” appear to be “degraded by lack of sleep.” This is nothing shocking, nothing more than common sense, but it is time that school attendance policies begin to reflect this reality. Doing so will result in more vibrant classrooms with healthier students.
By Brandon Kim Staff Writer Allowing short-term and infrequent respites to be classified as excused absences should not be permitted. Penalties associated with unexcused absences serve to deter students from abusing this time off from school. Parents are not qualified to validate their child’s mental health, unless they are doctors or psychiatrists. If these short bre aks we re to become excused, then a student could theoretically “need” these rests several days a week. Students who really need this Dylan Anselmo should take an unexcused absence in their records so that students who do not need it are not tantalized into abusing the system. The standard procedure in clearing an absence is to go to the attendance office
and turn in an excuse note. These notes are restricted to physical ailments, and with good reason. To prevent the misuse of mental health excuse notes to cover up truancies, such notes must remain invalid for an excused absence. If students truly believe that their mental health is preventing them from functioning properly at school, they should have a professional explain their status and excuse their absence. On the other hand, if they feel that they need to take a break without an excuse, they should be aware of and prepare to face the consequences that come with the decision. Students must understand that while they are in high school, they can take unexcused absences frequently, but their options will be limited once they go onto higher education and the workforce. They will eventually reach a point when short term mental issues will not excuse their absence, students will find it wise if they choose to practice consistent attendance now. If students’ academic course loads are exhausting them to the point that they have to miss school because of these very courses, students have two options. The first is to learn how to cope with their stressful schedule and overcome this obstacle. The latter would be to limit their academic rigor to a healthy level if they absolutely cannot sustain their academics. Incentives exist to motivate or discourage certain courses of action. Consenting to make mental issues excusable will create a tempting incentive too powerful for frequently truant students. To deter these students from skipping school days without punishment, only absences resulting from physical ills must be excusable.
Opinion
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - Tiger
7
Pubic relations By Petra Barbu Assoc. Opinion Editor Iconic retailer American Apparel’s recent publicity stunt is a prickly subject in more ways than one. Their mannequins now feature pubic hair, an addition that carries feminist connotations and is meant to strengthen their liberal presence in the media. However, stripped to its core, American Apparel is a company hiding Walmart-sized scandals under layers of effective yet superficial public relations efforts. The idea of putting pubic hair on a mannequin is supposed to propgate a movement towards the “natural woman” who is comfortable in her own skin. This idea, however, doesn’t seem to be echoed in American Apparel’s actions, with most, if not all, of their advertising focused on sexualizing young girls whose appearance is anything but “natural.” Their ads have
frequently been banned, and many of the sexualized models are under eighteen and thus considered child models in the industry. Had they wanted to truly present the idea of a natural woman, American Apparel could have taken other measures, such as donating to programs that empower young women or ceasing to advertise hyper-sexualized images. This image-focused appeal has proved effective in garnering customers, but the company’s purported ideals aren’t exactly reflected in its work ethic. This is only one piece of a long line of publicity stunts that have rather expertly masked the visage of American Apparel, one that isn’t exactly ready for its close-up. They propagate an image of equality for all with their Legalize Gay shirts, but aren’t so friendly with disabilities—American Apparel was sued in 2010 for allegedly terminating an employee who was undergoing cancer treatment. Their definition of “equality” apparently doesn’t apply to race, either. The company has
frequently been accused of racially profiling customers, running racist ads, and making racially insensitive products, and has even, according to the Huffington Post, paid out over $300,000 in damages after a worker sued for being repeatedly called the n-word by his superior repeatedly. “Ugly” people don’t quite make the cut either. CEO Dov Charney reportedly went through the full-body photos of store employees taken during the hiring process and personally requested that any “ugly people” be let go, according to one store manager. American Apparel has always strived to convey an effortless appeal as a business that embodied the no makeup look. Without its media foundation and extra-coverage publicity stunts, American Apparel is hardly a pretty sight. Pay attention to what they do, not what they say, and American Apparel quickly devolves into an American horror story.
Problems in perspective By Kira Gabriel Staff Writer “First world problem” was a phrase primarily coined to marginalize and belittle others, a way to bring someone back to earth. Granted, “problems” like a phone charger being in a far-away room aren’t really problems at all, but some problems specific to the first world are substantial problems. Pa r e n t a l d i vo r c e, grades, and college tuition are all issues only experienced by younger members of the first world, and very few would say that these constitute a “first world problem,” even though they truly are. Even forgetting or losing a phone charger is a substantial difficulty, because in the first world, the death of that device cuts off all communication with the entire rest of the world. The fact there are much worse situations and issues does not diminish the reality of “first world problems.” It would never be appropriate to say to a friend with divorcing parents, “Well at least you have parents. Thousands of children are orphaned everyday.” Belittling
and scorning the dilemma of a friend only serves as a further discouragement. What’s worse is discrediting a complaint with an impossible comparison and no feasible solution. A favorite of parents seems to be, “Finish your food, there are starving children in Africa!” The fact that there are starving kids out there somewhere doesn’t change the fact that the eater isn’t hungry. Unfortunately, the reminder helps neither the famished Africans nor their lack of sustenance, and consuming the finishing the food won’t help either parties. Not only is it an unhelpful and fallacious argument, but the patronizing tone further regresses the situation by alienating the speaker and brewing resentment in the receiver. Spenser Atlas Offering different opinions or ideas can lead to a constructive conversation helping opinions evolve and leading to deeper interpersonal understadng. Criticizing and sneering at another person’s belief or problem ends any possible discourse, and eliminates the opportunity for growth in both individuals.
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? “When you’re waiting to be attractive and the clock breaks. Oh, and Robin Thicke.” -Jeremy Reynoso, 12th “Flappy bird.” -Katherine Uriarte, 11th “When you go up on velvet.” -Corinne Marangi, 12th “Pretentious middle photo blogs.” -Clayton Kabaelo, 10th
schoolers
and
their
“I hate the little symbol that pops up in iMessage when someone is typing. Hurry up and send the message because those little dots give me anxiety!” -Hanna Crowley, 11th “When you see a spider in your room and then the room automatically becomes off limits for two days.” -Camryn Bukowski, 11th
Tiger Newspaper Asks: Could you describe a time when you took a personal day but said you were sick to get an excuse slip? Do you think it’s valid to be excused for a personal day? Rowan Leddy, Grade 11 During my sophomore year volleyball season, we lost our CIF match. I was really upset and I had stayed out very late for the game, so decided to take a personal day but say I was sick. I think that taking a day off for personal reasons should be a valid excuse, as long as people don’t abuse it. Amy Choi, Grade 11 Most everyone needs a personal day, but if the school board starts excusing people for personal days, they would be excusing ditching so I don’t think personal days should be valid for absences. Anonymous, Grade 12 I’ve never used being sick as an excuse to have a personal day, but I think it is a valid reason to not go to school every once in a while. Anonymous, Grade 12 Personally, I only take a “personal day” when I oversleep or need more
time with some assignments that I did not have enough time with (once in my high school career). Strategically, one would have an advantage with an extra day of studying and doing homework for a class; however, a man should not find a loophole in the system and exploit the system. Elizabeth Stellar, Grade 12 My junior year I pulled an all nighter in order to study for a test the next day. When I woke up the next morning I was so tired I could barely focus, so my parents let me stay home. When I returned to school the next day, I had an excuse note saying I was sick even though I wasn’t. I believe that it is perfectly valid and reasonable to be excused for a personal day every once in a while, especially with the high pressure and tough work load of high school. Sophia Kelly, Grade 11 I think mental health days or personal days are just as important as
physically sick days. Mental unhappiness and disturbance can also effect physical states. Diana Spiegel, Grade 12 I can’t remember a time that I’ve ever done that but I think it’s completely valid. I’ve definitely taken personal days when I’m under immense amounts of stress and my mom has written me notes just saying that I was absent for “personal reasons.” Especially at our school, every student has at one point felt like they could just not handle school that day. I think that is completely fine and kind of counts as being sick. We are under a lot of pressure and therefore it is totally valid to be excused for a personal day. Anonymous, Grade 12 I have said I was sick a lot to skip tests or catch up on sleep. Some instances were very legitimate on that I just returned home from a trip or something of that nature, but some were also just me being lazy. I typi-
cally skip single periods rather that full days. Overall, I think it’s all about moderation. A few days a year? Totally okay. Everyone needs time to break out of the non-individualized structure of public school. Everyday you have a test? Not cool. Victoria Gao, Grade 11 I never took a personal day and made the excuse of being sick, but I think it’s valid to be excused for a personal day because people wouldn’t know what it’s for. It could be for something really important or really tragic. Jeffrey Xiong, Grade 12 One time I’ve taken a personal day was the day after an exhausting four day conference. I needed to catch up on sleep, homework, and my sanity. I think in certain situations it is valid to be excused for a personal day, especially if parental consent is given. Sickness isn’t the only thing that can keep a student from performing well at school - stress, lack of sleep, etc.
Tiger - Thursday, February 6, 2014
Winter Formal 2014
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Winter Formal 2014
Winter Formal 2014
By Invitation Only...
As students stepped foot onto the ornate carpeting of the third floor of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, they traveled back in time to a 1960s-esque era of luxury and sophistication. Despite the apparent exclusivity of its name, the “By Invitation Only” dance attracted hundreds of students from all grade levels. The warm ambiance and the elaborate, gold-gilded details of the venue made for a remarkably elegant event. A number of attractions entertained students throughout the night; attendees took advantage of a photo booth, a professional caricature artist, various board games, and a candy table that carried more than five hundred dollars worth of delicious sugary confections. “I really liked seeing my friends all dressed up,” said junior Megan Mellon, who attended Winter Formal for the first time last weekend. “It was two weeks after finals, so it was nice to take time to relax and be with friends outside of the school environment.” Page by Rachael Garner
Text by Kealia Hudson
Photos by Rachael Garner, Raj Jain, Stephanie Kim, Siria Medina, & Matt Winkel
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - Tiger
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Tiger - thursday, february 6, 2014
Out and About Baking Tigers will be holding its Valentine’s Day bake sale this Friday in front of the gym. Sweet treats will be decked in red and pink, so get festive and be ready to share some love with Baking Tigers’s charity of choice. /Somi Jun and Madeline Hellwig
That Awkward Moment lives up to its name By Brandon Kim Staff Writer 2/5
Matt Winkel
Juniors take Gold and Silver Key awards Front row L to R: Meagan Wong, Katherine Uriarte, Lena Gavenas, Megan Mellon. Back row L to R: Petra Barbu, Shine Cho, Ethan Ng, Benny Feldmann.
Record results in 2014 Scholastic Awards By Madison Amido Staff Writer South Pasadena High School students submitted their finest artwork and carefully written papers to the esteemed Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition, a recognition program for young artists and writers, this past December and January for the chance at winning a scholarship, award, or recognition. English teacher Ms Diane Shires gave her Advanced Placement English Language students an opportunity to submit their argumentative research papers on the topic of immigration to the program. This year, 26 out of 67 SPHS participants won awards
for their work. “I am literally overwhelmed,” Shires said. “There were double the submissions this year, but the competition is very competitive. We have a lot of strength in this school and a lot of people don’t know that about themselves until they enter this contest.” Juniors Mehek Desai, Megan Mellon, Ethan Ng, Katherine Uriarte, Meagan Wong, and Stanley Wu earned Silver Key awards. Gold Key award winners include juniors Petra Barbu, Shine Cho, Benny Feldmann, Katherine Rosenberg, and Karina Safaoui. One student, junior Lena Gavenas, won both Silver and Gold awards. Silver Key award winner Katherine Uriarte submitted a paper about the
societal pressures on teenage girls titled “Nobody Staring Back.” “My story highlights the pressures society puts on weight and beauty, especially amongst teenage girls,” Uriarte said. “It’s an awesome feeling to be recognized for my writing. Knowing that others enjoyed my story makes me feel like all the hard work I put [in] paid off.” This year’s competition was especially difficult, as there were nearly 220,000 works submitted nationwide. SPHS submitted a total of 111 pieces, with two pieces of artwork and 109 written works entered. The results of the novel writing category will be released by the Scholastic Art and Writing program by mid-March.
In almost nowhere else in the field of entertainment has a film been as aptly titled as That Awkward Moment. The romantic comedy, starring the trio of Zac Efron, Miles Teller, and Michael B. Jordan, certainly provides viewers with over ninety minutes of sheer awkwardness in the theater. The predictable and monotonous plot does not serve justice to its talented cast. The story revolves around Mikey, a doctor who has recently divorced his wife due to her extramarital affairs, and his two friends Jason and Daniel, who vow to stay single for his sake. However, things go wrong when all three friends start to develop budding relationships, and have to hide this fact from the other two. The screenplay seems to rely heavily upon sexual jokes, clichés, and plays on words as the source of the humor. Out of the numerous “humorous” lines, only about one or two managed to eke out a chuckle from the audience, a very small number of people who thought it worthwhile to spend money to watch the film. Even more senseless is the gratuitous use of profanity, which proves unnecessary to most scenes. Given the quality of the plot—or the lack thereof—the cast was decent in its portrayal of young adults in their adventure of romantic relationships. Zac Efron convincingly plays Jason, a young man who regards women lightheartedly, and is able to bring up an emotional countenance previously unseen in his other films in Jason’s confession to his love interest. That Awkward Moment is a movie with a subpar plot based on an overall premise that should have been expanded to achieve greater critical success. For anyone who is looking for a romantic comedy, this is definitely not “the one.”
ryanseacrest.com
Personality Profile: Lauren Miller By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer
Siria Medina
Senior Lauren Miller focuses on compiling a fresh theme for a collection of artwork, part of her unique artistic process.
Senior Lauren Miller’s preferred method of expression is not verbal; her frequent, reflexive hand gestures suggest that her talents lie elsewhere. Although Miller sometimes experiences a loss of words, her artwork conveys what she can’t verbalize. As the daughter of two artists, Miller grew up surrounded by art. She was prone to doodles and small art projects as a child – and still is – but her artistic journey became more serious a few years ago when she enrolled in the Ryman Arts program and classes at the Art Center College of Design to strengthen her fundamental skills. Spending part of last summer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago inspired Miller and helped her discover her personal style. Miller writes down her stream of consciousness over
and over again on paper to pick out themes, and then uses those to create a body of work, a method she labels “different.” Miller’s objective in practicing art is not only to find an outlet for her creative energy, but also to inspire a reaction in those who view her pieces. “What I love about art is that it’s interactive,” Miller said. “People want a piece of art to tell them something, but really you have to give to it, too.” Miller has applied her passion for art into her part-time job working lights and props backstage at the Fremont Centre Theatre. Working with artists and understanding how they function makes her job all the more rewarding. When she’s not immersed in her paintings or spending her weekends at the Theatre, Miller takes time to play the piano, a hobby she’s enjoyed for almost twelve years. She believes that it
serves as a cure for artist’s block; if she isn’t able to express herself through painting or drawing, conveying herself musically helps prompt new ideas. Miller’s artistic future is still unclear: she is in the process of applying to several art colleges, but doesn’t have a particular career plan in mind. However, she knows that her passion for art will carry over into whatever she chooses to do. “There is art in everything, whether it is general fine art or a brain surgeon doing his thing,” Miller said. “Even if I end up not practicing art, I will always be an advocate, because I see its importance.” Those around Miller cherish her for her honest advice and down-to-earth attitude. “She’s a very realistic and easygoing person, and doesn’t try to sugarcoat,” senior Sophie Negrini said. “She just has something special.”
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 - Tiger
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Personality Profile: Carson Childs By Marcy Kuo Ads Manager There are many adjectives to describe senior Carson Childs, but it is the noun “music” that encompasses every aspect of his jubilant personality and future. Childs grew up influenced by jazz and classical fusion music that his father Billy Childs, a three-time Grammy Awardwinning composer, had produced over the years. “Jazz is off the wall and classical music is direct. The combined fusion is so intricate. I think he’s a genius,” Childs said. His admiration for his father’s mu-
sical accomplishments triggered Childs’s own fervent pursuit of composing rap music. Drawing inspiration from artists such as J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar, Childs considers the true message behind their lyrics. He believes that every rapper has a personal struggle to share with the audience. “Whether it’s drug addiction or alcoholism, these rappers have a story to tell,” Childs said. “I listen to their songs and ask myself, ‘What’s my story?’” This question was soon answered when Childs divulged the intimate details of his rap’s contents, commenting that inner turmoil is the key to reflecting a genuine “fury of emotions.”
Matt Winkel
Senior Carson Childs works on editing one of his latest tracks. His passion for rap has led him to desire a degree in composition post-high school.
“Writing lyrics is more raw and expressive. It focuses on the morals and changes you want to make. It’s funny because my best rhymes are written when I’m emotionally distressed,” Childs said. Childs performed a political rap piece to advocate for the Block Party, a political party formed by Youth and Government, in front of 3200 delegates at a Y&G convention at Camp Roberts this past January. It was not his first appearance as an artist, as Childs has performed in multiple public events such as Crown Root’s Loco Lingo concert convention in Pasadena, but it was certainly his largest. “I doubted myself, but only to a certain extent. Although I’d love to perform for an even bigger audience one day, I personally enjoy smaller, more intimate crowds,” Childs said. Childs hopes to continue his father’s legacy at the USC Thorton School of Music by pursuing a major in composition and a minor in political science. When asked about a trademark that he hopes to leave in today’s music industry, Childs smiled and said that his only hope is to make his music relatable to others. Although he remains humble about his musical talent at school, Childs’ ambition and dedication to performance do not make him an intimidating figure; rather, he is an admirable man with a promising future. “It has been amazing watching him grow into such a talented young man,” senior Chloe Siegel said. “His passion for music is truly shown in his work and I know that any school [would be] lucky to have him.”
Siria Medina
Tim Hitchcock, sophomore
now-here-this.timeout.com
Kevin McCallister, Home Alone See an uncanny resemblance between a student or faculty member and a celebrity? Let us know at tigernewspaper.com.
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TIGER - thursday, FEBRUARY 6, 2014
Feature
To get to the ARC:
1. Take the I-210 Freeway east. 2. Take the Santa Anita Ave exit toward Arcadia. 3. Turn right onto N Santa Anita Ave. 4. Turn right onto St. Joseph St. By Sarah Stukan Feature Editor Super Bowl Sunday is an occasion that can transform an average viewer into a glutton in a matter of hours. Determined to counter this caloric intake, we set off on an excursion that would satisfy our desire for fitness before the notorious splurge. After forgoing breakfast and in need of some pre-workout fuel, we headed over to Luscious Dumplings in San Gabriel. Our
arrival promptly at opening time still earned us a fifteen minute wait at the eight-table eatery. Once seated, we opted to share a combination of chive dumplings with a bowl of stewed beef noodle soup, as well as an order of pan fried pork dumplings. Once we mustered the motivation to haul our full stomachs back to the car, we proceeded to our main destination: Arcadia Rock Climbing. The ARC houses five sections of sprawling rock wall mounted with multicolored climb-
ing holds. As we were relatively unfamiliar with the sport, we opted for the “staff belay” lesson package, which granted us one hour of instruction and harness rentals. After a few successful turns ascending the walls, our staff member, Joe, deemed us too athletic for the basics. To increase the difficulty of the climbs we attempted variations including blindfolded, threelegged, and one-handed skills. We were also introduced to an ARC specialty: bouldering. This involves free climbing without
ropes and a crash pad provided below for safety. Bright strips of duct tape in various hues indicate the paths a climber could take to reach the top. Watching our fellow climbers scale the walls with relative ease made the task seem simple enough; however, by the time we attempted a V0 climb (the easiest route possible), neither of us could reach the chalk line that marked the half-way point of the wall due to the sheer degree of arm strength the climb required. Once our stinging fingers and sore forearms indicated it was time to conclude our session, we tipped our instructor and treated ourselves to chilled cups of boba tea. Our local adventure had rewarded us with a daredevilish dose of adrenaline and a little more admiration for the vigor of all athletes.
Rachael Garner
Chess Club’s performance to celebrate Year of the Horse Short Term 12 features impressively realistic acting and cinematography By Joey Shapiro Staff Writer 5/5
Short Term 12 is decidedly smaller in scale and ambition than similarly acclaimed films Gravity and 12 Years a Slave, but that only serves to heighten the appeal of this personal and heartfelt indie drama. Although its low budget and limited release make it less well-known than Oscar contenders, Short Term 12 is just as extraordinary, and its raw emotion and effortless charm are not
easily forgotten. Brie Larson stars as Grace, a young woman who works at Short Term 12, a foster-care facility for underprivileged youth. She is passionately and selflessly devoted to improving the lives of everyone who stays at Short Term 12, but her tragic and tumultuous past begins to surface after the arrival of Jayden, a troubled teenage girl with whom Grace identifies. As she works tirelessly to earn Jayden’s trust and help her come to terms with her issues, Grace is forced to address her own emotional scars formed by a history of
listal.com
Although it fell short in the box office, Short Term 12 is an affecting drama that boasts an outstanding lead actress.
neglect and abuse. One of the most striking aspects of Short Term 12 is the acting, most notably that of its extraordinary star Brie Larson. Larson was previously recognized for her small but memorable roles in movies like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Don Jon, as well as in the television series The United States of Tara, and with Short Term 12 she has proven herself an astoundingly capable lead actress. Larson gives a tour de force performance of quiet intensity and emotion, completely inhabiting her role as Grace and providing the emotional backbone of the film. Larson’s natural acting complements the hyper-realistic style of the film. Shot with a handheld camera and driven by life-like characters with unique personalities, Short Term 12 has a documentarylike believability that makes it even more affecting during emotional scenes. The world of Short Term 12 is deeply rooted in reality, a far cry from the sentimentality and melodrama of inferior social issues dramas. Short Term 12 is currently being played in four theaters nationwide, so it’s understandable that it received little attention from the general public upon release. However, this film is far too poignant and special to go unnoticed, and its compassionate but heart-rending story is one that deserves to be appreciated.
By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School Chess Club will hold its first Chinese New Year fundraiser in the South Pasadena Middle School auditorium on Friday, February 7. Festivities will be themed on the Year of the Horse and will feature participation from both high school students and community members. Chinese New Year, more broadly celebrated as the Lunar New Year in Asia, occurs around the end of January each year; this year’s was on January 31. Those unfamiliar with Chinese culture will have a chance to experience traditional forms of celebration at the middle school event. “I just want to promote Chinese culture and at the same time accomplish some fundraising,” freshman and Chess Club president Michael Wu said. “We also hope we will [make] some contributions to the school and community by hosting this event.” Wu reinstated the current club last year, but with completely new membership. Up until now, the club’s meetings have only consisted of playing board games, but that will
soon change with the Chinese New Year celebration. The event was coordinated by a committee of students, parents, and adult volunteers who reached out to numerous organizations for assistance. SPHS orchestra and choir will be among the participants, and Chess Club advisor Ms Melissa Cheng has also recruited her students to participate with song, dance, and instruments. “I am confident that the audience will love their performances,” Cheng said. “This is a very good opportunity for [my students] to learn and practice their Chinese language skills. They [can] also get more information about Chinese New Year culture and traditional customs.” Other acts will include traditional Chinese poetry, calligraphy, martial arts, and a dragon dance. The event as a whole is sponsored by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club and the Chinese American Education Association. Wu has expressed the possibility of future festivals if this year’s is successful; money earned will go to the club’s goal of promoting interest in chess around campus.
Siria Medina
SPHS Chess Club president Michael Wu was a part of the fundamental planning of the club’s “Year of the Horse” themed celebration.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 - Tiger
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Crossings Restaurant is the latest addition to South Pas fine dining By Ross Lelieur Staff Writer 5/5
There is no better term than “unique” to describe Crossings, an upscale restaurant only seven weeks old and
located next to Buster’s Coffee on Mission Street. Its fantastic fare, excellent service, and unequaled overall atmosphere make this restaurant stand out as a class of its own. One might expect to feel overwhelmed by the elegant and somewhat expensive atmosphere that Crossings displays, but the friendly servers and décor
make the setting welcoming and comfortable. The interior was designed by the nearby store House of Honey and includes exposed brick walls, girders, and the subtle yet effective use of accented glass. The centerpiece of decoration on the ground floor is a collection of fascinating glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling; the restaurant is worth a visit just to see these strangely shaped works of art. The design prevents the restaurant from appearing pompous or stuffy, and instead gives it a contemporary, yet vintage aspect. Crossings has a limited menu due to its recent opening, but I was assured this would be amended as business continues. Two options were the Crossings Burger, which included beef au jus and grilled onions, and Grilled Swordfish, but I ended up choosing the Gold Line Chicken. This chicken was dressed in an orange-colored sauce and served with a saffron couscous, green beans, and carrots topped with “Moroccan spice.” The chicken was per-
fectly cooked and the sauce that adorned it tasted fantastic, its Western flavor wellbalanced by the Moroccan vegetables. High school students may be put off by the price though, with entrees starting at $14 and costing as much as $40, as well as the 5:30 P.M. opening time. Nevertheless, Crossings is a wonderful restaurant for families looking for a fancy but relaxing meal. Provided the money and opportunity, anyone can easily enjoy a meal from Crossings.
Raj Jain
Raj Jain
Crossings offers upscale eating with dishes like the Golden Line Chicken (upper left).
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Tiger - Thursday, February 6, 2014
Sports
Caitlin Chan
Thomas Steele By Karen Hsueh Staff Writer While Thomas Steele is regularly seen running laps around the track during the school year, the senior’s home during the winter season is on the turf as a key member of the SPHS boys’ soccer program. Steele has balanced cross ountry, soccer, and track for all four years and secured a spot on the varsity teams for all three sports since junior year. “It’s just the same thing year round,” Steele said. “The school days always end at around five for me, so playing sports has really
Matt Winkel
Thomas has earned his nickname “Man of Steele” for his tough playing style.
forced me to manage my time well.” His passion for running began four years ago, but Steele’s roots will always be soccer. The countless trophies and medals of his accolades in his room mark the twelve year journey he has made from American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) to club soccer. “Soccer’s a really fun sport,” Steele said. “It helps me at school, too, because I learned how to identify and correct my mistakes from playing soccer.” Steele’s talents extend into the classroom where he juggles a rigorous course load. Last year, Steele conquered Mrs. Ruth Moonesinghe’s infamous Advanced Placement Calculus BC course, and this year the senior enjoys the equally challenging Advanced Placement Biology class. He plans on going into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics field in college with math, physics, engineering, or computer science. Outside of the classroom and off the field, Steele can be found reading manga, watching anime, or playing video games with friends. Although the boys’ soccer team got off to a rough start in league play, the squad is confident that they will be able to salvage the season. Steele may be one of the quietest players on the squad, but his actions speak volumes of his character on the team. “He’s a skilled player who will always give one hundred percent and do everything in his ability to support his teammates,” senior Michael Mendenhall said. “He is a great team player, and it’s extremely valuable to have someone like Thomas on the team.”
By Kea Hudson Staff Writer What 5’3’’ senior Caitlin Chan lacks in size she makes up for in effort on the basketball court where she is known to be one of the Tigers’ strongest players. Chan began playing basketball in second grade when she joined an Asian basketball league connected to her church, called Japanese American Optimist (JAO) Club. She quickly fell in love with the thrill of athletic rivalry. “I love the competitiveness of [basketball],” Chan said. “When someone knocks me down, I have a fight in me to go back and score in their face.” Chan still plays on JAO, but her priority is now the high school program as a senior and a two-year varsity player. “Even though I’m not a captain, I think it’s my responsibility to be a role model for underclassmen,” Chan said. “I work hard. There’s not one practice I don’t fall down.” Chan believes that the intimacy of the team is their greatest strength. The girls go to great lengths to support each other; they have sleepovers, movie nights, and read inspirational quotes together before every game. “We have a great team chemistry,” Chan said. “We can read each others’ minds, and our performance on the court really shows that we trust each other.” During games, Chan has proven herself an integral player on the team with her aggressive style of play.
Stephanie Kim
Chan has played basketball for over a decade and is a key player for the Tigers. “She has good court awareness and can see things that other people might not be able to,” junior Natalie Song said, who has played along Chan for nearly ten years. “She’s never afraid to acknowledge a good move or call out a mistake.” While Chan is a great asset on the court, she is equally prized for her contribution to the team as a friend and confidant. “She’s always there for everyone to talk to and she’s always aware of our emotions,” Song said. “Parents love her, teachers adore her, and coaches brag about her. Caitlin’s just one of those girls that everyone likes.”
Sports
Wrestling sends six to CIF By Jordan Xiao Staff Writer The South Pasadena High School wrestling team wrapped up the 2013-14 Rio Hondo season with league finals at Monrovia High School on Saturday, Feb 1. At the tournament-style event, six Tigers qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Tournament for individual wrestlers, which will be held at Citrus High School from Feb 21 to 22. “I thought we might have qualified a few more guys, but we had some tough competition,” head coach Al Shuton said. “There wasn’t any more to do, so I’m satisfied with how we did.” Juniors Nour Elsayed (120 lb), Angel Amaral (132), and Alton Phillips (220), along with senior Charlie Barrone (126), will be South Pas’s chief representatives for taking second in their respective classes. Sophomore Emiliano Sornoso (138) and junior Julian Lopez (152) will also serve as alternates in case there is an opening, the latter having barely missed the cut by one point in his last match. Though unable to wrestle due to a knee injury, senior James Yun (113) was voted into CIF by Rio Hondo coaches for being top-ranked in tournaments. Yun will wrestle at CIF alongside brother junior Harry Yun, who took down all opposition to take first in the 106 lb category as the only Tiger to clinch a league title. SPHS concludes league season 1-4 after several disappointing losses, including the major upset dual meets against Monrovia and Hoover. However, Shuton is confident the team score does not reflect the Tigers’ prospects at CIF. “We’ve always been a tournament team. I don’t know why; it might just be the higher stakes and overall atmosphere, but we always perform better at tournaments than meets,” Shuton said. Seven Tigers made it to CIF last year, but none were able to place in the top five and move on to the Masters Tournament. For Amaral, Barrone, and the elder Yun, this year is a chance to improve and go farther than last season. Others new to CIF will have a chance to test themselves against top competition outside of Rio Hondo. “I will work my hardest these two weeks before the CIF tournament,” Phillips said. “Practice makes perfect, and perfection is key in wrestling.”
Harry Yun Angel Amaral Yun was crowned The junior came Rio Hondo Champ second in league’s for 106 lB division. 132 lB division.
Thursday, February 6, 2014 - Tiger
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Girls’ soccer midpack in Rio Hondo By Leo Parker & Jason Wang Tiger Staff
The South Pasadena High School girls’ soccer team has earned a positive streak of results as the girls battled the La Cañada Spartans to a competitive 2-2 tie on Friday, January 31. The Tigers have gone unbeaten in the last five games, drawing three and winning a pair. “In every game, we’ve gotten stronger as a team, and we are learning to work as one, cohesive unit,” senior captain Ryann Ramirez said. The youngsters led the Tigers in the La Cañada game, as many of the team’s underclassmen put in sparkling performances to seal the win. Within the first five minutes of the game, both teams found themselves in a scramble in the Spartan penalty box. This ended with freshmen Jayda Weeks poking the ball into the back of the net to break the deadlock. The Spartans responded with two goals in a row to stun the Tigers. A La Cañada attacker converted the first goal from the left side of the field just barely past South Pasadena goalie Maddie Kause’s reach.
Midway through the game, the Spar- has entirely changed,” senior Emily tans earned another goal off of a Figueroa said. “After our first win, we realized that we had the ability to penalty kick. Early in the second half, fresh- succeed if we all came together and man Amelia Blake brought the Tigers worked hard. We have the talent in back into the match with an equalizing many different aspects; we just need goal. The rest of the second half was to work together, go in strong, and evenly matched, as neither team could be aggressive.” prove their dominance and the game ended in a 2-2 draw. For the Tigers, the result against their league rival was a marked improvement from their first matchup against the Spartans. “The first time we played La Cañada, it was our first league game and we were still trying to find our team identity,” Ramirez said. “Now that we are halfway through league, we know our strengths as a team and we are starting to believe in each other.” The Tigers faced off against Temple City yesterday after press time. South Pas travels on the road on Friday as the girls take on Monrovia. The last time the two squads met, the game Siria Medina resulted in a 2-1 victory for Junior Tru Pierone outmuscles a Spartan the Tigers. “Our mentality as a team player in the Tigers’ 2-2 draw against LC.
Boys’ basketball seeks to clinch third By Julian Prime Staff Writer
Stephanie Kim
Senior Kyler Lee charges the rim in the Tigers 75-57 loss to La Cañada.
The South Pasadena High School boys’ varsity basketball team has only four games left in the season to clinch a playoff spot. Sitting on a 3-3 record, the Tigers are third in Rio Hondo standings. When they’re hot, the Tigers can be a serious force to be reckoned with. However, inconsistency on both offense and defense has plagued South Pas all season, threatening the team’s chances of moving on to the CIF playoffs The Tigers’ took on the Temple City Rams last night after press time. Ear-
lier in the season, the two teams faced off in South Pasadena, with the Rams prevailing 57-52. The Tigers’ previous game was a disaster against rivals La Cañada. The Tigers drew their largest crowd of the season, however, the squad failed to get anything going behind their energetic fans. The Spartans came out swinging, scoring 37 points in the first half. “We made it harder on ourselves than we needed to,” head coach David Lutzeier said. “We didn’t match up the way we were supposed to.” La Cañada’s offense consistently threat-
ened their opposition as the streaky Tigers fell out of contention in the fourth quarter as a five point deficit quickly rose to 15. The Tigers top scorer junior Joey Toyama did his best to keep the Tigers in the game, but to no avail. Any buckets the Tigers managed to convert were canceled out by a successful Spartan drive. As their defense began to crumble, South Pas let the game slip through their hands, and ultimately lost 75-57. “We just have to rebound from this loss,” Lutzeier said. “We’ve got four more games and we’re going to try our best to win all of them.”
Girls’ water polo demonstrates dominance in league By Heather Vaughan Senior Staff Writer Despite an upset loss against Polytechnic High School on Monday, February 2 that slowed the Tigers’ overall momentum, the South Pas girls’ water polo team remains confident that continued hard work can help propel the girls to a potential CIF championship. The team holds a 5-0 league record and a number one ranking within Division 4, and the Tigers believe that with the right intensity and focus, they can be “a tough team to beat.” Coming fatigued out of a five-game tournament the previous weekend, the Tigers struggled from the start of the Poly game, giving up two goals within the first two minutes. Although seniors Devin Grab and Liza Echeverria were both able to put away several goals, the Tigers ended the half behind 7-5. A momentum shift tied up the game three minutes into the third quarter, and the Tigers gained a two-point lead with just two minutes left in the game. However, senior Grace Algeo’s third ejection distracted the Tigers, who let their lead slip with 45 seconds left and allowed Poly to tie the score at 13-13, propelling the game into two three-minute quarters of overtime. A Poly player scored quickly off a five-meter penalty, but junior Glenda
Chen kept the Tigers in the game with a goal off a six-on- tal within a two-week period – as preparation for CIF play. “At this point, each of us needs to decide that we five South Pas advantage. However, a Poly goal with 21 seconds left sealed the game for the Panthers, who stole the want to win, and that means working hard and staying focused every day,” Grab said. 15-14 victory. “We weren’t in sync as a unit, so it became a bigger challenge than what it should’ve been,” head coach Robert Echeverria said. “We all know we’re a good team, but when we make little mistakes… is when it gets frustrating.” At last weekend’s Bonita tournament, the team emerged with a 3-2 record after some high and low moments. On Friday, South Pas bested Yucaipa 10-5 in a relatively smooth game, but fell to Division 1 La Jolla 12-7 in an intensely charged matchup. Saturday’s play began sluggishly as the Tigers lost 20-8 to Palm Desert, but bounced back to triumph over Chaparral 11-3 and Marina 12-9. The Tigers’ season record is otherwise impressive. They have dominated nearly every league matchup thus far, easily beating La Cañada, Monrovia, and San Marino. South Pas’s only potential contender for the league title is Temple City High, whom the Tigers beat 14-12 in the their first major challenge of the season. Only two games remain in league play, which will Sophia Arriola end on Thursday, February 13 at home. The team is cur- Senior Lisa Echeverria shoots the ball in the Tigers’ rently taking advantage of its frequent games – fourteen to- game against non-league opponent Pasadena Poly.
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Tiger - Thursday, February 6, 2014
Sports
Sports
g. basketball
La Cañada So. Pasadena Temple City San Marino Monrovia Blair
Wins
5 5 4 3 1 0
2013 Rio Hondo League Standings Losses b. basketball
1 1 2 3 5 6
La Cañada Temple City So. Pasadena Monrovia San Marino Blair
Wins
Losses
6 5 3 3 1 0
0 1 3 3 5 6
Garcia guides Tigers to success By Clem Witherall Sports Editor
Matt Winkel
Senior Heven Gomez (7) sprints past two Spartan defenders late in the first half for his first goal of the game.
Boys soccer in hunt to reclaim league crown Asa Silverman Staff Writer Coming off a stunning 7-1 win over rival La Cañada last Friday, the next week of results for the South Pasadena High School boys’ soccer team will dictate its fate in the Rio Hondo League. The Tigers took on Temple City on Wednesday after press time and seek revenge against league leaders Monrovia on Friday as the boys look to bounce back from a disappointing 5-1 loss to the Wildcats two weeks ago. “This next week will be huge for us,” senior captain Zach Dunn said. “Monrovia, La Cañada, and South Pas are all vying for the title and we just need to put in another strong performance against the Wildcats.” If the Tigers can reproduce the same effort that carried them to an emphatic 7-1 victory last week against La Cañada, the boys should have a solid shot of handing Monrovia its first loss in league play.
It was clear from the first whistle at last Friday’s game against the Spartans that the boys were eager to pummel their rivals. The scoring began early as the Tigers began to touch the ball, finding gaps in the La Cañada defense. Junior Ramon Gutierrez found himself tapping the ball into the net off a rebounded shot from Dunn that the Spartan goalkeeper poorly pushed away. The Tigers’ momentum grew as they fueled attack after attack, putting the Spartans under immense pressure. The Tigers were able to convert a corner kick ten minutes into the match which resulted in senior captain Clem Witherall rising above the defense to easily head the ball into the back of the net. One of the Spartan attacks finally broke through as the Tiger defense was caught off-guard in the 24th minute, changing the score to 2-1. However, Dunn responded right away with a beautiful right-footed shot in the 25th minute that found the bottom left corner.
Tigers’ senior Heven Gomez added a fourth before the end of the half, bringing the score to 4-1 with South Pas on top. “I wanted revenge for the last game against LC and so did the rest of the team,” Gomez said. “We proved to ourselves and La Cañada what type of team we really are.” The Tigers came out in the second half with the same intensity and Gomez converted from close range once again in the 44th minute. Twenty-five minutes into the second half, Dunn chipped the helpless Spartan goalie from ten yards out, adding another goal to his stats. The Tigers weren’t finished as Gomez completed his hat trick by heading a ball from a corner kick to make the score 7-1. “We played the same way we have been playing since preseason. When we play our style, we win games,” coach Juan Zurita said. “Everyone stepped it up to win and I am very proud of what my boys have accomplished.”
Girls basketball exacts revenge on Spartans Andrew Shults & Alex Nakagawa Tiger Staff The South Pasadena girls’ basketball squad avenged its past loss to La Cañada at home on Friday, stealing the game 66-58, and leaving the Rio Hondo League crown
Stephanie Kim
Junior Lexie Scholtz hits a jumper late in the third to rally the Tigers to a win.
up for grabs. “We didn’t really think about the other team before the game, and focused on our game,” Elise Takahama said. Both teams, now 4-1 in league, are the clear powerhouses in the Rio Hondo League and will most likely share the league title. The Tigers will have to win the rest of their league games to earn the title of league champion, which appears likely as they defeated every team except the Spartans by a margin of at least 18 points in the first half of the season. South Pasadena faced the Temple City Rams on Wednesday after press time. South Pasadena shut down the Spartans early in the game, and featured a more aggressive playing style than in their previous meeting. Junior Sophia Hathaway came out strong, scoring eight of the first 18 points by the Tigers to help them gain a strong 12-point lead at the end of the quarter. La Cañada quickly took back four points in the second quarter, trailing by eight. La Cañada scored four easy points to cut the deficit in half. The Tigers got their act together with a combination of a three-
pointer by Lexie Scholtz and another two points by Hathaway, extending their lead to nine, which they maintained for most of the quarter. The Spartans, however, sunk several key baskets with less than a minute on the clock, including a buzzer beater, to trail by only five at the half. Takahama and Scholtz hit consecuative threes to begin the third, widening the deficit and causing panic amongst the opposition. The Spartans appeared rushed after South Pas’ clinical finishing and La Cañada repeatedly missed shots as the Tigers ended the quarter up 57-46. The Tigers stepped up their defense in the last eight minutes of the game, forcing the Spartans to take tough shots. The Tigers sealed the win 66-58 as the final buzzer rang. The Tigers also made a huge statement last Wednesday, setting a new school record for point differential in a game, defeating the Blair Vikings by 74 points with a score of 87-13. “I’m so proud of my team and all the work they put in,” head coach Tammy Lai said. “This is just another achievement they can add to their high school experience.”
The MVP for the highly successful boys’ soccer team thus far is Robert Garcia. He is most valuable for several other Tiger teams, too. While his name may not be familiar to some students, Garcia is SPHS’s athletic trainer. He has managed to keep many of the school’s top athletes healthy and is a major contributor to the Tigers’ sports accomplishments this year. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Garcia said. “It’s been a lot less pressure compared to previous jobs I’ve had. I’ve just really enjoyed it so far.” Garcia joined the Tiger family on a temporary basis for the fall football season. His contract was extended to March after a highly productive first couple months of treating students. More than forty athletes crowd the small athletic training room daily. Garcia ices knees, tapes ankles and rehabs injured players. He also alerts kids if their maladies are serious enough to require a doctor’s examination. Despite his value to the school, Garcia’s future is uncertain. The reason: a lack of funds. Some proactive students have taken it upon themselves to seek the funds required to retain Mr. Garcia’s knowledge and services. Sophomore Leah Schexnayder started a studentbased group called “SPHS-Athletic Training Room” and has begun the process of applying for grants to keep the athletic training program alive. “After I fractured my right tibia, coach Garcia took me under his wing and taught me the foundation of sports medicine,” Schexnayder said. “With an amazing teacher and trainer like Coach Garcia, and the current designated facility space, it only seems appropriate that we utilize the space to make it reach its full potential.” Support from parents has been received in the form of donations, letters and attempts to obtain grants. An athletic trainer is not a luxury but a necessity. Garcia’s importance to SPHS extends beyond wins and losses; he brings crucial focus to player safety, as well. Coach Garcia has eased pain and financial costs for many student athletes at the school and it is essential to keep the man who has worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chivas USA and the L.A. Clippers in the Tiger family. There is also longer-term value in having Garcia as a trainer. Seeing his work and the importance it has on the lives of others can spark students’ career interests in fields such as physical therapy and medicine. “I began working at the beginning of summer with Coach Garcia,” student-trainer aide Justin Moyer said. “His knowledge is incredible and he’s showed me so much within these past months.” If the school administration can find a way to keep Garcia on campus, it would be a victory for all student-athletes.
[inside] Read up on girls’ basketball and the squad’s huge win over La Cañada Rachael Garner
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