Tiger Newspaper September 2017

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

VOLUME 104 ISSUE I SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

SAC assembly opens new school year Commissioner Anders Keith welcomes in new age of assemblies STORY ISABELLA TSAI PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE

S

PHS began a new era of assemblies with Commissioner Anders Keith at the helm of the SAC Assembly on Friday, August 25. Keith drew from his background in musical theater, adding new aspects to the assembly which is traditionally intended to promote school spirit and encourage students to purchase a Student Activities Card (SAC).

After welcoming everyone into the new school year, Keith enlisted ASB members in a live skit promoting the Icebreaker Dance, breaking away from the customary promotional videos. Commissioner of School and Communities Ben Elbaum played a doctor, deeming SPHS students as being “too popular” or “too hot,” the only cure being attending the Icebreaker Dance. A second sketch, entitled the “SAC-HELOR,” was a spoof of the Bachelor with Junior Class President Abbie Lukavsky and Freshman Class Treasurer Oliver Lee competing for the heart of the SAC Card.

Between acts, Principal Janet Anderson took to the stage to welcome students into the new year. She also introduced several of the new administrative faces on campus. Anderson was joined on stage by Janet Wichman, who has stepped into the role of Assistant

Principal of Curriculum, Instruction and Guidance and David Speck, the new Assistant Principal of Student Services.

[The assembly] was really fun, interesting, and it was entertaining,” freshman Meagan Chang said, “Usually, SPMS assemblies are specifically about certain events with speakers, but this assembly was more student-involved.”

Throughout the assembly, Keith showed off his vocal talent, turning the long-established practice of role call into a song. Crooning advice like “don’t pet the drug dogs,” Keith solicited strong audience reaction throughout the number. His fresh take on conventional assemblies was met with positive responses from the audience, and he plans to continue to evolve his style over the next year.

“I intend to make this year’s assemblies very sketch based. I also would like to implement a Q&A segment and an advice section,” Keith said. “I basically will be throwing as many crazy ideas as possible against the wall and seeing what sticks, so get ready for some oddball stuff.”

A TIGER RETURN

DEATH NOTE

FILMGATE

Shine Cho, former Tiger Editor-in-Chief, wrote about issues around town for years.

Now, she tells her story of being a ‘DREAMer’

Read staff writer Dashiel Bove’ s scathing review of the new Netflix original movie: Death Note

Follow a compelling recollection of the scandal which eliminated South Pas football from CIF contention.

Page #6

Page #12

Page #15

IN THE NEWS

Hopeful seniors will be attending tryouts tomorrow for the 2018 Rose Court.

Challenge Success will come to SPHS next Friday to improve campus culture.

TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM

Library staff will host the Tiger Reads assembly today, speaking on new reading.

TIGER

02 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

NEWS

NEWS Internship program hosts its first seasonal workshop STORY SAMMY PARK SPHS’ Internship rogram held its first compulsory workshop Tuesday, September 5 in the Career Counseling Center. The workshop, led by Career Technical Education Specialist Andrea Fox, taught students about personal branding and first impressions.

The two workshops are part of the Internship program, which is heading into its second year.

Led by Ms. Fox, local businesses evaluate students, finishing with a pass/fail grade.

Throughout the workshop, students were taught the impact of teamwork, workplace enthusiasm, and communications skills. Ms. Fox also advised attendees to search for themselves online as a lesson in monitoring what they posted on social media.

During a particular game stressing teamwork, students were split into groups and had to build the tallest structure they could out of marshmallows and uncooked pasta.

In the program’s progression, it has partnered with over 20 businesses based in or around South Pasadena. During this summer, it was offered as a SPEF supported class.

On Thursday, September 7, the group held a second workshop at the Career Counseling Center focusing around the job interview process. Ms. Fox taught students how to format and write a resumé, how to stand out from other applicants, and the basis of making a first impression. Students also watched a video on how to make resumes more appealing to employers.

The Internship program is available to all juniors and seniors. Students who are selected by businesses will be required to spend 60 hours per semester working under professional guidance.

SPHS students who have attended both training workshops will be applying for internships soon.

INTERNS BECOME MORE CONNECTED TO SOUTH PASADENA AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY ARE WORKING AT LOCAL BUSINESSES,” MS. FOX SAID. “WHETHER IT’S PUBLICIZING LOCAL EVENTS OR JUST GETTING TO KNOW NEIGHBORS WHO ARE EMPLOYERS, THE NETWORK THAT STUDENTS BUILD BEGINS HERE.”

Parents are directed by Student Services staff member Katherine Barrela around the SPHS campus.

CHIEF CITY CLERK ANTHONY MEIJA speaks on the formation of five city council districts

City Council discusses district-based voting STORY PETER WANG PHOTO THOMAS FORMAN The South Pasadena City Council met on Wednesday, September 6 to receive community input regarding the transition to a district-based voting system. The composition of the voting districts was discussed, in accordance with the interests and features of the community. Members of the community took particular interest in how the five districts will be drawn in regard to communities.

The districts are mandated to have nearly equal populations (roughly 5,000 each), in compliance with the Federal Voting Rights Act, and without race as the predominant factor. This means that despite the racecentered cause for establishment of districts, the districts cannot be gerrymandered into concentrating a minority vote.

In a presentation by the city clerk, ‘communities of interest’ were cited as an important criterion, acknowledging common interests, views, and characteristics. An example provided was the Monterey Hills community, in which residents may share interests about hillside topography or public infrastructure. These communities must be reviewed during the drafting process to avoid splitting them apart.

Mr. Lawrence Quiñones, a reporter who is familiar with past cases of districting, commented during the community discussion.

“I’ve never known this to work in small towns,” Quiñones said. “I do not believe we will be able to find candidates for each district.”

Councilmembers expressed their thoughts on constriction of the candidate pool, concerned if some contenders will inadvertently campaign against one another because of their residential location. In a case where a district does not have any candidate, the other elected members of the council would need to appoint a member to fill the vacant seat.

The council expressed interest in continuity of the incumbent members as a lower-tier criterion. When neighboring city Pasadena transitioned to districts, an oversight in the drawing of districts prevented its incumbent Latino candidate from representing the “Latino district.” The council wants to prevent such a mistake from occurring in South Pasadena.

SPHS welcomes ‘Back to School’ Gates open to parents once again to kick off new school year STORY CHRISTINE MAO PHOTO LUKE QUEZADA

Parents and SPHS staff buzzed around the South Pasadena High School campus on Thursday, August 31 for the annual Back to School Night. Parents and guardians were given the chance to familiarize themselves with their student’s schedule and the SPHS campus.

ing policy was explained to the parents, along with advice on assisting students with curriculum throughout the year. Teachers also went over their Wish Night requests, giving parents an opportunity to aid teachers for the upcoming semester.

SPHS Principal Janet Anderson canceled the evening’s traditional assembly portion due to the auditorium’s air conditioning difficulties and extreme heat.

The South Pasadena Boosters and PTSA set up tables in front of the counseling center, as they were unable to give their presentations in the auditorium. The Booster Club is a charitable organization that is dedicated to supporting athletic and extracurricular activities through a variety of fundraisers. The PTSA, also known as the Parent Teacher Student Association, is a diverse group that helps promote the connection between school, community, and home. Members of the Associated Student Body also led Hurricane Harvey Relief donations at tables around campus for the nonprofit PortLight.

“Usually we start off with 30 minutes in the auditorium and they would be addressed by the Booster Club, Bingo, and the cafeteria, and the PTSA and Wish Night,” Principal Anderson said. “We missed that opportunity, but I just couldn’t feel right about having people go in.”

Parents and attendees made their way to classrooms across campus based off the classic block scheduling.

Teachers briefly went over the course outlines, explaining what students will be learning in their class and what their goals and expectations are. The grad-

“Parents seemed to be really upbeat and anxious, in a good way,” Principal Anderson said. “I was glad they really seemed to want to hear what the teachers [had] to say.”

TIGER 03 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

NEWS

Remembering Aramazd Andressian, Jr: his legacy throughout South Pasadena Piqui’s spirit lives on through community action and acknowledgment STORY DAVID SEO PHOTO THOMAS FORMAN Five-year-old Aramazd Andressian Jr. was taken and murdered by his father, Aramazd Andressian Sr, in April of 2017.

The manhunt originated in South Pasadena, when an impounded car held at the South Pasadena Police Department from an incapacitated Andressian Sr. connected with a police report from Jr.’s mother Ana Estevez in San Marino.

The 71-day investigation, which began with a difficult divorce and custody battle, demanded the work of twenty-two independent law-enforcement entities.

Throughout the course of the search, Andressian Sr. was released from prison only to be arrested again in Las Vegas.

Further on, he attempted to deny his guilt before recanting and pleading guilty. In August, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Heartbroken over her beloved ‘Piqui,’ moving forward Estevez wants to remember him in any way she can.

The South Pasadena community, too, is making efforts to respect Andressian Jr.’s legacy. SPPD had been involved in the Andressian case since its inception and has been profoundly affected by the murder.

“This terrible tragedy has solidified our resolve in our entire force,” South Pasadena Police Chief Art Miller commented.

“It has magnified the importance of acting quickly and pressing forward no matter the obstacles.”

Throughout the turmoil, the South Pasadena community quickly mobilized to support Estevez in any way possible. They

held a candlelit vigil early on following the recovery of Piqui’s body. Local church Holy Family, including organizer Frank Ponnet, provided the destination to hold a memorial in Piqui’s memory. Estevez, Miller, and the LA County Sheriff spoke eulogies for the child.

“Obviously, Piqui’s death has been very difficult for everyone,” Ponnet said. “We are honored to be the community that could help Ana through her trauma. She always tells us she wants to ‘catch his spirit.’ If anything, Piqui’s passing should be an invitation for all of us to care for one another. When life gets difficult, please seek help.”

Beyond changing mindsets and daily actions, huge efforts are being taken to further commemorate Andressian Jr.’s life.

Estevez plans to take action on her own, pairing her divorce understanding and experience as the principal of the 109th Street Elementary School. A fund in Andressian Jr.’s name will be founded to support women in bad divorces.

As a final standing monument to honor Piqui’s legacy, a bench and tree will be erected at the LA Aboretum and Botanical Garden, one of Estevez’s and Piqui’s favorite places.

“If anything, Piqui’s passing should be an invitation for all of us to care for one another.

When life gets difficult, please Andressian Jr.’ s short life has left an everlasting mark on South Pasadena and its neighboring communities seek help.”

Icebreaker unites all grades for first dance of the year STORY ELIZABETH BOCK The Icebreaker Dance is a unique SPHS tradition.

Each year, its reputation is mocked, freshmen are warned of the explicit activities, and while many claim to go for the laughs, it continues to un-ironically entertain much of the student body. Last Friday, August 25, students lined up outside the SPHS gym for the annual school-sanctioned rager which ran from 9 to 11:30 p.m.

STORY DOMINIC MARZIALI PHOTO THOMAS FORMAN

State Senator Anthony J. Portantino offers a response to a question from a local PCC student

Portantino opens millennial comment Young people from across Senator Anthony J. Portantino’s district (District 25, Greater Los Angeles) came to Heidar Baba restaurant in Pasadena to voice opinions to the state senator in his first Millennial Open Dialogue on Wednesday evening. Senator Portantino held the event to identify and discuss problems that people face throughout his district.

In an effort to attract younger voters, California state senators including Senator Portantino started holding millennial-centered events this year. Constituents were highly encouraged to participate so that Senator Portantino could gauge opinions on widespread problems. Portantino represents the 25th State Senate District in California, which includes South Pasadena and its neighboring cities.

Pasadena City College students, residents from Pasadena, and surrounding cities attended the event to communicate concerns.

Audience members asked Senator Portantino about the economic gap from high school to college. Portantino is a past chair of the Committee on Higher Education that had jurisdiction in universities, community colleges, postsecondary education, and financial aid for students. He explained his understanding of education policy through his experience as a member of the Committee on Higher Education and steps the state is taking to lower costs.

“We have a 50 year old education model,” Portantino said.

“This year is the highest we have spent and invested in K-12 [education].”

He suggested schools transition from a traditional K-12 model to a K-14 model. By changing the standard to this model, the price of a 4 year college would be cut, making it more affordable for students.

A professor who lectured at the University of Southern California asked Portantino about millennial influence in the government given that many millennials are Independents. Portantino replied he observed millennials involved in local activities rather than be immersed in politics, which are divided by partisan differences. Gina Fanara, 34, explained that volunteering at a local food bank is not partisan, while getting involved with politics leads to “political muck” millennials would rather not wade through.

On other issues, the senator held less plan-based responsses. When a Pasadena City College (PCC) student asked him about the growing crisis of homeless students at PCC and other colleges, Portantino said he did not have a specific plan to handle the problem.

Senator Portantino ended the dialogue on a partisan note, calling President Trump “despicable” for his response to Charlottesville.

With the creative input of both the freshmen and senior members of ASB, the arctic-themed dance was born. The event aimed to integrate freshmen into the high school spirit and introduce them to campus activities, with the goal that they would feel welcomed at SPHS and attend more dances in future.

“Icebreaker was pretty fun. In the beginning it was kind of awkward, but it developed as it went along,” said freshman attendee Khalil Murdock. “I mean, I’d say all around that I enjoyed it. It was a good high school experience.”

Other activities, such as board games, were available for those who didn’t want to dance. Upon entrance, attendees were given glow sticks to brandish while they danced to DJ Bonk’s playlists.

With tickets at $5 SAC and $10 Non-SAC, the turnout was very profitable for SPHS ASB. 282 tickets were sold, with a total profit of over $2,100. Last year’s earnings reached the same amount as well, overall creating a steady stream of income. The large group of attendees coupled with the profit from snacks was a strong financial success for ASB. Freshmen ASB plans to use the money earned for class bonding and homecoming costs as well. The seniors want to allocate the earned money towards class bonding, baccalaureate, and the Last Chance Dance, as well as other future activities.

“I’m very pleased with the results of the ice breaker dance,” senior Class Secretary Jasper Lee said. “I believe that it helped to acclimate many freshman to the traditions at SPHS as well as the people at our school.”

4

TIGER SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

FEATURE

Education Over District Lines PAGE BY ASHTON CARLESS GRAPHICS BY FINLEY MULLEN TEXT BY DASHIEL BOVE, ISABELLA TSAI & SOFIE DRESKIN

S

outh Pasadena Unified School District (SPUSD) has long held the reputation of being a high-achieving district and boasting above-average racial diversity compared to its neighboring cities. This appeal of quality education has attracted many families to settle in South Pasadena. For the families that cannot afford South Pasadena real estate or rentals, inter-district permits provide the opportunity for students from low-income families to attend South Pasadena public schools.

The process of applying for a permit begins with the student requesting release from their current school district. Once the student’s home district approves this request, the student may then apply to enroll South Pasadena Unified School District. SPUSD does not guarantee that they will actually approve the permit due to limited capacity. If the students are denied a permit, they may apply then for a permit appeal.

Students who attend the high school from homes outside of South Pasadena are required to have an inter-district permit. However, many families find other avenues to get their children into SPUSD schools. The district categorizes inter-district students into two major categories: Permitted and Fraudulent.

Fraudulent Students

Permitted Students

J

ane’s* family wanted to attend school in the South Pasadena school district because of its diversity and exceptional scores. Instead of going through the process of applying for a permit, the family bought a property in South Pasadena, using the address to register for school, and renting it out while living in a different city. Jane has been attending the South Pasadena school district since elementary school. Several people, some of them her peers, have attempted to look into her living situation, but nothing seriously jeopardized her education in South Pasadena.

J

unior Clara Fouser had attended SPUSD schools for six years when her family was forced out of their South Pasadena apartment due to rising rent. The family settled into a larger and more affordable house in Los Angeles after the summer of her freshman year. Initially, Fouser was denied a permit to continue attending SPHS. Living in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Fouser opted to attend a charter school in her area rather than the nearest LAUSD public schools.

“My family and I decided to move [school districts] after seeing how diverse SPUSD is and how outstanding their district scores were compared to my old school,” Jane said. “We decided to buy a property here [and rent it out] instead of applying for a permit because it is less of a hassle and we thought it would be a good idea to have a place here just in case.”

“I immediately hated it, and my parents tried to get me back into South Pasadena,” Fouser said of the charter school she attended.

Fouser also recognized a lack of resources (AP classes, extracurricular programs, etc.) in the local charter.

Another student, Anne*, had been attending South Pasadena schools under fraudulent circumstances since elementary school. The family used the address of a South Pasadena resident with the owner’s consent but were caught and given less than a week to find a home in South Pasadena. Her family found an residence in the time limit and she was able to continue her education at South Pas.* John’s* family sought out South Pasadena schools because of the academic and athletic programs. Not having a residence in the town prompted the family to rent an apartment in order to send their kids to the South Pasadena schools. They live in a larger and cheaper residence outside of South Pasadena and sublet the apartment to another tenant. He, along with his siblings, started attending SPUSD in middle school and continued through high school. Over the five years they have been here, no trouble with the administration has been faced.

Asian

12.2%

Black

8.9%

Hispanic/Latino

W

After her parents contacted SPUSD they were informed of other channels they could pursue in order to get Fouser back into SPHS. South Pasadena’s district said they would re-enroll Fouser into SPHS if she could get released by her previous district in Los Angeles. In order to withdraw Fouser from LAUSD her parents had to take the case into court and testify as to why she should be released. Her parents argued that Fouser “would not receive the same level of education in LAUSD that she had in South Pasadena schools.”

Fouser was accepted back into the SPUSD on an inter-district permit and returned to SPHS two months after her sophomore year began.

Elementary

24%

32% Middle School

54.4%

High School

hen admitting students on permits, the district looks to a priority list regarding applicants: students whose parents work within the South Pasadena school district or with the South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF) have top priority, followed by parents who work full-time or own businesses in South Pas. Owners of commercial or residential real estate, workers at the South Pasadena Post Office, and employees of businesses in South Pas fill in the middle of the list. Students who wish to attend the school district without any ties to the city have the lowest priority.

Lately, the district has seen a downturn in inter-district permit applications; Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Christiane Gervais attributes this to neighboring districts tightening down on their restrictions regarding application for a release form. According to Gervais, this is due in part to the falling in-district school attendance resulting in a loss of funding.

SPUSD has recently streamlined its methods for locating and identifying students attending its schools using fraudulent information, making the process significantly faster and more efficient. However, the district cannot pursue any investigation or the removal of fraudulent students without first being

*Names have been changed for anonymity*

1.1%

Not Stated

20%

White

3.3%

Filipino/Laotian

43% presented with legitimate evidence that could be upheld in a court of law. This evidence can either be physical or a supported account presented by a school employee which provides the district with reasonable suspicion regarding the legitimacy of the student’s district residency. According to Gervais, the most common indicator that a student is attending on false residency is when mail the district sends home is returned back to the district office.

Following the presentation of articulable evidence, the district will initiate home checks for the student in question. These investigations typically occur in the evenings and involves a district employee visiting the home, confirming that the student does or does not live in the listed residence. The district will check a number of times before making any decision regarding the potentially fraudulent attendee. If the district performs these home checks and is not able to find any evidence of student residence, they will issue an alert to that student’s family that the district has come under reasonable doubt of residency and will remove that student from attendance.

Student families are granted ten day period within the reception of an alert to file, appeal, and present evidence which contradicts the district’s suspicions.

TIGER 05 SEPTEMBER 8, 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 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 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. 1 DISTRIBUTED ON SEP 8, 2017.

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TIGER’S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A RELIABLE NEWS OUTLET FOR SPHS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH A VARIETY OF COVERAGE, TIGER EMPOWERS/ENABLES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, SOLVE PROBLEMS, SET AND REACH GOALS, AND WORK COOPERATIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY AS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. TIGER IS A FORUM FOR STUDENT FREE SPEECH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALIFORNIA ED CODE 48907.

SOUTH PAS: DIFFICULT TRUTHS ABOUT RACE Race will always be the core basis in which people navigate the social landscape; it cannot and will not ever be forgotten by our community

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e cannot ignore race in South Pasadena. To many of us, the discussion surrounding race has become redundant, especially in our ‘perfect’ community of tolerance. In fact, our community is quick to flaunt an unspoken badge of so-called ‘colorblindness,’ as if our pocket of society lives post-racially.

South Pasadena is known for its ‘wokeness’. Yet our most grave blunder as a community is to misinterpret our (unexceptional) open-mindedness as a surrogate for the lack of student diversity we have on campus.

From this phenomena emerges yet another unfortunate symptom within a liberal community: forgetting that we are all racist. Of course, this manifests within each of us differently, but it still persists nonetheless. Nobody can claim that race and its stereotypes has never affected how we have perceived and interacted with people. Shatter the idea that racists are ‘other’— racism is not foreign to us and continues to be a universal language of humanity. We must grapple with this truth and let it shape our actions going forward.

Perusing through the student demographics at our school, it’s clear there exists some imbalances. According to the 2017 _usnews.com_ (http://usnews.com/) census, the current SPHS student body is 41% Asian, 29% White, 24% Hispanic, and 2% Black. It is easy to pinpoint SPHS as an anomaly especially when examining even poorer diversity in surrounding schools such as San Marino and La Cañada. Relatively we might be diverse, but objectively we are not.

Lack of student diversity comes into play when we detach ourselves from racism. Our school serves as a place where subtle racism can go about unabated without the affected populations to shut it down, providing a place where conversations surrounding the n-word are held in English classrooms without a black perspective operating as if there is discussion to be had; where nasty race stereotypes surface under the pretense of foreign language education; where the school newspaper can almost entirely leave out black, brown, Muslim, and trans voices in a time when those are the bodies who are most attacked.

Then again, there’s validity in admiring our community as a whole. Most members of SPHS have respected and even advocated for the existence of people from all walks and creeds of life. But therein lies the Achilles’ heel of our community. We keep letting ourselves believe that we have somehow achieved maximum ‘wokeness’ in regards to race. We spend so much time patting ourselves on the back that we fail to question what we are preaching. There is no saturation point for our awareness of race; there is no peak level of tolerance.

Ultimately, there is nothing we can do to change our student diversity. There is no progress in feeling shameful because that in itself is a self-serving act. But, in acknowledging how removed we are from true diversity, it should only fuel us to put in further effort. Cut the complacency— our student body must actively include voices that are too often silenced.

Boos & Bravos

Tiger ’s cheers and jeers for the month of September.

BOOS

BRAVOS

BOO to to 11 person Chinese classes. You can’t cheat if there’s no one to copy from.

BRAVO to phone confiscations. I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, ‘cause Mr. Speck took it.

BOO to Mr. Speck for ruining the chance of a Janet Trifecta.

BOO to the students who stole glasses that are only useful for three hours every thirty years.

BOO to the Rose Court tryouts. How are we supposed to condense our personal statements into 15 seconds?

BRAVO to the new trend of wearing winter coats in 105 degree weather. Avoiding dress code violations and combatting arctic classrooms one Patagonia at a time.

BRAVO to senior privilege cards. Thank you Mr. G for making everyone check their privilege at the gate.

TIGER

06 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

OPINION

PUNCH ALL THE NAZIS STORY AMELIA ANTHONY ILLUSTRATION ASHTON CARLESS President Trump's initial reaction to the events in Charlottesville was to condemn “violence on many sides.” This comment was revoked, and subsequently un-revoked, but the sentiment was there: the President viewed the side wielding torches, carrying guns, and responsible for the death of Heather Heyer equally as violent as anti-racist, anti-fascist counter protesters. This notion is ridiculous.

White supremacists, the alt-right, and NeoNazis call for the discrimination towards and extermination of minority groups. There is an important distinction between using violence to propagate this harmful, terrorizing agenda and using violence to stop it.

Attending an alt-right protest is an act of violence. Tolerating or encouraging this speech and expression of opinion is an act of violence. It is a threat and attack on the safety of minority groups.

Advocates for nonviolence believe that if Nazis are met with violence, they can spin the incident to appear victimized. However, the instigators of violence—in mass numbers, parading down the streets of minorities'

hometowns—will never have the right to claim victim.

To aggravate the intensity of this movement, police attending the Charlottesville protests were ordered to “stand down.” When the police fail to protect the public, the public is forced to defend themselves. Sometimes, this leads to justified violence.

Violence is an extremely effective way to embarrass and shame Nazis. When white nationalist leader Richard Spencer was punched on camera after Trump's inauguration, the video was then memed, liked, and spread. Spencer, with his ego crushed, attempted to claim victimization, but this attempt was laughed off once the video looped again. Nazis gain power because no one can match their hate. Their purpose is to instill fear. But they can be knocked off this pedestal with a punch.

The legal system understands a difference between murder and defending oneself.

Morally, the public must be able to create this same differentiation, between the offensive acts of murder, threat, and intimidation, and punching a Nazi.

LETTER FROM A SOUTH PAS DREAMER CONTRIBUTED BY SHINE CHO ILLUSTRATION ASHTON CARLESS As it is for many of you, South Pasadena is my home. In my sixteen years of living here, I've had the opportunity to read, write, and direct some of the stories featured in this newspaper. Yet, I have never shared my story publicly.

I am undocumented. DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, transformed my life for the past five years.

At two years old my parents brought me to this country from South Korea. My father, after visiting South Pas sometime in the early 90s, was inspired by the stadium lights shining onto Roosevelt Field late at night.

Their reasoning for uprooting their entire lives was to give my siblings and me better opportunities—a sacrifice I still don’t understand.

I couldn’t speak a word of English on my first day of kindergarten at Arroyo Vista Elementary School. My cheeks burned bright-red as I sat through a placement test, staring blankly at jumbo crayons whose colors I was supposed to name out loud.

But eventually, I grew into South Pas. I roamed Thursday Farmer’s Markets on Meridian Avenue.

I ate too many Hi-Life fries and I went to countless Fun Fairs. Over time, I started to believe that I, too, could do anything I wanted when I grew up.

Then at ten years old, as a fifth grader, I received a letter in the mail that told me I was wrong. After years of filing for status and two appeals, this letter plainly stated in 12-point Times New Roman font that our final visa application was denied. My family was being deported.

How I ended up in this situation is a long story, but here’s what you need to know: My parents are not criminals.

At two years old, I did not decide to fly across the Pacific Ocean to take your job. These are the narratives you’re used to hearing about undocumentedimmgrants, but they do a poor job of explaining an unjust system that leaves families in these difficult circumstances.

My parents brought our family here legally but once

standing in “line” for papers, were denied after nearly ten years of raising their children here.

At that point, we couldn’t just return to a distant country I barely knew. I Growing up here, I felt American in every sense except on paper. In fact, I am American in every sense except on paper.

For years, I wasn’t sure what I would be able to do without legal status. Would I be deported? Able to go to college? Get a job? DACA, President Obama’s executive order, was the best form of relief to all these questions. The program granted me a social security number, which allowed me to legally work, and get a driver’s license.

DACA gave me a temporary fix to a problem that could not be resolved by “getting in line and submitting some papers.” The program itself was an imperfect solution to congressional inaction on immigration reform. And thanks to DACA’s termination, 800,000 others and I are asking: Now what?

Growing up, I didn’t know how to talk about my status. However difficult it still is now, I want to share this part of my life with the community that’s given me so much. The undocumented condition is as invisible and as silent as people want it to be.

I went for years not talking about this—yet it constrains me in such concrete and daunting ways.

Under DACA, I was able to look towards life after graduating college without fear of deportation, of entrapment.

And beyond fear, it allowed me to hope. Hope for the causes I wanted to work toward and all the ways I wanted to give back to this country. But without the tangible means that DACA provided me to achieve those things—a way to work legally and contribute to this society—I’m not sure how I’ll be able to.

President Donald Trump’s decision is senseless and hurtful and it’s certainly one that will disrupt my life plans. But I’m determined to hold onto my dreams of

attending law school to defend our most vulnerable.

By divulging all of this, I ask for your empathy to see that this circumstance is neither one I (and 800,000 others) asked to be in nor created. I ask for your empathy to transcend party politics and talk about these issues with your families and friends, no matter how difficult. I ask for your empathy to see how national policies, even the most obscure, could impact your neighbor and friend.

This contribution has been edited for brevity. Read the full length article on tigernewspaper.com

ON BEING DRAMELIA | AMELIA ANTHONY

TO MY SISTER THE FRESHMAN My sister just entered SPHS as a freshman. For the past six years, Katherine and I have spent our time at different schools; she followed me through South Pas campuses three years behind. Very unoriginal. But the senior/freshman combination is finally here!

Before Katherine started middle school, I took an American Girl advice book and annotated it specifically for use at SPMS. I didn't know how to explain high school—nothing anyone has ever said to me has captured the High School Experience as well my parents swear Fast Times at Ridgemont High

did for them. I was hesitant to give Katherine any knowledge more biased than the location of the 500s building.

For inspiration, I looked back on how I've changed since I was in her place. One of our family's most popular dinner-table conversations has always been friend troubles. Since freshman year the amount of material I've brought to the table has significantly diminished. That's because, for the first time in my life, I really like my friends.

I definitely remember feeling out of place freshman

year, both in and out of school. I wish I had the confidence to step away from the confines of the group I hung out with in middle school. Sometimes people go through really drastic personality changes and you're like, Wait, you were cool in fifth grade cause you had a bike. Now, you make me feel bad about myself. And you hate women. Sometimes this shift is less dramatic.

Slowly realizing you don't have much in common with an old friend is a sad but unavoidable process. Either way, your new best friends are waiting. Actively look for them in classes, extracurriculars, and in groups you never thought to hang out with before. It'll work out, I promise.

TIGER 07 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

OPINION

THE ELD ACHIEVEMENT GAP STORY SAMMY PARK ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS

“I feel like ELD students don’t perceive their own intelligence due to the lack of confidence. There’s no question about their intelligence, each one of them has a great potential of success. However, the language barrier might restrict them from fully demonstrating their strength.” ­—JANE YANG

“Some of the students are too afraid to talk about their problems and questions, while teachers teach without knowing the problems that exist among the students. As an academic coach, I learn more about the problems from the students, and give feedback and suggestions for the teachers.” ­—DENNIS LIU

“The challenge that I am facing right now is trying to figure out a way that I can assess my students who are ELD. Right now, it’s hard for me to assess whether or not my ELLs know the material.” ­—MRS. ANNALEE PEARSON

Despite South Pasadena’s reputation for prestigious public schools, there is one demographic whose achievement gap has yet to make any significant progress. In the most recent Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) report, SPHS’ English Language Development (ELD) students were identified as one of its most underserved populations.

Therefore, it seems inconsistent that the ELD history class was cut this school year. However, the ELD population was considered too small to justify a 12 person class.

Although adding an ELD history class might be a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to overcome the achievement gap.

Despite many English Language Learners’ success, not all ELLs are able to find success at SPHS. However, the faults of the ELD program have little to do with administration or instructional direction.

One of the downfalls in SPHS’ ELD curriculum is the lack of emphasis on oral speaking in higher level ELD classes, according to ELL students. In the mainstream classroom setting, speaking skills are necessary to succeed. Most academic classes require oral presentations of some sort.

When a student is not confident in their speaking abilities, they are less likely to ask questions during a lecture or participate in a class debate. While there is little that the program can do for confidence, an increased focus on

RED IS NOT THE NEW BLACK The hammer and sickle is not a fashion trend STORY OONA FOLEY ILLUSTRATION ISABELLA FRESCURA Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign centered around his vision for a “political revolution.” Young liberals drooled with excitement at the thought of progressing towards a more socialist society. As one of the more radical leftist candidates in recent years, Sanders also brought about the re-ignition of a niche counter culture: the “communist aesthetic.”

The aesthetic communist preaches about the “overthrow of the bourgeoisie,” usually sporting a hammer and sickle emblem in some way, shape, or form. Some identify with traditional communist beliefs, and others go as far glorifying fascist leaders who came to power in the name of communism.

attitude discourages people from considering how their privilege could contribute to the harmonious society that theoretical communism is all about.

But on the global scale, this trend’s offensive nature is magnified.

“Perhaps most despicable about this communist aesthetic is the disconnect with the true effects of communism. No matter how noble the pillars of communism may theoretically be, communism has historically proven to be awful for countries that have adopted it,” senior David Seo said, speaking from familial experience.

People who romanticize communism without acknowledging its destructive history need to recognize that the matter hits harder than a trendy t-shirt can convey. Additionally, even those who don the hammer and sickle emblem and do denounce fascism must realize that this style lacks nuance and does not excuse the abuse of economic privilege.

“My grandparents had their entire lives ripped apart by the communist regime. My grandfather lived in current-day North Korea territory when the Korean War broke out. He was forced to leave his wife and one-year old son. It’s beyond my comprehension how people can uphold, or even laugh about, communism when it’s caused so much pain to entire populations,” Seo said.

The communist aesthetic is frequently used to validate a person’s level of “wokeness.” It tends to come with a certain level of superiority, as if to say “I am less guilty of benefiting from capitalism than you because of my beliefs.” In reality, this

Identifying with communism for the sake of being provocative does not make someone “woke” or “edgy.” Romanticizing communism will never be morally acceptable based on its history and current abuse.

speaking abilities would be beneficial to the ELL students who already have a basic grip on English.

The first, and easiest, step to closing the ELL achievement gap is to listen to ELL students. What are their concerns with the program? More importantly, how can we as native speakers help them with their difficult transition into an unfamiliar environment?

The main goal of ELL students is to be socially integrated with native English speakers. When taking ELD courses, students are often separated from the rest of school. Therefore, when some ELL students transition out of ELD, they are left isolated. ELL students face challenges that are unfathomable to most native speakers. Most of them are thrust into a new country with little to no background in English. It is up to native English speakers to leave their comfort zones and help those who could use a friend.

“Having friends that were born in South Pasadena really helped me when I was taking non-ELD classes. My friends helped me with schoolwork and it allowed me to practice my English,” senior Victor Liu said.

The ELD achievement gap will not be solved with an additional class or extra administrative support. It will take a school culture that emphasizes helping South Pasadena’s most marginalized.

TIGER

08 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

TIGER 09 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTING

A CITY DIVIDED:

SOUTH PASADENA FACES ALLEGED VOTING RIGHTS VIOLATIONS South Pasadena will be divided into five districts after an accusation of violating the California Voters Rights Act with the threat of a lawsuit. The switch is supposed to make the city council more representative of the community’s racial demographics, but the legitimacy of both the claim and the solution is being questioned by many residents.

STORY COLE CAHILL, PETER WANG, & DOMINIC MARZIALI REPORTING LILY AZAT PAGE TRUMAN LESAK & COLE CAHILL GRAPHICS TRUMAN LESAK

S

South Pasadena, CA This map shows a potential division of the city into five districts.

Each district will elect its own city councilmember.

South Pasadena mayor Michael Cacciotti described the predicament.

WE’RE SUCH A DIVERSE CITY. ARE WE GOING TO SPEND FIVE MILLION DOLLARS TO FIGHT THIS? MONEY THAT COULD BE GOING TO OUR ROADS, OUR SEWERS, OUR POLICE, OUR LIBRARY. WE JUST COULDN’T DO THAT.”

lose. The city’s only choice was to declare intent to transition to voting districts.

Important Legislation, Predatory Application

The Impact

Kevin Shenkman’s letter accused the city of South Pasadena of racially polarized elections. He cited the defeat of Latino mayoral candidate Art Salinas in 2011, allegedly due to dilution of the Latinx vote as a result of the at-large system. Another assertion was a “complete absence of Latinos to be elected to the council in recent history.” This statement, however, is blatantly false: Latinx council members Diana Mahmud and David Sifuentes were both elected in the past ten years.

Ultimately, this policy is a result of poor language in the California Voters Rights Act that opened the doors to this type of suit. As SPUSD School Board member Jon Primuth said, “No one can successfully defend against a CVRA claim. When you handcuff a judge so that they can’t toss frivolous cases out of court, you’re going to get a cottage industry of lawsuits by enterprising, mischievous lawyers.”

As the law is currently written, South Pasadena’s hands are completely tied.

City Council member Diana Mahmud said,

When district-based voting is adopted, voters might be barred from voting for a candidate that reflects their interests because the candidate’s district is not their own. Candidates that would have collaborated with each other in the at-large system will be pitted against each other if they are in the same district. In the city’s current system, the Latinx population could effectively vote in a candidate that reflects their interests; in a district system, their numbers may be too small.

However, the law’s wording opens the door to unethical legal proceedings like what is happening in South Pasadena. The CVRA does not require evidence of an atlarge system hurting the minority voice, nor does it take into account differences in racial distribution in residential areas to accuse a city of a violation. It only requires evidence of racially polarized voting or a lack in candidate choices of a racial group. In a case like South Pasadena’s, an even distribution of minorities or overall success of an at-large system becomes irrelevant under the CVRA.

Although Shenkman has combatted legitimate voting rights violations like in Palmdale, he is no stranger to aggressively exploiting the loopholes of the CVRA. The threats in the letters Shenkman sends to various cities propose two options: a peaceful resolution that may not reflect what the city needs, or a daunting lawsuit that many cities do not have the money for. Losing a lawsuit to Shenkman could mean losses in the millions for the city. The attorney has aspirations that before the year is out, “We’re going to do 100 [accusation letters].” The volume of these ambitions show a cookie cutter method that will produce money for Shenkman and his team no matter a city’s decision.

Malibu-based attorney Kevin Shenkman sent a letter to the city of South Pasadena last month describing the presence of a California Voting Rights Act violation in the form of racially polarized elections. Essentially, he claims that South Pasadena’s voting system—in which any citizen can vote for any candidate regardless of where they live—dilutes the voting power of minorities, particularly Latinx voters. The city was given the choice to either send a response letter refuting the allegations, or transition from the current at-large election system to a districtbased system. If the trend of previous situations like this is any indicator, the response letter would result in a costly lawsuit that that the city would almost certainly

Although a district system supposedly magnifies the power of a minority vote, it operates under the assumption that the city is racially segregated. In a small city like South Pasadena, where minority groups are fairly spread throughout the city’s three square miles, the policy could have the opposite effect. Instead of empowering minority communities, districts can split minority’s vote and dilute their political power, making it even more difficult for all demographics to be represented.

The California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) is critical to upholding minority voting rights.

Kevin Shenkman sued the city of Palmdale in (2015 in a proper application of the law.

The city, with a 54% Latinx population, had only elected one Latinx city council member (a Republican) since its incorporation. The city lost the suit and was forced to shift to a district-based system, and its first Latino Democrat was elected to city council soon after.

“It saddens me and other voters rights advocates in South Pasadena that the virtuous intentions of earlier generations of voting rights legislation have devolved into instruments of municipal extortion,” former mayor and current city council member Marina Khubesrian said.

outh Pasadena’s city council hasn’t changed much since its inception in the early 20th century. In election years, citizens vote candidates to hold the city council’s five seats, where they pass laws and ordinances in the city. But one lawyer is radically transforming the city’s government, and he’s doing it against the will of the city itself.

I AM A LATINA. I IDENTIFIED MYSELF AS A LATINA ON MY CANDIDATE STATEMENT. HAD HE BOTHERED TO PULL THE CANDIDATE STATEMENTS FROM OUR MOST RECENT MUNICIPAL ELECTION, HE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT I AM A LATINA, AND HE DID NOT KNOW THAT.”

South Pasadena: A Functioning System

Drawing these districts is critical to the future of South Pasadena. To maintain the current number of city council seats, the city’s three square miles must be divided into five pieces. Each district (if equally sized) would be 0.6 square miles and contain roughly 5,100 people. This voting base is remarkably small, potentially opening the door to elections with a few hundred voters for positions that represent the entire city.

1/6 OF SOUTH PASADENA AREA: 0.6 Square Miles POPULATION: ~5,100 DEMOGRAPHICS

2,784 Caucasians

1,594 Asian-Americans

953 Latinx Americans

154 African-Americans

South Pasadena’s democracy will undeniably be compromised when this change is implemented. Future elections could potentially have very few candidates—the races will depend upon how many people want to run for public office within a ten-block area. This leads to a high possibility of unopposed candidates leaving voters with one option for their representation. Some current council members will also potentially lose their seats, even if they remain popular city-wide: three of the five members live within a few blocks of each other, according to Diana Mahmud, so the probability of being drawn into one district is high.

Despite the dire consequences of transitioning to a district system, the city can still revert to its old at-large system by becoming a charter city. A charter city has supreme authority over municipal affairs, and does not have to conform to state laws in most cases. This will allow South Pasadena to override the California Elections Code and establish its own election procedures, including restoring the at-large system. To become a charter city, the city must create a city charter (similar to a constitution) and vote on adopting the charter. The November 2018 election (also the first election under a district system) is the earliest opportunity for such a vote. But until a charter is adopted, South Pasadena will be split into districts whether it’s government likes it or not.

TIGER

10 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

FEATURE

FEATURE

PARKS AND WRECKED SAMMY PARK

MUSINGS FROM A CRY BABY If you should know anything about me, it’s that I am always crying. I cried throughout Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, I cried during an AP Lang class screening of a documentary about at-risk teens performing slam poetry, and I cried when I saw a blurry Rep. John McCain give a slight thumbs down on CSPAN. On the midnight of my seventeenth birthday, I listened to my introspective Whitney Houston Spotify playlist (“I Look to You, Greatest Love of All”, the whole “The Bodyguard” soundtrack) and openly weeped over the drum of my sewing machine.

I am not going to give context to the above situation as it would eat up my word count and derail the overall theme of my first column, but I’ve said all some of the reasons why I have cried in the past year as a gesture of goodwill.

ATTENTIVE LISTENER: Ms Kanner assists one of her French 3/4 students in understanding verb conjugations.

SPHS welcomes new dual language teacher

In her first year at South Pasadena Ms Kanner embraces the new environment to create immersive French and Spanish classes French and Spanish are something of a rarity, Kanner had no trouble getting hired.

STORY BEN CLARK PHOTO RICHARD GOMEZ The greatest teachers possess qualities of kindness and sincerity. Erin Kanner, South Pasadena’s newest French and Spanish teacher, is an abundant source of both. With her upbeat, friendly demeanor and encouraging smile, Ms Kanner puts her experience and enthusiasm to good use by sharing with her students the joys of learning a new language.

From an early age, Kanner had a love of teaching and learning about other cultures. Despite growing up in an English-only speaking family, Kanner had a stronginclination towards becoming fluent in the languages of the world. To fuel this passion, she studied World Languages and Education at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, as well as gaining a Master’s degree in French Literature from the University of Maryland. Her classes allowed her to study abroad in France and Spain where she lived for one year and one semester, respectively. Upon return to the United States, she began teaching French and Spanish.

Before arriving at South Pasadena, Kanner taught part time at La Cañada. When her son, Jacob, entered the first grade, she decided that the time was right to return to teaching full time. She immediately applied for the open French and Spanish teaching position at South Pas, previously filled by Ms Medina. As teachers who can speak both

Out & About

Making the switch to teaching full time would be a daunting task for some, but Kanner has taken it up with ease, teaching five different classes, including AP French. She conducts the majority of her classes in the language she is teaching, making her lessons more challenging and immersive than most non-AP classes. This allows students to truly understand the language they are being taught even in lower level classes. Still, Kanner keeps her students’ needs close to her heart and works diligently and tirelessly to ensure all her students enjoy learning.

“The students for sure are what I enjoy most about teaching,” Ms Kanner explained, smiling warmly, “I love sharing the culture, art, and literature with them.”

Ms Kanner has already begun to share the cultures that she has come to know with the students of South Pasadena high school and has proved herself to be an excellent addition to the school’s world language department.

As a person with the sensibilities of a cool middle-aged mom, I am in no way ashamed of the frequency with which I cry. In fact, I Snapchat when, where, and why I feel a trace of a tear coming out. But I did not always have such a laidback attitude about weeping.

In fact, I can remember almost suffocating myself because I had a tendency to hold my breath in an attempt to try to stop the notso-subtle gasp/hiccup hybrids that accompanied my crying spells.

The notion that crying is a sign of weakness dissuades people from crying. However, at its core, crying is a way for people to know exactly how you’re feeling. It is through this transparency that others can see who you really are, not what you want to be. Crying helps us share the feelings we have that are beyond words.

For this exact reason, crying is the best way to make yourself someone’s friend. Forget common interests or joining clubs, just go full on and bare your soul.

My switch from shy baby to cry baby was a gradual one. But it can be most attributed to the fact that I stopped caring about showing emotions. I realized that my friends were totally cool with my constant weeping and were perfectly down to be real with me.

So, friendship goals aren’t wearing matching outfits at Disneyland, but being able to FaceTime each other at 3am sobbing because Beyoncé dropped an album or someone’s dog just died. Crying, as an action, is a radical message that you have feelings. Whether it be silly or serious, everyone has a right to cry.

When you have the confidence to be vulnerable, you are able to have deeper connections with the people around you.

Tiger’s take on local eats and acitivities. Take one of our suggestions for a weekend adventure.

STORY FINLEY MULLEN

SHOP Are you sick of seeing other kids wearing the same clothes as you? Is your wardrobe full of new clothes that don’t quite reach the trendy vintage aesthetic? Saunter down to The Bearded Beagle at 5926 Figueroa to pick up a sick bomber jacket or a cool hat. Pick up something edgy for a friend and leave with a whole new look.

In dog we trust.

FUN It’s too hot to be walking around these days, but cars are expensive. What’s almost as good as owning a car? Looking at cars, of course! Meet your friends on Saturday, September 10th, at the Clean Air Car Show to see loads of fantastic vehicles in Garfield Park. This year’s focus is on alternative fuel vehicles and sustainable living.

FOOD After dressing in your new threads from Bearded Beagle and ogling at alternative fuel vehicles in Garfield, it’s only appropriate to treat yourself to some fine California cuisine. Green Street, at 146 Shopper Ln in Pasadena, has been dishing out Californian-style comfort food since 1979.

The Diane Salad is one item highly recommended by tigers.

TIGER SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

FEATURE

11

PERSONALITY PROFILES DEANNA ALS

Assimilating into a new school with style

STORY ELIZABETH BOCK PHOTO HELENA FU

It’s hard to catch junior Deanna Als without her camera. Ever since the age of seven it has been her essential accessory, something she’s toted everywhere. Growing up with her godfather always taking photos of her, she eventually made the decision to switch from model to photographer, which then blossomed into a new passion: fashion. “[Deanna and I] truly became friends because of my absolute respect for her most notable qualities,” said Tara Pugliese, Als’ classmate from her previous school, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. “She’s unapologetic in her outspokenness, inspiring in her confidence, and unwavering in her passion for her art.”

Als transferred this year from FSHA to SPHS, where she has found a more open environment for her art. Coming from a more conservative Catholic private school, she felt that the atmosphere was more stifling and didn’t allow for the same type of authenticity that a public school provides.

Finally free of a uniform, Als can express herself through her clothes at school. Her style follows a 70s outline, and tends to include some 90s grunge influence as well. Als’ wardrobe is difficult to replicate, since most of her pieces are unique finds from consignment and vintage stores.

With this inspiration in mind, Als wants to start her own fashion business and hopes to incorporate multimedia arts. She plans to use social media for publicity as it enables young people to connect with one another and is the perfect platform to establish oneself in a creative career such as fashion, photography, or videography.

The 17 year old hopes to pursue her artistic interests in a unique way. Her post-high school plans don’t follow a typical trajectory. She plans to take a gap year after highschool, traveling to Montreal and Paris. Als has always wanted to learn French, an essential language for the fashion industry.

Upon her return to the United States, she hopes to study fashion in New York.

NO STRANGER TO MODELING, Als passion for photography stemmed from her grandfather’s habit of capturing photos of her.

Whether she’s modeling, sketching, or taking photos, Als’ strong and confident personality is a constant. She is always exploring new parts of herself and hopes that this new environment at SPHS will allow her to delve further into her artistic creativity.

MATISSE ROCCA STORY DAVID SEO PHOTO BEN CLARK Being a freshman can be a very scary experience. New classes. New campus. New faces. At the first assembly, freshmen are booed to no end according to class tradition. But for freshman Matisse Rocca, he feels nothing but happy anticipation.

At first glance, Rocca and the rest of his class seem very alike. He gets his homework done as soon as he gets home, enjoys hanging with friends, and likes watching movies with his sister. Rocca is also a selfclaimed “mega-dog fan,” a love sprouting from the three dogs he’s had in his lifetime.

tantly, Rocca fosters a deep passion for acting. Rocca has consequently poured hours upon hours into his practice. He expressed his interest in drama at an early age, and has been in a motley of productions ever since he learned to talk. Since then, Rocca has been a part of the Young Stars Theatre, just across the street from the high school. This past summer, he starred as Rooster Hannigan in YST’s production of Annie Jr. at the Fremont Centre Theatre. As of now, he is enrolled in the drama program at SPHS and has plans of nabbing roles in both the fall play and spring musical.

Despite these shared traits, Rocca is not the typical SPHS freshman. Born in Nice, France, Rocca grew up on beautiful white beaches learning both French and English. And, thanks to a wonderful childhood nanny, Rocca became fluent in Spanish as well. At nine months old, his family immigrated from France to California, and he spent all his elementary days at the Lycée International de Los Angeles (LILA). Rocca then joined SPUSD in 6th grade, breezing through 8th grade Spanish class. Armed with three languages, he is currently enrolled in the French 5/6 Honors class due to his proficiency in his mother tongue.

“Honestly, one of the main reasons I love acting is the people part,” Rocca said.

“Every time I read a new script, I become whole new person. It’s an exciting way to meet new people through the different roles I take on.”

“Knowing three languages is super helpful living in LA— I can use French when I go to France every summer, and Spanish when my mom and I travel down to Mexico once in a while,” Rocca said.

Ultimately, Rocca doesn’t let his talent get to his head. Even with the incredible prospects that inevitably loom down his timeline, his first focus is starting his freshman year off on a strong foot.

Language isn’t the only unique aspect of the ninth grader. Perhaps more impor-

In terms of gigantic prospects approaching Rocca, he has been able to score a few minor roles in Nickelodeon TV shows.

For now, he is officially on hold for other smaller roles at Nick, hoping to move up the ranks and land a major role. Whatever lies in store, Rocca is confident that his calling is on the stage or in front of the camera.

CONVINCING PERFORMER: Rocca seamlessly assumes the demeanor of characters across the spectrum.

TIGER

12 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

FEATURE

Death Note fails original manga series STORY DASHIEL BOVE ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG

DEATH NOTE

director

Adam Wingard

genre

Fantasy/Mystery

rating

PG-13

run time

1 hr 41 mins

D

eath Note was one of the most popular anime series in the world when it finished airing ten years ago. Unfortunately, Netflix’s live action adaptation disapoints fans of the original Japanese comic and animation.

The film begins when Light Turner (Nat Wolff ) discovers a mysterious black notebook sitting on his school’s football field. Light finds that this Death Note enables him to kill anyone whose name is written on its pages. He uses his new power to rid the world of criminals, a campaign which attracts the attention of L (Keith Stanfield), a super-detective who intends to stop Light’s circumvention of justice.

Most of Death Note’s problems can be attributed to poor choices in adaptation.

To understand the failure of Death Note, we have to understand the successes of the original, written between 2003 and 2006, with its animated adaptation airing in 2007.

The story was dark, serious, and attempted to broach the ideas of justice and godhood.

While the series did have a sense of humor, it was saved to interupt long scenes of seriousness. The leading characters, Light and L, formed a genuinely intriguing cat and mouse relationship that kept readers glued to the page.

The 2017 adaptation is a poorly written mind game full of confused and inconsistent characters. Death Note fails to reconcile a definite style, with a story subject that does not compliment any of those things. What results from this attempted mixing is a film whose style is at constant odds with its story. This problem extends to the character writing. Once, Light was a idealistic young intellectual who was singleminded in his goal of eliminating world crime. Now we meet a teenager so afraid of himself and so whiny that he becomes completely unlikeable by the ten minute mark. The once-entertaining, childish, and deeply intelligent L is reduced to a hyperactive detective who doesn’t know how to keep still.

Death Note’s combination of poor writing and mediocre acting doom the film to fade away into the darkness from which it came.

Cos&Pi caters tasty classics to Pasadena Avenue STORY LILY AZAT PHOTO LUKE QUESADA Cos&Pi arrived in South Pasadena last year, bringing classic LA brunch to a forgotten corner of the city. The small restaurant puts an emphasis on breakfast and lunch and offers a wide array of choices.

The restaurant took over the space of long standing sandwich shop Papa Don’s, but few are disappointed with the replacement. The constant line out the door is evidence of the restaurant’s booming popularity. The local spot is family-owned and prides itself on using local ingredients, with a seasonal menu boasting pastries, light and hearty

breakfasts, and burgers for lunch. Each of the dishes are carefully crafted to be just as appealing to the eyes as it is to taste.

The spot is quickly becoming a go-to for South Pasadena residents. Families, teens, and couples alike flock to the venue due to the restaurant’s welcoming staff and high-quality cuisine.

The order counter immediately inside displays many of the restaurant’s staple pastries and coffees. After ordering, customers can seat themselves either inside, outside, or at the bar counter. The small space limits the number of tables, but the quick turnover in the kitchen allows for an available seat for all patrons eating. The outdoor seating provides shade and larger tables to accommodate parties with more people. The restaurant provides water jugs and cups for patrons waiting for their food.

A star of Cos&Pi is its trendy and healthy toasts topped with fresh ingredients. The Salmon Toast is one of the lighter options, garnished with avocado, goat cheese, Scottish smoked salmon, pickled red onions, jalapeño, and chives. The fresh taste of the fish and avocado were met with the slight spice of the jalapeño along with the tartness of the goat cheese. The combination of contrasting flavors made the dish well worth the long wait in line.

For patrons looking to eat something on the heavier side, the Bacon, Sausage & Egg breakfast sandwich is a classic and tasty meal. The sandwich consists of applewood smoked bacon, pork sausage, cheddar cheese, two fried eggs, and garlic aioli, all enclosed in a house made brioche bun. The crispy bacon and buttery bun paired with the garlic aioli perfectly melded together for a savory, mouth-watering dish.

The restaurant also serves specialty lattes and coffee beverages. They pride themselves on their exclusive coffee provider, Jones Coffee, which fell short. The mocha with house made “Jones” flavoring was overall bland and far too bitter. Regardless of the distasteful drink the restaurant did not disappoint.

SAVORY AND LIGHT, the Salmon Toast is one of the more prominent items on Cos&Pi’s menu.

The family-owned local eatery is quickly becoming a go-to for South Pasadena residents.

The brunch and lunch menu is ideal for simple dishes that are as delicious as they are Instagram-worthy. With local ingredients and fresh food, Cos&Pi is a must-try for those looking for a new, delicious local restaurant.

TIGER 13 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

FEATURE

TAAGLAA: LAX-C Thai Market TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA STORY ALEX BETTS PHOTOS LUKE QUEZADA

S

ummer breaks have always allowed me to experience various cultures in other cities, ranging from bustling New York to the calming, tall redwoods of Yosemite. Despite my travels throughout America, I remained unfamiliar with the plethora of cultures within Los Angeles that provide the city with its sense of eccentricity. I set out to Mae-ting’s Coconut Cakes and the LAX-C Thai Market to experience the customs of peoples who have arrived in Southern California over the last few decades.

CAREFULLY CRAFTED: Maeting’s chef expertly pours batter to create delicate and tasty coconut cakes.

My group met at the Gold Line Metro Station for a quick and (thankfully) air-conditioned train ride to Chinatown. We walked over uneven gray concrete and broken glass for two blocks before proceeding through the black iron fence into the area where the market and several restaurants were located.

Mae-ting’s would have been hard to find behind the lines of cars if Finley hadn’t been an experienced customer. Upon entry, we were greeted with warm smiles from the employees. Christmas

lights and floral tablecloths gave the tented restaurant a sense of homeyness, while the Asian linens around the kitchen manifested its authenticity.

Just as the restaurant was small and unpretentious, the food was unique and delectable. We ordered e-saan, a sausage on a stick with a sour flavor; a papaya salad, which fooled me with its sweet taste before the spice kicked in; and pork and chicken skewers, which were tender and delicious. Although all these dishes were fantastic, the star of our meal was the coconut cakes. Crisp on the exterior but soft and sugary on the inside, the miniature hot cakes melted in our mouths. Although many of my friends can testify that I dislike–even loathe–coconut, the deliciousness of these cakes would’ve had me eating them by the handful if I didn’t have to share.

Next, we ventured to the Thai supermarket. At first glance it was strikingly similar to Costco, with packaged products exposed on tiered levels rising up to the ceiling. We wandered through the large emporium, which sold objects ranging from mini-convection ovens to large gongs to unnecessarily substantial containers of Sriracha. Finley compared the creaking forklifts zig-zagging their way through the aisles to the hunting Grievers in The Maze Runner.

SITTING IN PRAYER, two monks and their servers pay respects aloud before enjoying a delicious meal.

As I exited the parking lot, I left with a new appreciation and understanding of the everyday life of others. LAX-C Thai Market was remarkable in its variety while Mae-ting’s Coconut Cakesdemonstrated how the products in the supermarket make their way from shelf to plate with the one-of-a-kind restaurant serving mouthwatering dishes.

TIGER

14 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

SPORTS

Freshmen take hold in water polo With the 2017 campaign approaching, boys’ water polo replenishes talent with freshmen.

STORY ALEX BETTS After taking the Rio Hondo League by storm in 2015, expectations were high for boys’ water polo heading into the 2016 season. Despite having won the RHL championship, the experienced squad had eight returning seniors: another title and CIF berth seemed inevitable. Unfortunately, early league losses accumulated, and a 1-3 start in league all but eliminated the chance for a spot in CIF. A final loss to Temple City destroyed their last hopes for an elongated season.

As the 2017 school year approached, so did an abundance of young talent for boys’ water polo. Although a few seniors would return to the varsity squad, some notable graduates left gaping holes in the lineup, delegating plenty of open spots to the new faces. Among the freshmen arrivals were Anthony Felix, Dominic Kline, Eddie Lane-Flanigan, Liam Markus, and Maven Palacios.

The prodigies endured a rocky start to preseason with losses to Flintridge Prep and Burroughs, but found their groove in their victory against Hoover last Thursday. The young athletes’ dedication to intense, year-round practices at SPHS and Rose Bowl has been apparent in games. As Goalie, Markus has been pivotal in stressful situations, often keeping the game close with key blocks and outstanding transition passes. Palacios has provided a speedy presence off the bench, slashing through defenses with drives to the net. Kline showcased his incredible offensive and defensive abilities against Hoover, frequently forcing turnovers and capitalizing in transition.

An important two-way starter, Felix has been a fierce, tough defender, rarely letting opposing players score against him while also launching well-placed shots from deep. But of the freshmen, Lane-Flanigan has arguably been the most impressive on offense. Wearing cap number six, Lane-Flanigan is often seen spearheading the Tigers’ attack, whether by rocketing well-placed strikes, throwing pinpoint passes to teammates, or cutting to the goal to create scoring chances.

As the freshmen grow more accustomed to their roles on the squad, this team will strive to develop a consistent juggernaut with the efforts of adept returning players and underclassmen. If the new faces continue to work hard and sustain their impressive play, the Tigers can look forward to a league title and CIF berth. However, the 2016 season is an example of what can occur if focus is lost. Either way, future opponents should be cautious.

RISING TO BLOCK senior Harper Fox and junior Kimberly Brown protect the net.

Analyzing the quality of girls’ volleyball’s preseason STORY SOFIE DRESKIN PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE Girls’ volleyball opened its preseason with a record of 1-1 after playing Westridge and Mark Keppel.

The Tigers were defeated by Westridge in three sets with scores of 25-18, 25-12, and 25-13. However, they triumphed over Mark Keppel in three sets with scores of 30-28, 25-12, and 25-18.

Both South Pas and Westridge were eliminated in the second round of CIF last year. Unfortunately, South Pas struggled to play consistently throughout the sets though freshman Lola Foord and senior Maddie Saito demonstrated dynamic offense. These powerful offensive tactics will prove helpful against teams with impressive reception, considering that Westridge plays at a similar level to many of the teams the Tigers will encounter in CIF. South Pas’ inability to close a match may have implications for the team’s performance against more challenging opponents it will encounter as the season goes on.

Westridge held a height advantage over South Pas’ players, with nearly all of the private school’s athletes towering over the young, adept South Pas squad. South Pasadena height did not detriment its opportunity for a victory over Westridge, but the Tigers did adjust their offense at the net. Four freshmen have joined the team this year and three of them commonly play in the starting line-up.

The win against Mark Keppel was not surprising considering the team’s skill level. South Pasadena won the first set with minimal struggle, then easily defeated the Aztecs in the following two sets.

Freshman Lindsey Hirano played tactical defense as the libero, which will be important when facing teams with powerful hitters. As long as the Tigers communicate and minimize errors on their side of the court, beating teams similar to Mark Keppel will not prove difficult.

Check out tigernewspaper.com for coverage of the Tigers’ latest home match against Alhambra today.

TIGER 15 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

SPORTS

FILMGATE: A FOOTBALL SCANDAL Follow staff writers Noah Parker and Preston Sharkey, as they recount the iconic disqualification which derailed the 2014 football season STORY NOAH PARKER AND PRESTON SHARKEY PHOTO LUKE QUEZADA

T

he bus rolled along the La Cañada suburbs as streetlights hung over the cool November evening. In the rearview mirror stood haunting Friday night lights, shining with an unfamiliar hostility over the remaining fans in attendance. Despite having just pummeled rival La Cañada by a score of 21-3, the mood between players was somber. The numb rage that simmered under the skin of 42 football players was an uncomfortable contrast to the battle cries screamed before the game, a painful wound to which there was no relief.

The thoughts which fermented in the mind of thensophomore Coby Pineda were dark and unlike the expectations that drove the program’s best season in nearly twelve years. Emotions swung in a way that defied the typical football bravado. It was a moment of vulnerability for a team who was punished for showing any weakness on the field.

Off the field, more issues were brewing. The parentdriven fallout that ensued days after was as chaotic as any individual could have imagined. Over the weekend, speculation spread around South Pasadena speculation about the controversial call and the procedures that were taken in response.

Of the most angry parents, the mother of long snapper Ryan DeLucia is still remembered around campus for her passionate displays of disapproval regarding administrative decisions. It was a time of major distress for both Principal Janet Anderson and Athletic Director Gregorio Luna, as they tried to hold together a situation that was ripping at its very seams.

When students returned to school on Monday, many different versions of the story were told. Rumors circulated the school, attempting to scapegoat the coaching staff. Even more confusion was introduced after then-head coach Marty Konrad released a statement to the community denying any wrongdoing.

By mid-December, a solid storyline of the scandal had been established. On November 4th, 2014, La Cañada was in the middle of a routine midweek practice when a Spartan coach noticed a man leaning against a fence holding a camcorder. The man left the field after a heated confrontation with the coach. The next day, the same individual was spotted at practice, but fled the scene before coaches could speak to

AT ROOSEVELT FIELD, empty bleachers stand ready for Friday night lights. him. However, Spartan head coach Ramsay Lambert managed to take a picture of the man’s license plate, which was later turned over to the La Crescenta Police Department. After running the plate, police identified the man as Nick Konrad, brother of Marty Konrad.

With the support of the ample evidence, Rio Hondo League officials decided to force South Pasadena to forfeit its final game against the Spartans, effectively eliminating them from CIF contention.

Principal Janet Anderson was informed by La Cañada Principal Ian McFeat soon after about the decision.

However, the team continued to prepare for the game, not knowing that the game would be forfeited. When Friday rolled around, the excitement surrounding the boys was palpable.

The Tigers dominated the first three quarters of the rivalry game, and with the clock winding down in the fourth quarter, South Pasadena led the Spartans 21-3. The Tigers were just minutes away from their first CIF berth in over a decade. Pineda expressed the team’s postgame elation.

“I was pretty excited about going to the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. It felt unreal,” Pineda said. “ We celebrated in the visitor’s locker room after the victory, all jumping up and down like we were little kids again.”

As Anderson made her way onto the joyous team bus, the Tigers couldn’t have imagined what they were about to hear. Once the celebration had quieted down, Anderson gathered the team’s attention and broke the news.

“There really wasn’t a single dry eye that night,”

Pineda said. “I just remember seeing guys with their heads in their lockers bawling their eyes out and other guys just sitting in the middle of the locker room silently in shock of what had just happened.”

Three weeks later on November 28th, the Rio Hondo League held a meeting to decide whether or not to uphold the ruling. All six Rio Hondo League principals were in attendance as South Pas players and parents pled their cases to the board. After discussing for some time, the principals decided to uphold their decision unaimously.

The team still had a chance to be reinstated into CIF playoffs, however. South Pas had the possibility to appeal the decision to CIF, but chose not to, to the surprise of many players and parents.

“Some of the guys felt like the administration was turning their backs on us. Others were just trying to get over the event as a whole and focus on next year to bounce back from the disappointing end of a season,” Pineda said.

What now remains is a fading scar: a reminder of a successful season that was merely marred by a scandal.

Looking at the greater scheme of South Pasadena’s success, the event set a vendetta, which the young squad carried into following season. The 2015 team played with a chip on its shoulder, recording an 8-3 record, the program’s best mark of the century.

The resignation of Coach Konrad ushered in two successful years under coach CB Richards. Richards led the team to two consecutive CIF playoff berths, while creating a new culture around South Pasadena football.

Girls’ tennis defeats Duarte in season opener STORY ISABELLA TSAI PHOTO RICHARD GOMEZ - Stats From Thursday’s Game

Singles

Doubles

Player

Carissa Park

Score

6-2

Player

Kimberly+Talulla

Score

6-4

6-2

7-5

6-0

6-1

Shannon Huang 6-0

6-0

6-0

Sheila+Teryn 6-1

6-1

6-0

Deanna Als 6-0

6-0

6-0

Sofia+Ashley 6-1

6-0

6-1

junior Sheila Li and sophomore Teryn Kum also grabbed wins in all three of their matches, with scores of 6-0 or 6-1. The freshmen pairing of Kimberly Hsueh and Talulla Chow also proved successful, as they were victorious in their two matches.

Alternate freshmen Lauren Galles and Skylar Cornforth subbed in for Hsueh and Chow, outmaneuvered Duarte in a tie-breaker of 7-5.

SENIOR ASHLEY SATO, tosses the ball up as she prepares to serve.

The varsity girls’ tennis team began its preseason with a 18-0 sweep against the Duarte Falcons on Wednesday, September 6. The home game was the first match the Tigers have played this school year after having to cancel two previous games due to the extreme heat. Their overall record now stands at 1-0.

South Pas performed exceptionally well in its singles matches. Juniors Shannon Huang and Deanna Als each took all three matches, not letting their opponents win a single game. Freshman Carissa Park also showcased a strong performance, with a score of 6-2, 6-2, and 6-0 in her games.

Returning doubles partners seniors Sofia Tomasevic and Ashley Sato, alongside

The new season brought many changes to the roster as several of last year’s key players, Anya Nicolaides, Ashley Huang, and Jessica Chang have graduated. Senior Molly Round, who proved herself to be a crucial part of the team’s success in past seasons, is also not returning this year. Instead, this year’s tennis team is now more underclassmen-heavy, with five freshmen players and one sophomore. The challenge the team faces in the upcoming season is training these younger players to be able to compete on the high school level.

In addition to the fresh faces on the team, the Tigers are being led by a new coach, Sean Taroli. Taroli was brought onto the South Pas tennis coaching staff last spring for the boys’ tennis season. This fall he is returning to the courts to oversee the girls’ team.

The Tigers will travel to John Muir High School to play the Westridge Tigers in another preseason match on Friday, September 8. For coverage, visit tigernewspaper.com.

TIGER 16 SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

SPORTS Girls’ golf falls to La Cañada

Despite maintaining a low stroke count, the team was defeated by a single point STORY BEN CLARK PHOTO AMELIA ANTHONY The girls’ golf team suffered a harrowing defeat on Tuesday, September 5 to La Cañada at the Brookside Golf Course. After an intense battle, the team lost by one point with a stroke count of 258 as opposed to La Cañada’s 257. Sophomore Victoria Tskvitichvili led the team with a score of 43. Freshman Katherine Anthony and sophomore Lindsey Biggar weren’t far behind with scores of 50 each. This was followed by senior Nicole Srisutham with a score of 53 and junior Miranda Cheng with a score of 62.

Despite the impressive showing from the girls’ golf team, La Cañada pushed ahead due to its lead golfer’s score of 38. Though Tskvitichvili, Anthony, and Biggars finished the match in second, and tied for third respectively, La Cañada’s possesion of first place narrowly won them the meet. Fortunately, because La Cañada competes in a different division, it was not a league match, meaning that the Tigers’ undefeated record remains intact. As a result, they remain optimistic as they prepare to enter league competition.

LOADING HER SWING, freshman Katherine Anthony preapred to hit a ball on the driving range.

“This loss will help motivate our team for future matches,” said senior Nicole Srisutham. “We were missing a key player but we tried our best.”

The team has a chance to prove itself again on Friday, September 8, when it goes up against La Salle at the Almansor Golf Course.

Cross country: an eccentric family From bizarre traditions to well-planned battle strategies STORY ALINA MEHDI PHOTO HELENA FU

Four miles to Tommy’s Burger, two triple chilli cheeseburgers, fries with extra chilli on top, the largest drink offered, and four miles back without throwing up.

The “hero challenge” is, strangely, something that the South Pasadena cross country team voluntarily attempts. The close-knit team has many unique traditions like this, totally unknown to the outside world. Singing Bohemian Rhapsody, creating scavenger hunts, and pre-race Souplantation outings are just a few rituals that have created such an inseparable bond within the cross country team. Building these close relationships helps the Tigers to function as a team on the course as well.

Like most sports, there is an art to performing in cross country. The lengthy distance can prove to be immensely difficult if not trained for properly, or if the runners lack a strategy. South Pasadena team members, however, have perfected their methods, reaching CIF preliminaries last season and historically being one of South Pas’ most successful sport teams. The team, while maintaining their individual strategies, embodies the pack mentality created outside of practice. The members share tactics and are collectively taught to start out slow, gradually build up and rank, and finish strong with all their saved up strength.

On an individual level, each runner develops their own “race strategy”. This mental plan is crucial for racers to maintain stamina during the wearisome miles, while still making a decent time. Without one, many runners fall to common mistakes like starting out too fast and depleting all energy before the final laps. The Tigers, however, with their long practices and experienced coaches, have developed race strategies which help them avoid blunders like these.

“The reason we start training at the beginning of summer and do such distance-intensive runs, with long runs reaching more than three times our race distances is because without it, we’ll tire out at the beginning of a race,” senior Caroline Liu said. “As a team, we emphasize proper nutrition and sleep, in order to fuel the body and to give it proper time to recover.”

RUNNING IN PRACTICE, the team prepares for upcoming matches.

With tough practices addressing the physical aspect, the most challenging part of a long run for many runners is maintainging mental stamina.

“When running, it’s so important to keep up my mental strength because most of the time, that’s going to have more of an impact in keeping my legs moving. On a long run, I think of the way there as an individual run. When I reach the turnaround point, I think of the way back as a completely different run. It’s really helpful so that the overall mileage doesn’t seem as much,” said senior Alana Ballagh.

With the seniors and experienced coaches to guide the newcomers with these effective strategies, the cross country Tigers show promise for this upcoming season. The Tigers’ goal this year is to sweep league, a feat that’s within reach considering the team’s talent. Their first league meet will be on September 21, at Lacy Park.

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