“Empowering students to think critically and creatively since 1913.”
VOLUME 105 ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
IN THE NEWS
SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
Club Rush
College Night
STEM Construction
SPHS’ array of clubs gather today and tomorrow in the gym to invite students to join their organizations.
The SPHS Counseling Department will host seniors in the auditorium for an informational meeting tomorrow.
STEM building work forges on, finishing 50% of the roof and beginning floor construction.
Shooting aftermath: what warrants a lockdown
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n officer-involved shooting on the 1100 block of Fremont Avenue resulted in one fatality on Thursday, Aug. 30. The incident, which happened only two blocks away from SPHS, occurred around 2 p.m., yet those present on campus, including teachers and students, were not notified nor placed under any security measures. SPUSD has placed schools under lockdowns due to causes ranging from police activity near campus to social media threats. In 2017, threatening emails of gun violence placed SPHS into soft lockdown. This reportedly lasted until after the suspect was located miles away from campus and apprehended by police. With the recent police activity on Fremont and a look into SPHS’ past safety occurrences, it is unclear to many students, parents, and even staff, what type of situation warrants what precautions. Although a look into SPUSD’s policies helps us gain further understanding into why threats in the past have justified the actions of the school. The procedure of locking classroom doors but continuing with instruction, known as a soft lockout, will be implemented “when there is a potential threat or police activity on or off school grounds,” according to the 2018-2019 emergency procedures for SPHS. “When an extraordinary event occurs on or off school ground,” an announcement of a hard lockdown will go over the intercom and alert students to close all window blinds, lock all doors, and
STORY ADAM KWOH PHOTOS TIGER PHOTOGRAPHERS hide in the furthest corner of the classroom. Extraordinary events that might activate a hard lockdown would be “a major fight or riotous situation, unauthorized person on campus with a weapon, shots fired or potential for shots to be fired, and police activity on or near campus.” Regarding Thursday’s incident, the district, along with the South Pasadena Police Department (SPPD) determined that any safety threat that the situation posed was under control and therefore did not call for any procedures to be executed on school campus. According to Assistant Principal of Student Services David Speck, clarification and approval for safety emergencies must be confirmed by the SPPD for the majority of situations. Investigation will typically be conducted before action for all threats, including those online and activity near campus. “We had immediate contact with the school resource officer and the police and we got immediate notification that the situation was already contained to one location,” Mr. Speck said. “If we did feel like there was a threat that was going to affect our campus, we would go on a soft lockout. We take all threats equally as seriously… [student] safety is important to us.”
CLUB RUSH
ADD/DROP
Tiger highlights some new and returning organizations ahead of Club Rush, including the new club Challenge Success.
Tiger’s staff editorial probes the reasoning behind the unpopular new scheduling policy changes, and explores possible solutions.
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TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM
“LOVE & PEACE” Staff Writer Audrey Ernst highlights Dual Crossroads, the Mission St. shop with an array of spiritual supplies and workshops that cleanse the mind. Page 10
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TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
NEWS
Tiger Talks
Tiger Talks, led by senior Yidan Xu, will be returning for a second year at SPHS, bringing back its contentious debates that caught the attention of students and teachers alike. Not only are the club’s leaders interested in pursuing more debates on current events, they also want to expand their online presence and provide a forum for respectful discussion, online or in person, in the coming year.
an open microphone for multifaceted political discussion. To further enhance their goals of creating a campus-focused forum, Tiger Talks has established a website to continue dialogue from school debates off campus. To strengthen their website as a forum, the club will also be posting student written articles to drive political discussion.
The 2017-2018 Club of the Year, Baking Tigers, will be returning to SPHS, continuing its dual purpose: baking treats and donating the proceeds to a member-selected charity. This year the club is led by junior Jio Park, who plans to further the club’s proactive presence on and off of campus. In past years, Baking Tigers has
Tiger’s
The club first envisioned itself as a platform modeled similarly to Ted Talks, but their first debate early last school year about gun control measures, which was highly popular and provided an engaging, often heated scene for political discussion, altered their plans. In the upcoming year, Tiger Talks is planning to conduct more debates, but will also be introducing different events, such as
GUIDE TO CLUB RUSH
Challenge Success Striving to help alleviate student stress, SPHS Challenge Success, led by senior co-presidents Hayley Villapudua and Brandon Lee, works on facilitating the idea that success is measured over the course of a lifetime, not just at the end of a high school semester. Challenge Success, founded by the Stanford’s Graduate School of Education in 2003, partners with over 150 schools across the country. The firstyear club aims to distribute schoolwide surveys, promote more meaningful homework, and classes where kids can pursue their passions. Club members are expected to participate in shadow days with teachers, present projects in morning staff meetings, and partake in mental health workshops.
Baking Tigers
PAGE DESIGN ISABELLA TSAI ILLUSTRATIONS DAVID SOHN PHOTOS TIGER PHOTOGRAPHERS
“The club is really important because we give students an opportunity to voice their opinions about the things happening at our school and reduce the amount of stress that SPHS students feel,” Lee said. “We want people to know that there are other methods to a successful life and they don’t have to take tons of APs.”
While the main purposes of the club have remained consistent throughout the years, Park wants to ensure that the process and spirit of their project stay fun and meaningful on multiple levels. During the school year, the club’s leaders will organize bonding sessions for the members, such as group baking events to connect members of the club from different classes. Towards the end of the year, Park hopes that the club will be able to put together a recipe book to commemorate the group’s work.
Tiger Medicine
STORY NICHOLAS LIU, DOMINIC MARZIALI, & RAYMOND YEO
Furthermore, two juniors will also be chosen to attend a Challenge Success summit at Stanford University in September to learn more about mental health.
hosted monthly bake sales to raise funds that traditionally go to Feeding America, a U.S.-based hunger relief nonprofit selected by the club members. In addition to monthly bake sales, the club wants to expand to volunteering and hosting food drives, as well as instilling a sense of community among its members.
T i g e r Medicine aims to inform students about the different careers and opportunities pertaining to the medical field while also building on the public knowledge of health and medicine through activities and events. The club — led by senior Sarah Uriarte — is geared toward students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine and are passionate about health and wellness in general. Tiger Medicine became well-known on campus after its health fair that hosted various local health organizations who
shared their resources with students to promote healthy habits and connections with health services. Tiger Medicine plans on holding another health fair this school year. Club members will also be able to attend Q&A sessions to learn about medical career pathways, attend a tour of a local medical facility, and take part in dissection day. “I believe Tiger Medicine is important because those who are passionate about medicine get the chance to address these issues by planning the health fair,” Uriarte said. “This opportunity, as well as the chance to participate in the Q&As and other medicalrelated activities allow club members to increase their exposure to careers and common work in the medical field.”
Western Philosophy
Bildungsroman
Astronomy Club
The Western Philosophy Club is a first-year club led by junior Emiliano Venegas. During the group’s weekly meetings, historical western ideologies and existentialism will be discussed and debated. The club will highlight western philosophy from throughout the ages, ranging from the views of Socrates and Aristotle in Ancient Greece to the modern thinking of Thomas Hobbes and Francis Bacon. Members should be willing to engage in meaningful conversations about western philosophy and history.
The term “bildungsroman” refers to development through age, and the identically named returning club led by senior Miranda Cheung intends to study both students’ coming of age and future wisdom from guest speakers of various professional backgrounds. Guest speakers will give presentations and talks throughout the year that reflect their own life experience. Last year, Bildungsroman hosted speakers ranging from former Universal Studios Programmers to Harvard graduates.
As a notable returning club during the 2018-19 school year, the Astronomy Club is led by senior Akash Rathi. The club meets weekly to plan out out-of-school events such as telescope nights. Rathi also plans to incorporate astronomy-themed presentations during meetings. “By giving students live visuals of our planetary neighbors, we can achieve a better understanding of the world within our community,” Rathi said
TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
NEWS
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SPHS welcomes parents at Back to School Night Principal greets parents as they step onto campus to a ‘Year of Living Lovingly’ STORY CHRISTINE MAO PHOTOS ANDRÉS OYAGA SPHS opened its gates for its annual Back to School Night Thursday, Sept. 6. The night gave parents the opportunity to familiarize themselves with their students’ new schedules and teachers.
“[Back to School Night] is really the best opportunity for parents to get the overview of what goes on in each class so they can support their children going through the school year,” Anderson said.
The evening kicked off with its traditional convocation in the SPHS auditorium prior to the classroom visits. Principal Janet Anderson welcomed parents to the “SPHS Year of Living Lovingly.” Assistant Principals Janet Wichman and David Speck later introduced staff members of all departments.
Student Services had tables set up in front of the Counseling/Career Center, allowing seniors to fill out forms to obtain Senior Privilege Cards. Additionally, the counseling tables were set up adjacent to Student Services. Counselors were available in the front of the building to provide parents insights and advice for their child’s current high school performance and possible future career plans.
SPHS Color Guard delivered a brief performance titled “Butterflies” and Dance III performed “Mad Tea Party” from SPHS Dance’s spring production of Alice In Wonderland, giving parents a glimpse of what the dance program has to offer. Members of Food Services, South Pasadena Educational Foundation Board, Parent Teacher Student Association, and Booster Club introduced themselves and informed parents of ways to assist the school and their students. Following the assembly, ASB students clad in orange jackets helped parents and attendees navigate the campus for their classroom visits. Each visit was ten minutes per period and based off the odd-even day schedules, giving parents an experience similar to that of the students. Teachers delivered brief summaries of their course outlines, grading policies, basic rules and expectations, and what to expect from their child’s course. Many teachers also went over their Wish Night requests and informed parents about how to help support and guide the students.
“It seemed that this year’s Back to School Night was really well-attended. Last year, we had to contend with extreme heat that cancelled the auditorium portion and affected overall attendance, and that was a factor that we didn’t have to deal with this year,” Principal Anderson said. “Parents were very positive and commented a lot on the dance performance in the auditorium, teachers’ willingness to work with students beyond the class period, and a general sense of being pleased by what they heard in the classroom sessions.”
Parents were very positive and commented a lot on the dance performance in the auditorium, teachers’ willingness to work with students beyond the class period, and a general sense of being pleased by what they heard in the classroom.” sessions.”
SPHS TEACHERS AND PRINCIPAL ANDERSON welcomed parents to the new school year. Teachers briefly outlined their curriculum and explained their rules and expectations during classroom visits.
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TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
NEWS
The evolution of Asian-Americans in Hollywood STORY KIMBERLY HSUEH, AANJI SIN, & LUYANG ZHANG
PAGE DESIGN KATE ROGERS & ELAINE YANG
Sixteen Candles - 1984 The coming of age film, Sixteen Candles, features a cast dominated by white actors. The only major character of color, Chinese exchange student Long Duk Dong, perpetuated the legacy of many false Asian stereotypes that existed when the movie was released in 1984. Many of these cultural misconceptions are still palpable today. With a gong sounding upon each of his entrances and his exaggerated ignorance of American customs, the character was a source of comedic relief rather than a contribution to the plot. These stabs at Chinese culture and individuals came at the expense of many AsianAmericans who were labeled as the same bizarre teen portrayed in Sixteen Candles.
Grey’s Anatomy - 2005 Grey’s Anatomy, now in its 14th season, introduced audiences to Christina Yang, whose portrayal by Sandra Oh earned the actress a Golden Globe award. Cristina is often portrayed as brash — almost to the point of rudeness — outspoken, ambitious, and very witty. Cristina is just one example of a character that doesn’t fit the stereotypes for Asian doctors, who are often depicted as boring and strictly studious. She is, however, characterized as hypercompetitive and addicted to her work, the classic type-A Asian. Instead of writing her as an antagonist to Meredith Grey’s softer personality, Grey’s recognized her strengths and wrote her as a memorable supporting character. Yang is multidimensional and displayed evident emotional development throughout the series, two important character aspects that most Asian characters on screen in the past haven’t received.
Master of None - 2015 Master of None, an original Netflix series, quickly became a fan favorite when it was first released in 2015. The show is based off of the life of show writer and star Aziz Ansari. As an Asian actor who often felt that his casting was limited by his race, Ansari wrote Master of None with diversity in the forefront of his mind. In the first season episode “Indians on TV” one of the main characters refuses to imitate an accent during an audition and submit to Asian stereotypes promoted on television. The cast also features two Asian main characters played by Ansari and Kelvin Yu, who consistently demonstrate an assertiveness in their actions, yet, show differences in personality that breaks the quiet, nerdy, STEM-inclined mold that Asian men usually fill in films and television.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
ILLUSTRATIONS ELAINE YANG
Asian representation in the film industry has evolved significantly since the stereotyped characters that were normalized in the 70s and 80s. Today, many recent films start to feature Asian characters as multi-dimensional individuals with story arcs independent from their ethnicity. These movies and shows have contributed to making diverse media representation a reality for Asians around the world — encouraging other movie studios to continue this path.
The Joy Luck Club - 1993 The Joy Luck Club made history in 1993 as the first American movie with an all-Asian cast. Based on stories of four interwoven families, the film highlights bold women such as An-Mei and Lindo, who break free from their mothers’ tight control on their life. Along with the emotional depictions of the mothers’ struggles for respect, the movie also portrays the heartbreaking pasts and personal dilemmas each mother had with their own marriages and careers; as well as the conflicted relationships the daughters feel with their mothers. With many references to Chinese lifestyle and cultural differences, this film presented the hardships of Asian immigrants and laid the foundation for other films to follow its legacy of Asian representation in American media.
Fresh Off the Boat - 2015 As the first sitcom featuring an Asian-American family on the ABC channel, Fresh Off the Boat has been called one of the milestones for Asian representation. The series focuses on a Taiwanese family facing an environmental change as they migrate to Florida. 11-year-old Eddie Huang finds it difficult assimilating to the new community with a small Asian population, however, he attempts to conform to his white peers. His mother, Jessica, is often portrayed as a stereotypical Asian mother with a desire for an academically talented son. While she pushes Eddie and his siblings towards a career in law or medicine, Eddie subverts the Asian stereotype by radiating confidence as a protagonist with a passion for rap culture. The show navigates Eddie’s struggles to be accepted by his peers and the challenges that clashing cultures creates within his family.
Crazy Rich Asians - 2018 -
- 2018 -
Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before also features an Asian American character in its leading role. Lana Condor plays Lara Jean Covey, a half-Korean-half-white teenager. Unlike Crazy Rich Asian’s flashy display of Asian culture, Lara Jean’s heritage is completely independent from the plotline of the film; there is no part of the story that depends on her ethnicity to guide it along. Based on the novel by Jenny Han, Lara Jean is forced to deal with the fallout when five of her secret love letters get sent out to her crushes. Lara Jean’s all-American-girl character proves that Asians can be cast in any role in any kind of movie, even as a romantic lead. Crazy Rich Asians and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before both serve as momentous stepping stones in the movement to include more Asian-American actors in future film leading roles.
The recent hit film Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon Chu, is the first movie to have a predominantly Asian cast in 25 years. Based on the novel by Kevin Kwan, the romantic comedy follows the love story of Rachel Chu and Nick Young. Although Rachel and Nick both come from Chinese families, the contrast between their Eastern and Western upbringings becomes apparent when Nick’s mother, Eleanor, who believes all Americans are selfish, develops a disdain for Rachel. The film discusses the differences between Asian-Americans and Chinese natives, the obligations felt by Chinese children to their parents, and the classic struggle between mother and daughter in-laws. Crazy Rich Asians also displays a new side of Asia, previously unexplored by films in the past. Movies set in Asia often feature characters of low income or impoverished backgrounds, but Crazy Rich Asians explores the unseen wealth within the country of Singapore.
TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
THE TIGER ESTABLISHED 1913
CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2011 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2013 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2014 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2015 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2016 CSPA GOLD MEDALIST 2017 CSPA CROWN AWARD 2018
ST A F F ED IT OR IA L
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OPINION
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MATT WAKUMOTO MANAGING EDITORS OONA FOLEY, Print RACHEL LU, Online NEWS ISABELLA TSAI, Editor OPINION PETER WANG, Editor FEATURE ALEX BETTS, Editor SPORTS NOAH PARKER, Editor DESIGN ELAINE YANG, KATE ROGERS, Co-Editors PHOTOGRAPHY ALICIA ALDERETE, Editor COPY LILIAN AZAT MAYA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITERS AUDREY ERNST, CAT FLORES, KIMBERLY HSUEH, CAROLINE KIMBEL, ADAM KWOH, NICOLAS LIU, CHRISTINE MAO, DOMINIC MARZIALI, PRESTON SHARKEY, AANJI SIN, MATTHEW TSAI, RAYMOND YEO, MADDIE YOO, LUYANG ZHANG PHOTOGRAPHERS TONY CHEN, JAYDEN EDEN, ANDRES OYAGA, OSCAR WALSH, SOPHIE YEUNG ILLUSTRATORS DAVID SOHN, NICHOLAS FORMAN GRAPHIC DESIGNER TALULLA CHOW VIDEOGRAPHER JACOB MILLS MANAGERS HYUN KIM, Business SAMANTHA ABELSON, Ads WEBMASTER ALEX PARRA FACULTY ADVISOR MIKE HOGAN VOL. 105 NO. 1 DISTRIBUTED ON SEPT 11, 2018. DISTRIBUTION: 1444 STUDENTS; 70 COMMUNITY. 1600 COPIES PRINTED. DISTRIBUTED BY TIGER STAFF FREE OF CHARGE.
TIGER IS PRODUCED BY THE ADVANCED JOURNALISM NEWSPAPER CLASS AT SOUTH PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL, 1401 FREMONT AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030. LAYOUT AND PHOTO IMAGING ARE COMPLETED ON-SITE. PRINTED BY AMERICAN/FOOTHILL PUBLISHING CO., INC., TUJUNGA, CA. SIGNED ARTICLES APPEARING IN TIGER REPRESENT THE WRITER’S OPINIONS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE STAFF, STUDENT BODY, FACULTY OR ADMINISTRATION OF SPHS.
The problems with the new scheduling policy Students have been aggravated by the scheduling policy changes that prohibit them from dropping or adding new courses
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ith so many complaints about scheduling this year, the lines in CC1 to see the counselors have been unreasonably long. Since the new scheduling policy was put into place, prohibiting the switching of courses, students have been outraged. The new add/drop policy forbids students from altering the course list they originally planned last spring. It was created as a result of too many students switching between AP, honors, and regular courses, leaving class sizes unbalanced in previous years. The new policy was designed to benefit students, yet it seems to be much more problematic than beneficial. The goal of the administration should be to provide every student with the resources they need to graduate and be successful, this zero tolerance add/drop policy is detrimental to students’ academic and extracurricular endeavors. There needs to be change in our school’s scheduling policy to prioritize the necessities of the students instead of equal class sizes. Anticipating resentment and confusion, the administration warned students last spring that they would be required to stick with the classes they put on their four year plans. Upon formulating the new policy, students were asked to attend all AP meetings and ensure they could handle the classes they were signing up for. However, it is difficult for many students to understand what a class entails until they actually take it on. A possible solution could be to have students who already took the AP courses speak at the information meetings to properly educate potential incoming AP students on the class and the work it realistically requires. While this may reduce students’ misconceptions about a class, it does not replace a proper add/drop policy. The new policy has put stress on students that decide they do not want to take classes they originally signed up for or those who want to add new ones. Often, teenagers can be overly optimistic
ORIGINAL STORIES WILL CARRY BYLINES, ALTHOUGH STORIES REWRITTEN BY ANYONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL WRITER WILL NOT RECEIVE A BYLINE. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE BYLINES. C O N T ACT THE PUBLICAT ION S OF F ICE A T (626) 441-5820 EXT. 2615 BETWEEN 8:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M. FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. TIGER WELCOMES ARTICLES, LETTERS OR REBUTTALS FOR PUBLICATION IN THE PRINT AND ONLINE EDITIONS. ALL LETTERS MUST BE SIGNED AND VERIFIABLE, BUT NAMES WILL BE WITHHELD UPON REQUEST.
TIGER’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 . ALL REMAINING CURRENT TIGER NEWSPAPER POLICIES ARE ONLINE AT TIGERNEWSPAPER.COM INCLUDING: CONFLICT OF INTEREST, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, CORRECTIONS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
about how much they will be able to handle. For many students, it is necessary to take difficult classes and participate in quite a few extracurricular activities for college admission. Without the possibility of adding or dropping classes, students can end up stuck taking courses they find too challenging, and could end up failing. For instance, sophomore Rae Norton wanted to drop out of an honors class to ease her stress, but has been unable to do so. “I’ve been having so many mental breakdowns because I’m in Honors French and no one is letting me switch out. I’m taking multiple Honors classes and I cannot handle this one,” Norton said. The inability to add and drop classes this year has not only affected students’ academics but has also negatively impacted some students’ ability to pursue their extracurricular interests that are also an important consideration regarding college applications. Senior Henry Barbera is especially outraged about this. “It really ruins my whole day because now in order to take all the classes I want that would look good for colleges, I have to take a seventh period and I probably won’t be able to play soccer since practices start at two,” he said. The administration is rightfully fed up with the way things have been done in previous years, but obviously, the new zero tolerance policy isn’t working. They should continue with the way they have currently been designing the master schedule, but leave some leeway for students to switch in and out of each class. This way, the administration can know how many teachers will be required, and the students can sign up for classes they want without the fear of being stuck. It’s better for the administration to meet the scheduling needs of some students rather than none.
Boos & Bravos
Tiger ’s cheers and jeers for the month of September. BOOS
BRAVOS
BOO to the ants. We already have a pest infestation: the freshmen.
BRAVO to the Aeries app. Now I can be disappointed in myself even faster.
BOO to the zoom and saturation on the ID cards. I look sunburnt.
BRAVO to the soap in the bathroom. I thought Kate Ba graduated?
BOO to Copa’s lame anti-Tiger video. At least we’re funny and don’t pull the same gag every year.
BRAVO to year of living lovingly*. *does not apply to freshmen.
BOO to the annoying Emoji keyboard on Instagram for reminding us of language’s slow crawl back to hieroglyphics.
BRAVO to the door kid (he literally stands and holds the cafeteria door open for the entirety of lunch).
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TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
OPINION
PRO CON :
Service Trips
Service trips provide opportunities to do volunteer work around the world. Considering trip costs and student incentives, are ‘voluntours’ more vacations or service?
+ Meaning in humility STORY NICOLAS LIU ILLUSTRATION NICHOLAS FORMAN
mindset is one of the main factors that make up a meaningful and morally acceptable service trip.
Service trips, often referred to as ‘voluntouring,’ are a step above typical volunteer work. Traveling to another part of the world to benefit a target society demands humility and diligence. Unfortunately for those who participate in these trips with the right mindset, there are many who manipulate their purpose to aid themselves instead of others.
While trips with proper ethical justification are perfectly acceptable, some would argue that the money used to pay for travel expenses could be better spent in direct donations to charity. An advantageous feature of service trips, however, is that they provide knowledge of an area’s unique issues and needs, which is in some cases more valuable than a single donation.
Of course, there will always be instances of service trips being used for individual gain. Even so, these trips can be beneficial if students approach them with a proper mindset of service and a genuine sense of purpose. The perception of service trips cannot be compromised because of those who only volunteer to benefit themselves. When there are cases of bragging on social media about participating in service trips, the meaning of the whole activity is wasted. Participation in such trips should come from a strong sense to serve, to learn about issues in other parts of the world and to contribute where and when contribution is needed. Contrary to common belief, many service trips do provide seminars and other activities that enhance a participant’s understanding of the issue in the specific area they are volunteering. This helps trips become more about outreach than self-service. An outreach
One major difference between good and bad service trips is the ethics behind their service. To ensure the trip you are participating in is ethical, you should know enough about the logistics of what you are signing up for first. This includes where volunteering efforts are going and if the help being provided is necessary. Also be willing to understand the issues and culture of wherever you volunteer and inquire about any supplemental activities that will better inform you of these things. When done right, service trips are neither a waste of time nor money. The unique learning experiences that come from these trips, coupled with the potential to bring change to a needy area, make them a force for meaningful change. The one catch is that students must go seeking not to brag or bolster their public image, but to do their part in humbly serving a global community.
- Voluntourism takes over STORY CAT FLORES ILLUSTRATION TALULLA CHOW Many South Pas kids receive the opportunity to go on service trips. There are countless chances for students to volunteer in disadvantaged places for a couple of weeks during the summer. Students typically go for a short time to teach, build houses, or hand out necessities in extremely impoverished areas of the world. Their goal is to provide these places with a sense of hope. While the experience might seem beneficial, the aftermath trivializes the real issues. The first thing many volunteers do when they get back is post pictures and videos on social media of the poor places they visited. Students should not be attending trips to have something to write about on their college applications, to feel like they have somehow done enough service in their life as a privileged person, or to brag on social media. Students are not culturally aware when they view their trip to a poverty-stricken area of the word as a vacation to Hawaii. Although the intentions of the trip may be in the right place, the actions of student volunteers after returning only worsens the situation in which these underprivileged people live. Many students would immediately hop on the
opportunity to do something extraordinary for their college apps, yet they would never spend a single dime on donations for charities that directly target the issues at hand. The volunteer work from these students is not significant enough to override the fact that money is being wasted to help students write more impressive college essays. A big part of the problem with ‘voluntourism’ are the agencies that conduct it. There would not be such an issue if less money was spent on students and more money was spent on helping the disadvantaged. “I was really excited to do some trip like this,” senior Sage Pierone said, “As I was researching trips to go on, this was the cheapest one. All the others were over $4000. I have [found out] that these trips are more for the volunteers than to help people, and in order to be truly safe, you must pay some unreasonable sum of money.” If students want a more hands-on experience, they should look for more assistance and impact oriented organizations or opportunities such as school clubs TASSEL, Feel Full, and Red Cross. These are ways to make a real difference for people who are less fortunate. Whatever it may be, volunteers should have the right mindset when taking part in these services to better the lives of other people, instead of volunteering to boost the perception of their own selflessness.
WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY | OONA FOLEY
College and loss The start of my senior year has come with a lot of loss. Nearly all of my close friends have left for colleges far and wide, and the rest will be gone within a month. The pain of being left behind has made me think a lot about how strange the American (especially South Pas) culture surrounding college really is. We accept the fact that people just pack up and go as a fact of life when really it can be a heavy experience for everyone involved. I have come to realize that because this loss is expected, those left behind are never really given space to mourn. It reminds me of bad weather. When
it rains on the East Coast, business carries on as usual, soccer practices don’t get cancelled, and the people remain calm. When it rains in Los Angeles, there is widespread rescheduling of responsibilities, people lock themselves at home, and it’s all anyone can talk about. The difference is that East Coast rain is expected as part of a yearly routine, much like the mass exodus of 18 year olds at the end of every August. Many people downplay the sense of loss families and friends feel when someone close goes off to college because it is simply what is supposed to happen. But the reality is that each year, new people are
left behind. This loss, though anticipated, doesn’t hurt any less just because it happens on a regular schedule. To me, being left this year was full blown, chaotic, LA-style rain. The beginning of the school year can be a really hard time for a lot of people. We shouldn’t brush off routine loss just because it is part of our culture. We shouldn’t invalidate high school friendships or the weight of their loss just because they happened in high school. Acknowledging this means making time to mourn lost connections and making even more time to forge new ones.
TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
OPINION
7
Fuel to the flames STORY MADDIE YOO ILLUSTRATION MADDIE YOO INFOGRAPHIC TALULLA CHOW
C
limate change is setting the world on fire. All over the globe, large fires continue to sprout and spread. The heat exacerbates the extreme blazes, increasing the burnt area. This fire season, California faced an unusually severe storm of flames. In 2018 thus far, fires have burned over 250,000 acres, more than twice the typical area affected by the fire season. As efforts to stall climate change gain popularity and support, the Trump administration refuses to acknowledge the cause. The White House is focused on saving America’s precious coal, one of the least environmentally friendly sources of power, and until the Trump administration starts to plan for the future, the world will keep burning. President Trump is a strong disbeliever in climate change; he previously called the scientific phenomenon a “hoax.” In a tweet, he passed the blame to California’s legislation, stating “California wildfires are being magnified by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean.” California fire officials swiftly rebutted the false claim and cited climate change as the real culprit. Trump is creating insubstantial reasons to refute global warming’s existence. Without admittance, progress to stop global warming will halt. The administration’s ignorance will lead to grave international consequences.
Under Trump’s leadership, the EPA is destroying Obama-era measures on global warming. On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the EPA announced a new plan, the Affordable Clean Energy Rule, which does next to nothing to help the effort against climate change. Instead, it offers the possibility to increase pollution. The recent plan is a drastic change from the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan — the first carbon-standard for power plants — and scratches all references to climate change and global warming. It forces states to brainstorm ways to make coal-powered plants more efficient, but analysts argue that it could increase carbon emissions, as it would make coal-fueled plants more popular. The EPA is not doing its job — it is supposed to protect the environment, not further its destruction. The administration is just looking at the present. They only care about what plan will have the best results in the moment, rather than the future. Coal brings jobs, and jobs mean money. But, the Affordable Clean Energy rule is not a viable solution to any environmental problem. It simply pushes responsibilities to individual sectors, promoting a disorganized, ineffective mess. The EPA must stop shielding carbon power plants, because a resurgence of coal will lead to more long term economic damage. The EPA’s irresponsible actions will lead to detrimental effects that will remain present for future generations. The world will continue to get hotter. The blazes will continue to get bigger. The California fire season will continue to get worse. Instead of helping, the White House is just pouring fuel onto the flames.
No, it’s not ‘cool’ to say the N word The haunted history of the N word is trivialized when non-Black people use it; this ignorance must stop STORY CAT FLORES ILLUSTRATION DAVID SOHN When I was in eighth grade, my history teacher said the N word. It was quick and unexpected, but also confusing and inappropriate. We were watching the film “Glory,” which was set during the Civil War, and featured the N word multiple times. Our social studies teacher was giving us a strict warning not to repeat this word, but was it necessary for her to say it? No. The N word has no place anywhere besides a Black person’s mouth, and educational environments are never an exception. This word has been used to dehumanize Black people since the time of slavery. The N word originates from when white slave-owners would refer to African slaves in America dating back to the 1600s, and has always been used as a derogatory term to speak about Black people. Today, Black people have reclaimed the N word, however, that doesn’t give nonBlack people a pass to say it in any context, even in the classroom. When people of other races use this word, it is a reminder of a cruel past and the heavy racism that is still prevalent in America. From a young age, the subject of African American history is taught extremely lightly. There is no real emphasis on the oppression of Black people, therefore the subject is made
uncomfortable and left in a gray area. Then, when students go to high school, the first novel they read is To Kill a Mockingbird. The lesson of Black history, of which the American school system hardly scratches the surface, returns in a complex story with themes of morality and racism, and a message of righting wrongs that were committed not long ago. Teachers should have more in depth lessons on this aspect of the novel and refrain themselves from saying the N word while reading the book. The N word is also used heavily in music, as much of pop culture is influenced by Black people. The N word is sometimes rapped or sung in songs by Black artists, which is a way in which the word is being transformed. Although everyone can enjoy music, non-Black people should not repeat the words to a song that features the N word. When a non-Black person says the N word, this action displays that they disregard American history, Black history, and Black people. Often times it is difficult to correct someone you are close to who has said or done something racist or disrespectful. No matter who you are, you should be advocating for minorities and call others out when this situation occurs. Even though you might feel like it is not your place to step in, using the privilege that you have to protect the people around you is a big step in fighting racism and the use of the N word.
TIGER
10 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
FEATURE
FEATURE
Et Cetera MAYA WILLIAMSON
More lessons from Trevor Noah Like most of the senior class, I’m currently up to my eyes in stress over college applications. At this point in the year I find myself in the unfortunate, but let’s be real, not totally unexpected position of being far behind most of my classmates on the path to figuring out where I’ll be for the next four years. This is in part due to one of the biggest writing slumps of my high school career (not good news for someone with a monthly column in Tiger). Even now — hopefully the end of this horrible case of writer’s block — I’m rewriting this column for the fourth time when finals were due yesterday (sorry Alex).
RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL WARES line the walls of Dual Crossroads, a South Pas shop that highlights the relationship between the light and dark aspects of the human soul.
Unassuming and mystical, Dual Crossroads lightens the soul Store owner Jennifer Maimone fosters an atmosphere of “love and peace” STORY AUDREY ERNST PHOTO ANDRÉS OYAGA
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outh Pasadena is the quintessential town to raise a family; AYSO matches, tee-ball games, and local festivals coincide with top-tier public schools, quality restaurants, and close proximity to Downtown Los Angeles. In the midst of the Mission Street staples — Fair Oaks Pharmacy, the late Buster’s, Menchies, La Monarcha, etc. — lies Dual Crossroads, the unassuming metaphysical supply store. Named in acknowledgement of the crossroads of light and dark within the human soul, Dual Crossroads offers a wide range of religious and spiritual goods designed to cleanse the mind. Stepping into the store, there is a peaceful feeling as if a weight is being lifted off your shoulders. It might be the burning sage used to cleanse the air, or a homemade soy candle infused with rosemary. Store owner Jennifer Maimone brings the welcoming feeling and calm energy to Dual Crossroads; her mission is to help all her customers find the light within themselves. Apart from selling goods such as sage and candles, Dual Crossroads offers various workshops such as Kundalini yoga and alchemy sound baths. Kundalini yoga is a spiritual yoga, centered around taking dormant energy in the spine and bringing it up to the head. Alchemy sound baths use the vibrations from metals for calming by submerging the mind in vibrations. It wasn’t always just about spirituality and peace at Dual Crossroads. Upon the opening in 2016, Maimone used to sell gothic halloween art and clothing alongside the array of spiritual supplies. However, customers preferred to
Out & About
look rather than buy, prompting Maimone to discard the gothic materials, and turn the unused space into an area for meditation and workshops. What started as a few small classes, quickly morphed into several overbooked sessions. The most unique attribute of Dual Crossroads is the representation of numerous cultures and religions. Maimone offers Christian, Wiccan, Native American, and Buddhist products; her only selling requirement is to have the same message: “love and peace.” That means look elsewhere for pendulums, tarot cards, or Ouija boards. “I have books [on Tarot cards] because I want you to be educated. I don’t have Ouija Boards because those can open portals. If you’re using it wrong, you can invite [an evil presence].” Some customers come in just for the relaxing feeling. Others are passersbys who are intrigued by the various incense sticks and crucifixes made of jade on display. All share Mainmone’s goal of connecting with their spiritual side and discovering their own lightness, whether it’s through meditation, scheduled readings, or Kundalini yoga. “There is a little bit of darkness in our own selves, and we need to keep that in balance with the goodness in our own selves.” Address: 1005-B Mission St, South Pasadena, CA Hours: Mon & Wed: 11:30a.m. - 6:00p.m. Thurs-Sat: 10:30a.m. - 7:00p.m. Sun: 10:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
In college essays you’re supposed to show growth; how have you changed for the better in the past four years and what greater life lesson have you learned from this experience? My struggle lied in finding that specific moment that impacted every part of my life and my personhood. I don’t have that good story of overcoming (oh the woes of a South Pas kid). This is where the fantastical Mr. Trevor Noah saved me. By now, most of you should have read Born a Crime and maybe even discussed it in your English classes. For me, it’s been the best summer reading book I’ve ever been assigned. Trevor Noah’s memoir breaks all the typical sins of required readings; it’s genuinely interesting, relatable, and funny. Best of all, Born a Crime is easy reading, no analysis needed. Every lesson you could possibly learn from Trevor Noah’s coming of age — and there are countess — come in neatly-wrapped, easily-digestible chunks. From instructions on avoiding regret, to insights on language and racism, Noah gifts his readers with simple but meaningful observations. If there is something to learn from Trevor Noah’s book that isn’t blatantly obvious, it is that you can draw meaning from the simplest moments. Trevor Noah has lived an extraordinary life, I’m sure one that is far more interesting than the one I hope to live, but every lesson in his book doesn’t need to be learned from some exceptional adventure. Noah draws lessons from the most common experiences, like missing the opportunity to ask out a girl he liked, and the most ridiculous too, like pooping on the kitchen floor and placing blame on a house demon. Upon reflection on my own life I’ve come up with some decent and unexpected writing material; last week, I wrote a college essay about the sexual habits of bed bugs for AP Lit. With all the messages you could learn from Trevor Noah’s stories, take one more from the collection itself: you can draw remarkably profound lessons from unremarkable experiences.
Tiger’s take on local eats and acitivities. Take one of our suggestions for a lively weekend adventure.
STORY CHRISTINE MAO
FUN The annual South Pasadena Cruz’n for Roses Classic Car Show is open to the public on Sunday, Sept. 16, from 10—3 p.m. on Mission Street. This event will be exhibiting an array of vibrantly restored automobiles to fundraise for the construction of the South Pasadena Rose Float.
ART Are you interested in Greek Mythology? Go check out the play Bacchae at the Getty Villa on Thursdays, through Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. This annual outdoor theater production is known as one of the greatest Greek tragedies, featuring the clashing of Dionysus with the King of Thebes.
FAMILY The Mid-Autumn Festival is right around the corner; the Langham Huntington in Pasadena will be hosting an event in honor of this festival on Sunday, Sept. 23 from 5—9 p.m. Take your family and friends to this market-like celebration and enjoy the festive performance and food. Tickets range from $38—$88.
TIGER SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
FEATURE
11
PERSONALITY PROFILES QUINN MANZO: HOME IS AT CENTER STAGE STORY LILIAN AZAT PHOTO SOPHIE YEUNG
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or Quinn Manzo, singing and dancing comes almost as easily as walking and talking. For as long as she can remember, the talented and extroverted freshman has immersed herself in music and the performing arts with the help of her musically-inclined family. Manzo’s mother sang to her as a baby just as her great-grandfather sang to her mother; a family tradition Manzo has every intention of continuing. “I still remember the first song I ever sang,” Manzo said, “It was a song my mom taught me, ‘Mariposa,’ a cute little children’s tune about a butterfly.”
PERFORMING COMES NATURALLY to Quinn Manzo. The energetic freshman has dedicated herself to the art of dance since the age of three and now competes as a seven-year member of the Junior Hit List.
Manzo’s talent for singing translated into a love for the performing arts, where she quickly discovered her true passion for dance. At three years old, she first touched the dance floor in Pointe by Pointe on Mission St. and eventually transitioned to hip-hop lessons at Jayvee Dance. After competitively dancing for six years, Manzo joined the Junior Hit List Dance Team in 2011 at Elements Dance Space in Pasadena. Three times a week, she pours all of her energy and focus into learning, practicing, and executing hip hop dance techniques. She prepares alongside her teammates for global competitions such as Hip-Hop International (HHI), where teams from around the world meet in Los Angeles to gain recognition as the best in the business. Manzo’s competitive edge is on full display in statewide hip-hop contests including World of Dance and Urban Street Jam, as well as local competitions like the Glendale Games.
“The most important thing in my life right now is dance. Ever since I was a small child I’ve danced, it got me through a lot of things, it was an escape for me,” Manzo said. “I want to pursue dance as a career, but it’s super difficult because the dance industry is cutthroat, especially for hip-hop dancers like me. Right now I’m working really hard to improve my technique and reach that career.” A renaissance woman, Manzo’s dedication stretches past visual performance; she was recently elected as Forum Representative to guide the freshman delegates of South Pasadena’s Youth and Government delegation. She aims to foster a supportive environment, where all delegates, regardless of experience, can feel free to voice their opinion without fear of repercussion. Manzo also competed on a Destination Imagination team that traveled around the country in creative competitions that test teamwork, critical thinking skills, and intellectual and technical expertise. Quinn’s older brother, senior Jake Manzo, encapsulates her personality perfectly. “Quinn just has so much going on. She’s the aggressive to my passive, in all the best ways; I couldn’t imagine having a different sister. She’s probably the most mature person her age I’ve met, and she always surprises me by how secure she is. She exudes this type of confidence I still haven’t grown into, neither have most people I know. I never feel like she’s younger than me, because she’s just so on the ball.”
RYAN WALLACE: NEW CITY, NO PROBLEM STORY MAYA WILLIAMSON PHOTO OSCAR WALSH
A
t first glance, Ryan Wallace seems like a typical South Pas boy, integrating seamlessly into his classes and the school community. He’s charming, easy-going, and his constant, jovial smile reflects his easy security in conversation. You would never expect that many South Pas traditions and even some American school standards are completely foreign to him. In 2014, Wallace’s family moved from San Gabriel to London for his father’s job, eventually settling in Provence, France. When Wallace moved as a seventh grader, he was, as he says, “completely unprepared.” In four years he attended three different schools in France; he describes his experience at the first, an artistic private school, in two words: “it sucked.” With absolutely no knowledge of the language, it took him around five months to finally understand his classes, and another seven to be able to speak French conversationally. Still, the first school proved to not have enough academic rigor for Wallace. The next year, he transferred to its polar opposite: an extremely strict Catholic school with only 75 students, a different but not necessarily better experience than the first. In his last year he finally found his happy medium, only to land himself back in California for his junior year. “I’d say the first month of getting used to the area and the culture is the hardest part of moving around so much,” Wallace said. “Making friends wasn’t that much of an issue in London, but in France, with the language barrier, it was really hard.” School life and culture in France was starkly different from that in California. Provence, a rural area, had little access to city activities. The long school days also limited Wallace’s time to hang out with friends. Though, from Wallace’s perspective, the biggest difference between his French schools and SPHS, suprisingly, is the freedom here in class scheduling. More freedom to explore his interests seems to be the best thing about moving back to California. Thanks to his father’s profession in special effects the junior has developed a passion for movies, something he wasn’t able to fully enjoy in France. According to Wallace, the American film industry cannot be rivaled by the smaller French films available to him in Provence. He hopes to one day work behind the scenes in film editing or effects. Already well-integrated into South Pas life, Wallace is looking forward to all the upcoming South Pas traditions like Color Day and dances, typical of the American high school experience.
NEW BEGINNINGS don’t faze Ryan Wallace in the slightest. The junior’s ventures throughout France have molded him into a cool, collected individual, whose newfound freedom in America has unearthed a passion for cinema.
TIGER
12 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
FEATURE
Shannon Purser shines, but ‘Sierra Burgess’ is a letdown SIERRA BURGESS IS A LOSER director
Ian Samuels
genre
Comedy/Drama/Romance
rating
PG-13
run time
1 hr 45 mins
STORY DOMINIC MARZIALI ILLUSTRATION KATE ROGERS SPHS students found themselves gawking at a strolling Shannon Purser in the spring of 2016-2017 when the star was filming pieces of Sierra Burgess is a Loser on campus. Purser, better known as Barb of Stranger Things, appears as Sierra in the new Netflix release, bringing heightened attention to the romcom. Unfortunately the film desired by SPHS students failed to come to fruition, manifesting as a sub-par assortment of coincidental, unrealistic incidents. The movie, directed by Ian Samuels, is an imitation of the 1897 play, Cyrano de Bergerac; the play follows Cyrano, an esteemed member of Southern French society with a long nose and corresponding insecurities. His self-doubt prevents him from expressing his love for Lady Roxanne, leading him to communicate his feelings through the use of an intermediary. Where Cyrano de Bergerac outlined a series of credible events, Sierra Burgess is a Loser fails to create a modern adaptation of the classic, ending up as a stumbling rom-com that neglects to relate to the trials and tribulations of a high schooler’s love life.
Sierra, an authentic and tactful high school senior portrayed as a parallel to the articulate but unattractive Cyrano, fights to be accepted as a valued girl in high school; she does everything in her power to overcome rejection of her appearance from students, parents, and school staff. Veronica (Kristine Froseth), the stereotypical high school head cheerleader, dupes Jamey (Noah Centineo), the quarterback of a rival school, by giving him Sierra’s number in place of her own. While these key characters are introduced smoothly, the plot takes disconnected, ‘just go with it’ twists and turns that lose its audience, becoming reminiscent of an essay with a faulty thesis and lack of evidence that loses credibility with its readership. This inevitable alienation of the audience detracts from the film as the movie drops the foundational purpose of rom-coms: drawing in and relating to its viewers. Additionally, the film’s storyline builds upon scenes that, at best, instill a dubious feeling of consent. In a particularly cumbersome scene, Veronica, who stands in for Sierra on a date, lets Sierra swap in for a kiss with a blinded Jamey. The superior cinematography and the acting talent of Purser and Centineo redeem sections of the movie. Purser excels at playing the sweet Sierra — pushing out scenes of concentrated emotions while toying with the audience’s feelings through displays of impassioned pitfalls — alongside the excitement associated with her developing partner-in-crime relationship with Veronica. Meanwhile, Centineo tries his hardest to salvage the scraps of a coherent story from what feels like a jumbled scrapbook of related incidents. The film’s strong cast and significance to SPHS are unable to compensate for its shortcomings, failing to save it from mediocrity.
Netflix’s ‘Insatiable’ halts Hollywood progress STORY CAROLINE KIMBEL ILLUSTRATION ELAINE YANG
T
he opening season of Insatiable crashed and burned in countless Netflix queues to cap off summer break, triggering thousands of opinions regarding the show’s focus on body image, sexuality, and bullying. Debby Ryan stars as an overweight, bullied teenager nicknamed “Fatty Patty;” she experiences a punch in the face, leading her to consume an all-liquid diet and subsequently lose 70 pounds. Now a conventionally beautiful woman, Patty’s lifetime desire to exact revenge on her tyrants seems as if it could realistically manifest, rather than just exist as a daydream. Writer Lauren Gusses created Insatiable out of a desire to spread awareness of eating disorders and body image. Instead, the show presents an offensive, inaccurate portrayal of being overweight, from Ryan’s initial costume to the instantaneous change from overweight and lonely to thin and popular. Prior to her character’s weight loss, Ryan is seen wearing a large fat suit, a problematic aspect of many television programs because the prop bridges the connection between obesity and comedy. Obesity is a significant, prevalent issue in American society; making fun of people for being overweight simply for comedic relief is disgraceful and sends negative messages to impressionable youth. Once Patty is thin, she is suddenly viewed by her peers — and especially by her beauty pageant mentor Bob Armstrong (Dallas Roberts) — as perfect. Her life is intensely overglamified; she is suddenly popular, attracting male attention, and
generally treated like a more worthy person. In the pilot, Patty attends a court case to receive her sentence after a violent quarrel with a homeless man. Patty initially plans on settling the case, but after her lawyer — also Bob Armstrong — sees her new body, he remarks, “Pretty girls don’t have to settle.” This statement blatantly implies that Patty’s use of violence is justified by her conventionally beautiful body and face and the idea that if a pretty girl does something bad, she does not deserve punishment. After being falsely accused of child molestation by Dixie Sinclair (Irene Choi), Bob Armstrong loses all of his pageant trainees. Although Bob’s accusations were false, the show forces viewers to sympathize with an accused child molester. The allegations could perpetuate victim blaming in sexual abuse situations and rape comedy, as Sinclair is actually at fault, unlike the 94% of sexual assault victims who are legitimately harassed. Additionally, the dynamic of Bob and Patty’s relationship, which quickly escalates from awkward to inappropriate, normalizes and downplays child molestation. In the wake of Harvey Weinstein’s harassment accusations and the subsequent #MeToo movement, it seemed as though the muchneeded progress on diversity and discrimination struggles in the entertainment industry was finally beginning. However, Insatiable has halted the movement in its fallacious attempt to relate to people struggling with body image issues, sexuality, and bullying. The continuation with a second season has not yet been confirmed by Netflix, largely due to a petition on Change. org with over 230,000 signatures denoting the desire to remove the series.
TIGER 13 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
FEATURE
TAAGLAA:
Grand Central Market Game Night
TIGER’S AWESOME ADVENTURES IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA STORY ADAM KWOH PHOTOS TONY CHEN
L
os Angeles is globally recognized for its diverse range of cuisines; a popular paragon of this variety is at the Grand Central Market. Ironically, my escape from a typical Thursday night of homework to Grand Central revolved around games, rather than food. Tony Chen and I had decided to venture into Los Angeles’ popular hotspot, Grand Central Market, for its weekly Grand Central Game Night. Cruising past LA traffic on the 110 freeway, Tony and I gazed at pink clouds above Downtown LA’s skyline. Evening officially fell upon us as we secured five-dollar parking only two blocks down from our destination. We — a pair of broke high schoolers — were pleasantly surprised considering the overpriced lots not far from us. The heavenly aromas of Filipino rice bowls and fresh Italian pasta led us into Grand Central Market’s alleyway. Both of us had never ventured into Downtown LA on a weekday in our lifetime, and were fascinated to see that the market’s paths were not nearly as crowded as they are on weekends, giving us lots of breathing room to explore. After wandering through the market’s areas, we realized
A LIVELY NIGHT SCENE: Grand Central Market, a familiar weekend day-time spot for good food, lights up every Thursday night for wholesome fun with board games and a cornhole toss. that the game night set-up would be running an hour late. However, we took this as an exciting opportunity to try the flavorful options around us. The neon signs of Sari Sari Store and China Cafe attracted our attention, though Tony mentioned his interest in the pasta at Knead & Co. Pasta Market. Our mouths watered at the sight of steam drifting from our spaghetti and meatballs, with shredded pork and basil scattered throughout its layers. After finishing our meal, we checked back to the Hill Street Platform area of Grand Central Market to see that game night had finally arrived. Our eyes darted to a table spread with games ranging from Scrabble to Battleship. Along with the board games on the table, we noticed goals for cornhole toss and a table for ping pong.
LA LOCALS gathered at the popular space to mingle with other fun-loving young people.
Scattered around the platform were groups of smiling friends around boards with food and drink in hand. The casual and social environment encouraged us to take a turn at having some unbridled fun. Tony exchanged his ID for some cornhole toss bags and we made our way to the goals, which were lit right
next to Grand Central Market’s impressive “Bulleit Whiskey” neon sign display. Noticing a couple playing Uno, we invited them wholeheartedly to join us in our game. Time flew by quickly, but the smell of spicy tacos and the talkative conversations around tables didn’t cease, even when it was time for us to leave. “It’s a great place to hang out during the week and on the weekends with friends,” Grand Central Market Game Night organizer Maddi Pariser said as she played a game of Jenga with her colleague. “It has been a staple of LA and a pleasure.” Going out on a school night to the heart of Downtown LA was already an exhilarating experience for me; however, this was heightened by the personalities of the LA community with which I was able to bond. Of course the mouth-watering food and refreshing beverages are also convincing additions. Game Night is available every Thursday from 6-10 p.m. in the Hill Street Platform area of Grand Central Market.
TIGER
14 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
SPORTS
Storylines to watch
STORY PRESTON SHARKEY & RAYMOND YEO
PHOTOS ANDRÉS OYAGA, JAYDEN EDEN, & OSCAR WALSH
Will coach Chi be able to lead Tigers’ football back to the CIF playoffs?
Will cross country be able to continue its dominance through the postseason?
After failing to qualify for CIF playoffs last year, the football team will have to win three league games in order to return to postseason play in coach Jeff Chi’s second season. Last year, South Pas finished fourth in league, its only win coming against La Cañada at home. With Blair football out of the Rio Hondo League, the Tigers must beat one of the two league title favorites, San Marino or Monrovia, in order to place second to qualify for a CIF berth. This will not be an easy feat; SPHS hasn’t come close to beating the Titans or Wildcats since a victory over San Marino in 2010. South Pas will have to cope with numerous injuries, especially on the offensive line. With senior quarterback Justin Huff out for the season with a knee injury, junior Samuel Luna-Long will lead the struggling Tiger offense which has averaged 6.7 points in their last three games.
Both the boys and girls’ cross country teams, well-known for their supremacy over Rio Hondo, faltered midway through their 2017 CIF run and were unable to qualify for the state round. Taxed with hundreds of miles of running over the course of the season, the teams suffered persistent injuries toward the latter part of their campaign, preventing many Tigers from running in their top form. With a handful of top ranked seniors off to college, the boys’ team may be at a disadvantage. However, junior Sam Clark and seniors Alekzander Grijalva-Moreno, Kai Dettman, Nicolo Porcu, and Michael Xiong, who were all present at the Southern Section finals, are determined to push the Tigers to state. The girls’ team will also have to make up for graduated seniors as well as the departure of top runner Brooklyn Robinson. It will be up to seniors Elizabeth Bock and Lindsey Calva to lead the underclassman by example in their final campaign.
Will volleyball’s young roster live up to expectations?
Will coaching stability stimulate a stronger finish for girls’ tennis?
Girls’ volleyball concluded its lackluster 2017 season with a 12-14 overall record and modest 5-5 league record, missing CIF qualification for the first time in 12 years. However, expectations are set high for the 2018 season, and the team will seek to recapture the league title, last won in 2015. The girls have not cracked under the pressure thus far, and a first place seed appears within reach after a solid 8-4 finish in what had been a challenging preseason.
The SPHS girls’ tennis team concluded their 2017 season with a mediocre record of seven wins and seven losses. The majority of the team’s victories were recorded during preseason in which they finished with a 5-1 record, providing high hopes going into league. However, the girls were unable to capitalize on their hot start, ultimately finishing fourth in league and missing the cut for CIF.
The underclassman saturated team is composed of three freshman, six sophomores, and seven seniors. Seniors Kimberly Brown and Christina Taylor will play a vital role in leading the young roster and making key stops as middle blockers. Sophomores Lola Foord and Lindsey Hirano will seek to improve on their already successful freshman campaign, while freshmen Abby Garner and Ally Sokolow have exhibited that age is just a number. The team will rely on the combination of raw underclassman talent and the experience of seniors to go deep in their CIF run.
With alumna Karina Akhmedova coaching the team in 2018, the girls will be introduced to a fresh coaching style. The team’s success will rely on the veteran savviness of senior Shannon Huang and rising star sophomore Carissa Park, who are both off to a hot start to the season. Number one doubles Teryn Kum and Kimberly Hsueh are also off to a promising start, and their consistency has enabled greater leeway for the rest of the team. The girls have proved that they have the ability to win, boasting a 4-1 pre season record. Yet it will be their finish that will be the decider for postseason berth.
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TIGER 15 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
SPORTS
Heart over height: Jacob Barnes STORY PRESTON SHARKEY PHOTO OSCAR WALSH
S
tanding at just five feet and three-inches tall, senior Jacob Barnes packs a big punch for the SPHS football team on the defensive line. Barnes makes his presence felt both through his on-field production and his vocal leadership. In his two years as a starter for the varsity football team, Barnes has filled up the stat sheet for the Tiger defense with tackles, forced fumbles, and blocked punts. When Barnes was younger, baseball was his main sport. He grew up playing baseball in the South Pasadena Little League and continues to play today, as a member of the varsity baseball team. Despite not participating in football before high school, Barnes was always interested in playing because of his family’s love for the game. Following in his father’s footsteps (who also played football at SPHS), Barnes joined the frosh/soph football team as a freshman. Every Friday night, Barnes’ parents and his younger brother watch him from the stands. Now a senior, Barnes commonly faces offensive lineman twice his weight and a foot taller than him. Despite being underestimated because of his size at the beginning of games, Barnes quickly earns the respect of his opponents with his play. He occupies blockers and uses his quickness to create disruption in the opposing backfield. Although Barnes makes contributions on both sides of the ball as a starting defensive tackle and backup running back, his most valuable attribute to the team is his energy. “Jacob Barnes might be the smallest guy on the team, but he’s the loudest one on the field,” Head Coach Jeff Chi said. “He’s very motivational and spirited, and I always appreciate his enthusiasm, always being positive to our team. As small as he is, he plays on the
AVERAGING 6.7 TACKLES A GAME, Barnes has been instrumental to the Tigers’ success. defensive line and always does an amazing job.” Barnes was essential to the Tigers’ recent 7-6 win over Eastside High School. After being sidelined in the first half with a leg injury, Barnes returned to the field and helped the South Pas defense shutout the opposing Lions with the game on the line. While Barnes hopes to reach the CIF playoffs this year, he is mostly focused on giving 100% effort every time he steps on the field, and having a rewarding experience as a senior. “I love the bond that the football team has,” Barnes
said. “When you put your sweat and hard work together everyday for months, the high tensions and intensity of the daily practices create an ‘I got your back’ mentality.” Barnes will lead the Tiger defense into this Friday’s game against Alhambra at home. The Tigers will hope to improve their record to 3-2 against the Moors in their penultimate non-league game, after a 52-7 defeat last week against Arroyo High School. South Pas beat Alhambra 27-0 last year on the road, and will hope for a similar result this year.
For water polo, pressure shapes perfection STORY ADAM KWOH PHOTO TONY CHEN There is no such thing as an unreachable goal for boys’ water polo. With unrivaled determination during their 2017 season, the varsity boys prospered, repeating their second place record in the Rio Hondo League. Additionally, the boys led a semifinal run into CIF where they were barely defeated by Redondo Union, 8-6. However, even with such an impressive past season, the pressure to push even further into league and CIF has heightened for the 2018 season. The varsity team’s preseason victories against Flintridge Prep and Montebello displayed the team’s potential to outperform the teams they’ve fallen
to in the past. Despite losses to Palos Verdes and Damien in their most recent games, the Tigers have taken their matchups against their higher division opponents as an opportunity to prepare themselves for the imposing teams they expect to see deep into league and CIF play.
Freshmen additions Owen Imasaki, Blix HadsellFlorin, and Egan Hadsell-Florin have also shown promise in their practice and play in the pool.
In all of their games since the start of the season, it is easy to see that a key component has carried over from last season: young talent. The freshmen of last year, now sophomores, continue to pack a majority of the team’s punch. Sophomore goalie Liam Markus’ sturdy blocks have saved the Tigers countless times, while fellow sophomores Eddie-Lane Flannigan, Anthony Felix, and Maven Palacios have showcased skilled corner shots and well placed passes.
Through morning and afternoon practices involving in-game scenarios, the Tigers are pushing themselves harder than ever to train and test their skills. The upperclassmen, such as Philip Lee, Hyun Kim, and team captain Evan Kowal, plan to sharpen their young talent and hope that their underclassman teammates will give them a needed push further into league.
“[I hope] to be the best player I can and advance in all areas,” Markus said.
“I think we have a pretty young team this year, so a lot of it will be creating a legacy for the future players and leaving a good culture for our boys,” Kim said.
Last Game After several close losses in the Santa Barbara Tournament, varsity boys’ water polo reigned victorious with a 12-7 score against Rio Mesa, a Division III school. The Tigers’ early push and solid late game defense secured their win.
Next Game The Tigers will be playing against the Hoover Tornadoes today, September 11, at 3:30 p.m. in their first home game of the season. Last year, South Pasadena defeated Hoover 8-7 in a tight preseason game.
WITH STRONG SOPHOMORE CONTRIBUTIONS, boys’ water polo is ready for a repeat CIF run.
The Stat Sheet South Pasadena’s standout athletic performances in the fall season so far
In Ivan Estrada’s first varsity game, the junior wideout went for three receiving touchdowns. Estrada leads the Tigers with four touchdowns and 269 total yards through their first four games.
In their most recent game against Crescenta Valley, girls’ golf averaged 40 strokes per golfer, just four strokes over par. Freshman Lauren Calderon led the team with 35 strokes.
Freshman Owen Imaski scored five goals in boys’ water polo win against Rio Mesa. In the goal, sophomore Liam Markus contributed six blocks and four steals.
TIGER
16 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018
SPORTS
JV Scoreboard Girls’ Tennis
Riding the momentum of what has been a successful preseason, J.V. girls’ golf will prepare for an away game against Westridge on Tuesday, Sept. 11. - Raymond Yeo
Girls’ Volleyball
J.V. girls’ volleyball closed their preseason with a 4-3 record following a loss against La Salle at home last Thursday. Their league opener will come today against Monrovia. - Aubrey Ernst
Boys’ Water Polo
A FORMER JUNIOR OLYMPIAN, freshman Abby Garner is ready to showcase her talents.
Abby Garner: Freshman phenom STORY CAT FLORES PHOTO JAYDEN EDEN South Pasadena High School has never seen a volleyball player quite like freshman Abby Garner. When Garner was encouraged to play volleyball at the age of eight by her father, it became apparent that she had a natural talent for the game. She started at the YMCA, and was asked to play on the highest team for her age division at her volleyball club when she was just ten years old. Five years later, Garner is already a Junior Olympian. Last spring, she endured a four-hour tryout, in which there were more than 1000 other girls from all over the country competing for a spot on the team. Only 60 players were selected for the roster, and merely five played Garner’s position. When mid-summer rolled around, Garner flew to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she was treated like the Olympian she has the potential to become. She was first trained by Olympic coaches and then played against National Junior Olympic teams from all over the world. After arriving back home from the experience, Garner returne to the volleyball court to prepare for the upcoming season this school year.
“After competing at such a high level, reading the court and the game becomes easier in every surrounding,” Garner said. This is a skill she has utilized to SPHS’ varsity team. Abby is a driving force behind the Tigers’ winning ways, playing both middle and outside hitter. Her strong hits not only leave the opposing team stunned, but the crowded stands cheering. Garner also believes that being on varsity has not only helped her grow as a player, but allowed her to make friendships with upperclassman who give her advice about how to become a better teammate. “Abby has been an amazing teammate to all of us,” senior captain Kimberly Brown said. “She makes a huge contribution to the team on and off the court.”
J.V. boy’s water polo kicked off their season with a 1-1 record, with games against Palos Verdes and Damien. The lineup of primarily underclassmen continue to prepare themselves for their next matchup against Hoover. - Adam Kwoh
Football
The J.V. football teamed improved their preseason record to 4-0 after a 40-28 win against Arroyo High. The Tigers will prepare to face off against the Alhambra Moors on Thursday, Sept. 13. - Preston Sharkey
Cross Country
Although Garner is unsure if she’d like to play professionally, she wants to go to a Division I college. Regardless of where she decides to take her talents, Garner has a bright and promising future ahead of her.
Boys’ and girls’ J.V. cross country has been participating in early morning workouts since the beginning of the summer and will compete in their first meet at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic on Sept. 14 and 15.
“There is no other community like the volleyball community,” Garner said. “Volleyball is like your second family.”
- Raymond Yeo
Freshmen golfers primed to lead league run consistent low-scoring capabilities, Calderon averaged a score of 40.3 over five matches, including a fantastic 35 stroke game against Polytechnic.
STORY MATTHEW TSAI PHOTO ALICIA ALDERETE
T
he girls’ golf team failed to win a league title last year for the first time in ten years. Following the loss of three senior starters, South Pasadena finished with a 10-3 record in the Montview League, as they struggled to dominate the opposition as they had in years past. This year, with their nine year championship streak broken, the new Tiger team hopes to bring a chapter of success to South Pasadena and regain championship status. So far they seem to be on track, having performed up to their high standards, boasting a 5-0 preseason record. Leading the charge are five freshman, who are filling the void left by two senior captains. This large freshman class features two standout players who possess the talent and mental resolve to immediately compete at a high level. Freshman Lauren Calderon is a seasoned golfer, having played competitively for almost all her life. At age five, Calderon picked up a driver and quickly fell in love with the game. Over the course of nine years, she has won multiple U.S Kids’ Golf Player of the Year awards and participated in five U.S. Kids Golf World Championships, finishing ninth in 2012. It comes as no surprise that she has performed exceptionally during the preseason. Calmly displaying her experience, confidence, and
Freshman Maya Turun has also had a stellar preseason showing, creating a strong case to be selected for the match squad every game. Shooting in the low 40s, Turun is one of the strongest players on the team and is proving to be instrumental in each Tiger victory. “It feels good [to be] starting off [the preseason well].” Turun said. “At least I know that I’m consistent. I think, because of my scores, I’ll be able to [be a starter] most of the season if I keep it up.” Both Turun and Calderon acknowledge that sheer skill is not enough to perform well. They heavily rely on the mental aspect of the game to produce low scores. “I think the best thing to think before going into the game is that you need to try your best [to] stay calm and always stay positive,” Calderon said. “I know from past experience that I play better when I’m thinking positively.” This positive mindset has allowed Calderon and Turun to shine in exhibition matches, flashing the ability to guide the Tigers to a league championship and a deep CIF run. Displaying high levels of maturity and skill, the two star freshmen seem poised to lead the girls’ golf team for years to come.
OFF TO A HOT START, girls’ golf will take a 5-0 record into league play.
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