SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 FREMONT AVE. SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
VOLUME 104 ISSUE 2 OCTOBER 10, 2017
COLOR DAY ASSEMBLY IGNITES SCHOOL SPIRIT
Seniors rise for their final Color Day STORY SOFIE DRESKIN, PRESTON SHARKEY, & NOAH PARKER PHOTO HELENA FU
A rap performed by sophomore Evan Kowal further energized the raucous crowd. The sophomore, dubbed “Evan Ball” by Keith, posed as the infamous Lavar Ball, and didn’t hold back from taking shots at several well-known teachers and students.
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“Color Day to me [about] losing yourself in school spirit,” Keith said. “It’s not just about traditions or pride, it’s personally about the people from around the halls and in our classes. It’s about our goodwill as a student body.”
he eccentric costumes of SPHS students painted the gym bleachers orange and black for SPHS’ 79th annual Color Day Celebration last Friday, October 6.
The festivities began early in the morning with the Color Day costume contest. Troops of students filed past the four-judge panel, exhibiting their spirited costumes. Out of all of the winners, two seniors creatively turned themselves into rotating fidget spinners to take home the first place prize of their class. Commissioner of Assemblies Anders Keith began the assembly with a skit, featuring conspiring “students” from other rival schools. The Tigers, portrayed by senior Ben Elbaum and junior Akash Rathi, ultimately defeated the comedic portrayals of the other schools.
Commissioner of Spirit Hannah Lee introduced the Homecoming nominees: three students from the freshman, sophomore, and junior classes and 12 students from the senior class. This year, ASB spearheaded a change in the newly-introduced voting system to encourage students of all gender identities to participate in SPHS’ Homecoming. Students could nominate a male and female classmate, as well as someone from a third category containing all names. Along with the announcement of the Royal Court, ASB unveiled the theme for the 2017 Homecoming: “A Spooktacular Halloweek,” which will take place the week of October 30.
FLESH OVER FUR
YUCA’S
PEER REVIEW
Copy editor Alina Mehdi examines the disparity between the activism for animals versus silence towards people of color.
Read staff writer Elizabeth Bock’s review of the classic branch of Yuca’s Restaurant on Fair Oaks Ave.
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Staff writer Isabella Tsai describes the complications and controversy of playerreview that the girls’ varsity tennis team faces. Page 15
IN THE NEWS
South Pas schools will participate in ‘The Great Shake-Out’ October 19 to prepare for earthquakes.
The Fall Arts Crawl will showcase arts, music, food, and more from local businesses on October 21.
TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM
Construction for the South Pas Rose Float is underway and volunteers are welcome to lend a hand Thursdays.
TIGER
02 OCTOBER 10, 2017
NEWS
NEWS SPUSD places top five in California for CAASPP testing STORY CHRISTINE MAO South Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) recently placed fifth in the state for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). State rankings were announced on Wednesday, September 27. Results showed that SPUSD remains consistent in its common core state testing, upholding its fifth standing from years prior. San Marino continues to rank first, followed by Piedmont, La Cañada, and Palo Alto Unified School Districts, some of which are SPUSD’s neighboring districts. However, the California Department of Education distinguishes SPUSD as an exceptional district, acknowledging the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity. South Pasadena has shown a 3% improvement in both Mathematics and the English Language Arts (ELA) since the previous year. It was reported that 84% of the students in English Language Arts had exceeded or met standards and 79% of students exceeded or met standards in math. “We’ve shown considerable growth over the last three years,” SPUSD Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Christiane Gervais said. “The English Language Arts [ELA] scores, in terms of students meeting or exceeding standards, has gone up seven percent and our math scores have gone up five percent. This is a steady, positive growth, and we will continue to grow.” For 2017-18, the district is facing the challenge of unit alignment, the planning of the school’s curriculum for what or when specific topics will be taught by the departments. Without proper alignment, some teachers may skip necessary topics included in the Mathematics and ELA assessments. In order to ensure that all students are prepared for testing, the district is striving to present a more efficient unit alignment for all grade levels. Proposed in 2014, CAASPP is a program intended to promote a sense of understanding of a student’s comprehension of specific topics. Students in grades third through eighth and in their junior year of high school are required to take this test around May of each year, however parents have the right to opt their students out. The upcoming 2017-18 CAASPP will be given to elementary and middle school students, along with SPHS juniors this coming May.
NATIVE AMERICAN RALLIERS honor cultures indigenous to the Los Angeles Basin.
American Indian Movement: Indigenous People’s Day Rally STORY NOAH PARKER PHOTO COURTESY OF AL SEIB, LA TIMES
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he corner of Hollywood and Highland filled with Native American activists and supporters Sunday, October 8 to commemorate the introduction of Indigenous People’s Day to Los Angeles. The American Indian Movement had been pushing for a change in the holiday for years. Finally in late August, the Los Angeles City Council voted in favor of replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous People’s Day, making L.A. the largest U.S. city to make the holiday transition. The cities of Long Beach and Burbank have since adopted the holiday as well.
in 1977 following a controversial conviction of a double homicide. Keynote speaker David Hill, a renowned member of the American Indian Movement, addressed the crowd about the importance of activism in the community, especially in the protest against the government in the case of Peltier. The event also featured live performances from indigenous tribes, including a traditional Tongva tribal dance. Vendors selling native foods and other various assortments of delicacies were present at the rally, honoring indigenous culture.
Indigenous People’s Day provides an alternative to the widely-celebrated Columbus Day, which honors the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America. Many Native Americans believe that the new holiday offers symbolic justice for the historical wrongs exasperated by the traditional holiday.
Despite the name change, the second Monday of October will still be observed as a federal holiday. The proposal also designates October 12 as Italian Heritage Day, appeasing the part of the Italian American community who fought the new holiday, claimingthat it would erase some of their heritage.
The celebration, hosted by the American Indian Movement, also served as a rally honoring Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who was incarcerated
The decision, celebrated this year, will take official effect in the city of Los Angeles starting on October 8, 2018.
Virtual Business trains for year ahead Southern California schools converge at SPHS-hosted leadership day STORY PRESTON SHARKEY PHOTO RICHARD GOMEZ Virtual Enterprise students from all across Southern California made their way to SPHS for their annual leadership training on Thursday, October 5. Hosted by SPHS’ Virtual Business organization, the leadership day consisted of a variety of classes taught by local business professionals specializing in fields from graphic design to finance. Numerous virtual business teams from as far as the Murrieta Valley and Diamond Bar traveled to South Pas for real-world business skills and experience as well as the opportunity to interact with other teams. The day opened with a keynote from marketing/communications professional Marty Sharkey, who focused on becoming a leader through experience. After the presentation, the 200+ students dispersed across campus to attend smaller workshops regarding their specific business interests.
JUNIOR ADDISON FOORD gives his input during a sales training.
Sales consultant and former SPHS parent Bob Gilbow taught sessions centered around salesmanship, speaking with students about building trust with potential clients
and providing various tips on pitching sales. This was Gilbow’s second year teaching at the event. SPHS Varsity Virtual Business team member and FBLA club vice president Aaron Murdock was in attendance at one sales workshop. “I had a great time, and I met a lot of cool people that are involved in the same activities as me,” Murdock said. “I took a couple of sales workshops that were very useful in terms of teaching me good sales techniques.” The event was planned by the SPHS virtual business club and its president, Ben Elbaum. SkillsUSA club members and Ms Cathy Mason’s entrepreneur class also helped with check-in, handed out lunches, and directing students to classrooms throughout the day. “The goal of the leadership training is [for students] to learn real world responsibilities from business professionals,” SPHS Virtual Enterprise advisor and CTE teacher Ms. Mason said.
TIGER 03 OCTOBER 10, 2017
NEWS
City Council deems South Pasadena ‘sanctuary city’ in landmark decision The immigration policy debate culminated with the October 4 meeting
STORY PETER WANG & DOMINIC MARZIALI PHOTO HELENA FU
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he South Pasadena City Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday, October 4 deeming South Pasadena as a “safe and welcoming city for immigrants.” The ordinance unanimously passed as a council effort to protect the rights and privacy of all residents. City councilmembers and public commenters previously discussed the ordinance at length as a reaction to President Trump’s actions concerning immigrants, reinforcing their resolve to become a “sanctuary city.” The ordinance codifies the city’s policy of not inquiring about or sharing sensitive information, especially information regarding a person’s immigration status. It serves to guide city employee and police conduct to ensure the careful handling of information. The city adopted a “resolution of diversity” last December declaring “the public policy of the city to be inclusive and to respect the inherent worth of every person.” The resolution was mostly symbolic as it was not legally binding, while last week’s ordinance was more concrete, specifying that a resident’s rights and privacy will only be disregarded if the sharing of information is mandated by federal law enforcement. In a move to further protect residents, the police policy section 415 was updated regarding the protection of residents from intervention by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the federal government. The revision, much like the ordinance, also included the protection of sensitive information. In a previous meeting, Police Chief Miller affirmed that “[SPPD] officers don’t have any interest in someone’s immigration status,” and that the SPPD will never make arrests or start investigations based on or related to a suspect’s
immigration status. The police department hopes that victims and witnesses will not be discouraged from being involved in an investigation due to their immigration status. Commenters readdressed issues discussed at previous meetings, specifically regarding a South Pasadena case: a child whose father is being deported after 31 years in the United States. While the ordinance does take steps to giving a higher level of protection to residents, it does not provide anti-ICE safe zones around schools, which many residents have advocated for. The State of California also signed a “sanctuary state” bill into law on Thursday, which prevents ICE and other federal agencies from using state resources to detain people; this law will take effect next January. Much like South Pasadena’s ordinance, the new state law will protect immigrants, victims, or witnesses, and includes special exceptions for certain crimes. South Pasadena’s newest policy bears similarity to the laws of neighboring cities, including Pasadena. However, Alhambra’s police have been known to actively cooperate with ICE, and undocumented suspects detained at the Alhambra jail subsequently face a higher risk of deportation than in Pasadena or South Pasadena, a major point of concern preceding the sanctuary state decision. The city stated that the ordinance will serve to “stop irrational fears” regarding a lack of attempt to protect residents from illegal ICE privacy violations. “It doesn’t solve the full problem,” Indivisible South Pasadena co-founder David Beadle said, “but it’s our way of dealing with it.”
MAYOR MICHAEL CACCIOTTI approves the ordinance, finalizing the discussion with fellow city council members.
NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY An Invitation from SAIC The School of the Art Institute of Chicago invites you to meet with us at National Portfolio Day. Get feedback on your work, or just ask questions about studying at the nation’s most influential art and design school. YOOM, Myself Magnified, 2015 Ceramic, acrylic
Saturday, October 21, 2017 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
CalArts 24700 McBean Pkwy. Valencia, CA 91355
To verify dates and times, visit: http://portfolioday.net To let us know you would like a portfolio review from us, visit: saic.edu/ugevents
saic.edu/ug PHONE: 800.232.7242
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TIGER OCTOBER 10, 2017
NEWS
Small-town segregation: a South Pasadena timeline STORY DAVID SEO PHOTOS TIGER PHOTOGRAPHERS Amidst the racial chaos that ensues in places far away from Southern California, South Pasadena appears to be a “city on a hill” of sorts, especially considering the recent passing of our “sanctuary city” status this past Wednesday. Despite the ubiquitous spirit of progress that breathes within our town, South Pasadena wasn’t exempt from the prevailing attitudes in history; if anything, South Pasadena residents were willing proponents of the forces against
The original inhabitants of current day South Pasadena were the Native American Hahamog’na Tribe, part of the larger Tongva nation that occupied the Los Angeles basin. Mexican colonial rule then entered and occupied the tribal lands in the early 19th century. Power was passed from one white authority to another in the years following the MexicanAmerican War as the municipality of Pasadena was officially founded in 1875 from properties
of nearby ranchos. Thirteen years later, rich, predominantly white people living in the southern portion of Pasadena decided to break off from Pasadena by creating their own, personal interest-based government in South Pasadena.
minorities. From racism in its broader scope during world wars to our city’s smaller yet equally significant aggressions towards minorities, South Pasadena has played its part in a history of oppression. It can be easy for a current resident to remove themselves from the actions of the previous inhabitants of South Pasadena, but understanding the full context of the city’s history helps us acknowledge what we reap from previous injustices.
Following the Pearl Harbor attacks, antiJapanese sentiment swelled dramatically. South Pasadena once harbored a thriving Japanese community– the Meridian Iron Works building was formerly a Japanese cultural center–but quickly fell into war-fueled sentiment against its Japanese population. The intersection of Mission and Fair Oaks transformed into a pickup point to bring Japanese American citizens to internment camps at the Santa Anita Race Track. The few shops encouraging peace and unity were smeared and terrorized by the locals– indicative of the racial divides that mark South Pasadena’s history.
The landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education struck down the racial segregation of public schools. Although the famous integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas tends to draw the most attention regarding racial tension, both South Pasadena and Pasadena remained the worst offenders of rejecting this policy as the last school districts in America to integrate. Lasting effects of this segregation can be seen today in the prevalence of private schools across Pasadena—with more private schools per capita than any other city in America—and the disproportionate racial demographics at local schools; 2017 reports showing Blair High School with a 91% minority enrollment and Polytechnic School with a 55% white enrollment is indicative of the “whites in the private schools, minorities in public schools” design that stands today.
Gazing back can obviously feel disjointed and separate to our town today; after all, many of these events occurred when we were not even a thought or too young to know better. To one extent, maybe it’s great that racist attitudes seem absolutely absent from our community, showing how far we’ve come. On the other hand, maybe it’s scary that we cannot even identify the racism that lurks right under our noses. Recognize that our past is not history, it remains our present– racism is not a fire that has been subdued, but
rather a torch that has been passed down generation to generation. The transgressions of our grandfathers are not ours to take responsibility for, but to acknowledge. South Pasadena must make an active attempt to reform the systems that were previously built to marginalize the oppressed.
In 1941, the city of South Pasadena entered a formal agreement stating that the city was to be “occupied, with but few exceptions, if any, exclusively by people of the White or Caucasian race.” South Pasadenans, Inc., who sponsored the measure, cited declining property values and preventing “maintain our schools free from race problems” as reasons for
this exclusion. The strategy was effective: five years later, city-manager Frank Clough proudly proclaimed that “We do not have any Negroes, nor do we have any other nonCaucasian people in South Pasadena.” This precedent rooted itself deep within the city’s culture, as South Pasadena found other means to exclude nonwhite visitors. A 1955 incident at the municipal swimming pool found nine-year-old AfricanAmerican Susan McClain asked to leave due to her appearance alone– the pool was only available for white residents.
Racism lingers. 1974 marked a point when South Pasadena further asserted its ugly history, closing itself off from “urban” LA by cementing off the road connecting Via Del Rey and Van Horne Avenue in El Sereno. South Pasadena claimed it was instated as a “traffic barrier,” but Latinx populations from the neighboring El Sereno saw through the thin guise a racial barrier. “They said in South Pasadena the barriers were because of too many speeding cars,” then-El Sereno resident Charles Erickson. “But we knew it was a racial barrier, and it amazes me that they got away with it.” Although the event seems far removed from modern South Pasadena ideology, a 2002 city-wide vote to remove said barrier ended in a shocking landslide decision to uphold the decision despite public outcry of blatant racism and discrimination.
They said in South Pasadena the barriers were because of too many speeding cars,” then-El Sereno resident Charles Erickson said. “But we knew it was a racial barrier, and it amazes me that they got away with it.”
TIGER 05 OCTOBER 10, 2017
THE TIGER ESTABLISHED 1913
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2005 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2006 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2009 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2010 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017
ST A F F ED IT OR IA L
OPINION
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RILEY SEGAL MANAGING EDITORS COLE CAHILL, Print BRANDON YUNG, Online NEWS RACHEL LU OPINION OONA FOLEY FEATURE MAYA WILLIAMSON SPORTS MATT WAKUMOTO DESIGN ASHTON CARLESS TRUMAN LESAK PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS FORMAN COPY AMELIA ANTHONY ALINA MEHDI SENIOR STAFF WRITER SAMMY PARK
Predatory colleges: the price of education
STAFF WRITERS LUKE QUEZADA, ELIZABETH BOCK, DASHIEL BOVE, LILIAN AZAT, ALEX BETTS, BENJAMIN CLARK, SOFIE DRESKIN, DAVID SEO, CHRISTINE MAO, DOMINIC MARZIALI, NOAH PARKER, PRESTON SHARKEY, PETER WANG, ISABELLA TSAI
How the for-profit college industry targets and ruins the lives of the economically disadvantaged
PHOTOGRAPHERS ALICIA ALDERETE, HELENA FU, LUKE QUEZADA, RICHARD GOMEZ ILLUSTRATORS ISABELLA FRESCURA, KATE ROGERS, ELAINE YANG GRAPHIC DESIGNER FINLEY MULLEN VIDEOGRAPHER ISAAC MARZIALI MANAGERS SAMANTHA ABELSON, Ads LAUREN TAN, Business WEBMASTER OLIVER CHANG FACULTY ADVISOR MIKE HOGAN VOL. 104 NO. 2 DISTRIBUTED ON OCT 10, 2017. DISTRIBUTION: 1479 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1600 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.
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or many SPHS students, the college search is facilitated by parents who extensively know postsecondary education. The increased competition for spots on college campuses has lead to a desperate segment of students searching for an alternative to typical universities. These colleges run advertisements that falsely portray the sentiment that a degree from a for-profit university is in equal standing to one from a college whose main focus is the student. Before they filed for bankruptcy, Corinthian Colleges was one of the main for-profit colleges. At the surface, their degrees and diplomas seemed easy to both get and finance. However, Corinthian encouraged its students to take out private loans with high interests rates. Predatory loans and its subpar curriculum made its degrees impossible to pay back and worthless to have. Although former Attorney General of California Kamala Harris’ lawsuit against Corinthian resulted in over a billion dollars paid in fines and restitution, there is still more to be done about dismantling other shady “educational” institutions. The first step to stopping for-profit institutions is to halt federal funding for these universities. Unfortunately, Betsy DeVos facilitated the resurgence of for-profit universities. Under her direction, the Department of Education has stopped investigating reports of fraudulent colleges. They have even started funding more of them. In fact, DeVos appointed a former dean of the for-profit college DeVry University to lead the team responsible for investigating fraudulent institutions. This appointment, coupled with the
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rolling back of Obama-era restrictions on for-profit colleges signals that the fight to end them will not be won by the federal government, at least not in the next four years. Additionally to targeting low-income and first-generation students, for-profit colleges also target single mothers seeking education. Although only representing around 11 percent of the college population, they account for nearly 30 percent of students enrolled in for-profit colleges. This disproportionality can be attributed to the fact that the for-profit model is convenient. Night and online classes cater towards working students and the schedule of a single mother. Community colleges and four-year universities may not have the resources to cater towards single mothers and working students. Thus, for-profit universities are seen as a better option in the eyes of the most vulnerable. Major for-profit institutions have a vested interest in maximizing their profits. They target low-income communities because disadvantaged students often lack the know-how to navigate the world of postsecondary education. In order to stunt the growth of the for-profit college industry, there needs to be a widespread understanding of postsecondary education. High schools, especially those with low income students, have the responsibility to educate their students about the dangers of for-profit colleges and predatory loans.
Boos & Bravos
Tiger ’s cheers and jeers for the month of October. BOOS
BRAVOS
BOO to the freshmen, because we didn’t get to do it at roll call.
BRAVO to all the hypebeasts who made it cool to flex the extent of their parents’ incomes without wearing boat shoes.
BOO - Ghosts BOO to the teachers who gave tests on Color Day. We were too busy making our entire costume Thursday night to study. BOO to the SAT right after Color Day. We rolled up to the testing sites still seeing orange — and double.
BRAVO to the new inclusion of LACHSA in the Rio Hondo League in the Color Day assembly. BRAVO to the martyr for the First Amendment #freephoebe. BRAVO to the proliferation of Janets on Color Day. Now they’ve got eyes on every inch of the school.
TIGER
06 OCTOBER 10, 2017
OPINION
Flesh over fur: an easy choice STORY ALINA MEHDI ILLUSTRATION ISABELLA FRESCURA
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merica loves its animals. The heartwrenching commercial of orphaned pets with Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” playing in the background evokes a strong reaction from just about anybody. Society collectively agrees that any harm towards a domestic animal can never be justified or tolerated. Unfortunately, this compassionate rhetoric doesn’t extend to a larger and more significant demographic: people of color. Animals deserve to be advocated and cared for. There is nothing wrong with feeling compassion towards animals to the extent that one would feel towards a human. However, a disturbing problem arises when the plights of people of color go unrecognized relative to the attention that animal abuse is given. This disparity can be seen in the increasingly trendy vegan lifestyle. While an animal-free diet does make a significant positive impact, to proudly claim that vegan food is “crueltyfree” would be incorrect. A large amount of produce is a product of forced labor, human trafficking, and exploitation. The desire to minimize exploitation in the food industry should extend to people as well. This isn’t to say that all consumers have a moral obligation to abstain from every corrupt industry, though this would be ideal. However, when comparing the two, the exploitation of farm workers is hardly recognized. This likely stems from the fact that most abused workers are people of
color from poor countries, and veganism has been a historically white movement. Unfortunately, the discrepancy between caring for animals versus people extends to serious issues like police brutality. In these instances it becomes very clear that while white people are altogether against domestic animal abuse, they are divided in civil rights matters. Essentially, to accumulate white support against police brutality, a video of a police officer shooting a dog would be more effective than a horrifying video of an unarmed black man being killed. This imbalance of reactions cannot be attributed to the distinction that animals are completely innocent, while humans supposedly aren’t. This notion is inherently part of the problem. The inability to see certain people as innocent, namely black people, is the root of the whole issue. Numerous police brutality cases with an obviously innocent victim will never receive the same outrage as one involving a pet. A country that can wholly unite against any domestic animal abuse, but is divided by an obviously unjustified killing of a black man, implies deep systemic issues. Defending animal rights is a necessary and worthy cause. However, defending the lives of people of color is significantly more crucial. Though one can ethically tackle both issues, the life of a human must be recognized as more significant.
ELD program: linguistic segregation CONTRIBUTED BY HARRY HUANG ILLUSTRATION FINLEY MULLEN When I moved to South Pasadena, I was immediately placed into English Language Development (ELD) 2, which meant I had two periods of ELD and could not take a standard English course. I was frustrated because I had to learn simple vocabulary that I had already learned in China while other students in standard English classes were able to discuss literature, movies or current events. ELD promotes a new form of segregation: linguistic segregation. The system segregates English Language Learners (ELLs) from the rest of the student body. I was denied the opportunity to take Honors World History and Honors English in 10th grade because I was put into the ELD program again. I was upset for awhile, and felt like I was going to waste my sophomore year not being able to challenge myself or learn things that I really wanted to learn. Fortunately, I was able to test out of the program in the beginning of sophomore year and eventually, I got all the classes I wanted. However, many students are not as lucky as I was, and get stuck in ELD because they could not pass the examination. ELD students have difficulty improving their English fluency because learning a language is all about talking and listening. If these students are isolated and schools do not push them out
of their comfort zone, how can they be expected to progress and become more fluent English speakers? My friends who were stuck in the program have complained that the class sometimes feels like a computer class: students just take a laptop and do nothing. If this program was designed to help English Language Learners, they should be able to take standard classes like everyone else whenever they feel ready. English and history are the two courses where students are encouraged to discuss and express their ideas, and when ELLs are not able to participate, their opportunity to engage with native English speakers is limited. ELLs cannot take regular English unless they get to ELD 4 (the highest level of ELD courses) and ELD classes does not count towards English credit. Therefore, many ELL students eventually give up because they need four years of English classes to graduate. The ELD program should be abolished because it does not properly help ELL students. Students who are stuck in the ELD program are often less confident because they feel segregated, when in reality they should be immersed in the language and culture. The only practical proposal is to abolish the ELD program, and push ELLs out of their comfort zone so that they can actually become fluent English speakers, or at the least, give them the option to do so.
ON BEING DRAMELIA | AMELIA ANTHONY
A very South Pas Halloween October is the best month of the year. It opens with my birthday and closes with Halloween, and high school brought Color Day to spice up the middle weeks. These events require several sleepovers, collaboration with friends for party planning and costume design, and more money than I’m ever willing to spend. My mom always insists Halloween is her least favorite holiday. I think some of it comes from bitterness since we live in The Hills, averaging about three trickor-treaters every year. The one time we left a bowl of candy outside we came back to no bowl and no candy.
My mom brings this up every year, as if we should hold a vigil in memory of our bowl. Maybe then she could move on. When I was little, we used to hit every house on Indiana. About half were what my sister and I referred to as “duds” after waiting for thirty seconds. The other half had people dumping their entire bowls in our pillowcases, making jokes about how they can’t have their husband eating the leftover candy because it’s bad for his blood pressure. When we returned back home I doubled my candy stash, convincing Katherine she didn’t like caramel, nougat, or peanut candy.
These fond memories continued into high school, when I switched from trick-or-treating to the haunted house on Fremont to my friends’ Halloween Parties. The three-day Halloweekend will be missed this year for my last South Pas Halloween. Although I’m not big on nostalgia, especially for abstract things like The City I Live In, I can imagine myself feeling a little sentimental remembering the Diamond Street decorations, the groans from my mom as October 31st rolls around, and the missing candy bowl. The best month of the year will be different without SP.
TIGER 07 OCTOBER 10, 2017
OPINION
A breeding ground for hate STORY DOMINIC MARZIALI & PETER WANG ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG GRAPHIC ASHTON CARLESS
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ith each passing month, parts of internet culture seem to descend further into the dehumanizing trap of “toxicity.” Toxic communities spawn ideologies that thrive because social platforms inadvertently promote toxic behavior and hate speech. The nature of social platforms allows toxic communities to spread hateful ideas, particularly to children. In the weeks leading up to the attack in Charlottesville, neo-Nazis made public attempts to recruit young adults and millennials on Discord, an online messaging app. Discord developers made the decision to close the server where Alt-Right activists congregated and banned individual members, a method that has proven itself an effective way of disrupting toxic users and communities. While Discord makes a point of removing toxicity, other platforms turn a blind eye. Reddit, which hosts thousands of online communities, called subreddits, is difficult for employees to moderate because of the sheer number of subreddits. These subreddits provide a place for toxic groups to gather and create their own rules. Reddit trusts moderators appointed by the leaders of subreddits to uphold site-wide rules, who often fail to do so in toxic communities. Content creators and people who have built up large internet fandoms hold immense power
to influence the opinions and behaviors of others. Jake Paul—who has ten million YouTube subscribers—has negatively affected his real life neighbors as he gives out his address to fans. His neighbors described the scene as a “war zone”. Since children are prone to replicating the behavior of those they look up to, fan bases grow increasingly hateful if their leaders do not promote emotional maturity. Toxic creators like Jake Paul produce immature content that encourages this toxicity in younger children who constitute a large part of their fanbases. Children who are submerged in toxic communities are susceptible to personal or emotional attacks, and may also regurgitate hateful speech online or in real life. So how can the average internet user combat toxicity? Their best weapon is to be aware of toxicity in their current environment and avoiding it. A 2012 study by Riot Games found “average people having a bad day” to be the source of 95% of toxicity online. Everyone should think before they post or respond; often a person who reacts negatively to a toxic comment does so because that comment has ‘hit home’ and they act based off emotions alone. We must not succumb to reactionary outbursts, and instead confront toxic rhetoric with understanding, rationality, and empathy.
Focusing on the issues that matter
When science enters the limelight, the line between politics and information is often blurred
STORY LUKE QUEZADA ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS Hurricane Harvey caused devastation to thousands, yet media coverage focused on the partisan debate over global warming. News stations chose sides: the believers and the deniers. Conservatives were branded as climate change deniers, liberals as embracers of the impending doom. In all the talk of climate change however, there was little mention of more immediate threats. Sadly, this has proved to be representative of how many issues are covered by the media today. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma proved the power of the media in hurricane coverage. Trump’s repeal of infrastructure standards—which was actually put in place by the Obama administration to ensure flood protection—was heavily publicized as a sign of climate change denial. The Trump administration claimed that this action aimed to boost relief efforts and establish protection before the next large storm. Regardless of which political party is correct or what the Trump administration’s views on climate change are, the more important issues lie in the people that lost their lives, their families, their homes and everything else they had. This focus on politics above all else does not exclusively affect environmental science, and conservatives are not the only ones at fault. Recently, Stanford University published a scientific paper which determined that “deep neural networks” — the basis of artificial intelligence — can accurately identify the sexualtity of a person based on facial features. Consequently, questions arose about possible security threats facing the LGBT community at the hands of literal “gaydars.” Forceful outings and inquisitions into the personal lives of individuals are all legitimate threats. This has lead LGBT rights organizations including GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign to call for Stanford to
expose the paper as misleading and flawed. The director of education for the HRC also stated that Stanford should distance itself from such “junk science.” While there are legitimate concerns about the implications of this study, the way to combat negative connotations and possible dangers of these findings is not to denounce the paper, it is to open communications and openly discuss concerns. Dismissing science as untrue will not change reality and it certainly will not fix the issues science brings to light. Focusing on only one side of an argument will not resolve the issue presented. The only way to create change is to develop solutions which acknowledge the issues which we often times would rather not face. For “deniers,” this means putting aside reservations regarding climate change and working towards progress on solving known issues rooted in climate change such as rising sea levels and degrading ecosystems, even if one does not regard it as climate change. For those opposed to the Stanford University study, this means accepting that this is a scientific paper. Providing feedback to improve upon the study or working towards creating safeguards for potential issues which may stem from this technology is more productive than denouncing it as illegitimate. For members of every party and political background, this means focusing on more immediate threats, placing party lines aside, and coming together in times of need.
DISMISSING SCIENCE AS UNTRUE WILL NOT CHANGE REALITY ”
TIGER
08 OCTOBER 10, 2017
TIGER 09 OCTOBER 1O, 2017
COLOR DAY
South Pasadena’s
THE CLASS OF 2018 cram onto the Tiger Patio to pose for the annual senior class Color Day photo.
79TH ANNUAL
CELEBRATION OF SPIRIT
DANCING FOR THE CROWD Commissioner of Assemblies Anders Keith shakes it out as students filter in for the assembly.
STRENGTH AND MIGHT was not enough for the juniors as they struggle to keep their footing in the annual tug-of-war competition.
TIGER O’S Seniors Alana Ballagh and Marta Jerebets claim second place for their “Tiger O’s” costume.
STORY ISABELLA TSAI PAGE TRUMAN LESAK PHOTOS THOMAS FORMAN, HELENA FU, RICHARD GOMEZ, BRANDON YUNG
S
outh Pas students and staff donned lively orange and black attire for the school’s annual Color Day celebration. The day kicked off with a costume contest, where students paraded before judges in their creative garb. Continuing the festivities, the whole school gathered in the gym for the assembly, led by Commissioner of Assemblies senior Anders Keith. Keith continued his style of live skits, leading ASB members in an act poking fun at other local high schools such as La Cañada, Monrovia, and rival San Marino. The assembly culminated with the announcement of the Homecoming theme: “A Spooktacular Halloweek,” which will take place the week of October 30.
SPINNING TO THE TOP Seniors Henry Main and Brandon Vaughan demonstrate their rotating fidget spinner costumes. THREE WILD MAGIKARPS Appear: seniors David Choi, Ken Koyama/Josh Ng, and Kyle Woo display their Magikarp costumes near the Tiger Patio.
THE TRIAD of Principals Janet Anderson, Janet Wichman, and David Speck show off their handmade gokart costumes
BATTLE OF THE GRADES The sophomores defeated the juniors in tug-of-war, only to later lose to the seniors in the final round.
HOMECOMING NOMINEES ANNOUNCED Senior nominees from left to right. Top: Madison Saito, James Ye, Halle Sunabe, Riley Segal, Cole Cahill, Becky Seo, Kate Ba. Bottom: Nolan Kim, Natalie Terhune, David Seo, Jahzerah Cheng. Not pictured: Will Hoadley-Brill.
TIGER
10 OCTOBER 10, 2017
FEATURE
FEATURE
PARKS AND WRECKED SAMMY PARK
Calling in call-out culture If you have ever had more than a ten minute conversation with me, you know that I love drama. During Chopped, my favorite moments are when competitors panic over poultry. When I watch TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress, my favorite “characters” are petty aunts, jealous sisters, and overly-critical mothers. To say I thrive off of drama would be the understatement of the year. After I hear a saucy secret, my skin is suddenly clear of acne, my hair somehow glossier, my eyesight 20/20. Even though I somewhat have the reputation of being a pacifist, I have a secret: I love call-out culture—the hypervisible criticism of a notable figure for problematic behavior. For me, there is nothing more dramatic than watching someone being called out for being toxic. From XXXTentacion to Lena Dunham, no one has been left unscathed by the rabid online community of keyboard activists.
DELIGHTED CUSTOMERS are graciously served by Yuca’s servers in its tiny but cozy window front.
Yuca’s serves authentic Yucatán cuisine to LA The eatery has a commitment to maintain traditional Yucatán flavor STORY ELIZABETH BOCK PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE
Y
uca’s is virtually invisible from the street. If you’re like most teens and are looking for a liquor store, then you can find Yuca’s just next door. But, if you’re just searching for some good ol’ Mexican food, it’s near impossible to spot this singular window front. If you don’t look carefully—or use Google Maps—you will definitely miss it. Although the restaurant was originally located in Los Feliz, popularity prompted the owners, the Herrera family, to bring a second location to Pasadena. The food originates from the Mexican state of Yucatán, hence the name “Yuca’s.” The restaurant is especially known for its cochinita pibil, carnitas, and carne asada. Its famous key ingredients, such as achiote, are sourced directly from Yucatán. The Herrera’s signature spice usage has gathered the beloved taco joint increased attention. The Herreras have kept the restaurant open since 1976, and it has gained both fame and critical acclaim over the years. Yuca’s success was affirmed by a prestigious James Beard Award in 2005, and it won Los Angeles’ “Taco Madness” competition in 2009. These awards highlight the cozy quality that is prominent in all the Herrera’s food. Yuca’s is rightfully praised by the public and media. The food, while on the greasier side, is well-balanced in all other aspects. It is reasonably spicy, but not completely overwhelming. The flavors are bright and tastefully combined. Since every dish tastes home cooked, the combination of this with the atmosphere at Yuca’s is reminiscent
Out & About
of a Mexican grandmother’s family cooking. It’s not one of those hipster joints where you go to find “lavender and pistachio carne asada,” but it introduces a different side of Mexican flavor in a way that many Angelenos may not be accustomed to. It’s the perfect balance of uniqueness and tradition. This balance is especially prevalent in one of Yuca’s most famous dishes, the cochinita pibil. The dish is famous for its melt-in-your-mouth Yucatán spiced pork. Wrapped securely in a firm tortilla, the salty meat and beans paired with the Herrera’s tangy and savory “special” salsa make for a killer combo. It was dubbed as one of the best burritos in Los Angeles by the LA Eater, and truly lives up to the accolade. The menu attempts to present other options for vegetarians, but is rather lacking in diversity. The traditional, protein-heavy, Mexican dishes are only interrupted by the burger. While it is the cheapest and least traditional option, this does not take away from its quality. It was praised by LA Weekly as one of the best burgers in the Los Angeles area, rightfully so. Yuca’s is an easy fix for those looking for good food and friendly service. The home cooked nature as well as the quality of the dishes will tantalize you into going back for more. One tip: try to spot the Herrera’s famous white truck with the license plate reading “YUCA’S”—follow it and it might just lead you exactly where you want to go.
I am aware that some think call-out culture is destructive. Receivers of criticism are often seen as victims of overzealous political correctness. But I find it a valid vehicle for social justice. No, I am not an advocate for cyber-bullying, but the sentiment that a celebrity or anyone of notability can be “cancelled” for their problematic beliefs is a sentiment I stand behind. Unlike the stereotypical Internet roasting culture, calling out problematic celebrities or other notable people has a more noble purpose than making fun of someone’s looks or outfits. Call-out culture serves to educate people about crucial social issues while also being entertaining. By lowering our society’s threshold for problematic behavior and speech, call-out culture serves an important role in social media activism. Social media activism has lead to a popular culture focused on inclusion, rather than the latest offensive trend (e.g. Gwen Stefani’s mid-2000s faze of using Asians as props). During our parents’ youth, people and organizations were not able to be held accountable (at this scale) for their racist, sexist, or otherwise problematic words or behavior by far less notable or influential people. If not for social media, we would be still be listening to Iggy Azalea and going to SeaWorld. In a world where our elected officials can admit to sexual assault to a D- celebrity and call women they disagree with “nasty,” it is liberating to see a microcosm in which actions have consequences. Even if the action may not seem blatantly racist, sexist, or problematic and the consequences are just issuing a half hearted apology, companies and people that make major faux pas now know better. So yeah, I love drama. I constantly ask people in the middle of conversations who, what, where, and why. But call-out culture serves more than my need to know everything about everyone. It serves to collectively raise our consciousness. And because of that, I am able to feel guilt-free when people call Tomi Lahren, Tony Laryngitis.
1075 S. Fair Oaks Ave. Pasadena, CA
Tiger’s take on local eats and acitivities. Take one of our suggestions for a weekend adventure.
STORY ELIZABETH BOCK
FOOD Hit up TOWN Pizza at the corner of York Boulevard and Avenue 51 in Highland Parkfor classic hipster vegan-ness. Every sacred crumb is another cow saved.
FUN Evil Twin Studios is producing another haunted house this Halloween season. Check out Fremont Centre Theatre for a sinister time. It opens October 18 and will run until early November. Stop by for some quality spook.
ART The Norton Simon Museum provides free entry to SPHS students with ID. Their special exhibit, “R.I.P. On Art and Mourning” will run until November 27. The gallery will feature several pieces to show how grieving is different in every culture and around the world.
TIGER OCTOBER 10, 2017
FEATURE
11
PERSONALITY PROFILES VICTORIA VENARDI
How she rose to the top of California’s SkillsUSA program
STORY AMELIA ANTHONY PHOTO OWEN GILES Interviewing Victoria Venardi was easy. She is poised, passionate, and has been trained on how to explain herself to people much more intimidating than me. Victoria credits most of this professionalism to her position as SkillsUSA’s current High School President of California, the highest office within the statewide program. Victoria is an only child in a split-custody household, so she excitedly anticipated her stepniece’s birth last April. Growing up without siblings pushed her to mature quickly and to act as her own advocate. The high standards and goals she has set for herself come from within; she is both self-motivated and successful inside and out of the classroom. Victoria enrolled in the Entrepreneurship CTE class freshman year and began working with SkillsUSA almost immediately. She was more or less a pioneer—at the time of her initial involvement, the club had only been on campus for two years. She competed in the “Outstanding Chapter” competition, winning first place in regionals and state. She advanced to the national competition held in Louisville, Kentucky and placed seventh. In her junior year, she implemented these recognized leadership and financial skills while serving as treasurer of the SkillsUSA club on campus. This successful leadership endeavor pushed her to seek a statewide position. She credits Ms Mason and Ms Matson-Fennel for pushing her to run for High School President of the 2200-person program. Since her election in June, she has already traveled back to Louisville to win another top-ten victory for the “Outstanding Chapter” competition. Two weeks ago, she went to Washington, DC to participate in a leadership conference alongside presidents from other states. There, she spoke with Senate staff to advocate for the importance of CTE classes. Since freshman year, Victoria has also been an integral member of varsity softball’s outfield. Teammates relied on her consistent performance and encouragement through some tougher seasons. She jokes that she “peaked in eighth grade” after her Little League AllStar team reached the statewide tournament, but her performance hasn’t wavered since. Unfortunately, SkillsUSA will overshadow Victoria’s involvement in softball this year. Victoria embodies the success of Career Technical Education (CTE) classes. Like most high school students, she is unsure what exactly she plans to study. However, the skills she learned within the CTE program readied her for a variety of fields, including the possibilities Venardi named herself: STEM or business. She looks forward to attending college next fall and SPHS will remember the high bar she set within the CTE programs.
A WOMAN OF MANY TRADES, senior Victoria Venardishines from SkillsUSA to softball.
SHAK TSOGTGEREL Spreading joy through languages
STORY BRANDON YUNG PHOTO RICHARD GOMEZ Shak. Not Shaq. Although he does like to ball out, it’s just a coincidence. People on campus affectionately greet him with his name and often a friendly fist bump. As the easy-going person he is, Shak knows how to respond to teachers when they first read his full name, Sharav-Ish Tsogtgerel. “It’s just Shak.” But high school at South Pasadena wasn’t always this easy. Shak came to South Pasadena in his freshman year, a drastic change from his life growing up in Mongolia. He had to learn English by himself: unlike other ELL students, he was the only one on campus who spoke Mongolian. School proved to be nearly impossible without English proficiency, but with the help of language courses and sheer perseverance, Shak jumped to fluency that same year. Altruistic teachers proved to be the most helpful resources he had. In Mr. Enright’s drama class, Shak would memorize entire monologues, often without understanding their meaning, and perform them. Drama, and the emotional interpretation of spoken language, proved to be crucial as a universal means of expression. Former English teacher Ms Donna Tucker also spent time giving him extra work after school to help push him to the point where he could keep up with peers. However, this wasn’t an entirely new experience—a proficiency for language learning is something Shak already had.
AN AVID SPORTS FAN, Shak’s similarity to Shaq, the famous basketball player is merely a coincidence.
Living in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital city, Shak learned Mandarin at a
young age with the help of Chinese romance films and vacations spent in Shanghai. Mongolia’s mix of cultural influences─Russia to the north and China to the south─made an environment where cultural understanding and multilingualism is necessary. In the U.S., however, Shak has found that the same couldn’t be said, especially for an understanding of his culture. Shak recalls the normalized practice of hitting students in Mongolia, a taboo in modern American education. Over one weekend in third grade, Shak recalled that he didn’t show up to class with his homework completed. He was hit with a ruler, a painful reminder of the country’s strict socialist past developed in the shadow of two of the largest communist powers in the world. Shak is more nostalgic for other aspects of life back in Mongolia: “I miss my friends there so much. I’ll skype them whenever I can.” Today, Shak finds the transition from Ulaanbaatar to South Pasadena a natural one. On one wrist, he sports an Apple Watch, appealing for both its utility and bling. Shak’s other wrist is adorned with a traditional Mongolian copper bracelet. Copper is a crucial economic resource in Mongolia, and is is regarded for its health benefit. Above all, however, it is a talisman of a connection with his family, in which everyone wears one. Shak is fiercely proud of his Mongolian ancestry and culture. “It’s all about fighting your way to making it,” Shak says. Every Saturday morning, you can find him on the basketball courts at Roosevelt Field, finessing the ball with a flare that, in subtle ways, applies to everything in his life.
TIGER
12 OCTOBER 10, 2017
FEATURE
Blade Runner 2049 respects its predecessor BLADE RUNNER 2049 director genre rating run time
Dennis Villeneuve Science Fiction R 1 hr 57 mins
STORY DASHIEL BOVE & BEN CLARK ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner was released in 1982 to modest returns, but has grown over time to become one of the most acclaimed science fiction movies of the twentieth century. For years, its beautiful industrial wasteland aesthetic and fascinating characters have captivated audiences, leaving them wanting to see more of the cyberpunk world that it created. These dreams have become a reality with Blade Runner 2049, a film that, while losing some of the magic of the original, is an amazing experience in its own right. The story of Blade Runner 2049 picks up 30 years after its predecessor. Replicants, which are sentient androids, are still hunted down and “retired” by Blade Runners— police officers trained to hunt rogue replicants—but a new entrepreneur, Niander Wallace (Jared Leto) has developed a line of obedient replicants. One of such replicants, Officer “K” (Ryan Gosling), discovers a conspiracy involving replicant technology and is thrown into a perilous tangle of hidden secrets, all of which lead back to former Blade Runner, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who vanished thirty years ago. As with the original, the cinematography of 2049 is a
sight to behold. The vibrant colors of Downtown Los Angeles strike a contrast with the lonely grey expanse of the city’s outskirts, and again contrast with the orange wasteland of Las Vegas. Through an excellent use of color and symmetry, the audience is brought headfirst into both the world and the characters of Blade Runner. All of this is captured by an expertly controlled camera that slides, glides, and cuts with excellent precision. Each shot is a handcrafted piece of symmetry that is both visually stunning and emotionally compelling. All of this is captured by an expertly controlled camera that slides, glides, and cuts with expert precision. Where 2049 stumbles is its storytelling. The end of the movie branches in far too many directions, hastily creating loose ends in what could be regarded as a ploy to
create a sequel. The time spent introducing unnecessary elements to the story could have been better applied to fleshing out some of the film’s principal antagonists. The character depth that made Blade Runner’s main villain so interesting is not present in Niander Wallace. Jared Leto has far too little screen time to give his character the vivacity of a memorable antagonist. However, Leto is well balanced by a downright terrifying and awe-striking performance by Sylvia Hoeks as the replicant Luv. In spite of its messy ending and weak villain, Blade Runner 2049 is an excellent film that presents a beautiful and deeply impactful follow up to the 1982 original. In a world where sequels are so often dominated by tried and true blockbuster elements, it is refreshing to know that franchise films can still be innovative.
Sugarmynt Gallery hosts Halloween art show STORY SOFIE DRESKIN PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE
T
he Sugarmynt gallery opened its annual Halloween show, “Welcome to Haddonfield II” on Saturday, September 17 providing a fresh change from South Pasadena’s typically quiet nightlife. The gallery’s eye-catching and colorful exterior drew the attention of young people looking to enjoy an evening of themed art. Replacing the Family Fair candy store and gift shop, the family-owned gallery opened up two years ago and features themed exhibitions of different art mediums. The gallery also hosts the popular “Paint and Pinot” art class twice a week. “Welcome to Haddonfield II” is its third and most popular Halloween show since the gallery was opened. The usually quaint Sugarmynt house was surrounded by booming music and costumed guests for the opening of the art exhibition. Cobwebs and pumpkin lanterns hung along the balcony and black and orange snacks covered the tables bringing South Pasadena a classic Halloween theme a few weeks early. The house transformed into a spooky setting featuring different portions of the exhibit in the four rooms. Men clad in costumes of the classic Halloween killer, Michael Myers, wandered the scene and took photos with the guests. Dressed in extravagant costumes and dark colors, patrons drifted through the space and enjoyed the seasonal music being played on the patio.
SUGARMYNT GALLERY attracts crowds all season long with Michael Myers themed art.
Located next to the original house from the 1978 movie Halloween, and walking distance from many of the other iconic filming locations, the
gallery was packed with a young audience enjoying the new change to Meridian Avenue. Gallery owner SaraRose Orlandini wanted to highlight the movie’s iconic influence on South Pasadena by featuring art based on the film. Headlining artist Chet Zar showcased his ominous paintings at the exhibition. His depiction of Michael Myers demonstrated a sinister and creepy vibe. He specializes in “ugly and freakish” figures on canvas with oil paints. Zar is well known for his work in other mediums, having done the prosthetic effects for movies such as The Ring, Planet of the Apes, and Darkman. Numerous examples of his work were shown and Orlandini expressed her excitement that Zar was a part of the show. “[ZAR] IS HUGE IN THE HORROR WORLD. IT IS FANTASTIC HAVING HIM AS OUR HEADLINING ARTIST.”
The gallery showcased concept art from the film Hocus Pocus and black-and-white behind-thescenes photography from Halloween, alongside fan art from a variety of artists. An entire room of the show was dedicated to art only depicting Michael Myers. The exhibition “Welcome to Haddonfield II” will remain at the Sugarmynt Gallery until October 31. 810 Meridian Ave., South Pasadena, CA Phone: (626) 222-7257
TIGER 13 OCTOBER 9, 2017
FEATURE
TAAGLAA: Bronson Cave Hike TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA A BIRD PERCHES at the opening of the main cave as Kate, Elaine, and Alicia look on. STORY & PHOTO LUKE QUEZADA
O
ne day while sitting in room 615, Elaine Yang mentioned that she’d never really explored the greater Los Angeles area. As Angelenos, we felt obligated to save her from her sheltered existence and set out to give Elaine some authentic Los Angeles experiences, trading the shaded streets of South Pasadena for the wide open trails of Griffith Park. Kate, Elaine, Alicia, and I set out to find the Bronson Caves. The looming caverns were created by the Union Rock Company in 1903 for the extraction of minerals. Since then, the space has been a popular filming location, appearing most famously in Batman (1966) as the Bat Cave. The spot is open to the public via a 0.3 mile hiking trail available from Canyon Road.
THE BATMAN CAVE has become a popular hiking and filming location since its appearance in the 1966 film.
The elevation gain on the Cave trail is only 50 feet, but after about three minutes all of us were thoroughly exhausted. Rounding a corner, we spotted the entrance to the first chamber, which then led to three smaller caverns that split off at the other end of the mountain. We marched through, and were greeted by spirals of stacked rocks that Kate attributed to a séance. Elaine took advantage of the of the spectacular view of the Hollywood sign, using the view to take typical touristy pictures. Numerous hikers, walkers, and visitors walked around the mountain and explored inside the tunnels. The shady side on the far side of the formation is perfect for picnics and mid-hike snacks. Although we may have complained about the walk at times, the trail is a relatively flat gradual slope up the hill.
After over an hour of trekking uphill, we finally decided cut our outing short and turn back. We headed down the trail to Beachwood Canyon, consulting Google Maps along the way. After meeting a dead end, we realized we had clearly missed an exit. With Maps at our disposal and hunger motivating us, we decided to venture down the alternate steep hill side trail in an effort to get to the road below. After some treacherous stumbles, we were finally on the side street. We confidently strutted towards the main road, our progress only to be hindered by a fence. Unbeknownst to us, a “No trespassing” sign had been spray painted over at the head of this sketchy little trail. We considered our options. To our right: a utility road littered with warnings against trespassing. To our left: yet another illegitimate dirt path. Relying on Google Maps once again, we followed the path to another very steep, very unstable dead end. After a solid half hour of backtracking, stumbling, and several expletives, our tetrad finally arrived at the top of the canyon. Dirty, hungry, and thoroughly scared about accidentally trespassing, we headed back to South Pasadena with a newfound experience and an appreciation for clearly marked trails. If you decide to embark on this particular trail (or really any hike), make sure to stick to the real trails and try to lay off Google Maps. Otherwise, you might just end up on an unmarked trail in the middle of nowhere. 3200 Canyon Dr., Los Angeles, CA
TIGER
14 OCTOBER 10, 2017
SPORTS
EARLY RANKINGS A LOOK INTO THE 2017 FALL SEASON
STORY NOAH PARKER, ALEX BETTS, & PRESTON SHARKEY GRAPHICS TRUMAN LESAK Cross country is continuing its dominanation of the Rio Hondo League with the boys’ and girls’ squads placing first and second in the league opener, respectively. Senior Oliver Chang finished first of the forty boys’ varsity runners with a time of 16:13, while junior Kai Dettman and sophomore Sam Clark followed closely in fourth and fifth place. The boys’ squad had an average individual time of 16:40, finishing two minutes ahead Temple City. The girls’ team concluded the meet with an average individual time of 20:40. Senior Maddy Engelsman led the way with a 12th place finish, running a time of 2016. Outside of league, cross country competed in the Staub-Barnes and Clovis Invitational, where they demonstrated exceptional talent.
After a rocky preseason, boys’ water polo found its groove against league opponents, crushing Blair 22-0 before overwhelming San Marino 8-5. The squad, a dangerous combination of talented youth and experienced players, has a powerful offense and a smart, well-coached defense. Senior captain Jasper Lee commands the offense, often connecting passes to freshmen attacking sensations Dominic Kline and Eddie LaneFlanigan on the flanks. Despite their skill, the Tigers stumbled against Temple City, where they lost 7-6 in a tightly contested overtime matchup. The Tigers reasserted their offensive prowess against Monrovia with a 13-8 victory. If the Tigers can continue to create separation from opposing defenders, their offensive talents should shine, and their defense should carry them to a league title and CIF bid.
After suffering an early preseason loss to La Cañada, girls’ golf has rebounded with consecutive wins over Webb and Alhambra. Senior captains Bethany Chen and Nicole Srisutham have consistently delivered excellent scores (midhigh 30s), and sophomores Victoria Tskvitichvili and Lindsey Biggar have emerged as key contributors to the squad. Despite the immense talent, the Tigers were unable to beat Gabrielino on Tuesday, October 4. The defeat, a difference of seven strokes (211-204), breaks South Pas’ seven year undefeated league run. The squad responded with another commanding victory against Webb, reestablishing its place as a league championship and CIF contender.
The Tigers enter league play this year with a strong non-league record, going 4-2. Playing a relatively soft schedule, South Pas dominated the competition in preseason with blowout wins over Duarte and Riverside Prep. Led by senior running back Jackson Totleben, the Tiger offense is averaging over 27 points a game. On the other side of the ball, South Pas’ defense is holding opponents to just an average of 15 points a game. The opportunistic secondary is led by senior defensive back, Thomas Avila, who has accounted for four interceptions this year. A 49-10 opening league loss to Monrovia is disappointing, and does not bode well for the remainder of the season, in which South Pas will play the powerful San Marino Titans and mediocre La Cañada Spartans and Temple City Rams.
Girls’ volleyball has felt the loss of many premier graduates, including Molly Feldmeth and Maddy Hirano, who served as senior captains last season and had a significant impact on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. As a result, spots have opened up for the taking, and several players have risen to the occasion. Freshman Lola Foord has emerged as a powerful hitter, tallying numerous kills each game, while freshman Lindsey Hirano is an impressive defensive player for the Tigers. Unfortunately, the height defecit and lack of experience of the team has contributed to disappointing losses against La Cañada, San Marino, and Monrovia. The five-set defeat versus San Marino - a victory would’ve put the squad in first place was especially crushing. Ultimately, the squad’s chance of attaining a CIF berth is still alive, despite the losses.
Momentum from a dominant 5-1 preseason for girls’ tennis continued into the league opener against San Marino, where the team was defeated 15-3. South Pas’ performance against the powerhouse Titan squad was an improvement from past years, with junior Shannon Huang leading the way with two wins. Huang and freshman Carissa Park maintained their impressive play in a commanding 16-2 victory over Monrovia. Unfortunately, the team stumbled versus rivals La Cañada and Temple City, losing both matches 12-6. Although its 1-2 league record suggests otherwise, girls’ tennis have performed well in its matches, and that positive trend shows no signs of slowing.
TIGER 15 OCTOBER 10, 2017
SPORTS
The art of peer judgment STORY ISABELLA TSAI PHOTOGRAPH RICHARD GOMEZ
U
nder a hot September sun, the girls’ varsity tennis team faced rival San Marino in its first league match of the season. After a few rounds of fierce rallies, a dispute regarding the score halted play on the court. The singles players, who keep track of the score mentally, couldn’t agree on who was up 5-4, leading to the tense standstill. This problem, although not too common, stems from the fact that unlike most high school sports, tennis lacks a fixture that other athletic competitions boast: referees. A typical meet may have up to six matches going on at one time, so instead of having multiple officials overseeing all plays, high school tennis has turned to player-officiated games. While this practice is cheaper for schools, it also has its shortcomings that can compromise the course of the game. In an ideal game, line calls are made by the player whose side of the court the ball lands on. If the player on the opposite side feels like a bad call has been made, they ask for a confirmation. If a player feels that two incorrect calls have been made by their opponent, they are able to request for line judges. This requires one player or team manager from each team to stand on opposite sides of the court at the net. Both line judges watch the rest of the game and make the calls together. “When you’re playing tennis there’s always a flow,” varsity co-captain junior Rachel Park said, “If you call a line judge, it just breaks that flow, and mentally, you slow down. But you kinda have to because you don’t want to get another bad call from the other player. Generally, once you call a line judge, it’s rarely the case that you actually need them.”
JUNIOR DEANNA ALS sprints laterally while anticipating the ball against Monrovia. Along with the rules, there is a certain etiquette when addressing bad calls. For example, the team at home is usually more generous to the visiting team, allowing a few bad calls before calling for a judge. Also, if the player is winning, they might let a few questionable calls go. Because of this honor-system culture, certain tennis players have acquired reputations based on the calls they make. Coming into a game, especially in league, players know who generally cheats. During the game, players ad-
vise their teammates to question their opponent if they feel that he or she makes bad calls. However, cheating is not always the intent. It can be very difficult to discern whether the ball is in or not, and players might differ on the line calls based on where they were standing and the angle at which they see the ball hit the ground. In the San Marino game’s case, the players and coaches made the decision to go back to the last score that both girls could agree on and play from there.
Boys’ water polo prevails STORY ALEX BETTS PHOTOGRAPH THOMAS FORMAN Following a tough loss to Temple City, boys’ water polo responded with a solid 13-8 victory over the Monrovia Wildcats on Thursday, October 5. Despite a few remarkable goals for the Wildcats, South Pas retained control throughout the entire game by establishing an early lead and maintaining it. The Tigers showcased their multi-faceted attack, firing cross-cage from both flanks or feeding the ball inside, where the center offender spun and launched a strike into a corner.
RISING TO SHOOT, freshman Anthony Felix eyes opposing Monrovia players.
The Tigers immediately utilized their offensive talents, rifling shots at the Monrovia goalie before freshman Dominic Kline broke through with a strike that deflected off the top left corner of the goal and in. Senior captain Jasper Lee put South Pas up 2-0 with an accurate shot to the right side of the net. Monrovia used a man advantage to cut the lead to a single goal, and the Tigers were unable to capitalize on many scoring opportunities before the period came to a close.
Early in the second quarter, senior captain Owen Carlson brilliantly faked out the Monrovia goalie before floating a saucer over his head and into the net. Moments after, freshman Eddie LaneFlanigan threw a cross-pool pass to freshman Maven Palacios, who deposited the ball in the upper left side of the goal. South Pas and Monrovia traded goals for the remainder of the first half, which finalized with a score of 6-4. The teams continued to exchange goals in the third period, with Lane-Flanigan and Kline scoring to ensure the Tigers kept the lead after Monrovia’s goals. In the latter half of the third and start of the fourth period, the Tigers asserted themselves on offense, scoring five consecutive goals. It was only after a Monrovia timeout were the Wildcats able to launch a response, but the 12-6 tally put the game far out of their reach. The game ended with a 13-8 score. Boys’ water polo will play its next league matchup versus La Cañada on October 10, 2017, at LCHS.
Analyzing football’s league opener Breaking down the Tiger offense and defense
different players recorded a rush in the game. Senior Jackson Totleben led the group with 16 carries for 30 yards.
STORY NOAH PARKER & PRESTON SHARKEY PHOTOGRAPH LUKE QUEZADA
The air attack fared better against the stout Monrovia defense, as junior quarterback Justin Huff managed to connect with senior wideout Sidney Luna-Long twice in the first quarter, including a 17 yard touchdown pass. Huff suffered an injury in the second half, leaving the game after completing four of ten passes for 73 yards.
Color day didn’t end well for the football team, with the Tigers dropping their Rio Hondo League opener to the Monrovia Wildcats by a wide margin of 49-10. Monrovia asserted their dominance in the trenches from the opening snap, capitalizing on numerous Tiger injuries. A 66 yard touchdown run on the first play, followed by a 30 yard score on the ensuing Wildcat drive, set the tone for the game in Monrovia’s favor. While neither the offensive or defensive units were hitting on all cylinders, there were bright spots for the team to build upon in both units. The offense struggled to sustain any meaningful drives throughout the game. The run game suffered from injuries to the offensive line, as senior Benny Martinez and junior Kai Arakawa were ruled out before game time. The young and inexperienced replacements were unable to create holes for South Pas’ tailbacks. However, the Tigers showed versatility on the ground, with nine
Luna-Long boasted the most total yards for the Tigers, finishing with 39 passing yards, 23 rushing yards, and 73 receiving yards. Coming into the game, the South Pas defense had allowed just 54 points in six contests. The positive trend didn’t continue into Friday, however. Junior Logan Svihovec-McCarty put forth his best effort, collecting 6.5 tackles. Special teams remained a strong point in the game, highlighted by Justin Huff’s 33 yard field goal in the first quarter. The Tigers will hope to patch up their mistakes when they travel to Temple City to take on the Rams in October 13th’s Friday night showdown.
SENIOR SIDNEY LUNA-LONG stiff arms an opposing player while running down field.
TIGER
16 OCTOBER 10, 2017
SPORTS
CROSS COUNTRY COMPETES AT THE CLOVIS INVITATIONAL STORY ALINA MEHDI Fourteen members of the cross country team attended the Clovis Invitational in Woodward Park, Fresno, on Saturday, September 7. The varsity boys placed 9th out of 36 teams with a total time of 1:23:16. The varsity girls came in 16th out of 31 teams with a total time of 1:45:16. Coming in at first place for the Tigers and 19th out of 246 racers was senior Oliver Chang with a time of 16:12.1.
In the rough, a girls’ golf player prepares stroke the ball at the Almansor Golf Course.
Dynasty Building: Golf STORY ISABELLA TSAI PHOTOGRAPH BRANDON YUNG
T
o the South Pasadena High School girls’ golf team, excellence comes easily. Not only has the team clinched the league title for seven years in a row, but up until its most recent match, it has been undefeated. South Pas is a completely dominant force in the Montview League, which has built a nearly invincible dynasty over the course of the last decade. But what exactly builds a dynasty that can remain such a formidable force towards its opponents for nearly a decade? The team stays far ahead of its opposition through a rigorous training regimen that the members themselves keep alive. For years, the girls have conducted individual training nearly every day, despite having no scheduled practices. When faced with the challenge of a sport that demands absolutely flawless technique, the girls do not even flinch. It seems that this practice has lead to its in-
vincibility. For years, girls’ golf has had a group of incredibly skilled players at its disposal, and this year is no different. The team’s constant training and unmistakable talent lead them to achieve a new combined team record of 192 last year. Despite losing several seniors from last year, the team has picked up many new athletes who share their eagerness to remain league champions. Each team member works together to utterly destroy their opponents, on occasions winning by more than 100 points. “What I admire most about my team is how hard everyone practices despite our lack of scheduled practices,” senior Bethany Chen said. The team may have recently faced its first defeat in seven years (a 211-204 loss to Gabrielino), but remains in position for the league title. Girls’ golf still holds an impressive record, and if anything is more eager to gain the league title than ever before in order to keep their dynasty alive.
Sophomore Sam Clark followed in second and 38th overall with a time of 16:28.3. Third and fourth for the Tigers were senior Alekzander Grijalva and sophomore Kai Dettman each running 16:46.2 and 16:48.0, respectively. Junior Nicolo Porcu ran a 17:01.6 and senior Ben Clark a 17:41.2. Closing out the race for the boys was senior Alexander Gallardo with a time of 17:43.9. Individually, junior Lindsey Calva placed first for the Tiger girls and 66th out of 214 girls with a time of 20:25.8. Following close behind were seniors Bailey Wu running a 20:36.8 and Maddy Engelsman running a 20:48.2. Next in the Tiger lineup were juniors Sarah Uriarte and Elizabeth Bock, each running 21:41.2 and 21:44.5, respectively. Senior Caroline Liu and sophomore Amber Pacheco ended the race with a time of 22:09.3 and 22:52.0, respectively. “Our boys did better even though the competition also did better. [This means] we don’t get a free ride and we stay fresh,” said coach Joe Soto. “We got a chance to challenge ourselves and see what we’re like against other competition. Our league is great but it was nice to get out [and race] with some other folks.” The Tigers will run their second league meet this Wednesday, October 11 at Crescenta Valley
Girls’ volleyball falters against Monrovia STORY SOFIE DRESKIN & ALEX BETTS GRAPHIC FINLEY MULLEN
PR
Girls’ volleyball suffered a tough, three-set loss to Monrovia on Thursday, October 5, losing with scores of 26-24, 25-16, and 25-19. Monrovia consistently attacked South Pas in the corners throughout the game and the Tigers couldn’t make effective adjustments. The loss, which drops the Tigers league record to 2-3, significantly diminishes South Pas’ chance of a CIF berth. Early in the first set, freshman Lola Foord hammered several kills from the right side. South Pas established an early lead and sustained the advantage throughout the set. The Wildcats countered with strategic net play, dismantling the Tiger reception with a series of kills and tips. Junior Christina Taylor and senior Sophia Benzoni responded with blocks and kills, but Monrovia utilized its tipping skills to stay in the game. The teams were neck-and-neck for the remainder of the set, until South Pas communication errors allowed Monrovia to capitalize late in the set. The first set ended with a score of 26-24, a hard pill to swallow for the Tigers. Discouragement due to the loss of the first set manifested in the Tigers’ play in the latter sets. South Pas struggled to communicate sufficiently and play in sync, resulting in an inability to finish off plays. Foord and senior Maddie Saito each tallied multiple kills in the second set in a
GRESS IN LEAGUE DATE
OPPONENT
SCORE
9/26
Blair
3-0(W )
9/28
Temple City
3-0(W )
10/3
San Marino
3-2(L)
10/5
Monrovia
3-0(L)
comeback. Unfortunately, Monrovia adjusted its tactics and dug out potential South Pas kills, maintaining the rally. The Wildcats took advantage of additional South Pas defensive issues, taking the set with a 25-16 score. The third set was tight, as Monrovia serving errors and more kills from Foord enabled the Tigers to gain an early lead. As the game progressed, the roles switched, and South Pas faltered in their movement. The adept
combination of Saito and Foord at the net couldn’t compensate for the Monrovia attack, resulting in a 25-19 score. “We fixed a lot of the previous mistakes from the past games,” said junior Kimberly Brown. Girls’ volleyball will play La Cañada in a must-win game at home on Tuesday, October 10.
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