November 2024

Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913

VOLUME 111 ISSUE 3

22, 2024

SENIOR GRAD PACKAGE

IN THE NEWS

The deadline for ordering the graduation package is on Saturday, Nov. 23.

FALL PLAY ENCHANTS AUDIENCE

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

HOLIDAY GIFTING DRIVE CHOIR CONCERT

SPHS will hold a holiday gifting drive which will give out holiday gifts on Saturday, Nov. 30.

SPHS and SPMS will host the choir winter concert at the SPMS auditorium on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

S PHS Drama performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream as their annual Fall Play during the weekends of Nov. 8 and Nov. 15. The play ran for a total of seven shows. Five of them were conducted from 7 p.m.–9:30 p.m., while the remaining two were conducted from 2 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Each show ran for 2 hours and 30 minutes. The play consisted of two acts with a 30-minute intermission in between, allowing guests the chance to get some fresh air and buy concessions.

The student cast included 24 actors and eight producers, with each member contributing to the final performance. The cast has been preparing for the play since it was announced on Aug. 20. Preparations included acting, lighting, stage production, sound, and choreography. Each show boasted a full house — all 98 seats sold out on each day.

“We put in a lot of work for this,” senior Maggie Vyas, who played the fairy Peaseblossom, said. “The month and a half when we practiced was tiring, but I think everyone performed beautifully.”

A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a reenactment of a Shakespearean play by the same name. The story revolves around two struggling relationships in the Court of Athens as mischievous forest spirits mess with the Court members.

The play opens on the eve of Duke Theseus and Hippolyta’s wedding in Athens. The Duke’s daughter, Hermia, wishes to marry Lysander, but the Duke wants her to marry Demetrius, while Hermia’s friend, Helena, is in love with Demetrius.

THE

DISTRICT’S NEW DIGITAL MONITORING SYSTEM

Tiger analyzes the recent implementation of Classwize, a Chromebook monitoring system, and its potential effects on staff and students.

In the magical forest nearby, the fairy king, Oberon, sends Puck Goodfellow and Robin Puck to enchant the fairy queen, Titania, to fall in love with an animal. When the four lovers enter the forest, the Pucks mistake them for Oberon’s targets and enchant them to fall in love with each other at random. To create more chaos, the Pucks turn actor Nick Bottom’s head into that of a donkey as he was practicing for his upcoming play at the wedding.

After a long night of hectic scrambling and more enchantments, all the affected characters return to normal and fix their relationships with each other. Hermia and Lysander prepare to get married, Demetrius and Helena fall in love, Oberon and Titania reconcile, Nick Bottom and his acting troupe succeed in their performance, and the wedding between Theseus and Hippolyta goes off without a hitch. As the play closes, the Pucks bid farewell to the audience, suggesting that the story was all just a dream.

“Everyone worked pretty hard,” Technical Director James Jontz said. “We got a little bit of a late start on it, but eventually we figured it out and we were able to see it through.”

Many cast members enjoyed working on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Drama program hopes to give more students a chance to shine.

“I think that the Little Theater is such a sacred space for so many people,” senior Alexandra Gossett, who played the fairy queen Titania, said. “Working with Mr. Hoffa has been so great. It’s been truly fantastic.”

SPHS Drama now looks toward the Spring Musical, which will be Spamalot , a medieval comedy. The musical will be performed during the weekend of April 25, 2025.

Tiger dives into the empathetic portrayal of the consequences of real-life misogyny through Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut movie titled Woman of the Hour.

30

STORY CHRISTIANNE DULEY PHOTO EMIKO ESSMILLER

Boys’ water polo won the CIF Championship for the first time in the

years. A last-second shot from senior Kenta Fernandes won the game — read the full play-by-play here.

STORY RUBY FOUDY

PHOTO HELENA EASTERBY

Seventy-six members of the SPHS Marching Band and Color Guard, as well as their instruments and props, met and boarded two buses, dedicating eight hours of their weekend to compete in regionals on Saturday, Nov. 16. The SPHS Marching Band and Color Guard compete across Southern California in regional band competitions. Eventually, they will make their way to finals, held in Fresno, California — a three-day overnight trip spanning from Thursday, Nov. 21 to Saturday, Nov. 23.

Regionals are held by the Western Band Association and are composed of three competitions, held in Southern California, Northern California, and Nevada. Attendance at regionals is required for all bands to advance to finals. The SPHS band’s performance at regionals determines their seating for finals — the better they place in regionals, the higher their seating for finals is.

Regionals are single-day events where South Pasadena competes against eight other schools. The bands perform their respective halftime shows and are rated on a scale of 0–100. At Regionals, the band achieved a 78.25, their highest score of the season.

SPHS’s show, “The Final Frontier,” is a Star Trekthemed performance, complete with orange spacesuits and rocket ships. The show has three acts, each with separate compositions and outer space-themed props. Despite placing sixth at Regionals, South Pasadena’s performance landed them first or second place in every other competition, a large achievement for the band.

“I really chalk it up to the strength of the senior class this year who have been really amazing leaders within the band and taken it upon themselves to improve the whole ensemble,” senior Drum Major Emilio Lois said.

This competition season has been a turnaround for South Pasadena as the Marching Band and Color Guard have not done well in previous seasons.

“South Pas had historically taken last so … we’re pretty happy about that,” Band Director Walter Simonsen said.

To prepare for the competition, students attend a mandatory band camp over the summer, and during band season, have practice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays,

Band, Color Guard march toward season finale in stride

SPHS Marching Band and Color Guard prepare to bounce back from regionals for WBA Class Championships in Fresno.

and Thursdays, including performing at home and away football games on Fridays. The time dedicated towards practice totals up to between 160 to 200 hours per season.

“This final week is all about preparation,” Lois said. “Physically and mentally, to have an amazing performance up north.”

The dedication that the Band and Color Guard bring to the table forms a close-knit community.

“It’s one of those activities where every single person matters all the time. It’s not like sports,” Lois said.

“Where there are benchwarmers and substitutes, literally everyone is always marching and playing, and that fosters a community where everyone matters, which is really special.”

The enthusiasm and commitment of the students has provided the South Pasadena Band and Color Guard with a significant advantage this season, and they’re looking forward to bringing that energy with them to finals in Fresno this weekend.

“I’m just really excited to take it up there and show everybody what we can do,” Simonsen said.

Nikkei explores Japanese heritage in Little Tokyo

STORY EVELYN DIAZ

PHOTOS MADELINE MADRIGAL

SPHS’s Nikkei Student Association (NSA) club hosted a Little Tokyo tour for students on Saturday, Nov. 9. Led by junior NSA President Mason Asakura, the trip aimed to give participants a foundational understanding of Japanese American history, culture, and the community’s significant contributions.

Little Tokyo, located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, is well known for being a thriving center of culture that honors Japanese community and heritage. The area is well known for its unique blend of ancient and modern attractions, providing tourists with a variety of experiences that include authentic Japanese restaurants and shops, art galleries, museums, and historical sites.

By visiting historic sites, museums, and cultural landmarks, the group gained insight into the challenges Japanese Americans have faced, from early immigration to World War II, and how they have shaped the broader American cultural landscape.

A tour guide from the organization led the group throughout the trip and provided insights into the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II. The guide highlighted the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Military units used in World War II composed entirely of Japanese American soldiers served with distinction despite facing discrimination and prejudice at home.

The tour guide led the group on a journey through several significant sites, each of which revealed important aspects of Japanese American history and

culture. From historic landmarks to cultural centers, each location highlighted unique elements of the Japanese American experience.

“Our members were able to learn about the injustices being done to legacy businesses in the community and how they can support these longstanding beacons of culture,” Asakura said. “We really dove deep into the hardships that some of our own families had to face during World War II, and it was really inspiring to hear everyone speak so thoughtfully about it.”

The members of the NSA left the Little Tokyo tour and members described feeling a renewed connection to their Japanese American heritage. Reflecting on the experience, many expressed a deeper understanding of the struggles their community has faced and a renewed commitment to preserving its legacy.

“Everyone really enjoyed it. We loved discussing the cultural history behind the city itself and each of us was able to learn something new,” Asakura said. “We’re especially excited because our future tours will be even better.”

TRUMPETER GRAHAM NICKERSON-CUSTER plays for the Marching Band at a Friday football game.

ASB hosts first blood drive of school year

SPHS’s blood drive donated student volunteers’ blood on Nov. 21 to save American Red Cross patients.

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

SPHS ASB hosted their f irst of three blood drives of the 2024-25 school year on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the SPHS practice gym. The drive encouraged students ages 16 and older to donate blood to the American Red Cross. Each blood donation helps three people.

Students were required to meet the eligibility requirements: be 16 years or older, meet a minimum height and weight requirement, not have donated blood in the past 56 days, and have parental consent to ensure that parents are aware of and support the student’s efforts.

Information for eligibility requirements and where the blood would go was published on social media, advertised through various emails, and displayed on

posters around campus. Teachers were encouraged to help spread the news.

Students were called out during class for an hour to donate blood, and afterward, donors were given cookies to help reenergize their bodies, three volunteer hours, and a pair of Friends socks commending them.

The blood drive started more than 20 years ago. Leadership of the event has been passed down by Commissioners of School and Community and helps support the Red Cross and Huntington Hospital. 20 percent of the blood donated to these hospitals comes from high school students participating in their schools’ blood drives.

The Red Cross worked with SPHS to set up the drive and provided trained professionals to perform the blood draw, along with quality equipment and help in planning for how to recruit donors.

In addition to regular donors, there were Power Red donors. These donors meet a specific age and weight requirement, allowing them to donate two units of red blood cells — twice a regular donation’s amount — by having only their red blood cells drawn from their bodies, while their plasma and platelets are returned to them. In addition, people with AB-type blood can donate only the plasma in their blood and have the rest returned to make drawing blood less taxing.

The blood that students donated will be used across a multitude of medical cases within the Red Cross. Each substance in the blood, including platelets and red blood cells, can be transfused to patients facing deadly diseases or extreme trauma, including cancer and severe burns. Blood donations help resupply patients with the missing substances that help the body recover and function. However, since needles and blood can be an instinctive fear for some people, getting volunteers for the blood drive can be challenging.

“It’s always difficult to encourage people to sign up, because it’s something that people are scared of doing … it’s trying to incentivize students to get out there and sign up,” Senior Class President Natasha Rey said.

To remove the stigma around losing blood and spread the word about the event to increase the number of participants when SPHS’s blood drive is next hosted, this year’s event was structured for participants to remember the process.

“A lot of students don’t meet the eligibility requirements … so just getting as many people to sign up that are within those requirements is our biggest priority and always a challenge,” Commissioner of School and Community Sienna Drake said.“It’s good to be starting these habits of donating and being involved with your community at such a young age, so it’s something you continue for a long time.”

Going forward, ASB hopes to improve the blood drive by getting more students to regularly donate blood, raising the event’s social media coverage, and improving coordination while planning it. For students hoping to participate, ASB will host its next blood drive on Feb. 20, 2025.

South Pas 2024 City Council Election results

The conclusion to the 2024 South Pasadena City Council Race resulted in two new members. In the 2024 South Pasadena City Council election, Omari Ferguson triumphed in District 1, Sheila Rossi emerged victorious in a tightly contested District 2 race, and Jon Primuth retained his seat unopposed in District 3. Tiger interviewed each election winner about their campaigns and visions for South Pasadena.

STORY OWEN HOU ILLUSTRATION MAC SHROPSHIRE

Omari Ferguson secured victory in District 1, defeating Mayor Evelyn Zneimer by around 30 percent of the votes. An electrical engineer and current chair of the South Pasadena Public Works Commission, Ferguson began as a volunteer on the commission and described how his involvement deepened over time.

“You pull at a thread, and then next thing you know, you have a lap full of yarn. It was kind of how running for office kind of felt for me,” Ferguson said. “I started volunteering with the city on the Public Works commission, and then ultimately I began to chair the Public Works Commission.”

Ferguson’s campaign was anchored in three key pillars: responsive leadership, resilient infrastructure, and nurturing the community. Rather than pushing his own agenda, he plans to represent District 1 to the best of his ability and ensure there is a governance structure in place that allows this to happen.

In District 2, Sheila Rossi overcame a close election with her opponent Charley Lu, winning by roughly 10 percent of the votes. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the South Pasadena Finance Commission and the Finance Ad Hoc Committee. Rossi has contributed to the executive school board and has participated actively in community organizations including the South Pasadena Arts Council and AYSO. She believes that the city should be more focused on and engaged with the needs of its community. Aside from implementing community focused leadership, she plans to improve the finance department, infrastructure, and elect a new City Manager.

“I think that we have to start looking at how we are planning for the future, and we also have to

re-engage the community in that planning,” Rossi said in a previous interview. “I think we have to change that, and we need to go back to engaging people and getting more...involved in the planning process going forward, so we can actually start doing things and making things happen in this community from us.”

Jon Primuth was reelected after running in an uncontested race in District 3. Primuth previously served as the mayor of South Pasadena, was an elected trustee of the SPHS school board for five years, and professionally is a lawyer who opened his own estate planning practice. He has begun volunteering in the community and aims to establish a healthy governing system, improve infrastructure and finances, and create stronger mental health programs for the community.

“Sometimes, if you volunteer too often, you just keep being given more responsibility. I was strongly persuaded to run for school board back in 2015, and I served five years on the school board,” Primuth said. “After that, I looked at the city and I thought, ‘there’s a lot of challenges, and I’d like to bring some of what I’ve learned, some of the energy, and address the community concerns on the city-council level.’”

With the conclusion of the 2024 City Council election, the City Council is tasked with fulfilling their goals such as improving governance and leadership, advancing infrastructure, and addressing the concerns of the community.

“Our community here is really something special, and so we all need to make an effort to make sure we keep working with each other in good faith,” Primuth said.

Behind the scenes: A look inside SPHS clubs

APISU IgniteHER

The South Pasadena chapter of IgniteHER joined campus earlier this year as part of the broader IgniteHER project, a global organization with over 50 youth-led chapters. Focused on empowering young women, IgniteHER aims to challenge harmful rhetoric that perpetuates misogyny through advocacy and community.

In the past, IgniteHER has pushed for California measures promoting menstrual care. The organization has also hosted a multitude of virtual conferences and workshops focused on empowering women.

“We often host conferences [on] how it is important for young women to lead in these [male-dominated] spaces and how to take up room in a place that doesn’t really want you to,” senior IgniteHER President Paige Tang said.

Currently, South Pasadena IgniteHER is coming together with the organization’s other Southern California chapters to collaborate with USC and UCLA for a donation drive helping unhoused women in downtown Los Angeles.

“I’m pretty excited to get that going. We’re going to be putting boxes in teachers’ rooms and collecting toiletries and bedding and all

sorts of things like that,” junior IgniteHER Vice President Sarah Kano said.

In addition to the club’s fundraising endeavors, South Pasadena IgniteHER aims to promote student voices through journalism. Their partnership with Los Angeles Times High School Insiders gives students an opportunity to publish their own stories related to feminism and advocacy. For Tang, IgniteHER represents an opportunity to discover and amplify one’s voice.

“I think a lot of people don’t think they have much control or much voice or much power. And I felt that way for the longest time,” Tang said. “I never thought that I could do something like [founding IgniteHER]. I just did it and it worked. And I felt like, ‘Wow, I can make more change than I thought I ever could’ … I definitely want other people to feel that way.”

IgniteHER invites all SPHS students to join its mission to inspire, advocate, and lead.

“There’s no shame in being a feminist,” Tang said. “We welcome everyone, and also anyone that’s interested in journalism, wants to publish anything, [or] has something to say. [We’re] very open.”

Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU) is an SPHS club that organizes events to celebrate the cultural heritage of Asians and Pacific Islanders throughout the district.

Founded in 2023, senior Nadia Cho runs the club as its president alongside a board of student ambassadors dedicated to the club’s mission.

During ambassador meetings, the club schedules and prepares community events for South Pasadena and the high school. These events include community events which feature mahjong games and other other cultural traditions. Most prominently, APISU ran a booth at the Sept. 28 Multicultural Festival. These events are planned to achieve the club’s mission — to educate the community about the diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.

APISU ran Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May and worked with SPHS to organize its annual Lunar New Year festival. Members are invited to attend ambassador board meetings to watch presentations highlighting different aspects of Asian or Asian

American history or cultures such as South Korean Chuseok.

“We try to make sure that whatever activities that we’re running … we’re representing not only Asian cultures but also Pacific Islander cultures,” Cho said.

Going forward, Cho plans to expand these events to include more cultures to broaden the worldviews of participants. She also plans to create new events and continue to support the club by mentoring underclassmen beyond graduation.

“It’s my senior year, so I really want to make sure that we do as much as possible, because I love running APISU, but I only have one year left to kind of help,” Cho said.

The ambassador board has almost doubled since 2023, currently at 20 members. APISU plans to teach incoming freshmen applying for leadership positions and hear their ideas to improve the club.

“We want to do some other projects. I’m really looking forward to working with the underclassmen as well … and seeing what type of projects they want to do,” Cho said.

TASSEL CCF

TASSEL is an international nonprofit established to give children in rural Cambodian communities access to English education in order to help mold them into successful adults. The club’s activities are mainly focused on helping those in Cambodia who are in need of support.

The club leaders are of senior officers, President Sky Gray, Vice President of VSEE Teaching Amishi Mahadev, Vice President of Writing Natasha Rey, Secretary Kenta Fernandez, and Treasurer Theo Hilger.

Gray runs the club, helping lead activities such as banquets, fundraisers and meetings. She additionally organizes teacher volunteers and ensures the club operates smoothly.

Mahadev is in charge of organizing VSEE teachers and improving their teaching skills. Rey is in charge of organizing the writing teachers and leading their training.

The club has two main forms of teaching: VSEE and writing. VSEE teachers take classes of more than 20 students and

teach them phonics. Then, writing teachers are sent letters from students containing writing samples varying from essays to paragraphs.

“TASSEL South Pasadena’s main purpose is to support the international organization by raising funds and, more importantly, providing qualified teachers to [teach] children in Cambodia English,” Mahadev said.

TASSEL’s future goals include increasing awareness of their organization within the school community and encouraging more students and faculty to learn about and support their mission. In addition, they are looking for teachers who have experience with the English language and who can educate SPHS on the value of TASSEL’s presence.

“By giving kids the opportunity to volunteer and participate in a bigger national organization, the club engages with both its members and the school community,” Mahadev said.

Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) is an interactive Christian club that emphasizes discussing the Bible in a three-week cycle where everyone’s voices are heard. During the cycle, members of the club listen to guest speakers, analyze the Bible, pray, and bond through games such as Kahoot or group projects.

The club meets every Thursday during lunch in SPHS chemistry teacher Benjamin Ku’s room and invites guest speakers into the cycle. The club has grown since its founding in 2020, and around a third of members are new followers of Christianity seeking community with other members of the club.

“This club is in such a good place, [and] everyone’s talking to each other. This is what I wanted CCF to look like when I was a freshman. Everyone talks to each other, and everyone’s okay with being in random groups with different people, meeting new people, and talking about whatever [they] want to talk about,” junior CCF Vice President Ramonda Choi said.

As a freshman, Choi was recommended by her brother to join CCF. He stated that its meetings served as a guiding light for new followers.

The club emphasizes that all students are welcome to join, regardless of their faith. To anyone interested, the club seeks to spread the Bible’s teachings by caring for oneself and others and oneself.

“If you’re a new Christian, or if you’re new to the faith, don’t be scared to come either. You don’t have to be well educated [or] well seasoned in Christianity,” Choi said.

As the club’s community becomes more social in their meetings, CCF’s next objective is to improve the club’s interactions with SPHS. Although the club is active during Homecoming Picnic and Club Rush, its social media presence is more quiet.

“I think we’re working on that, it’s something that we’re trying to do … We encourage people to bring their friends but I think we’re still trying to figure out how we can extend this club to the rest of the school,” Choi said.

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME, TRISHA CHAKRABORTY, & EVELYN DIAZ

PAGE DESIGN OLIVIA CHIN

THE TIGER ESTABLISHED 1913

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2024

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2021

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2019

CSPA SILVER CROWN 2018

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017

CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013

CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LINDA YUN

MANAGING EDITORS

BENJAMIN REGAN, Print

CLEMENTINE EVANS, Online

NEWS

CLAIRE MAO, Editor

OPINION

SONYA SHIMPOCK, Editor

FEATURE MORGAN SUN, Editor

SPORTS

ZOE CHEN, Editor

DESIGN

OLIVIA CHIN, Editor

ISOLE KIM, Editor

PHOTOGRAPHY

EMIKO ESSMILLER, Editor

COPY

ZOE CHEN, Editor

ETHAN KWAK, Editor

SOLANA SINGER, Editor

BUSINESS AND ADS

CAYNA GHALY, Staff Ads Manager

CHLOE LUONG, Staff Ads Manager

STAFF WRITERS

GAVIN BARTOLOME TRISHA CHAKRABORTY EVELYN DIAZ

CHRISTIANNE DULEY

RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN RUBY FOUDY OWEN HOU ISABELLA JONASEN

PHOTOGRAPHERS

ZOE CHEN

SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI KAITLYN LEE

MADELINE MADRIGAL MAC SHROPSHIRE

ILLUSTRATORS

SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI NATHAN FRIEZER LANAH KIM DIANA LOPEZ

PAGE DESIGNER HANA OBERLANDER

VIDEOGRAPHER

HELENA EASTERBY

FACULTY ADVISOR KAREN HAMES

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Corrections: Tiger’s article “A struggle for the band room’s title,” published on Oct. 29, 2024, in volume 111 issue 2, contained three factual inaccuracies and a misleading quote. See the full corrections on tigernewspaper.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Tech monitoring calls for clarity

Administration can bridge the gap between student concerns and Classwize’s purpose.

For many students, knowledge of the new digital monitoring system for school-issued Chromebooks raised eyebrows and questions. The implementation of Classwize, a tool designed to help teachers monitor their classes’ on-screen activities during instructional hours, has sparked student concerns over privacy and autonomy. However, the program is not as novel or invasive as students may think. Classwize offers a valuable way for teachers to maintain focus and promote academic integrity within the classroom, but greater transparency and communication play a vital role in addressing student concerns about privacy.

Classwize runs as a Google Chrome extension that is only active on school-managed Chromebooks logged into school accounts. Its use is up to teacher discretion, and its features include the ability to pause internet access, monitor tabs, and block websites. With the intent to curb digital distractions and redirect student focus to inclass instruction, Classwize has proved effective in detecting and deterring cheating by blocking generative AI use and monitoring screen activity during locked-mode tests. It is important to note, however, that these features are virtually the same as Lightspeed, the district’s previous digital monitoring tool that was first used in 2020. Despite the functionality of the two products being the same, students seem to view the recent implementation of Classwize in a different light. In addition to misconceptions surrounding the tool’s capabilities, some students harbor fears of excessive use and express concerns over the extent to which teachers are able to monitor their digital activity.

“I think most people understand the need to have a basic control over the Chromebooks … but the extent to which the school uses it … is crossing a line,” one SPHS student said. “Personally, I think the school being able to track screens while kids are at home is an invasion of privacy. Having certain websites blocked is understandable, but live streaming kids’ Chromebooks is overdoing it.”

Many students are opposed to the breadth of monitoring involved with Classwize, yet are unaware of the product’s limits.

“I don’t think a lot of students understand how the school controls the computers, and quite how much they can see,” the same student said.

As Classwize is being rolled out to teachers, students worry about the misuse of digital monitoring tools. Systems would benefit from increased transparency and communication from the district, administration, and their teachers. These students would learn that teachers not only lack jurisdiction to monitor their digital activity after school, but also they frankly have no desire to, either.

“To be honest, that’s a liability for us,” Assistant Principal Chad Bryant said. “If it’s outside of the school, it’s not in our jurisdiction, and if it’s not pertinent to our instructional environment, we don’t want it.”

Bryant also estimated that only around 20 percent of teachers have fully adopted the new product in their classrooms. Admittedly, it is an early estimate, but the low number suggests that Classwize exists to augment, not replace, existing classroom management strategies.

“We have generally honest and forthright and trustworthy students [at SPHS],” Bryant said. “The default is probably just that everybody is doing their best work. But there are students and certain classes that might need a little bit more of a heavier hand with that.”

Given that Classwize is a relatively new product, administration is in a good position to open conversations with students and families about the use of digital monitoring tools and their role in aiding classroom management and student safety. While the district has shared Classwize with its EdTech Vision Committee, many students still remain uninformed on the extent to which Classwize can monitor.

Transparency and open communication could include relaying information about how Classwize works, what its intended purpose is for, what kind of data is being collected, and how long that data is being saved.

Classwize’s successful implementation hinges on the prioritization of its transparency. Lack of communication only creates distrust and increases the risk of misinformation about the system’s functions, despite its good merits. As both students and teachers get acclimated to Classwize, the district and the administration should make efforts to ensure that students are aware of how the product works and understand why it exists.

Tiger’s cheers and jeers for the month of November

BOO to privacy screens. What are you trying to hide?

BOO to 2048 Cupcakes. Why can’t I just have one win in my life?

BOO-m clap the sound of my heart the beat goes on and on and on and on.

BOO to the Timothee Chalamet look alike contest. one is enough thx.

BOO to conjugating in different tenses. I choose to live in the present.

BRAVO to talking stages. I didn’t need my dignity anyways.

BRAVO to boys water polo. That was legendary.

BRAVO to Elon Musk’s personal trainer. Thanks for giving him a blueprint for the Cybertruck.

BRAVO to the Trump shimmy. On everyone’s soul we hittin dat at winter formal.

BRAVO to Domingo. Sorry you had to find out like this Matthew!!

Jubilee is not interested in a “Middle Ground”

good-natured and productive conversations.

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

The massive YouTube channel Jubilee presents itself as an innovative, punchy vehicle to promote and model dialogue on difficult issues to a massive audience through debates on contentious political issues. Most recently, the channel went viral for videos like “1 Republican vs. 25 Kamala Harris Voters,” which is part of a series called Surrounded. Still, it is probably most famous for its series Middle Ground, where two groups of people with opposing views discuss specific topics with the goal of reaching a common understanding.

At first glance, it seems like Jubilee’s only goal is to provide a space for productive discussion, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is not the case. Jubilee is not genuinely interested in finding solutions to tough problems; rather, its primary interest lies in generating views, which it accomplishes by sensationalizing debates and prioritizing shock value over genuine understanding.

Jubilee knows that a calm discussion between a group of people might not be particularly engaging for viewers, so it makes its debates as contentious as possible. A prime example is the structure of the Surrounded series. A

single debater sits at a table in the center of a circle of people who hold opposing perspectives. The debater gives a prompt, and whoever rushes to the table first gets to debate the prompt. Each conversation is limited to a certain amount of time before a new challenger can engage with the debater. The frantic nature of the debate creates a situation where each side of the debate is just trying to say their talking points without actually listening to what the other person is saying.

The format of the Middle Ground series seems to lend itself to constructive conversation, but Jubilee still poisons the well. Jubilee presents the Middle Ground debates as if they bring together two equally knowledgeable groups for a discussion, but that is not true. In many of the debates, the conservative side of the debate is composed of professional talking heads while the progressive side is composed of social media personalities at best. For example, in the video “Trans vs. Conservative Women,” the conservative group includes professional commentator Amala Ekpunobi, while the other side consists of unaffiliated transgender women. This imbalance subtly tips the scales, making the conservative side of the debate seem more credible even when the opposite is true.

Even if one forgets about what could charitably be called Jubilee’s problematic approach to debate, there is still something deeply wrong with this whole thing: The topics being debated on Jubilee are ludicrous. Over and over again, Jubilee gives the most deranged right-wingers a platform to debate others’ human rights with videos like “Is Abortion Murder?” By hosting debates on such topics, Jubilee legitimizes hateful, unfounded beliefs as valid options rather than extremist positions.

This may seem trivial — after all, it is just a YouTube channel — but the way issues with real-world implications are discussed (or not) has real-world consequences. As viewers, it is important to approach media with a critical eye, questioning not just what is being discussed but how it is being discussed and why.

Bad promposals: when social media gets in the way of romance

STORY RUBY FOUDY

VISUAL MAC SHROPSHIRE

Whether witnessing them online or firsthand, most teenagers have seen a “promposal.” A promposal is exactly what it sounds like: a proposal, but replacing the ring and white dress are a corsage and two tickets to prom. They generally follow the same format — a guy holds up a sign with a pun asking a girl to prom, the girl says yes, congratulations and pictures ensue.

What are rarely seen online but appear frequently off-camera are the failed promposals. These mishaps highlight Gen Z’s overreliance on social media to define modern connection that produces underlying issues with fostering genuine relationships.

The purpose of promposals, besides asking someone to prom, is to express affection or romantic feelings through a grand gesture. However, the original purpose is often forgotten and shaped into something superficial by the work of platforms such as TikTok.

Although it is important to recognize that not all promposals are ingenuine, a surprising number are due to the pressure put on both the giver and recipient.

Around dance season, videos of promposals circulate around the internet. Almost all teenagers online become acutely aware of them. Girls express their

Morgan’s Musings MORGAN SUN

A balancing act

In our fast-paced world, the concept of productivity is often viewed through a narrow lens: more hours, more output, more hustle. We are constantly striving to do more, to achieve more. Yet buried beneath this rush is an essential truth that is too often overlooked: Rest itself is productive.

In the relentless pursuit of efficiency, many forget that productivity isn’t just about the hours you put in — it’s also about the quality of those hours. Your brain, much like your body, needs time to recharge and recover. This may sound cliche, but it’s true. Sleep, breaks, and relaxation aren’t

hope for a promposal, and boys remain silent, either in fear of spoiling the surprise or of having to execute one in the first place.

The pressure is on; boys are expected to make signs and girls are expected to receive them, a stressful position for both parties. The overwhelming presence of promposal culture online results in people crafting signs not out of the thought of a romantic gesture but rather a decision based solely on fear of missing out.

It is not just those making the signs who are pressured by the media, but those receiving them as well. Social media creates an unrealistic view of romantic gestures that affects both parties. Promposals have warped from acts of affection into public spectacles for the benefit of fitting in. The desire to adhere to the perceived norm and go along with what is deemed “romantic” can overpower the recipient’s actual emotions, forcing them into accepting invitations based solely on surrounding pressure. Once again, social media takes the blame for creating this issue. If not for its perpetuation of the idea that romantic acts must be a public display of love and the constant pressure it puts on teens to perform them, promposals would become more genuine.

Acts of affection or romance do not all have to be public spectacles. Simple actions like writing notes, giving little gifts, and other small acts of love are just, if not more, genuine than a grand promposal.

luxuries; they’re crucial parts of the productivity cycle. Research consistently shows that adequate rest enhances cognitive function, creativity, and problemsolving skills.

There’s a limit to how much you can push yourself. You cannot hustle your way to an ever-higher level of productivity. When you overwork without adequate rest, you eventually hit a wall. Fatigue sets in, diminishing your performance and well-being. Your body and mind are not machines; they require downtime to recover. Without this, burnout is inevitable, and it can have long-term consequences for both your health and your productivity.

One of the most overlooked aspects of productivity is self-compassion. Instead of beating yourself up for not being “productive enough,” practice kindness towards yourself. If you find yourself scrolling mindlessly or zoning out at your desk, it’s not a sign of weakness. It’s your brain signaling that it needs rest. Pushing through exhaustion will only lead to diminished returns. Treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend who’s struggling to keep going.

That extra hour of study or work might lead to a slight increase in your test grade, but it won’t make you happier. The sense of accomplishment and joy comes from a sustainable approach to life — a balance between effort and rest.

The real science of productivity lies in finding harmony between action and rest. Productivity is not just about output, but about working smarter, not harder. Efficiency isn’t about pushing your limits constantly; it’s about knowing when to push forward and when to step back and rest.

In this way, rest becomes not an obstacle, but a strategic tool that fuels your success in the long run.

So to my fellow seniors who are being dragged through college applications and burnout, to my juniors who are drowning in layers of work, to my sophomores who are experiencing APs for the first time, and to my freshmen who are transitioning from middle school: Go to sleep. Take a break. Get up, drink some water, walk around your house, and eat a snack. You’ll be okay.

Anti-immigration sentiment in America

The 2024 election has inflamed an extreme resurgence of xenophobic rhetoric in modern day America.

STORY OWEN HOU ILLUSTRATION DIANA LOPEZ

President-elect Donald Trump’s now-infamous quote, “In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs!” delivered during his 2024 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris was initially met with mocking and laughter. However, now that he has won the election, his words and the attitudes behind them are something that should cause Americans serious concern.

Trump has made it clear how he feels about illegal immigration. With his world-famous wall and recent promises of mass deportations, tighter border policies will be inevitable in the next four years. However, illegal immigration policies are just one part of what this new administration will bring.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was in chaos. Unfriendly relations between the United States and China, along with conspiracies that the virus had originated from Asia, did nothing to help. Due to issues already stemming from his governance, Trump made claims of a “kung flu,” placing the blame of the virus onto China. As a result, believers of Trump’s conspiracy theory began to direct their frustrations and fury toward Asian Americans, even those with no ties to China. Hate crimes against Asians rose in cities like New York as Asian Americans became the scapegoats of the outbreak.

This is not the first time fear and hate have been directed toward immigrant communities. Another

example of immigrant or “outsider” hatred was the Yellow Peril, a racist ideology emerged in the late-19th century in Europe that painted Asian immigrants as threats to Western society. Xenophobic propaganda fueled by these ideas depicted Asian people as savage and beastly, more monsters than men. Even today, traces of this ideology still exist and are prominent in stereotypes, hate speech, and scapegoating.

The ripple effects of political rhetoric often have much deeper impacts than what is gleaned at first glance. This is exemplified by the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American citizen who was beaten to death by automobile industry workers Ronald Ebens and Micheal Nitz. This hate crime was mainly motivated by the phenomenon of “Japan bashing,” a tactic where politicians who had made errors in their governance would blame Japan for all their misfortunes. In this specific instance, the widespread decline of the national automobile industry was blamed on Japan and Japanese immigrants.

Ultimately, Ebens and Nitz accepted a plea bargain for a $3,000 fine and three years of probation. However, in a miscarriage of justice, the pair avoided jail time, suffering no real consequences for their terrible crime. As a result, a new wave of protests began and outrage broke out in the Asian American community.

A more modern example of this arose after Trump’s baseless claims during the 2024 presidential debate towards Haitian immigrants incited a new wave of racist anti-immigrant rhetoric. This hatred was

embodied by anti-Haitian protestors after a minivan driven by a Haitian immigrant collided with a school bus, leading to the death of 11-year-old student Aiden Clark. Protestors weaponized the accident to support racist and unfounded claims, leaving Clark’s family in an exacerbated state of grief.

Anti-immigrant rhetoric spreads easily, even in typically liberal states like California. In 1994, after falling behind in election polls due to issues in his first term, former California Governor Pete Wilson tied his campaign to Proposition 187, an initiative that established a state-run citizenship screening system and prohibited immigrants from using non-emergency health care, public education, and other services provided by the state of California.

Not only did Wilson win his reelection, but Proposition 187 was passed with the support of nearly 60 percent of voters. The overwhelming approval of Proposition 187 demonstrates how easily anti-immigrant feelings can be stoked and exploited.

With the dawn of a new America on the horizon, one thing is clear: Immigration will become even more polarized than it is now. The results of the 2024 election indicate the spread of anti-immigrant policies and ideologies on a national scale. With no telling what the next four years will bring, the United States must not fall to the centuries-old American tradition of scapegoating immigrants and instead work to create a better future for everyone.

Journalism is not ready for a second Trump administration

STORY LINDA YUN

ILLUSTRATION ISOLE KIM

When Fox News’ Decision Desk called Arizona for Biden at 11 p.m., no blue network called Arizona that night. Trump, now projected to lose a key swing state, grew furious. In the days that followed, Fox executives held an emergency meeting to discuss whether they should roll back the cutting-edge system that allowed them to correctly project Arizona before other outlets — a system that later allowed them to call the 2024 election for Trump hours before the Associated Press. The reason? So Fox can appease its audience and boost viewership ratings.

This controversy marks an integral moment that reveals just how much one Trump administration can mold the role of the press. As a second Trump administration dawns upon the United States, there is little telling of how much more journalism can be assaulted. In the words of the New York Times editorial board, “Those who [opposed Trump] should not hesitate to raise alarms when he abuses his power.” As such, while journalism is not prepared for a second Trump administration, it must make every effort to watch over the GOP’s new Republican era.

The president-elect has a history of belittling the press through verbal threats and misleading comments. Upon being elected in 2016, he repeatedly threatened to change libel laws (requiring the Supreme Court to overturn a 1960s decision about what constitutes libel) and use his power to turn the IRS against domestic enemies.

More infamously, Trump frequently makes comments deeming left-leaning media as “fake news.” Interestingly, many of his open-aired threats against journalism have not materialized, largely because, like many of his statements, they frequently come in a slew of word vomit — a tendency that his supporters overlook and his adversaries weaponize.

However, even if journalists are not openly frog-marched to jail, Trump’s attitude toward the press is still dangerous. According to Jefferey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, these comments are “helping to create an atmosphere that’s comprehensively hostile to work that … previous American presidents understood was indispensable to the smooth functioning of democracy.”

Today, this hostile atmosphere created by Trump has resulted in America’s different political factions consuming

completely different kinds of media. On the Republican side, his attitude has resulted in vicious infighting.

When Tucker Carlson’s defamation of Dominion Voting Systems cost Fox $787 million, many of his fans accused Fox of going liberal and flocked to the hyper-conservative channel Newsmax. In an ideal world, the news should not dictate political opinion, but rather provide information that enables consumers to form their own. However, the fact that one news anchor can effectively divide half a nation through rhetoric alone is a dangerous testament to the influence of the president-elect.

Like his influence on conservative media, Trump’s hold on progressive media is equally strong. When The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times prepared to publish their endorsements of Kamala Harris days before the election, they were ordered to remain silent by their publishers at the 11th hour. Owners Jeff Bezos and biotech investor Patrick Soon-Shiong ordered neutrality in an effort by the owners to capitulate to Trump, most likely to protect their assets as they anticipated a Republican victory.

Newspapers rely on publisher money for their lifeline. Although, as Goldberg stated, the relationship between the press and the publisher is usually hands-off and respectful, the publisher ultimately has the final say in what makes it to readers’ inboxes. This power imbalance is at the heart of the struggle to preserve a free press. In the big picture, even if Trump’s direct threats do not prevent serious journalists from covering the truth, the threat of losing out on revenue will undoubtedly cause big firms to force reporters to abstain from making certain criticisms, tweak some “difficult” wording, and ultimately soften their scrutiny. Even though the situation with The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times is a one-time occurrence, ignoring it and letting similar situations compound will lead to a press that is too afraid to perform its duty of balancing against an unchecked Congress, president, and Supreme Court.

Joseph Pulitzer once said, “Our Republic and its press will rise or fall together.” This year, his statement rings especially true. The incumbent presidency will not lead to the end of democracy, so long as the press — journalists, students, and anyone spectating — is ready and willing to intervene.

Dodgers win 2024 World Series

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the Los Angeles Dodgers won their eighth World Series in franchise history, beating the New York Yankees in five games.

The Dodgers’ road to the World Series was challenging. In the regular season, the team was plagued by injuries, especially to the pitching staff. Despite this, the Dodgers won a major league-best 98 games and earned their 12th consecutive trip to the postseason.

After back-to-back National League Division Series disappointments, it looked like the Dodgers were primed for another first-round exit. In 2022, the Dodgers were ousted by the Padres in four games, and last year, the Diamondbacks stunned the Dodgers with a sweep. After dominant regular seasons, Los Angeles was not the same team in the playoffs.

This year, the team faced a tough test to start the postseason, playing their division rival, the San Diego Padres, in a best-of-five series. The Dodgers got blown 10-2 by the Padres in Game 2 and then dropped Game 3 by a score of 6-5. With their backs against the wall and their playoff demons swirling, the Dodgers responded.

Dodger pitchers shut out the Padres for the final 24 innings of the series, winning Game 4 in San Diego and then returning home to win the pivotal Game 5. The Dodgers advanced, overcoming their previous playoff woes and proving that the Padres are still the “little brother” of the National League.

The Dodgers then took on the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. The team was simply too much for the Mets, outlasting New York in six games and scoring 46 runs in the series. The Dodgers lit up the scoreboard to win the National League pennant.

In their first World Series since 2020, Los Angeles faced their East Coast foe, the New York Yankees. The two storied franchises had played 11 previous times in the World Series, and this meeting had the storylines of and the potential to be a legendary matchup. Both teams were the number one seeds in their respective leagues, and the likely Most Valuable Players Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge were leading their teams into the fall classic.

The series itself, however, was one-sided. The Yankees took an early advantage in Game 1 of the World Series, but Freddie Freeman put on his best Kirk Gibson impression with a walk-off grand slam off Nestor Cortes.

The Dodgers never looked back. Neither did Freeman, as the Dodgers hobbled star homered in the next three games of the series.

Los Angeles was dominant, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. New York stole Game 4, with the hometown kid Anthony Volpe hitting a grand slam to stave off a sweep, but it was their only win.

In the decisive Game 5, the Yankees took an early 5-0 lead. The lead was short-lived. A trio of errors in the nowinfamous top of the fifth inning allowed the Dodgers back

into the game, and after Gerrit Cole finally recorded the third out, the Dodgers had tied it. Los Angeles would go onto win 7-6, their second championship in five years and a step towards a dynastic run. The Dodgers are on top of the baseball world.

The Dodgers’ impact extends

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME, CLEMENTINE EVANS, ISABELLA JONASEN, BENJAMIN REGAN, & LINDA YUN

PHOTOS MAC SHROPSHIRE

ILLUSTRATIONS

NATHAN FRIEZER, ISOLE KIM, & DIANA LOPEZ

PAGE DESIGN ISOLE KIM

The legacy of legendary #42

By the 1940s, organized baseball had been racially segregated for many years. Black Americans had played in the Negro Leagues since the 19th century, separate from the fame and stardom of Major League Baseball (MLB).

While the league was set in its racist ways, the Dodgers understood that color did not define talent. When Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson, Robinson became the first Black man to play in the MLB. Despite facing death threats and insults from opposing players and crowds, he broke the racial barrier in baseball, inviting a series of Black players into the sport, including Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella in 1948 and Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe in 1949.

The momentum of integrating baseball continued with the opening of Dodgertown. Once an abandoned World War II Naval Air Station, the slot of land in Vero Beach, Florida, was segregated before being leased out to the Dodgers as a training facility.

In 1948, Dodgertown opened and for decades thereafter, served as a “college of baseball” for young talents of all racial backgrounds.

In a time of racial unrest, the contributions of Black players to the MLB put Black Americans into the cultural spotlight. In 1968, Newcombe hosted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for dinner while King concluded a tour of speeches. Newcombe said that King expressed gratitude for the integration of baseball, telling him firsthand, “Don, you’ll never know how easy you and Jackie, and Larry and Campy, made it for me to do my job by what you did on the baseball field.”

Today, the Dodgers aim to eradicate the color line in baseball by providing underrepresented youth with baseball training. The Dodgers Dreamteam is a development program that uses sports to provide resources to marginalized communities.

In doing so, the Dodgers seek to continue their historic legacy of racial inclusion.

Dodgers embrace Japanese

On Oct. 25 the Dodgers marched onto the field to face the Yankees in the 2024 World Series. 15.2 million televisions tuned into the event across Japan, almost a million more than in the U.S. Fueled by its fans, baseball has quickly become a cherished sport in Japan. As the MLB begins to integrate Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) players into their teams, the fiery passion and culture of their country has steadily grown as well.

Wanting to make the most of the untapped potential of players across the world, the Dodgers looked toward Japan, where baseball had become a popular sport and a factory for Major League players. By widening their search, the Dodgers were able to sign players who would otherwise be ignored by other teams. The Dodgers were able to sign highly talented players that went largely unnoticed by other MLB teams.

The attention of Japanese viewers was first drawn to the Dodgers when Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo made his first career appearance against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers’ lifelong rivals. Dazzling in his debut, Nomo pitched five scoreless innings, striking out seven batters. Watching his games broadcasted throughout the country, Japanese fans flocked to support Nomo, who went 13-6 in his rookie year. Some fans even traveled to the U.S. to see him pitch in person. Nomo’s performance helped to open a cultural exchange between the two countries and drew attention to the potential for Japanese baseball players in the MLB.

Today, the Dodgers have become a home for Japanese players, including stars Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani. After doing exceptionally well in the NPB, both quickly moved to the MLB. Ohtani’s performance on both the pitching mound and in the batter’s box not only made him popular across America but also grew his image as a legend in Japan.

In Japan, Ohtani’s face, surrounded by Dodger blue, is plastered onto almost anything and everything possible. From cities installing large billboards to fans traveling across Japan just to watch the World Series and see his face, Ohtani’s success has made him an idol in Japan, drawing MLB scouts’ eyes to talented players in the NPB.

An estimated 22 percent of Dodger Stadium tickets at the beginning of the season were sold to Japanese fans eager to support Ohtani. For many Japanese people, Ohtani has become “the pride of Japan,” as his image has helped

to bring their culture into opportunities in America.

The Dodgers were quick groundbreaking 10-year, stadium offers takoyaki, Japan, at games. Rows of dominated by Japanese secured 12 new Japanese stadium in multiple languages even went so far as to have perform in the 2024 World

Los Angeles celebrates championship with parade

Asea of blue flooded the Los Angeles streets on Nov. 1 as the community united in celebrating the baseball world champions, the Dodgers. The Dodgers Victory Parade was crowded with highly passionate fans, all there to support their team. As a result of the shortened season in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no parade after the Dodgers won the World Series. The streets were silent and looked nothing like they did at this year’s championship celebration.

Dodger players and their families waved from the top levels of eight double-decker buses that passed through the multiple-mile parade route. An estimated 2 million Dodger fans attended the parade, and 42,000 more attended the ticketed Dodger rally at Dodger Stadium. The rally included a performance from Ice Cube and ended with many speeches from the players, thanking the fans for their tremendous support throughout the season.

“We should’ve had this in 2020, but we’re bringing it now,” Dodger third baseman Max Muncy said.

Muncy and many of his teammates emphasized that despite the lack of a parade after their 2020 World Series win, the team is now overjoyed that they can celebrate and bring this trophy home for the Los Angeles community.

Due to an injury, Clayton Kershaw was not able to pitch in the postseason. However, the Los Angeles legend’s strong speech rallied the fans at Dodger Stadium.

“I’ve waited to celebrate for a long time,” Kershaw said. “I can’t imagine being anywhere else right now. And I can’t imagine doing it with a better group of guys.”

Fan-favorite Kiké Hernández also excited the crowd, telling stories of the Dodgers’ journey to the

championship. Japanese stars Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani thanked the fans for their passion. When it comes to the dedicated fandom of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the true magic behind their win was how it was able to bring so many fans from different backgrounds together to celebrate as one united community.

Valenzuela and the Dodgers’ Mexican ties extends beyond baseball Japanese fandom

into mainstream society and open America.

quick to capitalize on Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract. Now, the takoyaki, a fried octopus ball common in of advertisements at the stadium are companies. Recently, the Dodgers Japanese sponsors, began tours of the languages including Japanese, and have the Japanese duo Creepy Nuts World Series.

In 1981, a young left-handed hurler from Navojoa, Mexico named Fernando Valenzuela began his rookie season. He had debuted for the Dodgers the previous year, pitching a handful of innings in relief, but he was unproven and largely unknown heading into his first full season.

Over the next few months, Valenzuela would have one of the greatest starts to a career ever, capturing the attention of baseball fans and connecting Los Angeles’ large Latino population with Dodger baseball. But, in fact, he was not even supposed to be a starter.

“Nobody expected it. The day before Opening Day, [the Dodgers] told him to stop throwing batting practice because he was pitching the next day,” Dodgers Historian Mark Langill said. “So he goes out and throws a 2-0 complete game shutout in his first major league start.”

The Dodgers’ newest star kept surging. Valenzuela won his first eight major league starts, taking the league by storm. During this time, he quickly became one of the most popular players in the game. Part of this was his unique pitching style — raising his leg high in the air and then looking to the sky before delivering a pitch.

The Mexican pitcher, nicknamed El Toro (The Bull), was also the driving force behind a rise in Latino Dodger fandom. The Dodgers’ Spanish language radio ratings increased, Latino attendance at Dodger home games skyrocketed, and Vin Scully famously said, “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky” after a Valenzuela no-hitter. The frenzy around Valenzuela was called “Fernandomania,” and by the summer of 1981, it was in full effect.

“The crowds got bigger and bigger, but also people were interested in where he came from — this tiny town in Mexico,” Langill said. “Just imagine, he throws the shutout on Opening Day and two months later he’s one of the guests at a White House reception hosted by the presidents of the United States and Mexico. And all these people at the White House are lined up for his autograph, and he’s just a 20-yearold kid.”

The relationship between the Los Angeles Latino population and the Dodgers was not always favorable. When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958, they played four seasons at the Coliseum while searching for a permanent home. During this time, the city of Los Angeles began planning a public housing project to build housing in Chavez Ravine. However, a large Latino community was living there at the time, so the city invoked eminent domain and took over the land.

Families forced to leave Chavez Ravine were promised a return to live in the city’s public housing. Despite this, Mayor Norris Paulson had already started moving families out of Chavez Ravine when he scrapped the project and offered the land to the Dodgers for their new stadium.

The city continued with the evictions, deciding to displace the almost 2,000 families living in Chavez Ravine to allow the Dodgers to break ground on their new stadium. This was a dark and complicated chapter in Dodger history.

The Dodgers made a bad first impression on the millions of Latinos in Los Angeles. It was Valenzuela’s rise in 1981 that helped to repair the relationship between the Dodgers and the Latino community. Led by a Mexican ace, the Dodgers captured their interest for the first time since the evictions. Valenzuela and his signature screwball brought Latino fans to the ballpark.

“If you’re from Mexico, or if you’ve got that background, the Spanishspeaking culture, suddenly you’ve got this rockstar, this idol,” Langill said. “It’s like [Shohei] Ohtani this year. The face of baseball this year was from Japan. Well, in 1981, the face of baseball was from Mexico.”

Valenzuela joined the Dodgers’ Spanish language broadcast team in 2003 and called games for over 20 years, further fostering the Dodgers’ connection with Latinos in Los Angeles. On Sept. 24 of this year, Valenzuela stepped away from the team due to health issues, and he passed away a month later at the age of 63. Valenzuela’s sudden death was saddening for Los Angeles. For many, Valenzuela was the reason they became Dodger fans. Listening to the Dodgers’ Spanish radio announcer Jaime Jarrín call Valenzuela’s games, the Dodgers became bigger than baseball for Los Angeles’ Spanish speakers, and when Valenzuela passed away, thousands of fans came to Chavez Ravine and placed flowers in front of the “Welcome to Dodger Stadium” sign to pay their respects.

The Dodgers won the World Series a week after his passing, wearing a “34” patch on their jerseys to honor the late legend. Los Angeles celebrated the championship with a parade attended by an estimated 2 million fans. Fittingly, the parade fell on Nov. 1, Valenzuela’s birthday.

FEATURE

Howlin’ Ray’s welcomes all tastes

Hot chicken is reinvented by the innovative restaurant and staff.

STORY CHRISTIANNE DULEY

PHOTOS ZOE CHEN

W hen delicious food met great customer service and ambiance, a restaurant called Howlin’ Ray’s was born. Since beginning as a food truck in 2014, the hot chicken destination now exists in two successful locations in Chinatown and Pasadena. Howlin’ Ray’s aims to share the unique taste of Nashville hot chicken with new places and satisfy its customers.

The food menu consists of fried chicken, chicken sandwiches, and a variety of sides and sauces. The drinks menu includes bottled water, soft drinks, tea, and lemonade. The restaurant’s famed chicken comes in seven different spice levels: country, mild, medium, medium plus, hot, x-hot, and howlin’. Providing a wide range of options, Howlin’ Ray’s invites more customers to enjoy its distinct style.

The restaurant’s signature dish, “The Sando,” is made with a pair of butter buns, pickles, slaw, comeback sauce, and a boneless breast of any spice level the customer chooses. The spice of the chicken is effectively balanced out by various toppings, creating a pleasant bundle of complimentary tastes.

The chicken tenders, regardless of spiciness, are served hot and thoroughly cooked while also maintaining a juicy and savory flavor. The country tenders taste more seasoned than spicy, providing an enjoyable meal for those with a low spice tolerance, while the spicier tenders seem to set the mouth on fire with a delicious tang. The numerous and tasty sides, including shake fries, waffles, potato salad, and banana pudding, all contribute to the mouth-watering flavor of each meal.

Customers who wish to try the howlin’-flavored chicken, made with scorpion peppers and Carolina reapers, must first sign a waiver acknowledging that the spice may result in injury or illness. It is also recommended to wear gloves while eating it to avoid the spice from lingering on one’s hands. With even just

a lick, the hotness consumes the senses and spreads to the throat, making a cold drink or sweet side seem lifesaving afterwards.

In addition to excellent tastes, Howlin’ Ray’s knows how to take care of its customers. Upon reaching the front of the long line, customers are greeted by friendly employees who like to chat instead of only taking one’s order and moving on to the next person. The staff are willing to help customers with any and all requests, whether it is finding a seat or meticulously crafting a detailed order.

As a bonus, it is common to receive free food from the staff while eating, a pure act of generosity and gratitude to their customers.

The iconic restaurant also makes sure to treat its staff as well as its customers. Employees enjoy their jobs and bring a positive outlook to work with them. Alison Barone, the general manager of Howlin’ Ray’s Pasadena, understands that respecting staff members will boost their work and spirit.

“Restaurants typically aren’t known for treating their employees well, so we wanted to break that cycle,” Barone said. “We try to make sure that employees are recognized and that we help them achieve their goals professionally and personally.”

Howlin’ Ray’s serves tasty food that revolutionizes the Californian hot chicken scene and thrives with its open-minded work environment. Customers leave the restaurant fully satisfied with a new and special experience. Whether or not they get the chance to return, visitors will always remember the rich flavors and warm essence of Howlin’ Ray’s.

“We want to make sure that we’re giving our guests a great experience,” Barone said. “Our goal is to elevate everybody’s experience and also maintain the integrity and standard that we hold ourselves to.”

Lately,

By Linda LINDA

YUN

99 Lessons from 99 Ranch

Anyone who’s been to an Asian supermarket knows the vibe when they enter: middle-age aunties bagging your groceries, east-west fusion baked goods lining the warmly lit bakery, and the distinctly fishy seafood aisle in the back that overwhelms you with animal cruelty — consisting of anything from live crabs to overcrowded tilapia. For anyone who hasn’t been, this combination might seem deadly. Who wants to munch on baked goods while staring at dead fish? However, for many Asian Americans, it’s a rare taste of home. Through a selection of food, these supermarkets allow descendents of immigrants, regardless of what generation they are and where they live, to feel a connection to where they came from. In doing so, ethnic supermarkets have a special meaning to the people they serve; For many, they are a story of immigrant excellence.

When Chinese Americans first migrated to the U.S. in massive numbers during the construction of the transcontinental railroad, they were known for being restaurateurs. Seeing hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurants across the Golden Coast, Americans began falling in love with fried rice and other Chinese-American staple cuisines. Even as a wave of violence against the Chinese swept across the West, Americans couldn’t fall out of love with Chinese cuisine. As such, cuisine became the first cultural touchstone for Chinese Americans in a hostile America. Profits from humble eateries allowed first generation workers to raise children and form cultural enclaves that became crucial to their survival.

Food has survived the test of time. Today, ethnic grocery stores generate a significant amount of revenue for the Californian economy. While LA’s large chain ethnic supermarkets, 99 Ranch and H-Mart, may be limited in their selections, the survival of smaller stores like Mitsuwa and Bhanu Indian Cuisine Market is a testament to the thriving immigrant populations that contribute meaningfully to the local community.

Emotionally, supermarkets serve as a rare glimpse of home for descendents of immigrants who feel lost about where they stand in relation to their culture. In Michelle Zauner’s memoir, Crying in H-Mart, she describes her disconnect from her Korean heritage after losing her mother. She also describes how the predictable ambience and layout of H-Mart allowed her the comfort to grieve and truly process loss.

Each person’s experience in a supermarket is different, and for most of us, it’s not nearly as visceral as Zauner’s. However, the familiarity of just having a physical space where you’re with people who spoke your first language is enough to provide a sense of security and community that may be difficult to find elsewhere.

At the end of the day, irrespective of time and place, food is the great connector. It offered descendents of Chinese railroad workers a belonging in American society, just as it extends a warm embrace to Americans searching for a piece of their identity. So the next time you step into a 99 Ranch, H-Mart, or any ethnic grocery store, know you’re not just picking up groceries. You’re participating in a piece of history.

The dark side of changing fandom cultures online

Young impressionable minds have flocked to echo chambers that harm themselves and their communities.

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN ILLUSTRATION SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI

Online communities and fandoms have lost their genuinity, with the emergence of a generation of “girlbloggers,” a new genre of toxicity based on unrealistic standards. As these bloggers continue to tear down one another’s joys and hobbies, true fandom culture suffers.

One example of this phenomenon can be seen in the decline of the popularity of the blogging website Tumblr. The website has a reputation of being used by teenage girls who are scared of expressing their authentic selves anywhere other than online. However, this led to people on sites like Twitter to interpret their tasteless behavior as if they were inappropriate adults, disregarding the fact that the site was mainly filled with young teens navigating the miasma of Tumblr notes.

Lana Del Rey, the face of modern day Americana, also got her start on Tumblr. Originally, Del Rey was an underground alternative jazz-pop artist that millennials kept close to their hearts. However, her sphere of influence greatly expanded after her 2013 song “Young and Beautiful” pushed her into mainstream media. Her 2012 reissue Born To Die: The Paradise Edition was deemed the most influential pop record of the 2010s by Billboard. But the truth is, Del Rey's fandom originally gained traction on Tumblr.

In the beginning, her fans supported her through thick and thin, even after a lackluster SNL performance led to widespread criticism of her stage presence, blackballing her from the industry. One alleged middle-aged male GRAMMYs voter stated, “I haven't taken Lana Del Rey seriously as an artist since her infamous SNL performance and never will.”

Lana Del Rey stated prior to the performance that her fans attend her concerts simply because of their love for her music rather than her stage presence. As new records were released, a new generation of fans emerged, which led to major change in the community. As Del Rey continued to build her discography, this new generation entered the fandom, bringing with them a toxic culture of admiration.

Websites such as Tumblr and Pinterest rapidly filled with content that promoted eating disorders, toxic traits, and racism, and they prominently featured photos and text relating to Del Rey. The fans of today are now the teen girls who continue to hate her new material, her body type, and how she does not conform to their ideal aesthetic. Examples of some popular posts from these types of fans include sayings such as, “True Lana fans are judgmental and mean,” and “If you don't listen to Lana you're ugly.” Such statements take away from the genuine communities this particular fandom once had. Unfortunately, this is only one example of fandoms gone bad on sites like Tumblr and Pinterest. Teen girls have coined this behavior as “girlblogging,” which has its own tag and fandom built around the toxic and even inhumane traits these users deem as normal behavior.

Over the years, Tumblr’s enforcement of its guidelines has become weaker. People are now free to say whatever they want and whenever they want to, without fear of penalization. Young people on this website do not realize the harm of the content they

consume, becoming their own victims. Young Del Rey fans might normalize this behavior as they have been taught to live their lives in unrealistic ways. For example, some fans have promoted eating disorders, harmings their mental and physical health.

It is becoming difficult for people to maintain interest in a fandom when all that they will find is the annoying banter these teens promote through their “aesthetically pleasing” posts. There are still young fans who are not toxic and who support her music, as well as her identity. The current dilemma is that while older fans can appreciate the maturity of her recent discography, newer fans dislike her progression as an artist. Her current authenticity as an artist no longer aligns with the aesthetic of Tumblr girlbloggers.

One does not have to comply with any of these so-called rules to be a fan of any piece of media. One should not have to change their identity to identify with every new generation. The push for unnecessary and unrealistic lifestyles harms authentic communities much more devastatingly than a simple controversy.

Cinematic immortality and what makes a movie timeless

STORY BENJAMIN REGAN

LANAH KIM

ILLUSTRATION

Most movies have their brief moment in the spotlight, a short-lived peak in popularity, and then fade into irrelevance. They are meant to be watched one time, not giving the viewer enough value to watch again. Once the viewer knows the storyline, the movie loses the element of surprise, and the plot is no longer unpredictable. There are rare exceptions: Films that are so powerful and their characters so complex that they can outlive their original screening and bring viewers back time and time again. It is more than a great movie, it is immortal.

The first common thread between timeless films is the strength of its characters. Most characters fall into an

archetype, assuming some role in the story as either the hero, villain, mentor, comedic relief, or other. There are iconic characters that can cleanly be labeled, but those that live forever are not so clear. The most memorable characters cannot be easily molded into one of these groups.

Somewhere between good and evil, timeless characters are complicated, and each subsequent watch reveals something different about them. The Michael Corleones, Anakin Skywalkers, Severus Snapes, and Oskar Schindlers of the cinematic world cannot be defined in black and white terms. The complexity of these characters breeds controversy, and their actions spark debate among fans. They make tough choices fueled by a conflicted conscience, and that struggle to do what is right reflects the real world viewers relate to.

Moral ambiguity adds another layer to a film, clouding the plot with some realism that makes viewers more likely to rewatch.

The world of superheroes, for example, is often defined by simplicity, a fight of good against bad with little gray area between. While Marvel and DC have large and loyal fan bases that return to their movies, these films are not timeless and, for the average viewer, lose their value after the first watch. Even with epic action scenes, once the movie sheds the surprises of its plot and the viewer knows the outcome, the fight is too binary to achieve timelessness.

A timeless movie must have some element of complexity in its characters and conflict, but that does not mean it must be an adult movie. Many holiday films are enjoyed by families every year, awakening feelings of nostalgia and gratitude. It’s a Wonderful Life is a timeless Christmas classic that shares the spirit of family and togetherness during the holiday season. It evokes a feeling in its viewers, the feeling of hope and love, and that can be felt in every watch. Even the animated film Inside Out has a similar effect; It conveys the emotions of childhood and, for many, makes them want to be young again. Only time will tell if Inside Out is worth rewatching, but it seems to have elements of cinematic immortality.

Another way for a movie to cement its legacy as timeless is by commenting on an issue or event. Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and To Kill a Mockingbird (based on the novel) have heavy themes like racism and war in the real world. They are meaningful movies that instill a different type of feeling in viewers. Instead of love and joy, these films create a sense of sadness and frustration, provoking questions along the lines of “How could this happen?” These movies can be very moving, inspiring viewers to make a difference and become involved. In this way, the movie lives on after its ending, and that power outlasts time.

The recipe for a movie to become timeless is not simple. However, there are some defining characteristics across all classics: a gray area and an element of complexity for its characters, an emotionally relatable or inspiring story arc, or a powerful plot commenting on real-world issues. Even though the story never changes and there is no mystery, some movies are so brilliantly created that they are worth another watch.

Woman of the Hour speaks to victims globally

The commended film Woman of the Hour resonates with viewers in its accurate portrayal of abuse.

STORY CHRISTIANNE DULEY ILLUSTRATION DIANA LOPEZ

W

omen have consistently been targets of violence by men and, when reaching out for help, they have been ignored. Woman of the Hour, which is lead actress Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, brings these concepts to the surface, acting as a voice for victims around the world. The film is based on a real serial killer case and dives into systemic misogyny and the historical abuse of women in America as a result of male privilege. The film draws in audiences with its heartbreaking storytelling and tragic reenactments of abuse. Filled with disturbing and stressful scenes, Woman of the Hour’s depiction of sexual assault raises awareness for the uncomfortable truths of American society.

Set in 1970s Los Angeles, Woman of the Hour focuses on Sheryl Bradshaw, a prospective actress, and her encounter with a serial killer, Rodney Alcala, on a dating show. The

first half of the film introduces Bradshaw in the build up to the game show. In between the scenes of her life, the film reveals Alcala’s brutality by exhibiting how he killed his past victims before meeting Bradshaw, enhancing the mind-bending narrative that pulls in viewers. This steady anticipation up to the two characters meeting creates a thrilling ambiance as their paths begin to cross.

Bradshaw struggles to make a living as an actress in an industry run by men and takes the opportunity to star on The Dating Game, a bachelorette-like reality television show, in the hopes of propelling her film career. She quickly realizes that the show’s host and the male contestants do not respect her, leading Bradshaw to hijack the script and make fun of the bachelors. Alcala, who is one of the contestants, gains Bradshaw’s favor by deliberately responding to her questions with respectful and feminist answers. The dating show concludes with Bradshaw choosing Alcala and, after they go on a date nearby, Bradshaw quickly realizes that she should not trust Alcala. In a tense and petrifying finale, she attempts to escape her fate as his next victim.

The gripping story of Woman of the Hour is highlighted by the film’s thoughtful directing and striking visual aspects. Kendrick, who played Bradshaw, captured the experience of women worldwide, speaking out against injustice against women. Additionally, the vibrant color grading of the dating show contrasted by the dark and moody scenes with Alcala speaks to Kendrick’s message.

“I find it really interesting that multiple scenes focused on the killer’s dirty fingers,” audience member Cash Delossa Storey said. “It’s a great way of showing there is literally blood on his hands, and the fact that his hands are his weapon really highlights the violence against women.”

Not only does the film possess stunning style, but it also contains immersive acting. Daniel Zovatto’s performance as Alcala reaches through the screen to terrify the audience, and Kendrick’s performance as Bradshaw resonates with viewers through her hesitation to trust Alcala and panic once he pursues her. Combined with the heartfelt acting of the victims in the film, Woman of the Hour has viewers on the edge of their seats the entire time.

Since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023, the film has received abundant praise from viewers and critics for its bold yet significant story. Based on a true story, the film does a wonderful job of impressing upon audiences that the horrible actions and events in it are not impossible. Viewers are urged to remain vigilant around strangers and always look out for one another. The film also challenges the romanticization and glorification of real serial killers that many other slasher media, such as Dahmer and In the Light of the Moon, contain.

“I really appreciate how the movie portrayed the struggle of women,” Delossa Storey said. “It was disturbing to watch, but it accurately shows the corruption and unfairness in our system.”

Woman of the Hour does not shy away from difficult topics, instead embracing them to reveal the true nature of misogyny. The film’s bittersweet ending adds to the message that, whether or not justice is served, the trauma inflicted by kidnapping, rape, and murder can never fully heal. The audience will take this reality with them into the future, in hopes that global injustice may be prevented. Maybe this way, some women will not have to endure the pain of their ancestors.

The navigation between popularity and authenticity

STORY ISABELLA JONASEN

ILLUSTRATION

SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI

As Spotify Wrapped season approaches, people nationwide prepare to spam niche music like clockwork. No one needs to know Sabrina Carpenter has been on repeat since June, as that is not niche enough to share on an Instagram story for peers to see. However, this ideal of being unique, especially in a community as tight-knit as music, is damaging and shallow to those who want to enjoy music for what it truly is.

The fear of not being seen as different seems to be a huge struggle for teens and people alike. People seem to think that if they consume popular content, it degrades their taste, but in reality, it brings them closer to their generation. Music lovers believe that there is a constant hate train following them simply over the type of music they consume, which is far from the truth. The belief that the depth of people’s personalities solely revolves around their music taste is absurd.

Although it is understandable that there are people who genuinely dislike popular music, people should not dislike it solely for the fact it is popular. One should not enjoy any form of media if it is only for the attention it garners. If they do, they are only doing themselves a disservice, as they are not gaining anything from downplaying their authenticity.

Gatekeeping is the term that has now plagued music lovers’ minds. This has either become a scare tactic or a culture they support. Individuals are fearful to either share too much about what they like or share too little, as they could be labeled as a “gatekeeping music snob.”

This has been seen when artists go viral with their smaller songs, becoming famous on apps like TikTok and Instagram. This leads “real fans” to become incredibly defensive over the artist and their songs’ newfound popularity. The notion that “we might listen to the same music, but I listen to it better than you” does not serve the fan nor the artist. Music should be transactional and mutually beneficial, and therefore people from all backgrounds and all tastes should be able to enjoy it in every form it comes in.

On the flip side, there are listeners who enjoy the feeling of being a part of a popular artist’s community because of its pervasiveness. Fake fans and resellers have altered concert culture, as artists now feel as though their crowds are no longer filled with genuine fans, affecting the quality of their shows.

Ticketmaster is known for its constant crashing, and now tickets are selling much faster. The alarming rate of ticket sales is due to the number of people desperately trying to keep up with the mainstream music space. Unlike those

who shy away from popular music for its ubiquity, these fake fans are drawn towards music solely for the sake of its prominence.

Chappell Roan is an artist who hit the ground running after opening for Olivia Rodrigo during her SOUR tour. Roan followed it with her live debut of “Good Luck, Babe!” at Coachella, and she has been growing ever since. Roan’s shows have had an alarming rate of bots and resellers in the Ticketmaster forums, which led her to recall a handful of tickets. Roan then stated on her Instagram story, “I want to make sure that tickets go to people who actually want to come and are fans.”

If one is to reject popular trends simply because they are overrated, they have become just as shallow as the people who embrace them solely for their popularity. Each group is affected poorly by that close-minded mindset while consuming different types of media.

Gatekeeping culture should not be normalized, as it affects not only the people who follow it but also other fans, the artists, and people looking to simply enjoy music. Ironically, each type of music enthusiast is selfconsciously following the trend of not following the trend. Neither group is superior to the other. Both are simply limiting themselves to the content they could be consuming and the people they could be connecting with.

TAAGLAA:

The Hammer Museum

TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA

A long Wilshire Boulevard is a dynamic culture and arts center of imagining and inspiring social change: the Hammer Museum. Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice is the Hammer’s latest exhibition, and it is open to the public for free from Sept. 14, 2024–Jan. 5, 2025. As part of the Getty’s region wide PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative, with co-curators Glenn Kaino and Mika Yoshitake, Breath(e) showcases art practices that facilitate dialogue about human-caused environmental disasters.

To discover what all this entailed, the five illustrators of Tiger embarked on a journey to the Hammer Museum in Westwood Village, Los Angeles.

Our experience began the moment we entered the glasswalled lobby to check in our belongings, for the place was as spacious as it was space-like. Ceramic space travelers in fiber suits, alongside a futuristic fourlegged rover and a reflective silver tent, immediately transported us into artist Cannupa Hanska Luger’s world of Indigenous futurism. The exhibition’s theme of transdisciplinary environmental art was clear in Luger’s blend of culture, sci-fi, and sustainability.

This theme followed the five of us up the steps into “Gangsta Gardener” Ron Finley’s Grounded , a walkable installation for sustainable urban gardening. With Sunny snapping pictures, we wandered among no shortage of potted plants and sunset-colored bistro sets, all enhanced with thought-provoking elements,

like a STOLE sign erected by Redline Realty (“#1 in Gentrifiers!”). Created to generate dialogue about food justice and freedom, Finley’s vibrant installation reimagined the traditional museum experience.

The following installation had me buzzing with anticipation; the long-awaited live honeybee sculpture had been on my mind from the start. Excited as I was, however, my steps slowed the second we pushed open the door. The sound of wind, crashing waves, and a choir of women filled the room in a goosebumpsinducing echo — it was Seaweed Story , the Korean visual research band ikkibawiKrrr’s installation. Projected onto the wall was a video of female divers, the “haenyeo” or “women of the sea,” singing an ancient Korean folk song connecting them to the ocean, environmentalism, and their history. With this auditory element, I could almost feel the solidarity in their voices. The piece provided a much-needed respite from the hectic streets of Los Angeles, though they were just right outside.

I hustled to catch up to Diana, Lanah, and Sunny, who had already entered the walk-in box that contained artist Garnett Puett’s main apisculpture, “api” meaning “bee” in Latin. Nathan and I had a good laugh watching them from the live bee cam before making a beeline for the box ourselves. In the pitch-black room, we gazed at the three wax figures huddled inside the redlit glass display case, swarms of honeybees crawling across their limbs and faces. We agreed that the piece evoked some intense emotions — whether grief felt toward the cruelty of climate change or wonder felt toward these bees collaborating with humans, in

a way, to maintain art. Puett’s other apisculptures also struck us, considering that wax sculpting vastly differs in skill and mindset than what is needed from us while creating digital illustrations for Tiger

We then checked out some of the other exhibitions in the museum, including the Armand Hammer Collection and Sum of the Parts: Serial Imagery in Printmaking, 1500 to Now , before heading down to the courtyard. We were pleasantly surprised to find an assemblage of gyro chairs available for patrons to swivel on to their hearts’ desires. (Needless to say, we sat there swiveling and entertaining ourselves for an impressively long time.)

Although we did not opt for dinner at Lulu, the museum’s courtyard restaurant, the ‘80s alternative rock music amidst scraping silverware and the warm lamp lighting partitioned by trees created quite a hospitable mood.

Diana, Lanah, Nathan, Sunny, and I visited the Hammer Store to look for souvenirs once we exhausted our gyro chair desires. I purchased two pocket-sized Yoshitomo Nara pins and a flowery birthday card, though it was tempting to empty my entire wallet on all the cute postcards and art books.

Our experience with the creations of Breath(e) was unconventional but equally fascinating, as it exposed us to the realities of climate change through innovative art. The illustrators of Tiger hereby recommend the Hammer Museum to anyone interested in the arts, culture, social justice, or better yet, all of the above.

STORY ISOLE KIM

PHOTOS SUNNY (SUNHYE) CHOI

Kayla Boozer commands SPHS girls’ basketball

From early beginnings to record-breaking high school achievements, senior power forward Kayla Boozer reflects on her journey, the dedication, and hard work that led her to collegiate basketball opportunities.

STORY EVELYN DIAZ

PHOTO KAITLYN LEE

Senior basketball power forward Kayla Boozer began playing basketball at 4 years old and has been honing her skills ever since. Now, her hard work has paid off, and Boozer has been offered scholarships to play basketball at various colleges.

“My older brother played basketball, so I followed in his footsteps,” Boozer said. “I transferred here in my sophomore year, coming from Maranatha High School. Coming here to SPHS, I started out in varsity and have been playing var[sity] ever since … All my three years of playing varsity here, I enjoyed spending time with my teammates, coaches, and just getting to know everyone.”

During the 2023–24 season, Boozer led her team with exceptional skill. She made the First Team on the SGV All-Area, earned Second Team on CIF, and secured First Team honors in the Rio Hondo League.

Boozer scored more than 500 points total and was named Most Valuable Player in two games during the 2023–24 season. In a single game against Blair, she scored 50 points and 14 rebounds, a double-double that landed Boozer on the national list of players who scored more than 50 points in one game. She ranked top 20 nationally for number of double-doubles, and ranked top 100 nationally for rebounds per game.

Reflecting on her greatest high school memories, Boozer cherishes the bond she built with her teammates and considers those connections just as valuable as her athletic achievements.

“[At] last year’s tournament at San Diego, we made it to the championships with a team above our level,”

Boozer said. “After the tournament, we went to celebrate. We went to the hotel and played laser tag until 2 in the morning.”

Senior point guard Mia Leach is one of Boozer’s teammates on varsity basketball. The two are close on and off of the court.

“Having Kayla on our team gives us hope to win because she’s good at what she does,” Leach said.

“She’s a really supportive teammate. She’s always the first one to help us out if we fall, and she gives a lot of improvement to the team on what she learned in her college camps.”

Looking toward the future, Boozer is enthusiastic about playing at the collegiate level and is ready to embrace both the opportunities and challenges that await.

“I have always loved basketball. I used to go to USC women’s basketball [games] all the time, and ever since I went to those games, I always wanted to play in college. I always saw myself playing in college and envisioned myself being that kind of athlete,” Boozer said. “I knew that it would take a lot to get there, so I try to work hard and I think it’s paying off.”

As she considers her college options, remaining in California is her top priority — not just for the abundance of competitive basketball programs, but also for the state’s beaches and familiar weather. Boozer feels California is where she truly belongs.

“I can’t see myself going anywhere but California. I see myself in Santa Barbara or Santa Cruz,” Boozer said. “It’s a tough decision because I have a lot of good opportunities, but I’m staying here in California.”

With Boozer planning to play at the collegiate level, she plans to push herself to be the best she can be.

“I’m going to push myself by remembering all the work I have done and all the hard nights I stayed after practice while everyone went home … I don’t want to quit now,” Boozer said. “Once you get into the next level, it’s like you still have to work up from there, so just having that determination to always wake up and be your best with everything.”

The politics of sports are deeply conservative

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee in 2016, there was quick backlash, but when Harrison Butker spewed hate at a college commencement speech, the response was lackluster. This represents the NFL culture.

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN ILLUSTRATION NATHAN FRIEZER

In 2016, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines for kneeling during the national anthem in protest of systemic racism and police violence, especially that against Black Americans. The backlash was swift. Kaepernick not only received condemnation from conservative pundits, but from politicians as well, with Donald Trump calling for him to be removed from the NFL. When Kaepernick’s contract expired the following year, it was not renewed — and despite being a solid player, he was not signed with any other team — in what was widely seen as a punishment for his activism from the NFL.

In another case of political expression from a star athlete from this summer, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave an incredibly misogynistic (among countless other -isms) commencement speech at Benedictine College in Kansas. In the speech, Butker told the female members of the audience that they would be happiest as homemakers; lamented

“degenerate cultural values in media,” seemingly referring to queerness; and complained that Christians could not talk about “who killed Jesus,” conjuring up the antisemitic trope that Jews are collectively responsible for the death of Jesus.

Going on the example of Kaepernick, one would not be remiss to assume that these clearly unhinged comments were quickly condemned by the NFL and there was some sort of punishment handed down, but that was not the case. Yes, there was some media backlash, but none that tangibly affected Butker. And to counter that, conservative voices in the media rushed to shower him with praise for being brave enough to voice his controversial opinions. Butker faced no consequences. He was actually rewarded when sales of his jersey skyrocketed following his speech.

This massive double standard with reactions to leftwing versus right-wing expression points to a larger issue: The culture of professional sports is deeply conservative and is unwilling to accept any deviation from that norm.

It is not just that the NFL is motivated primarily by profit and that profit is threatened when an athlete says something that challenges the status quo. This is true, but there is something else going on: conservatism is ingrained in the culture of sports. What better example than the flyovers of military aircraft that precede most major sporting events? They may seem harmless and apolitical, but nothing could be further from the truth. These flyovers are a celebration of America’s military might, a direct endorsement of America’s extremely violent, unjustifiable military interventions across the globe. It is hard to imagine a cause more conservative than the endless march of America’s war machine. Given the jingoistic attitudes of professional sports, it is not surprising that one Washington Post survey found that sports fans were significantly more likely to support increased defense spending than the average American.

The even more obvious example of conservatism in sports is that of gender norms. Sports culture promotes a very rigid vision of masculinity — men should be tough, maybe even violent. Athletes are expected to look and act a certain way. Furthermore, the hierarchical nature of sports teams leads to unhealthy competition which encourages a toxic, domineering expression of masculinity.

Male athletes are also given much more privileges than their female counterparts. First off, the pay gap between men and women in sports is immense. For example, the average NBA player makes $11 million, while the average WNBA player makes $113 thousand. On top of that, women’s sports receive shockingly low coverage, only making up 15 percent of all sports coverage. In sports culture, there is a prevailing attitude that women’s sports are less important, less impressive, and less worthy.

Sports fans often complain that sports are being invaded by politics. Funnily enough, these complaints only seem to come when an athlete or team has expressed some vaguely progressive sentiment. It appears that what fans really mean is that they do not want to be challenged by a more progressive system of belief. When the professional sports establishment sees a star athlete embrace the politics of someone like Trump, it does not have the same immediate reaction that it has with someone like Kaepernick, and that is not a coincidence. It is because the conservative politics of athletes like Butker fit squarely into the conservatism that is already such a big part of sports.

Siblings star across SPHS varsity sports

Tiger interviewed five pairs of varsity siblings to see how their relationships contribute to their respective teams. View the full articles on tigernewspaper.com.

STORY GAVIN BARTOLOME, ZOE CHEN, EVELYN DIAZ, CLEMENTINE EVANS, &

DJ & Grayson

Brothers DJ and Grayson Ebner have played football together since they were kids, rising from YMCA flag leagues to varsity football at SPHS. Besides simply having fun, the athletes are constantly building off of each other to individually improve both of their games.

“We can critique each other on what we do,” D. Ebner said. “I think after a game, it’s definitely better to work on our weaknesses.”

Despite bringing majorly different roles to the team, the two still manage to remain in sync with each other. Linemen like D. Ebner hold down the line of scrimmage, while defensive ends like G. Ebner are more involved in the action, catching passes and rushing the quarterback.

“It’s hard because we’re on different sides of the ball, but I think if we’re both on offense, it’s easier to communicate … because we both know what we’re supposed to do,” D. Ebner said.

Even with the competitive nature of football, the Ebners have remained close and connected both on and off the field.

“We’ll play next to each other sometimes, and it’s awesome,” G. Ebner said. “[It’s] definitely a brotherly connection that you can tell.”

Elijah & Raphael

Another set of SPHS baseball twins are seniors Raphael and Elijah Hall. The pair started playing baseball when they were 4 years old on their Little League team while living in New Jersey. The two decided to stick with baseball and are now both on SPHS’s varsity team.

“Baseball is definitely a continuity in our life,” E. Hall said. “In recent years, it’s been more about support and lifting each other up, encouraging each other.”

Being twins is also something that motivates and challenges them. Playing on the same club and school team is an enjoyable experience for them.

There has always been a certain aspect of competition between the two of them, but that competition is something that has challenged them to be better athletes. The pair also plays in complementary roles, with R. Hall pitching and E. Hall catching.

“Of all the catchers that I throw to … the person that I have to shake off the least is him,” R. Hall said. “He calls just about every pitch that I want, where I want it, so in that way, he’s kind of the perfect catcher for me.”

Both twins agree that having each other and being related is beneficial on the field. They have someone who supports and challenges them to become better players.

KAITLYN LEE, MADELINE MADRIGAL, & CONTRIBUTOR

Even when playing duos, tennis can feel isolated on the court. However, for sisters Karissa and Maya Oniciuc, their matches against each other break those boundaries, driving them to improve and build off each other.

“You want to help them get better, they want to help you get better … you already have friends in the sport,” M. Oniciuc said.

When they were young, the two played spirited tennis matches against their parents, who paid for lessons and encouraged them to get onto the courts and learn together. Since then, both sisters have been united, joining SPHS tennis and commenting that they have never had much sibling conflict.

The support the Oniciucs draw from each other has greatly helped shape the team. Their friends on the team view the siblings’ strong bond as a model for communication, allowing the whole team to engage both warmly and productively.

“Because we’re siblings, [we] already have a connection. She introduced me to her friends; I introduced her to my friends. So now we’re more connected,” the Oniciucs commented together.

Chloe & Perri

Twin track seniors Chloe and Perri Koo each began running competitively during their freshman year of high school. The two are now varsity stars — P. Koo is a sprinter for track, and C. Koo runs long-distance for track and cross country.

“Since we do the same sport and we compete with each other, we end up pushing each other a lot,” P. Koo said.

Despite competing in a rather individualized sport, P. Koo cited track relays as times when the team aspect gets a chance to shine through.

“Even though we do separate [track] events … I get to possibly run with her on the same relay team,” P. Koo said. “Really, it’s just representing South Pas and showing the other schools that we’re here to compete. We push each other to improve.”

Both twins see their bond as a contributor to their personal success and the team’s strong record in the past seasons. Both are interested in competing at the collegiate level, and both act as the other’s motivation.

“Running together is really fun. We each have our own different personalities, but … you’re competing for a team, and you’re all running together as a team,” C. Koo said. “I can definitely see that we both put in a lot of effort, time, and dedication, and it shows … Ultimately, for us, we’re just pushing each other to better our team and better our times.”

HOU

Being on a team can feel like being part of a family, but for baseball seniors Charles and Gabriel Vogel, they are actually twins. Both began playing baseball in preschool.

“[Playing together] has made our relationship stronger. Having a sibling play the same sport as you is like having a built-in teammate 24/7,” G. Vogel said. “I think after playing baseball, we have developed a stronger relationship than it would’ve been without being teammates.”

When playing on the field, the Vogel brothers have a unique advantage.

“On the field, we have a sort of silent communication advantage. We both know what we need to do without communicating that with each other,” C. Vogel said.

The Vogels’ personal connection positively affects not just the two, but the entire baseball team.

“Everyone is really close on the baseball team, so it’s like a brotherhood, and I think it stems from our relationship,” G. Vogel said. “The past couple of years, we’ve made the playoffs, but we’ve come up short. We feel that this year we have both the talent and the team chemistry to make it all the way.”

Charles & Gabriel

Karissa & Maya

SPORTS

Water polo brings home first CIF Championship in 30 years

AFTER A CLOSE GAME, a last-second heave from senior Kenta Fernandes gave the Tigers the point that they needed to secure the CIF Southern Section crown.

STORY RAFA ESTOLANO-SRIDHARAN

MADELINE MADRIGAL

PHOTOS

After making it to the CIF Championships for the first time in 30 years, boys’ water polo defeated the Cate Rams in a narrow 10-9 game at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday, Nov. 16. The teams finished the first quarter tied, and the score stayed close until a dramatic last-second goal from senior Kenta Fernandes.

The first quarter started with the Rams in possession, but after missing a goal, Cate lost the ball. Receiving a pass from junior Jackson Lesnever, Fernandes made the first goal of the game, boosting the Tigers up 1-0. This momentary lead was quickly swallowed by a goal from Cate, evening the score to 1-1.

Despite a strong Tiger defense, the Rams notched up a second goal, taking a brief lead at 2-1. With only one minute left in the first quarter, junior Diego Pizarro managed to score another goal, leveling the teams’ scores at 2-2.

The Tigers started the second quarter on the offensive, making multiple attempts until Fernandes broke through with another goal. Senior Nathan Greene followed up on this breakthrough by netting another point, bringing the Tigers to a two-point lead. A score from Cate was matched by another goal from Fernandes, taking the score to 5-3 in the Tigers’ favor.

South Pasadena came into the third quarter strong with a swift goal from Fernandes that edged the Tigers to a threepoint lead. The Rams rebounded, taking possession of the ball and netting two more points. Still, the Tigers remained ahead by one point.

After a pass from Fernandes, senior Theo Hilger brought the score to 7-5. After some back-and-forth, the Rams scored another goal, which was quickly supplanted by a goal from Greene to maintain a two-point Tiger lead at 8-6.

The Rams started the final quarter with a shot at the goal, but it was easily blocked by senior goalkeeper Caleb Dephouse. After another goal from Fernandes, the Rams concentrated their efforts on offense but could not penetrate the Tigers’ strong defense.

After an attempt to score from the Tigers, the Rams took the ball and pressed ahead yet again. This time, they gained momentum and scored three consecutive goals, tying the teams at 9-9.

With just shy of a minute left in the game and the possibility of a tie, it seemed like the game would go into overtime. As the clock ticked down, it seemed unlikely that either team would score before the end of the quarter. With just four seconds left, Fernandes made one final goal, edging the Tigers to a final score of 10-9.

“Winning finals was probably one of the best moments I’ve ever experienced in my entire life, definitely top three. The best part about it was just being able to celebrate with my closest friends who have supported me for years, and getting to see the results of all of our hard work was truly incredible,” Fernandes said.

“When the ball left my hand I knew that this was the culmination of all the work I’d put in this season along with my teammates and I was confident I would score. When the ball landed in the cage I just looked up into the crowd and screamed as loud as I could. I was screaming so loud that I could barely breathe and it was an exhilarating moment. Getting to bring my best performance to our most important game of the season and taking the title for the first time in 30 years was truly amazing and I’m so grateful for my teammates, coaches, and for everything the boys’ water polo program has given me.”

Row

BENJAMIN

La clase de español

REGAN Spanish is the language of the world. During the World Cup in 2022, the default language of the FOX Sports broadcast was Spanish, although each country had it in their native language. An estimated 4 billion people watched the World Cup that year, and Spanish, among the world’s languages, proved to be the language of the people.

I feel fortunate to have learned Spanish throughout my four years in high school because I am now able to communicate with many more individuals. When I was in middle school, I played on a club baseball team, and I had a teammate who only spoke Spanish. We called him El Tigre (The Tiger), and he was able to communicate with our coach who was fluent in Spanish. However, I was not able to talk to him outside of the universal language of baseball.

I learned the foundations of Spanish in my freshman year with Ms. Baca, and at the end of the baseball season in the spring, we had a game against Blair High School. I did not know that Tigre played baseball at Blair High School, but when we arrived at the field, I immediately recognized him.

After the game, which we inexplicably lost, I found Tigre before we boarded the bus. We talked in English, which he had improved incredibly in since we last talked. He was almost fluent.

I told him that I was learning Spanish, and he was instantly excited. While he was learning English when we last played together, this time I was learning his first language. He was eager to hear my Spanish, telling me to try out what I had learned.

I limped through the conversation, asking “¿puedes repetir?” too many times. Despite my inexperience, I then understood the power of learning another language. Spanish is a class that applies to the real world and is relevant outside the classroom, and I decided that I wanted to follow through with Spanish all four years.

I am now in my fourth year of Spanish, taking Mr. Whitney’s AP class, and if we ever play Blair again, I will be much better equipped to talk to my friend Tigre. I am not fluent yet, but I have the ability to engage with Los Angeles’ massive Spanishspeaking population.

The stereotype of high school language classes is that students develop strong grammatical skills, learning the blueprint to become bilingual but not putting it into practice. Many high schoolers can write in a second language, but when it comes to actually speaking and listening, they struggle.

In my SPHS Spanish class experience, we have every opportunity to speak the language and are encouraged to interact with not only our teacher, but our classmates in Spanish as well. I remember one project in Ms. Baca’s class where students had to go into the community to eat something from a Spanish-speaking country, and I got pupusas from a place in Highland Park. I talked with the owners of the food truck and ordered in Spanish as well. This was intended to enhance the cultural part of the class, which went far beyond simple grammar and conveyed to us the importance of learning Spanish.

I think an admirable aspect of Spanish class is that we are not taking the class in order to do well on tests. The end goal of most courses is to receive a desired grade, but even if you ace Spanish class, you are not done. The ultimate goal is to become bilingual, which is a lifelong process, and something that, for me, started but will not end with SPHS.

Thank you to Ms. Baca and Mr. Whitney for teaching me Spanish over the last four years.